The Guess Who: "Undone"

This song is based on a tragic event in November of 1969. A teenage girl dropped acid and thought she could fly off of a Vancouver high rise apartment balcony. Randy Bachman wrote this song about her. Check it out.

Deception certainly is a powerful force. Since Israel kept turning away from God and they killed the Messiah, God let them be victims of their deceit. As Romans 11:25 (Bible in Basic English) reminds us gentiles, "For it is my desire, brothers, that this secret may be clear to you, so that you may not have pride in your knowledge, that Israel has been made hard in part, till all the Gentiles have come in;"

Back in Romans 1:32 (BBE), Paul shows how sinners are hardened when God removes his grace from them. "Who, though they have knowledge of the law of God, that the fate of those who do these things is death, not only go on doing these things themselves, but give approval to those who do them."

One line in that song offended me at first. I thought "Too many churches and not enough truth," was an insult directed at believers. Sadly, it is true that we don't have enough truth preached in churches today.

The first-century congregations certainly had  deceived members who deceived others. As 2 Peter 2:1 and 2 (BBE) warned, "But there were false prophets among the people, as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly put forward wrong teachings for your destruction, even turning away from the Lord who gave himself for them; whose destruction will come quickly, and they themselves will be the cause of it. And a great number will go with them in their evil ways, through whom the true way will have a bad name"

By the time Jude 1:4 (BBE) was penned, the infiltration of the church had happened. "For certain men have come among you secretly, marked out before in the holy Writings for this evil fate, men without the fear of God, turning his grace into an unclean thing, and false to our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ."

Rupert Hine: "The Sniper"

This British artist recorded songs which weren't the usual lovey-dovey love sort. He also created his own sound with samplers and electronics. Have a listen.

Like any army, we followers of Christ must be on guard against Satan's spiritual snipers. As Paul wrote about our sacred armor in Ephesians 6:16 (Bible in Basic English), "And most of all, using faith as a cover to keep off all the flaming arrows of the Evil One."

As with any military force, infiltrators and saboteurs creep in to destroy us through misinformation. As we read in 2 Corinthians 11:14 and 15 (BBE), we must be careful when encountering new teachers. "And it is no wonder; for even Satan himself is able to take the form of an angel of light. So it is no great thing if his servants make themselves seem to be servants of righteousness; whose end will be the reward of their works."

A long-distance spiritual sniper attack was described by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:1 and 2 (BBE). "Now as to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and our meeting with him, it is our desire, my brothers, That you may not be moved in mind or troubled by a spirit, or by a word, or by a letter as from us, with the suggestion that the day of the Lord is even now come;"

We also know that Paul's enemies smeared his reputation behind his back. As we read in 2 Corinthians 10:10 (BBE), "For his letters, they say, have weight and are strong; but in body he is feeble, and his way of talking has little force."

But those who were rebuked by one of Paul's letters cleaned up their acts, as we read in 2 Corinthians 7:8 and 9 (BBE). "For though my letter gave you pain, I have no regret for it now, though I had before; for I see that the letter gave you pain, but only for a time. Now I am glad, not that you had sorrow, but that your sorrow was the cause of a change of heart; for yours was a holy sorrow so that you might undergo no loss by us in anything."

If our king hasn't returned to have victory over this world by Monday, I'll feature a song about a true event back in 1969.

Randy Stonehill: "Big Ideas (In a Shrinking World)"

This Christian artist was led to Christ by Christian rock pioneer, Larry Norman. He became one of many singers and bands in the Jesus People movement of the early seventies but he kept releasing records long after the movement fizzled. Listen to one of his songs here.

Just like the people with big ideas today, the early church had their own pompous people. As Galatians 6:3 (Bible in Basic English) reads, "For if a man has an idea that he is something when he is nothing, he is tricked by himself"

Paul also worried that proud Christians would laud themselves rather than giving all praise to Christ. As 1 Corinthians 4:6 and 7 (BBE) says, "My brothers, it is because of you that I have taken Apollos and myself as examples of these things, so that in us you might see that it is not wise to go farther than what is in the holy Writings, so that no one of you may be lifted up against his brother. For who made you better than your brother? or what have you that has not been given to you? but if it has been given to you, what cause have you for pride, as if it had not been given to you?"

Paul also knew some folks would fool gullible believers with feigned humility. That's why he wrote in Colossians 2:18 and 19 BBE), "Let no man take your reward from you by consciously making little of himself and giving worship to angels; having his thoughts fixed on the things which he has seen, being foolishly lifted up in his natural mind, And not joined to the Head, from whom all the body, being given strength and kept together through its joins and bands, has its growth with the increase of God."

