149. Rock Goes The Gospel - Alice Cooper "Elected"

"Elected" is a 1972 song by rock band Alice Cooper, the first Hot 100 hit from their 6th studio album Billion Dollar Babies. As a single it reached #26 during election week on the US charts, #4 on the UK charts and #3 in Austria. It inspired one of the first MTV-style story-line promo videos ever made for a song. The song was a radical re-write of their 1969 song "Reflected" from the album Pretties for You.

I'm your top prime cut of meat, I'm your choice
I wanna be elected

I'm your yankee doodle dandy in a gold Rolls Royce
I wanna be elected

Kids want a savior, don't need a fake
I wanna be elected

We're gonna rock to the rules that I make
I wanna be elected, elected, elected

I never lied to you, I've always been cool
I wanna be elected

I gotta get the vote, and I told you about school
I wanna be elected, elected, elected

Hallelujah, I wanna be elected

Everyone in the United States of America
We're gonna win this one, take the country by storm
We're gonna be elected

You and me together, young and strong
We're gonna be elected, elected, elected

Respected, selected, call collected
I wanna be elected, elected

On the day when the political landscape in the UK undergoes a colossal change that reverberates aboard the world we think about the subject of Election. The root of the meaning is to be chosen. In the case of politicians it means to be elected by the British people to the role of an MP and to the party that has the magic number of votes to for a government, by the request of the queen. It amounts to being "Chosen" like in the words of Jesus in John 15:16.

Like politicians  Jesus choses people to acts of service for him and for the manifesto of the kingdom of God. Chosen to be part of his government which will last to eternity.

Have you ever thought, "Why would God choose that person?" - or "Why would God choose me?" To the outsider looking in, it may seem as if God is picking people at random to represent Him. Do you see the flaws of others and think, what do they know about salvation? Remember Paul? The one who walked and the power of God was so evident that people were slain in the spirit, fainting just because he walked past them? Yeah, him. He was a sinner too, before God chose him.

What does it mean to be "chosen"?

Usually, when we speak of being "chosen" we are referring to the call to bear the good fruits of the Spirit (John 15:16). This includes fulfilling the works of ministry - but this is not the only meaning.

How do I know if I am chosen?

If you were not chosen, you would not ask that question. That's right. You. Do not get nervous because God has chosen you. To be chosen does not mean that you are a preacher or a missionary. People are chosen for different reasons (Ephesians 4:11). To be chosen means that God has something for you to do. Your job is get so close to God, that you will not be selected to be the destroyer. Judas Iscariot was chosen too - to be the son of perdition (John 17:12).

Who are God's chosen?

Since the Bible speaks of God's chosen people, some have misconstrued this to mean that God does not choose anyone else. If God can use a mule to speak (Numbers 22:28), He certainly can select anyone or anything else that will have an impact, accomplishing His will.

We learn in the first chapter of Jeremiah that God chooses a youth to represent Him. God says that not only is this child chosen of Him, but he was chosen even before birth.

Although Jeremiah is young, God does not command him to behave as a child without charge. God gives Jeremiah both authority and a promise that none of his words shall fail – they can not fail because they are not Jeremiah’s words. God put His own words in the mouth of Jeremiah to speak (Jeremiah 1:1-10)

How do I know what God has chosen me to do?

While God is a great and powerful source, we do well to remember that He is our friend if we show ourselves friendly to Him by keeping His commandments and communicating with him regularly. Because God is a friend to us, we have a relationship with Him that must be cultivated. Through this relationship, God will reveal His will. If your best friend stopped speaking to you, would you feel that something needed to be done? In the second chapter of Jeremiah, God lets His friends (people) know that they have neglected Him, in spite of His nurturing. He states factually, that He does not deserve this treatment (Jeremiah 2:4-9). God cares about His relationship with His friends. If His friends will not listen to him, he does not just skip to the silent treatment; he sends someone else to speak to them, whom they might listen to instead. God already knows whether or not we will receive His messenger; still, He gives us the opportunity to hear Him in more than one way.

How do I know it is God speaking to me (choosing me)?

