Confession

They say confession is good for the soul, right?

I'm not so sure in this case, but here goes. This may shock you.

I like Abba. Always have. I was introduced to their music in the early '80s and I was hooked right away.

I still have several of their records (yes, from back when vinyl was the main format!)

According to Wikipedia, Abba was active from 1972-1982. This was when Disco was king and swingers swang and sex with everyone else was the thing. The "sexual revolution" was at it's height. This is reflected in much of their lyrics.

A lot of people scoff at Abba. But really if you give their music a serious listen you might find you like some of it. They were pegged as disco, which is true, but they were so diverse in style that there really is something for nearly everyone's tastes.

Their songs are...

Mysterious: The Visitors, Eagle
Serious: Soldiers, Chiquitita, Fernando
Whimsical: King Kong Song, Sitting in the Palmtree, What about Livingstone?, Two For the Price of One 😳
Somber: One of Us, The Winner Takes It All
Sexy (almost all of them)

There was even a "smash hit musical" based on their songs called Mamma Mia! And I've heard there is a sequel coming out sometime next year.

Here's one of my favorites, remember the era when you watch this video...

Eagle - Abba

They came flying from far away
Now I'm under their spell
I love hearing the stories that they tell

They've seen places beyond my land
And they found new horizons
They speak strangely but I understand

And I dream I'm an eagle
And I dream I can spread my wings

Flyin' high, high, like a bird in the sky
I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze
High, high, what a feeling to fly
Over mountains and forests and seas
And to go anywhere that I please

I saw good friends we talked all night
And we fly wing to wing
I have questions and they know everything

There's no limit to what I feel
We climb higher and higher
Am I dreaming or is this all real?

And I dream I'm an eagle
Is it true, I can spread my wings?

Flyin' high, high, like a bird in the sky
I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze
High, high, what a feeling to fly
Over mountains and forests and seas
And to go anywhere that I please

Is it true, I'm an eagle?
Is it true, I can spread my wings?

Flyin' high, high, like a bird in the sky
I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze
High, high, what a feeling to fly
Over mountains and forests and seas

High, high, like a bird in the sky
I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze
High, high, what a feeling to fly
Over mountains and forests and seas
And to go anywhere that I please

Wanna fly like an eagle
Fly, fly
I dream, I'm an eagle
Flyin', fly

RIP Tom Petty :(

RIP Tom Petty

Alright for now - Tom Petty

Goodnight baby, sleep tight my love
May God watch over you from above

Tomorrow I'm workin' what would I do
I'd be lost and lonely if not for you

So close your eyes
We're alright for now

I've spent my life travelin'
Spent my life free
I could not repay all you've done for me

So sleep tight baby
Unfurrow your brow
And know I love you

We're alright for now
We're alright for now

September 19 is always a bit melancholy for me. September 19, 1997 is the day Rich Mullins was killed in a horrible auto accident. When I heard the news, it was like a sledgehammer slammed into my heart.

I didn't know Rich personally. Never met him. Never saw him live in concert. Never talked on the phone or sent an email. I doubt he even had email. But I heard his songs. I got to know him through his lyrics. The melodies an rhythms of his music. I saw videos of him in interviews and live performances. I've heard people that did know him personally talk about him.

The things he said, and the way he said them reveal so much about him and his relationship with God. For example:

"The thing I most like about the Bible are all the weirdos in it. I think the Bible is just packed with them. This is one of my weirdo heroes that comes from the scriptures." and then he launches into the song 'Elijah'.

or

I remember when I was a kid…people would go around saying “Cheer up man, God loves you!” and I would say “Big deal. God loves everybody. That don’t make me special. That just proves that God ain’t go no taste.” And I don’t think he does -  thank God. Cause God takes the junk of our lives, and He makes the greatest art in the world out of it. And if He was cultured, if He was as civilized as most Christian people wish He was, He would be useless to Christianity. But God is a wild man. And I hope that in the course of your life, you encounter Him. But let me warn you, you’d need to hang on for dear life. Or let go for dear life maybe is better.

Rich was a man who had trouble in his life, as we all do. A strained relationship with his earthly father and other relationship difficulties. But in his lyrics and words, you see something that stands out. An unwavering trust in the Love of God. 

I think Rich fulfilled his desire for leaving a legacy of joy. He said, “I hope that I would leave a legacy of joy. A legacy of real compassion. Because I think there is great joy in real compassion. I don’t think that you can know joy apart from caring deeply about people – caring enough about people that you actually do something.”. I know he's given me joy when I listen to his songs. When I see his smile in pictures or videos. When I hear him talk about God and the amazing love that He has for us ragamuffins.

 

Creed - Rich Mullins

I believe in God the Father
Almighty maker of heaven and maker of earth

And in Jesus Christ his only begotten Son, our Lord

He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
Born of the virgin Mary
Suffered under pontius pilate
He was crucified and dead and buried

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man

I believe that He who suffered was crucified, buried, and dead
He descended into Hell and on the third day, rose again
He ascended into heaven where he sits at God's mighty right hand
I believe that he's returning
To judge the quick and the dead of the sons of men 

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man 

I believe it, I believe it
I believe it
I believe it, I believe it 

I believe in God the Father
Almighty maker of heaven and maker of earth 

And in Jesus Christ his only begotten Son, our lord 

I believe in the Holy Spirit
One holy church
The communion of saints
The forgiveness of sin
I believe in the resurrection
I believe in a life that never ends 

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no it is making me
I did not make it, no it is making me
I said I did not make it, no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man

I believe it, I believe
I believe it, I believe
I believe it, I believe it
I believe it, I believe it
I believe it, I believe it
I believe it

Down in the Lowlands

We all have those day. Or weeks. Or years. Where just nothing seems right and you get depressed and down. Down in the Lowlands.

