The Who: "I'm a Boy"

Here's another song that's way ahead of its time. It's about a boy whose mother keeps dressing him up as a girl. She can't accept that he's not like his three sisters. Listen to it here:

The Word of God makes it abundantly clear that there are only two sexes, male and female. Genesis 1:27 (Bible in Basic English) plainly says, "And God made man in his image, in the image of God he made him: male and female he made them."

Furthermore, God gave Adam only one wife for life. As Genesis 2:24 (BBE) states, "For this cause will a man go away from his father and his mother and be joined to his wife; and they will be one flesh." That means they'll reproduce in a family setting.

The Who: "I'm a Boy"The Bible is clear too regarding "same-sex" relations. Look at how bluntly Leviticus 18:22 (BBE) puts it. "You may not have sex relations with men, as you do with women: it is a disgusting thing."

Even cross-dressing is considered an abomination. Deuteronomy 22:5 (BBE) reads, "It is not right for a woman to be dressed in man's clothing, or for a man to put on a woman's robe: whoever does such things is disgusting to the Lord your God."

If the boy in the song were a Christian, his mom would be in violation of leading him into sin. Jesus said in Matthew 18:5 and 6 (BBE), "And whoever gives honour to one such little child in my name, gives honour to me: But whoever is a cause of trouble to one of these little ones who have faith in me, it would be better for him to have a great stone fixed to his neck, and to come to his end in the deep sea."

It really is true that, "boys will be boys." But this society we're stuck in has adopted reprobate standards. Romans 1:26 and 27 (BBE) is true of our citizens today. "For this reason God gave them up to evil passions, and their women were changing the natural use into one which is unnatural: And in the same way the men gave up the natural use of the woman and were burning in their desire for one another, men doing shame with men, and getting in their bodies the right reward of their evil-doing."

So if Christ hasn't come to punish the wicked by Saturday, I hope to post about the king of trees and one tree which comforted me.

The Moody Blues: "Cities"

This is one song which appeared on a forty-five RPM record but not on an album. Often times back then, bands would put extra songs on the B side of singles. Listen to this one here:

As in today's cities, the ones mentioned in the Bible weren't righteous places to live. We read how God judged the wicked city dwellers in 2 Peter 2:6-8 (Bible in Basic English), "And sent destruction on Sodom and Gomorrah, burning them up with fire as an example to those whose way of life might in the future be unpleasing to him; And kept safe Lot, the upright man, who was deeply troubled by the unclean life of the evil-doers (Because the soul of that upright man living among them was pained from day to day by seeing and hearing their crimes):"

When the Israelites foolishly brought the Ark of the Covenant to the battle and lost it to the Philistines, God punished the five cities it went to. As 1 Samuel 5:6 (BBE) tells of one city, "But the hand of the Lord was hard on the people of Ashdod and he sent disease on them through all the country of Ashdod."

Though people lived in walled cities for their protection, armies besieged  them and broke through their defences. Isaiah 14:31 (BBE) shows how God punished the philistines for their oppression of Israel. "Send out a cry, O door! Make sounds of sorrow, O town! All your land has come to nothing, O Philistia; for there comes a smoke out of the north, and everyone keeps his place in the line."

But God did favour Jerusalem and also punished that city when they turned from worshipping him. As Isaiah 40:1 and 2 (BBE) reads, "'Give comfort, give comfort, to my people,' says your God. Say kind words to the heart of Jerusalem, crying out to her that her time of trouble is ended, that her punishment is complete; that she has been rewarded by the Lord's hand twice over for all her sins."

There is  one city, of which we are part of, which will never be destroyed. As Revelation 21:2 (BBE) predicts, "And I saw the holy town, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, like a bride made beautiful for her husband."

If our Master hasn't brought that about by Thursday, I hope I can post about a song which was decades ahead of its time.

