Paul Revere and The Raiders: "Kicks"

This song soared up the charts in the spring of 1967. It's about the danger of seeking thrills for thrills' sake. As the song says, they seem to keep getting harder to find.

Listen to the song here.

The Bible has much to say about overdoing pleasure. One bad effect is that intoxicants and a full belly cause one to forget God. As he said to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 29:6 (Bible in Basic English), "You have had no bread, or wine, or strong drink: so that you might see that I am the Lord your God." Sadly, they were slow learners.

Getting drunk also causes a person to lose their judgement. One monarch in 1 Kings 16:8-10 (BBE) learned that lesson the hard way. "In the twenty-sixth year that Asa was king of Judah, Elah, the son of Baasha, became king of Israel in Tirzah, and he was king for two years. And his servant Zimri, captain of half his war-carriages, made secret designs against him: now he was in Tirzah, drinking hard in the house of Arza, controller of the king's house in Tirzah. And Zimri went in and made an attack on him and put him to death, in the twenty-seventh year that Asa was king of Judah, and made himself king in his place."

And Paul points out that drinking to excess is no way for a Christian to act. Ephesians 5:18 (BBE) admonishes, "And do not take overmuch wine by which one may be overcome, but be full of the Spirit;"

Solomon also reminds us in Proverbs 20:1 (BBE) that, "Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise."

May you remain sober and watchful for Christ's coming. If that hasn't happened by Saturday, I'll hopefully post about the danger of rumors.

Kraftwerk: "Radio Activity"

April 26th is the 35th anniversary of the tragic Chernobyl nuclear disaster. During the midnight shift, barely-trained technicians tested the number four reactor at the Vladimir I. Lenin nuclear power station. To make sure that the safety Diesel generator would turn on if the reaction dropped below half its usual power output, the men deliberately lowered the graphite rods into the core. 

That's when the power dropped rapidly. They raised the rods but the reactor became unstable. Dropping the rods didn't help because Xenon gas had built up at its top. The five-hundred-ton lid blew through the roof, releasing extreme amounts of radio activity.

The German techno band Kraftwerk updated their 1975 version of "Radio Activity," mentioning four atomic radiation events. Listen to it here:

We humans think we're so smart. But God is the one who knows all. Speaking of the wicked, he said in Deuteronomy 32:35 (Bible in Basic English), "Punishment is mine and reward, at the time of the slipping of their feet: for the day of their downfall is near, sudden will be their fate."

The Lord also said of such prideful people in Psalms 82:6 and 7 (BBE), "I said, 'You are gods; all of you are the sons of the Most High:' But you will come to death like men, falling like one of the rulers of the earth."

Likewise, Isaiah 45:7 (BBE) reminds humanity, "I am the giver of light and the maker of the dark; causing blessing, and sending troubles; I am the Lord, who does all these things."

Even with all our technology, we aren't in control of everything. Puny sinners figure they  have mastered nature. Christ's disciples found out first hand who really is in command, as we read in Mark 4:41 (BBE) after Jesus calmed the sea, "And their fear was great, and they said one to another, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea do his orders?'"

If our mighty saviour hasn't returned by Thursday, I hope to post about how illicit pleasures never satisfy.

Canned Heat: "Let's Work Together"

 This is one band which played at the Woodstock music festival in 1969. Sadly, they didn't have many hits as a result of playing at such a legendary event.

Even so, listen to one of their songs here:

cooperation is the hallmark of Christianity. We see it in action when the Holy Spirit came upon people. Acts 2:44 and 45 (Bible in Basic English) reads, "And all those who were of the faith kept together, and had all things in common; And exchanging their goods and property for money, they made division of it among them all, as they had need."

The basis for this cooperation is in the Command Christ gave his disciples in John 13:34 (BBE). "I give you a new law: Have love one for another; even as I have had love for you, so are you to have love one for another."

And as Paul wrote in Romans 12:10 (BBE), there's no room for egos and pride. "Be kind to one another with a brother's love, putting others before yourselves in honour;"

In the next chapter, he tells his readers not to keep score. Romans 13:8 (BBE) says, "Be in debt for nothing, but to have love for one another: for he who has love for his neighbour has kept all the law."

We also must do as Hebrews 10:24 (BBE) says. "And let us be moving one another at all times to love and good works;"

As we cooperate in the work of spreading the gospel, we need to keep in mind the seriousness of this work. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:1-3 (BBE), "We then, working together with God, make our request to you not to take the grace of God to no purpose. (For he says, 'I have given ear to you at a good time, and I have been your helper in a day of salvation: see, now is the good time; now is the day of salvation):' Giving no cause for trouble in anything, so that no one may be able to say anything against our work."