God promises to help us find Him and His way if we truly seek. If we are willing to seek Him and follow His direction, God will place people in our path to help us know and understand His will, and to accomplish whatsoever He intends for us to do. Remember to put the information you receive through the filter of the Holy Spirit. If you do not yet know God's will for your life, there may be room for you to cultivate your relationship with Him, before His will is revealed. Meanwhile, seek God for confirmation of His will also. Why? Have you ever heard someone say, "God told me to..." and seen that what the person did was not Godly? This can happen if you allow your channels to get crossed. God is not the author of confusion. Therefore, we know that the enemy is the source of it. The filter of the Holy Spirit is like a litmus test for all communications. Ask God to both protect and keep holy (under the blood of Jesus Christ), all communication to you, from you, around you, and concerning you (Henry Gruber). Satan can not communicate through the Holy Spirit. He can however, transform himself into an image of holiness because he knows what it looks like. You can arm yourself against him.

Will God use someone to tell me I am chosen?

Get to know the fruits of God’s Spirit and to look for them in those who communicate with you concerning God - for where they are, if you reject them, you will lose the blessing carried with them. Even Jesus held His gifts from those who doubted exceedingly (Matthew 13:58).

In the case of Jermiah, he carries messages from God to the people – mostly warnings, which by taking their prescribed actions, the people could avoid negative consequences. To be spared from the wrath of God is a blessing. We should be encouraged to both nurture and strengthen our relationship with God, as He works very diligently at confirming His love toward us and His purpose for our lives. Yet, He is not a page without feeling. He is not simply in the Bible that we read. God is a living spirit. We should know that God is merciful and willing to receive us if we are willing to obey Him. Chosen by God to do a job.......Be like Jeremiah, Be like a servant and bear fruit.

148. Rock Goes The Gospel - Stevie Ray Vaughan ‘Pride and Joy’

Stevie Ray Vaughan’s ‘Pride and Joy’ took a long and legend-assisted path to our Top 100 Classic Rock Songs countdown. After a blistering performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1982, the guitarist, a complete unknown at the time, left the gig discouraged, thinking the audience reception was less than favorable. Little did he know that David Bowie and Jackson Browne were in the audience. Shortly thereafter, two generous offers from those stars followed that help launch Vaughan’s career. Bowie offered to employ Vaughan to play on his 1983 album ‘Let’s Dance,’ and Browne offered Vaughan studio space to record his own debut ‘Texas Flood,’ which ultimately led to a recording contract.

By the time that year was over, Vaughan could be heard on six different hit singles, four from Bowie’s album and two from his own, including ‘Pride and Joy.’ Once the “Sweet little thing” groove of ‘Pride And Joy’ was heard across the airwaves, everyone took notice. Vaughan and his band Double Trouble were delivering the blues and better still; pop-rock radio put it in rotation, which was very uncommon at the time. Some believe that Vaughan single-handedly revitalized the blues genre, introducing it to an eager new audience. ‘Pride And Joy’ became a Top 20 hit in the U.S. and helped kick off an amazingly successful career that was tragically cut short by his 1990 death in a helicopter crash.

Well you've heard about love givin' sight to the blind
My baby's lovin' cause the sun to shine
She's my sweet little thing, she's my pride and joy
She's my sweet little baby, I'm her little lover boy

Yeah I love my baby, my heart and soul
Love like ours won't never grow old
She's my sweet little thing, she's my pride and joy
She's my sweet little baby, I'm her little lover boy

Yeah I love my baby, she's long and lean
You mess with her, you'll see a man gettin' mean
She's my sweet little thing, she's my pride and joy
She's my sweet little baby, I'm her little lover boy

Well I love my baby like the finest wine
Stick with her until the end of time
She's my sweet little thing, she's my pride and joy
She's my sweet little baby, I'm her little lover boy

Yeah I love my baby, my heart and soul
Love like ours will never grow old
She's my sweet little thing, she's my pride and joy
She's my sweet little baby, I'm her little lover boy 

 

Stevie Ray Vaughan sings about having pride and joy in a person. This is really where joy comes from. Being in relationship and knowing that no matter what happens you will be there for one another. "Love like ours will never grow old"   In the world in which we live we increasingly are told that joy and happiness comes to us the more "STUFF" We have. This is the latent that comes to us through our TV's and advertising. "You wont be truly happy till your have this". We are also encouraged never to be unhappy, we have to be smiley happy people all the time even when times are hard. This is difficult to keep up and sometimes the cracks appear.

