Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Hard Habit to Break" (Chicago)









T'was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and all through the land, folks were deciding what plans would be grand.  "Do we have our friends over, does the family come?  If we don't see others soon, we will be quite glum.  Will we feast on turkey and the sides we adore or will we just let Uber bring it straight to our door?  Our Zoom time is limited and facetime's just quirky.  I wonder if that hunter will share his deer jerky?"  


'Tis Thanksgiving 2020, no Christmas, not yet!  Our next month and 1 week will be the best part of it yet!  With all of the things that this year has brought down, it can't stop our thankful or the joy that we've found!  Yes, there is joy,  though hard to find in this year.  'Tis worth all the effort, the search brings great cheer! Joy can be found right there where you sit!  You cannot give up, you cannot say quit! 

'Tis Tuesday my friend!  The best day of the week!  We're here to bring part of the joy that you seek!  This blog it has music and musings to ponder! It will fill you with joy!  It will fill you with wonder!  

So let's take a breath, we've still got some year left.  To lose your joy now would be a great theft!  Let's just settle in with new mem'ries to make. Today's Notes could start a Hard Habit to Break...


The 2nd single released from Chicago 17, was "Hard Habit to Break".  It continued the rebirth in popularity for the band from the windy city.  They had seen a huge resurgence with their previous album, Chicago XVI.  "Hard Habit to Break" would continue and expand on this rejuvenation as it was nominated in 4 Grammy categories. Arrangers David Foster and Jeremy Lubbock would win the Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals.  (Didn't know that one existed either...)  

Numbers and numerals have always been a part of the Chicago moniker.  Here are a few integers about the band you might find interesting.  Chicago 17  represents the pinnacle of the band who celebrated 50 years of records and touring in 2017.  This album alone has sold in excess of 6,000,000 units (6 X Platinum) making it the best-selling Chicago record to date.  It peaked at #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 and would be the last album (the band's 14th studio album) featuring Peter Cetera on lead vocals and bass.  It was the 2nd record on the Full Moon/Warner Bros label and 2nd of 3 that were produced by David Foster (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Carol of the Bells" (David Foster/Pentatonix)).  The album received 6 Grammy nods (including Record of the Year) and took home 3 of the awards. (Producer of the Year for Foster, Best Engineered Recording for Humberto Gatica, and the aforementioned award for "Hard Habit to Break".  Chicago 17 also includes today's featured song, the 11th Chicago song highlighted as a feature on Tuesday's Musical Notes:


Numbers and numerals also have a special place here at Tuesday's Musical Notes.  In fact, over the last 13 weeks, we've covered The 10 Commandments, the other rules that the Israelites would live by, and the instructions for creating the 1st church/worship center/tabernacle as given to the Hebrews camped at the base of Mt. Sinai.  The Israelites were 3 months removed from being slaves in Egypt by this time.  They had seen the 10 plagues do ruinous things to Egypt where they had been living as captives for 400 years.  But it would be the next 40 days that would determine many things for the future of the fledgling nation.


Moses has been summoned up Mt. Sinai to be given in stone the physical representation of the covenant that God had just made orally with the Israelites.  This would become known as the Aseret HaDibrot or the Decalogue.  While Moses is on the mountain, the Israelites begin to grow restless questioning what they are doing out in the middle of nowhere and wondering what could have become of Moses.  "...Being without you takes a lot of getting used to..." Moses' absence only heightens the complaining they have been doing continually since leaving Egypt as they begin to grow wary about the unknown aspects of their journey.  This groaning has turned into a habit.  With practice, this hard habit to break begins to manifest itself in some very evil ways.   

The story of the golden calf incident is one that is very familiar to anyone who has been in a Sunday School environment in the last 100 years.  Poor worship habits coupled with the Egyptian worship influences of their past, create for the Israelites a hard to break cycle of honoring gods made by human hands.  It seems incredulous that a people who had heard the voice of God booming "Thou Shall have no other gods before Me" less than 40 days ago, would take the gold they had and turn it into an idol.  Even more difficult to believe is who "fashioned it with a graving tool", Aaron, Moses' brother!  Can you hear Moses? "Aaron, you had 1 job to do...!!!"

