Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Dream Weaver" (Gary Wright)

Welcome to Tuesday!  

I've heard the word "unprecedented" bandied about a lot lately, have you?  I think it is a word that adequately describes what it is that we are all experiencing.  If you think about it for very long though, every day is "unprecedented"!  Yes, there are routines and normal things that we experience from one week to the next, however, even those things are subtly different as the weeks go by.  I suggest that it is a rare occasion where you find yourself doing the exact same thing the exact same way in your routine.  Priorities change as an incomplete task from a previous period becomes much more important.  An unsuccessful attempt at a project becomes a successful 2nd endeavor.   Why even our sleep patterns are never the same.  Sometimes you just sleep.  Other times, your imagination takes over in your subconscious and you feel like you need a... 

"Dream Weaver" from the July 1975 album, The Dream Weaver, by Gary Wright  

Since the early 80s, "Dream Weaver" has been a feature song on television and the movies.  With the addition of routine airplay on the radio, it would be difficult to find someone who hasn't heard the song.  (Unless of course, they are visiting an astral plane!) It spent 20 weeks in Billboard's Hot 100, peaking at #2.  Surprisingly, the follow-up single to "Dream Weaver", "Love is Alive" recorded 7 more weeks on the charts as it also peaked at #2.  These two songs would be the most successful of Gary Wright's 18 singles from his solo recording career, putting him a step above many one-hit wonders of his time.  

While Gary Wright may not be known by the musical masses, he recorded and had a friendship with a Rock icon that most of the music masses do know, George Harrison (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "The Light that has Lighted the World" (George Harrison), Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Got My Mind Set on You" (George Harrison)).  Wright would be among artists Eric Clapton (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Promises" (Eric Clapton)), Ringo Star, Peter Frampton, Dave Mason (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "We Just Disagree" (Dave Mason)), Ginger Baker, as well as 27 other musicians to record on Harrison's November 27, 1970 album All Things Must Pass.  The interaction between Wright and Harrison would be so strong, that Harrison invited the Dream Weaver to play keyboards on successive albums of Harrison's in the 70s as well as other releases that the former Beatle produced for Apple Records.  

His studio work with Harrison and others fueled his solo career.  His last studio album was 2010's Connectedand he continues to tour (at least he did until EVERYTHING GOT SHUT DOWN...sorry, that's been bubbling underneath the surface...I feel better now...) 

When last we left our intrepid Dream Weaver, Joseph, he was still assisting in the running of the prison in which he was unjustly incarcerated.  He had an opportunity for redemption when the cupbearer to Pharoah was restored to his position, but was alas, soon forgotten as the cupbearer went about his duties.  But things are about to change for our hero as the night closes in on Pharoah and he climbs aboard the dream weaver train...

Genesis 41:1-37 New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible 

parallel 

I don't know about you, but after hearing about Pharoah's dreams, I don't feel so bad dreaming about chasing a gorilla in the garage!  Have you ever had those dreams that woke you up in the middle of the night?  If you haven't please email me at rawacr@gmail.comwith your pre going to bed regimen!!!  But, I digress...  Pharoah had a nightmare.  This was the ruler of most of the known world of the time, but, he wasn't exempt from being human and having bad dreams.  Pharoah's dreams were like many of my nightmares, I wake up and can't figure out what in the world was going on, much less if it means something.  You too?  Thank goodness! The difference between us and Pharoah is that he had magicians on the payroll whose job it was to explain instances such as this.  Their attempt to interpret amounted to an epic fail.

Then Pharaoh's cupbearer has a facepalm moment and remembers our ever hopeful hero, Joseph.  He tells Pharaoh about Joseph and immediately gets him out of the dungeon.  After a bit of spit and polish, Joseph is presented before Pharoahas a dream weaver and begins to find out what the situation currently is.  After Pharaoh recounts his nightmares, he asks Joseph to interpret. Remember Pharoah had two sequential dreams and repetition in the Bible means that something important is going on.

