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Some people on this list
might be aware that I've been playing with a Weblog that posts lyrics
to songs that might be useful in different setting in worship, youth
group, church or in the car while you drive to and from work. This particular project is still in it's early stages, I'm still learning, and after the Theology of Youth Ministry course last week I'm now thinking that I'll have to be thinking Theologically about some of my song choices, rather than just spiritually or emotionally... Lately I've been trying lately to do some stuff that focusses on the Lectionary reading, in the last few weeks I've suggested songs by Faithless, Paul Kelly, U2 and this week I'm suggesting a handfull of songs, the first of which is by Bob Marley... My website's url is: http://thealternativehymnal.blogspot.com/ This week's second reading is Galations 5:1, 13-25 and comes from the Message translation. The Life of Freedom Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out--in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then? My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence? It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom. But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard--things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good--crucified. Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. - The reading's got me thinking of songs about freedom and asking me the question of "just what is freedom afterall?" I'll spend what's left of the week posting songs of freedom... And I'd be stupid not to start here with (The Prophet) Bob Marley... Redemption Song by Bob Marley Album: Legend Old pirates, yes, they rob i; Sold I to the merchant ships, Minutes after they took i >From the bottomless pit. But my hand was made strong By the ’and of the almighty. We forward in this generation Triumphantly. Won’t you help to sing These songs of freedom? - ’cause all I ever have: Redemption songs; Redemption songs. Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; None but ourselves can free our minds. Have no fear for atomic energy, ’cause none of them can stop the time. How long shall they kill our prophets, While we stand aside and look? ooh! Some say it’s just a part of it: We’ve got to fulfil de book. Won’t you help to sing These songs of freedom? - ’cause all I ever have: Redemption songs; Redemption songs; Redemption songs. Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; None but ourselves can free our mind. Wo! have no fear for atomic energy, ’cause none of them-a can-a stop-a the time. How long shall they kill our prophets, While we stand aside and look? Yes, some say it’s just a part of it: We’ve got to fulfil de book. Won’t you help to sing Dese songs of freedom? - ’cause all I ever had: Redemption songs - All I ever had: Redemption songs: These songs of freedom, Songs of freedom. Shalom -- Darren Wright Sinner Youth and Family Worker UCA NSW Synod Presbytery of Canberra Region GPO Box 221. Canberra. ACT. 2601. [EMAIL PROTECTED] 02 6248 9311 (office) "The Gospel must be constantly forwarded to a new address, because the recipient is repeatedly changing place of residence." - Helmut Thielicke |
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