The difference for the followers of Jesus is an awareness amidst all of the difficulties of life, that our God will always take care of us. Even though our life may be filled with all manner of trials and burdens, we know that, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Remember, that morning may not come until our entrance into God's heavenly kingdom; but that will truly be a morning of great joy.

Perhaps one of the greatest difficulties for all of is in this, the 21st century, is that we have lost the truth that true joy is found in simple things. All of the trinkets of this generation will pass away, and though they may give some momentary pleasure, they will certainly not give us lasting joy. But simple faith in Jesus has proved to me time and time again to be worthwhile and to bring Joy into my life

As  a follower of Jesus, I am at times dazzled by the things of this world, and often find my heart led astray by the same temptations that affect all. What are we to do; how can we insulate ourselves from these unending temptations. By the grace of God we should content ourselves with what God has given us in his word. (I personally have found this a great comfort in recent times.) Let us continue to read, study, and pray. Our strength never was and never will be in ourselves, but rather our only strength lies in the blessing of knowing Jesus and his power in us.

 

Let us, like the Psalmist, look to Jesus, for in Him alone is found joy, peace, and love. Only in Him will we have everlasting joy both in this life and in the life to come!

The Psalmist concludes this Psalm with these words, "Weeping may tarry for the night, but Joy comes in the morning" May God give you joy in the midst of life's burdens. May you know unceasing Joy in your life.

147. Rock Goes The Gospel - Mannfred Man "Blinded By The Light"

"Blinded by the Light" is a song written and originally recorded by Bruce Springsteen, although it is mostly known by its 1977 #1 hit version recorded by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. Mann's remake was released in the United Kingdom in August 1976, where it reached No. 6 in the charts. A song that speaks of blindness similar to Paul on the Damascus road.

[Chorus:]
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night
Blinded by the light

Madman drummer bummers
Indians in the summer
With a teenage diplomat
In the dumps with the mumps
As the adolescent pumps
His way into his hat
With a boulder on my shoulder
Feeling kinda older
I tripped a merry-go-round
With this very unpleasing
Sneezing and wheezing
The calliope crashed to the ground
The calliope crashed to the ground

[Chorus:]
But she was blinded by the light.
Revved up like a deuce,
Another runner in the night.
Blinded by the light.
Revved up like a deuce,
Another runner in the night.
Blinded by the light.
Revved up like a deuce,
Another runner in the night.

Some silicone sister
With her manager mister
Told me I got what it takes
She said, I'll turn you on sonny to something strong
Play the song with the funky break
And go-kart Mozart
Was checking out the weather chart
To see if it was safe outside
And little Early Pearly
Came by in his curly-wurly
And asked me if I needed a ride
Asked me if I needed a ride

[Chorus:]
‘Cause she was blinded by the light.
Revved up like a deuce,
Another runner in the night.
Blinded by the light.

She got down but she never got tight
She's gonna make it to the night
She's gonna make it through the night

But mama, that's where the fun is
But mama, that's where the fun is

[Solo]

Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun
But mama, that's where the fun is

Some brimstone baritone
Anticyclone rolling stone
Preacher from the east
Says, "Dethrone the dictaphone.
Hit it in its funny bone.
That's where they expect it least."
And some new mown chaperone
Was standing in the corner
Watching the young girls dance
And some fresh-sown moonstone
Was messing with his frozen zone
Reminding him of romance

The calliope crashed to the ground

But she was blinded by the light.
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night.
Blinded by the light.
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night.

(Madman drummers bummers and Indians in the summer with a teenage diplomat
In the dumps with the mumps as the adolescent pumps his way into his hat)

Blinded by the light.
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night.
Blinded by the light.
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night.

