Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Star Wars (Main Title)" (John Williams and the London Symphony Orchestra)

...A short time ago in a blogosphere really, really close by...

Ok, now you've got an earworm!  Me too!!!  But we'll have to wait just a minute because, you know, the opener and all...

Welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes where a variety of music is utilized in a myriad of ways that perhaps you've never thought of!  Go ahead, check out the archives and see if it isn't the widest array of musical genres that you've ever experienced.  You can find the archives for all 513 of our trepidacious trips into Tuesday's Musical Notesland on the left-hand side of your screen.  But watch, out!  The Surgeon General warns that reading Tuesday's Musical Notes could be habit-forming.  It's like opening a new bag of Doritos...you can't eat just one, but I digress!  It's Tuesday and let's get started with the OTHER three most recognizable notes in music (the most recognizable is probably the opening lick to Beethoven's Fifth, but his track didn't make the top Twenty on Billboard!).

"Star Wars (Main Title)" by John Williams and The London Symphony Orchestra from the 1977 Motion Picture Soundtrack

It was a movie that began many things.  Its music inspired a generation of high school and college bands to reach the standards of the London Symphony, who performed it first.  As stated, it has one of the most recognizable introductions in all of music history and solidified the bourgeoning soundtrack market around the world.  And as far as movies go...this movie provided a modicum of hope.

"Star Wars (Main Title)" is one of those rare instrumental movie songs that are so incredible and popular that they are produced and released as a single.  This single peaked at #10 on Billboard's Hot 100.  While this isn't unheard of for instrumental songs, it is a rare thing for a nouveau classical song.  The song and its b-side "Cantina Band" were compiled as a disco, mash-up by Meco and charted concurrently with its inspiration charting, going all the way to #1.

Let's face it.  The modern movie soundtrack has become the "Classical" music of our day.  And there has been no one to surpass the genius that is John Williams.  He turned 90 years old this year and continues to compose music that will be our generation's contribution to the classical music realm.  Here's a brief featurette on the conductor and composer:  "Composer John Williams" - CBS Sunday Morning - September 22, 2019

The subtitle of the first Star Wars film is "A New Hope".  As the crawler scrolls, with William's main title providing the background we soon read about a galaxy that is in jeopardy of being ruled by an evil tyrant.  But there is hope.  As we proceed into the movie, that hope comes in the form of a teenage boy who is very strong in the "force".  Luke is a typical teenager working for his uncle in what seems to him to be a dead-end gig.  But there is hope.  Luke encounters a set of droids who "accidentally" display a message from a princess who proclaims the despair of the situation the galaxy is in.  But there is hope...

Seem familiar?  It should.  This whole storyline reads like the outline for another story that the Notes have been visiting lately...

Ezekiel 16-36 New American Standard Bible/ The Amplified Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel

Our prophet Ezekiel finds himself in familiar territory as he continues to pronounce the future through examples over the next 20 chapters of his book.  It seems that there will never be an end to the gloom and doom and then all of a sudden...there is hope.  Jerusalem is denounced for its rebellious debauchery and then there is hope in the form of God's grace.  The nation is about to be carried off like eagles carrying away their prey and then there is hope in the form of God's restoration and salvation.  The surrounding nations are harshly and destructively judged for their treacherous treatment of God's chosen people and then there is hope in the form of Israel serving as priests to the nations. 

So many shadows and mirror images in our world today...and there continues to be hope. 

You see friend, there is always hope.  In mankind, there is always a glimmer of seeing that things will turn out for the best.  That's not to say that many trials and sometimes devastation may have to be endured to reach that place of hope, yet it does exist.  That hope comes from the continuous promises of God, the One who created you and me.  As we have seen time and again in the Bible before Ezekiel, during Ezekiel, and will see in the future pages we will traverse, God is still providing new hope every day.  

We are fast approaching a date on which most people in the world celebrate, Easter.  The realities of that day are the ultimate expression of hope.  