Provided that Christ hasn't returned by Monday, I hope to post about the anniversary of the world's worst nuclear power plant disaster.

Max Romeo: "Uptown Babies Don't Cry

We North Americans certainly are blessed. We take for granted that our young children won't have to work to help us survive. Every child can attend public school too.

This song by reggae artist Max Romeo highlights the problem of poor children and how hard life is for them. Check it out here.

God cares much for the poor. We see it in verses such as Exodus 23:11 (Bible in Basic English). Israelites were allowed to harvest their land for six years, "But in the seventh year let the land have a rest and be unplanted; so that the poor may have food from it: and let the beasts of the field take the rest. Do the same with your vine-gardens and your olive-trees."

Were the poor forgotten during the six years of harvest? Leviticus 23:22 (BBE)urged Israelite farmers,  "And when you get in the grain from your land, do not let all the grain at the edges of the field be cut, and do not take up the grain which has been dropped in the field; let that be for the poor, and for the man from another country: I am the Lord your God."

Furthermore, Deuteronomy 15:11 (BBE) commanded, "For there will never be a time when there are no poor in the land; and so I give orders to you, Let your hand be open to your countrymen, to those who are poor and in need in your land."

God even blesses those who help impoverished people. Proverbs 19:17 (BBE) show us that, "He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward."

We Christians aren't exempt from giving, even if our governments tax the stuffing out of us. Luke 14:13 and 14 (BBE) plainly says, "But when you give a feast, send for the poor and the blind and those who are broken in body: And you will have a blessing, because they will not be able to give you any payment, and you will get your reward when the upright come back from the dead."

It need not be money we donate. We can give clothing or even rides to those who lack those things.

In the event our Master hasn't returned by Saturday, I hope to publish about cooperation in spreading the gospel.

Mark Jordan: "Marina Del Ray"

I'm sure all of us might have felt a twinge of jealousy for those folks fortunate enough to vacation in a tropical land during the winter months. Even so, those places aren't immune to being part of this cursed and fallen world. People who live there still need to work to survive.

Mark Jordan's song is all about the difference between those who are rich and those who must work in such resorts. Check it out here.

Even before the fall of humanity, Adam was given a job. Genesis 2:15 (Bible in Basic English) proves that work wasn't put on us as a curse. "And the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to do work in it and take care of it."

Furthermore, God blesses believers in their work. Psalms 28:1 and 2 (BBE) reads, "<A Song of the going up.> Happy is the worshipper of the Lord, who is walking in his ways. You will have the fruit of the work of your hands: happy will you be, and all will be well for you."

God also has given us the ability to work and receive its reward. As Ecclesiastes 2:24 (BBE) reminds us, "There is nothing better for a man than taking meat and drink, and having delight in his work. This again I saw was from the hand of God."

Now some folks might comment that we believers suffer unemployment and that jobs are sometimes scarce. Habakkuk 3:17 and 18 (BBE) is a good reminder of how we must respond to such challenges. "For though the fig-tree has no flowers, and there is no fruit on the vine, and work on the olive comes to nothing, and the fields give no food; and the flock is cut off from its resting-place, and there is no herd in the cattle-house:Still, I will be glad in the Lord, my joy will be in the God of my salvation."

Work also lets us give to help the gospel spread and to help the poor. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 16:1-3 (BBE), "Now about the giving of money for the saints, as I gave orders to the churches of Galatia, so do you. On the first day of the week, let every one of you put by him in store, in measure as he has done well in business, so that it may not be necessary to get money together when I come. And when I come, I will send the men of your selection with letters to take the money you have got together to Jerusalem."

In the event Christ hasn't returned by Thursday, I hope I can post about how rich folks can't understand poverty.

Joe South: "Games People Play"

Here's another social comment song from the late sixties. It's about how people lie, cheat, and trick each other for their own gain. Sadly, this has been happening for ages and it continues to this day.

Listen to this song here.

Jesus certainly was no stranger to those who wanted to trick and frame him. Mark 12:13-17 (Bible in Basic English) tells the story. "Then they sent to him certain of the Pharisees and the Herodians, so that they might make use of his words to take him by a trick. And when they had come, they said to him, 'Master, we are certain that you are true, and have no fear of anyone: you have no respect for a man's position, but you are teaching the true way of God: Is it right to give taxes to Caesar or not? Are we to give or not to give?' But he, conscious of their false hearts, said to them, 'Why do you put me to the test? give me a penny, so that I may see it.' And they gave him one. And he said to them, 'Whose is this image and name on it?' And they said to him, 'Caesar's.' And Jesus said to them, 'Give to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's.' And they were full of wonder at him."