Joseph provides 2 things.  First of all, he asserts his God as the only one who can interpret dreams (imagine how those magicians felt).  Secondly, he proceeds to tell what the dreams mean.  

Joseph's interpretation of Pharoah's flight through the starry skies seemed good to the king of the land and he began to take action.  Actions that were unprecedented for his time.  Hmmm, seems like I've heard that somewhere before...

Takeaways from Genesis 41?  1) Be patient.  Even when folks don't fulfill the obligations they have told you they would.  Remember, folks aren't in control of anything, but God is.  2) When there is something in the Bible and it is repeated, PAY ATTENTION to it.  It really is important or else God wouldn't waste your eye strength and His writer's time in repeating it.  God always does things with a purpose.  Especially in times that are unprecedented we must remember, the dawn is coming soon, and we believe He can get us through the night.  

Thanks for reading Tuesday's Musical Notes, as always, please check out the archives to the left of the page.  They are listed by the month (yup, since mid-2012 we haven't missed a Tuesday!) You can also search in the box above the months for your favorite song or artist. (We've tried it works, hence the links embedded after the artist's name!)  Go ahead, especially if you are stuck at home.  They are all family-friendly (we tell you when to put your hand over your children's eyes) so share them with your kids as well as all of your friends.  We even heard of one reader using them as small group material...I don't know that I would go that far, but use it in any way you want.  As always we are commercial and pop-up-ad free just so you don't have any distractions.  (like all the embedded parenthetical aren't enough of a distraction...insert eye roll...)

Thanks again!  See ya next week at Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy 

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Why Me" (Styx)

Welcome to... Hi there and welcome... It's Tuesday and you've... Hello friend and... Greetings and felicitous... Nothing seems to fit...

Ok, let's just acknowledge it.  "Life is strange and so unsure..." Nothing is normal.  Or at the very least we are fast becoming accustomed to a new normal.  It seems that there is much uncertainty going on. If not kept in check, that uncertainty can soon breed fear and anxiety.  Tuesday's Musical Notes is not a place for either of those, but we acknowledge that the times in which we find ourselves are significantly different than what they were a month, a week, or maybe even a few moments ago.  

Yes, there is a global pandemic going on.  Something most of us have never experienced before.  Yes, we are right to be very concerned about contracting the virus which is making so many folks ill and even causing the death of a portion of those afflicted.  We all have a responsibility to do what we can to slow down or eliminate the spread of Covid-19.  Do your part!!!  Stay at home.  You could read your favorite blog.  I can highly recommend a blog that has over 400 posts!!!  

In critical times such as these, it would be very easy to allow panic to ensue in your life.  Please resist this temptation with the incredibly good distractions we are afforded with this situation.  There has never been so much time for so many people to do those "home" things they have wanted to do.  Read a good novel, go for a walk (yes, making sure you keep your distance from other walkers, not the zombie kind...you know what I mean!), work a puzzle, or listen to a record/cd/online music streaming source.  Reminisce with Casey Kasem at the Classic American Top 40 channel at iHeart Radio. (American Top 40 with Casey Kasem at iheart radio)  The point is, you have an opportunity for a brief moment, to breathe in a different way than you have in a long time.  Take advantage and breathe.  Leave the television off for 24 hours.  Let yourself decompress.   Otherwise, your focus gets narrow as you allow the possibility of misinformation leading you down a pathway of worry and dread. (Let's face it, there is a lot of misinformation out there.  Verify EVERYTHING when you turn your tv back on)  Worst case scenario, you grow despondent and the ensuing pity party leads to you exclaim...    

"Why Me" by Styx from the October 19, 1979 album Cornerstone  

Of the 4 singles released from Cornerstone, the ninth studio album by Styx (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Show Me the Way" (Styx), Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Mr. Roboto" (Styx)) only 2 made the top 40.  The band's only song to reach #1, "Babe", and today's featured song, "Why Me" (peaked at #26).  

