Sir Isaac Newton's third law of motion states that if object A exerts a force on object B, then object B must exert a force of equal magnitude and opposite direction back on object A. ("What is Newton's third law?" - Khan Academy, Google classroom article). This is one of those scientific laws we studied in school and probably found its way into many standardized tests. As a law of nature, it occurs without us having to prove it over and over in a lab or classroom. It just happens every day. Equal forces find their way into pushing each other in opposite directions to maintain balance in every system. 
As a natural law, Newton may have unknowingly commented on life. All around us, there are opposites duking it out as examples of the balance that is displayed by Newton's third law. It takes extra force for a difference in this balance to be made. Sometimes this takes on the look of progress, other times it is just change happening which eventually arrives at a balance point once again where the forces are equal.
As a natural law, Newton may have unknowingly commented on life. All around us, there are opposites duking it out as examples of the balance that is displayed by Newton's third law. It takes extra force for a difference in this balance to be made. Sometimes this takes on the look of progress, other times it is just change happening which eventually arrives at a balance point once again where the forces are equal.
Welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes! No, we are not a science blog in the way many see the above example as science, we will leave that to our friends at Answers In Genesis. We are a blog about the science of sound and how those sounds can be used together to paint a landscape of emotion and communicate a litany of ideas. This is the place where there is a perfect balance between the forces of emotion and ideas. That balance goes to serve each and every reader to hopefully bring a smile to the face, a fond remembrance, or a thought that provokes a stronger force that will enact a change until balance is once again achieved. Welcome to Tuesday! See ya later...
It is a strong song that makes a non-album single into a hit. Today's feature song is the McCartney written (although credited as McCartney/Lennon), commercially appealing (according to John) #1 hit about opposites by The Beatles, "Hello, Goodbye" It was written in November of 1967. It had "I Am The Walrus" as its "B" side. It was the first single released after the death of The Beatles' original manager Brian Epstein. The song was supposedly written as the result of introspection by Epstein's assistant Allistair Taylor into McCartney's songwriting regimen. McCartney sat at a harmonium, a style of pump organ, and instructed Taylor to say words that were the opposite of what McCartney would say.
By this point in their career, The Beatles were beginning to show the beginnings of the stresses that instant stardom had brought them. This was evidenced by the continual debate about the "A" sides to the singles The Beatles were releasing. With "Hello, Goodbye", the debate continued as John, who had written "I Am The Walrus," thought his song should be the "A" side of the single, but he once again acquiesced to the more commercial appeal of the two songs, which of course brought in more revenue. The appearing fractures would soon be noticed as seen by The University of Michigan Music theorist Walter Everett writing in his book, The Beatles as Musicians: Revolver through the Anthology. He wrote regarding the debate behind which title should have been the more prominent release, Having "I Am The Walrus" as the a-side "would probably have encouraged Lennon to lead the Beatles to new heights", whereas the decision to choose "Hello, Goodbye" was "one more nail in the Beatles coffin".
Regardless of the debate, "Hello, Goodbye" spent 3 weeks at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles list where it would later on be listed as the band's seventh biggest chart hit as of that time. It, with 4 other non-album singles, would later be included on the Magical Mystery Tour album (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Magical Mystery Tour" (The Beatles)) when it was released in support of the television show of the same name.
Part of its appeal is its use of opposites and antonyms. It is relatable because everyone has experiences that seem to coexist in conflict, yet in reality, support the whole being in the framework of their life. My wife and I are prime examples of this dichotomy of human interaction. We've been married 37 years today (Happy Anniversary Sweetie!!!) and have seen "conflict, resolution", "disagreement, agreement", and "Hello, Goodbye" strengthen us as we have been on our journey. Relationships are especially susceptible to Newton's third law...I guess that is what brings excitement to our lives? well, at least variety!!! "You say yes, I say no. You say stop, I say go, go, go..."
It seems that the Bible truly does have something to say about everything in human existence, even disagreement. Particularly in chapter 15 of the book of Acts. Last week we saw a controversy come up regarding restrictions on new believers in Jesus who weren't Jews. Thankfully, we also saw the resolution to those disagreements coming in the form of some restrictions to which all believers should adhere. Today, however, we see a conflict that gets resolved, but not quite as amicably as we saw in the previous portion of the chapter.
Everyone is happy with the Jerusalem Council's verdict regarding Gentile believers' behavior. We then transition to Paul and Barnabas desiring to return to the churches they established for encouragement, follow-up, and continuing discipleship. When they began to form their team, Paul and Barnabas had a McCartney and Lennon moment as they disagreed on the personnel that should accompany them. Barnabas wanted to take Mark (or John Mark, who would more than likely be the writer of the Gospel which bears his name). Paul was insistent that Mark not be allowed to go. "You say yes, I say no..." The reason? Paul was still unhappy about Mark ditching the team in Pamphylia. (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "One Vision" (Queen)) Paul and Barnabas' debate about Mark became so contentious that this team who had planted churches all across Asia, now went their separate ways, unable to come to a solution. "...Oh, no...you say goodbye and I say hello..." And you thought The Beatles breaking up was huge...
But God had plans to use the apostle's conflict to His glory and the expansion of the Gospel! Barnabas took Mark and sailed to the island of Cyprus while Paul selected Silas and traveled on land to Syria and Cilicia. Did you catch that? God used the tension of the moment to create two teams from one! Twice as much opportunity for the Gospel to be preached and the established churches to be strengthened. In their "Hello, Goodbye" moment, Paul and Barnabas continued the work they had started with twice as much area that could be covered. In a later letter to the church at Corinth, Paul would write "...for when I am weak, then I am strong..." (Paul's 2nd letter to the church at Corinth (2nd Corinthians), chapter 12, verses 7-10 NASB/AMP/ESV/KJV) Even in the midst of having strife among brothers, Paul is strong because of Jesus' perfection and His work in him, and the kingdom is expanded.
Maybe you have a Christian brother/sister with whom you have "conversations". It seems that the longer you debate, the more "interesting" the relationship becomes. (All quotes ("") are used for emphasis if you didn't catch the drift...) Sometimes the best thing to do to ease the tension and maintain your affiliation is to go your separate ways. According to what we see in today's passage, this is ok. Not necessarily great, but ok. More importantly, regardless of the decisions we make, God is in control of everything and His actions ensure that Jesus' name is magnified and the kingdom of God is expanded. Regardless of what we say...
"...I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello..."
'Til Tuesday,
Loving HIM by Loving You,
randy
<><
No comments:
Post a Comment