Have you ever experienced a sense of foreboding? It is that feeling that you can't seem to escape that something different and possibly threatening is heading your way. It is something you seemingly have no opportunity to avoid. Sometimes this sense can be from others who attempt to warn you so that you can make a change to avoid what is coming, yet no matter what pathway you envision, there seems to be an inevitability of what is about to take place. Well, that's certainly a different tone for an opener, right?
Okay, let's lighten the mood!
Welcome to Tuesday where you have no reason to panic or have a sense of any evil that is heading your way. We promise we have good intentions to entertain and inform you with your
weekly trip to the land of lyrics and life! It's Tuesday's Musical Notes! Don't worry, you are safe within the confines of the following lines! There's much to see, much to perceive, and much more indeed here at Tuesday's Musical Notes! Let's get out on the highway and pick up some clues...Don't worry, you're not crazy or seein' things...
weekly trip to the land of lyrics and life! It's Tuesday's Musical Notes! Don't worry, you are safe within the confines of the following lines! There's much to see, much to perceive, and much more indeed here at Tuesday's Musical Notes! Let's get out on the highway and pick up some clues...Don't worry, you're not crazy or seein' things...
The first live album as a solo act from John Fogerty (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Centerfield" (John Fogerty).) is 1998's Premonition. Fogerty had become instantly famous as the lead singer and principal songwriter for Creedence Clearwater Revival (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Travelin' Band" (Creedence Clearwater Revival), Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Lookin Out My Back Door" (Creedence Clearwater Revival), Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Bad Moon Rising" (Creedence Clearwater Revival)), the band he had originated with his brother Tom. There were many years of litigation between band members as well as continuing friction and lawsuits with the record label which eventually led to the band's breakup in October of 1972. Because of these strained relationships and due to some of the legal aspects John Fogerty had been reticent to perform or record any of the classic Creedence songs. But with time (15 years if the math is correct) and the legal issues settled as well as encouragement from the likes of Fogerty pals Bob Dylan and George Harrison, John finally began to revisit some of his songs from the heyday of Creedence. One of the results of this acquiescence to friends and fans is the live DVD (which features 4 additional tracks) and album Premonition recorded at a concert on a Warner Bros. Studio Stage in late 1997.
The title track from the song was never released as a single, nor did it ever chart. But the album itself, with all of the Creedence hits made it to #29 on the Billboard 200 album chart and spawned a 54-date American tour.
As a song, "Premonition" very well encapsulates the feelings with which we opened today's blog. That sense that you can't shake that something is off, that there is something in the future to dread, usually with a "Star Wars", "I have a bad feeling about this..." (SUPERCUT Every "I Have a Bad Feeling About This" in the Star Wars Universe (1977-2020)) moment or two looming in the future.
As you read through the Bible, there are moments in both Old and New Testaments where premonition plays a part. Specifically, we see it in the later journey of the Apostle Paul.
Paul's final journey takes him on a collision course with Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. As he is making his way to the historic city, he stops and attempts to encourage believers with whom he has connected in his previous travels. In today's Scripture, we see Paul stopping at the city of Tyre (on the Meditteranean Sea in Lebanon). He gathers the disciples there with the intent to teach and encourage them in their walk with Jesus. These disciples were incessant about the fact that Paul should not be going to Jerusalem. Paul listened to their concerns but was determined to see his journey to its conclusion. After accompanying Paul to the sea, the local disciples prayed and bid their final farewells.
Paul then traveled to Ptolemais, stayed a day to encourage and equip the disciples, and then moved on to Caesarea where Phillip, one of the 7 chosen deacons from Acts 6 (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "You've Got To Stand For Something" (Aaron Tippin)) resided. Phillip had 4 daughters who were prophetesses. The Bible doesn't mention anything more about Phillip's daughters here, yet it doesn't take too much of a leap to assume they were encouraging Paul with a recurring theme. While at Phillip's home, Paul is visited by Agabus, another prophet, who takes Paul's belt and binds himself with it. "I got a feelin' way down inside..." He then proclaims on behalf of the Holy Spirit what awaits Paul if he continues to Jerusalem. Paul will be bound and handed over to the Gentiles. With Agabus' confirmation, the entire believing community began to pile on to Paul, begging him to not go to Jerusalem. Paul then tells them the very thing they did not want to hear. He is prepared to be bound and even die in Jerusalem in the name of the Lord Jesus. While all of Paul's friends and the prophets that surrounded him predicted the foreboding, Paul was adamant about being obedient and giving his life by whatever means that meant for the name of Jesus to be glorified. Paul's argument was so compelling it quieted the crowd and caused them to surrender to the will of the Lord. These believers submitted their desires to the desire of God's will.
How many times are we willing to be like Paul? When that overwhelming feeling of foreboding creeps into our life we fear that what is coming is a challenge at best or a tragedy at worst. How do we react? Are we faithful? Do we submit to what God's will is or do we kick and scream "This is not fair!"? Do we surrender to God's will instead of cling to our own? Paul repeatedly teaches those he encounters to imitate him as he imitates Jesus. It seems that Paul will have such an opportunity to walk in Jesus' steps very soon.
Please remember Jesus' teaching in The Gospel of Jesus according to John, a fisherman, chapter 15, verses 12-17 NASB/AMP/ESV/KJV. Sometimes this "laying down your life" may mean your literal demise. Most of the time, however, I believe it means that without any hesitation we give up our selfish nature and see to the benefit of those around us. We "give up" our time, we "give up" our energy, we "give up" our resources, and we get past those moments where we feel like we have "witches at our feet" so that those in which we might have influence, can see the love of Jesus through us. We proclaim His kingdom by loving them by "giving up " our lives in whatever way we possibly can.
In the coming weeks, we will see exactly how Paul lives through today's premonitions and see how this "giving up" lifestyle manifests itself in his testimony to who Jesus is. But for today, let's just live with an attitude that the premonitions we feel or others may sense will have no effect on how we love others.
Not sure what this "giving up our lives" lifestyle is all about. Well, it's very simple. God created everything and said that it was "good". He created man and woman and called them "very good". But the man and woman messed up this "very good" relationship by rebelling against God's commands. This caused a break in the relationship that grieved God and sent the man and woman away from His presence. But God continued to care for the man and woman and even though they were in a state of rebellion, God saw to it that their needs were met. Ever since this time, every man or woman who has existed has had the same rebellion in their hearts toward God. This rebellion comes with a price. This set about God's plan for Jesus.
Jesus is the Son of God. He came to earth as a baby, via virgin birth. He was fully God and fully man. He had one purpose. To provide a means by which restoration could occur for the relationship between God and man. Jesus paid the cost of our rebellion by surrendering Himself to the most inhumane death ever devised. He was beaten and crucified to pay the blood debt of our rebellion. He was then taken to a tomb which was sealed and his body was left for 3 days. Upon that final day, the tomb opened and Jesus walked out securing victory over death, securing restoration for those who wish to turn from their rebellion and "give up" their lives for Him. Jesus was seen by many people, physically walking, talking, and eating. He then ascended to heaven to be at God's right hand, where He continually begs God to draw all men to Himself and thus provide the ultimate restoration of the relationship.
That's what a "giving up" lifestyle looks like. As we believe the previous statements, we then turn our eyes to Jesus and begin to live a life as close to His as we possibly can. Every day will find its own set of premonitions awaiting us to discourage and defeat us. But, our victory is already secure over those fears as we follow Jesus and with each breath attempt to emulate Him. This is a way different kind of "feelin' way deep inside..."
'Til Tuesday
Loving HIM by Loving You,
randy
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