Historians and musicologists of Rock and Roll, point to Cornerstone being a critical point in the life of Styx.  After the success of "Babe", the decision was made for the song "First Time" to be the follow-up single from the Cornerstone album.  "Stop, a voice said you best beware..."  The rest of the band, especially Tommy Shaw, expressed dissatisfaction with that song as it was too much of a power ballad and the band did not want to be seen as abandoning their harder-edged rock and roll roots.  Shaw, in fact, threatened to leave the band and DeYoung was briefly fired from Styx due to the conflict among the band being so elevated.  

The compromise was "Why Me" as the follow up single.  "Stop, bad luck is everywhere..."  The relationship of the band members about the musical direction of Styx continued to degrade, so much so, that by the time the Kilroy Was Here tour was over, Styx stopped its existence.  "Stop, please tell me what went wrong..."  

Fortunately, this is not how the story ends.  Styx reformed in 1990 and although there have been different lineups since that time, they continue to successfully tour and record, but never perform any of the music from Kilroy Was Here.  

If anyone in the Bible every deserved the opportunity to ask the question "Why Me?" it was Joseph.  We've been following his story for the past few weeks.  (Yes, here's the archive plug again.  It's over to your left.  You can look by date or query your favorite band, song, or Bible passage.  Did we mention there are over 400 entries?)  

Joseph was an exceptional young man.  He was favored by his father Jacob (Israel) but very much disliked by his brothers.  His brothers loathed Joseph so much they sold him into slavery.  In his captivity, Joseph was elevated in a military captain's home and betrayed by the captain's wife. Though he was innocent of any wrongdoing, Joseph was put into an Egyptian prison where he found favor with the chief jailer, in other words, Joseph had "hard times come, and hard times go".  However, the biggest up and down on his rollercoaster was about to occur.

Genesis 40 New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel

So Joseph is minding fulfilling his duties when some new occupants of the prison arrive. Joseph is put in charge of those prisoners who happen to have just come from being members of Pharoah's court.  After some time, both prisoners, a cupbearer, and baker became despondent over dreams they were having.  Joseph inquired as to what was wrong and was told of the dreams.  He rightly says that God is the interpreter of all dreams and proceeds to listen to their visions.  God provides Joseph with the interpretation of the dreams.  After a 3 day period, action will be taken with both men.  1 is restored, the other, well...not so much.  

The man who is restored was asked by Joseph to recall the kindness he had received in prison.  Joseph also asks that upon this recollection the cupbearer was to ask Pharoah for a pardon for Joseph, as he was innocent of all the wrong in which he was accused. What happens next? Does the favored servant remember Joseph?  Will there ever be redemption for Joseph?  Will Batman and Robin escape the trap of the Penguin?  Sorry... too much time on my hands!  We'll have to find out together next week as we explore more of the Genesis account of Joseph's life.  

So what's the point?  Joseph never gave up.  He was sold by his brothers into slavery, put into a dungeon for being wrongly accused and now he was in a waiting game.  We aren't in a dungeon, but it seems at this time, with this virus, we are at the very least in a waiting game.  A waiting game where nothing seems to fit and things don't go our way.  Do you feel like you know you've had enough, you can't take another day?  Where to go, what to do, you've got those bills to pay.  Just remember you're really not alone, you know...He hears you when you cry out "Why Me?"...

God never intended for us to live in a virus-infected time. Because of mankind's rebellion, in the Garden of Eden and every day since, evil, disease, and death are a part of the world in which we live.  God waits to restore.  He waits to restore you to Himself and He waits to one day make a creation that is new.  

Friend, we've told you time and again.   Through the redemptive acts of Jesus found in the   The Gospel of Jesus according to the apostle Matthew NASB/The Message/KJV,  The Gospel of Jesus according to the disciple Mark NASB/The Message/KJV, The Gospel of Jesus according to Dr. Luke NASB/The Message/KJV, 

The Gospel of Jesus according to the apostle John NASB/The Message/KJV   you can be restored.  Go ahead read it.  You can read them all in an afternoon...there's no March Madness so why not? 

