Have you ever done something that you were proud of? Perhaps you reached a goal that you had set. Upon achieving that milestone, you naturally want to crow about it a little bit. It's the human condition that we like to poke out our chests and strut around like we're something special. The King of the World, the Cock of the Walk. What if I told you that things are not any different in the animal kingdom? When animals do something they're proud of, they like to boast, and crow, and strut around.
I witnessed this on Resurrection Sunday morning. I was out feeding the chickens and opening up the henhouse so that the girls could run inside and lay their eggs. Upon laying their eggs, the hens launch into a song they've created to tell the world they laid an egg. It is a song of hope, of exuberance. It's a song of victory and pride. Click on the arrow in the photo below if you'd like to hear the hens' song I captured on my cell phone while listening to the hens hymn:
What did you think about that? Hens don't make that noise at any other time than after laying an egg. What a cacophony of clucking! If I could lay an egg, I'd probably sing a song, too!
3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:3-9
I wanted to share something with you that I hope you enjoy. At our little church, we had special music last Sunday in which 3 members sang a song in Cajun French. In our little dot on the map, many people's parents spoke French (mainly so the kids wouldn't know what they were saying!) and many people's grandparents spoke French as their first language. It is part of our heritage that is slowly dying out. We still often hear Cajun French words incorporated into everyday language and many know the vocabulary, but few passed this along to their kids. They were heavily discouraged in school against speaking French.
We had a treat last Sunday morning when a trio at our church sang "Le Temps Apres Finis" as special music. The song title means The Times are finishing or The time is nearly done. Click on the two-minute You Tube video below to hear it: (I have the words translated into English below the video.)
Chorus: The time, the time, the time is nearly done (3x)
Verse 1: I read in my Bible the time is nearly done (3x)
Verse 2: We must watch and pray as Jesus recommends (3x)
Verse 3: Why not come to God, before it is too late (3x)
We sing that song at this time of year, but truly that song can be sung all throughout the year as we should ALWAYS come and adore Christ the Lord. This past Sunday afternoon, our little country church - Cornerstone Baptist Church, met for worship and fellowship as we sang Christmas carols at the VA Home and both nursing homes in town.
We walked the halls singing about the Christ Child and the hope and joy that his birth brought.
Many of the residents that we were singing to joined in as we sang old familiar carols, sung year after year.
We sang both in large, common areas as well as stopping by people's rooms to sing. Some sat by their doors, singing with tears in their eyes. Others couldn't get out of bed, but remembered the lyrics and joined us in song.
Our church secretary made Christmas Carol song books for us and by singing the first and last verse, we were able to sing a wide variety of carols that we all love and cherish. After three hours of caroling, we met back at the church for prayer, fellowship and snacks! It was nice to sit down and visit with each other and all were definitely glad they came. We set out to be a blessing to others and by the end of the day, we could honestly say that we were blessed by the opportunity to serve King Jesus by singing to the dear people at the VA Home, Jeff Davis Living Center, and Camelot Brookside.
A carol that I only learned a few years ago, but has become one of my favorites is "O beautiful Star of Bethlehem." A star led the wise men to Jesus. Wise men still seek Him! Jesus gave us a Light to light the way!
Here are the lyrics:
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shining far through shadows dim
Giving the light for those who long have gone
Guiding the wise men on their way
Unto the place where Jesus lay
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine upon us until the glory dawns
Give us a light to light the way
Unto the land of perfect day
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on
O beautiful star the hope of life
Guiding the pilgrims through the night
Over the mountains 'til the break of dawn
Into the light of perfect day
It will give out a lovely ray
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine upon us until the glory dawns
Give us a light to light the way
Unto the land of perfect day
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on
From time to time I'll get on You Tube and listen to a song that I've been wanting to hear. You Tube, in a very smart and crafty manner, has songs that populate on the right hand side of the screen that are in the same genre or timeframe as the song you are listening to. I have discovered that it is impossible to listen to just one song. You have to listen to more songs. In fact, I find myself going down a 'worm-hole' of songs only to emerge much later realizing that I have other things to do. Isn't it amazing how songs can bring you back to memories and times you had forgotten?
Such is the case with the song, "Like a Rock," by Bob Segar. It was recorded in May 1986 and hit #1 on the music charts. In perhaps one of the most successful advertising campaigns in history, Chevrolet used the song, "Like a Rock" to sell many, many pick-up trucks. In fact, when I hear this song, I think of watching a football game on TV and the commercial comes on. In my memory, I can hear "Like a Rock" playing and see dirty pickup trucks driven by cowboys bouncing down dusty gravel roads or Chevy trucks at a construction site being loaded by guys with hard hats. Sadly, the Chevy commercial is the first thought that comes to mind.
According to Wikipedia, Bob Seger said the following regarding the inspiration of the song: "it was inspired partly by the end of a relationship I had that had lasted for 11 years. You wonder where all that time went. But beyond that, it expresses my feeling that the best years of your life are in your late teens when you have no special commitments and no career. It's your last blast of fun before heading into the cruel world."