Peter likewise wrote in 1 Peter 5:5 (BBE) regarding the value of humility. "And in the same way, let the younger men be ruled by the older ones. Let all of you put away pride and make yourselves ready to be servants: for God is a hater of pride, but he gives grace to those who make themselves low."

If the longed-for return of Christ hasn't happened by Saturday, I hope to feature a song about a sniper.

Paper Lace: "Billy, Don't be a Hero"

This is one of two hits by this band in 1974. It tells how Billy joined the Union army and how his girlfriend warned him not to be fool hearty. Listen to the song here.

As Christians, we're in Christ's army. But as 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (Bible in Basic English) explains, we don't fight like worldly armies do. "For though we may be living in the flesh, we are not fighting after the way of the flesh, For the arms with which we are fighting are not those of the flesh, but are strong before God for the destruction of high places); Putting an end to reasonings, and every high thing which is lifted up against the knowledge of God, and causing every thought to come under the authority of Christ; Being ready to give punishment to whatever is against his authority, after you have made it clear that you are completely under his control."

And as in any army, dishonourable conduct is to be punished and good conduct commended. We read in 1 Timothy 1:18-20 (BBE), "This order I give to you, Timothy my son, in harmony with the words of the prophets about you, so that by them you may be strong, fighting the good fight, Keeping faith, and being conscious of well-doing; for some, by not doing these things, have gone wrong in relation to the faith: Such are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have given up to Satan, so that they may say no more evil words against God."

We also need to help out ministries which feed us with spiritual truth. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:7 (BBE), "Who ever goes to war without looking to someone to be responsible for his payment? who puts in vines and does not take the fruit of them? or who takes care of sheep without drinking of their milk?"

Serving in Christ's army isn't always sunshine and gentle breezes. As Paul also wrote in 2 Timothy 2:3 and 4 (BBE), "Be ready to do without the comforts of life, as one of the army of Christ Jesus. A fighting man, when he is with the army, keeps himself free from the business of this life so that he may be pleasing to him who has taken him into his army".

If our sacred commander and chief hasn't come by Thursday, I hope to tell you about the world's big ideas and how bad they are.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: "Enola Gay"

This song references the plane which dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945. Only after Japan surrendered was the true horror of the explosion exposed to the world. Check out the song here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5XJ2GiR6Bo

No sane person wants war. Even so, there are plenty of insane people who, given the chance, would unleash brutality on innocent civilians for their own wicked ends.

Because God is in control of everything, we see in 1 Samuel 17:45-47 (Bible in Basic English) to whom Israel's battle belonged. "Then David said to the Philistine, 'You come to me with a sword and a spear and a javelin: but I come to you in the name of the Lord of armies, the God of the armies of Israel on which you have put shame. This day the Lord will give you up into my hands, and I will overcome you, and take your head off you; and I will give the bodies of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth today, so that all the earth may see that Israel has a God; And all these people who are here today may see that the Lord does not give salvation by sword and spear: for the fight is the Lord's, and he will give you up into our hands.'"

A lesser-known incident when God fought for Israel was mentioned in 1 Chronicles 5:19 and 20 )BBE). "And they went to war against the Hagarites, with Jetur and Naphish and Nodab. And they were helped against them, so that the Hagarites, and those with them, were given into their power. For they sent up prayers to God in the fight, and he gave ear to them, because they put their faith in him."

We also read in 2 Chronicles 13:13 and 14 (BBE) how the Lord fought for Judah when apostate Israel fought against them. "But Jeroboam had put some of his men to make a surprise attack on them from the back, so some were facing Judah and others were stationed secretly at their back. And Judah, turning their faces, saw that they were being attacked in front and at the back; and they gave a cry for help to the Lord, while the priests were sounding their horns."

If Christ hasn't come to save us from Satan's attacks by Monday, I plan on posting another war.

Larry Norman: "I Am The Six O'clock News"

Back in 1973, America was only giving Air support to South Vietnamese troops. And being the ongoing story it was, reporters from the three U.S. networks were sent over to film the battles.

This Christian rock pioneer wrote a song about one reporter and how he felt. I also apologize for the racial slur in this song. Anyway it's a thought-provoking message which you can hear here.

Back when the Bible was being penned, the news reporters ran on foot to tell what they saw. This is the report of King David's rebellious and treasonous son in 2 Samuel 18:31 and 32 (Bible in Basic English). "And then the Cushite came and said, 'I have news for my lord the king: today the Lord has done right in your cause against all those who took up arms against you.' And the king said to the Cushite, 'Is the young man Absalom safe?' And the Cushite said in answer, 'May all the king's haters and those who do evil against the king, be as that young man is!'"