Through the encouragement, discipline and sometimes chastisement of  The letters to the churches from the apostle Paul Romans NASB/The Message/KJV - Hebrews 13 NASB/The Message/KJV you can be revived.  Through the examples of Israel's story, poetry and wisdom found in the Old Testament, you can have a roadmap to victory.  Through The Revelation to the apostle John NASB/The Message/KJV, you can have hope. 

All of this awaits you.  Read the Bible to find it.  Open your mind and heart to experience it.  Humble yourself to live it and then you'll be saying "Why Me?" for a totally different reason...

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy 

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Maneater" (Hall and Oates)

Top 'O the mornin' to ye lads and lasses!  Tis Tuesday the 17th of March and a great day to be livin'!!! Today we celebrate the Sainted priest of Ireland, Patrick and we show it by wearin' 'O the green and havin' a bit 'O pep to our step.  Patrick has been Sainted in Ireland and canonized in The Musical Notes of this Tuesday upon occasion.  Let's reflect a bit shall wee?  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Danny Boy" (Various Artists, Celtic Women), Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" (The Proclaimers)  Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! (But at an appropriate distance...)

We now return you to your regularly scheduled Musical Notes...

Welcome to Tuesday.  It's a most unusual day as the entire world is determining just exactly how they will react to a virus. (Global pandemic sounds so "Sky is falling...")  In the midst of all of this, Tuesday's Musical Notes would like to provide you with a reminder that may just help with your reality at this time in history...

"Way Maker" from the 2020 album Roar recorded live at the 2020 Passion Conference  

Now that we've hopefully calmed you off the ledge...

Welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes!  It's the best place to be when we've no place to be!!! (And honestly, that could be a whole lot of us today!)  

Tuesday's Musical Notes exists to provide a reminder via the art form of music to a different time in your life.  That time could be a long time ago, in a galaxy far away, or it could be just around the Riverbend.  Regardless of the memory, we hope that The Notes causes you to gather your children close to your breast (and have them read The Notes of course!!!), creates in you a desire to pause and reflect, and maybe, just maybe, reading the notes will cause a spontaneous movement of the ends of your mouth to curve up a bit more or your pondering of the notes will begin an uncontrollable bobbing of the head as you anticipate that familiar chorus, like this one...oh here she comes...

"Maneater" by Hall and Oates from the October 4, 1982 album H2O 

Pouncing all the way to #1 in December of 1982, "Maneater" continues to be one of Hall and Oates' (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' (Righteous Brothers/Hall and Oates cover)) biggest hits.  It stayed at the top spot for four weeks, longer than any of their other five #1 hits. It helped propel H2O, their eleventh studio album, to as high as #3 on the Billboard 200 album chart where it stayed for an impressive sixty-eight weeks.  With its follow up to "Maneater", "One on One", H2O would go to double Platinum status with sales in excess of two million copies by 1985.

John Oates explains a little about the nature of the song in the fact that it isn't about a woman at all, like so many think it is.  It is about the greed and avarice of the metropolis of New York City. (I wonder if they have any toilet paper...) The whole ideology of it being about a woman makes it easier for listeners to understand and embrace the lyric according to Oates in the following article.    "Hall and Oates’ ‘I Can’t Go For That’ isn’t about what you think it’s about; neither is ‘Maneater’" March 25, 2014, somethingelsereviews.com  You've really got to watch those songwriters with their penchant for symbolism!

Greed and avarice are themes often disdained in Biblical accounts.  These bad qualities of human nature, with their partners, jealousy, and hatred,  have cause suffering by millions throughout history.  

In our St. Patrick's Day musical notes (What?!! you missed the salute to St. Patrick?!!  Please take a moment and scroll back to the top and click on BOTH links...I promise you'll be engaged, enlightened and ear wormed!) you may have noticed, greed, avarice, jealousy, and hatred evident in the life of the man who is celebrated for bringing Christianity to Ireland. (Nope, it's not about green beer after all...).

St. Patrick's story is very reminiscent of Joseph's in the Bible.  He was essentially sold into slavery by his brothers, then traded to the captain of the bodyguards of the Pharoah of Egypt.  Joseph was well-liked by his bosses and quickly rose to be the captain's right-hand man.  And then the tide turns, so to speak.  