The most egregious thing to come from this story is the bad habit and blatant disobedience of idol worship by the Hebrews, but there are some other aspects to this chapter that sometimes get overlooked:

1) Moses serves as a precursor of Jesus:  In verses 11-14 we see Moses pleading with God on behalf of the Israelites much like we are told that Jesus pleads with God on our behalf.  Romans 8:26-39 NASB/AMP/KJV  

2) After the idol had been destroyed and the remaining Israelites had a very expensive glass of water, Moses goes back up the mountain to continue to intercede and find out what God's next instructions may be.  Moses goes so far as to accept his own death at God's hand rather than have the Israelites wiped out.  God forgives and tells Moses that He will not blot Moses, nor the Israelites out of His book.  Does this suggest that everyone begins in God's book?  Does this mean that our predestined eternity when we are born is heaven and that the only way that changes is based on our decision to accept or deny Holy Spirit's drawing?  If we grieve Holy Spirit and God turns us over to our own reprobate minds (Romans 1:18-32 NASB/AMP/KJV), are we then blotted from God's book as he suggests in Exodus 32?  The Notes confesses the need for more research on this one, but it begs the question...

3) Finally, this chapter closes with discipline for the Israelites.  Sin has immediate consequences as seen in the death of the 3000 men at the hand of the sons of Levi (the priestly tribe) and the drinking of the gold-laced water.  But as Proverbs 3:11-12 NASB/AMP/KJV indicates, God must discipline those He loves.  God metes out this discipline with an undescribed plague to those who had been part and parcel to the rebellion all the while showing mercy and grace during the time of discipline as He promises His angel to continue in leading them on their journey.  

As we continue through the Old Testament we will soon see that the bad habits at the base of a mountain are replicated many times.  The question arises, how can we break the chain of repeating bad habits?  Here are a couple of suggestions:




Habits can be good.  Practicing your artistic creativity, getting reps in your chosen field of athletics, and reading the Bible consistently are all good habits to cultivate.  But as we have seen in today's Notes, there are evil things that we continually do that become hard habits to break.  Though there are always consequences if those bad habits become sin, God through His love, mercy, and grace provides the discipline to break the habit and help us learn from our mistakes.  He is just and willing to forgive us from ALL unrighteousness if we will repent (turn away) from our sin.

...cue the horns...

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by Serving You,
randy




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Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Winchester Cathedral" (The New Vaudeville Band)


"Pssst...hey, it's Tuesday!  Have you read Tuesday's Musical Notes yet?"  

"What in the world is Tuesday's Musical Notes?"  

"It's a blog.  A really sweet blog that features a song every week and then tells about it."  

"Wow, that sounds fun!  I like music!!!"  

"Well, you'll love Tuesday's Musical Notes!  It explains the song's origins, covers, and sometimes some trivia and then usually has some kind of inspirational message that goes along with it.  I've never read anything quite like it!" 

"I'll have to check that out!"  

"If you love music, you really do!  There are over 400 songs that have been featured.  Some of them are really well known, and some are a bit more obscure but equally enjoyable."  

"You say there's an inspirational message as well?  I sure could use some inspiration right now...2020 ya know!"

"I hear you!  Give yourself a little bit of time, because once you start reading The Notes, you won't want to stop!" 

"Addictive eh?"  

"Yup, but it's a good addiction.  It's the one blog I read consistently every week."  

"Ok, you've convinced me, I'll go find it right now."  

"Watch out for that opener, it comes off as a monologue and can get kind of wordy sometimes, but if you'll get past it, you'll usually have a lot of fun.  Enjoy!!!"

Welcome to Tuesday and another edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!

Today we hit the "way-back" button as we travel to the land of 1966.  This is a strange land where speaking to inanimate objects seems to be en vogue and sounding like a crooner from the '20s gets you a #1 hit.  In this land, songs are written by one person, sung and recorded by another with a band that isn't a band.  When the song becomes famous a band is formed to go on tour to promote the song and they become an overnight sensation.  This land also features many other folks who line up to cover the song, but none with the success of the original.  And so we sit back and relax as the singer cups his hands together to make a megaphone and sing along..."Oh-bo-de-oh-do, oh-bo-de-oh-do, Oh-bo-de-oh-do, do-do-duh."   