Then there was the incident in Numbers 18:32 (BBE) when ten of the twelve spies brought back discouraging news to Israel. "And they gave the children of Israel a bad account of the land they had been to see, saying, 'This land through which we went is a land causing destruction to those living in it; and all the people we saw there are men of more than common size.'"

But not all news reports were tainted with fear. In 1 Kings 10:6 (BBE), the  queen of Sheba came to Solomon to find out if what she heard was correct. "And she said to the king, 'The account which was given to me in my country of your acts and your wisdom was true.'"

Of course the best news is the gospel. Like Solomon wrote in Proverbs 15:30 (BBE), "The light of the eyes is a joy to the heart, and good news makes the bones fat."

If Christ hasn't come for us by Saturday, I'll feature a song based on the plane which dropped the first atomic bomb.

Johnny Cash: "A Boy Named Sue"

This song proves how important a person's name is. Some parents give their child a name which becomes a stigma for the poor child. Such is the case in this country hit which you can hear here.

Unlike the father in the song, our heavenly Father understands the value of a person's name. As he inspired Solomon to write in Proverbs 22:1 (Bible in Basic English), "A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold."

And unlike that absent father, our Father doesn't deliberately anger his spiritual children. As Paul advised human fathers in Ephesians 6:4 (BBE), "And, you fathers, do not make your children angry: but give them training in the teaching and fear of the Lord."

God, with good reason, is protective about his name. Look at what Leviticus 19:12 (BBE) warns. "And do not take an oath in my name falsely, putting shame on the name of your God: I am the Lord."

Back when the scriptures were penned, children were given meaningful names. We read of one example in Genesis 27:36 (BBE) when Esau found out how Jacob swindled him out of his birthright blessing. "And he said, 'Is it because he is named Jacob that he has twice taken my place? for he took away my birthright, and now he has taken away my blessing.' And he said, 'Have you not kept a blessing for me?'"

Johnny Cash: "A Boy Named Sue"Another example of a meaningful name was given by the wife of Phinehas when she gave birth. We read in 1 Samuel 4:20 and 21 (BBE), "And when she was very near death the women who were with her said, 'Have no fear, for you have given birth to a son.' But she made no answer and gave no attention to it. And she gave the child the name of Ichabod, saying, 'The glory has gone from Israel': because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband."

If the name above all names hasn't returned by Thursday, I expect to post about a reporter headed for Vietnam back in the seventies.

Kenny Rogers and The First Edition: "Tell It All"

The lyrics of this song should have everybody pondering their conduct. It hits home with all of us who still have a conscience. Listen to this convicting song here.

The bad behaviour of Christians is one excuse sinners use to refuse salvation. That's why 1 John 4:10 and 11 (Bible in Basic English) is vital for us to heed. "And this is love, not that we had love for God, but that he had love for us, and sent his Son to be an offering for our sins. My loved ones, if God had such love for us, it is right for us to have love for one another."

Neither is it a loving activity to gossip. As 1 Timothy 5:13 (BBE)warns, we all must refrain from gloating over the fall of others. "And they get into the way of doing no work, going about from house to house; and not only doing no work, but talking foolishly, being over-interested in the business of others, saying things which they have no right to say."

The analogy of a spring bringing forth salt and fresh water applies to us all today. James 3:10 (BBE) warns, "Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, it is not right for these things to be so."

We must avoid such unruly congregants. As 2 Thessalonians 3:6 (BBE) reminds us, "Now we give you orders, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from all those whose behaviour is not well ordered and in harmony with the teaching which they had from us."

Colossians 4:6 (BBE) is how we all must act. "Let your talk be with grace, mixed with salt, so that you may be able to give an answer to everyone." Salt, in this instance, means a preservative agent to keep corruption from spreading.

Neither should we suppose we're something when we're not. As Romans 12:3 (BBE) reminds us, "But I say to every one of you, through the grace given to me, not to have an over-high opinion of himself, but to have wise thoughts, as God has given to every one a measure of faith."

If Christ hasn't come to us bodily by Monday, I hope to tell you about how important a person's name is.

Johnny Horton: "The Battle of New Orleans"

If only history classes were as hilarious as this song about British troops being routed. I especially love the line about using an alligator as a cannon, filling his head with cannon balls and powdering his behind. And when they touched the powder off, the gator lost his mind. Listen to this tune here.

God often used unconventional warfare tactics. We read of one in the book of the Judges. The Lord knew that people would claim the victory over the Midianites for themselves if they all fought them. So he told Gideon to bring only three-hundred of his worst men to surround the camp.

Judges 7:22 (Bible in Basic English) demonstrates his zany deliverance of Israel. "And the three hundred gave a loud note on their horns, and every man's sword was turned by the Lord against his brother all through the army; and the army went in flight as far as Beth-shittah in the direction of Zeredah, to the edge of Abel-meholah by Tabbath."

