Categories
Heaven Life

Trouble and Overcoming

Featured song: Breakfast Table, by Chris Rice, from his 2005 album, Amusing.

I attended a funeral yesterday for a uncle that I’ve not had much opportunity to see in the past few years. He had lived a long life, but as with everyone, the body finally wore out and he had to leave us. In the service held for him, I was again reminded that living in this world was never promised to be problem free. Jesus specifically told us about this, in John 16:33. I like the way the Message Bible has put it:

I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.

The word “difficulties” here is translated as “tribulation” or “trouble” in other versions. In the Amplified Bible, it is clarified to mean “tribulation and trials and distress and frustration”. That pretty much covers all of the things that might come my way!

This might refer to the problems I had getting through my day at work today, or dealing with conflicts within my family, or the test I have to take in that class that I am struggling with. Or it might be dealing with the loss of a family member to death. In all of those situations, Jesus says that He’s been there already, and He has already won. Referring again to the Amplified Bible, Jesus says, “I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.”

Not only has Jesus gone ahead of me and taken captive all of these problems and losses I will face, but He has given me comfort in the situation. 

I have posted a number of songs in the past that dealt with heaven, and the joy I anticipate with being there someday. Here is another one, which gives me comfort as I await my time to join my friends and family in heaven, when God sees fit to end my time here. It is sung as by a husband to the wife he has lost, but can apply to anyone we love who has gone one before us.

Was it a million miles to heaven
Too far to hear my lonely song
Or is it just my imagination
I hear you humming along
I only hold you in my dreams now
I wake up with cold and empty arms
Lord help me get through
This long night without you
And soon as the morning comes
Soon as the morning comes

Save me a seat at the breakfast table
Save me a dance around the Milky Way
And save me a thousand years
To whisper in your ears
All I’ve wanted to say
Save me a smile and an angel’s feather
Save me a walk down the streets of gold
And baby, we’ll change our minds just like old times
And maybe we’ll just fly away
Or maybe we’ll stay

My lucky doll, you’re in heaven before me
You were my taste of heaven here
Remember we loved to talk about it,
We couldn’t wait to get there
So you go on and find your way around now
But remember I’m here missing you
Do me a favor and say hey to Jesus
And tell Him I’m missing Him too
Tell Him I’m missing Him too

Then save me a seat at the breakfast table
Save me a dance around the Milky Way
And save me a thousand years
To whisper in your ears
All I’ve wanted to say
Save me a smile and an angel’s feather
Save me a walk down the streets of gold
And baby, we’ll change our minds just like old times
And maybe we’ll just fly away…

Save me a seat at the breakfast table
Save me a dance around the Milky Way
And save me a thousand years
To whisper in your ears
All I’ve wanted to say
Save me a smile and an angel’s feather
Save me a walk down the streets of gold
And baby, we’ll change our minds just like old times
And maybe we’ll just fly away…

Oh, maybe we’ll fly away, we’ll fly away

‘Cause I miss you, I miss you, I miss you, I miss you
Baby let’s fly away
We’ll fly, we’ll fly, we’ll fly,
And we’ll have forever
We’ll have forever and ever

I can’t wait to see you
I can’t wait to hold you
I can’t wait to see you
I can’t wait to hold you again

You were my taste of heaven
We’ll have forever
I can’t wait to see you
I can’t wait to hold you

Amusing, 1985, Chris Rice
Categories
Life

Background Noise

Featured song: Room Noise, by the 2nd Chapter Of Acts, from their 1983 album, Singer Sower.

TV snowIf you have been reading this blog for very long, it has probably become apparent to you that I am a person who is nostalgic, who enjoys looking back at his past. I treasure my memories, and believe that being aware of where I have been gives me an grounding to help steer me to where I am going. One of the things that I enjoy looking back on is the music that I grew up hearing — not only pop music of the 1960s and 1970s, but also the music on the records in my parent’s collection, music that was the background of my earlier years. In my goal of adding things to my digital library, I am also digitizing some old record albums that I fondly remember hearing so long ago. The music was the background of that part of my life, and hearing the music can take me back to those days. 

As a part of this immersion in music that I grew up with, I also have this mental connection with music that causes me to have lyrics of songs pop up when I hear things said in conversation around me. Someone says, “I’m leaving,” and my mental music machine may switch on to Peter, Paul & Mary, and I hear, “I’m leavin’ on a jet plane / I don’t know when I’ll be back again” will start playing in my head. 