"Winchester Cathedral" is one of the only #1s on Billboard's Hot 100 to feature a bassoon as a significant part of its instrumentation.  ("Tears of a Clown" by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles is the only other #1 that we can think of here at The Notes) 

Written by British songwriter Geoff Stephens, "Winchester Cathedral" featured vocalist John Carter (who cupped his hands over his mouth for the "megaphone" feel during the recording) and a group of studio musicians for the single.  Once the single became popular, The New Vaudeville Band was formed to promote the song on tour and record a full-length album.  Band manager for the newly formed group, Peter Grant would later find himself managing the likes of The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Immigrant Song" (Led Zeppelin), Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Thank You" (Led Zeppelin),  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Stairway to Heaven" (Led Zeppelin))  

The song won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Recording in 1966 and was covered most notably by Frank Sinatra (1966), Rudy Vallee'(1967) (whose vocals from the vaudeville era were emulated in the song), Fannie Flagg (1967), and The Four Freshmen (1968). 

"Winchester Cathedral" replaced "You Keep Me Hangin' On" by The Supremes and one week later was replaced by 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)) and their hit "Good Vibrations".  

Interestingly enough, the actual Winchester Cathedral (original construction dates back to 641, destroyed in 1093 to make room for its successor, and is now the longest cathedral in the world) never answered The New Vaudeville Band's inquiries...

The very first church building project occurred about 2000 years prior to Winchester Cathedral's construction by the Anglo-Saxons and a little over 3400 years before "Winchester Cathedral" would become a #1 hit.  It was built by former slaves who were journeying through the desert to a new homeland.

In Exodus 25-31 New American Standard Bible/The Amplified Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel, we see the results of the first revival among the people of God as the Israelites made a massive commitment to God and His commands.  Not only did they make a covenant of obedience with God, but they also began the preparation for a portable church, a place where God would come and commune with Moses and the priests of the Israelites as they journeyed to the Promised Land.  In these chapters, God is very specific about the dimensions, material, transportation, accouterments, and priests who serve in this new cathedral.  He provides Holy Spirit to skilled craftsmen to see to the construction and supervision of the tabernacle.  God then tells the Israelites to bring an offering to provide for this new construction (yes this is a passage of scripture that supports the fact that you should give tithes and offerings to your local church).  The Israelites gave so much that  Moses and the leadership had to tell them to stop.  Can you imagine?

Once all the instructions were followed, the Israelites would be allowed to worship in this new cathedral.  Specifics were provided for how and where they could do such worship.  The tools for their worship all had meaning beyond what the Hebrews could imagine at their time.  The completed tabernacle looked something like this:


















The holiest of the tools of worship in the tabernacle was the Ark of the Covenant, the seat of God.  You know that thing that had  "Top Men are working on it..." from the June 12th, 1981 Motion Picture Raiders of the Lost Ark  Yup, that one...

The priests who were to attend to the Ark were given even more specific instructions about how to handle and transport the Ark.  Not following these instructions or having a casual attitude toward the Ark resulted in severe consequences.  Nope, not the consequences seen in Raiders...

Once the new cathedral was built, the Israelites could set out for the Promised Land with God continuing to guide them.  They would have to take down the tabernacle and rebuild it every time God instructed them to stop on their journey through the wilderness.  (A predecessor to the modern day churches who utilize rented spaces on the weekends for services and have to transport, set up and test gear every weekend.  Our salute to you!!!)They had the 10 commandments, the extra regulations for living, and now the tabernacle with the Ark of the Covenant.  What could go wrong?

In the Covid-19 era we now currently face, many churches are struggling with attendance, consistency in giving, and gaining a vision for the future.  Our Scripture today reminds us that God has a specific plan for the Church even in the age of the virus.  The Church, especially at this time, must make the effort and sacrifice to show that it isn't a bunch of cob-web, infested, cold, unloving, buildings that do not answer the questions from a broken-hearted singer, but a vibrant, clear-minded, loving group of people who won't let anything stand in the way of finding tangible avenues to display the love they have for those who may or may not wear a mask, those who may have voted for a different person than they did, those who skin pigment may be a different shade, and yes those who do wrong things, or as Scripture calls us, sinners.  

But the Bible, specifically Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:12-19 NASB/AMP/KJV says that we can now be the residence of God in our world.  That's right, our bodies can be a modern-day tabernacle/cathedral for God. Through Holy Spirit, we can communicate, be guided, and sometimes disciplined by God instantaneously.  This indwelling is reserved however for those who believe. Those who believe should have this indwelling on display daily as an outpouring of love to God and man. 

Love that is generated by a heart absorbed by Holy Spirit is the only remedy for the true plague that besets our world today.  This is a love that is patient, a love that is kind...1 Corinthians 13 NASB/AMP/KJV  We can only achieve this by being a believer in Jesus and being transformed into His likeness.  