Sparks: "Bon Voyage"

This under-rated group from California never had worldwide fame but they did produce some great and thoughtful songs. This one sounds to me like the Mael brothers were writing about the great flood at Noah's time. Listen for yourself here:

In the song, the protagonists wishes he could come along. I'm sure that if somebody did believe the preaching of Noah, that person would be welcomed aboard the ark.

Peter made mention of salvation preached to those in the prison of unbelief. As we read in 1 Peter 3:19 and 20 (BBE), "By whom he went to the spirits in prison, preaching to those Who, in the days of Noah, went against God's orders; but God in his mercy kept back the punishment, while Noah got ready the ark, in which a small number, that is to say eight persons, got salvation through water:" Remember that this is an analogy and not a proof text of Christ going to hell.

Salvation is offered to all but only a few accept it. As Christ noted in Matthew 22:14 (BBE) "For out of all to whom the good news has come, only a small number will get salvation."

I know that some Christians balk at predestination but it's scriptural. As we read in Ephesians 1:3 and 4 (BBE), "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us every blessing of the Spirit in the heavens in Christ: Even as he made selection of us in him from the first, so that we might be holy and free from all evil before him in love:"

Though predestination is real, it doesn't excuse us from proclaiming the gospel. As Paul wrote in Romans 10:14 and 15 (BBE), "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? And how will there be preachers if they are not sent? As it is said, How beautiful are the feet of those who give the glad news of good things."

And if Christ doesn't come for his chosen by Monday, I'll hopefully post about bad cities and one wonderful place.

Quicksilver Messenger Service: "Pride of Man"

This psychedelic band  released a song which aptly reflects how humanity feels invincible. Yet history is filled with empires who thought so but are no more. Check out this prophetic song here:

The Champlain condo collapse in June of 2021 is one of many  examples of sudden destruction befalling people. Warning signs, such as water leaking into the underground parking garage and bits of concrete falling from the ceiling, had been noticed by tenants and inspectors for several years but nothing was done about it. Because of that negligence, people died and those who escaped lost all they had.

God has given many warning signs to both Israel and gentiles. Deuteronomy 7:3 and 4 (BBE) warned against marrying idol-worshipping gentiles. "Do not take wives or husbands from among them; do not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons. For through them your sons will be turned from me to the worship of other gods: and the Lord will be moved to wrath against you and send destruction on you quickly."

Destruction also happens to anybody without regard to their faith or lack of it. As Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 9:12 (BBE), "Even man has no knowledge of his time; like fishes taken in an evil net, or like birds taken by deceit, are the sons of men taken in an evil time when it comes suddenly on them."

We believers in Christ are assured that our Father knows what's best for us. That's why Paul wrote in Romans 8:28 (BBE), "And we are conscious that all things are working together for good to those who have love for God, and have been marked out by his purpose."

Unlike us, the wicked folks are in for a shock at the end of the age. As Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3  (BBE), "But about the times and their order, my brothers, there is no need for me to say anything to you. For you yourselves have the knowledge that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, 'There is peace and no danger,' then sudden destruction will come on them, as birth-pains on a woman with child; and they will not be able to get away from it."

If that day hasn't come by Saturday, I hope to post about a song which reminds me of the great flood during Noah's time.

Paul Revere and The Raiders: "Do Unto Others"

This is one American band which had success during the so-called British Invasion of the sixties. They covered many standards at first but by 1966, they were singing their own songs. Hear one of their greats here:

What a great world this would be if everybody just obeyed what they call The Golden Rule. Nobody would rob, lie, or kill anybody. In fact, crimes of all sorts would disappear.

Better still, people would do good to others because they cared about them. Jesus took that to the max in Luke 14:12-14 (Bible in Basic English). "And he said to the master of the house, 'When you give a feast, do not send for your friends and your brothers and your family or your neighbours who have wealth, for they may give a feast for you, and so you will get a reward. 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.'"

Some folks in Christ's time assumed just keeping the law outwardly would get them into heaven. Jesus set one lawyer straight in Matthew 22:37-40 (BBE). "And he said to him, 'Have love for the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest rule. And a second like it is this, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself. On these two rules all the law and the prophets are based.'"

