Same Difference

A friend of mine asked me to listen to a song recently, so I did. It wasn't my favorite kind of music (lots of screaming). But my usual criteria for song quality is 'what do the lyrics say?'

The song appears to be about our human nature to consume life. Words life 'greed,' 'wanting,' 'consuming,' and 'mine' appear in the opening verses. But then there was this line:

"The reflection I see doesn't look like the man I want to be."

Hmm. Is that repentance? Regret?

There comes a point in everyone's life when we must choose who we want to be. Do we continue with the life we have always lived? Or do we make a change and start fresh?

The song continues with more self-absorbed lines until this...

"What if I gave it all away, and shed the layers of the selfishness I hate? I want to be free but I'm so afraid that I am too far gone and I'm stuck with all the choices I have made."

And there it is. This is the point where the Gospel does its best work. This guy needs to read the Bible and learn the good news about Jesus.

In the Book of Luke we can find the story of a similar man - the thief on the cross. Here are HIS words as he reached the same point in life that this song writer did.

“Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” - Luke 23:40-41

This guy, a thief and murderer, recognized he was a sinner. He knew he was deserving of death. Yet Jesus saved him. Why?

Because God loves every one of us. And, no matter what we have done, if we wake up and recognize our sinful state and acknowledge that Jesus is the only way for us to be saved from our just punishment, WE WILL BE SAVED.

There are different types of songs out there is this world, just like there are different types of people. But there is only ONE Savior. And His name is Jesus.

Believe in God, receive His Holy Spirit, and be saved.

Finally, to quote the lyrics of another song...

"I was dead in my sin, separated from you,

I was lost, without hope, not a thing I could do

I needed a rescue, I found mercy in You.

Jesus, you are the door to salvation,

For all who believe, You made a way, you are The Way, Jesus."

You Made A Way - AIG VBS

The Wee Small Hours

A couple of nights ago I was on YouTube listening to music when I came across One More Light by Linkin Park. I watched the video. I probably shouldn't have.

Chester Bennington (lead singer) sang a song about suicide and how he cared when people chose to end their lives instead of talking to someone. Of course, Chester would later do the very thing he sang about, taking his own life in 2017. 

As the song repeated in my head I thought about all the people I have known who took the same sad option. Austin, Kameron, Bill, Jesse, Oksana.

So there I was, thinking about suicide victims at 3:00 AM. Perhaps if I wrote about it . . .

So, I jotted down some notes for this story on my phone. I then discovered I had already written a story about this topic. What now? It's 3:00 in the bloody morning! Lol! It's the wee small hours!

(Ding!)

And there you have it. The answer to getting songs out of one's head. Sort of. Change the song!

Now I'm on YouTube again, searching, only it's now 4 AM. . . . In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning . . .

(Ding!)

In the wee small hours of the morning,

When the whole wide world is fast asleep,

You lie awake and think about that girl,

And never ever think of counting sheep.

When your lonely heart has learned its lesson,

You'd be hers if only she would call.

In the wee small hours of the morning,

That's the time you miss her most of all.

And now, with THAT song playing in the background of my mind, I returned to bed and prayed for the families of my friends who are gone.

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." - Psalm 147:3

"The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; He saves those who have lost all hope. Good people suffer many troubles, but the Lord saves them from them all." - Psalm 34:18-19

When we find ourselves feeling sad, change life's soundtrack, and pray. You will find that soon you will be sleeping like a baby. And falling asleep as you pray is a wonderfully calming thing.

I slept like a rock. THEE Rock.

"Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm." - Matthew 8:24-26

In The Wee Small Hours - Chris Botti & Sting

The Music In Me

Can you recite Isaiah 55:12 from memory? I bet you could, if you sing one particular worship song in church. If you do, this should sound familar.

"You will go out in joy

    and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

    will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

    will clap their hands." - Isaiah 55:12

Or how about Matthew 11:28-30? The only way I can recite those verses is because of a song I heard 10 years ago. There's a link to that song below.

Right now I am memorizing Ephesians 6:10-11. Not because I am trying to. I'm

 listening to a music CD as we prepare to teach VBS this summer. 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." - Ephesians 6:10-11

Why is it easier to memorize things if it is set to music? All of a sudden a song pops into our heads and we can't stop singing it. Why? We learned our ABC's as children singing a song, right? And you still know it, right?

I think singing songs engages our memorization super power. It's because of who we were created to be. Worshippers.

"My chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise." - Isaiah 43:20-20

Let us "go out with joy and be led forth in peace" today. We were created to worship and memorize His Word. To sing His praise!

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." - Deuteronomy 11:18-19

So, let us sing God's praises, now and forevermore!

Come To Me - Aaron Shust

Take Me Home Tonight

I have been walking around for the past two weeks with a song in my head - a hymn - Christ The Lord Is Risen Today. That's understandable I guess. It was Resurrection Sunday not that long ago. But this morning's wake-up song was different. Eddie Money's Take Me Home Tonight. What in the world?

The chorus of the song was playing on repeat in my head so I got up. I didn't want to wake my wife.  LOL! There were a few lines from the song's chorus that got my attention though so I wrote this short story to record them.