Likewise, we can learn a great lesson from Proverbs 6:23-25 (BBE) about the value of God's law. "For the rule is a light, and the teaching a shining light; and the guiding words of training are the way of life. They will keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the strange woman. Let not your heart's desire go after her fair body; let not her eyes take you prisoner."

We humans often try to flatter God. Psalms 78:36 and 37 (BBE) tell of Israel's unfaithfulness to the Lord. "But their lips were false to him, and their tongues were untrue to him; And their hearts were not right with him, and they did not keep their agreement with him."

Even when our opponents cause us grief, God can turn it around. Paul realized this in Philippians 1:18 (BBE) regarding those who put him down. "What then? only that in every way, falsely or truly, the preaching of Christ goes on; and in this I am glad, and will be glad."

The worst sort of game-playing is false service to God. As Jesus said in Mark 12:38-40 (BBE), "And in his teaching he said, 'Be on your watch against the scribes, whose pleasure it is to go about in long robes and be respected in the market-places, And to have the chief seats in the Synagogues and the first places at feasts; Who take away the property of widows, and before the eyes of men make long prayers; these will be judged more hardly.'"

If Christ doesn't return by Monday, I hope to post about the necessity of work. To some, it's a four-letter word.

Jimmy Cliff: "The Harder They Come"

This reggae artist had a hit in North America in 1969 called "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" but no other hits that I can recall. Even so, this song from 1981 showed his talent wasn't a fluke.

Listen to the song here:

This song certainly portrays the attitude of worldly people. They figure we only live once so why not grab all the gusto while we can?

We who follow Christ know better. He said in Mark 8:36 (Bible in Basic English) in regard to eternity, "What profit has a man if he gets all the world with the loss of his life?"

Many non Christians figure we'll only have God's provision of our needs in eternity. But we know what our Lord said in Mark 10:29 and 30 (BBE). "Jesus said, 'Truly I say to you, There is no man who has given up house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or land, because of me and the good news, Who will not get a hundred times as much now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and land--though with great troubles; and, in the world to come, eternal life.'"

Furthermore, the alms we give to the poor aren't wasted. As Proverbs 19:17 (BBE) reminds us, "He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward."

Non Christians also figure we're depriving ourselves of fun. In fact, we're much better off being sober and prudent with our lives and money. As 1 Peter 4:3-5 (BBE) reminds us, "Because for long enough, in times past, we have been living after the way of the Gentiles, given up to the desires of the flesh, to drinking and feasting and loose behaviour and unclean worship of images; And they are wondering that you no longer go with them in this violent wasting of life, and are saying evil things of you: But they will have to give an account of themselves to him who is ready to be the judge of the living and the dead."

This even helps us in our walk with the Lord. Ephesians 5:18 (BBE) advises, "And do not take overmuch wine by which one may be overcome, but be full of the Spirit;"

If Christ hasn't returned by Saturday, I hope to feature one of those social comment songs about society.

George Harrison: "If Not For You"

What a lovely love song this is. There's no selfishness in true love and neither is there pomposity. Listen to the song here.

If not for Christ, we would have no hope of eternal life. As Paul wisely observed in 1 Corinthians 15:19 (Bible in Basic English), "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most unhappy."

Because our Lord rose from the dead, we know that God has accepted his sacrifice for our sins. As we read in 1 John 2:1 and 2 (BBE), "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may be without sin. And if any man is a sinner, we have a friend and helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, the upright one: He is the offering for our sins; and not for ours only, but for all the world."

Though atheists try to disprove Christ's resurrection, he did rise and many witnesses saw him. As Peter testified in Acts 10:40 and 41 (BBE), "On the third day God gave him back to life, and let him be seen, Not by all the people, but by witnesses marked out before by God, even by us, who took food and drink with him after he came back from the dead."

Jesus is all things to us. He's our Lord for one thing. As he said in Matthew 24:44 (BBE), "Be ready then; for at a time which you have no thought of the Son of man will come."

We also follow his example of humility. As Christ said in John 13:13 and 14 (BBE), "You give me the name of Master and Lord: and you are right; that is what I am. If then I, the Lord and the Master, have made your feet clean, it is right for you to make one another's feet clean."

