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.

Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young: "Ohio"

This song documents the four fatalities at Kent State University on May 4th, 1970. Accounts differ regarding what cause the National Guard to fire into the crowd of protesters. Even so, it was a sad and shocking day for America.

Listen to the song here:

I'm glad Jesus made no secret that we followers would suffer persecution. As he warned his disciples in Matthew 10:17 and 18 (Bible in Basic English), "But be on the watch against men: for they will give you up to the Sanhedrins, and in their Synagogues they will give you blows; And you will come before rulers and kings because of me, for a witness to them and to the Gentiles."

Christ also warned that some deluded people will figure they're helping the Lord by persecuting followers of the Way. John 16:2 (BBE) reads, "They will put you out of the Synagogues: yes, the time is coming when whoever puts you to death will have the belief that he is doing God's pleasure."

This is nothing new. Right from the start, the haters of the righteous murdered the believers in God. We read in 1 John 3:12 (BBE) that we are, "Not being of the Evil One like Cain, who put his brother to death. And why did he put him to death? Because his works were evil and his brother's works were good. Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world has no love for you."

Even Old Testament saints suffered. As Hebrews 11:37 and 38 (BBE) states, "They were stoned, they were cut up with knives, they were tested, they were put to death with the sword, they went about in sheepskins and in goatskins; being poor and in pain and cruelly attacked, Wandering in waste places and in mountains and in holes in the rocks; for whom the world was not good enough."

If Christ hasn't arrived by Thursday, I hope to post about the folly of trying to catch the wind.

Crosby, Stills, and Nash: "Long Time Gone"

When this song was recorded, the Vietnam war raged and student protests against the draft were commonplace. Those years certainly felt like dark days to us who lived through them.

Crosby, Stills, and Nash recorded this as their commentary on the anti-war movement. Check it out here:

Every age had its dark days. All through the Old Testament, Israel ended up conquered and enslaved whenever they abandoned God. And as we read in Hebrews chapter eleven, faithful folks endured hard times with the hope of heaven in their hearts.

Long before Christ and the apostles, Abraham sought after the Lord. Hebrews 11:9 and 10 (Bible in Basic English) said of him, "By faith he was a wanderer in the land of the agreement, as in a strange land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who had a part with him in the same heritage: For he was looking for the strong town, whose builder and maker is God."

Though it seems like Christ has been "long time gone," his return is a certainty. James 5:8 (BBE) reminds us to, "Be as calm in your waiting; let your hearts be strong: because the coming of the Lord is near."

Likewise, Paul trusted his readers and wrote in 2 Thessalonians 3:4 and 5 (BBE), "And we have faith in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things about which we give you orders. And may your hearts be guided by the Lord into the love of God and quiet waiting for Christ."

Two angels also gave the disciples the good news that Christ would return someday. Acts 1:10 and 11 (BBE) tells the story of how it happened. "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."

May our Lord come soon. If he hasn't arrived by Saturday, I hope to post about fickle political fashion.

Saturday Song: National Lampoon, "Lemming's Lament"

This song is a brilliant and astute send-up of Crosby, Stills, and Nash as well as the whole Woodstock concert of 1969. This parody, rather than being about peace and love, was a death fest where people who wanted to end their lives could also have their bodies composted. But even with this bleak emphasis, the actual song is quite a joke.

Unfortunately, the song has disappeared from YouTube so I can't put the link here.

Back in the sixties, Teens and young adults thought they could reform the world. To them, the hidebound ideas of the older generation were to blame for the world's unrest and inequity. The idea of a socialist utopia seemed like the logical answer.

The problem is that people's ideas lead to destruction. As Proverbs 14:12 (KJV) states it, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways  of death."

As for the hippie ideal of free love, that too ends in heartbreak and destruction. As Proverbs 5:5 (KJV) warns of the immoral temptress, "Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell."

The socialist ideal of fairness also ends in destroying society. Back in the first century, the early churches had people who figured they need not work. Paul had to sort that problem out when he wrote in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (BBE), saying, "For even when we were with you we gave you orders, saying, If any man does no work, let him not have food."

The early churches also had young widows who sponged off of the church. As Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 5:13 (BBE) about these women, "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."

So we see that the idealism of the hippie culture was utter foolishness. It plays out even today with sinners who want to change the definition of marriage and family. Even one's gender is considered fluid by these truth-rejecting sinners. May our Lord and Master come quickly.

On Monday, I'll post about the fads of prayer cover and prayer walks.