Imagine if you will, an itinerant preacher who had performed miraculous things is brought up on charges of blasphemy.  But there is hope... This preacher is then found guilty in an illegal trial and sentenced to be crucified, the vilest and most dehumanizing form of capital punishment ever devised.  But there is hope... His executioners, friends, and even some of those He had healed watched as the One whom his followers thought would be a peaceful king died.  But there is hope... Those who tended to his corpse had to do so quickly as the time of their most important religious observance, Passover, was approaching within hours.  But there is hope... His body was placed in a sealed tomb and was not touched until Passover was complete.  But there is hope...  

The hope of a few of His followers was manifested in a tomb that no longer was sealed and no longer held His body.  The hope of many more of His followers were consolidated as they saw Him, alive and in person.  The hope of His most intimate friends was sealed forever as He ministered to them in person and gave them the instructions on which to live the remainder of their lives.  The hope of our eternity future was ordained as He ascended to go represent us before God.

So dear friend, as we continue our journey through the great stories of the Bible, we must always view them through the lens of our eternal hope.  No, it is not a new hope.  It is the most ancient hope that we have ever experienced.  The God who created us ensures us that even though we live in a world that is tainted and there seems to be much pain and suffering all around us, there is hope.  

That hope comes in the form of God the Son, the man Jesus.  If you'd like to know more, please email me at rawacr@gmail.com...

'Til Tuesday,

Loving HIM by Loving You,

randy

 

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" (Green Day)

ADVISORY:  Today's Musical Notes features a song that has language that is unsuitable for those under 18.  The language is one instance and is not the vernacular that is typical for Tuesday's Musical Notes.  We apologize if this offends, yet we stand by the fact that this song adequately reflects the period by which we will be exploring.  

Many times living our life is symbolically represented by going down a road or pathway.  "Journey" seems to be a term that is used ad naseum as of late.  While we like to think that our travelogue will be replete with good weather and well-maintained, government-funded thoroughfares, the reality is that the avenues in which our lives are traveling are much like the highways that our cars are traversing.  Potholes exist, curves are plentiful, and if you're not careful to check the weather (especially if you live in Arkansas, Oklahoma, or Texas), you may just run into the occasional icy path, flooded bridge, or boulevard that has also been chosen by a tornado.  

Travelling has also been a frequent topic here in the place we call Notesland.  One only needs to search for the word "road" and you come up with a variety of Tuesday's Musical Notes to fill your Route 66 journey.  Fair enough, you need to keep your hands on the wheel.  Here's the search:  "Road" songs at Tuesday's Musical Notes

What we find as we're runnin' down the highway, is that there truly are many similarities between life and our time spent traveling on the world bypasses.    Sometimes we can find ourselves experiencing the euphoria of a picturesque landscape as we gaze from the mountaintops, and other times, we find sadness cloaked in the glovebox as we wander down a...

"Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" from the September 21, 2004 album American Idiot by Green Day

Released as the 2nd track from Green Day's rock opera American Idiot, "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" reflects the subdued flipside to the first single's ("Holiday") exuberance.  

The 2004 single seemed to define a decade as its popularity increased.  It remains Green Day's highest-charting single as it peaked at # 2 on Billboard's Hot 100.  It was #1 on Rolling Stone's Readers Choice: Single Of The Decade list.  "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" is the 9th best-selling single from 2000-2009 and to date, is the only single to win the Record of the Year Grammy and the MTV Video of the Year award in the same year.  

"Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" reflects the solitude and apprehension felt at the apex of aspirations that have gone unfulfilled or have been sidetracked by the circumstances of life.  Despair and angst are the prevailing occupants of the "shotgun seat" as the singer finds it difficult to regroup after disappointment and failure.  The "coming down" from the mountaintop experience is filled with detours and unfinished bridges as our protagonist's perception is one that his shadow is the only "ride or die" that he has left and there is no reason to continue the trip.  What was once exuberance has now faded into exasperation.  

If you're human there have been moments at the very least where you have succumbed to those feelings of being directionless and lost.  This isn't uncommon among men but at times one feels like they are all by themselves as they search for the reparation of their dreams.  History is filled with those who have been part of a national experience of despair...

