Welcome to Monday...um wait, Tuesday!!! It's time for another dose of the antidote for boredom! Tuesday's Musical Notes!!! While we can't say that we can cure all ills, we do promise to be somewhat entertaining by featuring some of the greatest songs ever and somewhat thought-provoking by featuring some of the most important words ever put to print. But wait, there's more! Click now over to the left and find what we've been doing for the past several years together on Tuesday's! It's the archives that are just waiting for you to explore! Finally, if you act now, you'll be invited to tune-in December 29th for the most spectacular year-end countdown you can imagine! We'll be reviewing the top ten Tuesday's Musical Notes of 2020 and get a head start on 2021 (who isn't ready for that to get cranked up?) with our unique blend of nonprescription strength musical remedies!!!
But back to today, where we are administering the recipe for what ails ya! Let's start it by singing together, you know the tune...bah da, bah da da da, bah da, bah da da da...
It is the rare occasion that a band from ANY generation records only 5 studio albums and remains viable in the recording industry 50 years later, but such was the popularity of The Mamas and The Papas. Their debut album If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears would go all the way to #1 on the Billboard 200, have a #1 single on Billboard's Hot 100 (today's feature song "Monday, Monday"), and sell enough copies to achieve Platinum status. Their following 2 records (The Mamas and the Papas and The Mamas and the Papas Deliver) would be certified Gold, thus establishing them in music history as a certifiable legacy act.
"Monday, Monday" was the first time a multi-gender group had achieved a #1 hit. It also received the 1967 Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Since its recording, it has been covered by many contemporaries of The Mamas and the Papas. More recently the band Wilson Phillips covered the song 3 different times between 2004 and 2012. The Phillips in the band is Chynna Phillips, daughter of Michelle and John Phillips, the Wilson sisters are the daughters of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Be True to Your School" (The Beach Boys), Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I Get Around" (The Beach Boys))
Despite the early success, The Mamas and the Papas had tumultuous off stage associations. John and Michelle's marriage was rocky from the start, and her continual affairs (once with band member Denny Doherty) would lead to their eventual divorce and be one of the causes of the band's breakup officially in 1971 with the release of their final album, People Like Us. Of the original band members, only Michelle remains alive. (Cass died in 1974 of heart failure, John died in 2001 of heart failure, and Denny died in 2007 of an abdominal aortic aneurysm) If you were to watch or read the biography of the band, it would be much less lyrically aligned with "California Dreamin'" and much more with "Monday, Monday". It seems The Mamas and the Papas didn't understand a lesson that was given to an ancient society some time ago about how you are to treat...well, Mamas, and Papas.
Before we go any further, let's settle the fact that we are not transitioning this blog to Monday's Musical Notes. Just doesn't have quite the same zing to it and for most of the known world, Monday isn't revered. Tuesday continues to be our favorite day and will remain such. There have been several times we have considered using "Monday, Monday" as a feature song, but have resisted the temptation to keep confusion to a minimum. So how does today's song tie in?
Before we explore the connection between today's song and today's Scripture, let's review. Israel had left Egypt through God's timing and His mighty hand. They left Egypt for a land that had been promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, their patriarchs. Before getting too far into the journey they stop at Mt. Sinai so God can do a little standard-setting because He knew that Monday morning couldn't guarantee that on Monday evening the Israelites would still be there with Him. These standards are in the form of commandments and were given to the Israelites 3 different times while they were camped at the base of the mountain. God audibly spoke the ten commandments to them the first time. We'll discuss later the other occasions in which God communicated the commands to them.
The first 4 of the commandments compile the regulations that the Israelites would have in regards to their relationship with God. We've covered them over the last month...you got it, check the archives! Today's commandment bridges the gap if you will, between the relationship we are to have with God and the relationship we are to have with mankind.
"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you"
Seems pretty straight forward doesn't it? In simple terms, take care of the ones who brought you into existence.
This is more difficult than it may seem. God is the ONLY perfect Father. I think it safe to assume that our Mamas and Papas weren't perfect. These imperfections were manifested in differing ways and certain to strain our relationships at times. It can be sometimes difficult to care for parents who have been abusive in word or deed, or who didn't provide basic necessities out of neglect. Proximity could also play a role in our abilities to honor and cherish those who were the earthly trustees of our nurturing and development. These instances do not, however, negate the fact that we are commanded to honor our mamas and papas.
So how do we do achieve obedience to this command? We place the relationship we have with our parents as the highest priority we have behind our relationship with God and the relationship we have with our spouse. The fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) should flow more abundantly towards our folks than they do any other person in our circle of relationships.
Jesus, as He did with each of the commandments, addresses this in the context of the hypocrisy that he saw by the rulers of the law of His time: The Gospel of Jesus according to Mark, chapter 7, verses 9-13 NASB/AMP/KJV Jesus reminds them of the manmade restrictions that they had placed on being able to honor their mamas and papas. He essentially tells them that there is no excuse for treating their parents the way they were.
Did you know that one of the ways modern middle eastern folks honor their parents is by living with them? Did I just hear you shutter? If you travel to Israel or Jordan you will notice rebar sticking out of the corners and support structures of homes.
This is in preparation for their children to build their homes on top of mom and dad's homestead. The family unit has such a priority in that culture that they want to live together indefinitely. As the parents get older, they have their children there to assist in their day to day activities, thus honoring the parent-child relationship.
Western culture is filled with many jokes and stories about the "in-law" relationship. Is this honoring? I don't think so. Modern man seems to be so focused on providing for his "family" that he has forgotten that his family extends to his past as well as his future.
Our attitude towards God will directly impact our attitude towards our folks. This is why this command is transitional, it applies to both our relationship to God and our relationship with mankind. Before we can attempt to make our relationships with our folks as good as they can be, our relationship with God must be everything it can be. Yes, there are many who do not have a relationship with God through Jesus, who revere their parents, but how much more precious would their parental bonds be if they had the ultimate relationship as an everlasting example?
Relationships with anyone takes work from both parties to be successful. Relationships with our parents can be exponentially complicated and require significantly more effort for us to be obedient to today's commandment.
Both of my parents are in heaven now. I confess that while they were alive, there were times I did not honor them in the way that I should and I regret those times. It seems that I turned around and one day found they were no longer here with me. But I am still able to honor them. I do that by honoring my relationship with God. I do that by honoring my relationship with my children and grandchildren. I do that by cherishing the memories of working 3 acres of garden, shelling peas, and having conversations in a barbershop over milkshakes. Most of all I honor Duane and Peggy by making sure that the things they taught me about God the Father, Jesus the Son, and Holy Spirit are the guiding points of my life. I honor them by surrendering to Him.
As best you can, in every way you can, make it a priority to honor your mamas and papas...
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving You,
randy
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