Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Try Everything" (Shakira/Home Free)

"Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song;  Play skillfully with a shout of joy.  For the word of the Lord is right,  And all His work is done in faithfulness." - Psalm 33:2-4


"Ok, cue opening music after the commercial break...5,4,3,2...and 1 Go!"  


Announcement voiceover..."Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!  Welcome to another edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!"  (5-second pause, you know let the music marinate...) "This is the place where tunes and tutelage go hand in hand to make for a great 10 to 15-minute journey in the internetosphere to discover new reasons to nod to your favorite songs and new thoughts to be thinkin' in your noggin!!!  It's the year-end edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes!"  (music fades)  

"Cue Randy and go!!!"

"Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  I'm your host Rockin' Randy and we want to welcome you to a very special edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes.  It's our year-end countdown of the most read Tuesday's Musical Notes from the previous twelve months. That's right folks!  Just like Google knows just about everything worth knowing, our friends in their tabulation department have been keeping track of the most read Musical Notes in the period from December 6, 2022, all the way through to November 28, 2023.  In other words, I write 'em, you read 'em, Google Analytics keeps track of 'em, and then on the last December of most every year, we count 'em down!" 

"But before we get to our collection of 2023's greatest Notes, we want to give you a Tuesday's Musical Notes Extra right out of the box!  Merry Christmas and enjoy!!!" 

"Cue today's featured songs...and play!"


Released as a single in 2016, "Try Everything" is an anthem for never giving up.  It is an upbeat fun song that you should listen to in those moments when you feel defeated but are ready to at least survey your situation or if you are in the mood to start something new, say a New Year.  Written by singer/songwriter Sia, record producer Tor Hermansen, and /Hermansen's songwriting partner/record producer Mikkel Eriksen, "Try Everything" is used as a background song for the 2016 Walt Disney animated feature film Zootopia - Wikipedia article

We think this movie and song are underrated as we thoroughly enjoyed it when watching the film and discovering the song a few years back.  

For today's purposes and since the Notes might be a bit longer today,  let's just explore the song. "Try Everything" happens to be a newish song for Tuesday's Musical Notes fare.  It was recorded in the last decade!  Yes, I know, shocking... But I digress.  We mentioned the song being underrated.  It peaked on Billboard's Hot 100 at #63.  It did a little better with the digital download chart but still didn't break the top twenty, peaking at #26.  

On YouTube, well let's just say it has done very well.  As of this writing, it counts a massive 735 million views.  We think that speaks to the disparity of modern charts but also for today, we'll just leave that there.  In short, Tuesday's Musical Notes loves this song!

While not charting very high, it did receive a Grammy nomination (Best Song Written For Visual Media) and came in at #19 on Billboard's Greatest of All-Time Disney Songs Chart.  Yup, a reward for everything and a chart for everything...again, another time...  

"Try Everything" was reinforced later in 2016 when then-rising acapella stars Home Free recorded a single of the song.  To date, their video has received over 11 million views on YouTube.  Not too shabby for the boys that only use the original instrument as their accompaniment!  It seems they took the words of the song to heart as now Home Free has a huge following, including yours truly, and can be seen touring the world.  One can only imagine that they come across something new and exciting every week as they "Try Everything"!

"That's our look at this week's featured song, "Try Everything" - by Shakira and Home Free.  Seems a fitting song heading into New Year's celebrations with its new beginnings and resolutions this week.  When we come back, we'll recap last year's top three and get started on this year's top ten most-read Tuesday's Musical Notes."  

"Cue commercial recap...And we're clear..."



"He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud;  And He set my feet on a rock, making my footsteps firm.  He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;  Many will see and fear And will trust in the Lord. How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who become involved in falsehood." - Psalm 33:2-4


"Welcome back to Tuesday's Musical Notes. Before we start off our year-end survey of the most popular Tuesday's Musical Notes let's review last year's top three Tuesday's Musical Notes.  

There was a tie at #3 last year.  It happened with two bands who have very little in common.  One band hails from Britain, the other from South Carolina in the United States. And that's just where their differences begin. But the one thing they do have in common is that they were both the 3rd most-read Tuesday's Musical Notes from last year. 