Ezekiel 11-15 New American Standard Bible/The Amplified Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel

The great stories of the Bible reflect every aspect of the human condition.  In its pages, every emotion you will feel is expressed plainly and sometimes provocatively.  There are many instances similar to today's song where individuals and nations feel a loneliness that they seemingly cannot overcome.

Today, the prophet Ezekiel continues telling Israel of the coming demise that is about to be inflicted upon them because of their idolatry.  In the passages today, Ezekiel warns that the hypocritical behavior of its rulers has been one of the leading factors to the prophecy of God's aforementioned departure from dwelling amidst His people in the temple.  God shows His love and mercy by encouraging the people through Ezekiel that an end to their loneliness and despair would be forthcoming, yet many trials lie ahead as God's discipline was to be metered out on the nation.  Their decisions to outright rebel against God by violating the laws exposited in Leviticus came with the consequences of which Ezekiel was now prophesying.  

God's discipline is not reserved for just the hypocritical rulers.  He then begins to illuminate the falsehoods of other prophets of the region who have been placating the people by telling them "all is well".  Ezekiel follows God's roadsigns with the next segment of national "leaders" as he demands justice from the elders of Israel who should have been the examples and keepers of the law for the nation.  Finally, the complete annihilation of Jerusalem, the holiest of cities to the Judahites, would be the strike against the nation that would send despondency and despair throughout its population.  It seemed that to get through the destruction of Jerusalem was the ultimate expression of going down the "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams"...

So what?  How does this apply to you and me?  We don't live in the Middle East.  Jerusalem is a city that is thriving, even though there remains constant tension.  

There are some eerie parallels between the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah and our world today.  Many feel we are in the last days of the existence of the earth as we know it.  Go ahead.  Take roll call on the Ten Commandments.  How are we doing on that?  Not so good.  It seems we have a variety of idols that take us away from worshiping the One True God.  

Ok, let's make it easier.  Jesus said that there were only 2 commandments.  "Love God, Love Everybody else"  The Gospel of Jesus according to Matthew, the tax collector, chapter 22, verses 34-40 NASB/AMP/KJV,   The Gospel of Jesus according to Mark, a disciple of the apostle Peter, chapter 12, verses 28-34 NASB/AMP/KJV    Ummm, I don't think invading a sovereign country is very loving, Mr. Putin.  Prayers for our friends in Ukraine!!!  Hey America, have YOU looked in a mirror lately?  That whole Thou Shall Not Kill thing still applies regardless of what our laws are regarding abortion.

Drilling this down further, I am convicted that I don't love God enough.  If I did I would certainly display actions that express that love to those He sends onto my "Boulevard" more than I do.  How about you?

We weren't created to walk alone.  We were created to be with God, forever.  We disrupt that relationship every day of our lives, yet in His mercy and grace, He forgives if we repent of the things that cause that disruption and ask Him to forgive.  

We weren't created to walk an empty street.  We were created to be surrounded by folks that we magnetically love.  We were created for "good works" that are the tangible expressions of that love.  We were created to use that love to show others, Jesus.  

Believing friend, take this challenge to love others more today than you did yesterday.  Take the challenge to allow fewer things to disrupt your relationship with God today than you did yesterday.  Beg Holy Spirit to make you more mature in your walk with Him and make you more like the person Jesus was when He was here on earth.

Friend, if you don't have your relationship with God restored yet, please know that I am praying that you will right now.  You only have to believe in Jesus and cry out to God for forgiveness.   From that point on, you'll never find yourself walking alone on the proverbial  "Boulevard of Broken Dreams".

'Til Tuesday,

Loving HIM by Loving You,

randy

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Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Watching the Wheels" (John Lennon)

Hey there!  Did you make the weekend time trip?  "Let's do the time warp again!"  Sorry, that just slipped out.  Ahh, Arizona, where they never see a time adjustment to their clocks every year.  Hmmm...what's the weather like in Phoenix?

Anyway, we are glad that you are joining us for our weekly Tuesday blog adventure, Tuesday's Musical Notes!

This is the place where we have unraveled the deep, deep questions... wait we've explored some musical landscapes but I'm not sure what we do around here could ever be considered deep.  Let's try again, shall we?  

