Sunday Sacred

Suffice to say, anything that seems a bit "off" to our modern sensibilities has been argued and reinterpreted back and forth countless times.

Their treatment of the aborigines of that land in the story is one example. Sometimes it's said these were not fully human and were tainted by fallen giant blood so had to be eradicated. But many justifications have been mooted.

If you enjoy observing the mental gymnastics of debating for the absurd, watch how some try to justify King David's seducing a married woman and having her husband killed. One of many is that he was called Uriah the Hittite, indicating he wasn't a legit Israelite.

BTW, animal sacrifice for this tribe doesn't seem so primitive when tribes around them were still sacrificing humans and even babies.

On January 22nd 1963, "I Will Follow Him" was released by Little Peggy March. She became the youngest ever female at barely 15 to have a US No. 1 Hit. She has held onto this title in the Guinness World Records for an incredible 50 years.

Peggy March - I Will Follow Him​

The original "I Will Follow Him" remastered

​

Peggy March - I Will Follow Him (50th Anniversary Recording)​

To celebrate this iconic song, Peggy went into the studios and recorded a new version complete with a video in honour of her 50 years in show business.



Skate.

The Singing Nun (Dominique 1963)
"Dominique" is a 1963 French language popular song, written and performed by the Belgian female singer Jeannine Deckers, better known as "The Singing Nun". The song is about Saint Dominic, a Spanish-born priest and founder of the Dominican Order, of which she was a member (as Sister Luc-Gabrielle).

The song evokes feelings of happiness




Now in English
In 1963, one of the major hit songs was written and sung by a nun. Dominique topped the charts! The nun was invited on the Ed Sullivan show and later her story was made into a movie starring Debbie Reynolds.



Skate.

Oh, Happy Day - The Edwin Hawkins Singers
Music warms the heart! - The Original from 1969. There have been those who have tried to sing it in every way, but no one has ever managed to equal the original interpreters. That's how the gospel was sung back then, it was serious business she was feeling the meaning of the song deep in her soul. She was trying to translate that meaning to the people as to why it was a happy day or will be a happy day, not just rocking to the beat and artificially smiling for entertainment purposes as they do now. No sexy outfits no glitter no bling to distract you from the meaning of the powerful words. Understand the words you'll believe and feel more sentimental about the song.

​

A later version
Oh, Happy Day - by Engelsgleich. This version is sung by a group of Angels.






Skate.

Skate said:

On January 22nd 1963, "I Will Follow Him" was released by Little Peggy March. She became the youngest ever female at barely 15 to have a US No. 1 Hit. She has held onto this title in the Guinness World Records for an incredible 50 years. To celebrate this iconic song, Peggy went into the studios and recorded a new version complete with a video in honour of her 50 years in show business.

Click to expand...

Music warms the heart
Engelsgleich is a popular German band, & this is their rendition of "I Will Follow Him". Angelic comes to mind.



Skate.

I've been thinking about Ecclesiastes 3 lately... made popular years ago by The Byrd's song.

There is a time...

wayneL said:

I've been thinking about Ecclesiastes 3 lately... made popular years ago by The Byrd's song.

There is a time...

Click to expand...

Ecclesiastes 3
King James Version

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Ecclesiastes Chapter 3
Another one of the most famous Bible passages found in Ecclesiastes Chapter 3. "there's a time for everything". (Ecclesiastes is, verse for verse, the most quoted book in the Bible.) There's "a time for being born, & a time for dying, a time for planting, & a time for uprooting the planted, a time for loving & a time for hating, a time for war & a time for peace." And a bunch more times, besides.

If you're like me, you know this best as the Byrds' cover of a Pete Seeger song that @Recklyn posted.
After the release by the Byrds', (remembering it was October 1965) those found the song as "soothing". In the 1960s the song touched the right chord at the right moment in time "Ah, look, the whole world fits together".

There is a time for everything
But Koheleth reaches a gloomier conclusion: If it's all put together by God, all planned out in this way, then what purpose is life? If the fix is in, we might as well just "eat & drink & get enjoyment." but it's more than that it's all about understanding & acceptance of life's frustrations & uncertainties. The journey itself is what's important.

I just had a thought.
Look at what it's saying - Everything happens over & over again - there's always going to be a balance of good & evil, righteousness & wickedness, love & hate; nothing we do really matters, so we might as well live in the moment. I'm with @wayneL it's difficult trying to figure out. For me personally, I have trouble reconciling "what it has to do with the rest of the Bible".

It's Godless, Weird, & Beautiful
I may be mistaken in assuming the passages don't have any spiritual advice. Ecclesiastes actually resembles Greek philosophy, to a degree. I digress for a moment as with Ecclesiastes "The Book of Ruth" is another beautiful book of (wisdom) rather than spiritual advice. In Ruth (1:16–17), Ruth tells Naomi, her Israelite mother-in-law, "Where you go I will go, & where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people & your God my God. (beautiful). I'm sure this would translate into a wonderful song as well.

Music warms the heart
"Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)", is a song written by Pete Seeger in the late 1950s & first recorded in 1959. The song became an international hit in October 1965 when it was adapted by the American folk-rock group the Byrds.

Pete Seeger - The Original Version
The original is a delight to listen to, even the Byrds' cover of a Pete Seeger song is catchy



A more clever & recent version by Josh Turner on Guitar
This version by Josh Turner is not only clever but crystal clear, easy listening at its best.



Skate.