The point today.  Believers should never be like Winchester Cathedral.  Because of Holy Spirit's being inside of us, we should react when we see someone in need by ringing bells, bringing a meal,  making a thoughtful phone call, providing a front porch grocery delivery, or yes indeed...by wearing a mask.  We should find a way to not let ANYONE in need walk by us.  And we should remember that EVERYONE has the need for a relationship with Jesus.  Our bodies, our Winchester Cathedrals, should never be accused of letting anyone down..."Oh-bo-de-oh-do, oh-bo-de-oh-do, Oh-bo-de-oh-do, do-do-duh." 

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by Serving You,
randy
<>< 

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Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Agreement" (Kitaro featuring Jon Anderson (Yes))









Welcome to Tuesday!  Thanks for stopping by!  This is Tuesday's Musical Notes, a blog that muses about music!!!  We are so excited that you are here!  


Each week we explore the background of some of the world's favorite music.  We tell the trivia as well as the travails that were experienced in the production and release of a focused song.  We tend to link to previous blog posts and occasionally share some insight into the artists that so wonderfully produce the soundtracks to our lives.  We usually take the theme of the song, sometimes just the title, and bring it into a bit of a different perspective that we hope will cause you to ponder about life and lyric.  While we are obviously biased in our opinion, we hope you will find Tuesday's Musical Notes to be one of your favorite blogs. As you read, it is our hope that you will find much in which we have agreement...


Kitaro, born Masanori Takahashi, is one of the leading artists in a style of music referred to as New Age, or Neo-Classical.  Since his debut album, 1978's Tenkai, Kitaro has produced 24 studio releases and 14 soundtrack albums.  He has 17 Grammy-nominated albums.  He won the Grammy for Best New Age album in 1999 for the record, Thinking of You, and won a Golden Globe in 1993 for his soundtrack to the motion picture Heaven and Earth. His latest release is the Grammy-nominated, compilation album from 2017 entitled, Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Vol. 5.  

The height of Kitaro's recording success came in the late 80s and 90s as many were discovering New Age as a valued form of music for relaxation techniques and meditation.  He partnered with The Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Touch of Grey" (The Grateful Dead)) on the 1987 record The Light of the Spirit which saw sales of over two million.  He continued his collaborations with Jon Anderson from Yes (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Changes" (Yes)) in 1992 for the also Grammy-nominated album Dreams, which feature's our song of the day "Agreement".  With these partnerships highlighting his career, it is easy to see that Kitaro is an artist by which others could find agreement...

This past week, the United States of America experienced the culmination of a tenuous election cycle by casting ballots for officials who will be charged with the task of legislating and leading our nation.  There seems to be much difficulty in gaining agreement regarding the results.  Tuesday's Musical Notes trusts the process and feels sure that when the dust settles, a President will be elected, a congress will be seated, and we will get on with our lives.  We urge those who are elected to abide by #6 of Stephen Covey's Habits of Effective People..."Seek first to understand, then be understood".  In other words, find where you can agree and be effective!!!

Agreement is an ancient principle that has been put into practice countless times in the history of man for the benefit of man.  When one finds himself agreeing with others, tensions decrease, and much can be accomplished.  Just imagine what would happen if agreement occurred between God, the Creator of all things, and man...


Beginning on April 9, 2019, Tuesday's Musical Notes began a journey through the Bible.  We are convicted that even those who call upon the name of the Lord and are saved, have missed many of the great stories of the Bible, therefore, missing some incredibly important precepts.  You can explore this journey as well as see every other Tuesday's Musical Notes in the archives to the left of your screen.  Check some of those out and see if you may have missed something that is earth-shattering!

Today, we find ourselves at the base of Mt. Sinai with the Israelites as they travel.  Mt. Sinai is located between Egypt and the Promised Land. And was one of several stops the foundling nation had as they were making their trek across the desert.  At Sinai, God had verbally explained the commands for effective living in the Promised Land to them.  As one would imagine when hearing the audible voice of God, the Israelites were afraid, they were petrified.  So much so, that they begged God to stop speaking to them for fear that their demise would occur in His presence.  God agrees and calls Moses up the mountain, but before Moses and the 12 leaders (1 from each tribe) of Israel begin their ascent, we find the Israelites forming an agreement with God based on what they had just heard.

"All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!"

