God’s in charge—always.  Psalm 146:10 [MSG]

Last Friday, a friend of ours celebrated her 40th birthday. Amanda helped to decorate the party. She themed it around two seminal decades of our youth: the 70’s and the 80’s. There were hits from the BeeGee’s and KC and the Sunshine Band in one room. In another room, classics from Duran Duran and the Psychedelic Furs took us back to big hair, leg warmers, and Michael Knight. We made fun of ourselves. We also lamented a new reality: that the classic oldies radio station to which our parents listened when we were kids – that station playing tired songs from before we existed; that station that featured songs that made our eyes roll into the back of our heads –  is now playing the songs from OUR own childhood.

Of course the challenge for us who as we listened to the songs that defined us (I’m not sure, exactly, how the song “Funky Town” by Lipps Inc. did much defining. But, that isn’t really the point.) is trying to remember the lyrics with confidence. We would all look at each other with great enthusiasm attempting to recall the words that meant so much to us from so long ago. Yet, at least for me, I really only remember the chorus and a few lines in between. I can tell you specific memories about where I was when “King of Pain” by the Police came on the radio. But, basically all I remember of the song lyrics, other than the chorus, is: “There’s a little black spot on the sun today…” After that, I’m making it up, counting on my super-rad dance moves to be a distraction from what I clearly can’t recall.

Consider this question: What is the central, dominating lyric of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament: the only Bible Jesus ever read)? If you could only recall one thing – that “hook” in the chorus that made it stick – what would it be? The answer, I think, looks something like: “God’s in charge – always” or “The Lord reigns forever” (NIV). It is in that statement that we’re confronted by a reality that may enable us to experience great hope and concurrently cause us some degree of lament:

There is a God. I’m not Him.

Join us this Sunday as we continue in our series, OBSESSED. Doug Fields will be back again, teaching here at Mariners MV. Be sure to invite someone who, among other things, hasn’t smiled at a church service in a long time.

See you Sunday,
Jeff