Welcome to Tuesday and a blog you should read. It's all about music and the occasional creed. It covers the spectrum from Art Punk to Zydeco. (Music Genres List - musicgenrelist.com) Sometimes we're serious, sometimes, a game show. We launch with a paragraph, maybe two, maybe three. To set up the stage, well, you're reading, you'll see. We then tell the tale of the song as researched. Paying tribute to those who for hours rehearsed. Some songs are standards, some well, not so much. But they work with the topic, the thought, and some such. Music provided via video link. And then we unpack it, dissect it, and cause you to think. To think about thoughts from the song or perhaps, some notion about you that fills in some gaps. 
We bring it all home with a idea profound. One just maybe, you've never quite found. A challenge and plea, plus some song quotes to boot. And we finish it off with a point so acute. The Notes we do hope become your blog of choice. We thank you and thank you for giving it voice. And now it is time, the video, Coldplay. We hope Tuesday's Notes have brightened your day!!!
We bring it all home with a idea profound. One just maybe, you've never quite found. A challenge and plea, plus some song quotes to boot. And we finish it off with a point so acute. The Notes we do hope become your blog of choice. We thank you and thank you for giving it voice. And now it is time, the video, Coldplay. We hope Tuesday's Notes have brightened your day!!!
Fierce Panda Records produced this very first single from the British Rock Band, Coldplay. Released after the EP Safety, also from Fierce Panda, "Brothers and Sisters" charted in the top 100 in the band's homeland of the United Kingdom. 3 versions of the song exist, one on the 1998 promo cassette, Ode To Deodorant, today's feature version as a single, and as the b-side to the song "Trouble" from the full-length, July 10, 2000, Parachutes release, the band's debut on major label Parlophone. At Official Charts, an independent label song ranking, "Brothers and Sisters" peaked at #20 on the April 25 - May 1, 1999 chart. Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50
"Brothers and Sisters" is a call to unity for the world. A favorite in live concerts by the band, the song is reminiscent of the musical culture of the 60s peace movement. It takes the opportunity to celebrate the moment by spreading the love around. Yup, that sounds like the 60s to me! The topic of unity is the building block of what can be a world in which everyone wants to live. It is also a song with a message that resonates today as it resonated in times past. Specifically, the time involving the Apostle Peter.
In the early days of the church, culturalism (it wasn't racism then either, we are all part of 1 race, the human race! Everything else is upbringing and melatonin...) existed among the Jews, especially the religious Jews (Orthodox Jews as well as Messianic Jews) and the gentiles (basically everyone else, especially the Hellenistic Romans). The Jews of the day had been indoctrinated from childhood with the precepts of Deuteronomy 7:1-4 NASB/AMP/ESV/KJV, and Exodus 34:11-17 NASB/AMP/ESV/KJV. This prejudice was prevalent at the time of Jesus and the early church. The Jews of the day were taught to not associate in any way with the Romans who were militarily controlling the area of Judea. The Romans were an anathema to the Orthodox and even were disliked and shunned by the early believers in Jesus. Even though, as we will see today, there were those on the inside of Rome's dominance of the world attempting to change the culture.
Ok, here's the obligatory rabbit hole for today. We must be very careful when we carry consternation for a people group, organization, or...well a theme park/entertainment giant. You can never tell the brothers and sisters who may very well be attempting to change the culture as they share their beliefs with those in the entity. Boycotts have the opportunity to directly impact the believer's opportunities for the very change you desire, plus it can't be helpful to their pocketbook either. Ok, there's light at the top of our hole, let's climb out of it and get back to Peter.
The apostle Peter was not oblivious to this teaching of Deuteronomy and Exodus he had received since a child as we will soon see.
Enter the Roman Centurian Cornelius. He was part of the Italian Regiment, a group of Roman soldiers recruited from Italy who were stationed in Judea, specifically Caesarea in the coastal plain of the Mediterranean Sea. The Bible describes Cornelius very much like many folks today can be described, "as one, along with his household, who feared God". Solomon tells us in Proverbs that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Proverbs 9:10 NASB/AMP/ESV/KJV But is that enough? The Bible even goes so far as to call Cornelius devout, one devoted to divine worship; pious or religious (dictionary.com) An angel of God appears to him in a vision, yes, this Roman soldier had a vision just like Saul, and the great patriarchs of the Old Testament, setting up the entire following episode. Cornelius immediately recognizes this as a visit from an angelic being. Cornelius was lauded by the visitor for his good deeds and his prayers. Yet there was something he still needed to hear. He was then instructed to send some of his men to Joppa to the house of Simon the Tanner. There they were to find another man named Simon and bring him back to Cornelius. Cornelius urgently gathered the men, note the Bible says they were like-mindedly devout, men whom Cornelius could trust, and send them to Joppa.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
Peter also has an experience while he is on the rooftop praying. An object like a sheet comes down from the sky. On it are all kinds of critters from the earth and sky. These animals were all considered "unclean" or "unholy" to the devout Jews of the day as prescribed in Leviticus 11 NASB/AMP/ESV/KJV
"What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.”, Acts 10:15. Notice the next verse..."This happened three times..." There sure are a lot of instances where Peter has things happen to him three times. The object went back up into the sky leaving Peter dumbfounded as to what had just happened. His resolution to his perplexity came with a knock on the door.