Better still, kindness to poor Christians is kindness to Christ. As he said in a parable about the Judgement Day in Matthew 25:34-40 (BBE), "Then will the King say to those on his right, 'Come, you who have the blessing of my Father, into the kingdom made ready for you before the world was: For I was in need of food, and you gave it to me: I was in need of drink, and you gave it to me: I was wandering, and you took me in; I had no clothing, and you gave it to me: when I was ill, or in prison, you came to me.' Then will the upright make answer to him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you in need of food, and give it to you? or in need of drink, and give it to you? And when did we see you wandering, and take you in? or without clothing, and give it to you? And when did we see you ill, or in prison, and come to you?' And the King will make answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, Because you did it to the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'"

If that blessed Resurrection event hasn't happened by Thursday, I hope to post about how human pride ruins civilization.

Neil Diamond: "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show"

This man had a string of hits through the sixties and into the eighties. The song I'm featuring is about tent revival meetings which were once popular in America and Canada. Check it out here.

In the first century, synagogues were the places where Christ's disciples preached the gospel of the resurrection. As we read in Acts 5:1-5 (Bible in Basic English), "And while they were talking to the people, the priests and the captain of the Temple and the Sadducees came up to them, Being greatly troubled because they were teaching the people and preaching Jesus as an example of the coming back from the dead. And they took them and put them in prison till the morning, for it was now evening. But a number of those who gave hearing to the word had faith; and they were now about five thousand."

Jesus' first sermon in a synagogue angered the locals but it was his announcement that he was the Messiah. Luke 4:21 and 22 (BBE) records, "Then he said to them, 'Today this word has come true in your hearing.' And they were all giving witness, with wonder, to the words of grace which came from his mouth: and they said, 'Is not this the son of Joseph?'"
 
They later tried to throw Christ off a cliff but he walked through the crowd and escaped.

Jesus often taught in synagogues. Even some of the religious establishment believed him, as John 12:42 (BBE) tells us, "However, a number even of the rulers had belief in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not say so openly for fear that they might be shut out from the Synagogue:"

Of course we know that the location of meetings doesn't matter. It's the Holy Spirit who works in people to save them. Neither do we need to say a formula or act out a certain ritual. The gospel is the message and its own message.

And if Christ hasn't returned by Monday, I hope to post regarding what people call the golden rule.

Motherload: "When I Die"

Here's another one-hit-wonder Canadian group, this time with a hit from 1970. In the song, the man is wondering if his girlfriend will see him as a better man after he perishes. Listen to it here.

What will people think of us in the event that we die before Christ's return? We need always look in the mirror of Holy Scripture, as James 1:25 (Bible in Basic English) advises. "But he who goes on looking into the true law which makes him free, being not a hearer without memory but a doer putting it into effect, this man will have a blessing on his acts."

We know too that the universe will dissolve in order to make way for the new heavens and the new earth. As 2 Peter 3:11 and 12 (BBE) reminds us, "Seeing then that all these things are coming to such an end, what sort of persons is it right for you to be, in all holy behaviour and righteousness, Looking for and truly desiring the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will come to an end through fire, and the substance of the earth will be changed by the great heat?"

People do judge us Christians but let's all be known for the good we do out of a holy heart. As Galatians 5:22 and 23 (BBE) tells us, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, a quiet mind, kind acts, well-doing, faith, Gentle behaviour, control over desires: against such there is no law."

Paul also commended his readers for their consistent righteousness in 1 Thessalonians 4:1 (BBE), "And last of all, the prayer which we make to you from our heart and in the name of the Lord Jesus, is this: that as we made clear to you what sort of behaviour is pleasing to God, as in fact you are doing now, so you will go on in these ways, but more and more."

We also read in 1 John 4:12 and 13 (BBE) how we can tell if we are genuine or not. "No man has ever seen God: if we have love for one another, God is in us and his love is made complete in us: And his Spirit which he has given us is the witness that we are in him and he is in us."