Just read the lyrics:
Stood there boldly Sweatin' in the sun Felt like a million Felt like number one The height of summer I'd never felt that strong Like a rock
I was eighteen Didn't have a care Working for peanuts Not a dime to spare But I was lean and Solid everywhere Like a rock
My hands were steady My eyes were clear and bright My walk had purpose My steps were quick and light And I held firmly To what I felt was right Like a rock
Like a rock, I was strong as I could be Like a rock, nothin' ever got to me Like a rock, I was something to see Like a rock
And I stood arrow straight Unencumbered by the weight Of all these hustlers and their schemes I stood proud, I stood tall High above it all I still believed in my dreams
Twenty years now Where'd they go? Twenty years I don't know Sit and I wonder sometimes Where they've gone
And sometimes late at night When I'm bathed in the firelight The moon comes callin' a ghostly white And I recall I recall
Like a rock. standin' arrow straight Like a rock, chargin' from the gate Like a rock, carryin' the weight Like a rock
Like a rock, the sun upon my skin Like a rock, hard against the wind Like a rock, I see myself again Like a rock
The songwriter draws a picture of youth. Strong. Lean. Invincible. Bulletproof. It reminds me of the way I felt in high school, thinking the world was my oyster. Running around with my friends, playing football, listening to music in my truck. Eager, wide-eyed with anticipation about what life had in store. With a few miles on my odometer now (to use an appropriate Chevrolet metaphor), I realize that a whole lot of the emotion in that song is illusory. While we may, in the arrogance of youth, feel like a rock, we are not. Or at least I am not.
In the comments in the bottom of the video of the song I link below, an astute writer named Kevin H. apparently feels the same way and captured what I'm trying to say more eloquently than I can. I cut and pasted his comment below:
Life will destroy you. Work will grind you down, and you will fail as a husband and father. You will look back on the illusion of competence and control you once possessed and wonder how you could ever have been so naïve. One of the most heartbreaking songs about being a man ever recorded.
Although I'm standing on the Solid Rock, I have come to understand that I am not like a rock at all. Maybe that is the point of it all. Perhaps Chevy trucks are dependable, but truth be told, there's only One who is dependable. He's not like a rock. He is The Rock. Click the arrow and listen to Bob Seger sing it:
Today I was thinking about a song that was popular 10 years ago. The life of the man that Alan Jackson sings about in his song, "Small Town Southern Man" just makes me want to be a better man. Alan Jackson wrote this song about his father, which makes it even more touching. An unwavering faith in God, good old fashioned character, humility, and work ethic in working the land is what made this country great and this song is a tribute to those out there in America that are raising families and crops and working hard. Alan Jackson is one of those singer/song writers whose songs tell stories that will send you down a rabbit hole of memories back to the "good ol days." Also, if you ever get a chance, listen to him sing "Sweet Hour of Prayer."
I've linked the official video to Small Town Southern Man below. Push the button, sit back and enjoy! I've posted the lyrics below as well.
Born the middle son of a farmer
And a small town Southern man
Like his daddy's daddy before him
Brought up workin' on the land
Fell in love with a small town woman
And they married up and settled down
Natural way of life if you're lucky
For a small town Southern man
First there came four pretty daughters
For this small town Southern man
Then a few years later came another
A boy, he wasn't planned
Seven people livin' all together
In a house built with his own hands
Little words with love and understandin'
From a small town Southern man
Chorus:
And he bowed his head to Jesus
And he stood for Uncle Sam
And he only loved one woman
(He) was always proud of what he had
He said his greatest contribution
Is the ones you leave behind
Raised on the ways and gentle kindness
Of a small town Southern man
Callous hands told the story
For this small town Southern man
He gave it all to keep it all together
And keep his family on his land
Like his daddy, years wore out his body
Made it hard just to walk and stand
You can break the back
But you can't break the spirit
Of a small town Southern man
(Repeat Chorus)
Finally death came callin'
For this small town Southern man
He said it's alright 'cause I see angels
And they got me by the hand
Don't you cry, and don't you worry
I'm blessed, and I know I am
'Cause God has a place in Heaven
For a small town Southern man
(Repeat Chorus)
I love the story and the chorus just ties it all together beautifully! He bows his head to Jesus! He knows who his Lord is and he serves Him. He stands for Uncle Sam. He is patriotic and respectful of our country and thankful to have been blessed to be an American. He only loved one woman. Just like the Bible teaches, he is a one-woman man, faithful to his wife and honoring his vows of marriage. He was proud of what he had. Even if it wasn't much, it was his and he was proud of it, not coveting what his neighbor had. He felt that the greatest contribution is the one he leaves behind. This man left a legacy - a family with great memories of time spent and a life lived well. He was raised on the ways and kindness of a small town southern man. I'm not sure there's a better way to live...