We await his coming like a bride awaits her groom. As Jesus said in Luke 12:35 and 36 (BBE), "Be ready, dressed as for a journey, with your lights burning. And be like men who are looking for their lord, when he comes back from the bride-feast; so that when he comes to the door, it will be open to him quickly."

If this hasn't happened by Thursday, I hope to feature a reggae song which reflects the world's attitude to life.

Deep Purple: "Smoke on the Water"

This song is based on a true event which happened to the band. A venue they hoped to play at burned down because of "some stupid with a flair gun." Check it out here.
 

 Listen to the song here:

As is always the case in human affairs, it only takes one or two people to spoil it for the rest. One example the Bible mentions was when David was on the run from King Saul. A man named Doeg told the king that his prey was hiding with the priests of the Lord.

We read what happened because of one evil man in 2 Samuel 22:18 (Bible in Basic English). "Then the king said to Doeg, 'You are to put the priests to death.' And Doeg the Edomite, turning on the priests and attacking them, put to death that day eighty-five men who took up the ephod." Saul also had the townspeople and their livestock killed.

Earlier in Scripture, Achan stole a few things when Jericho was destroyed. But God caused the Israelites to lose a battle with a little city called Ai. Achan was discovered and the objects he stole caused him and his family to be executed.

Joshua 7:25 and 26 (BBE) tells us, "And Joshua said, 'Why have you been a cause of trouble to us? Today the Lord will send trouble on you.' And all Israel took part in stoning him; they had him stoned to death and then burned with fire. And over him they put a great mass of stones, which is there to this day; then the heat of the Lord's wrath was turned away. So that place was named, The Valley of Achor, to this day."

To a lesser extent, Noah caused his son to see his nakedness when he got drunk. Genesis 9:22 and 23 (BBE) tells what happened. "And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father unclothed, and gave news of it to his two brothers outside. And Shem and Japheth took a robe, and putting it on their backs went in with their faces turned away, and put it over their father so that they might not see him unclothed."

Even Gideon, my Old Testament hero, blew it. Judges 8:26 and 27 (BBE) tells of how Gideon asked for the gold from the defeated raiders. "The weight of the gold ear-rings which he got from them was one thousand, seven hundred shekels of gold; in addition to the moon-ornaments and jewels and the purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and the chains on their camels' necks. And Gideon made an ephod from them and put it up in his town Ophrah; and all Israel went after it there and were false to the Lord; and it became a cause of sin to Gideon and his house."

And if Jesus, whom Judas Iscariot betrayed, hasn't returned by Monday, I hope to post about how our beloved Lord is all we need.

Dr. Hook: "I Got Stoned and I Missed it"

The first time I heard this song was on a comedy show called Doctor Demento. It was done by a pianist named Shel Silverstein and it described a druggie who kept missing life's opportunities.

Listen to Dr. Hook performing this song live here.

There are many times in our lives when we miss opportunities. The one I wish nobody would miss is the gospel.

Jesus told a parable about four kinds of soils. Only one grew a good crop. Matthew 13:23 (Bible in Basic English) tells us, "And the seed which was put in good earth, this is he who gives ear to the word, and gets the sense of it; who gives fruit, some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times as much."

Furthermore, Paul tells us why some accept the gospel while others don't in Romans 8:13 and 14 (BBE). "For if you go in the way of the flesh, death will come on you; but if by the Spirit you put to death the works of the body, you will have life. And all those who are guided by the Spirit of God are sons of God."

Now some folks might be angry with me for including Acts 13:48 (BBE) to show that God planned for only some to be born again. "And the Gentiles, hearing this, were glad and gave glory to the word of God: and those marked out by God for eternal life had faith."

Of course predestination doesn't let us off the hook. As Romans 10:14 (BBE) says, "But how will they give worship to him in whom they have no faith? and how will they have faith in him of whom they have not had news? and how will they have news without a preacher?"

So if the Lord doesn't return by Saturday, I hope to post about how one stupid act can effect so many people.

Kim Mitchel: "Go For a Soda"

This eighties song is one of my favourites. Its message is clear as well. Nobody hurts and nobody dies when you're drinking soft drinks.

Listen to Kim's song here.

The Bible has much to say about drinking to excess. Proverbs 20:1 (Bible in Basic English) reminds us that, "Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise."

My family life was ruined by my father who was an alcoholic. Isaiah 5:11 (BBE) is a rebuke to all those drunkards. "Cursed are those who get up early in the morning to give themselves up to strong drink; who keep on drinking far into the night till they are heated with wine!"