This is the place where we have uncovered the secrets and mysteries...no that's not quite right either.  We've learned some things about music and perhaps some things about ourselves, but none of it has been shrouded and hidden outside of our reach.  Ok, one more shot.  

This is the place where we've read together about the interesting facts of our favorite songs and artists and discovered how those lyrics can be interpreted in life-altering ways.  Closer? ...Well, let's go with that one anyway!

Welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes where some days we are content with...

"Watching The Wheels" from the November 17, 1980 album release Double Fantasy by John Lennon

"Watching The Wheels" is the last of three singles released from John Lennon's final studio album Double Fantasy. ("Woman" (#2), and "(Just Like) Starting Over"(#1) were the other singles) "Watching The Wheels" was released in March of 1981 following his murder in December of 1980.  "Watching The Wheels" followed the other 2 singles into the top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100, peaking at #10.  

John Lennon (https://tuesdaysmusicalnotes.blogspot.com/2020/12/tuesdays-musical-notes-happy-xmas-war.html) had been a very busy musician for many years.  His life with The Beatles is well cataloged. His discography after The Beatles breakup included 10 albums (5 credited solo and 5 in partnership with Yolo Ono) in a space of 5 years.  During which time he married Yoko and had his 2nd son Sean.  (His other son, Julian ("Too Late For Goodbyes"), was born to his first wife Cynthia, whom Lennon had divorced in 1968. Julian is the Jude  in "Hey Jude" (originally "Hey Jules") written by McCartney to console the young Julian through the divorce.)

"Watching The Wheels" was in response to those who had been critical of Lennon's 1975-1980 departure from the music scene.  It lyrically expressed his thoughts about his "househusband" time as he invested in his son Sean who was born in 1975.  He was determined to slow the pace of his life and make the time count with his new son, even if it meant just sitting watching wheels go 'round and 'round.  John Lennon wouldn't be the first to observe wheels doing what wheels do...

Ezekiel 10 New American Standard Bible/The Amplified Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel

Ezekiel's first experience with the wheels within wheels came earlier in the book that bears his name.  (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Wheel In The Sky" (Journey))  The difference in this vision is that these wheels are not carrying God's presence to Ezekiel to tell the prophet what to tell the people, but to warn them that if they did not repent, the wheels would be the instruments by which God's presence would depart from them.  

God's presence had existed in some form with the nation of Israel since their exodus from Egypt.  A cloud by day and a fire by night indicated when and where they were to travel.  This presence of God among His people led them through their dalliances with disobedience and brought them to the Promised Land, despite their constant rebellion. For 1200 years, God's presence in some form assured the nation that they would be prosperous if they would uphold their end of the covenant established at the base of Mt. Sinai.  Which they did not.  Go back and check the archives for details of Moses and the covenants that would become the 10 commandments.  You can find the search box in the upper left-hand corner.  And now back to our story, already in progress...

God has finally had enough of their rebellion and tells Ezekiel that He would no longer dwell among His people.  Ezekiel observes the wheels again and then sees them transport God away from the temple and out of the people's presence.  The imminent destruction was evident to Ezekiel as the presence of God was an indicator of the nation's survival.  Without God's presence, they would never make it as a nation.  Hmmm...a lesson to be learned? 

It is perhaps somewhat difficult for us to grasp the tragedy of Ezekiel's visions regarding God's presence leaving them.  Yet the Israelites had continued in their idolatry despite God's efforts to warn them through His prophets with their visions and preaching.  This would begin a very dark time in the nation's history.  While they would be allowed to return to Jerusalem after their captivity, it would be over 400 years before the nation would see the opportunity for God's presence to dwell among them again.  

God wouldn't dwell among the people again until the Gospels of the New Testament tell their stories.  

For folks today, it is difficult for Ezekiel's "wheels taking God's presence away" vision to find resonance.  We are inundated with the catchphrases, "we're all God's children" and that "God is love".  While the second statement is patently true, the first is an amalgamation of theologies that distort the truth.  

