Welcome to Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes, the blog that answers the question, "Where do we go from here?" Well, at least we'll try to answer that question today as we explore the vastness of the music history landscape and see just how that geography impacts our lives.
Yes, here in Notesland, we take great pride in the unusual way in which we think about popular music. It really doesn't matter the style, we tend to like a little something from every generation and every genre. We love the resurgence in the vinyl (you know records that have music on them...that new thing the kids are all up into) that has been seen recently and hope that it sticks around for a very long time. We are however a little hesitant about giving our money for something we can't hold in our hand aka "streaming" or "digital downloads". Does that make me older?
Regardless of the format, we love this thing called music and hope you take a moment to relax and enjoy as we revisit some classics, and some modern songs and even discover new favorites and see just how they fit into our musical mulligan stew. Thanks for being here for a few minutes! And now on with the show... Are you dealing or am I?
Regardless of the format, we love this thing called music and hope you take a moment to relax and enjoy as we revisit some classics, and some modern songs and even discover new favorites and see just how they fit into our musical mulligan stew. Thanks for being here for a few minutes! And now on with the show... Are you dealing or am I?
Alan Parson and his musical collaborator/partner Eric Wolfson, established the backbone of The Alan Parsons Project, while a rotating cavalcade of artists ("The Alan Parsons Project Members" - wikipedia.org) came and went in support of the musical genius and vision of the band's principals. This is very similar to what Walter Becker and Donald Fagen had done with Steely Dan (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Reelin' In The Years" (Steely Dan), Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Pretzel Logic" (Steely Dan)) in the previous decade ("Steely Dan Members" - wikipedia.org).
Not to be confused with the August 1968, Billboard Hot 100 peaking at #84, covered by everyone from back in the day, Grammy-winning song by Joe South with a title of the same name "Games People Play" from the album Introspect by Joe South, this "Games People Play" came soaring into the Spring of 1981 and established The Alan Parsons Project (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Sirius/Eye In The Sky" (The Alan Parsons Project)) as a Pop Music staple for the 80s. It featured lead singer Lenny Zakatek and had 2 singles released that differed ever so slightly in their edits. The song peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and came in at #66 in the year-end ranking for 1981, catapulting The Alan Parsons Project to a #9 placement on the end-of-the-year Artists/Groups listing. "Games People Play" also pushed The Turn Of A Friendly Card into a #11 album hit for that year. With all of the success that they had in '81, you could honestly see Parsons/Wolfson asking the opening question of "Games People Play"...where do we go from here? It's a question folks have been asking for many years when faced with pushback against their passions or in today's perspective, the turn of an unfriendly card...
Paul and Barnabas had arrived at Psidian Antioch (an ancient city that is in modern-day Turkey) and had some success in telling the Jewish people of the town about restoration to God through Jesus. They were so well received that they were invited back to the synagogue the next day where the Bible details that much of the city came to hear what they had to say. This instant popularity didn't sit well with the Jewish leaders in the synagogue and their jealousy caused them to promote strife against Paul and Barnabas. This animous presented itself as they attempted to discredit and slander the missionaries. "...Things that they say are not right..." Paul and Barnabas are quick to turn the cards on the haters as they inform them that they, as Jews, were meant to hear the Gospel of Jesus first. They rejected it as well as began persecuting its messengers. Paul and Barnabas could have very easily sung this line from today's featured song. "...I don't wanna live here no more, I don't wanna stay. Ain't gonna spend the rest of my life quietly fading away..." However, the God of the universe had already developed a plan for the Good News to be spread around the world. "‘I have appointed You as a light to the Gentiles, That You may bring salvation to the end of the earth.’” So, Paul and Barnabas turned their efforts to the non-Jews, the Gentiles.
Verses 48 and 49 show the Gentiles celebrating that this message of hope, grace, and mercy was for them as well. But not all of them accepted Jesus. The Bible says, "When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed." Be careful as you approach the word "appointed". It has the connotation that only a "select" number of folks will be redeemed, a thought that some hold as predestination. We must remember that God knows everything (omniscient). God is without time constraints (omnipresent). God is all-powerful (omnipotent). He knows exactly who will be restored to Him in heaven. In that way, restored souls are predestined. But, He also sent Jesus to be the sacrifice for "all". This is not easily understood, and I confess that my explanation is very lacking in content, however, we must consider that God created every person, why wouldn't He send Jesus for "all" of them to have a choice? Jesus even says in The Gospel of Jesus as recorded by John, a fisherman, chapter 12, verses 27-36 NASB/AMP/ESV/KJV (verse 32) "...And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” (emphasis mine) We've explored before what the Bible means by the word "all". In this context, it means everyone is given the opportunity for restoration, through the drawing of The Holy Spirit, through the sacrificial death of Jesus, and by the grace, mercy, and love of God. Yes, God knows who will accept that embrace, but the invitation is still given to all...everyone.
And now back to our story, already in progress...
Because of the Gospel being told to the Gentiles, the Bible says, "the word of God spread through the whole region." How incredible is this? Remember, that Jesus only had 12 close compatriots in His mission on earth. And now we see the whole region of what is now modern-day Turkey excitedly embracing Jesus!
The excitement was short-lived but long sustaining. The Jewish leaders of the town, "devout women of prominence and leading men in the city" instigated the persecution that would drive Paul and Barnabas out of town. The missionaries followed Jesus' instructions about what to do in such cases and shook the dust of the town from their sandals. The Gospel of Jesus as recorded by Matthew, a tax collector, chapter 10, verses 5-15 NASB/AMP/ESV/KJV
The Gospel messengers then found their way southeast to Iconium, what is now known as Konya, Turkey. The Bible says something fantastic here that we must not miss. Paul and Barnabas had just been run out of town because of their message. They were slandered and persecuted, yet in Acts 13:52 we find "...And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with The Holy Spirit." If you remember back to Acts 5:17-42 NASB/AMP/ESV/KJV we see in verse 41, "... So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name...". Paul and Barnabas were following the example of the other apostles as they considered it a joy to suffer as Jesus had. On the hard days, of our life, on the days when the things that they say aren't right, on the days you want to give up, remember Jesus. Remember his persecution, trial, and crucifixion. Remember that in His humanity, He asked God to take all of the sufferings away, but in His deity, He said, not my will, but yours be done. Remember the joy of being able to be like Jesus, even in the hard times. Allow The Holy Spirit to infuse you with God's joy, grace, mercy, and love even in times when you wonder...where do we go from here?
Loving HIM by Loving You,
randy
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