Now, remember, the Israelites were making this statement based on not just the 10 commandments, but the other rules that God had given them in Exodus 21-23 (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Rules for Living" (Blondie)).  Their statement in Exodus 24:3 formed the basis of an accord, a covenant, an agreement between the nation of Israel and God.  From God's perspective, this was an everlasting agreement.  From the Israelites...well, they fudged it a bit from time to time.  More on that later. 

This seemed like an easy "say" on the Israelites part until they had to put it all into action.  Have you ever had a contract, an understanding, an agreement that you have made with someone?  Ever make such a statement as "You bet!  I'll do everything that we just talked about if you will!"  Perhaps you've even heard recently something along these lines..." I promise, if you good folks will give me your vote, I'll end the virus, clean up the climate, eliminate racism, and make sure everyone is paying their fair share in taxes!"  or maybe this..." If you vote for me, I'll continue to make the economy zoom, put the screws to China for the virus and their unfair trade practices, strengthen the military, and make America great again!"  There's only 1 real problem with either of these agreements...they are made between and by changing, flawed, sinful, unrighteous, people AND God is not part or parcel to any of these promises, except with the occasional mention of His name.  

The Israelites soon discovered that their end of the bargain was harder to fulfill than what they thought.  They changed.  But God never did.  His desire was to make them a great nation.  Much later on we see that fulfilled in the kingdom of Solomon. Even later in the Bible the prophet Isaiah will speak on God's behalf and implore the nation of Israel with another agreement:  "Come now and let us reason together..."  Isaiah 1:18-31 NASB/AMP/KJV  The ultimate fulfillment of the agreement at Sinai came in the form of a Carpenter who came to seek and to save those who were lost...including you and I. 

God never changes.  His promises ARE ALWAYS fulfilled.  He wants to have an agreement with you today.  Tuesday's Musical Notes has a suggestion of what such a conversation regarding this agreement might look like...  


God: "Hey there!" 
 
You: "Um...me?" 
 
God: "Yup, you, the one reading that great blog written by one of My children.  You know what?  I created you to be with Me and I have a heaven where I live that I have made for folks just like you!"

You: "You do?"
  
God: "You bet!  I have it all set.  It's waiting for you if you will enter into an agreement with me on something."

You:  "Sure thing!  That sounds fantastic! I'm in!...um...what's my part of the agreement?"  

God: "Turn away from wrong things.  Turn towards Me!  It is called repenting!"  

You: "Really? Ok...so how do I go about this repenting thing?"  

God:  "Admit that your wrong things keeps you separated from Me.  Believe that I sent Jesus, Myself in human form, my Son, to serve as a sacrifice for your sin, your wrong things."  

You: "Sacrifice doesn't sound like a good thing...What do you mean by that?"  

God: "Because of your wrong things, I should judge you by putting you to death, separating you from Me forever.  Jesus took your place.  Jesus had to die a torturous death.  He paid the price for eternity with Me that you couldn't."  

You: "Jesus died?"  

God: "Yes, for you!  Then after being sealed in a tomb for 3 days, He came back to life and was seen by His disciples!"  

You: "Ok, that's great!  He did that so I could be with You in Heaven and all I have to do is believe that and turn away from doing wrong things?  RIGHT ON! with the belief thing, but that whole turning away from doing wrong sounds hard..."  

God: "Not to worry, when Jesus came back to Heaven to sit at my right hand, We sent you Holy Spirit to dwell in you when you believe in Jesus.  Holy Spirit is Me dwelling inside of you.  He gives you the strength to battle the enemy and the power to overcome the temptation to do the wrong things.  What do you think about that?"  

You:  "That's pretty fantastical!  I suppose that whole turning from the wrong things means I need to read the Bible. I've heard about that Bible of Yours!  Isn't it a rule book full of "Thou shall not"?"  

God: "Yes, my Book has guidelines about the wrong things, but it is also filled with instructions on becoming like Me, the "Thou shalls" if you will.  AND, if you are busy doing the "Thou Shalls", you won't have time to do the "Thou shall nots"!!! Regardless, I will be with you all the way.  Just believe." 

You: "Okay God, while it may be difficult at times, I trust You!!!  We have an agreement!"

Well, that might be the way it goes...God is waiting to make an agreement with you today.  God knows where you may mess up and He still wants to enter into this agreement with you just like He did with the Israelites in Exodus 24.  Will you do like they did and confidently affirm the agreement?   

"Watching the world from our window of life
Can we see all there is that is real, that is right?"  

"All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!"

