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Prophetic Reverb
Music connects . . .
a time and place;
memories sweet and sour;
still images and moving pictures in our minds of people and relationships;
idea, ideals, and disappointments;
feelings to action;
the desert and oasis of spirituality and faith;
theology, belief, and ritual.
No matter how you play it or hear it, music connects.
This month, our DRYG (Digital Regional Youth Group) will explore how music can connect people of all ages to ideas of God and the way of Jesus. Do you have a favorite hymn or praise song? What are the lyrics saying, about God, Jesus, living by faith, living in faith, salvation, or Christians?
I grew up with the hymnal and folk music whose lyrics were a kind of critic, inspiration, and mentor for the way people who claim Christian faith where to live. “Be Thou My Vision” has always been a favorite hymn as well as “Just a Closer Walk with Thee.” At summer camp, we sang and sang, “One Tin Soldier” right out of existence though the lyrics continue to be relevant.
I don’t listen to music that identifies solely as “Christian” or “religious” too often. What I’ve heard has never stirred broad connections for me to creation, or to God, or to Jesus, or to the journey of faith. I do enjoy the “Gospel Train” on the Bluegrass station on SiriusXM on Sunday mornings. It’s not my soteriology anymore, but the authenticity of the human condition and struggle to do what is right, because it is right, reverberates. “Sit Down with Jesus” is a good example. Maybe that’s what makes music “religious” for me. The authenticity of the prophetic reverb.
I hear it, authentic prophetic reverb, in secular music from time to time. It can connect (reconnect) me to God, Jesus, the practice of Christianity, or the way of Jesus?(1) Do you have a morning playlist or a morning soundtrack. Do you have a spiritual soundtrack? The Youtube links below are from my “spiritual” soundtrack.
Note
1. I distinguish between the practice of Christianity and the way of Jesus. It is a post for another day to provide a fuller explanation.
Some Reading and Lyrics
When everything matters. Nothing matters most.
Rather than send words into cyberspace everyday or even weekly for that matter, I’ve waited. The amount of opinion, news, entertainment, shouting, conspiracy theory, resources, video, music, good causes, hype, drivel, virtual community, politics and religion, it seems like every minute of every day has become the holiday family meal where one must be cautious about anything but the weather. Oh, wait. Climate change. My apologies.
I don’t know what you are reading. Here are a few things I’ve found interesting.
Journalists Aren’t the Enemy of the People. But We’re Not Your Friends.
Ben Smith, The New York Times. Sept 6, 2020.
The Last Time a Contested Presidential Election Nearly Tore the Country Apart
Ed Kilgore, New York Magazine. Sept 7, 2020
Help still needed to fill gap while Our Daily Bread is closed
James Neal, Enid Eagle. Sept 13, 2020
With Some Schools Moving Outdoors, Retailers Follow
Business, The New York Times
Hate Social Media? You’ll Love This Documentary
Arielle Pardes, Wired. Sept 9, 2020.
The Best Reason to Go to College
Pico Iyer, The New York Times. Sept 6, 2020
Updates and Guidelines for Including Music in Video
Facebook.com. Sept 11, 2020
I Take Back Everything I Said About Southwest Louisiana
Stephanie Soileau, The New York Times, Sept 11, 2020
Social media disinformation on US west coast blazes ‘spreading faster than fire’
Jason Wilson, The Guardian. Sept 14, 2020
And now, to demonstrate the theatre of the macabre of President Trump’s Presidency, rallies, and governing alongside the GOP, here are the lyrics of John Fogerty’s “Fortunate Son” which is being played at the President’s campaign events. Click here to hear John Fogerty’s thoughts.
Some folks are born made to wave the flag
John Fogerty, “Fortunate Son.” Fantasy Records. November 2, 1969
Ooh, they’re red, white and blue
And when the band plays “Hail To The Chief”
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no senator’s son, son
It ain’t me, it ain’t me; I ain’t no fortunate one, no
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand
Lord, don’t they help themselves, oh
But when the taxman comes to the door
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no senator’s son, son
It ain’t me, it ain’t me; I ain’t no fortunate one, no
Yeah!
Some folks inherit star spangled eyes
Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord
And when you ask them, “How much should we give?”
Ooh, they only answer, “More! More! More!” Yo
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no military son, son
It ain’t me, it ain’t me; I ain’t no fortunate one, one
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate one, no no no
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate son, no no no