 |
|
 |
 |
Background Noise
I hate to brag, but I am a musical genius. My voice has the rare quality of being able to sound exactly like most
popular singers. In fact, if the radio is turned up loud enough, you cannot tell whether it is me or Memorex. Alone
on a stage with a microphone in front of me my voice makes children cry and adults cover their ears. But in the car with
the windows down and the radio up, I sound pretty terrific, if I do say so myself.
And my range is, not that I’m bragging, quite remarkable. My parents tortured me as a child by making me listen to those
old K-Tel “Hits of the Fifties” eight tracks as we traveled. As a result, I can hit all the low notes with Elvis in “Blue
Christmas. Because I grew up in Oklahoma, the home of country music, I can keep up with Willie and Waylon and the boys. A member
of the high school class of 1979, I know all the words to all the hits of all the supergroups of the Seventies. Not to be left
behind by my three daughters, I can sing both versions of Jesus Freak and (this is remarkable) I understand the words to all of the Newsboys
songs. From Elvis to alternative Christian rock, I can sing them all.
Because I possess such rare musical talent, I constantly hit the scan button while driving, searching for songs I know, songs I
can sing real loud. One day while traveling up the Ventura Highway (...in the springtime...do da do do) a song from my teenage years
came on an oldies stations. Like any good child of the Seventies, I cranked the volume and sang along. I had not heard the song
in over fifteen years yet I remembered the words. Halfway through the song I stopped singing and started listening. Back in my
high school days I was clueless as to what songs said. My friends and I just wanted something that, in the words of Dick Clark,
had a beat we could dance to (or drive to). Driving down the highway on this afternoon I heard the message behind the words. I was
shocked by it, and shocked by how oblivious to it I had been all those years ago.
-- Song of the Shepherd
Read More
| |
|
|
|
The Lord is my shepherd...
Everyone knows the 23rd psalm. We can almost recite it in
our sleep. Unfortunately, the words have grown so familiar their meaning bounces off of us. Song of the Shepherd
goes beyond our preconceived ideas about Psalm 23, allowing us to hear it again for the first time. Step
inside the psalm's poetry and be challenged to live a different kind of life, a life of absolute dependence upon God.
My favorite image of Psalm 23 plays out in a scene from the
classic sci-fi thriller, War of the Worlds. Shortly after the Martians
land on earth, and right before they launch a full scale attack, an old preacher
tries to make peace with the invaders. He walks toward a hovering space
craft, Bible in one hand, quoting the 23rd psalm. Then the Martians fry
him with their death ray. This scene shows how most people think
of David's masterpiece.
It falls somewhere between a sappy greeting card
and a religious good luck charm. Nothing could be further from the
truth. This short timeless poem shows us what a life of total dependence
upon God looks like. Through good times and bad, beside still waters of
peace or dark valleys of tragedy, God is always there. This psalm
challenges us to clutch God's hand and walk with him wherever he may take us. I
think I learned more writing this book than any other I ever attempted. My
understanding of this short, little psalm was totally transformed in the
process. This book is very personal. I hope you enjoy it.
©2008 Mark A. Tabb
| | |