The other thing that my inner iPod would do to me when I was in high school was to have a stuck replay button for the last song off the radio that I heard before I left home that morning. I had to try to make sure that the last thing I heard as I walked out the door was a song that I liked; if not, I might have infinite plays of a song that was definitely not on my top ten list.

So, background music for me can be enjoyable or agonizing, depending on what I have playing currently. Even now, nearly 40 years later, I find that a song that starts in my head will likely be here for quite a while, until I purposely “change tracks”, and get another song going. And, as in high school, this may be good or bad.

When Jesus music first started, the people who played and sang these songs took the music of their lives, and put words to that music that spoke of their new love for the Lord, or about His Word, the Bible, or about many other topics of the Christian life. They did it out of an earnest desire to make Him known, and to do so to as many people as possible. But as time passed, and some of their listeners changed their musical focus from secular music to this Jesus music, the intensity of the original impact sometimes faded. Instead of listening to and being influenced by the words of those songs, letting themselves be brought closer to their Lord, the music became just another style of background music for their lives. 

I know that this was (and is) a danger that I face today in the music to which I listen. There is really nothing bad about having God-focused music flowing into my ears, even when I’m not actively listening to what is being said; it still can have an effect on me. But when I just live my life the way I want to, and I do not try to daily change into His image, the music itself may become a kind of an idol that I worship, rather than being something that functions to bring me closer to Jesus. 

The song on which I am focusing today, Room Noise by the 2nd Chapter Of Acts, points out this danger. It’s not that I have to put all of my mind and soul into each song I listen to. But I have to make sure that the music is more than just another form of entertainment, just another song I like, running through my head during my day. I am sure that in many cases, these songs were written out of a desire by the performer to get a message across, to help bring me closer to Jesus, encourage me to grow, and pray, and reach out to others. The music of my life should not just be there to “make me happy”, but to serve as a springboard to the person God is urging me to become. No more “room noise”! Listen to what it says!

No more conversation
No more idle words
Pitter, pitter, patter
Words fall from your ladder
Pseudo gospel music
Music everywhere
But not a single drop
to drink anywhere

I don’t want to be room noise,
generically speaking,
I don’t want to be room noise,
no one will stop and hear me,
Hear me… hear me, hear me!

Down on bended knees,
doing what you please,
as you say…

Gospel, gospel music’s
an alternative,
Then you never have to
change the way you live…
Idle idol lyrics
floating through the air
Invisible netting
Emotional snare…

I don’t want to be room noise
generically speaking
I don’t want to be room noise
no one will stop and hear me
Hear me… hear me, hear me!

Down on bended knees,
doing what you please:
Pharisee!

I don’t want to be room noise,
I don’t want to be room noise, Elevator music
I don’t want to be room noise, Elevator music
I don’t want to be room noise, Elevator music

Singer Sower, 1983, 2nd Chapter Of Acts
Categories
Life

Woven

The “loner” in life is actually a misnomer.

"Weaver on the loom" by Vincent Van Gogh

There are no true loners. Oh, it is true that some of us wish to be left alone, and prefer solitude to the company of others. But my very presence on this earth is designed to be part of a larger community. How I interact with my family, friends and acquaintances, and the strangers I meet, all has an impact on the world around me. I can be a force for bringing those around me into a different place today: My depressed attitude, speech, and actions can make others feel the same way; my anger can cause others to react defensively or in anger; my joy or humor might elevate someone else’s sad mood.

Nor does only my presence have consequences on others; even my absence can have an effect on those who love and care about me. If I have been an annoyance or irritant in my little world, there may be some relief when I go away, but even an irritating child can be loved by his mother and missed when he is not around.

I have a part and you have a part in the design of this world, and we contribute to the whole, just as do threads in a tapestry. An individual thread might seem unimportant, but the Weaver knows the picture that He wants to make; that thread makes small details stand out, and helps to make the picture complete. Ask God what part you have to play in his design, and be sure that you are allowing Him to work His way in your life!

Teri DeSario sings about this beautifully on her 1985 album Voices In The Wind, with the song Tapestry.