(With a boulder on my shoulder feelin' kinda older I tripped the merry-go-round
With this very unpleasing sneezing and wheezing the calliope crashed to the ground)

Blinded by the light.
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night.
Blinded by the light.
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night.

(And now Scott with a slingshot finally found a tender spot and throws his lover in the sand
And some bloodshot forget-me-not whispers daddy's within earshot save the buckshot turn up the band.)

Blinded by the light.
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night.
Blinded by the light.
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night.

(Some silicone sister with her manager mister told me I got what it takes
She said I'll turn you on sonny to something strong)

She got down but she never got tired,
She's gonna make it through the night. 

 

Paul had a powerful testimony, but not everyone knew what to make of his sudden turn around. Could he be trusted? Would it last? Was he safe? Perhaps it was for everybody's sake he was sent home to sort himself out.

Verses 31-32 are one of a series of summary interludes Luke uses between sections of his story, but one wonders how much the "time of peace" in 31 is the calm after the disturbance of someone who saw the truth about Jesus uncomfortably clearly.

New converts often have the strengths of their weaknesses. Uninhibited boldness. A fresh experience. A new story. It is a pity if growth in sensitivity and tact and a growing awareness of the complexities in life and faith dull clear testimony.

It does not have to be. Saul was not an instantly mature Christian, never mind a leader. He knew a lot, but had to discover what it meant to be a disciple.

Over a long period he learnt how to be more relevant and less abrasive, when to speak and when to keep quiet and what to say; but if he grew in wisdom he did not fail in courage and neither need we. A reckless witness is careless of the risks to others, and also uncaring about effectiveness.

A living gracious witness can speaking for Christ and be both bold and sensitive and which knows what can be done and what risks to run.

Again we need grace to grow as Saul did, and wisdom to handle the Saul's God is sending to stir up our sleepy fellowships. Thank God for people like Barnabas. Pray for those who may be brash young disciples today, but who will be our church and mission leaders tomorrow. We need to be open to what God wants and will to do.

We are often surprised how God chooses to work. Just like those in Acts 9:21. God is in the business of calling the people we least expect. No one more fits the bill than Saul. God had to get his attention. Jesus the light of the world turned up in a big way and Saul was "Blinded by the Light"

146. Rock Goes The Gospel - Tom Petty "I Need To Know"

"I Need to Know" is a song written by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was released in 1978 as the first single from their second album "You're Gonna Get It! It peaked at #41 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1978. This song as well as "Listen to Her Heart" was already being played live in concert as early as June 14, 1977, as is evidenced in a performance on Germany's music television show, "Rockpalast".  "I need to know" is a song about the pain of not knowing.

The Tom Petty song is about "Not knowing" but the scripture passage from Philippians this morning is about "Knowing" and about "Knowing" Jesus first and then the power of the resurrection of Jesus. This is the centre of the life of the follower of Jesus to know Him first is to no nothing else.

There are four things that Paul craves for in this passage that are challenging: To know Christ.To know the power of the resurrection. To know the fellowship of sharing in his suffering. To become like him None of these things can be known simply by mental or academic assent.

To truly know these things we must know them by way of experience. Fellowship is not known apart from fellowship. The power of the resurrection is not known by studying books or giving yourself to theology. Even more so, Christ is not known with out experiencing him in relationship with him.

I wonder how many of our churches are filled with people who are simply nodding their heads to what’s being sung or said without experiencing the truth of what is being said? I wonder how many people are living the faith through others who are really living their faith?

Ask yourself these questions. I wonder how often I sacrifice knowledge about Jesus for knowing Jesus? Do I desire to have the single minded focus of Paul to know Christ. Do I settle for knowing a little or a lot about him. Do I really want to know him? Do I really want to see the power of the resurrection. What about the fellowship of his sufferings?

Now, being honest, the fellowship of sharing in his suffering is not something that any of us are readily asking for. But, if it is the process God ordains that all of us might become like Jesus, then what is our response then?

To live a larger than life faith is what Paul is driving at. Where do you, where do we stand today on this. What is it that we really desire in our lives. What direction are we heading in and are we on target? Will we hit the bullseye?

