IS40:8 (part 3) - Material Girl

 

Diamonds/wikipedia.com

The 1980s.... 

It was a decade of prosperity and the feeling that life was good.

And Madonna made her debut in that decade. And one of her first big hits...

Material Girl (1984) with lyrics

(Reference: https://youtu.be/6p-lDYPR2P8)

The video was influenced by another iconic blonde, in an earlier time with the same life was good feelings...

The 1950s...

After the Great Depression and World War II, peace and prosperity were back.

As well as an earlier version of Madonna, Marylin Monroe.

One of Marylin's signature movies was Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and this closing number...

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend

(Reference: https://youtu.be/dw7ii6IxNS8 )

Madonna...Marylin. 

Both blondes in hot pink gowns, obsessed with material things, such as jewels. 

And there is much said about the obsession with the material things of this world in the Scriptures.

But Jesus makes many points about this, most poetically, in The Sermon on the Mount:

Matthew 6

25

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink;
or about your body, what you will wear. 

Is not life more than food,
and the body more than clothes? 

26 

Look at the birds of the air;
 they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not much more valuable than they? 

27 

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 

“And why do you worry about clothes?

See how the flowers of the field grow.
They do not labor or spin. 

29 

Yet I tell you that
 not even Solomon in all his splendor
 was dressed like one of these. 

30 

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field,
which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,
will he not much more clothe you—
you of little faith? 

31 

So do not worry, saying,
‘What shall we eat?’
or ‘What shall we drink?’
or ‘What shall we wear?’ 

32

 For the pagans run after all these things,
and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 

33 

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well. 

34 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself. 

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

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Madonna and Marylin talk about presents. 

Jesus talks about being in the present.

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Isaiah 40:8

The grass withereth,

the flower fadeth:

but the word of our God

shall stand for ever.

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For other posts on this thread, search:

IS40:8

Similar threads (search blog):

Faith

10C - The Ten Commandments

Biblia Files

PPP - Psalms, Proverbs, and Politics

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Photo: Diamonds/wikipedia.com

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IS40:8 (part 2) - God's Pronouns

 

Michelangelo, Creation of Adam/wikipedia.com

What are your pronouns?

Often in short bios, people list the pronouns which they choose to be addressed by:

he/him

she/her

they/them

zhe/zher

it/its

....

whatever 

In the name of open mindedness and diversity and tolerance and civility, most respect their wishes and call them by their preferred pronouns.

It's the polite thing to do.

What are God's Pronouns?

He/Him

These masculine pronouns are used in traditional translations of the Bible as well as other references to the Deity:  Father, Son, Lord, King, Prince of Peace, etc. 

As the One who Created us--male and female--here is a reason as to why God identifies as male:

(Reference:  https://youtu.be/6YXzywDWc1k )

Yet, I've seen a trend of referring to God as gender neutral, in worship as well as some more recent Bible translations that also strike out other male specific words man, men, mankind, etc. 

All done in the name of inclusiveness.

Here is an example from The Doxology:

Traditional:

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Gender neutral:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God for all that love has done;

Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One.

reference: Doxology

There are numerous examples in Bible translations. 

Check out: BibleGateway.com

Look up your favorite verses in more traditional translations and compare them to the more recent ones, especially the paraphrases.

What trend do you see, if any?

Respect:

The question of the lack of respect has been brought up before in the Old Testament. 

The context in the verses below are God's people offering blemished sacrifices:

“A son honors his father,

and a slave his master.

 If I am a Father,

where is the honor due Me?

If I am a Master,

where is the respect due Me?”

says the Lord Almighty.

Malachi 1:6

Good question.

Today's Question:

We respect the pronouns of another human being.

Do we respect God's pronouns?

You be the judge of this one.

Isaiah 40:8

The grass withereth,

the flower fadeth:

but the word of our God

shall stand for ever.

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For other posts on this thread, search:

IS40:8

Similar threads (search blog):

Faith

10C - The Ten Commandments

Biblia Files

PPP - Psalms, Proverbs, and Politics

-----------------------------

-----------------------------

Photo: Michelangelo, Creation of Adam/wikipedia.com

IS40:8 (part 1) - Eat, Drink, Be Merry

 

liza-m/wikipedia.com

Cabaret (1972)

This musical had won many awards including 8 Oscars. 

It was set in 1930s Germany. The story followed American Sally Bowles, singer in the Berlin Kit Kat Klub, and Cambridge student Brian Roberts, who is completing his German studies.

Both Brian and Sally were complex characters, wrestling with their inner demons, during the rise of the Nazi party in the background of their pursuits for pleasure and meaning.

The finale is Cabaret, as seen below.

(reference: https://youtu.be/5QS1l1mSDSo)

The lyrics put forth the philosophy of life: Eat, Drink, Be Merry

Let's explore this philosophy through the Biblical lens. 

It's not all bad...

Celebration of life: Ecclesiastes 2:24

There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

Love between a man and woman:  Song of Solomon 1:2

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.

The Prodigal Son: Luke 15:11-32

And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

Pharisee criticism of the ministry of Jesus: Luke 7:34

The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

To the glory of God: 1 Corinthians 10:31

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

It's not all good either...

Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 6:25

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Parable of the rich man: Luke 12:16-21

And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

This life is all there is: 1 Corinthians 15:32 

If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

The Key is Balance...

Content in any state: Philippians 4:11-12

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

So begins another thread...

Isaiah 40:8

The grass withereth,

the flower fadeth:

but the word of our God

shall stand for ever.

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Similar threads (search blog):

Faith

10C - The Ten Commandments

Biblia Files

PPP - Psalms, Proverbs, and Politics

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Photo:  liza-m/wikipedia.com

Music (part 10) - Silent Night during Troubled Times

 

Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria/wikipedia

Silent Night

Known in German as Stille Nacht Heilige Nacht

It was first performed Christmas Eve, 1818, in St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, as shown in the above picture.

The lyrics were written in 1816 by a young priest in Austria, Joseph Mohr and the melody by Franz Xaver Gruber. Because the church organ was being repaired, the carol was first played on the guitar.

Since then, Silent Night has gone viral and has been translated into over 300 languages with many renditions.

For the carol's background:  The Story Behind the Beloved Christmas Carol "Silent Night"

Fast forward to the next century:

Christmas Eve, 1914

During a temporary truce on the battlefield of the First World War, soldiers sang carols from home, including "Silent Night," which was simultaneously sung in French, German and English.

The video of a chocolate ad harkens to this event of peace during war.

(Reference: https://youtu.be/NWF2JBb1bvM )

Fast forward to 50 years later, during troubling times....

1966

Simon and Garfunkel did their rendition of Silent Night with the reading of the 7 O'Clock News.

(Reference:  https://youtu.be/VNyqlx0--i0 )

In a world of bad news--wars, conflicts, violence, unrest--there is a yearning for Good News.

And Christmas celebrates the coming of the Savior--the Prince of Peace.

Peace this Christmas 2021
 and blessings for the New Year of 2022.

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Previous posts in the series:
  

Music (part 1) - Winter (2016) 
  

Music (part 2) - All You Need is Love (2016) 

Music (part 3) - Passover (2016)

Music (part 4) - Armed Forces Medley  (2016)

Music (part 5) - Over There : Remembering World War I  (2018)

Music (part 6) - Pastoral and Spring  (2019)

Music (part 7): Summer (2019)

Music (part 8): Autumn (2019)

Music (part 9): June (2021)

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Photo: Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria/wikipedia

Great Speeches (part 1) - Gettysburg Address

 

LincolnGettysburg/wikipedia.com

1863

The not so United States was engaged in a great Civil War.

The Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863) , one the bloodiest battles--over 50,000 casualties--marked a turning point for the Union. But victory came at a heavy cost of blood and treasure.

November 19, 1863, President Lincoln was asked to deliver a message at the dedication of Gettysburg Civil War Cemetery. 

Following Edward Everett's two hour speech, Lincoln spoke for about two minutes.  And the rest is history.

(reference: https://youtu.be/qhMsQm0dufU )

America was conceived in liberty and the proposition that all men are created equal. 

Those words brought America back to her roots- beyond the Constitution to The Declaration of Independence.

Lincoln's address is considered one of the most powerful speeches in the English language, as well as any language expressing freedom and liberty. 

In these divided times, it bears to be remembered who we are.

And with this new thread, Great Speeches

The Pen is Mightier than the Sword

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Other resources on this topic:

American Rhetoric

The 35 Greatest Speeches in History

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Photo: LincolnGettysburg/wikipedia.com

Pop Culture (part 5) - There's a Light...

 

Oakly Court/wikipedia.com

Many traditions have evolved around Halloween.

And about this time of year--late fall--many movies of horror and science fiction genre debut to catch the spirit of the scary holiday.

One was an offbeat musical comedy horror that has become a cult classic,  

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

When it premiered in the US, the movie was a flop; and hence, it pulled from many theaters. 

But when it played at midnight showings, the musical caught on fire, garnering an international cult following.

Reference: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

This offbeat musical presents rock 'n roll style, precursor to punk rock, and even spiritual-like songs throughout its parody of the horror and 1930s-1960s SciFi B movie plots. And its music became popular--part of Pop Culture (the title of this thread.)

Richard O'Brien composed, in my opinion, this beautiful spiritual-like song:

There's a Light (Over at the Frankenstein Place)

(reference: https://youtu.be/i4G-hjfMR4U )

I love this song as it speaks to my soul and spirit.

In times of trouble and dark and scary times, like Brad and Janet getting lost and stranded with a flat tire on a cold and rainy night, there is hope... 

There's a light,
light in the darkness
of everybody's life.

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Previous Post in the series:

Pop Culture (part 1) - Only Time and 9/11 (2015)

Pop Culture (part 2) - Halloween Martian Invasion (2015)
   
Pop Culture (part 3) - It's Gonna Be All Right  (2016)

Pop Culture (part 4) - Brrrr! ... California Dreamin' (2018)

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Photo:  Oakly Court/wikipedia.com

Americana (part 3) - Appeal to Heaven

 

wikipedia/appeal to heaven flag

An Appeal to Heaven?

Sound like a call to prayer. It is. And it was almost 250 years ago as well as one of the motto on one of the earliest American flags.

In 1968, the US post office issued its series of historic American flags (then 6 cents). Among them, Washington's cruisers flag 1775 - AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN.

Close up below:

(reference: https://youtu.be/rRHEAT-1ItI )

For the history of the Pine Tree Flag, the description in the video explains it best:

The Tree Flag  was one of the flags used during the American Revolution.  The flag, featuring a pine tree with the motto "An Appeal to God" or, more usually, "An Appeal to Heaven", was used originally by a squadron of six cruisers commissioned under George Washington's authority as commander in chief of the Continental Army in October 1775. 

(reference: https://youtu.be/DP5n9u-Lvog )

And General Washington (with his cruisers and this flag) has been considered the Father of our country, as so aptly described in this description and video below: 

There would have never been a United States of America without George Washington. John Rhodehamel, author of "George Washington: The Wonder of the Age," details how Washington successfully guided the budding nation through war and nurtured her in peace.

(reference: https://youtu.be/D7FFtMlm4V0 )

Now, 250 years later, in the chaos and turmoil of our times, the Appeal to Heaven is the ongoing prayer for our republic.

 And as Ben Franklin allegedly said,

“A republic . . . if you can keep it.”

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Other articles on the Appeal to Heaven flag:

* An Appeal To Heaven Flag – 1775 

* For more on the historic flag stamp collection, check out: Jim's Stamp Album

Previous posts in the series:

Americana (part 1) - Seinfeld, Superman, and Wyoming (2020)

Americana (part 2) - What a Country! (2021)

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Photo:  wikipedia/appeal to heaven flag