It is rarely a good thing when Roman soldiers show up a the door of the house in which you are staying. But when they ask for you by name, panic could very easily ensue. "Break down, break down. Gotta spread love around, gotta spread love around." Peter, having been told to go down from the roof because there were men there to see him, went downstairs and told the men that he was the one they were seeking. They unpack Cornelius' story for Peter and urge him to accompany them back to Caesarea. They described Cornelius as one who was friendly towards the Jews and told of his angelic encounter. Peter invites them in and begins conversations regarding the specifics of their purpose.
Meanwhile back at the beach...
The next day, the party leaves the home of Simon the Tanner and journeys to the seashore. In anticipation of Peter's arrival, Cornelius had gathered his family and close friends in anticipation of Peter's arrival. Cornelius dropped to the floor and began worshiping Peter upon the apostle's arrival. Peter quickly admonished him and told him that he was not a deity to be worshiped, he was just a man like Cornelius. Peter continued making his way into Cornelius' home. As he did Peter's bias, while not ill-intended, came out as he told the Centurion something of which Cornelius was probably aware. It was not lawful according to Jewish tradition for Peter to be there in association with the soldier, much less his family and friends. Peter then inquires about why he was sent. Cornelius then explains the encounter he had experienced previously in the week. As he does, one would imagine Peter's understanding meter going off the charts.
"...Now then, we are all here present before God to hear everything that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
"...Brothers and sisters feel fine
It's the time of your lives
It's the time of your lives
No sound, no sound
Like this feeling you've found
Like this feeling you've found..."
It's the time of your lives
It's the time of your lives
No sound, no sound
Like this feeling you've found
Like this feeling you've found..."
Without hesitation, without regard for the law he had been taught his entire life, and because of the vision he had, Peter associates with them and tells them the story of Jesus and His Gospel. He relates what he now understands regarding his own visions and how it applies to not just the Jews, but to all the "Brothers and Sisters". Peter affirms the stories from Jerusalem that they had heard about Jesus, and the circumstances leading to His being crucified. Israel is a small nation, word travels fast, even in the 1st century. Peter tells them of the experience he and the other apostles had with Jesus and the teaching that Jesus had provided in his time on earth. Peter also relates the command from Jesus that the apostles go and tell others about what they had seen and heard. Peter explained how the prophets of the ancient writings pointed to Jesus and how he fulfilled the prophecies.
"...the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message..." Peter is preaching and the folks are believing. That is what happens when Jesus' followers are diligent in following His command to go and tell. The Holy Spirit moves and folks get redeemed, changing their lives forever. The Bible says that the Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter were amazed as the Gentile Romans began to speak in tongues and were praising God. Peter didn't miss a beat as he immediately asked where the closest water was so that they could be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
The chapter concludes with Peter, a devout Jewish believer in Jesus, hanging out with Cornelius, the devout, first, Gentile believer. They were now unified as brothers and sisters in Jesus.
Friend today, we live in a world where bias is rampant. It is masked so many times in the inappropriate word "racism", when in fact it should be more accurately defined as "culturalism". Regardless of how you know the term, the Bible is clear about the issue. Without any prejudice, everyone will have the opportunity at one point or another to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed. The choice after they hear it is to believe, or not to believe.
What is that Gospel? Jesus was born to a virgin girl. He was both God and man. He was part of the Trinity, Father, Son, and Spirit, that had existed forever. He came as a man to satisfy the redemption price for the guilt of all mankind which began in the Garden of Eden. Jesus lived a perfect life. He gathered learners around Him and taught them the ways of God. Even though He is the Son of God, he soon was labeled as a traitorous blasphemer by the religious rulers of His day. He suffered incredible torture and the most heinous form of capital punishment ever created by man, crucifixion. He did all this so that you and I, dear friend, do not have to spend eternity separated from Him. His crucifixion paid the price for the bad things you and I do, which are called sins. His crucifixion brings about the reconciliation with God that we so desperately need to navigate the fallen and broken world in which we live. After He died a physical death on the cross, He was placed in a sealed tomb, where a huge rock covered the entrance and was guarded by a small contingency of Roman soldiers. The miraculous occurred three days later as His followers came to the tomb to finalize His burial preparations and found his body gone. He did exactly what He said He would do and came back to life. He was then seen, physically alive by his closest followers and over 500 other folks who began testifying to His resurrection. He promised them that He would one day return.
He paid the price so we could be in heaven with God...forever. Now we get to choose. It's called free will. What do we do with Jesus? Do we listen intently as believers share what He has done in their lives and believe in Him and His sacrificial salvation ourselves? I sure hope so! If we do, we are baptized in water and go about telling everyone we possibly can about His love and His Gospel. "Brothers and Sisters unite..." Jesus calls everyone to salvation. "...gotta spread the love around..."
'Til Tuesday,
Loving HIM by Loving You,
randy
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