The #2 song on last year's list comes to us from the rockers who filled stadiums and arenas in the 80s and are still making records and putting on shows today 50 years after the band's original formation.  Here is Journey at #2:  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Wheel In The Sky" (Journey)

Now remember, Tuesday's Musical Notes rarely relies on recent songs for our features.  Last year's #1 was no exception to that rule.  The song that was the feature of 2022's most-read Note was released in 1970. It appeared in the June 7, 2022 edition of The Notes and it's a classic.  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "The Long And Winding Road" (The Beatles)  

"There ya have it.  The top 3 most-read Notes of 2022.  What will be #1 this year?  Well, let's find out as we get the countdown started!"

#10!!!

"As we saw in our recap of last year's most read Notes, on our end-of-the-year countdowns, occasionally we have ties.  That means some of the Musical Notes in our listing were read the same number of times at the moment of our countdown finalization tabulation.  We have a tie to kick off our year-end reflection of 2023's Tuesday's Musical Notes.  Coming in at # 10 is the Moody Blues with one of our favorite songs because it's about our favorite day of the week, and The Thompson Twins, who are really a trio and have no DNA in common.  Anyway, they tied at #10."  



"Sing to the Lord a new song;  Sing to the Lord, all the earth.  Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples." - Psalm 96:1-3


"At #9 is a song that sounded so much like The Beatles' 1965 sound that many today think it is by the Fab Four.  But it isn't.  It does have some influences from The Beatles but the sound is all Badfinger's.  They have the #9 featured song on our countdown, which just so happens to also be an end-of-the-year countdown! Click all the links and find out was the best in 2022 with this retrospective at #9, Badfinger's Tuesday's Musical Notes - "No Matter What" (Badfinger)"

"When we get back from the break, we'll tell you about the band who wanted everyone to "Get Up And Go"  That song and the rest of this year's countdown in just a moment"  

"And we're clear! Hit promo"


"Cue Randy...we're back in 4...3...2..."

"He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud;  And He set my feet on a rock, making my footsteps firm.  He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;  Many will see and fear And will trust in the Lord.  How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,  And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who become involved in falsehood." - Psalm 40:2-4

"Welcome back to Tuesday's Musical Notes and our end-of-the-year survey of the most-read Tuesday's Musical Notes for the past 12 months.  Sometimes, here at the Notes, we don't always readily know the song that comes to be the featured song-o-the-week.  We confess that sometimes we don't even know the band.  At #8 is a band with which we definitely have some familiarity.  The song, however, we hadn't heard of, but it fit the narrative of where we were going that day lyrically and musically.  And that's a sneak peek into the creative process for each week's Musical Note. Here's #8:  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Get Up And Go" (The Go-Go's)

It seems to happen every year when we do our annual recap.  At least one of our Christmas songs winds up being one of the favorites.  This year 2 seasonal favorites made it into the top ten.  One at #7 and one at #5.  

At #7 is the oldest song on our countdown.  Its writing dates back to the early 1900s.  We featured another acapella band's version of the song to make sure that the readers of Tuesday's Musical Notes get as varied a taste of artists as there are gifts on the list of this seasonal classic.  Your #7 favorite is Tuesday's Musical Notes - "12 Days Of Christmas" (Straight No Chaser).

The #6 song comes from our "Days of the Week" series of Notes.  It comes from the duo from Queens, New York, Simon & Garfunkel.  It also was a new song discovery for us here at The Notes.  Here's #6:  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Wednesday Morning 3 A.M." (Simon and Garfunkel)

Since we mentioned that #5 was a Christmas song we may as well spill the beans as to what song it is.  What it is not is a stereotypical Tuesday's Musical Note featured song. It is by an artist whose notoriety is for his instrumental giftedness.  But this time he gets an assist from Country artist Collin Raye and CCM favorite Susan Ashton as he gives us "The Gift"  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "The Gift" (Jim Brickman featuring Collin Raye and Susan Ashton)" 

"Sing to the Lord a new song;  Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name;  Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples." - Psalm 96:1-3

"The numbers are getting smaller and the hits are getting bigger as we work our way to the #1 most-read Tuesday's Musical Note of 2023. 

#4!

At #4 we have a band that we are continuing to discover.  While they've been around since 1997, they've just come onto Tuesday's Musical Notes radar.  They were huge here in Notesland in 2023 as they have the #4 Note for the year.  Here is the British band Coldplay with their song of resilience from the 2014 film Unbroken with "Miracles".  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Miracles" (Coldplay)  

"Do not call to mind the former things, Or consider things of the past.  Behold, I am going to do something new, Now it will spring up;  Will you not be aware of it?  I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.  The animals of the field will glorify Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My chosen people." - Isaiah 43:18-20


"We won't stop til we've reached the top!