A different sort of panic struck the Philistines, as we can read in 1 Samuel 7:10 (BBE). "And while Samuel was offering the burned offering, the Philistines came near for the attack on Israel; but at the thunder of the Lord's voice that day the Philistines were overcome with fear, and they gave way before Israel."

Then there was the time when God made the Egyptian army quite literally take a bath as they per sued the Israelites. After making the chariot wheels stiff, this is what the Lord did in Exodus 14:27 and 28 (BBE). "And when Moses' hand was stretched out over the sea, at dawn the sea came flowing back, meeting the Egyptians in their flight, and the Lord sent destruction on the Egyptians in the middle of the sea. And the waters came back, covering the war-carriages and the horsemen and all the army of Pharaoh which went after them into the middle of the sea; not one of them was to be seen."

If our Lord hasn't returned in flaming fire by Saturday, I hope to post about how important it is for Christians to avoid hypocrisy.

Iron Butterfly: "Slower Than Guns"

This song decries the pollution we end up breathing. Back in 1970, when it was recorded, pollutants were a real concern. These days, emission standards are much higher in North America and Europe.

Listen to this environmentally-conscious song here:

 What we who follow Christ need to be aware of is spiritual pollution. One form of that is a complaining attitude when we serve him. As Malachi 1:7 (Bible in Basic English) explains, "You put unclean bread on my altar. And you say, 'How have we made it unclean?' By your saying, 'The table of the Lord is of no value.'"

Furthermore, defecting from the faith is a form of pollution. As we read in 2 Chronicles 36:14 (BBE), Zedekiah's bad example infected all of Israel. "And more than this, all the great men of Judah and the priests and the people made their sin great, turning to all the disgusting ways of the nations; and they made unclean the house of the Lord which he had made holy in Jerusalem."

Disobedience is likewise a form of spiritual vileness. As Psalms 106:34 (BBE) witnesses against Israel, "They did not put an end to the peoples, as the Lord had said; But they were joined to the nations, learning their works."

Sexual sin is likewise a pollution which is worse than any toxin we might ingest. As Paul warned in 1 Corinthians 6:18 and 19 (BBE), "Keep away from the desires of the flesh. Every sin which a man does is outside of the body; but he who goes after the desires of the flesh does evil to his body. Or are you not conscious that your body is a house for the Holy Spirit which is in you, and which has been given to you by God? and you are not the owners of yourselves;:

One stern warning to fake Christians in Hebrews 6:4-6 (BBE) should make all of us nervous. "As for those who at one time saw the light, tasting the good things from heaven, and having their part in the Holy Spirit, With knowledge of the good word of God, and of the powers of the coming time, And then let themselves be turned away, it is not possible for their hearts to be made new a second time; because they themselves put the Son of God on the cross again, openly shaming him."

So if Christ hasn't come for us, his true disciples, by Thursday, I hope to post about a funny song regarding a battle.

Crosby, Stills, and Nash: "Wooden Ships"

This is a song about a post-nuclear-war world and what the survivors of it did. In few words and using dialogue, this group painted a picture of how people scrounged a living in that post-apocalyptic landscape. Listen to the song here.

The world isn't as fearful about a nuclear holocaust today but people are still worried. Even so, we Christians are blessed to know the future which God has in store for this planet.

We read the Lord's plan in 1 Corinthians 15:51 and 52 (Bible in Basic English). "See, I am giving you the revelation of a secret: we will not all come to the sleep of death, but we will all be changed. In a second, in the shutting of an eye, at the sound of the last horn: for at that sound the dead will come again, free for ever from the power of death, and we will be changed"

For us, it will be a wonderful time but not for sinners. Revelation 6:15-17 (BBE) shows us their panic on that day. "And the kings of the earth, and the rulers, and the chief captains, and the men of wealth, and the strong, and every servant and free man, took cover in the holes and the rocks of the mountains; And they say to the mountains and to the rocks, 'Come down on us, covering us from the face of him who is seated on the high seat, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of their wrath is come, and who may keep his place?'"

We also know that Christ will return from what Acts 1:10 and 11 (BBE) promises. "And while they were looking up to heaven with great attention, two men came to them, in white clothing, And said, 'O men of Galilee, why are you looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come again, in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.'"

Our Lord will also reward us for our faithfulness and punish the wicked, as 1 Peter 4:5 and 6 (BBE) says. "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. For this was the reason why the good news of Jesus was given even to the dead, so that they might be judged as men in the flesh, but might be living before God in the spirit."

If Christ hasn't arrived by Thursday, I hope to post about a soldier who fights for all countries.