Take me home tonight
I don't want to let you go till you see the light
Take me home tonight
Listen honey
Just like Ronnie sang
Be my little baby

"Take me home tonight". Think about that for a moment. Isn't that every Christian's prayer? That Jesus would return tonight and take us home? You betcha!

The second line of the chorus is also interesting if you consider, what if it was sung by The Holy Spirit? "I don't want to let you go till you see The Light." Yes!

And then the last line, "Be my little baby." What was that that Jesus told us in Matthew 18 . . .

"And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 18:3

And then again in Matthew 19 . . .

"Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." - Matthew 19:14

Are YOU ready for the Lord to return and take us home tonight? Do you and I have the faith of a little child?

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today - Charles Wesley
Take Me Home Tonight - Eddie Money

The Parable of The Playlist

Do you like music? I do. I have heard it said that "music is the soundtrack for our lives." I think that's pretty much true. I guess the question then is, "What kind of movie do our lives represent?"

Is your life an action thriller movie or a horror flick? Perhaps your life is a romantic comedy right now or a documentary. Movies often have theme songs. James Bond movies, The Lion King, Jason Bourne movies, Rocky movies. Every movie has a theme song. Do you?

Music can have a calming effect on us. It can also inspire us to do greater things than we could without it. What songs inspire you?

Do you have a playlist on your computer or phone? If you do you probably have several playlists. Maybe you have a playlist for driving to work. Another for when you're feeling worshipful. and yet one more for when you want to dance.

King Saul struggled with an evil spirit later in his career. What did he do?

"14 Now, the Lord’s Spirit had left Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. 15 Saul’s officials told him, “An evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Your Majesty, why don’t you command us to look for a man who can play the lyre well? When the evil spirit from God comes to you, he’ll strum a tune, and you’ll feel better.” - 1 Samuel 16:14-16

Everybody has a favorite song. I have several. You do too I'm sure. Our favorite songs are usually our favorites for a reason. They might remind us of someone very special or a time when life was good. But they also might be sad songs, reminding us of a lost love or of someone who has died.

What playlist will you be playing today? Will it be one that honors yourself? Or one that honors God? If music can control the way we feel as it did with King Saul, what kind of music will you play today? What playlist of yours will be honoring to God? How about the one you have that says "Worship"?

Remember - Harry Nilsson
O The Blood - Gateway Worship

Ringtone

I take longer to answer my phone these days. Why? Because I love my ringtone. Does your ringtone say something about you? Or is it just the standard ringtone? Which, if it is, says something about you too.

My ringtone is Over The Horizon (mellow mix) which I absolutely love. I believe that music is a transportation device for our souls. Our music takes us places where we want to go anyway. Maybe it's loud or soft, uplifting of sad. Music takes us places. Where does your music take you?

Why did God give us the ability to create music. Even the birds sing! I think it's because God like us to worship Him with our music.

Here is my challenge for you today. Listen to your favorite music. Listen to it with your eyes closed. Form a mental picture or video of the places your music takes you. Where does it take you? If your music takes you to a dark place, you need some new music! Music can a beautiful thing and it can take us places where we've always wanted to go. Or NEED to go.

For me, my ringtone takes me upward. I find myself flying over God's creation, alone, yet content. I admire the beauty, the peacefulness, the majesty as I fly. Then, as if on cue by our heavenly orchestra conductor, I look skyward and up, up, up I go. Beautiful.

May your music wrap it's arms around you and take you places you have never been before. Into the arms of God.

"15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. " - 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

Over The Horizon - Josh Joongsam Yun, Samsung Electronics

Help!!

The office where I work is currently being remodeled. Old materials are being replaced with new. There is new paint on the walls, new carpet on the floors, and new music on the intercom system. The all-Beatles channel!

Now, I like the Beatles as much as the next guy but I've been listening to the Beatles for five weeks straight now at work and . . . I need some . . . Help!!

However, this sudden immersion into the songs of my teen years has allowed me to hear these songs in a new way. There are many songs that can be taken "two ways" and the Beatles song Help! is one of those songs. The interpretation of the lyrics depends on your view of the world.

Let's examine the first line of the song for example.

"When I was younger so much younger than today, I never needed anybody's help in anyway."

Form a secular world view it sounds like an older person, remembering his or her youth, and how they never asked for anybody's help back then. They were too prideful perhaps.

Now read that same line again only from a Biblical world view.

"When I was younger so much younger than today, I never needed anybody's help in anyway."

Suddenly it sounds like a mature believer reflecting on his immature youth and recognizing his need for help . . . for a Savior.

"Now I find I've changed my mind I've opened up the doors."
He's changed his mind.  And opened up the door?

"7 Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in!" - Psalm 24:7

And the chorus sounds more like a prayer than anything else.

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
 And I do appreciate you being 'round
 Help me get my feet back on the ground
 Won't you please, please help me?

^"16 Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength in behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you just as my mother did. ¹⁷ Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me." - Psalm 86:16-17

When we place out faith in Jesus, calling out to God to help us in our time of need, He will answer that prayer. He will open the door. He will help us get back on our feet. Whenever we are down, He will lift us up. How wonderful to have a God who cares, who provides a solid rock upon which we can stand. Our great God who helps those who love Him.

Help! - The Beatles