We've come to the top 3 of Tuesday's Musical Notes' most-read list. We hope that 2024 sees you healthy and not needing to go see the physician.  Specifically an optometrist.  Why you may ask?  I guess we're just reminded by Jackson Browne's May 23rd entry into the world of Tuesday's Musical Notes with his smash hit "Doctor My Eyes".  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Doctor My Eyes" (Jackson Browne)

"Because the one who is blessed on the earth Will be blessed by the God of truth; And the one who swears an oath on the earth Will swear by the God of truth;  Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hidden from My sight!  “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;  For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing And her people for gladness." - Isaiah 65:16-18

"After this break, we'll look at this year's top 2.  We'll be back in just a moment."

"Cue archive promo and go!"

"There's only 2 left.  Any ideas?  Have your favorite Tuesday's Musical Notes been among the top ten this year?  The top ten is all about how many times a Note gets read.  If you like one especially well, tell all your friends to read it that week.  If they can't that week, Tuesday's Musical Notes archives are always around on the left side of your screen.  They have every Tuesday's Musical Note ever written and are cataloged by date of release.  You can also use the handy, dandy search function to find a favorite song or band that has been treated in the unique way that Tuesday's Musical Notes relishes on music and its artists.  Check it out today over on the left-hand side of your screen!"

"Back in 3..2.."

"and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes;  and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”  And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”  Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give water to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life, without cost." - Revelation 21:4-6

This year's top 2 is actually 3.  That's right we have another tie and it happens to be for the #1 spot!  

#2 is one of those "discovery" songs that we needed to fit into the lexicon of 2023's Musical Notes.  It features another band that saw their popularity rise in the 90s and one of their under-the-radar songs that should have been a hit. Here's the British Alternative band Blur with "Sunday, Sunday" (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Sunday, Sunday" (Blur)) 


Before we reveal this year's #1s, we wanted to take a moment to thank those of you who read Tuesday's Musical Notes every week.  We love getting the opportunity to share our love of music with you and gain perspective about life in the process.  In January we're back with our chronological journey through the Bible that we began on April 9, 2019 Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Beginnings" (Chicago).  Will this be the year we finish?  You'll have to stick around to find out.  Each week on Tuesday!

We also wanted to take a moment and reflect on the Scripture that we've positioned throughout the countdown.  If you didn't catch it the them is "new".  Seems like everyone needs a reset on occasion and the New Year seems to be a good point to start.  I find myself in a new place currently and am anticipating what God has in store in 2024.  Ultimately, I long for the time that is referred to in the Revelation passage when all things will be made new.  Do you anticipate that time with longing or dread?  You get to decide.  God provided a way in the man Jesus to make sure you were a part of the new.  Jesus was tortured, then died, then buried, and then rose again to be at God's side making a way for you and me if we will believe that he did all of that for us. You see friend, unholiness cannot come into contact with holiness and in that new place described in Revelation, all will be holy.  You can be holy only through the blood of Jesus.  Won't you fill your heart with love and start again?  Believe today and see the New Year as...well...new.  

And now the #1 songs of 2023!  At the top of this year's countdown are two of the biggest acts of the 80s, Billy Joel and The Bangles.  Their songs "Honesty" and "Manic Monday" dominated the charts in their respective times and The Notes they inspired have come into being the most read from 2023.  From April 11th, and January 17th respectively, here are 2023's #1 most-read Tuesday Musical Notes.


"Cue outro music...wait for it...wait for it...GO"

"There ya have it!  The top-ten most-read Tuesday's Musical Notes for the period of December 6, 2022, through November 28, 2023.  We hope you've enjoyed this year's retrospective of The Notes!  We will see ya next Tuesday when we start back with another song that we get to twist just a certain way to provide a little bit of a different perspective.  Won't you join us?  

We also hope that this coming year will be one in which you'll be saying...

"...I won't give up, no, I won't give in
'Til I reach the end, and then I'll start again
No, I won't leave, I wanna try everything
I wanna try even though I could fail..."

