Introduction: Vladimir Lebedev is one of my favorite people in the world. I have thought this about him almost since I met him in Khabarovsk, Russia in December of 1992. Vladimir has has worn many hats in the time I've known him. chauffeur, itinerant musician, soldier, interpreter, pastor, international student, father, husband, missionary but with every hat he's always tried to adorn himself with humility, wisdom, grace, and a desire to show God to others.
To that end, I was delighted, but not surprised, when Vladimir shared some thoughts on musicians using their platforms on his Facebook page earlier this week. I am sharing them here with links to some of the songs that he referenced. I'll add some of my thoughts about his musical musings at the end.
Rock musicians keep dreaming. Good intentions. Strong lyrics. Terrific music. Is there a solution to the world’s evils? Can humanity come together to live in peace? Can we stop hypocrisy and greed in the governments to bring wars to an end? Can we finally start caring for one another instead of looking for reasons to separate and hate?
Long ago, John Lennon with his “Imagine.” Freddy Mercury of Queen with his “Show must go on.” Ozzy (Osbourne) with his “Dreamer.” Russian rockers of various types Zemlyane, Kruiz, and Aria with their “songs for peace.” And more recently Udo Dirkschneider with his soul-shattering “One Heart, One Soul.”
This indeed is a passionate call for common sense, for something every human soul feels deep within. But where is it really taking us? Is there something missing in this search? Is it not crying out into a void? It is impossible to, in the words of Bono from U2, "find what we are looking for" without turning to our Creator and Savior who revealed himself to humanity in the person of Jesus the Christ. He has everything that our whole beings are craving for.
Maybe Blacky Lawless of WASP is right when he sings:
[Verse 1]
Gazing through the window at the world outside
Wondering will mother earth survive
Hoping that mankind will stop abusing her sometime
After all, there's only just the two of us
And here we are still fighting for our lives
Watching all of history repeat itself time after time
[Chorus]
I'm just a dreamer
I dream my life away
I'm just a dreamer
Who dreams of better days
[Verse 2]
I watch the sun go down like everyone of us
I'm hoping that the dawn will bring a sign
A better place for those who will come after us this time
[Chorus]
I'm just a dreamer
I dream my life away, oh yeah
I'm just a dreamer
Who dreams of better days
This indeed is a passionate call for common sense, for something every human soul feels deep within. But where is it really taking us? Is there something missing in this search? Is it not crying out into a void?
It is impossible to “find what we are looking for” (in the words of Bono of U2) without turning to our Creator and Savior who revealed himself to humanity in the person of Jesus the Christ. He has everything that our whole beings are craving for.
Maybe Blacky Lawless of WASP is right when he sings:
Jesus, I need you now
Show me, I'm lost somehow . . .
Is there no hope for me?
Oh, somewhere you'll show for me?
Oh, I'm holding on, believing there's a reason I can find
Ooh, Lord remember me, take me up tonight
(Golgotha, 2015)
Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Sing 2
Draw closer, though they’re still as cold as ever…
And like at the hour of eclipse,
And like at the hour of eclipse,
We wait for light and see our earthly dreams…
And we dream not of thunder at the cosmodrome,
Not of the ice-cold blue of the sky -
But we dream of grass - the grass beside our house
Green, green grass…
—
And we fly our orbits,
Unbeaten paths -
Lifetimes like meteors in the vastness…
Courage and risk were justified,
For the music of space
Floats into our matter-of-fact talk…
In some opaque haze
Earth in the viewport -
An early evening-time twilight…
But the son misses his mother
But the son misses his mother -
The mother waits for her son, as the earth awaits her children…
And we dream not of thunder at the cosmodrome,
Not of the ice-cold blue of the sky -
But we dream of grass - the grass beside our house
Green, green grass…
Dave's Thoughts: I really appreciated Vladimir's take on this, I think it's especially important to note that trying to fix a broken world is a universal pursuit. It is not just an American past time. In the 1970's there were many popular songs that I would call searching songs. Songs like Desperado by the Eagles and Dust In the Wind by Kansas. In the late 70's early 80's the years of my spiritual formation many people would use these songs in the same way Paul used the statues on Mar's Hill, as a way to pointing to the truth of Jesus. Vladimir is essentially doing similar work in his comments here.
Yesterday I posted Ronald Reagan's commencement address from Eureka College when He was President of the Unite States. . Today, I have footage of him while Governor of California performing at a celebrity roast for Bob Hope.
My Brother texted me during the coverage of the announcement of the new pope that one of my childhood White Sox heroes, Chet Lemon had passed away. Now, that Dick Allen has been elected to the Hall of Fame, Lemon is one of the best White Sox players to not make it to Cooperstown. A 3 time all star, and a World Series champion with the 1984 Tigers. Lemon was aggressive at the plate, on the base paths, and patrolling center field. In the time he played in the MLB between 1975 and 1990 he was 2nd in being hit by a pitch. He holds the American League single season record for most put outs as a centerfielder (509 in 1997) when he was with the White Sox.
Some of Lemon's leatherwork is in display when he was on the Baseball Bunch T.V. show. In the episode he works with young players on how to run down a ball and be aware of the fence.
Footage of Lemon's famous catch in game 3 of the 1984 World Series.
I shared a clip from this speech last year. I thought it would be interesting to share the speech on it's 43rd anniversary, the year that the average Eureka grad is reaching retirement age.
Judson University is located about a mile from my house. I drive by it 10 to 15 times a week and have seen many concerts and performances at it over the years. I even ran in a 5 k there. A few years ago I walked into the church I was attending at the time and saw that Bob Bennett was going to be performing a few songs during the service.
The director of the Judson Choir was also the worship director at this church and Bob and the Choir were recording a live album together and the director had arranged for Bob to sing at our church that Sunday morning.
I took one or two videos from my phone of his songs and have posted them on you tube and some of them here over the years. I didn't take this video it was filmed at Judson during the course of making the album. Now, that the A to Z challenge is over I'd like to have a few more midweek music breaks and thought this would be an excellent place to start.
