After ordering my food the other day, as I was getting my drink I noticed
something unique, the store was quiet, no music blaring from the ceiling to
bother me. But I had spoke, or listened too soon, as by the time I got my food,
somebody’s idea of music was blaring. The same non-entertaining stuff they call
music today, am I showing my age? Believe it or not there are some out there
that like the sounds of silence, or at least good music. Remember Muzak playing
in elevators years ago? And who composes that hypnotizing stuff while you are
on hold? A friend of mine years ago, a drummer for the Canadian Philharmonic
Orchestra used to do that as a gig before he got a paying job. He told me the
musicians were good, they only needed the money. Do good musicians, can good
ones make bad music sound good?
While working at a Jeep/GMC dealer years ago, the silence was shattered by
a very loud interruption, Crystal turned up the music to a high volume, because
she liked the song. Fortunately I was able to convince her to turn it off, she
still thinks she didn’t do anything wrong.....what has happened to music today?
Is it those that make it or those that listen to it that dictate what we hear?
Hang on, you are about to show your age and taste in music....
I can still remember the first time I heard the album version of Light My
Fire by the Doors. It had instrumentals, and lasted almost seven minutes, not
the three we were used to. We had been grown up on AM radio, where for three
minutes, you heard a song in its entirety, could understand the words, whistle
along, or sing along. Dictating what our attention span was, and for me still
is. It was music because it was musical, and entertaining because it was.
Think of the groups you heard and their songs of the late sixties, The Who,
Simon and Garfunkel, Cream, The Association, Blood, Sweat, and Tears, CTA, The
Young Rascals, Janis Joplin, and the list goes on. All who when you heard them
on the radio, AM, could fill you and your mood for three minutes or less, and
keep you whistling throughout the day. Notice I didn’t mention the Beach Boys
or The Beatles, they were so good we only realized it when we looked back, and
how great their music really was. I have heard Lennon-McCartney tunes in
elevators, done to disco, and reggae, good music knows no bounds. And to each
new generation, when they first hear them, the music welcomes them. I have
never been a Stones fan, but some of their songs may qualify also. Yet today we
are left with the curse of hearing the last song before we leave the house and
not being able to get it out of our head all day. Nothing new, but I can still
remember singing or whistling “I’ll be There” by the Four Tops. Whatever
happened to those harmonies? To the Motown sound? To Elvis? Jr. Walker and
the All Stars? Four Seasons? Louis Armstrong? Paul Revere and the Raiders?
How about shared songs that were hits twice, like Light My Fire and Heard it
Through the Grapevine? Did you know the year of Sgt. Pepper, 1967, The Monkees
sold more albums? Where has all the good old music, that still sounds good
today and only took three minutes to tell its story go?
I ask church folk “why can Billy Graham speak for 15 minutes and people
rush the stage, while pastors speak 60 minutes and people rush for the doors?”
Is there a need to fill that hour for TV or radio show needs? Could it be is
all about them? Remember a good audience makes a good speaker. Or could it be
like one morning at a friend’s funeral, where over 200 bikers in leather and
denim fill the room, and Mr. Seminary figures he only has this chance to save
them? Not knowing almost all are saved and walking in Christ, and it is guys
like him the reason many don’t go to church. Why is it that Jesus could say so
much by saying so little, yet we feel we have to take over the job from the holy
spirit and fill in all the blanks? When is the last time you left a service
whistling, or not wanting to go to eat? How have we made something as simple a
the gospel so difficult?
To some we are like the words to “Hey Jude,” they view the scriptures as a
sad song, and try to make them better. But the gospel means good news, and
Jesus is the best news you will hear, or sing today. A timeless tune, that
likes to be whistled or sung all day. Yet after 90 minutes of religion on
Sunday, many feel their responsibility filled, and are free to go there own way
the rest of the week. Maybe if we listen to the harmonies of The Beach Boys,
and live in harmony with Christ we would get it. Wouldn’t that be Nice? I find
the daily devotions I read each day take only a few minutes to make a point, as
opposed to my rambling. But I am trying to get better, but in Jesus I have so
much to say. How many after spending time with God can say “You’ve Made Me So
Very Happy?” All I try to do is make you think and consider Jesus, the rest is
up to him and between you and him.
How many of us consider others when engaging them like the advice Paul gave
to Timothy? Do we set an example of the believers in speech, in life, in love,
in faith, and in purity? Do we try for 100% or go home hitting .250 hoping to
make the church bulletin for greatness? Do we expect more from our teachers and
pastors than we do from ourselves? Yes we will be judged more harshly, but
salvation is an I thing, not a we thing. We get saved as individuals not as
groups. When The Monkees sing “I’m a Believer,” can your actions back up your
song? Try the three minute test, share Jesus as the spirit gives you words,
then back off and listen. Like a farmer throws seeds that may be all you are
called to do. Maybe water what others have planted. But in all cases, let the
spirit provide the growth. Jesus will give you a new song to sing that you will
not forget.
So I have rambled already, my album version of Jesus for today. My prayer
is simple, sing the song of him all day and into the night. Sing to him, sing
with him, and make beautiful music. But remember that seeing him live in
concert will always be better than on a CD. Live because he is alive, as we can
be in him. No fancy covers, no light show, no 24 track recording, he plays
right to the heart. Only in the spirit will his song make sense to others, take
the three minute song test today. Not a sound byte, but the whole thing Jesus
has to offer. If Jesus be the language of love, play on. AM or FM, let’s get
serious, not the pay station. “Hooked on a Feeling?” Remember “This Guy’s In
Love with You,” make your “Midnight Confession” and know in Jesus “Love is all
Around.” I hope the spirit will just keep “You Hangin’ On...”
love with compassion,
Mike
mattehw25biker.blogspot.com