"Til Tuesday,

Loving HIM by Loving You,
randy
<><

 

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Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "What Christmas Means To Me" (Pentatonix)

'Tis Tuesday before Christmas and all through the land, the lights are on houses, the trees look so grand.  The folks all a flurry doing last-minute things, like baking and shopping and singing with Bing.  The colors seem brighter, the music does too!  Cross & Kin lists all our favs just for you!  So now you have gifts and the goodies, a soundtrack to boot, you're all prepped for the big man in his bright red suit!  So let's get The Notes started you're certainly prepped, a song we have visited, this week we've not leapt.  Filled with links you can click and thoughts you can think. We promise today's Notes will be the right sync.  This cover for sure it will fill you with glee, Pentatonix's version of "What Christmas Means To Me"!



Since they dropped on the scene in the third season of NBC's The Sing-Off, Pentatonix has catapulted to being one of Christmastime's favorite groups and one of the world's biggest concert attractions.  We confess we have a bias for the all-vocal band as we've seen them two different times and loved each show.  We highly recommend them as well as their country counterparts and fellow Sing-Off winners Home Free ("What Christmas Means To Me" - cover by Home Free, "Colder Weather" cover by Home Free) for a concert-going treat!   Concert tickets make a nice Christmas Gift!

Today's version of this month's featured song comes from Pentatonix's seventh studio album and their third Christmas-themed project, Christmas Is Here!  On the album, they continue their trademark unique vocal arrangements of seasonal sounds as well as their dropping of albums into the top 10 on the US Billboard 200 album charts.  Christmas Is Here! peaked at #7.  Pentatonix only released one single from the record. That single was "Making Christmas" a cover from The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack. But as with all of Pentatonix's albums, many of their songs, including today's featured song "What Christmas Means To Me" have an incredible video in support.

Pentatonix continues the fun established by Stevie Wonder and buoyed by Paul Young with their cover of the song that is beginning to come into its own as a Christmas standard.  "What Christmas Means To Me" celebrates the season by detailing its attributes all wrapped up in a Christmas-time chord progression and beat that makes you see those smilin' faces like you've never seen before...

"Then God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness;..." - Genesis 1:26a

"...And I will make enemies Of you and the woman, And of your offspring and her Descendant; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise Him on the heel.” - Genesis 3:15

"...Then he said, “Listen now, house of David! Is it too trivial a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel."  - Isaiah 7:13-14

"...For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of dry ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we would look at Him, Nor an appearance that we would take pleasure in Him. He was despised and abandoned by men, A man of great pain and familiar with sickness; And like one from whom people hide their faces, He was despised, and we had no regard for Him." - Isaiah 53:2-3

"Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit.  And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.  But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus (emphasis mine), for He will save His people from their sins.” - The Gospel of Jesus according to the tax collector Matthew, chapter 1, verses 18-21

What does Christmas mean to me?  Well for the final time, to put it specifically and short,  Christmas means Jesus to me.  

Jesus is God.  He came in the form of a man.  He is one-third of the Trinity, God the Son.  He is the part of the Trinity that served as the payment, penalty,  and sacrifice for all of the sins of the world that was started by the arrogance of the Garden of Eden and continues by me and you.  He is the substitutionary pathway of restoration for man's relationship with God the Father. He was involved in the creation of the world as we know it and will be involved in its end as the reclamation of its original perfected state begins when He will reign over all the nations, tribes, and tongues.    

"Name Him Jesus" doesn't make the list of things that Christmas means in our featured song.  "..Choirs singin' carols right outside my door..." and "...Sing sweet Silent Night..." are about as close as you'll get.  But leaving Jesus out doesn't just happen in today's song. This disparity towards Jesus is much more prevalent than you might think.  It is His birth that is being celebrated after all!!!  But if you look at the Billboard Holiday 100  you find yourself going down the list quite a bit before you have a popular Christmas song with any mention of THE Reason for the season, Jesus!  

This must change.  But it must change first in the heart, lives, and yes even listening patterns of believers.  We have relegated our Jesus to the commercialized, politically correct, cancel-culture long enough.  Please don't misunderstand the point I'm trying to make.  I am not suggesting getting rid of "Jingle Bells" or "Rudolph".  What I am recommending is that those classic Christmas songs are held in balance or perhaps even listened to less than "Away In A Manger", "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" or "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". Christmas albums are filled with artists from all generations who have covered these incredibly rich, Jesus-focused Christmas songs. Their arrangements serve as a means of honoring and magnifying, with all the studio production they can muster, the reality of this time and why we celebrate.  So this season, as we are checking our Christmas playlist maybe even checking it twice, let's make sure that there are a multitude of songs that..."Name Him Jesus".  