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy   

 

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Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Rules for Living" (Blondie)









Welcome to Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020, also known as election day here in the United States.  What an incredible opportunity we have to go and let our voices be heard in the election of our nation's leaders!  If you haven't mailed in your ballot or voted early, make sure you do so today!  

Tuesday's Musical Notes never endorses a candidate, and honestly, we are tired of the political ads, wondering who is closest to telling the truth, and wish folks would stop telling each other for whom they are voting.  We used to keep that a treasured secret. It used to be one of those unspoken rules for living ...


Pioneers of the New Wave and Punk scene, Blondie has been touring and recording since 1974.  They took a hiatus in 1982, but reformed in 1997 and continue to give concerts and make albums.  The 2020 incarnation of Blondie consists of three founding members, lead vocalist Debbie Harry, guitarist Chris Stein, and percussionist Clem Burke.  Their most recent release is 2017's Pollinator.  

Written by keyboardist Jimmy Destri, "Rules for Living" was never released as a single from the 8th studio album by Blondie.  In fact, the only single released from The Curse of Blondie was the dance hit "Good Boys", which peaked at #160 in the US. Destri left recording duties with Blondie in 2004, yet still remained a member of the band for some time after.  He has noted that one of his favorite songs from his time with the band was today's feature song "Rules for Living".  In reading the lyrics, I'm not sure there are very many rules there, but it's got a good beat and you can dance to it!!!  I give it a 76!!!

In our lifetimes, there are probably a few rules for living that we have made up on our own.  You know, those things that aren't necessarily written down on paper anywhere, but you know you aren't supposed to do them?!  Those things that would get you "that" look from your momma or grandma?  Now you've got it!!!  Most of these rules have to do with social behavior and actions that will keep one safe.  From where did these rules originate?  I think they come as embellishments of rules that have already been written down, a few that have been written down a very, very long time...


"So many things remind me..."

God had just verbally given the Israelites, the 10 Commandments.  The Hebrews were so intimidated by God's voice, as well as the smoke and fire on the mountain, that they begged Him to speak no longer.  God agreed to their request and began relaying to Moses the embellishment of the other laws by which the Israelites would govern themselves.  The 10 Commandments were great general rules, but these guidelines indicated the specifics.  The included ways to treat slaves, what happens in the event one causes personal injury to another, how property rights were to be handled, laws that provide structure for honoring the Sabbath, guidelines for national holidays that were celebrated by feasts, how the Israelites were to inherit the Promised Land by conquest, and a litany of other various laws that would protect the citizens of the burgeoning nation, all the while providing a reference back to the original 10.  

As you read through these rules for living, you may quickly see some similarities in the way our laws in the US are constructed.  When you explore Exodus 21-23, foundations of our own legislative documents begin to flash through your mind.  We can be confident and thankful for many of our laws because we see their origins in the rules for living set forth by God in Exodus.  

Have we reached a point in our nation's history, however, that our laws, our rules for living, are constraining more than they are liberating?  By the time of Jesus, and as a direct result of the sin that had been introduced into the world at the Garden, the regulations laid down in Exodus 21-23 had grown to be 613 Rabbinic laws that were impossible to keep.  We are over 2000 years removed from Jesus' time.  Taking us that much further from the perfection of the Garden.  You don't have to look too far to imagine how we have done the same thing in the United States.

On this day, this precious and very special day, we get the opportunity to exercise our freedom in our Democratic Republic (no, we are not a democracy, look it up, you really don't want that).  We must never take the right to vote for granted and should go to the polls anytime there is an election, yup even if it's just to elect the dog catcher. Our attitudes in the small elections will reflect our attitudes towards the large elections. Each election continues the interpretation of the rules for living by which we guide our daily steps.  We determine the course of how the remainder of our generation and the next lives by the choices we make.  Research candidates, research the ballot options or new laws that are being suggested, find someone that you trust (currently no one in the News Reporting industry), to interpret what the end result will be.   

This year is seeing a record number of citizens vote early.  While this is great, it is a real shame that it has been caused by the process of campaigning being so utterly contentious.  What does that say about our society? What does that say about believers who have participated in the drama and negativity?  

There are good folks running for office.  There are good rules that are on the ballot.  We make the determination about which folks get elected and what rules for living we will be living with until the next opportunity to vote comes along.  PRAY, RESEARCH, PRAY, VOTE, PRAY!!!

Serving HIM by serving You,
randy
<>< 

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