Y Not I

For this weeks song, I decided to go back to my beginnings. In the beginning for me, there was music, there was rock, and then as faith was being born there was the music of Larry Norman and Randy Stonehill. I always found this song very interesting because of the line, “and if there’s life on other planets then I’m sure that He must know and He’s been there once already and has died to save their souls.” That one line to me answered all questions about UFOs and life on other planets. It just doesn’t matter, what matter is knowing, serving and trusting in the G-d who created us. Put away the foolish discussions and focus on the Holy One. Right to the point.

And the Lyrics for the song:

U.F.O.

He’s an unidentified flying object you will see Him in the air
He’s an unidentified flying object you will drop your hands and stare
You will be afraid to tell your neighbors they might think that it’s not true
But when they open up the morning papers they will know they’ve seen Him too

He will come back like He promised with the price already paid
He will gather up His followers and take them all away

He’s an unidentified flying object He will sweep down from the sky
He’s an unidentified flying object some will sleep but will not die
He’s an unidentified flying object coming back to take you home
He’s an unidentified flying object He will role away your stone

And if there’s life on other planets then i’m sure that He must know
And He’s been there once already and has died to save their souls

He’s an unidentified flying object you will see Him in the air
He’s an unidentified flying object you will drop your hands and stare
He’s an unidentified flying object coming back to take you Home
He’s an unidentified flying object He will role away your stone

These songs, these musicians were part of my coming to faith. Music was very important to me back then in the early 80’s. I had a friend who was a believer (and coincidently Jewish), who would witness to me. He told me about Christian music and I felt if I can listen to music that sings about a devil that at the time I did not believe in, I could listen to music about a G-d that, at the time, I did not believe in. It was the music that mattered, if it was good music, then I was cool with it. So my friend took me to the Christian bookstore and downstairs they had the music. I remember a room, where you could go in and put on the record and listen before you would buy. At that time, that was a new concept, and one I did not see in the secular music stores, so to me it was very cool to be able to listen to the music and see if I liked the band. Well Larry Norman and Randy Stonehill were two of the first musicians that I got into (U2 was another, and I think they actually did pretty good for themselves).

Although i never got to see Larry Norman in concert, I did get to see Randy Stonehill once. I remember getting the chance to speak with him after and share how much one of his songs, First Prayer, played a part in my salvation story which includes how G-d answered a prayer for me. Here are the lyrics to First Prayer, so this week is kind of a twofer:

First Prayer

I’ve been waitin’ for a long long time
Hopin’ You’re a friend of mine
If there’s one thing that I need to do
Well that’s to find out more about You
I have been wondering all of my days
So if You’re there show me the way

I see people in a world of lies
Staring out through lonely eyes
Watching as the years go by
Knowing they’re living only to die
There must be something missing somewhere
So if You’re listening answer this prayer

I will follow if You’ll lead me
Help me make a stand
If You’ll breathe new breath inside me
I’ll believe you can
I’ll believe You can

Well I never really learned to pray
But You know what I’m tryin’ to say
I don’t want my life to end
Not ever knowing why it began
So if You’ll trust me I’ll do my best
and I’ll be trusting You for the rest

Shabbat Shalom.