Today’s song reminds me of the classic film Footloose. Yet, Hoi Polloi’s music is alternative and more modern than the1980’s soundtrack Hoi Polloi was formed in New Zealand by vocalist Jenny Gullen and her husband. Jenny’s voice provides the feel of the Indigo Girls, but with creative lyrics and style that gives Hoi Polloi their distinct sound.
A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, Ecclesiastes 3:4.
Dancing was one of my favorite pastimes in high school and college. While I started out like Kenneth Wormald’s character in Footloose, I ended up developing into a smooth dancer. Songs like Dance remind me of my college days where I went clubbing with friends every summer in Cleveland, Ohio. When you play today’s you tube, I hope you’re inspired to put on your dancing shoes.
When I was in grade school, you would hear someone yell “get out of here” in the lunchroom weekly. As students gathered around a table to talk about what’s going in life, students would exaggerate or say something outrageous. This would trigger one or more students to exclaim, “get out of here.” As times have changed, get out of here is now used as a warning to leave as a means as escaping quickly.
Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them, Revelation 8:6.
Meanwhile, the sounding of a trumpet in the Bible is often symbolic of considerable consequences. This may be to signify analarm of war, a call to assemble, or a command to march. During a series of visions in the Book of Revelation, John sees 7 angels who each have a trumpet. In the passage above, lips are puckered, ready and prepared to sound their trumpet.
The first angel blew [his] trumpet, and there was a storm of hail and fire mingled with blood cast upon the earth. And a third part of the earth was burned up and a third of the trees was burned up and all the green grass was burned up, Revelation 8:7.
As someone who has experienced a number of hailstorms over the years, “get out of here” is a call to seek shelter immediately. While playing hide and go seek on summer vacation in Maine, everyone made a beeline to a our cabin, holding our hands over our hands as hail fell from heaven. Whenever the skies above reveal a future storm on the horizon, get out of there (outside) and into the safety of God’s shelter.
Two or More is one of those obscure bands that had a good run of albums with the most notable Life in the Diamonds. Since there wasn’t much information online about this group, it appears their music was influenced by 4Him. Produced by John and Dino Elefante, Two or More had a couple of songs which received national attention. One of those is today’s featured song Heaven is Calling Your Name.
Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and [g]everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I Am in the midst of them, Matthew 18:19-20.
The name Two or More was likely inspired by the passage above. While I was in college, this verse was regularly quoted in prayer. The context of this passage refers to church discipline, a form of accountability as there is power in numbers. Nonetheless, every Christian experiences a moment in life where you hear heaven call your name like Saul on the Road to Damascos.
When I lost my teaching position more than a decade ago, friends from church offered me a position for a season. From March to October, I served as an assistant superintendent at the Middletown Veterinarian Hospital and Horse Farm. In other words, I cut grass, weed wacked and provided daily maintenance for two different properties. Similar to my college internship instead of working on a golf course.
The [a]grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever, Isaiah 40:8.
One of the first to comment on lawn care in the Bible is an Old Testament prophet. Isaiah speaks of the seasonal aspect of grass. At some point in a year, grass will wither, and flowers fade. From my own experience working for a local land and hard scaping company, winter months are often spent doing snow removal to help pay for monthly bills like insurance.
The first angel blew [his] trumpet, and there was a storm of hail and fire mingled with blood cast upon the earth. And a third part of the earth was burned up and a third of the trees was burned up and all the green grass was burned up, Revelation 8:7.
Whenever I read the Bible, I usually learn something new daily. Earlier this week, I continued my study of the final book in the Bible. According to John, there will be a great hailstorm mixed with fire in the last days. John’s vision includes the aftermath of this storm. When the dust settles, all of the green grass on earth will be burned up. This will be a bad day for the lawn care, signaling the end of this business.
From 1985 to 1990, I attended a dozen retreats throughout the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Most of these special moments were spent serving as part of a Lay Witness Mission Team member. As a teenager, I served on the high school team with my spiritual mentor Ken Horne. Ken was a modern-day disciple who incorporated new Christian music into every retreat to revive dead and dying churches.
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([d]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him, John 3:16-17.
Jon Gibson’s song Jesus Loves Ya was one of many Christian tunes I was first introduced to on retreats. Jon has that acoustic, fingering snapping sound with lyrics that serve as a testimony. When I got back from this one particular retreat, I couldn’t get Jesus Loves Ya out of my head. Subsequently, I made a trip to the SonShine House to purchase the Jesus Loves Ya album. I hope this song still touches your heart.
The word salvation began being used in the late 1100s and early 1200s. This comes from the Old Latin term salvātiōn. Salvātiō in Latin is the equivalent of salvatus, which is the past participle where English derives the meaning to save. According to a first century physician, the apostles of Jesus, some of whom were former disciples of Jesus, came to the conclusion that true salvation is only found in Jesus.
This [Jesus] is the Stone which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which has become the Head of the corner [the Cornerstone]. 12 And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved, Acts 4:11-12.
