A couple of months ago Annette succumbed to subscribing to Spotify which is something that we’ve been putting off for quite a while.
It’s not as if I haven’t got enough cassette tapes, vinyl’s, cd’s and dvd’s – some may even argue that I’ve got too many, especially when it comes to packing them up every few years or so to shift appointments 🙂
Having Spotify has given me an opportunity to expand my eclectic range ever so slightly and I’ve been listening to a fair bit of progressive rock, which is a style of rock music popular especially in the 1970s & 1980s.
It is characterized by classical influences, the use of keyboard instruments, and lengthy compositions. Examples include; 10cc, The Alan Parsons Project, Barclay James Harvest, Electric Light Orchestra, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Genesis, Hawkwind, Jethro Tull, Magnum, Marillion, Pink Floyd, Queen, Supertramp, Uriah Heep, Yes, amongst others.
The thing that has struck me as I’ve been listening to many of these artists is how at some point in their musical progression they appear to often draw inspiration from the scriptures, many questioning biblical statements or even faith completely, and recounting stories from the bible. Almost as if at some point in there musical career there are having a faith reckoning.
Now admittedly I may be clutching at straws, but when we look at the example of many artists over the years it is as if, they are searching for some higher power and their journey becomes a bit of a pilgrimage.
Some turn to far flung experiential stuff, occasionally drug induced – while others follow a supposed well-trodden path to some form of doctrinal religion.
Maybe they are just looking for something different, a different sound, song structure or approach to music in general, or maybe they are truly searching after recognising that everything that they have attained thus far (fame and fortune) doesn’t amount to much in the grand scheme of things.
I guess someone like me will never know for sure unless they purposely and publicly explain the journey that they have taken, or if I was to get the opportunity to ask – like that will ever happen 🙂
Regardless though, for many of them either which way they go there may be repercussions; they may lose sales, market share, credence, whatever – or possibly even the reverse. And we’ve all heard or read about artists that have been brought up in some kind of faith losing it chasing after the golden egg, or record in this case.
Anyhow, many go through some kind of transitioning process, be that a journey of discovery, a kind of quest, or a pilgrimage.
Which is much the same for each and everyone of us as we journey through this thing called life – we go through some times, or seasons of exploration, understanding, settling and enjoying.
It is almost as if this is something that God intended all along.
Another thing that I reckon in this space is that God continues to utilise the arts; music, painting, sculpture etc. to impart History into our stories. Using those times, people and places to impact our lives in one way or another to draw people closer to Him in some way.
When we look at nature we are drawn to the awesomeness of the creator or acknowledgement of a creator. When we look at a stunning piece of art we are drawn in some way towards wanting to gain an understanding of the artist. When we hear a certain song we want to know and understand the lyrics and or the songwriters motivation. When we see an amazing piece of architecture we are drawn to understanding more about the builders – you get the picture I’m sure.
When I replay the following song from Barclay James Harvest it is pretty obvious where the motivation came from – God,
and who they are moving people to seek more of an understanding of – Jesus!
The lyrics include:
There once was a man
Who was born to be king
He’ll change all your lives
If you’ll just let him in
1 John 4:9-10 says that “God showed his love for us by sending his only Son into the world, so that we might have life through him. This is what love is: it is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven.” (Good News Translation)
In an interview by Keith Domone and Kevin Goodman for the official Barclay James Harvest fan club magazine, Nova Lepidoptera, in 1989 John Lees replies to a question about the song He Said Love by saying that “I think I’m very lucky, I have a very simple faith and that’s great. I’ve read The Bible, but I wouldn’t really count myself as born again – I suppose people are, but I couldn’t really own up to that because I’ve always used prayer from being a kid.”
The thing is, our childhood faith can influence our lives and the lives of many people, for years to come. Why not have a listen to the song for yourselves.
As Christians we each have a responsibility to share the “Good News” with others and in today’s world this is made so much easier by the variety of ways in which the Gospel Message can be shared, through music of different genres.
I hope and pray that through listening to this song that you may want to find out more about Him also. Why not check out The Gospel Message page for some links to resources that might be helpful on your journey, mission, quest, thing!
Blessings ’til next time 🙂
Over the next few weeks or so, I will be sporadically reposting articles that I have written over the past few years that are hopefully just as relevant today as the day I wrote them.
It may also be worthwhile to do a bit of a review, reimagining and relaunch process for those ministries, activities and programmes that you are restarting to focus on the ‘why‘ they are being held, or even to use it as a time to establish / re-establish the why!
If you are in the Wellington region it would be great to see you here. If you live outside the Wellington region or overseas we are endeavouring to stream the concert online via 
For those of you who may be interested in the beginnings of the Salvation Army and it’s Founders.
The life and times of Perry... 