I've always had troubled deciding which version I like better. Charlie Peacock wrote the song and this is his version:

Russ Taff covered it, and this is his version:

Down In The Lowlands - Charlie Peacock

The water is up to my neck
I'm sinking in the deep
There is no foothold to be found anywhere
I'm very worn out from calling for help
My throat is hoarse
And dry as a bone

My eyes they fail me from looking for you
Are you looking for me?

I'm down in the lowlands
Where the water is deep
Hear me cry, hear my shout
Save me, save me

Could this be it, could I be drowning?
Have I failed to be heard
By the only one who can save me?
Show me some mercy and touch me again
Please lift me up
Above where I am

My eyes they fail me from looking for you
My eyes they fail me from looking for you
Are you looking for me?

Cause I'm down in the lowlands
Where the water is deep
Hear my cry, hear my shout
Save me, save me

The wound is where the light shines through

This song speaks.

Switchfoot - Where The Light Shines Through

When you're feeling like an astronaut
Stuck on a planet even time forgot, and
You're a version of yourself, but you're not the same
You try to keep the wound camouflaged, and
The stitches heal, but the years are lost, and
Another bottle on the shelf can't numb the pain

Why're you running from yourself now?

You can't run away.

'Cause your scars shine like dark stars
Yeah, your wounds are where the light shines through
So let's go there, to that place where
We sing these broken prayers where the light shines through--
The wound is where the light shines through

Yeah, the wound is where the light shines through

Ain't we all just Abraham's son?
Saint and sinner with the song and drum, and
We're fallen on our knees, we all bleed the same
And the only tattoos that I have are scars
I got your name written on my heart
And the story that brought us here ain't the thing that changed, no

I wanna see that light shining

Brighter than the pain

'Cause your scars shine like a dark star
Yeah, your wounds are where the light shines through
So let's go there, to that place where
We sing these broken prayers where the light shines through
The wound is where the light shines through

Mama, ain't the blood just proof I'm human?
Mama, ain't the wound just retribution?
Well Mama, ain't the scar like a vision of grace?

The wound is where the light shines through
The wound is where the light finds you
The wound is where the light shines through
The wound is where the light finds you

Your scars shine like dark stars
Yeah, the wound is where the light shines through

It's where the light shines through
Yeah, yeah, it's where the light shines through

Yeah, the only time to our heart, oh oh
It's where the light shines through

Where the light shines, where the light shines through
Where the light shines though

It's where the light shines through

The right song at the right time...

God knows what speaks to us, and often music speaks to me more than anything. He knows how to send the right song at the right time. This song came on in the car today.

Matter of Time -  Church of Rhythm
The rain fell down in my life today
And I almost drowned
Sometimes the happiness just all fades away
And it can't be found, no

But I won't give up, no I won't give in
Cause after the night, a new day will begin

Oh the sun will come up gonna shine again
See the clouds roll away and the rain end
I know after it all I will live again
It's only a matter of time

The waters rise above my head
It's a churning flood
Make me feel like givin' in
Or even wish that I was dead
But then You pull me out
And You lift me up to a higher place
To a refuge of hope, sheltered in Your embrace

And I won't give up, no I won't give in
Cause after the night, a new day will begin

Oh the sun will come up gonna shine again
See the clouds roll away and the rain end
I know after it all I will live again
It's only a matter of time

(It's only a matter of time) Till I'm back on my feet and I'm standing tall
No it won't bring me down, I will not fall
I know You're by my side, You help me through it all
You're with me all the way

When storms arrive and vile tempests blow
There's only one safe harbor that I know
You calm the storm, You calm the raging sea
And You will never turn Your love from me

Oh the sun will come up gonna shine again
It's only a matter of time
(It's only a matter of time) Till I'm back on my feet and I'm standing tall
No it won't bring me down, I will not fall
I know You're by my side, You help me through it all
You're with me all the way

Oh the sun will come up gonna shine again
See the clouds roll away and the rain end
I know after it all I will live again
It's only a matter of time

Till I'm back on my feet and I'm standing tall
No it won't bring me down, I will not fall
I know You're by my side, You help me through it all
You're with me all the way

Fix My Eyes...

Contemplating this.

Fix My Eyes - for KING & COUNTRY

Hit rewind, click delete
Stand face to face with the younger me
All of the mistakes
All of the heartbreak
Here's what I'd do differently

I'd Love like I'm not scared
Give when it's not fair
Live life for another
Take time for a brother
Fight for the weak ones
Speak out for freedom
Find faith in the battle
Stand tall but above it all
Fix my eyes on You
On You

I learned the lines and talked the talk
(Everybody knows it, everybody knows it)
But the road less travelled is hard to walk
(Everybody knows it, everybody knows)
It takes a soldier
Who knows his orders
To walk the walk I'm supposed to walk, and

Love like I'm not scared
Give when it's not fair
Live life for another
Take time for a brother
Fight for the weak ones
Speak out for freedom
Find faith in the battle
Stand tall but above it all
Fix my eyes on You
On You

The things of earth are dimming
In the light of Your glory and grace
I'll set my sights upon Heaven
I'm fixing my eyes on You, on You
I'm fixing my eyes on You, on You
I'm fixing my eyes

Love like I'm not scared
Give when it's not fair
Live life for another
Take time for a brother
Fight for the weak ones
Speak out for freedom
Find faith in the battle
Stand tall but above it all

Fix my eyes on You
On You, on You
I'll fix my eyes on You, on You
I'll fix my eyes on You, on You