Jesus - That's what Christmas means to me. 

Loving HIM by Loving You,
randy 
<><

 

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Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "What Christmas Means To Me" (Paul Young)

As the great Yogi Berra said, "It's deja vu all over again"!  No, you didn't just jump in a DeLorean and go back a week, you've just entered week 2 of our Christmas salute to this great song written by Allen Story, Anna Gordy Gaye, and George Gordy.  Last week we launched our annual salute to the season with the earliest recording of the song we could find.  That recording just happened to be by the musical genius Stevie Wonder. If you haven't already, check it out.  It's over on the left-hand side of your screen in Tuesday's Musical Notes archives.  

Welcome to Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  This is the blog portion of the Cross & Kin entertainment empire that consists of the blog you are currently reading complimented by the visual side of what you are watching every other week over on the Cross & Kin - YouTube channel.  Be looking this Thursday (the second-best day of the week!) for a Christmasy countdown from Cross & Kin that you're sure to enjoy.  

But for today (Tuesday, you know, the BEST day of the week), this Christmas present surprise is officially out of its snowman wrapping as we continue to salute this great song, explore its special nuances, and see what this very special time of the year means to folks.  We hope you like the song, you've got at least 1 more week with it...


Today's iteration of the classic Christmas hit is from Paul Young. (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" (Ann Peebles/Paul Young)) This prolific artist defined the phrase "blue-eyed soul" for the 80s with his string of top 20 hits, his singing of the opening line on the afore blogged about Band Aid single, Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (Band Aid) and his appearance at Live-Aid. He also joined the surviving members of Queen at the Freddy Mercury Tribute Concert as they performed "Radio Ga Ga". Queen + Paul Young - "Radio Ga Ga"  

Paul Young has since been touring and recording with his band Los Paciminos.  You read that right, the Brit has gone to Tex-Mex with a talented group of like-minded musicians recording a style of music they love. Young continues to be a staple on "Classic" radio stations that play music of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, you know...the good stuff.  

The "Everytime You Go Away" (#1 Billboard Hot 100 (July 27, 1985, Paul Young - "Everytime You Go Away" (Live Aid 1985)) artist recorded his version of "That's What Christmas Means To Me" for the 1992's 2nd edition of A Very Special Christmas, a record whose proceeds went to fund Special Olympics. To date, the series has 10 recordings and has raised more than $100 million for the Special Olympics.  2022 Special Olympics USA Games Sizzle  Thinking about these exceptional athletes brings back to mind a line from our featured song...

"...I see your smilin' face Like I've never seen before
Even though I love ya madly It seems I love you more
The little cards you'll give me Will touch my heart for sure..."

"...all these things and more..oh that's what Christmas means to me my love..."

" In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters." - Genesis 1:1-2

Isaiah speaks; "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord anointed me to bring good news to the humble; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to captives And freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the cloak of praise instead of a disheartened spirit." -  Isaiah 61:1-3a

"Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. And I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’” - Ezekiel 37: 13-14

"The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God." -  The Gospel of Jesus according to Luke, a physician, chapter 1, verse 35

Jesus speaks; “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to bring good news to the poor.  He has sent Me to proclaim release to captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” -  Luke 4:18-19

"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever;" - John 14:16

"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take from Mine and will disclose it to you." - The Gospel of Jesus according to John, a fisherman, chapter 16, verses 13-14

What does Christmas mean to me?  Well, this week again, to put it specifically and very short.  Christmas means The Holy Spirit to me.  
The Holy Spirit is God.  He is the part of the Trinity that draws mankind to the knowledge that they need to be saved from themselves and saved by Him. He is the manifestation of God in those who believe.  He is God in us! Well, as long as that "us" are those who believe in what He did and will do.  He is one-third of the Trinity with God, the Father, and God, The Son. He was a part of the Creation narrative and has indwelt a myriad of folks who needed "special" help with the things to which God had called them.  As you read every page of the Bible, His activity is apparent from page to page.  

The Holy Spirit empowers folks to do the supernatural and superhuman acts that we see in the pages of His Word and appears as a still small voice when He is needed to whisper direction and comfort.  

He still acts in those ways today for those who believe and surrender to His will.  He assists us as we attempt to interpret our lives through this season that is known for great love, yet also known for great distractions. He is specific when we need focus, He is gentle when we need relief from frustration, He is stern when we need discipline, and He is decisive when we are lost. Seek Him as He draws near to guide, direct, and draw you to Himself this season.

