In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

May 23, 2013 — Leave a comment

20130523-220843.jpg“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”, the 1968 Iron Butterfly song, made quite a splash back in the day. The album, which included the 17 minute title song, sold over 30 million copies. When I was 16, I was the proud owner of 2 Iron Butterfly albums: the one mentioned, and one titled “Ball”. Yep, I was one, far out dude!

“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” – the 60′s psychedelic way of saying “In the garden of Eden.” Simple lyrics, cool organ, wild guitar licks, plodding bass lines, and an interesting drum solo gave the song quite the hypnotizing effect.

I believe it was the Serpent’s theme song, there in the Garden of Eden.

No, not because Rock and Roll is the devil’s music! After all, satan can use music of ANY KIND to proclaim his rebellious message; and he especially uses COUNTRY MUSIC (my humble opinion). But music itself does not enslave a single soul. True, a mind can be mesmerized, hypnotized, and even paralyzed by a certain rhythm, a particular beat. But enslavement is a matter of the heart, just as worship is from the heart.

Nor does music free a soul; even though The Lovin’ Spoonful’s song, “Do you believe in magic?”, indicated otherwise. Music isn’t spiritual, but it can be used to carry a spiritual message; good or bad. Both God and His adversary have used music to carry their message to the masses. But music, in and of itself, has no real power. The spirit BEHIND the music is where the power comes from.

Anyway, as I was trying to say, I believe the Serpent’s Garden Theme Song was the Iron Butterfly tune because it represents him so well! Picture the Serpent singing to Eve, “In the Garden of Eden, baby, don’t you know that I love you. In the Garden of Eden, honey, don’t you know that I’ll always be true. Oh, won’t you come with me and take my hand, oh, won’t you come with me and we’ll walk this land. Please take my hand…”

Yep, quite a way with words, that old serpent. He’s a master at saying one thing, but meaning something else. He’s adorable to someone who loves smooth words and quick promises. He is the cleverest at twisting the truth, and modifying it to serve his purposes. And he’ll have his arm gently on your back, encouraging and consoling, until he’s finished with you. When he’s done, you’re done.

“Eve, don’t you know I would tell you the truth, even if God wouldn’t? You can trust me. After all, I love you and only have your best interest in mind”, the serpent sang.

“But Mr. Serpent, I don’t think I should follow you”, she said, as her body began to sway in rhythm to his hypnotizing tune.

Again he sang, “Oh, please take a bite of this delicious fruit. It was created by God just for you! How could it be wrong if it feels so right?”

“But Mr. Serpent…hmmm, it does feel good deep down inside. You really know a lot, Mr. Serpent. Surely a little bite, a little walk, a little adventure couldn’t be THAT bad…”

I have this belief: the serpent didn’t “win” Adam and Eve over to his way of thinking with just one encounter. No, I believe it was a campaign. He kept repeating the song, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, honey”, and little by little the defenses wore thin until there were none left! The more Adam and Eve hung around the “jukebox”, listening to the serpent’s tune, over and over, the more they agreed with the message and received the spirit behind the song.

The campaign paid off, Eve took his advice, grabbed a bite of fruit, then handed it to her husband. He ate. Their eyes were open and began to see things, know things, God hadn’t intended them to know.

And it started with a song, the Serpent’s song. In the Garden of Eden.

Are you allowing the old serpent “air time”? Do you keep tuning him in? Have you noticed yourself starting to believe his campaign against God?

Time to step away from the “jukebox”.

In Battles, Challenge, Encouragement, Life, Music, Satan, serpent, garden of eden, Temptation , , , ,
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Can Innocence Be Restored?

May 22, 2013 — Leave a comment

20130522-072542.jpgDo you ever wonder what it would be like to start over in life? Not necessarily from the very beginning; I mean, who really wants to revisit potty training, the first day of kindergarten, and other traumatic experiences. And I DO NOT want to eat cottage cheese ever again!

By “start over”, I’m referring to the time in our life before our innocence was lost. Before we learned how to lie, cheat and steal. Before we knew what emotional pain was like. A time when we believed everyone loved us for who we were, not what we could do for them. When our minds weren’t flooded with thoughts of lust and violence. Before we realized some siblings could be loved more than others.

Wouldn’t it be great to start over with a clean heart?

I look back over my life and think of the different “firsts”; such as, the first time I was afraid, the first time I stole something, and the first time I was introduced to the female body. My first cigarette, my first bottle of bourbon, my first kiss, my first toke, my first hit of acid, the first time I skipped school, the first time I was kicked out of school, and the first time I ran away from home.

I remember the first time I was beaten by an adult. I remember why I was beaten. It wasn’t because of my innocence, either. I remember my first time in jail; and no, it wasn’t a case of mistaken identity. I can still recall my first time in a psychiatric ward. That sure didn’t help restore innocence; quite the contrary.

I look at the picture of myself, when I was about 3 years old, and it makes me sad to think of all the corrupt things I experienced during just the first 16 years of my life. Like everyone, I began my life innocently but, little by little, became selfish and filthy on the inside. And though I was the sweetest, most innocent looking kid on the block, my heart was evil, intent on having its way no matter the cost.

Too bad.

I made wrong choices, and it cost me my innocence. Others made wrong choices which affected my innocence. A cute (and smart) kid, once innocent, now guilty.

