Under Control?

The debate is hot and heavy; whether the Black Eyed Peas have ruined a classic song through their remixing and updating. Their new release, last week 'The Time (Dirty Bit)' uses the chorus of '(I've Had) The Time of My Life', the finale song from 1987 movie Dirty Dancing.

Yesterday I got in the car and missed the opening section, so didn't realise it was that song. Will.I.Am was rapping, and it was then that I heard this line, which set me thinking about how a Christian is to be counter-cultural in the realm of control.

So come on, let’s go
Let’s lose control
Let’s do it all night

The way to have a good time, it seems, is to lose control, to let go of yourself. As I considered it for a moment or two, I realised that the Black Eyed Peas are not the only ones in today's culture promoting this message.

Eminem urges us to 'Just Lose It', while Beyonce's new song declares that 'we only find ourselves by losing all control', and The Saturdays are 'gonna lose control tonight.' The message is clear, to have fun you have to lose control, and go wild.

It's not surprising, then, that we find the counter-cultural message of Christianity loud and clear on this very point. It's right there in the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5: 'the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.'

I was reminded of this important element of the Christian life through the teaching of Vaughan Roberts from Paul's letter to Titus at NIMA this week. Self-control is mentioned a number of times as one of the signs of godliness which comes about through the grace of the gospel.

It's one of the qualifications for the elders / overseers (church leaders) (1:8); it's required of older men (2:2), young women (2:5), younger men (2:6), and is implicit in the behaviour of the older women too (so that you don't feel left out!). Why the repeated emphasis on self-control? Why is it so very important as to be mentioned time and again?

For Paul, the grace of the gospel brings about conversion and change in the lives of those who hear and repent. Grace must lead to godliness, so that previous ungodly desires, passions and pleasures are removed and godly desires and works are produced, as we become more like Jesus. It's most clear in one of the three summaries of the gospel within Titus:

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14)

In contrast to the world around us, we no longer have to lose control to feel good; we no longer have to go wild in order to be free. The God whose service is perfect freedom releases us to live self-controlled lives, testifying to the power of the gospel to change us and make us more like Jesus. We become self-controlled not because we are repressed, or because we're strict legalists, or because we're hypocrites, but because the grace of God changes our passions, pleasures, affections and desires.

To be self-controlled is to shine out like a light in the dark sky in this world, where the culture urges no forms of control at all. In doing so, we shine for the glory of God, as a testimony to his grace and goodness.

You and Yours

Another instalment in my 'What's on your iPod?' series. From the beginning of the alphabet, to near the end this time. As always, suggestions welcome as to what is missing.

You Alone - Sam Perry at Passion
You Are My Joy - David Crowder Band at Passion
You Are My King - Christy Nockels at Passion
You Are Not Alone - Michael Jackson
You Came - Andy Flannagan
You Do All Things Well - Chris Tomlin
You Don't Love Me - The Kooks
You Give Love A Bad Name - Bon Jovi
You Give Me Something - James Morrison
You Know I'm No Good - Arctic Monkeys (Radio 1 Live Lounge)
You Laugh - Andy Flannagan
You Led Me To The Cross - Matt Redman
You Must Increase - Matt Redman
You Never Let Go - Matt Redman
You Raise Me Up - City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
You Rock My World - Michael Jackson
You Showed Me - The Lightning Seeds
You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth - Meatloaf
(You're The) Devil In Disguise - Elvis Presley
You're Worthy Of My Praise - Charlie Hall at Passion
Your Daddy's Car - The Divine Comedy
Your Grace Is Enough - Chris Tomlin
Your Protector - Fleet Foxes
Your Song - Elton John

What do YOU think?

What's On Your iPod?

I've seen this feature on a couple of blogs, mostly famously on Slacktivist. The idea is to give a series of connected songs, discuss them, and then open the floor for suggestions of additional songs in the range that could or should be added to my collection.

So, to kick off, here's the first Friday's offering, All the Alls.