And if the one who will reward us faithful disciples hasn't returned by Saturday, I expect to post about tent meetings and how the gospel used to be preached.

Lighthouse: "Hats Off to The Stranger"

This is one Canadian band which didn't need government help to become famous. They had all the musical hooks of a great group and gained their fans through good musicianship and strong song writing.

This particular song is about being warned to heed God's message. Hear it here.

God has called out to people since the time of Adam and Eve. Sadly, people often went their own way. One example was Israel's disobedience in not invading Palestine. Deuteronomy 1:26 and 27 (Bible in Basic English) tells us, "But going against the order of the Lord your God, you would not go up: And you made an angry outcry in your tents, and said, 'In his hate for us the Lord has taken us out of the land of Egypt, to give us up into the hands of the Amorites for our destruction.'"

Isaiah 30:15 (BBE) shows how God wanted to do Israel good but they refused to listen. "For the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, said, 'In quiet and rest is your salvation: peace and hope are your strength: but you would not have it so.'"

Jeremiah 29:18 and 19 (BBE) makes God's desire even clearer. "'I will go after them, attacking them with the sword and with need of food and with disease, and will make them a cause of fear to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse and a wonder and a surprise and a name of shame among all the nations where I have sent them:' Because they have not given ear to my words,' says the Lord, 'when I sent to them my servants the prophets, getting up early and sending them; but you did not give ear,' says the Lord."

Jesus actually wept over Israel's capital in Matthew 23:37-39 (BBE) for all the good the Father wanted to do for them. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, putting to death the prophets, and stoning those who are sent to her! Again and again would I have taken your children to myself as a bird takes her young ones under her wings, and you would not! See, your house is made waste. For I say to you, You will not see me from this time till you say, 'A blessing on him who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

Stephen also gave the Jewish leaders a tongue-lashing in Acts 7:51-53 (BBE). "You whose hearts are hard and whose ears are shut to me; you are ever working against the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets was not cruelly attacked by your fathers? and they put to death those who gave them the news of the coming of the Upright One; whom you have now given up and put to death; You, to whom the law was given as it was ordered by angels, and who have not kept it."

I hope the time is near when Israel recognizes her messiah. If that hasn't happened by Thursday, I hope to post about the legacy we leave behind.

Kraftwerk: "The Hall of Mirrors"

Believe it or not, this electronic music group from Germany shaped the sound of modern music. Artists as diverse as David Bowie and Africa Bambaataa were influenced by this innovative band. Check out one of their songs here.

Mirrors weren't common when the Bible was being penned. It's why James 1:23 and 24 shows us how people could forget what they looked like. The Bible in Basic English phrases it like this: "Because if any man is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a glass; For after looking at himself he goes away, and in a short time he has no memory of what he was like."

Furthermore, we're required to examine ourselves by the yardstick of God's Word. As 2 Corinthians 13:5 (BBE) reminds us, "Make a test of yourselves, if you are in the faith; make certain of yourselves. Or are you not conscious in yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you, if you are truly Christ's?"

Even partaking of the Lord's Table is a serious matter to consider. As 1 Corinthians 11:26-28 warns, "For whenever you take the bread and the cup you give witness to the Lord's death till he comes. If, then, anyone takes the bread or the cup of the Lord in the wrong spirit, he will be responsible for the body and blood of the Lord. But let no man take of the bread and the cup without testing himself."

When we don't put the Lord first in our lives, we're like the  folks in Haggai 1:5 and 6 (BBE) who neglected rebuilding the temple. "For this cause the Lord of armies has said, 'Give thought to your ways. Much has been planted, but little got in; you take food, but have not enough; you take drink, but are not full; you are clothed, but no one is warm; and he who gets payment for his work, gets it to put it into a bag full of holes."

Mirrors, like the scriptures, show us what we look like. That's why Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16 and 17 (BBE), "Every holy Writing which comes from God is of profit for teaching, for training, for guiding, for education in righteousness: So that the man of God may be complete, trained and made ready for every good work."