I am a thread in the tapestry
I have the Master’s hand on me
And then He weaves me carefully
Making textures as He goes

Each of us part of this Great Design
You’ve got your part and I’ve got mine
All of our lives are intertwined
As the fabric starts to grow

Through thick and thin
The Master weaves us in
Young and old
You’re the colors of the rainbow
Our lives are short and long
But together we hold strong
In this everlasting tapestry

Taking the lovely and the plain
All of our laughter and our pain
Passing them back and forth again
The pattern can be seen

And when we’re finished we will be
A perfectly woven tapestry
A beautiful new creation seen
For all the universe to see

Through thick and thin
The Master weaves us in (yeah)
Young and old
You’re the colors of the rainbow
Our lives are short and long
But together we hold strong
In this everlasting tapestry

And every thread is known by name
Not a single thread the same
Every thread is known by name
As we’re woven on His Name
Into a tapestry of love

Thick and thin (together)
The Master weaves us in (together)
Young and old (together)
You’re the colors of the rainbow
Our lives are short and long (together)
But together we hold strong
In this everlasting tapestry
Everlasting tapestry

Together
Together
Together
Together

Voices In The Wind, 1985, Terry DeSario
Categories
Jesus

Traveling

Back in this post, I made mention that for some reason, Jesus was best recognized by his disciples not by the shape of His face, or even by His voice, but rather that he was known by his scars, those on His hands and feet. It was very important to God the Father that the marks of Jesus’ suffering and sacrifice would be the means by which He would be best identified.

Picture credit--William Hole

However, this little detail was not known to the disciples of Jesus in those first few days after his death on the cross. When Jesus began to make known that He was indeed alive, He did not chose to announce His resurrection from the dead to the world at large. Instead, He focused on those friends of His. And He did not use His credentials of the scars as His calling card each time. On Easter morning, Mary the mother of James and Mary Magdalene went to the tomb, and had an angel tell them that Jesus was risen. Mary Magdalene stayed behind, and did not recognize Him until He spoke her name to her. In a later appearance to Peter, Jesus was recognized in the large catch of fish they had at His command, a reminder of how He had first met them.

And in today’s story, from Luke 24:13-40, it tells how Jesus encountered two of His followers who had to travel to a nearby town. While they were walking there, they talked about what had happened to Jesus, and during the conversation, Jesus came and joined them in their walk, and yet they somehow did not recognize Him. It was not until he broke bread with them that His identity was revealed to them.

Today’s song by Don Francisco, the last in the series of stories of Jesus, tells of that meeting on the road. It is the title song from the 1981 album The Traveler. Be ready yourself for Jesus to appear to you in the meetings that you have each day with people that you come across, and when you do, serve them as you would serve Jesus Himself!

The day dawned in confusion, like a nightmare with no end
Tired and dreary colors, ragged hopes that wouldn’t mend
The grief and fear of death just seemed to hang across the sky
And the pain just kept on burning, though the tears had all been cried

We were talking, as we journeyed toward a quiet country town
When another traveler asked us why we seemed so sad and down
It was like a dam had burst inside as I spoke my grief and woe
Amazed that someone leaving there could somehow still not know

But the Traveler called us foolish men, and dull and slow of heart
Then He showed us from the Scriptures, God had planned it from the start
But it wasn’t till the evening, that our eyes were opened there
And we knew that it was Jesus, but He vanished in the air!

We rushed back to Jerusalem to tell the others there
They said, “Peter’s seen Him too!” There was excitement everywhere
Nearly shouting to each other, as the realization grew
When all at once He spoke to us, “Peace be unto you.”

We started back in terror, for His radiance filled the place
The light was all around him, and was shining from His face
Then He smiled a smile of love that left no cause for doubt
And then because He knew our hearts He spoke our feelings out

“Why are you so troubled? Why are you in fear?
See my hands and see my feet; I myself am here
Reach out now and handle me, until you’ve all been shown
My life is more than spirit, for I’m here in flesh and bone.”

Some lifted hands toward heaven and then knelt without a sound
Some just stood and stared at Him as if rooted to the ground
But I could not contain the joy that flooded heart and soul
It came rushing out in praises I had no wish to control!

Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy!
Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy!

Jesus is the Lord of all!
Jesus is the Lord of all!
Jesus is the Lord of all!
We have been redeemed!

(repeat)

The Traveler, Don Francisco, 1981 You can purchase this music  from the artist’s web site here.