UKRAINE | ALLEN LEVI

Rock Musicians keep dreaming until Jesus Rocks their world.

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:

Jesus, I need you now

Show me, I'm lost somehow ...

Is there no hope for me?

Oh, somewhere you'll show for me?

Ooh, Lord remember me, take me up tonight

(Golgotha, 2015)

Imagine by John Lennon

The Show Must Go On - Queen (Lyrics Video)

Dreamer by Ozzy Osbourne

[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

Zemlyane: The Grass Besides Our Home

English Lyrics

Earth in the viewport,

 Earth in the viewport,

 Earth in the viewport that I see…

 

 Like a son missing his mother,

 Like a son missing his mother, 

We miss our Earth - we have but one… \

But the stars nevertheless, 

But the stars nevertheless,

 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.  

Stand-Up and Win - SNL

I'm not sure how I missed this Saturday Night Sketch, when it first came out, but it is comedy gold!

Team Saturdazzle: The One With Roasted Hope and the zest of Lemon

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.

 

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 Headline of the week: 

 A Pope Who Ministers to the Suffering? Yup, He's A White Sox Fan.

New York Times 5/10/2025

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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.  

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That's all the Saturdazzle I have for today, Hope to be back next week with more.  

Eureka College Commencement Address: President Reagan's Commencement Add...

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.