Welcome to Tuesday! We hope this edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes finds your week neither shaken nor stirred!
Yes, we are unabashed fans of the superspy from Britain. Our particular fascination with Bond, James Bond began on a Saturday afternoon when I first saw Goldfinger (the 70's TV edit). I recognized the actor who played the title character, Goldfinger as Baron Bomburst from Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang, and then became fascinated with anything to do with Albert Broccoli's movies about the man with the number 007.
Brief aside: Gert Frobe wasn't the only Bond connection to Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang. Ian Fleming wrote the novel from which the movie was based. Albert Broccoli produced the film and brought along Bond screenplay writer Richard Maibaum for additional dialogue. If you watch closely you'll catch Desmond Llewelyn (who plays Q (short for quartermaster) from 1963's From Russia with Love until 1999's Die Another Day) as the man who sells Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang to Caractucus Potts (Dick Van Dyke). While not an Aston Martin, Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang had just as many cool gadgets!
And now, back to our regularly scheduled blog about music already in progress...
Released in 1989, "License to Kill" would be Gladys Knight's last charting single. It hit the top of the charts all over the world peaking at #6 in the UK but failed to appear on Billboard's Hot 100. You may recognize some of the brass licks as they were borrowed from the aforementioned Goldfinger soundtrack. The notes were so recognizable, that royalties had to be paid for the use of the section from the original song. Goldfinger Motion Picture trailer Did you hear it?
Coming in at 5:15, "License to Kill" is the longest theme for a James Bond movie. Gladys Knight was originally hesitant to record the song. As a Christian, she objected to having to sing the word "kill" so many times. Maybe it's because she had heard a command about killing being a bad thing. Does anyone have a license to kill?
This commandment is difficult to break down. What does God mean? Are we not to kill anything? Is this an admonition against wars? Do I break the command when eliminating the accursed mosquito from my life? Why would God command us to not kill when He had just wiped out the Egyptian army and was about to instruct the Israelites to eliminate those who were inhabiting the promised land?
According to Strong's Hebrew dictionary, the Hebrew word used in this context is "ratsach" which takes the commandment away from indiscriminate killing to the act of premeditated murder. "murder or kill" Hebrew translation biblehub.com Notice the difference between the two words. The word "kill" is broad in its interpretation, while "murder" is much more specific.
The conversations surrounding this commandment are endless. Here is an article that breaks down some of those discussions and makes some really good points: The Sixth Commandment "Thou Shalt Not Kill" by Dr. Harold J. Sala, October 2, 2014, guidlines.org
Even better, we have Jesus' commentary on the topic. In The Gospel of Jesus according to the disciple Matthew, Chapter 5, Verses 21-26 NASB/AMP/KJV, Jesus continues the Sermon on the Mount. He then breaks down the ten commandments for the religious rulers of His time. These rabbinical leaders had layered the ten commandments with 613 manmade regulations. Imagine having to live under the burden of such legislation...anyone try and read a law that our own congress passes lately? But I digress...
Jesus breaks the ten commandments down to two: 1) Love God. 2) Love everybody else. This shows that our relationships with our fellow men are intensely important to God. Jesus tells them that the way we treat the other humans in our lives could be considered murder. How we interact is indicative of what is in our hearts. Jesus says that if you are angry with someone, you are guilty. Have you ever been angry with someone? I have. Jesus says that if you speak contemptuously or insult someone you are guilty. Have you ever "talked down" to someone? I have. Jesus says that if you call someone a "fool" you are guilty. Have you ever treated someone like a fool? I have. Jesus says that the way we treat those in which we have relationships equates to whether they live or die in our eyes and hearts. That is because ALL MANKIND IS MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD. (One race, the human race, everything else is culture and melanin!) So our belittling of someone, in God's eyes, is belittling Him. I personally don't want to be known as one who belittles the Creator of everything, including me!!!
So what do we do? I know we've talked about the fruits of the Spirit (Paul's letter to the Galatian church, Chapter 5, Verses 22-23 NASB/AMP/KJV) a lot lately but with regard to our interpersonal relationships, we must make being full of love toward others, being joyful when encountering others, being at peace with others, being patient in our interaction with others, being kind to others, being faithful to others by doing what we say we will do and being there for them in their time of need, being gentle towards others, and being in control of ourselves, even when challenged by others, a priority in our lives.
It seems even on our best day, we get our sights on someone with the intent to inflict harm. It seems even on our best day, we say words and do actions toward others that are harmful and are coming straight from the heart. It seems even on our best day, we have the attitude of revenge and that they better know why we want to make them pay. It seems that 'til our dying day, this is the way we will be. Jesus says that all of the actions equate to murder. Your honor we find the defendant, guilty as charged...
These are all contrary to the way Jesus says we are to act. And He is here to revoke that license to kill anytime you turn away from these actions, announce that He has become the "M" (the boss) in your life, and live every day attempting to be more like Him. Will you make that change today? You can right now...Holy Spirit is waiting and ready to go straight for your heart...
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving You,
randy
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