Mankind is the image-bearer of God.  We were created to have a relationship with Him that was perfect.  While we were created in form and spirit like God, we ruined the relational aspect with our image-bearer at the Garden of Eden.  Because of our rebellion, we no longer could dwell in God's presence.  But wait, Randy, I'm not in rebellion against God.  I'm a good person.  I don't do bad things.  Oh, really?  

Let's do a bit of self-examination with the Bible as our standard shall we?

The Bible says that everyone sins and that no one is truly good.  That includes me.  That includes you.  All means all.  Romans 3 NASB/AMP/KJV

The Bible says that our lack of righteousness and sin deserves punishment.  But God made a way for us to be considered righteous and sin-free.  Romans 6:23 NASB/AMP/KJV;  Romans 5:6-8 NASB/AMP/KJV; 

The Bible says that through Jesus we can have our relationship with God restored AND we will escape punishment.  Romans 10:8-11 NASB/AMP/KJV

The Bible tells us in The Gospel of Jesus according to the fisherman Matthew NASB/AMP/KJV, 

The Gospel of Jesus according to Mark NASB/AMP/KJV, The Gospel of Jesus according to the physician Luke NASB/AMP/KJV, and The Gospel of Jesus according to the fisherman John NASB/AMP/KJV, the specifics of how Jesus restores our relationship with God and makes us adopted children with all the privileges of heirs of His kingdom.  The Gospel according to the fisherman John, chapter 12, verse 32 All means all.  

The Bible speaks of the simplicity of salvation, but we make it so difficult.  You only have to believe by faith that Jesus was Who He said He was and did what the Bible said He did and your eternity future will be altered completely.  Romans 10:12-13 NASB/AMP/KJV

The Bible tells us that at the point of our salvation, God restores His presence in us via Holy Spirit's dwelling in our beings.  Ephesians 2:19-22 NASB/AMP/KJV

So what's next?  Well, the Bible tells us something about that as well.  1 Peter 2:5-8 NASB/AMP/KJV  

Did you see that?  According to Peter, a man who was in the inner circle of Jesus, once we have obtained our faith, we are to begin adding to it some things.  As you look at the list, they seem to have their difficulty obtaining level increase with each addition, but they are certainly worth it as they are all attributes that Jesus exhibits in the aforementioned Gospels.  It seems that we aren't perhaps endowed with all of these virtues at the point of our salvation.  The King James Version of the Bible suggests here that we are to add them to the toolbox of the previous attributes.  Perhaps going so far as to suggest that we shouldn't try to attempt the next until we have one virtue acceptably mastered.  

Add to your faith, goodness.  Once you've got goodness under control, add to that knowledge. (This is knowledge of God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit that we can only obtain by a study of HIS WORD)  Check off knowledge and then move to self-control.  (Yeah, that's a tough one too!)  Get yourself under control, then you can have a mutual affection for everyone.  All means all.  Once you like 'em, take it up a notch and love them.  Yup, you DO have to like folks BEFORE you love them.  

As you can see, we don't have time to be watching the wheels go 'round and 'round.  God's presence is the key.  What direction do we want to see those wheels traveling?  Towards us or away from us?  Time is short.  People will say you're crazy.   Folks may shake their heads and look at you like you've lost your mind, they'll ask questions as they are lost in their confusion.  They'll give you all kinds of advice in an attempt to enlighten you. But rest assured.  Once you have restored your relationship with God, your response to their queries about your previous life?   ...I just had to let it go...

'Til Tuesday,

Loving HIM by Loving You,

randy

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Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Seek And Destroy" (Metallica)

The first week or so of March always seems to bring about an air of excitement for me.  The NCAA men's basketball tournaments (Conference and The Big Dance) become a focus for many.  I find myself  (because I'm in Arkansas) waking up to a new weather reality every day. And with the Spring Break season peeking around the corner, the countdown for the end of the school year is close at hand. 

This particular end of the school year is poignant for me and perhaps for all of those that graduated high school in the class of 1982.  Yup, that's 40 years!  Reunion conversations abound as memories flood.  With the advent of social media, it has been significantly easier to reconnect to those with whom you graduated and perhaps ensure a high percentage of classmates will attend such a gathering.

So what do you do at a 40th High School reunion in the age of social media? When reconnecting online you may have taken the opportunity to catch up with your classmate's life.  So what is left?  Reminisce, eat, introduce spouses or dates, reminisce some more.  You then converse about related life experiences, the loss of parents or other classmates, retirement (plans for. if not already in the midst of), and then of course the blessings of grandkids. "I just happen to have some pictures on my phone..."  Phone? Yup, we are living out Star Trek.

There was an attitude evident in the early graduating classes of the 80s.  From 1980-1986ish, we were ready to change the world in ways that no one had ever considered.  We were determined that no one would stand in our way.  We would get the things out of life we wanted regardless of the cost. I guess in some ways we were out to seek and destroy...

"Seek And Destroy" by Metallica, from the July 25, 1983 album Kill "Em All (Note: scary Halloween masks worn by the band may not be appropriate for children, no bad lyrics (we try our best to keep that filtered out of The Notes) just a few scary images)

Releasing about a year after our graduation day was the first album by the band Metallica, Kill 'Em All.  The first song recorded in the studio wound up being the 9th track, "Seek And Destroy".  Influences for the song came from the English Heavy Metal bands Diamond Head ("Dead Reckoning") and Saxon ("Princess Of The Night").  

"Seek And Destroy" has become a staple in arenas that feature harder edge sporting events such as hockey, rugby, and wrestling. From 1992 to 2015, covers of "Seek And Destroy" have been included on albums by 12 Metal acts.  The song is a staple of Metallica live shows and has been used live by 8 other heavy metal bands at their shows (these performances are not available on any label recording). "Seek And Destroy" ranks at #4 on AOL Radio's list of best Metallica songs.  

"Seek And Destroy" is a dark song.  It taps into an energy that all people can feel at one time or another.  It also explores the very nature of going after something with the intent to eliminate it.  The theme is also something that is eluded to in visions that are occurring in the life of the prophet Ezekiel, whose life we have been probing by looking at the Bible book that bears his name.  

Ezekiel 9 New American Standard Bible/The Amplified Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel   

The Bible as a whole is a book that is filled with hope and promise.  God is love, right? However, those encouraging aspects are tainted by the darkness brought into the world by the actions of the first people in Genesis.  We must understand that a loving creator God will not allow disobedience from His creation.  We may say this multiple times today, but there are consequences for our actions.  

As we read the Bible, especially the Old Testament prophets, we must look through a dual-lens.  Prophecy tends to just bend that way.  Passages that fulfill prophecy later in the Bible narrative also have, can and will take place again as history works its way to eternity.   The challenge we face is what did the passage mean at the moment it was occurring, what does it mean for us today, and what does it tell us about the future?  

In Ezekiel 9 we see one of those occurrences as Ezekiel is continuing in the vision from the previous chapter. (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Can't You See" (The Marshall Tucker Band))  Ezekiel has seen the abominations that the children of Israel were perpetrating in Jerusalem and the rest of Israel.  In chapter 9 the consequences of their actions are on full display as God's wrath is poured out through agents who are sent to seek and destroy.  

As Ezekiel's vision regarding Jerusalem continues, God prepares 6 "executioners of the city", one of which is a scribe.  The scribe is to go about putting a mark on those who are appalled by the disobedient, abominable actions of the people.  The executioners are instructed to kill 'em all except for those who have the scribe's mark.  Ezekiel finds himself being the only one left alive as he cries out to God, "Oh, Lord God! Are You going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel by pouring out Your wrath on Jerusalem?"  To which God replies, "But as for Me, My eye will have no pity nor will I spare, but I will bring their conduct upon their heads.”  

Did you catch that last phrase?  "I will bring their conduct upon their heads."  It is true that in Ezekiel's vision, God is speaking of the Israelites.  Remember the dual-lens we spoke of earlier?  If the things described in chapter 8 of Ezekiel are any indication of what is an abomination, our world is in trouble soon.  The "seek and destroy" order issued in chapter 9 is the result of the arrogance and pride of the nation as they refused to turn away from their idolatry. Ezekiel's vision portends, "...there is no escape and that is for sure, this is the end we won't take anymore..."  They refused to turn away from the things that God had promised would cause national and individual destruction, so the consequences were national and individual destruction.   