The Holy Spirit - That's What Christmas Means To Me

'Til Tuesday,

Loving HIM by Loving You,
randy
<><


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Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "What Christmas Means To Me" (Stevie Wonder)

Here we are in December. It doesn't seem that long ago that we were posting the first Musical Note of the year: Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I Don't Want To Live Without You" (Foreigner).  I don't know about you, but there has been a lot of life packed into those 11 months.  During that time it is our sincerest hope that Tuesday's Musical Notes have been an encouragement regardless of where your life has gone.  

For today we launch our celebration of Christmas songs!!!  We must confess that we have a little bit of a twist (as if The Notes weren't twisted enough) for our December 2023 Tuesday's Musical Notes selection. Check back with us every Tuesday to see what song gets the Tuesday's Musical Notes treatment!  While you're at it check out the other part of the Cross & Kin Entertainment over on YouTube. The latest video dropped last Thursday and we think it might have you dancing and singing its praises...at least we hope it elicits such a reaction.  Cross & Kin Presents: Top 10 Film Musicals

Welcome to the official launch of Christmas here in Notesland!!! Can you have snow in the Internetosphere?  There are thousands of great Christmas songs out there and over the past 12 Decembers, we've covered many which we hope are favorites at your house.  You can find those by December of each year over on the left-hand side of your screen...keep going...almost there...found the archives, now... need... to find... December...GOT IT!!!

As we've gotten older we find ourselves much more nostalgic passing through the last quarter of the year.  Halloween begins the season of celebrations and our memories seem to be more potent, and maybe even a bit poignant, as we pass through Thanksgiving and Christmas.  The New Year's celebrations always bring a sense of excitement for what the next period of life holds.  Through it all we hope you have family and friends with whom you can share each nuance of every party, meal, gift exchange, and resolution.  

As we approach Christmas, we hope you take a moment to breathe from the hustle and bustle, gather your family around, and share...


Riding in behind the reindeer is the song "What Christmas Means To Me" recorded by Stevie Wonder from his eighth studio album and his first Christmas album, Someday At Christmas.  Wonder is one of the first to record the song written by Allen Story, Anna Gordy Gaye, and George Gordy. To date, it has failed to chart but has become one of Wonder's, and many other artists', staples for the Christmas season. 

A plethora of recording stars have recorded "What Christmas Means To Me" since the 1967 release of Wonder's version.   The most recent is English songstress, Joss Stone's recording from 2022 on her Merry Christmas, Love album.  

Lyrically, the song goes into the stereotypical tinsel list of things that bring a sentimental tug at your heart.  Candles burning low, snow, ice, choirs singing, bells ringing, and lights all a glow.  Family and friends gather around a blazing fire and share stories of Christmases of the past. The distractions of the world are carried away on the wings of snow angels decorating the yard.  For these precious moments, there is little conflict or worry about the future.  There is no politics or war by which we are consumed.  There just seems to be contentment and peace that passes all understanding permeating every nuance of the moment. And for that moment, you get a glimpse of what Christmas means to you and those you embrace, and a sense of where it is all coming...

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." - Genesis 1:1

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being.  In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind.  And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it." The Gospel of Jesus According to John, a fisherman, chapter 1, verses 1-4.

"What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was revealed to us—what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." 1 John 1:1-3

"The Lord created me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old.  From eternity I was established,  From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth." - Proverbs 8:21-23

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” - Revelation 22:13

What does Christmas mean to me?  Well to put it very specifically and short.  Christmas means God to me.  You can see God's character on display in every aforementioned peaceful moment and memory.  You can see God's attention to detail in the way that He uses the seasons to keep the planet in which we reside in perfect climatic balance including the cold and snow of winter.  You can see God's plan for mankind unfold as you read the Christmas story from Luke 2.  Ultimately, you can see God's love for man as you read the opening words of Genesis and follow through (like we've been doing here at The Notes) to the apex of this world's conclusion.

As you read the Bible, you see God's love and discipline for man.  You see His grace and mercy on man. You see His provision and sacrifice for man.  So as we get into this season, with its busyness and cacophony, just remember that there is a peace that can come when we remember that all of the things we worry about for tomorrow are in the presence of God already.  

God - That's What Christmas Means To Me

'Til Tuesday
Loving HIM by Loving You,
randy 
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