As if Joseph's life hadn't been "interesting" up to this point (Yup, here's where I encourage you to go check the archives from the last few weeks!!!), he encounters a "maneater" in the palace as he is faithfully discharging his duties.  Let's pick up Joseph's story here  (Oh, here she comes!!!):  Genesis 39 New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel

Apparently, Joseph was a looker.  So much so that he caught the eye of Mrs. Potiphar.  One would imagine as the wife of a powerful man, she could basically have had anything she wanted.  Chances are very high, and given the culture of the time, she had pulled this stunt with other servants in Potiphar's house, probably not getting caught.  "Nothing is new, I've seen her here before..."  At this moment, her desire's led her to Joseph.  

Joseph was raised in a culture where he knew that what Mrs. Potiphar proposed was wrong and would be displeasing to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  He resisted her invitations day after day.  One day, when there were no other people in the house, she laid her trap.  In Mrs. Potiphar's eyes, there was no reason Joseph should tell her "no".  She physically assaulted Joseph and in his attempt to escape, he lost his outer garment.  "She's deadly man, she can really rip your world apart..."  And Mrs. Potiphar did just that.  

Joseph was in a "He said, she said" position and was immediately tossed into prison for a crime he did not commit.  Once again, Joseph took hold of his situation and made the best of it.  (That's a good example for the times in which we live) Because the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, Joseph gained the admiration and trust of his fellow prisoners and the chief jailer.  Once again rising to a position of authority and trust. (Yes, it was a prison, but at least he wasn't the low man on the totem pole!) 

So what do you do in the face of temptation or adversity?  Another good question for the times in which we exist.  Do you take the easy road and give in to the temptation causing wrong-doing (sin) to come into your life? "Mind over matter, ooh the beauty is there, but the beast is in the heart..." Do you get creative and find ways to overcome adversity and make things more pleasant for yourself and those around you?  Have you lived a life where you can say the Lord is with you and shows you kindness in those times?  

As we seemingly pause a lot of the business of our lives, wisdom would suggest that we take a moment and have a bit of introspection.  What choices do we make in the daily routine of our lives?  Are they good decisions that would cause the Lord to be with us and show us kindness or are the poor decisions that would drive the Creator God away from us?  

Please be careful as we navigate the next few weeks.  Make wise decisions for you and those you love.  Take care of that next-door neighbor.  Check on that elderly relative.  Invest in your family as you have the opportunity.  Maybe even start some new habits with your family...a family Bible study...or perhaps you need to start by just talking.

Regardless of what you do, be careful as temptation lurks, seeking you every day, waiting for you to give in, or flee.  If you do the right thing and flee, there very well may be consequences that you will need to endure.  You can endure as a believer as the Lord is with you and will show you kindness.  For those who don't believe this may very well be the turning point for you as Holy Spirit is drawing you to make the decision to choose Jesus as Savior of your life.  

Don't continue to live a life where you have to look over your shoulder as temptation waits...oh here she comes...

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy   

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Boss of Me" (They Might Be Giants)

Welcome to Tuesday its always the best.  There's no other day like it, we've tried all the rest.  It's a day that's not Monday, we've gone back to work. Monday it seems is the day for a smirk.  Wednesday's the middle and seemingly good, but the day seems so long we'd speed up if we could.  Thursday's "get ready for Friday" it seems, it's only good for dreaming weekendy dreams.  Friday's a good day, but Tuesday's the best, on Friday deadlines loom and there can be no more rest.   Saturday is deceptive, you think it is free.  But Saturday is always piled up with "to dos" you will see.  Sunday is a great day there's more than just us, if we plan it just right, there's church with no fuss.  But Tuesday's are best as you really should know because The Notes they are noting and here we all go...

Welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!