So sad.

I discovered something, though. I wasn’t the only one who’d lost his innocence. I wasn’t the first, or the last. I didn’t write the book on wrong decisions, though I had my own chapter in the book.

No, the first one to make a bad choice and lose his innocence was Adam. What he gained in knowledge couldn’t compare with what he lost, when he gave away his innocence by obeying the serpent. And down through the years the cycle of life keeps repeating itself: innocent at birth, corrupt at death. Regardless of each individual’s nationality, upbringing, or social status; no one stays squeaky clean! No one stays innocent.

“as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”(Romans 3:10-12 ESV)

So, allow me to ask the question again. Do you ever wonder what it would be like to start over in life? Would you like to be innocent once again?

Is it possible? Yes! Innocence can be restored. As mentioned earlier, Adam was the first person to give up his innocence, which affected us all. But there was another Who came, Jesus (also referred to as the Last Adam). This Last Adam restored innocence to all mankind. What the First Adam lost, the Last Adam won!

“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:12 ESV)

“…For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:16 – 5:19 ESV)

“For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22 ESV)

“Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” (1 Corinthians 15:45 ESV)

Innocence has been restored to each and every person! It’s what God did for us, through His Son, Jesus. Though each of us were guilty of rebellion toward God and the worship of self, God passed judgment upon His Son instead of us. Jesus took our guilt so we could have His innocence.

“that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them…for our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:19-21 ESV)

I’m not saying we don’t remember those times of selfishness and filth; it’s just that God looks at us through what His Son has done, and finds us “not guilty”; “innocent”! The Lord deems everyone not guilty who call upon the Lord in faith. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13 ESV)

Yes, innocence can be restored! You can start over with a brand new life in Christ. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” (Revelation 21:5-7 ESV)

You know, I’ll never again look like that cute little 3 year old in the picture. But my heart is rejoicing in the newness of life I have in Jesus.

And I am enjoying my innocence, because of God’s love.

In Encouragement, Future and Hope, Grace, Hope, innocence, Inspiration, Love, Love Of God, Restored , , , , ,
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Dance The Night Away

May 19, 2013 — Leave a comment

20130519-213754.jpgEver had a day that seemed a month long? A night that would never end? How about sorrow that only deepened, never giving up, for months and years?

An old song by Leo Thayer, “You make me feel like dancing”, jumped to the forefront of my mind yesterday. The phrase, “gonna dance the night away”, seemed to have the touch of God on it. It’s a corny song, the falsetto singing is hard listening to, and I’m really not into dance music; but there’s a truth in the “dance” phrase God wants us to catch.

“Night” represents darkness, and “dance” is related to joy, or an expression of joy. Many times, during periods of sorrow and grief, the thought of dancing is the farthest thing from our mind. What we’re most comfortable with during those seasons, and what we’d much rather do is lock ourselves away in the dark somewhere, curled up in the fetal position, chewing on our lip, and wishing we didn’t have to face another day.

Despair, night, and spiritual darkness are each related to the other, and have the ability to smother the life out of a person. Their nature is to flood a person’s thoughts and feelings with ideas of everything that could possibly go wrong. It’s like living in a small, crowded room with no windows, and little by little the walls move closer and closer until there’s absolutely no room left, and no way out. And though there’s ALWAYS a way out, it’s usually not seen because of the spiritual darkness pervading the mind of the despaired one. They PERCEIVE they are trapped, and the perception becomes their reality.

But God has something much better for you and I. It’s called JOY!

Despair forces you and I into a small dark corner, but God’s joy releases us to enjoy wide open spaces!

“He reached from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy and from those who hated and abhorred me, for they were too strong for me. They confronted and came upon me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my stay and support. He brought me forth also into a large place; He was delivering me because He was pleased with me and delighted in me.” (Psalm 18:16-19 AMP)

So what should a person do when the nighttime of despair begins to close in on them? Call upon the Lord and start dancing! By faith, act on the word of God and release the power of joy! If necessary, dance on the ceiling and the walls, like Fred Astaire did in the movie, “Royal Wedding”.

Fred Astaire 1Fred Astaire 2

Dance the night away! Away from you, from your loved ones, from your situation! Dance the night – AWAY!

You don’t feel like dancing? Then begin to tap a toe. Tap it by faith; faith in the love and ability of God Most High! Then tap the other one, shuffle your feet, shake a hip, swing an arm, AND DANCE THE NIGHT – AWAY!

Say it out loud: “God, You make me feel like dancing; I’m gonna dance the night – AWAY“!

“Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing.” (Exodus 15:20 ESV)

“And David danced before the Lord with all his might…” (2 Samuel 6:14 ESV)

“As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before The Lord…” (2 Samuel 6:16 ESV)

“Let them praise his name with dancing…” (Psalm 149:3 ESV)

“Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe.” (Psalm 150:4 ESV)

” A time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:3-4 ESV)

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.” (Psalm 30:11-12 ESV)

“For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5 ESV)

Joy comes in the morning, and “dancing”, releasing joy, drives the night away! Night leaves, morning comes, and joy prevails!

Dance!

In Inspiration, Faith, Worship, Encouragement, Jesus, Freedom, Joy, Life, Dance, Despair , , , , , , ,
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