How do you feel?

Those of you who know me best know that I like worldly music. I first heard the song "Numb" by Linkin' Park on the radio a few years ago. I thought it could be interpreted in several ways. Below are the lyrics. The song is written in a minor key so that it comes across as melancholy, but the energy of the guitars and drums makes the anger, resentment and frustration come across even stronger than the sadness.

"Numb"

I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless lost under the surface

Don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes

Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow

Every step that I take is another mistake to you

Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow

I've become so numb I can't feel you there
I've become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you

Can't you see that you're smothering me
Holding too tightly afraid to lose control
Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you

Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow

Every step that I take is another mistake to you

Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow

And every second I waste is more than I can take

I've become so numb I can't feel you there
I've become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you

And I know I may end up failing too
But I know You were just like me
with someone disappointed in you

I've become so numb I can't feel you there
I've become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you

I've become so numb I can't feel you there

I'm tired of being what you want me to be

I've become so numb I can't feel you there

I'm tired of being what you want me to be

As powerful as the lyrics alone are, they do not do the song justice. I think we lose some of the impact of songs when we don't know the tune. I would like to have heard the tune of the song in 1 Samuel 18 that got on Saul's nerves about him only credited with thousands while David was credited with tens of thousands.

As a parent I could place myself in the role of putting pressure on my children or on the people around me the unrealistic expectations reflected in the song and get all defensive about that or I can be the writer expressing anger toward my own parents or those in authority over me. I think that this song is bigger than that and the writer, while expressing exasperation toward his own parents or other authority figures in his own life, was also talking about society or the world in general.

The world expects and demands that we pursue its pleasures to satisfy ourselves when if we accomplish all the world brutally demands we are left unsatisfied and unfulfilled. I think this song is an indicator that even the world knows that it is selling us a bunch of lies. Lies like... "If you don't have your health, then you don't have anything."

We are bombarded with messages all day everyday to the point that we become numb. When advertisers tell me(you) about stuff that I(you) know I(you) can't afford how does it make me(you) feel? How does it aim to make me(you) feel?

Will the invitation of Jesus get lost in the physical, emotional and spiritual numbness that is quite probably the goal of our accuser. Change "quite probably" to "certainly" in the previous sentence.

In Matthew 11.28, Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

When I am trying to follow Jesus' instruction to learn of Him, what would be the best way to accomplish that specific task. I ask myself if I am depending on my memory, the memory of others or even the opinion of others rather than taking the time to read the words of Christ that are recorded for us while He walked among us.

Forgiveness...

One of my favorite songs is by Don Henley and is called "The Heart of the Matter". The chorus goes:
I've been trying to get down;
To the heart of the matter;
But my will gets weak;
And my thoughts seem to scatter;
But I think it's about forgiveness;
Forgiveness

And I think that really is the heart of the matter.
Forgiveness.

Isn't this the medicine which heals all of our wounds? As Jesus hung on the cross he said, "Lord, please forgive them, for they know not what they do." He showed us how his wounds were healed; with love and forgiveness.

If I could take a pill that would cure all my hurts wouldn't I give everything I have to get access to that pill, and yet here is Jesus offering us that pill --- forgiveness --- free of charge.

originally posted by Dennis on 3.17.06 edited later by James

March Madness

My bracket already has an error in it. I picked Hampton instead of Monmouth in last night's game. I like to use the NCAA bracket as an object lesson about striving for perfection. Even though my bracket is now flawed I do not just throw in the towel. Jesus is the only one who lived a perfect life, (filled out His bracket flawlessly). We can get together this Sunday and pick each others' brackets, (lives) apart by pointing out each others' weaknesses and we will each be right. "Here, help me get the log out of my eye so I can hit you over the head with it!"

Another ungodly attitude that I can display is since I know I won't be perfect, don't even try. I will pick Southern to beat Duke, Belmont to beat UCLA, remember if it happens, you heard it here first. Just because I know I won't be perfect I shouldn't sin so that grace will abound. When Jesus instructed us to "Be perfect, therefore as your heavenly Father is perfect.", in Mt. 5.48, I believe He was serious. Just because I blow it today or tomorrow as I sin doesn't mean that I should just quit trying. Since Jesus declares me holy and blameless through His sacrifice I should be encouraged to try all the harder in spite of my knowledge that I will be continually failing.

That's my King too.

I am amazed at how many times I can play this and still get chills.