Even religious drinkers can be snared by booze. Isaiah 28:7 (BBE) warns, "And further, these are uncertain through wine, and have gone out of the right way through strong drink: the priest and the prophet are uncertain through strong drink, they are overcome by wine, they have gone out of the way through strong drink; their vision is false, they go wrong in their decisions."

Now the scriptures do say we should drink in moderation. Paul understood the medicinal use of alcohol well, as he wrote in 1 Timothy 5:23 (BBE). "Do not take only water as your drink, but take a little wine for the good of your stomach, and because you are frequently ill."

And though the verses in 1 Peter 2:18 and 19 (BBE) refer to false spiritual leaders, they do show how losing our senses through over indulgence in drink can entrap us. "For with high-sounding false words, making use of the attraction of unclean desires of the flesh, they get into their power those newly made free from those who are living in error; Saying that they will be free, while they themselves are the servants of destruction; because whatever gets the better of a man makes a servant of him."

Moderate imbibing of liquor is no sin but we dare not mislead weak siblings with our liberty. That's why Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:23 and 24 (BBE) that, "We are free to do all things, but there are things which it is not wise to do. We are free to do all things, but not all things are for the common good. Let a man give attention not only to what is good for himself, but equally to his neighbour's good."

If our Master hasn't come back by Thursday, I hope to post about the perils of intoxication.

The Electric Prunes: "Holy Are You"

I wonder what my anti-rock-music church leaders would have thought of praising God with electric guitars. I know I'd have loved this song if somebody had played it to me when I was a teenager.

Check out the song here:

We often take the Father's holiness for granted. Like fish, we're so used to water being around us and in us. Only when we're out of water do we miss it.

Moses was one person who wanted to see God's holy glory. The father knew no mortal could withstand his full brilliance so he said to Moses in Exodus 33:21-23 (Bible in Basic English), "And the Lord said, 'See, there is a place near me, and you may take your place on the rock: And when my glory goes by, I will put you in a hole in the rock, covering you with my hand till I have gone past: Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back: but my face is not to be seen.'"

And like our heavenly Father, we too must be holy. Leviticus 20:7 (BBE) is his instruction to the descendents of Israel. "So make and keep yourselves holy, for I am the Lord your God."

It's a blessing that God is our heavenly Father, even when we stray from the truth. Malachi 3:6 (BBE) reminded the Israelites of God's mercy in judgement. "For I am the Lord, I am unchanged; and so you, O sons of Jacob, have not been cut off."

Our Master also is eternal and unchanging, as Hebrews 13:8 (BBE) reminds us. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever."

God also can speak of his unchanging nature through unholy people regarding this truth. In Numbers 23:19 (BBE), Balaam said, "God is not a man, to say what is false; or the son of man, that his purpose may be changed: what he has said, will he not do? and will he not give effect to the words of his mouth?"Though we can come boldly into his presence, our heavenly Father must be respected as he is ultimate holiness.

And if his resurrected son doesn't return by Monday, I hope to post about going for a soda and how much safer it is.

Larry Gross: "Junk Food Junkie"

This comical song is about a health food devotee who sneaks out at night for his junk food fix. Have a listen to it here.

Hypocrisy is such an easy sin to be trapped in. Even the best Christian leaders can convince themselves that their dalliances aren't really sins against God Almighty and that nobody will discover them.

Moses figured his fellow Israelites would understand when he killed an Egyptian taskmaster for beating one of his fellows. Exodus 2:12 (Bible in Basic English) shows that he had a guilty mind. "And turning this way and that, and seeing no one, he put the Egyptian to death, covering his body with sand." Of course we know that he fled the country when somebody mentioned his murder.

King David figured he could get away with murder by proxy. But God sent Nathan who told David about a poor man robbed by a rich man of his pet lamb. We read David's reaction and the condemnation on him in 2 Samuel 12:5-7 (BBE). "And David was full of wrath against that man; and he said to Nathan, 'By the living Lord, death is the right punishment for the man who has done this:" And he will have to give back four times the value of the lamb, because he has done this and because he had no pity.' And Nathan said to David, 'You are that man. The Lord God of Israel says, "I made you king over Israel, putting holy oil on you, and I kept you safe from the hands of Saul;"'"

And all through Christ's earthly ministry, the Pharisees kept trying to stone him. We read in Matthew 23:13-15 (BBE) how he condemned those fakers. "But a curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! because you are shutting the kingdom of heaven against men: for you do not go in yourselves, and those who are going in, you keep back.  A curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! for you go about land and sea to get one disciple and, having him, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves."

If our Lord hasn't returned by Saturday, I hope to post about God's holiness and what it means to us.