Did you have an older sibling?  Were you an older sibling?  Perhaps you were an only child.  Regardless of whether you had brothers or sisters, chances are you had a conversation with someone that turned a little sour.  Those soured interchanges are not limited to the young.  But there is one thing that all of these scenarios have in common.  At one point the communication turns to who has the most power over the other and winds up with someone saying...

"You Ain't the Boss of Me!!!"

"Boss of Me" by They Might Be Giants from the November 21, 2000 album Music from Malcom in the Middle 

Sometimes a television show is a thing for which your music is known. (See Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I'll Be There For You (Theme from Friends)" (The Rembrandts)) If you turn that into a Grammy for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media it tends to garner you a little more attention.  Such was the case for the band They Might Be Giants.  

With 22 studio albums, several of them recordings for children, 2 Grammy awards, a Tony nomination for Best Original Score for Spongebob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical, (must not have been much out there that year...sorry, not a fan), and 4 million records sold to date, They Might Be Giants are a little bit more than a one-hit-wonder.  

Founding members John Flansburgh and John Linnell have been performing as They Might Be Giants since 1982.  Flansburgh picked up bass duties in 1992.  He and Linnell have since carried on with a cadre of performers producing recordings and touring. Their most recent release, the comic book-themed concept album, The Escape Team was released digitally in December of 2018.  

They Might Be Giants show no signs of stopping their alternative and children's recordings anytime soon.  While they haven't been megastars in the Rock world, they have certainly gone about making a success by ensuring that they could say "No One is the Boss of Me".

Since the Garden, man has determined to be the master of his own destiny instead of leaning on the insight and wisdom of the Creator.  This "you ain't the boss of me" attitude is prevalent all through the Bible, Old Testament, and New.  But nowhere does it come into play as much as it does in the demeanor of Israel's (Jacob) fourth son and namesake of what would become the Southern Kingdom of Israel, Judah.   

In Genesis 37 we see that Judah is the first to suggest that the brothers, in their jealousy of Joseph's bossy dreams and aspirations, sell Joseph to Ishmaelite traders.  Judah also plays heavily in convincing Israel to allow Benjamin to go with the brothers to Egypt, but we'll get to that story soon. 

For today, Judah becomes the protagonist of the story as he suffers from some of the arrogance and contempt for the traditions of his people.  He had separated from his brothers after selling Joseph and found a Caananite wife who bore him 3 sons.  Pick up the story here in:  Genesis 38 New America Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel  

Judah's lack of integrity and arrogance caused him a great deal of suffering later as he had children by his daughter-in-law.  Please remember times and traditions were different.  His lack of keeping his word and "You aint' the boss of me" attitude kept him from fulfilling what the law of the land required.  This caught up to him with his name being shamed and his word being tainted.  

Much later it seemed redemption came to Judah as his name would be used to signify the Southern Kingdom of Israel.  This namesake land, which also included the capital of Jerusalem, would suffer from a Judah-like attitude as the entirety of the nation would fall to the Assyrians. Even further down the Testament road, we see that an ancestor of Judah's would bring the ultimate in redemption to the whole world...this guy could be the boss of me any day...

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy 

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Devil Inside" (INXS)

Hi there!!  Welcome to Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes, where sometimes we go into the weeds, chase a few rabbits, and occasionally, just occasionally, we drop off into deep water and cause ourselves to pause...and go hmmm... Welcome to sometimes as today we dig in a little deeper and challenge some of the ways that I was raised to think about life, theology, and of course MUSIC!!!  It's Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  Did you see a rabbit in a waistcoat?  Makes you wonder...

"Devil Inside" by INXS, from the October 12, 1987 album Kick  

INXS formed in 1977 when brothers, Andrew, John, and Tim Farris joined up with fellow Aussies, Garry Gary Beers, Kirk Pengilly, and Michael Hutchence.  Their primary success came in the 80s and lasted into the early 90s.  

