You’re Due for a ‘Song Break’

I will sing unto the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me. – Ps 13:6

One of the advantages you get when your life is a Musical is the ‘Song Break’.

Though the songs in a musical film are usually to advance the plot or develop the film’s characters, in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate “production numbers” (music that’s sung and danced by the featured actors with the backing of professional singers and dancers who perform as a unit).

This is why if you’ve not had much singing in your life of recent you need to gear up; because you’re due for a ‘Song Break’. You’re due for some dancing, singing and testifying. I declare in the name above all names that SINGING is coming your way. Not some in-room whistling but real intricate Production Numbers that everyone will hear about; in Jesus’ name.

And if you’re familiar with the Musical genre of movies you’ll know that half of the music has no legitimate justification. It doesn’t have to be a party, an audition or a performance; a song can break in at any time for no reason whatsoever.

So I’m not asking you to look around for the justification of your SONG; I’m not asking to check if you even deserve to sing right now in light of the things you’ve done; I’m not even asking you if the world around you can sing and dance; I’m only telling you what God can and will do in your life.

So get ready for some singing: “Make your tent larger, stretch your tent curtains way out! Spare no effort, lengthen your ropes, and pound your stakes deep.

For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your children will conquer  nations and will resettle desolate cities. Don't be afraid, for you will not be put to shame!” (Isa 54:2,3 NET)

HALLELUIAH (AMEN).

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN

Accidental Incidental Music

“You think it’s just a coincidence how they score flicks?

A violin will turn a happy scene sad quick”

– Bizzle (rapper), “Unjust Scales”

The soundtrack is a vital element of any movie. Without it, even billion-dollar box office hits like Avatar and Jurassic World would be total flops. “Soundtrack” here does not refer to the songs sung in the movie, (only one out of the top-5 highest-grossing movies of all time can boast of even a nomination for “best original song”). By “soundtrack” I mean the instrumental musical themes and background music of the film, as opposed to the dialogue and songs. It’s also known as incidental music.

It’s amazing how many watch movies without being acutely aware that their impression of a dialogue, an action, or even just a view is being influenced by the sound playing at the background. Even more incredible is the number of people who go through life unaware of the soundtrack playing in their life movie.

Have you ever woken up feeling terrible about the coming day? Before you start quoting scriptures or binding demons, ponder on what’s been playing in your background.

What’s the mood in your home, your office, your church? Are you predominantly living in an atmosphere of hope and faith? Or is it of strife and competition? The interesting thing is, you may not even be the object of those sentiments, but they’ll surely still influence you.

Movie soundtracks may be called “incidental” (i.e. “accompanying”) music, but there’s nothing incidental (accidental) about them. No soundtrack you hear in a movie is there by accident. Each score is timed to begin and end at specific points during the film in order to enhance the dramatic narrative and the emotional impact of the scene in question.

Similarly, Pro 4:23, says you should “Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” That implies that you must consciously control the atmosphere and overall mood of your life. You may even (just like the prophet Elisha in 2 Ki 3:15) need to go as far as changing the literal soundtrack (constantly playing music) you keep hearing around you.

So, “Be careful, then, how you listen;” and “Pay attention to what you hear!” (Mark 4:24; Lk 8:18 GNB).

And if it’s not in accordance with the overall theme of your life, change it.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN

Coordinated Chaos

 “What assurance would we have that everyone else would also break into song and do the same thing?” – Ferb (Phineas and Ferb, “Rollercoaster: The Musical”)

As a child, I found the plot development of musicals to be thoroughly mysterious. How do they do it? A character could be talking calmly to another, and all of a sudden, he or she starts singing. And as if that’s not a weird enough thing to do in the middle of a conversation; the other fellow then joins in in this new, never-before-heard-of song. And strangely, their words actually rhyme!

In many musicals, this surrealism goes to another level as the characters take their magically improvised singing into the streets or a busy market and without warning the entire crowd of dozens of people join in in chorus and perfectly synchronised feet dancing, hand clapping and body swinging!

For me, this required more suspension of disbelief than Superman flying faster than a bullet. Reality is just not that coordinated.

… or is it?

Scriptures clearly tell us that, though much of life looks disordered and random, God is still in charge. In Eph 1:11, Paul call Him the “who works all things after the counsel of his own will”. And in Rom 8:28 he most famously declared that “all things work together for good to them that love God.”

The first book of the Bible, Genesis, opens up with God setting the ball of creation rolling and from then onwards, to the very last Book of Revelations, He reminds us that He’s always in charge and in control even in the apparent chaos and madness of things. The contrary experiences of Joseph, Moses, Ruth and the other “Elders” remind us that God’s behind the scenes – making all things work together for the good of those who are working in His will.

Life may be random and even seem pointless for those living outside of Christ, but that’s not your case. There’s always a plan for your life. God’s coordinating all the ‘random’ characters: friends, enemies, family, co-workers, strangers; those who love and cherish you, those who hate you for no reason… everything and everyone to bring about His blessed Purpose in your life.

When you stop seeing your life as a boring soliloquy but as an intricately cast, elaborately produced musical masterpiece directed by God Himself, you’ll lighten the load of worry, pain and disappointment in your mind.

You’ll know, like Joseph, that what they thought for evil will be turned for good (Gen 50:20). You’ll walk with a spring in your steps – maybe even do some unprovoked dance moves now and again.

You’ll Pray, you’ll Laugh… you’ll SING!

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN

YOUR LIFE: the Musical

“The world’s a stage where God’s omnipotence…Do act the parts.” – Guillaume du Bartas (1544 - 1590) French poet.

“If you start singing, I’m going to throw up”. – Maui (Moana movie 2016)

Your life can be compared to a movie. As the English playwright William Shakespeare famously wrote: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”

Now, movies usually come in a variety of types: budget-busting blockbusters, feel-good rom-coms, riveting thrillers, mind-defying sci-fi’s, historical epics; horror, drama, westerns... And then, of course, there’s the MUSICAL; a genre of artistic expression all on its own that takes the combination of sight and sound to another level.

The ‘musical’ is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. From timeless classics like The Sound of Music (1965) or The Wizard of Oz (1939), to contemporary box-office smash hits like Sing (2016) or Beauty and the Beast (2017), Musical films have wowed and enchanted audiences around the world and across generations. Because one common effect of musicals is their ability to surreptitiously lighten the mood of audiences and emotionally lure the audience into their cheery, happy-go-lucky world of song and dance.

When a movie title has “:The Musical” attached to its name you know it’s not going to be your regular drama experience. Regardless of the subject matter, the title already intimates you to expect that there’ll be some singing in the story, maybe even a few dance routines; and most certainly some feel-good moments.

And that’s how the movie of your life should be.

Some persons spend all their energies trying to make their life a high-adrenalin action movie; some  spend all their energies arranging it to be a perfectly-cast romantic flick. Naturally, these all end in failure – turning would-be comedies into horror and disaster movies. Still others, having faced disappointment and pain,  have given their lives up to fate and now see it as nothing more than a melancholic drama.

Nevertheless, these need not be your portion. People looking at you need not just be watching "Your Life," it should be “Your Life: The Musical”! Where every morning begins with a cheery song and every night ends with a soothing lullaby.

Our Lord said in John 10:10 that He’s not just come to give us life, but to give us Life “in abundance to the full, till it overflows” (AMP).

This is God’s will for you and it’s high time you started living it. No matter what your situation is, know that the circumstances are not stacked against you; on the contrary, all things are working together for your good (Rom 8:28).

So don’t despair. Pray, Laugh… SING! Because that's what musicals are known for.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN