Welcome to Tuesday!
We hope this week's edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes, first of all, finds you and yours safe. We were dramatically reminded last Friday in the central part of the United States what the entry into Spring can mean for those in Tornado Alley as March roared out like a lion. All along the Mississippi River corridor, storms ravaged towns small and large, and displaced thousands if not millions.
The Notes encourages you to contribute generously to relief efforts for those affected by the storm's devastation. Monetary gifts if you can, service gifts if possible, clothing, and other needed resources would certainly be welcomed and appreciated. Check websites for reputable routing sources and relief centers. Attempt to do as much locally as you can so you make sure your community gets your gifts. The Notes is praying without ceasing for those who have been affected.
Did you know that Tuesday's Musical Notes is produced by Cross & Kin Productions? While Tuesday's Musical Notes has been around for over a decade (go check out our Top Ten of the Decade countdown here: Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Ten Years Gone" (Led Zeppelin)), we recently launched our second family-friendly endeavor over on YouTube, our channel Cross & Kin. The newest video is Cross & Kin's Creative Director (who happens to be my daughter) Kristen and me, imagining how we would use modern-day actors to recast the classic film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang" (Heather Ripley, Adrian Hall, Dick Van Dyke)). Check it out at Cross & Kin - "Let' Recast It! Episode 3 - "Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang"". While you're there (Cross & Kin YouTube channel) check out all of the other videos we have and watch for a new Cross & Kin every other week! As Kristen always says, "Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, Comment, and click on the Notification Bell to see when the Next Cross & Kin drops.
Let's see...mentioned the need for tornado relief...promoted Cross & Kin...seems like I'm forgetting something...Oh Yeah! It's time for Tuesday's Musical Notes! It is the reason you came here in the first place, isn't it?
This week a new song discovery from an artist whose music I am beginning to appreciate a little more with each song with which I am exposed. Her name is Sara Bareilles. Her song that I discovered today..."Brave"
Yup, I have danced like that a couple of times...oh the college years after our first last date, first kiss, when she said "yes"...but I digress. The music video was directed by actress Rashida Jones (Boston Public, The Office, Parks and Recreation, et.al) I bet she danced too...
"Brave" was written in 2013 by Bareilles and Jack Antonoff (lead singer - Bleachers, drummer, guitarist - Fun). It was the first single from the fourth of seven studio albums by Sara Bareilles and was produced with the intent of getting a good rotation on popular radio. This it did pretty well as it went up the charts all the way to #23 marking it Bareilles' third single to crack Billboard's Hot 100. (2007's "Love Song" from her first album, Little Voice was the first. Peaking at #4. "I Choose You" from The Blessed Unrest peaked at #81.)
"Brave" received positive reviews and got the airplay that a #23 ranking on the charts merited. It also marked somewhat of a departure from Bareilles' normally jazz-influenced, introspective lyric, slower ballad offerings.. "Brave" makes you wanna get up and dance with the folks in the video with its upbeat sound and lyrics...well maybe at least tap your toe some.
As fun as the song is, it is not devoid of some controversy. But let's face it, don't most fun or at least engaging songs come shrouded with a bit of controversy? This one, however, involves Katy Perry and her song "Roar", which was released four months after today's featured song, "Brave". They are so much alike that fans took to social media in droves to defend their favorite version of the song. Fans were far more impassioned about the similarities than Bereilles or Perry as they cited their friendship and stayed far above the fray, suggesting that the airplay of one song supported the discovery and airplay of the other. Kudos to both artists for taking the high road!
Here's the outcome of the outcry, if you will, the YouTube mashup of both songs: Roar vs. Brave Mashup Both songs encourage folks to be the best person they can be while remaining true to themselves in the process. "Brave," I think is a bit more fun and encompasses a more encouraging message to speak out when you know you are right. The Notes suggest that before being brave or bold and speaking out, that you make sure you are absolutely positive that you are right, much like some fellows from ancient history that we have visited before...
"...Everybody's been there. Everybody's been stared down, by the enemy. Fallen for the fear and done some disappearing..."
The apostles of Jesus were some of the bravest folks ever recorded in history. They had been witness to events that we can only imagine. They had followed their teacher/master for three years watching Him heal, and love folks in ways they had never witnessed before. While they did not completely understand all that was going on and everything Jesus taught, they did stay with Him until His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. Fearful for their own lives and in a moment of unquestionable doubt and trepidation, they scattered throughout Jerusalem. Two of them, Peter and John, likely saw the execution of Jesus on a cross and undoubtedly felt guilty at their inability to do anything about it. These same two apostles were startled by women who saw an empty tomb (which believers celebrate this weekend, He is risen!! He is risen indeed!!!). Peter and John rushed to the tomb and encountered events that reminded them of what they had been told; "tear down this temple, and in three days I will rebuild it..." They gathered the remaining disciples together in secret and waited as they had been instructed to do. They then watched in awe as the risen Jesus appeared before their eyes promising a Comforter/Helper that would take His place. They were emboldened by power through Holy Spirit rushing on them like a mighty wind and they were never the same, fearful, doubtful, trepidatious folks ever again. How do we know this? History records that all of the apostles persevered through extraordinary persecution, and all but one died, as martyrs. To me, that speaks of undying bravery.
Today's Scripture has a theme that resonates to encourage us today. The folks in Jerusalem, especially the ruling class, were astounded by the authority and boldness by which Peter and John spoke. They were made keenly aware of this as the crippled man from last week's passage stands beside the apostles healed by His belief in the Gospel they were proclaiming. Inflamed by the acts of the apostles, the priests arrested Peter and John and kept them overnight in prison while they determined what their next course of action would be.
Peter and John never wavered in their convictions and were seen as bold even by their captors, further confounding the issues the religious leaders had with them. Peter and John's message however resounded among the people and many lives were changed as people in Jerusalem believed the Gospel about Jesus. The Bible says the count was 5000 men. Women and younger men were probably among those being saved but weren't numbered because of the culture of the time thus making for a much larger number than 5000.
The next day, the high priest and his "council" met to determine what to do with Peter and John and to hear what they had to say for themselves. "By what authority did you heal this man?" Door open...Peter walks right on through. "...Say what you wanna say. And let the words fall out. Honestly, I wanna see you be brave"
Oh to be so brave when I'm given such an opportunity. Peter lets them have the full Gospel of Jesus as he recounts by whose power the man was healed. In the process, Peter takes the opportunity to remind this priestly council that they were the ones who had ordered the conviction and crucifixion of Jesus. Peter concludes with the absolute bravest thing he could possibly say, "...And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Then it clicks with the priests...these guys are the ones who were with that Nazarene! They speak with such boldness and authority we hardly recognized them as the uneducated Gallileans who followed Him. And then the conundrum. "What are we gonna do with them? We can't throw them in jail and prosecute, there is nothing they have done. And 5000 men just came over to their cause. I know, so this movement doesn't keep spreading, let's sternly warn them to not speak in this name ever again..." Does this seem as ridiculous to you as it does to me?
Peter and John had their "brave sockets" hypercharged by Holy Spirit. There was no way they were going to be backing down from this stern warning. What is the apostle's reply? "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” The council warned them again and let them go. Scripture says the rulers were intimidated by the surge of folks who were praising God on account of the man who was healed who was more than forty years old and had been crippled since birth. The crowd saw a reason to rejoice and it emboldened them, even in a season of compromised rulers and Roman oppression, to be brave and celebrate God's miracle.
The apostles go back to their gathering of friends and fellow disciples and tell them everything that happened. Then they joined their voices and praised God through prayer and Scripture at the events of the day. God's affirmation of their prayers comes in the form of the place where they were gathered being shaken and Holy Spirit's power being manifested in everyone there. The Spirit's power was so palatable that they all began preaching and speaking about Jesus with the boldness that Peter and John had exhibited earlier. Imagine how many other folks got their lives changed because these believers, infused by Holy Spirit, were brave, as they spoke about Jesus and what He had done for mankind, His victory over death, and the restoration to God that He offered.
So how brave are you friend? If you are a believer, do you boldly go about letting your life actions, choices, and speech denote one who follows Jesus under any circumstance? Will you be brave and proclaim Him as Lord and Savior over your life? Will you allow Holy Spirit's power to infuse your life, enabling you to do things that fear and timidity have held you back from doing? Will you be brave as persecution begins to rear its head in the United States, not just in countries in the Middle East?
If you are not a believer yet, will you be brave and investigate the claims that Jesus makes? Will be brave as you explore the Bible, Old Testament, and New and see the lengths that God has gone to have a restored relationship with you? Will you be brave as your friends and perhaps your family question your motives and actions, while Holy Spirit is drawing you to Himself? Will you be brave and surrender to that drawing and give your life to Jesus?
"...Don't run, stop holding your tongue
Maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live
Maybe one of these days you can let the light in
Show me how big your brave is..."
Maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live
Maybe one of these days you can let the light in
Show me how big your brave is..."
'Til Tuesday,
Loving HIM by Loving You,
randy
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