If Christ hasn't come to reward us by Monday, I hope to post about a stranger witnessing to somebody.

Klaatu: "True Life Hero"

Here's another fine song from one of Canada's under-rated bands. It's about a man wishing he could be a real life hero but he lacks courage. Listen to it here:

We can't all be heroes in this life but we can be heroes for eternity by letting the Lord work through us. As 1 Corinthians 1:26 (Bible in Basic English) shows, the Father works with lowly folks. "For you see God's design for you, my brothers, that he has not taken a great number of the wise after the flesh, not the strong, not the noble:" That's because it brings him more glory.

Neither do we need a seminary education to spread the gospel. Jesus said to eleven ordinary men in Matthew 28:19 and 20 (BBE) to, "Go then, and make disciples of all the nations, giving them baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to keep all the rules which I have given you: and see, I am ever with you, even to the end of the world."

I'm glad we don't need to be eloquent. Jesus didn't bring a Samaritan woman to faith with sophistry. In John 4:7 (BBE) "A woman of Samaria came to get water, and Jesus said to her, 'Give me some water.'" Notice that Christ didn't lecture her or start off with the gospel.

Neither did Philip start out with a theological discussion with the Ethiopian eunuch. Acts 8:29 and 30 (BBE) reads, "And the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go near, and get on his carriage.' And Philip, running up to him, saw that he was reading Isaiah the prophet, and said to him, 'Is the sense of what you are reading clear to you?'" We know the rest of that story too.

We know also that the job of a witness is to testify. Acts 4:33 (BBE) shows how these ordinary men proclaimed the gospel. "And with great power the Apostles gave witness of the coming back of the Lord Jesus from the dead; and grace was on them all."

We don't have miraculous powers like those apostles but we still must tell others about our Lord's purchase of salvation. As Christ said in John 18:37 (BBE), "Then Pilate said to him, 'Are you then a king?' Jesus made answer, 'You say that I am a king. For this purpose was I given birth, and for this purpose I came into the world, that I might give witness to what is true. Every lover of what is true gives ear to my voice.'"

This also is a promise that those who will be saved will listen to what we say. Of course it might not happen immediately.

If Christ hasn't fulfilled his promise to return by Saturday, I hope to post about how we need the mirror of the scriptures.

Joy Division: "Atrocity Exhibition"

This British new wave band hit on a theme rarely sung about. People tend to delight in the misfortune of others. The Germans have a word for this: scha·den·freu·de.

Check out this song here:

Ever since Cain killed Abel, people have done cruel things to one another. And as at every schoolyard fight, a crowd gathers to watch. Jeremiah 20:10 (Bible in Basic English) is one example. "For numbers of them say evil secretly in my hearing (there is fear on every side): they say, 'Come, let us give witness against him;' all my nearest friends, who are watching for my fall, say, 'It may be that he will be taken by deceit, and we will get the better of him and give him punishment.'"

Jesus was one whom the Pharisees watched in order to use his actions and words against him. As Mark 3:1 and 2 (BBE) reads, "And he went again into the Synagogue; and there was a man there whose hand was dead And they were watching him to see if he would make him well on the Sabbath day, so that they might have something against him."

Stoning's were also something which drew crowds. Christianity's first martyr had a crowd of participants and one watcher when he died. Acts 7:57-59 (BBE) reads, "But with loud cries, and stopping their ears, they made an attack on him all together, Driving him out of the town and stoning him: and the witnesses put their clothing at the feet of a young man named Saul. And Stephen, while he was being stoned, made prayer to God, saying, 'Lord Jesus, take my spirit'".

Resisting the pull of the crowd is what we ought to do when wicked folks entice us. As Solomon wrote in Proverbs 1:15-18 (BBE), "My son, do not go with them; keep your feet from their ways: For their feet are running after evil, and they are quick to take a man's life. Truly, to no purpose is the net stretched out before the eyes of the bird: And they are secretly waiting for their blood and making ready destruction for themselves."

