Like Narnia

"It's a whole different world up here . . . it's like Narnia!"

Words spoken by a fifth grader who had just 

sung the National Anthem with his school choir for a minor league baseball game, 

climbed two tiers of bleachers to sit among friends,

glanced out between guard rails, not at the game, but across the streets and buildings of his city.

Seeing the world from a different perspective - 

so much grander than it ever was before.

"A Little Bit of Love and Joy"

Man has invented many things through the centuries to improve (or detract from) life. Countries succumb to power and war. But life, apart from man-caused changes sustains.

Nature – tree, flower, mountain, sun, star, wind

Remains the same

Emotion – love, sorrow, joy, hate, fear, hope

Remains the same

Man’s purpose remains the same

In the spring of the year, in the forest by the creek

I was listening to Queen, the epic story songs.

Freddie Mercury’s “March of the Black Queen” tells of evil leading man down the evil path then punishing him for being evil. Evil flourishes till a presence emerges. The presence very simply and quietly reminds man that good is present, not to forget the good within:

"A voice from behind me reminds me

Spread out your wings you are an angel

Remember to deliver with the speed of light

A little bit of love and joy

Everything you do bears a will and a why and a wherefore

A little bit of love and joy

In each and every soul lies a man very soon he’ll deceive and discover

But even till the end of his life, he’ll bring a little love"

That everything has a will (purpose) and a why (plan) and a wherefore (place).

Even evil and good

And that evil, though crushing, cannot exist over, instead of, or without good.

And that good’s purpose, man’s purpose, is to spread love and joy.

Of course the setting of the song is make-believe, and in that fantasy world the Queen is sovereign and continues to stir strife. But in our own world, humanity is free to follow through spreading love and joy.

Destiny and a bit of Jonny Lang

Watch your thoughts, they become your words

Watch your words, they become your actions

Watch your actions, they become your habits

Watch your habits, they become your character

Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

     Truthful words a friend shared with me some years ago. A bit disconcerting to think how our destiny might be shaped while we are living life unawares. I remember an accompanying discussion with friends over exact meanings of the word and usage of destiny. However, though I think the progression of these phrases is true, I prefer the message in this song I heard again today while driving through the mountains: Jonny Lang's "Turn Around."

God’s Top Ten List

1. Quit Worrying – Yes, life is hard, but you spend too much time and energy worrying. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all of your burdens and to carry them for you?

2. Put It on the List – When something is troubling you, put it on MY to-do list. Talk to me about it. I can’t help until you turn it over to me.

3. Trust Me – Once you have given me your burdens, quit trying to take them back. Trust that I will take care of all your needs. The problems with the kids, the grandkids, finances, your spouse, work and church. I already know about them. Put them on my list, I want to help you. All you have to do is ask.

4. Leave It Alone – Don’t wake up one morning and think, “I’m feeling stronger now, I can handle things from here, God.” Why do you think you’re feeling stronger? It’s simple. You gave me your burdens and I’m taking care of them, Leave them with me and let me do my job.

5. Talk to Me – There are a lot of things I want you to forget. Forget what is making you crazy; forget the worry and the fretting because you know that I am in control. But please don’t forget to talk with me. . .often! I love you; I want to hear your voice.

6. Have Faith – I see a lot of things up here that you can’t see from where you are. Trust me; you don’t want the view from my eyes. Have faith in my love for you; I have your best interest in mind.

7. Share – You were taught to share when you were little, when did you forget? The rule still applies. Share your stuff, share your joy, share your laughter, share your tears and share your faith.

8. Be Patient – I have managed to fix it so that in just one lifetime you could do a lot of things. You get to grow up, maybe have children, change jobs, learn a trade, travel to many places, meet many people and experience so much. How can you be so impatient when it takes me a little longer than you expect for me to handle things. Trust my timing; it’s perfect.

9. Be Kind – Be sure to be kind to others, for I love them as much as I do you. They may not dress like you, talk like you or live like you, but I still love you all. Please try to get along, for my sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all the same. I love your differences.

10. Love Yourself – As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by me for one reason only: to be loved and to love in return. I am a God of love, so love me, love others and don’t forget to love yourself in the process. You are very precious to me, don’t ever forget that.

Anonymous

"My Thoughts Are Not Your Thoughts"

We try to mold God into what we want or think he should be. We think about how things are going in our lives or on the earth and say, "well, if I was him I wouldn't do it that way." When we project our view onto God, we then worship a god of our making; it is idolatry.

This is what God has to say in Isaiah 55:8-9

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

We know God is a God of love and of judgment.

We want someone to come and "clean the clock" of the people who hate and do such evil things on the earth. We want God to come and "take them out" "zap them with a lightening bolt" if it takes it.

God loves us so much that he cannot stand for us and the world to be this way, but this is his response. Isaiah 42: 1-4

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching."

God comes without fanfare, without calling attention to heal in gentleness as a gardener who will not "break" the "bruised reed," or a lamp lighter who will not "quench" a "dimly burning wick."

I heard Dr. Thomas Long share thoughts on these passages from Isaiah some years ago. He was preaching before leaving my town to teach his class at Emory in Atlanta the next day. I want to give credit to him for these ideas as they relate to the Bible passages.

Rise

Throwback to Godspell - By My Side

8. By My Side

"Then one of the Twelve - the one called Judas Iscariot - went to the chief priests and asked,'What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?' So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over."
                              Matthew 26:14-16
     This does not conclude the list of songs on the Godspell movie soundtrack, but it is the last of the songs I had written out scripture notes for when I was young. I am following up in this same post with a song from contemporary times by Tenth Avenue North called "By Your Side." Its message expresses the purpose for the story told in the songs of Godspell. And so, though I have linked to it before, it finds a good home here at the end of this series.