We must be very careful if we find ourselves taking a condemning view of the Israelites.  Some self-exploration of our world would soon reveal some of the EXACT same abominations as Ezekiel witnessed in his vision of Jerusalem.  Malachi 3:6 tells us that God doesn't change.  Given that, should we not expect that God will soon say of us, "My eye will have no pity nor will I spare, but will bring their conduct upon their heads."? 

Ok, so we don't go down the dark, scary hole too far, let's remember that God is love.  So how can we be saved from God's "seek and destroy" order?  According to Ezekiel's vision for Israel, a scribe will place a mark on those who are not to be harmed.  I confess to not knowing whether this is a literal action or symbolic.  I do know that those who have surrendered their will to God's will are "marked" by what Paul calls the "fruits of the Spirit" as they believe in Jesus' sacrifice on their behalf.  

 

Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control are those lifestyles by which we show an evidentiary "mark" of being saved from the executioners.  Galatians 5:19-25 NASB/AMP/KJV Are we able to be these things all the time?  Nope.  We will fail, but the Bible says that if we repent of those times where our "mark" is not on display, He is just and willing to forgive us for that and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9 NASB/AMP/KJV

So where are you friend?  Are you being driven insane by the evil feeling in your brain or are you marked with confidence and calm that is given to you by Holy Spirit's dwelling inside of you?  Both of these lifestyles have consequences.  

The question becomes, what happens to you when God's wrath is poured out and He says..."seek and destroy"...Read His word and then read the news...you may need to change your lifestyle.  Another prophet, Isaiah, provides some pretty good advice... "seek Him while He may be found..."  Isaiah 55:6 NASB/AMP/KJV As always, we're here to help you do that.  Email me for more information (click here)

'Til Tuesday,

Loving HIM by Loving You,

randy

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Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Can't You See" (The Marshall Tucker Band)

 

Here we are.  It's the 1st day of March.  Today, it's time for Tuesday's Musical Notes where we get to share a couple of moments on a blog about music and musings.  It is an important day for many reasons.

On the other side of the world, a nation fights to maintain its identity, culture, and sovereignty.  Tuesday's Musical Notes has always had readers in Ukraine and as they have supported us in the past, we support them now.  Please know that we are praying without ceasing on your behalf to the God of all things.   We hope that those who read The Notes in Ukraine are safe, yet vigilant in their quest to remain free.  We pray for peace and a cessation of hostilities for all of the good people of Ukraine. 

For President Zelensky we pray for continued safety, wisdom, and tenacity as we express our admiration of your heroism.  We pray for a heart change in the life of President Putin as we are dismayed by your actions.  We pray for leaders on the world stage for insight and ingenuity as we view your responses. 

We are inundated with images from the other side of the world that are shocking.  "Can't You See?"  We are heartbroken at the lives that have been shattered (on both sides of the conflict).  "Can't You See?"  We are encouraged as we witness the reactive bravery by common people and their sacrifices as see their world upended.  Most of all we are comforted by the idea that this will be over soon.  "Can't You See?"  

"Can't You See" from the eponymous April 1973 album by The Marshall Tucker Band

The first single from the debut album by The Marshall Tucker Band (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Fire On The Mountain" (The Marshall Tucker Band)) never really did much in terms of lighting up the charts.  Its impact however on music and the culture has been huge.  While it peaked at #75 (as a rerelease, the original went as high as #108), it has been covered by some well-known artists including Waylon Jennings (1976. #4 Billboard's US Country Songs), the Zac Brown Band w/Kid Rock (2010, #11 Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles) and lesser-known artists like The Minglewood Band (1979). Black Stone Cherry, and most recently the virtual band Kelly and the Ding Dongs (2021).  "Can't You See" has also been used in the major motion picture releases, Blow (Johnny Depp, 2001), Swing Vote (Kevin Costner, 2008), and I, Tonya (Margot Robbie, 2017).