While not announcing a permanent retirement, INXS performed their last concert on November 11, 2012.  It seemed they never quite recovered from lead singer Michael Hutchence's death in November of 1997 as they had a merry go round of lead singers come into the band.  They even went so far as to have a reality show, 2005's Rock Star: INXS, to find and sign a lead after several years of touring with different faces at the fore. While winner, J.D. Fortune, would spend six years with the band, he too would go his own way in 2011. The band soon after announced their last concert and haven't recorded a studio album since Original Sin in 2010.  To date, INXS has sold over 60 million records and still gets airplay around the world.

Today's feature song, "Devil Inside", peaked at #2 and staying there for 2 weeks.  It would be the band's 21st overall single and their 9th of their top 40 hits. It tied with the highest chart ranking the band had since "The One Thing" single also made it to #2.   "Devil Inside" would become the 46th biggest hit of 1988 in the year-end countdown and cement INXS as a force from down under during the 80s.

The song speaks to a common ideology that everyone one of us has a "devil inside".  This mentality permeates modern-day thinking and seems to be used as a crutch at times for wrongdoing.  This thought process isn't something new.  In fact, it was pretty well demonstrated often in Biblical times.

We established last week that Joseph's brothers were very jealous of his obvious most favored status.  In the words of Star Wars' Master Jedi Yoda...“Envy leads to jealousy, jealousy leads to hate, hate leads to anger, and anger leads to the dark side.”  Joseph's brothers at the very least were fast-tracking themselves to the dark side and at the most feeding the devil inside with their hatred.  

Israel sent Joseph to go check on his brothers and the flocks in which they tended in the land of Shechem.  Remember, this is the place that the sons had already gotten into some difficulties. (Tuesday' s Musical Notes - "You Don't Mess Around with Jim")  

The brothers had moved on from Shechem to the land of Dothan.  In essence, they weren't where they were supposed to be.  Joseph got instructions on where they would be and went to find them.  The brothers saw Joseph from a distance.  The sight of Joseph, even in the distance, so inflamed the brothers that they chose to do something about it.  

Genesis 38:18-36 New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel  

It seems the devil inside Joseph's brothers was too much for them to handle as this was the last day they would see Joseph in a very long time.  

Perhaps this story has reminded you of a time where you made a poor decision due to envy, greed or other things that fed your devil inside.  This happens to everyone.  Believers are not relinquished from the deception of the enemy and emotions that feed the wrong thoughts and ultimately the wrong deeds that are done.  

We've talked about this many times, but the only thing that defeats our devil's inside is love.  Jesus commanded us to love God and then love everyone else.  How is that going for us?  Loving God and others is really a difficult thing for us to do.  In fact, God tells us our ways are not His in Isaiah 55: 8-11 NASB/The Message/KJV  And it seems that even the church proves this fact to be true..."Mo's Past is Revealed to Zoey" - Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist

Please do not misunderstand what we are attempting to say.  We ARE NOT advocating sin in people's lives.  We ARE advocating that the church should show so much love to the sinner, that Holy Spirit has an opportunity to do his job...convict folks of their sin.  

Greg Laurie does a better job explaining it:  "Love with Authenticity" - Greg Laurie devotions, harvest.org

For too long the church has taken up a role it was never intended to have, thus allowing the devil inside to come out of us in the judgment of people and condemning them, instead of loving them and getting out of Holy Spirit's way to do his job.  Or as this blog posits:  "Why Are Christians so Mean?" by Gary Thomas, churchleaders.com February 29, 2020 

Imagine the damage done to the kingdom over the years in the name of Kingdom Work, but not in the name of Love.

Please understand the message of today's Notes.  The love that we have on display for everyone, will always be more powerful than the devil inside of us.  It can be a magnet that works with Holy Spirit to draw folks to Himself.  He then convicts and guides them away from the "devil inside" aspects of their lives.  

"Here come the world

With the look in its eye
Future uncertain but certainly slight..."

This is the world in which we live.  But it doesn't have to be.  If believers, strive to love like God loves, the future of our friends, family, and the folks we encounter can be certain as they are drawn to a conciliatory relationship with God through the Good News of Jesus sacrifice and the power of Holy Spirit.  

Or as another philosopher once put it..."All you need is love, love...love is all you need..."

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy