Influential Album #6 - Exaltation

I was recently challenged on Facebook to post the 10 albums that influenced my musical  taste. The idea is that you are to post one album cover a day with no explanations, no reviews, just the cover. Of course, that's not really fair. How can you post an album cover without explaining why the music was so influential to you? Since I can't explain it on Facebook, I can explain it here, after all, it is MY blog!!!

So how is it that this album influenced my musical tastes?

This is easily my favorite praise and worship album. Sadly, in my many moves I lost track of the album. When I tried to find a copy on CD I could not find one. I did however find a used vinyl copy which I immediately purchased and then proceeded to listen to it several times. It is still THAT good.

The album is officially called, Exaltation: A Scripture Song Experience of Worship and Praise. And that it is! Arranged by Ronn Huff, it features Barry McGuire, Gary Bonner, Bob Bailey, Terry Blackwood, Cheryl Salem; and the Azusa Pacific University. Concert Choir. If you are in the mood and want to commune with God through his word and song. Play this!

Sadly, I have not been able to find a YouTube video of any of the songs from he album. I will continue to work on finding one.

10 Influential Albums #5 - Randy Stonehill, Love Beyond Reason

I was recently challenged on Facebook to post the 10 albums that influenced my musical taste. The idea is that you are to post one album cover a day with no explanations, no reviews, just the cover. Of course, that's not really fair. How can you post an album cover without explaining why the music was so influential to you? Since I can't explain it on Facebook, I can explain it here, after all, it is MY blog!!!

So how is it that this album influenced my musical tastes?

Back before the Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN) jumped the shark. They used to premier and play Contemporary Christian Music (or CCM) videos. If I remember right, it was called Real Videos. Because all too often the Church tends to copy the culture rather than the other way around, this was the Christian attempt to counter MTV. Nevertheless, there were a few good videos that came out during that time (although, now they seem a little cheesy).

My favorite at the time was a video by Randy Stonehill. The video was called Gods of Men and while the video concept wasn't the best, the song had a great message. After seeing the video, I went and bought the CD (see how we have gone from vinyl, to cassettes, to CD's?). It was called Love Beyond Reason and I wore it out. I liked EVERY song on the album. Great messages and great music. Here are a few of my favorites.

Check out the whole album, you won't be disappointed.

10 Influential Albums #4 - Bryan Duncan, Holy Rollin'

I was recently challenged on Facebook to post the 10 albums that influenced my musical taste. The idea is that you are to post one album cover a day with no explanations, no reviews, just the cover. Of course, that's not really fair. How can you post an album cover without explaining why the music was so influential to you? Since I can't explain it on Facebook, I can explain it here, after all, it is MY blog!!!

So how is it that this album influenced my musical tastes?

Wow! An album that contained virtuous lyrics and themes...and it rocked! I remember the first time I heard this album (okay, at this point it was a cassette tape). I was with my friend Dave Smith (who at the time was the Youth Pastor at Puente Baptist Temple). We were driving somewhere and he put the cassette in his car player and out blasted:

Evil on the left side finds you in the middle.

Everybody's waitin', what you gonna do?

Are you gonna fight it a lot or just a little?

A minute is the difference and it's up to you.

Well, I only wanna do what's right,

I only wanna do what's right for you,

I only wanna do what's right,

For you I only wanna do-do-do-do-do what's right.

Never gonna get a sweeter invitation.

Are you gonna stay or will you run away?

Everybody knows you by your conversation.

They've given you the floor, what you gonna say?

Well, I only wanna do what's right,

I only wanna do what's right for you,

I only wanna do what's right,

For you I only wanna do-do-do-do-do what's right!

I was hooked. From that point on I bought all of Duncan's albums. I love his soulful and bluesy take on Christian faith. He has a great voice and a realistic perspective about a life of faith, good and bad.

Check out his discography, you won't regret it!

10 Influential Albums #3 - Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin II

I was recently challenged on Facebook to post the 10 albums that influenced my musical taste. The idea is that you are to post one album cover a day with no explanations, no reviews, just the cover. Of course, that's not really fair. How can you post an album cover without explaining why the music was so influential to you? Since I can't explain it on Facebook, I can explain it here, after all, it is MY blog!!!

So how is it that this album influenced my musical tastes?

This was second album I owned. I remember working at Miners' Drive-in and using my first paycheck to walk over to the Valley Mall to buy this album.. 

Immediately I was drawn to songs as they all had very strong and interesting bass lines. It was then that I discovered John Paul Jones. Next to Geddy Lee, he s my favorite bassist. Just listen to the bass parts on this album. Crank up the bass on What is and What Should Never Be or Ramble On. Amazing! Check it out.

There are other great songs on this album as well. I love Heartbreaker and Bring it on to name a few others.

10 Influential Albums #2 - Bachman Turner Overdrive, Not Fragile

I was recently challenged on Facebook to post the 10 albums that influenced my musical taste. The idea is that you are to post one album cover a day with no explanations, no reviews, just the cover. Of course, that's not really fair. How can you post an album cover without explaining why the music was so influential to you? Since I can't explain it on Facebook, I can explain it here, after all, it is MY blog!!!

So how is it that this album influenced my musical tastes? 

I am not exactly sure why I was attracted to BTO. Maybe it was that Not Fragile was one of the first albums I owned. Yes, you have that right, it was an album. VINYL. I used to go to sleep every night listening to my collection of albums. And this album was always the first one to drop. I know, I know, Not Fragile and Sledgehammer are not your typical fall asleep songs. But I always enjoyed them.

There is really not a bad song on the whole album. From the title track, to Sledgehammer, to You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet, to Roll on Down the Highway, to Second Hand, to the instrumental Free Wheelin'. Every song has a unique sound. You don't believe me? Listen for yourself.  

Rush Countdown - Pt. 4

In honor of Rush's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame I am posting a countdown of my personal top-twenty favorite Rush songs. In addition, I am ranking all 20 Rush albums in reverse order. Albums and songs 20-16 can be found here, 15-11 here, and 10-6 here.

Albums 5-1

Album #5 - Rush

The eponymous first album, includes some very classic Rush songs including Working Man, In the Mood, What You're Doing, and Finding My Way. 

Album #4 - A Farewell to Kings

This album has some of my favorite Rush songs, including Closer to the Heart (maybe Rush's best known song for their hardcore fans), Xanadu, and the title track A Farewell to Kings. I LOVE the sound!

Album #3 - Test for Echo

This album has largely been dismissed by critics but I think the songs on this album have some very unique to Rush songs. Especially, those that have interesting time changes, like Time and Motion. Also, Neil Peart was ahead of the curve with the whole internet dating in his song Virtuality. But my favorite song on the album is Driven.

Album #2 - Counterparts

You can tell that this album is very high my list just by looking at my top-20 favorite Rush songs. In some ways I think this album was a response to the grunge movement that was happening in America at the time (the album was released in 1993). While not a big fan of the grunge movement, I like almost every song on the album. 

Album #1 - 2112

What can I say? Any fan of rock and roll in the 1970s was aware of 2112. Every garage band wanted to know how to play the beginning of the song.

Songs 5-1

Song #5 - By-Tor and the Snowdog

I can remember the first time I heard this song, I was blown away. While some of this is disputed it is said that Geddy is By-Tor and Alex is Snowdog. In the song there is a battle sequence where you can hear the "growling" bass lines versus the screaming high pitched guitar lines.  

Tobes of Hades lit by flickering torchlight

Netherworld is gathered in the glare

Prince By-Tor takes the cavern to the north light

Sign of Eth is rising in the air

By-Tor, knight of darkness

Centurion of evil

Devil's prince

Across the river Styx, out of the lamplight

His nemesis is waiting at the gate

The Snow Dog, ermine glowing in the damp night

A coal-black eyes shimmering with hate

By-Tor and the Snow Dog

Square for battle

Let the fray begin

Ooh, yeah

The battle's over and the dust is clearing

Disciples of the Snow Dog sound the knell

Rejoicing echoes as the dawn is nearing

By-Tor in defeat retreats to hell

Snow Dog is victorious

The land of the overworld

Is saved again

Is saved again

Song #4 - Driven

As indicated earlier, Test for Echo is one of my favorite Rush albums and this is my favorite song on the album. The lyrics don't exactly make sense, but I love the bass line on this song.

Song #3 - Xanadu

Maybe more than any other, this song demonstrates both the musicianship and fantasy/sci-fi nature  of many Rush songs. 

To seek the sacred river Alph

To walk the caves of ice

To break my fast on honeydew

And drink the milk of Paradise...'

I had heard the whispered tales of immortality

The deepest mystery

From an ancient book I took a clue

I scaled the frozen mountain tops of eastern lands unknown

Time and Man alone

Searching for the lost Xanadu

Xanadu...

To stand within the Pleasure Dome

Decreed by Kubla Khan

To taste anew the fruits of life

The last immortal man

To find the sacred river Alph

To walk the caves of ice

Oh, I will dine on honeydew

And drink the milk of Paradise

Song #2 - 2112

What can I say, 2112. The very best Rush concept song. According to Wikipedia:

"2112" tells a story set in the city of Megadon in the year 2112, "where individualism and creativity are outlawed with the population controlled by a cabal of malevolent Priests who reside in the Temples of Syrinx". A galaxy-wide war resulted in the planets forcefully joining the Solar Federation (symbolized by the "Red Star"). By 2112, the world is controlled by the priests who take orders from giant banks of computers inside the temple. Music is unknown in this world absent of creativity and individuality, but in "Discovery", a nameless man finds a beaten guitar inside a cave and rediscovers the lost art of music. In "Presentation", the man takes the guitar to the priests at the temple, who say, "Yes, we know, it's nothing new; it's just a waste of time", and then proceed angrily to destroy it and banish him. Next, in "Oracle: The Dream", the man dreams of a new planet, established at the same time as the Solar Federation, where creative people live. He awakens, depressed that music is part of such a civilization and that he can never be part of it, and kills himself, in "Soliloquy", originally titled "Soliloquy of the Soul". Another planetary war begins in "Grand Finale", originally named "Denouement", resulting in the ambiguous spoken ending: "Attention all planets of the Solar Federation: We have assumed control". Peart described the ending as a "double surprise ... a real Hitchcock killer".

Song #1 - Here Again

I guess I like this song because it is different than any other Rush song. You won't find this on any other list of best Rush songs, but it is at the top of mine...so there!

Honorable Mention: The Trees, Circumstances, Distant Early Warning, Superconductor, Dreamline, Roll the Bones, The Big Wheel, Malignant Narcissism.

10 Influential Albums #1 - Rush, 2112

I was recently challenged on Facebook to post the 10 albums that influenced my musical taste. The idea is that you are to post one album cover a day with no explanations, no reviews, just the cover. Of course, that's not really fair. How can you post an album cover without explaining why the music was so influential to you? Since I can't explain it on Facebook, I can explain it here, after all, it is MY blog!!!

So how is it that this album influenced my musical tastes?

First, I am definitely a child of the 70s. My musical tastes are influenced by the music of that time. No 70s rock band has influenced my tastes more than Rush. Why is that?

I started noodling on the bass guitar in high school and as I listened to various 70 "hard rock" bands  two bass players stood out to me. Their bass lines were always a challenge for me to learn. One was John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin. The other was Geddy Lee. 

In many Rush songs the bass actually plays the melody of the song. And of course, Geddy had some great bass riffs.including Anthem, Bastille Day, Xanadu, Fly by Night, By-Tor and Snowdog, La Villa Strangiato, Free Will, Limelight, YYZ, and Spirit of the Radio, just  to name a few.

Here's a good vehicle to illustrate my point.

Second, 2112 was the Rush album I heard, and I was hooked from the beginning.

I own all of the Rush CD and I have created a list of bothe my favorite Rush songs and my favorite Rush albums.

Just search for Rush on my blog.

I realize Rush is an acquired taste for many, but the musicianship of the power trio is undisputed.

Here for your listening pleasure is side 1 of 2112.

Movie Review: A Face In The Crowd

Genre: Drama

Plot Summary: Ambitious young radio producer Marcia Jeffries (Patricia Neal) finds a charming rogue named Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes (Andy Griffith) in an Arkansas drunk tank and puts him on the air. Soon, Rhodes' local popularity gets him an appearance on television in Memphis, which he parlays into national network stardom that he uses to endorse a presidential candidate for personal gain. But the increasingly petulant star's ego, arrogance and womanizing threaten his rise to the top.

Links:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050371/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Face_in_the_Crowd_(film)

Movie Facts:

• Initial release: May 28, 1957
• Director: Elia Kazan
• Screenplay: Budd Schulberg
• Story by: Budd Schulberg
• Cast: Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, Anthony Franciosa, Walter Matthau, Lee Remick

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%   IMDB Score: 8.2/10

Jim’s Favorite Movies List

I love lists! I always have. In my earlier adult years, I used to stay up just so I could watch David Letterman’s Top Ten List. I have also always loved movies. I can remember creating a list of my favorite movies about 10 years ago and I still have it somewhere on my laptop. Over the years I have developed a large DVD collection mostly made up of movies from my favorite’s list. The internet has been a God-send to me as it has a treasure-trove of top 100 movie lists. 

For example, in 1998, in celebration of the cinema centennial, the American Film Institute (AFI) unveiled “100 Years…100 Movies” where they released a list of the 100 greatest movies of all time, choosing from a list of over 400 nominated movies. In 2007, for the 10^th anniversary the list was updated. You can find the list here https://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-100-movies-10th-anniversary-edition/.

In 2014 the Hollywood Reporter submitted its list of 100 Favorite Films. I like this list better as it seems to be more comprehensive especially in its embrace of modern action movies and blockbusters (mostly missing from the AFI list). The Hollywood Reporter list also has the advantage of being published 7 years after the AFI 10^th Anniversary List so it includes several more recent films. You can find that list here https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/100-best-films-ever-hollywood-favorites-818512.

The Internet Movie Database (IMDB) also has a list created in 2012, but updated in 2017. This list is similar to the AFI list and tends to skew toward older films. You can find that list here https://www.imdb.com/list/ls055592025/.

In 2018, Empire Online asked readers to pick the best films ever made. Choosing between those submissions the magazine came up with their list of the 100 Greatest Movies – “a list of cult classics, brilliant blockbusters, and everything in between.” Since this list was nominated by the fans and not the critics, it includes several selections you won’t find on other lists i.e Princess Bride, Arrival, Lost in Translation etc. This list also skews much more toward films released in this century. You can find that list here https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-movies-2/.

Two other lists I often consult are James Berardinelli’s All-Time Top 100 at https://www.reelviews.net/specials/james-berardinelli-s-all-time-top-100 and John Nolte’s list of 165 best movies, which can be found here https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2017/12/24/the-165-greatest-american-movies-ever-made-150-165/.  

With nothing better to do with my time I have considered creating my own Top 100 list of Jim’s favorite movies. However, I realized there are many great movies I have not yet seen. So, I have embarked on an effort to watch as many movies as I can in order to create my own list. With that in mind, I thought I would share my experience as it happens, so, I am posting reviews of the movies I am watching as I go. Just remember, my tastes may not be yours and since it is MY list...well you know what I mean. With that in mind, I will try to follow a similar format for each review. 

In reviewing each film, I will provide a YouTube video of the official movie trailer (if one exists), a brief plot summary and links to more information regarding facts about the movie, Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB scores, and a list of awards and honor.

Additionally, I will discuss what's to like and not to like about the movie, memorable scenes, quotes, and characters, and a discussion of the movie's world view. Lastly, I will include a summary of what I think about the movie, plus a score on a 1-10 scale.

      So here we go. I hope you enjoy the ride.

RIP Neil Peart

I grew up a major Rush fan. I can't explain why Rush music spoke to me, I mean Geddy Lee doesn't have the best voice, but it was not about the lyrics for me, rather it was the musicality of the songs. Rush was the epitome of the power trio. They are truly virtuosos of the progressive rock genre. I'll always remember Geddy's introduction to his drum solo on the album "All the World's a Stage." It went like this: "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Professor on the Drum Kit." RIP Neil.

Songs of the Incarnation: Christmas Songs You May Not Know Pt. 4 - The Nunc Dimittis

Nunc Dimittis
Luke 2:21-40
 

This is the fourth and final installment in our series on Songs of the Incarnation. We are looking at "Christmas" or more accurately Advent songs from the Gospel of Luke.

21 And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” Luke 2:21-24

There are many amazing ironies that weave their way through the story of Jesus’ birth. For example:

• A tiny infant’s frame contains the expanse of deity.
• Divinity’s lungs first breath is filled with barnyard dust.
• Shabby shepherds stand in for angelic hosts.
• The long-awaited Messiah is laid in a manger instead of a royal crib.

But to me one of the greatest ironies was that Jesus, as a Jew, placed Himself under the law which He had created.

Paul said in Galatians 4:4-5

4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,

Why did He place Himself under bondage to His own law?

5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Jesus redeemed us from the law’s judgment, not by getting rid of the law, but by meeting its demands. He Himself said (Matthew 5:17).

17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

As we look at the story of His presentation we will see how, even in His infancy He fulfilled every aspect of the law. Thanks to the faithfulness of Mary and Joseph. In fact, the law is mentioned five times in this section of Luke. In addition to fulfilling the law, this section affirms that Jesus is indeed the one true Messiah – the Redeemer.

Songs of the Incarnation: Christmas Songs You May Not Know Pt.3 - The Gloria In Altissmus

THE GLORIA IN ALTISSIMUS

 

We have been looking at the Songs of the Incarnation from the Gospel of Luke. These are songs that revolve around the birth of the Savior and they point to God’s grace and mercy in His redemptive plan.

So far we have looked at the...

• The Magnificat of Mary – Luke 1:46-56 “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
• The Benedictus of Zechariah – Luke 1:67-79 “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel for He has visited and redeemed His people.”

In this post we are going to look at the song of the Angelic Hosts in what has been called The Gloria in Altissimus or “Glory to God in the Highest.” As has been the case over the last few weeks in order to appreciate the content of the song, we need to first establish some background and set the context of the passage.

Luke 2:1-5 “Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.”

The song is set in the context of Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem in order to register there for a Census. The census is important because it was the vehicle that God used to move Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Little did Caesar Augustus know that the Sovereign God of the universe was going to use his (Caesar’s) imperial edict to fulfill His (God’s) word.

Paul says in Titus 1:2-3a - “In hope of eternal life, which God who cannot lie, promised before the world began; but hath in due times (proper times) manifested His word.” Also, in Galatians 4:4 - “And when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son - made of a woman.”

At this moment in time, God was bringing together people, places and circumstances to fulfill His prophetic word.

Songs of the Incarnation: Christmas Songs You May Not Know Pt. 2 - The Benedictus

The Benedictus

Luke 1:57-80

 

We are continuing our series on Songs of the Incarnation: Christmas Songs you May not Know.

 

Dr. E.J. Sullivan once said: “The greatest forces in the world are not the earthquakes and the thunderbolts - the greatest forces in the world are babies.” And indeed, when it comes to the story of God’s redemption of man, he was right. As we come to the first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke we have recorded for us the story of two babies, two babies who would someday grow into two of the greatest forces in the world. John the Baptist and Jesus the Messiah

John - A man, has his birth announced in Luke 1:5-25 – He would be the forerunner, the one who prepared the way, a prophet of the Most High.

Jesus - God in the flesh, has his birth announced in Luke 1:26-38 – He would be the Messiah of God - the one who would accomplish redemption for mankind - the Son of the Highest.

John would be “great in the sight of the Lord.” Jesus would be “great” without qualification - the embodiment of absolute greatness.

Now as Luke tells the story of these two babies, he weaves a masterful narrative that switches back and forth between the birth of John and the birth of Jesus. He also includes in this narrative several songs of praise, songs of praise to God for what He was going to do for mankind through these two babies. I call these songs, “Songs of the Incarnation” because they are entirely related to the fact that God has sent his Son Jesus Christ into the world to save the world.

Songs of the Incarnation: Christmas Songs You May Not Know Pt. 1 - The Magnificat

I want to share with you a Christmas series on the “Songs of the Incarnation: Christmas songs you might not know.” In it, we are going to look at four Christmas Songs from the Gospel of Luke.

1. The Magnificat of Mary - Luke 1:46-55
2. The Benedictus of Zechariah - Luke 67-79
3. The Nunc Dimittis of Simeon - Luke 2:28-35
4. The Gloria in Altissimus of the Angelic Host - Luke 2:10-14 

Each of these “Christmas songs” gives us unique insight into the Incarnation and what it really means to us. The incarnation speaks of God the Son, becoming a man (John 1:1,14; Phil. 2:5-8) so that He (Jesus), might humble himself and die for our sins (1 Pet. 3:18).

What I love about each of these “Christmas songs” is that they glorify God in a way that most songs do not. The first song of the incarnation that I am sharing with you is called “The Magnificat.” The Magnificat comes from the lips of none other than Mary herself.

Now before we look at The Magnificat itself we need to set the stage for her great Christmas song by establishing some background and setting the context from Luke 1:26-45. This young woman had recently experienced an amazing event. An Angel had appeared to her and told her that she, a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, had found favor with God.

 

Rush Countdown - Pt. 3

In honor of Rush's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame I am posting a countdown of my personal top-twenty favorite Rush songs. In addition, I am ranking all 20 Rush albums in reverse order. Albums and songs 20-16 can be found here. Albums and songs 15-11 can be found here.

Albums 10-6

Album #10 - Snakes & Arrows - It's no secret to most Rush fans that Neil Peart has issues with organized religion. There is no better example of that than Snakes and Arrows. Throughout the album, Peart's lyrics are focused on the worst parts of religion. The album seems foreboding in some ways, not only in its words but in its music. Yet, despite its sometimes darker subject matter and sound, I actually like this album a great deal. There are three instrumentals on the album as well, and in my opinion they are some of the band's best.

Album #9 - Permanent Waves - This was Rush's first album of the 80s. As the band started in its second decade of music, Permanent Waves was a clear departure from what preceded. Moving away from the Sci-Fi themed epic pieces of the 70s, this album delivers more commercially accessible music. Specifically, the first two songs on the album, The Spirit of the Radio and Freewill would become radio mainstays on the Rush playlist.

How to Be a Model Citizen

Titus 3:1-3

1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. 3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. NAS

Think with me for a moment about the world at the time of the birth of Christ.

It was a world of slavery

It has been estimated that there were 3 slaves to every 1 free man in the world at that time. Slavery was a common and flourishing aspect of society.

It was a world of absolute rulers

At the end of the Roman Republic, the Caesars took power and ruled with absolute authority. August was proconsul and tribune of Rome for life. He was the commander in chief of the military, he reigned over the Senate, and he controlled all civil-affairs.

The same thing was true in the land of Palestine. Herod was a puppet-King, not even a real Jew (he was an Idomite). However, when it came to his ruling style he was a ruthless man. Remember what he did to the children of Bethlehem? He had absolute authority over life and death (he in fact murdered nearly all of his own family).

It was a world of high taxes

When Jesus came into the world – taxes were exorbitant. Those who worked as tax-collectors had sold themselves to Rome for money and then they overcharged the people (i.e. Zaccheus – Luke 19). Why did Mary and Joseph have to travel to Bethlehem in the first place? To take a census in view of taxation!

It was world of persecution

At the time of Jesus birth, the Jewish people were considered as nothing. They were chattel for the Romans. They were underprivileged and oppressed, they had no voice in government and they had to bear a heavy burden of taxation.

In the world that Jesus came into, they did not have democracy, the opportunity to vote, or most of the freedoms we enjoy today.

Yet Jesus did not come with power and force to overthrow the Roman government. He did not seek social change by eliminating slavery or other issues. He did not come with a political or economic agenda. He did not come to bring a new government or even wave the flag of Judaism.

Rush Countdown - Pt. 2

In honor of Rush's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame I am posting a countdown of my personal top-twenty favorite Rush songs. In addition, I am ranking all 20 Rush albums in reverse order. Albums and songs 20-16 can be found here.

Albums 15-11.

Album #15 - Caress of Steel - When released, Caress of Steel was considered a disappointment, largely because it marked a new direction for the band. Caress of Steel can be viewed as a "Tale of Two Sides." Side one has a more traditional format and contains the #18 song on my top-twenty, Bastille Day. Side two reflects the band's first attempts at "sci-fi," "concept," or "epic" music. I'm not a big fan of side two although, you really get a glimpse of the band's musicianship when you listen to it.

Rush Countdown Pt. 1

In honor of Rush's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (FINALLY, I might add), I am going to be posting a countdown of my personal top-twenty favorite Rush songs. I will also be ranking all 20 Rush albums in reverse order. If you follow this link you can find an interactive list of all 20 albums.

First, albums 20-16.

Album #20 - Power Windows (1985) - Ummmm...I hate this album, I can barely stand to listen to it. This album typifies everything wrong with their synthesizer phase. Next...

Book Review - Here's The Story - Maureen McCormick

The other day I was at the grocery store in Bakersfield, picking up a few things that my daughter said we needed. I was in the meat department and looking at pork chops. While browsing through the selection of chops I caught myself saying: "pork chops and applesauce, pork chops and applesauce." I started laughing to myself because ever since I was a child I always associated pork chops and applesauce together. Why? Because of an episode I saw on the Brady Bunch. Watch the video.

Top Songs of 1978 - Part 8

In this series we have been looking at the top 100 songs from 1978. Songs 100-91 can be found here, songs 90-81 here, songs 80-71 here, songs 70-61 here, songs 60-51 here, songs 50-41 can be found here and songs 40-31 can be found here.  In this post we will look at songs 30-21.

This group of ten songs reminds me of what was right and what was wrong with music in the 70s. There are a few good songs on this list, and a clunker or two, but mostly they are just meh. On the other hand, there is once again a diversity of styles in the list. Disco, classic rock, pop rock, and then there is Barry Manilow and Meat Loaf. I am just never sure how to categorize either one. The list looks like this:

30. Two Out of Three Ain't Bad, Meat Loaf
29. Dance With Me, Peter Brown
28. Too Much, Too Little, Too Late, Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
27. Can't Smile Without You, Barry Manilow
26. Baker Street, Gerry Rafferty
25. We Are the Champions / We Will Rock You, Queen
24. It's a Heartache, Bonnie Tyler
23. Love Is Like Oxygen, The Sweet
22. Hot Child In the City, Nick Gilder
21. Feels So Good, Chuck Mangione

30. Two Out of Three Ain't Bad, Meat Loaf - I am not going to lie, I like Meat Loaf. I guess I would call his style theatrical rock or operatic rock. Whatever you want to call his style, it is always entertaining. The lyrics to his songs on the Bat Out of Hell album were written by Jim Steinman and they are catchy and often ironic, like those in this song. I have the Bat Out of Hell CD and usually play it when I am on a road trip. Crank it up and let it rip, there is not a bad song on the album.

29. Dance With Me, Peter Brown  - Not a bad song, just not my favorite.