I have to confess an affinity for The Marshall Tucker Band.  Having lived my entire life in the Southeastern portion of the United States, bands from this region soon became familiar and favorites as I transitioned from a Country/Western upbringing to discover the music of my teen years.  Solidifying my love for this style of Rock and Roll, I made a copy of my brother's cassette that Ktel put out as an album in 1980 called Southern Fried Rock.  (Only available in vinyl, look it up at discogs.com)  I soon found myself gravitating towards any of the artists on this record with my top three being Lynyrd Skynyrd (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Simple Man" (Lynyrd Skynyrd)), 38 Special (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Teacher, Teacher" (.38 Special)), and of course today's feature artists, The Marshall Tucker Band.

"Can't You See" is a song about the debilitating effects of a relationship gone wrong.  The singer just wants to get as far away from the situation as he can.  He takes a freight train, finds a hole in a wall, then goes back to the rails as he attempts to recover from "what that woman been doin' to me".  And yes, here comes the requisite similarities between God and the relationship He has with mankind, but first let's see what God says to Ezekiel about the breakup He has with Judah and specifically Jerusalem. 

Ezekiel 8 New American Standard Bible/The Amplified Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel

As we continue exploring life in captivity with Ezekiel we soon see God speaking to him again through a series of visions.  A couple of things to notice.  The first vision occurred when Ezekiel was in the presence of the elders of Judah.  They were in captivity in Babylon (near the Chebar River). There was a pretty good chance that the events of Daniel were happening about this same time.  God provides Ezekiel with a birdseye view of the idolatry and abominations that the Israelites were continuing to perpetrate in Jerusalem, even after the city had been defeated in battle and its citizens were taken captive as the consequences of their sin destroyed the relationship they had with God.  "Can't you see, can't you see..."

God served as a tour guide for Ezekiel as He detailed the atrocities that were continuing to happen.  God brought Ezekiel to the north gate and there was the sin of worshiping an idol.  "Can't you see?".  God brought Ezekiel through a hole in a wall of the temple courtyard and there was the sin of worshiping living creatures that were being led by 70 elders of Israel.  "Can't you see?".  God brought Ezekiel to the gate that was the temple entrance and there was the sin of women weeping over the idol Tammuz.  "Can't you see?".  Finally, God brought Ezekiel to the inner courtyard of the temple grounds and there was the sin of 25 men prostrate on the ground worshiping the sun.  "Can't you see?".  

5 different times God asked Ezekiel "Can't you see?" or a derivative form (v. 6, 9, 12, 15, and 17 ). Each time Ezekiel was shown the secrets that God's light was revealing.  Each time God told Ezekiel to brace himself for even more abominations.  God's response to His tour of Jerusalem?  "...Therefore, I indeed will deal in wrath. My eye will have no pity nor will I spare; and though they cry out in My ears with a loud voice, yet I will not listen to them.”

What is God showing us today as He takes us on a tour of our world?  "Can't you see?".  What is God showing us as He takes us on a tour of our country?  "Can't you see?"  What is God showing us as He takes us on a tour of our individual lives?  "Can't you see?".  Idolatry exists in the form of regions that practice serving multiple gods.  Idolatry exists in the form of those in the world who would worship the created over the Creator.  There is an effort to indoctrinate our world in the worship of our planet and its universe.  

Our world, our country, and each of us individually must realize and repent from the sin that God shows us in every area.  Our only salvation from the same kind of wrath that God promised on the city of Jerusalem is by the grace that God gave us in the form of Jesus.  Only through a restored relationship with God through Jesus (salvation) and then a working out of our relationship (sanctification) through Holy Spirit can we fully see what God has been doing all along.  

In light of the recent events in the world, and to some extent the apathy in the evangelical church, I firmly believe that God is asking us, "Can't you see, oh, can't you see, what that woman (our world) has been doin' to me?"  Our response?  "Yes God we see it and we will do all that we can to help others see it and restore the relationship before you decide to board a freight train down at the station...

'Til Tuesday,

Loving HIM by Loving You,

randy

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