We believers are called to holiness, not maliciousness. As Paul wrote in Galatians 5:22 and 23 (BBE), "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, a quiet mind, kind acts, well-doing, faith, Gentle behaviour, control over desires: against such there is no law."

If Christ hasn't returned to reward his faithful servants by Thursday, I hope to post about how we wish we were true life heroes.

John Otway and Wild Willie Barrett: "Head Butts"

This playful spoof of punk rock wasn't a hit in North America but it was played on the CBC once. It's about a man head-butting his way through life. I think you know the type of person I mean. Listen to this song here.

The Bible has much to say about head-strong people. For Example, Proverbs 14:17 (Bible in Basic English) reminds us, "He who is quickly angry will do what is foolish, but the man of good sense will have quiet."

Some women are like that too. Proverbs 21:19 (BBE) advises, "It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman."

We need to choose our friends wisely as well. Proverbs 22:24 and 25 (BBE) says, "Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man: For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul."

Selfish wrath can also lead to eternal damnation. Matthew 5:22 (BBE) warns, "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be in danger of being judged; and he who says to his brother, 'Raca,' will be in danger from the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, 'You foolish one,' will be in danger of the hell of fire." I notice that the King James Version adds, "without a cause" in that verse.

Neither is it wise to anger God with sinful practises. Ecclesiastes 5:6 (BBE) also reminds us to, "Let not your mouth make your flesh do evil. And say not before the angel, It was an error. So that God may not be angry with your words and put an end to the work of your hands."

However, there is such a thing as righteous anger. Remember when Jesus cleared out the temple of the sacrifice animal sellers? John 2:17 (BBE) demonstrates for whom we must be zealous. "And it came to the minds of the disciples that the Writings say, 'I am on fire with passion for your house.'"
So how should we be angry? Ephesians 4:26 and 27 (BBE) Instructs, "Be angry without doing wrong; let not the sun go down on your wrath; And do not give way to the Evil One."

If Christ hasn't come to bring judgement on the wicked by Monday, I hope to post about our fascination with horror.

Harry Chapin, Cat's in the Cradle

This song is about parental modeling. Like it or not, children copy their parents. Harry Chapin tells the story of a man whose boy grew up just like his absent father. Check it out here.

Though some children don't grow up to copy their parents, Proverbs 22:6 (Bible in Basic English) is generally true. "If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it."

It seems to me also that it's easier to go astray than to stick to good examples which our parents teach us. Eli's two sons were one example, as 1 Samuel 2:12-14 (BBE) shows us. "Now the sons of Eli were evil and good-for-nothing men, having no knowledge of the Lord. And the priests' way with the people was this: when any man made an offering, the priest's servant came while the flesh was being cooked, having in his hand a meat-hook with three teeth; This he put into the pot, and everything which came up on the hook the priest took for himself. This they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there."

If Ely had removed his wicked sons from being priests, 1 Samuel 4:10 and 11 (BBE) might never have happened. "So the Philistines went to the fight, and Israel was overcome, and every man went in flight to his tent: and great was the destruction, for thirty thousand footmen of Israel were put to the sword. And the ark of God was taken; and Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were put to the sword." Ponder that!

David is another biblical example of poor parenting. With his many wives and his rape of Bathsheba, it's no wonder his family had so many troubles. It would take too long to list them all here.

Even Abram had difficulties when he tried to rush God's plan through getting Hagar pregnant. As Genesis 21:12 and 13 (BBE) shows, it caused him grief but God blessed Ishmael anyway. "But God said, 'Let it not be a grief to you because of the boy and Hagar his mother; give ear to whatever Sarah says to you, because it is from Isaac that your seed will take its name. And I will make a nation of the son of your servant-woman, because he is your seed.'"

So if our heavenly Father, whose example we must follow, hasn't sent Jesus by Saturday, I hope to post about angry people head-butting their way through life.