145. Rock Goes The Gospel - Led Zeppelin "Thank You"

"Thank You" signalled a deeper involvement in songwriting by singer Robert Plant: it was the first Led Zeppelin song for which he wrote all the lyrics. According to various Led Zeppelin biographies, this is also the song that made Jimmy Page realise that Plant could now handle writing the majority of the lyrics for the band's songs. Plant wrote the song as a tribute to his then-wife Maureen.The song features Hammond organ playing by John Paul Jones, which fades into a false ending before concluding with a crescendo roughly ten seconds later. This has created a problem for radio stations wishing to play the track, which must decide whether to accept the dead air or cut it off. Some stations run an edited version with the silence eliminated. For the recording of this track, Page played on a Vox 12-string guitar.  It was also one of the few Led Zeppelin songs on which Page sang backing vocals.As already said "Thank You" is a song written by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page that was recorded for Led Zeppelin's for 1969 album Led Zeppelin II. Robert Plant dedicated this to his wife, Maureen.The song is about sharing life together.

If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you.
When mountains crumble to the sea, there will still be you and me.

Kind woman, I give you my all, Kind woman, nothing more.

Little drops of rain whisper of the pain, tears of loves lost in the days gone by.
My love is strong, with you there is no wrong,
together we shall go until we die. My, my, my.
An inspiration is what you are to me, inspiration, look... see.

And so today, my world it smiles, your hand in mine, we walk the miles,
Thanks to you it will be done, for you to me are the only one.
Happiness, no more be sad, happiness....I'm glad.
If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you.
When mountains crumble to the sea, there will still be you and me.

Zeppelin's song is a song of thanks and this morning the devotion is on the "thanksgiving of Jesus" with the five loaves and two fish. John the apostle writes as an excalmation of thanks giving at the provision of God over feeding so many with so little.

Can God use kids? According to John's record of this same story, the five small barley loaves and two small fish that Jesus multiplied belonged to a young boy. Perhaps it was his lunch. Regardless, I'm sure that boy never forgot the day when his few loaves and fish fed five thousand men and women or more. 

This story shows us that God can take what little we have to give and make it into something that can bless a lot of people. We may think, like that little boy, that we don't have very much to offer. But God can multiply what we have. 

I've always wondered what it would have been like to see this miracle. Specifically, I've wondered when the food actually multiplied. Did it multiply only in Jesus' hands, or did it also multiply in His disciples' hands? It seems reasonable to conclude that it was both, due to the fact that so many thousands of people were fed.

I think it is also very likely that the bread and fish continued to multiply in the hands of the people sitting in the groups. If so, that could be how they all knew that a great miracle had just taken place (see John 6:14). Wouldn't that be something to see---food multiplying in your own hands?

Regardless, this story is one more proof that Jesus was God. At least five thousand people witnessed what happened, and there is no record in history that anyone at that time even attempted to claim that it didn't happen.

This story also shows us how much God loves people. Jesus and His disciples were trying to get away from the crowds just to rest for a while and eat a meal without interruption. So they journeyed by boat across the Sea of Galilee to a desolate spot. But when they arrived at their destination, a vast crowd was waiting for them. Amazingly, Jesus displayed no aggravation, but rather, He felt compassion for them and ministered to them by teaching and healing (see Luke 9:11).

Then, late in the afternoon, He was concerned that the people needed food to eat, so He provided a meal for them. Our God cares about us. He wants to supply our needs. We shouldn't ever feel that we're bothering Him. He loves us dearly and how he supplied the need that day was by taking something insignificant and sharing it with others. For that a big "Thank you" is in order, for that is the way Jesus provides for us.

Jesus called for the bread and fish to be brought to Him (Matthew 14:18). He then gave thanks for the meal, broke the bread, and gave it to His disciples to give to the crowd. Amazingly, the entire multitude was fed with that small meal. Jesus provided “as much as they wanted” (John 6:11), and “they all ate and were satisfied” (Matthew 14:20). Christ did not just meet the need; He lavished them with so much food that there were “twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish” left over (Mark 6:43).