Following the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, God pressed the reset button in Genesis 12:1-3. Abram soon became known as Father Abraham, sowing the seeds for God’s chosen nation. Moses was selected by God to lead Israel out of slavery in Egypt and into a promised land. Yet, God needed to set up a temporary solution to cope with the human flesh and sinful nature detailed in Leviticus.
In loud voice they cried, saying, [Our] salvation is due to our God, Who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb [to Them we owe our deliverance]! – Revelation 7:10
A priesthood was developed to atone for the sins of mankind until a second Adam was sent in the form of God’s one and only son, John 3:16-17. The apostles recognized this individual as the Messiah formerly a Jewish carpenter from Nazareth. While Peter thought Jesus would become an earthly king, Jesus’ death on a cross and his subsequent resurrection was necessary to complete the spiritual process known as salvation thanks be to God.
Today’s song comes from an artist who didn’t take long to become popular. Keith Brown is the firstChristian artist to go number one in Europe as a debut performer. This Side of Heaven is the album which put Keith on the map. While there are 5 different quality songs to highlight, This Side of Heaven is a great representation of Keith Brown’s sound and style.
God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away, Revelation 21:4.
This Side of Heaven could have alternate interpretations depending upon how you view the lyrics. Stephen Curtis Chapman sings about Heaven in the Real World on earth. Keith Brown sings about the place we call home which appears to be based upon the apostle Pail’s words in Philippians 3:13-21. Whatever the inspiration was behind this song, I know you will enjoy this Side of Heaven.
Critical Race Theory is one of those hot button issues that many people try to avoid. As a former high school teacher, I try to keep up with trends in education. As I looked for an article explaining CRT so I could grasp its premise, the majority of online posts are politically one-sided. After several search requests, I discovered that CRT is built on the intellectual framework of identity-based Marxism.
Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it, Proverbs 22:6.
Critical Race Theory has evolved over the past hundred years as educators have adapted and progressed with changing societal trends. One aspect of CRT claims that discipline is racist. Perhaps, this is the motive behind the recent political move to close prisons, eliminate cash bail, and for district attorneys to stop prosecuting criminals. If CRT continues to spread in America, CRT and discipline can’t co-exist.
For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness—in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God], Hebrews 12:11.
As a former educator, I struggled with classroom discipline in my early years. When disruptions are allowed to occur daily, chaos reigns and education is stunted or ceases completely. While I don’t claim to be an expert on CRT, I do know the importance of discipline inside a classroom and in the real world. According to the passage above, discipline is used by God to shape and mold individuals into the people the Lord wants us to become. Without discipline, prodigals will continue down their wayward journeys.
Kenny Marks is a popular Dutch born singer who is like the Kenny G of Christian music. I was introduced to Kenny by his hit song the Party’s Over. However, Kenny’s song writing ability kept me purchasing his albums through the years. I could have chosen from a number of hit songs, but one of my favorites is about a boy coping with his parents’ recent divorce.
And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you, Ephesians 4:32.
The Next Time You See Johnny is a prayer for boys who grow up without a father in their home. When the boy’s mother hears her son pray for his absent father, the lyrics stir my soul to compassion. Other Kenny Marks songs that may interest you are Graduation Day and White Dress. I hope the Next Time You See Johnny touches your heart like it has for me.
John Foxes’ Book of Martyrs was first published in 1528. While attending Seminary part time back in the late 1990’s, one of my classes studied martyrs not mentioned in the Bible. Men and women of faith suffered horrific deaths during Nero’s persecution of Christians. These tragic deaths intensified in early 300 AD under the oppressive Roman Emperor Diocletian. These individuals will be rewarded by their ultimate sacrifice.
When the Lamb broke open the fifth seal, I saw at the foot of the altar the souls of those whose lives had been sacrificed for [adhering to] the Word of God and for the testimony they had borne, Revelation 6:9.
As John witnessed Jesus break open the fifth seal in the book of Revelation, there was an altar dedicated to the souls of martyrs. At the foot of this altar, the souls of dead Christians who were killed for not compromising their faith began to share their testimonies. While most of these individuals aren’t mentioned in the Hall of Faith found in Hebrews 11, this scene reminds me of the lyrics of the hymn Blessed Assurance, “This is my story, this is my song.”
They cried in a loud voice, O [Sovereign] Lord, holy and true, how long now before You will sit in judgment and avenge our blood upon those who dwell on the earth? 11 Then they were each given a [b]long and flowing and festive white robe and told to rest and wait patiently a little while longer, until the number should be complete of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed as they themselves had been, Revelation 6:10-11.
The apostle Paul devotes the opening chapter of his letter to the Church at Galatia to promote sharing your faith. Paul uses a teachable moment to express why Christians should strive to please the Lord and not other people, Galatians 1:9-10. Paul then transitions to three keys parts of any testimony: Galatians 1:11-24. The first step is conveying how you lived prior to entering into a personal relationship with Jesus. This past leads to what event(s) led you to trust Jesus as Lord and conclude with how Jesus has transformed your life. May the altar of the souls of martyrs inspire you to share your own testimony.
ExpressYourself4Him 