All Bow Down - Chris Tomlin
All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name - David Morris at New Horizon
All I Ever Wanted - Prince of Egypt Soundtrack
All I Want - Lightning Seeds
All Over The World - Matt Redman at Passion
All Shook Up - Elvis Presley
All Sparks - Editors
All The Earth - David Morris at New Horizon
All The Love In The World - The Corrs
All The Way - Delirious
All These Things That I've Done - The Killers
All They That See Him Laugh Him to Scorn - Handel's Messiah
All We Like Sheep - Handel's Messiah
Already Over - Orson
Alright - Booley
Always - Bon Jovi
Always The Last To Know - Del Amitri

Quite an eclectic collection already, as you may have noticed! Booley is now better known as Duke Special, and is reaching a wider audience now.

I think my favourite out of this batch has to be All These Things That I've Done by The Killers, with the infectious bridge in the middle 'I've got soul but I'm not a soldier.'

Any other 'all' suggestions?

My Life Would Suck Without You

Well, Lily Allen has fallen spectacularly from the UK Number One spot, to fifth place. In her place comes Kelly Clarkson with her song My Life Would Suck Without You. The song seems to come after a break up and reconciliation with her partner. But what is it all about?

The first verse suggests that the fault all lies on the side of her man:

Guess this means you're sorry
You're standing at my door
Guess this means you take back
All you said before
Like how much you wanted
Anyone but me
Said you'd never come back
But here you are again

'Cause we belong together now, yeah
Forever united here somehow, yeah
You got a piece of me
And honestly,
My life (my life) would suck (would suck) without you

Yet the second verse balances the scales by admitting, perhaps even confessing, that the fault lies on both sides:

Maybe I was stupid for telling you goodbye
Maybe I was wrong for tryin' to pick a fight
I know that I've got issues
But you're pretty messed up too
Either way, I found out I'm nothing without you

'Cause we belong together now, yeah
Forever united here somehow, yeah
You got a piece of me
And honestly,
My life (my life) would suck (would suck) without you

So what is Kelly saying? I think she captures that relationships are an important part of our lives, and she recognises the pain involved when things break down. Saying sorry and enjoying reconciliation is the driving force of the song, precisely because she realises that life would be nothing without her partner. How much more then, to live life without the Lord Jesus in your life? Truly life would suck!

In that broken relationship, we also need to admit the wrong things we have done, to resolve to change, and to enjoy the reconciliation provided for us through the cross of the Lord Jesus.

Dancing the Cure to Drunkenness? Lady GaGa's Just Dance

It's always interesting to see the hidden or not-so-hidden messages being played out in our culture. Along with the catchy music, what is actually being said? A case in point is the latest single from Lady GaGa, 'Just Dance.' It looks to be heading towards the UK Number One spot on Sunday, but what is it all about?



The song opens with a depressing and sad picture. Lady GaGa confesses that she's had 'a little bit too much, much'. Alcohol seems to be the word she can't say. As the people start to rush by, she realises she can't find a drink (maybe a good thing), but has also lost her keys and her phone. Quite a predicament. Will she get friends to help her find the missing items? Will she take some time to recover?

I've had a little bit too much, much
All of the people start to rush, start to rush by
How does he twist the dance? Can't find a drink, oh man
Where are my keys? I lost my phone, phone

Nope. Instead, her situation is getting worse. Now she can't see straight any more, and can't remember the name of the club she is frequenting. And what is the solution in the lyrics?

What's going on on the floor?
I love this record baby but I can't see straight anymore
Keep it cool, what's the name of this club?
I can't remember but it's alright, a-alright

CHORUS: Just dance, gonna be okay, da da doo-doo-mmm
Just dance, spin that record babe, da da doo-doo-mmm
Just dance, gonna be okay, d-d-d-dance
Dance, dance, just, j-j-just dance

Dancing is the cure to drunkenness, it would seem. Surely with the government seeking to prevent teen alcoholism and the problems of drunkenness, then songs like this do not help the situation? What message does this send out to the nation as a whole? That it's fine if you are so drunk you can't see straight, so long as you can keep dancing?

Oh how we need to heed the instruction of the Lord: 'Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.' (Proverbs 20:1). I'm not anti-drink, but I am anti-drunkenness. Indeed, as Paul the apostle writes, 'Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.' (Ephesians 5:18)