"Hallelujah" was written by Leonard Cohen
"Hallelujah" was written by Leonard Cohen who is in an argument with God. King David’s “hallelujah,” in the book of Psalms, is said to have pleased the Lord. For others, we talk about the evolution of a relationship through a metaphor that mixes sex and religion. Regardless of your views of religion, the main message given by this song is about human perseverance & the resilience that people carry through every step of their lives & the fact that people can survey any hardship & overcome difficulty after difficulty is what makes this song resonate so strongly with any person


"Hallelujah" the original by Leonard Cohen



Jeff Buckley amazing cover
Such a beautiful song, there are so many great covers but with everything, one version will resonate a little more than the other.



Rufus Wainwright's version
With the greatest respect to both Leonard Cohen who wrote this song & also Jeff Buckley who created an amazing cover of this beautiful song, I have to admit there is something about Rufus Wainwright's version that resonates with me above the rest. I'm sure the movie "Shrek" gave new life to this song to those who wouldn't have even known that this song even existed. I'm talking about the young one here. (not us oldies)



Skate.

Skate said:

Ecclesiastes Chapter 3
Another one of the most famous Bible passages found in Ecclesiastes Chapter 3. "there's a time for everything". (Ecclesiastes is, verse for verse, the most quoted book in the Bible.) There's "a time for being born, & a time for dying, a time for planting, & a time for uprooting the planted, a time for loving & a time for hating, a time for war & a time for peace." And a bunch more times, besides.

If you're like me, you know this best as the Byrds' cover of a Pete Seeger song that @Recklyn posted.
After the release by the Byrds', (remembering it was October 1965) those found the song as "soothing". In the 1960s the song touched the right chord at the right moment in time "Ah, look, the whole world fits together".

There is a time for everything
But Koheleth reaches a gloomier conclusion: If it's all put together by God, all planned out in this way, then what purpose is life? If the fix is in, we might as well just "eat & drink & get enjoyment." but it's more than that it's all about understanding & acceptance of life's frustrations & uncertainties. The journey itself is what's important.

I just had a thought.
Look at what it's saying - Everything happens over & over again - there's always going to be a balance of good & evil, righteousness & wickedness, love & hate; nothing we do really matters, so we might as well live in the moment. I'm with @wayneL it's difficult trying to figure out. For me personally, I have trouble reconciling "what it has to do with the rest of the Bible".

It's Godless, Weird, & Beautiful
I may be mistaken in assuming the passages don't have any spiritual advice. Ecclesiastes actually resembles Greek philosophy, to a degree. I digress for a moment as with Ecclesiastes "The Book of Ruth" is another beautiful book of (wisdom) rather than spiritual advice. In Ruth (1:16–17), Ruth tells Naomi, her Israelite mother-in-law, "Where you go I will go, & where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people & your God my God. (beautiful). I'm sure this would translate into a wonderful song as well.

Music warms the heart
"Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)", is a song written by Pete Seeger in the late 1950s & first recorded in 1959. The song became an international hit in October 1965 when it was adapted by the American folk-rock group the Byrds.

Pete Seeger - The Original Version
The original is a delight to listen to, even the Byrds' cover of a Pete Seeger song is catchy



A more clever & recent version by Josh Turner on Guitar
This version by Josh Turner is not only clever but crystal clear, easy listening at its best.



Skate.

Click to expand...

Indeed Skate.

Ecc. 3 for me offers a counterpoint to the coddled thinking of *some Christians. I'm thinking here of that other famous passage in 1Cor. 13.

It is indeed a wonderful and aspirational passage that can clash with our lived experience.

Ecc.3 reminds me there are cycles in everything... Some are obvious, the seasons, the passage of our own physical life etc. Some are not so obvious. The book called The Fourth Turning shows a greater cycle in the affairs of humans, we quite obviously being in a fourth turning at this very time. There are other cycles I could go on about ad infinitum. This plays into my belief that sometimes there is a time for even sincere Christians to harden the **** up and take some actions that may be contrary to the "faith, hope and love" mantra (while never stopping to aspire to that).

The beatitudes give us a strong clue here also.

Anyway, to lighten the mood a bit:

I have quite enjoyed some of the modern church songs by Stuart Townend, and Keith Getty. The art of getting a lift comes not only from the words but also their arrangements.

Getty, from nthn Ireland, spends substantial time in Nashville and some of his work coming out of there is exemplary.

An Australian, Nathan Tasker, is also now based there. Just a kid with a guitar when he set out, he does some pretty good versions of old hymns, paring back for modern ears.

Dona Ferentes said:

I have quite enjoyed some of the modern church songs by Stuart Townend, and Keith Getty

Click to expand...

I for one word be please to hear one of the selections. I'm a believer that "music warms the heart" - it is a feel-good personal moment.

Skate.

....
and .... Simple Living (a Rich Young Man) from a 2014 album. With Ricky Skaggs. Excellent bluegrass meets Celtic tradition.

And Prone to Wander: the hymn project (2007) from Nathan Tasker.

you should be able to track them down

"When a Child is Born" the feeling of peace
A beautiful song by Damien Leith & music by Tommy Emmanuel



Skate.

"Amazing Grace" is one of the most recognisable songs of all times
The powerful lyrics remind us that because of Jesus, none of us are ever lost because God is with us always. It was John Newton’s own heartfelt expression of gratitude to God.



Skate.

A Bach classic.... I find it amazing he churned out his music on an almost industrial scale, much of it for the Lutheran church, yet so much of it survives as classic pieces and religious standards.

All nearly 500 years ago