A New Way of Living

 "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2)

In Paul's letter to the Romans, he found it imperative to address the need for a new way of thinking, a way that was much different from the world that they lived in.  Of course, we find this matter being brought to the forefront throughout scripture. Yahweh continuously warned Israel against adapting the ways of thinking and living practiced by the nations that existed around them.  In Psalm 1, David spells out clearly that there are two ways of living; one is to follow the Lord and His ways and the other is to ascribe to the counsel of the ungodly.  It almost goes without saying that Jesus spent much of His teaching ministry drawing clear distinctions as well.  He said His followers were to remain in this world but not be of this world. Further He spoke of those following Him as farmers who put their hands to the plow, looking forward and not backward.  He also said that darkness has no fellowship with light.  A great deal can be said about the enormous emphasis Almighty God has placed on this theme throughout scripture, from Genesis to Revelation.

It's a serious challenge to be able to live in a place where philosophies, values, objectives and ideals are often far removed from those of God.  Paul makes an interesting point by telling the Romans, and all followers of Christ, that they should not hold their lives to the standards and expectations of the culture that they were surrounded by.  Conformity to this world will always find support from the majority, but Paul is instructing us not to use the world's expectations and standards of acceptability as our measuring stick.  The measuring stick for followers of Christ is the inexhaustible wealth of facts, wisdom, instruction and counsel that make up His word, preserved for us in the Holy Bible.  The Word, coupled with the Holy Spirit's working within believers, has transforming power. This transforming occurs through a renewing of mind.  Popular consensus might dictate that compassion is fine as long as it is practiced out of convenience.  Jesus said we should love our neighbors as ourselves and that we should help whenever it is in our ability to do so.  The world may say that there is nothing wrong with lust, and that overt sexuality is a show of security.  On the other hand, Jesus said if a man looks at a woman in lust he has committed adultery in his heart. Our society may dictate that education, career and a high-paying job are the defining points of true success and the "making something of oneself".  Jesus said there is no profit in gaining the whole world and losing one's soul.  He said if we're to be rich, we need to be rich toward God and rather than placing emphasis on great worldly wealth, we should store our treasures in heaven.

God's ways and the world's ways are always clashing, though, unfortunately, we often try to reconcile them.  I believe we as believers need to have a keen sense of awareness of the differences and not allow our lives to be shaped and characterized by just going with the flow.  Going against the flow is not easy; it requires energy, determination and perseverance.  Thankfully, God provides His Spirit to live inside believers, therefore giving us power to accomplish what we never could on our own.  May we strive to cooperate with God, the Potter, as He desires to shape us and make us into the peculiar people He intends; people who will endeavor to know and love Him, to live to His standards and represent Him to others, showing them the Way.

REVIEW: Micky Paap "Show Me The Reason"

Lucky Dube, Alpha Blondy, Majek Fashek and Ben Okafor are among a handful of artists from Africa who have managed to gain international reggae acclaim.  Among others, an artist whose music deserves a greater audience is Ghanaian singer and songwriter Micky Paap.  While absorbing the sounds of Jimi Hendrix and Santana and fusing them with the rhythms of his homeland, Paap gained experience playing guitar and recording with the likes of Talal Fatal, Blay Ambrolley, and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation band. Later, after relocating to London, England, he performed with numerous reggae bands, which opened up new avenues of musical exploration for Paap.  Show Me The Reason, his third and most recent release, is an impressive reggae offering.  With a voice somewhere between Burning Spear and Cat Stevens, only sweeter, Paap delivers a dozen songs that inspire, encourage and entertain.  While Show Me The Reason
has an undeniably African reggae feel, the sturdy melodies and English lyrics throughout make this a highly accessible album.

The title track is an emotional plea to God for understanding, direction and strength, filled with subtle African-styled guitar licks and keyboard melodies. As Paap sings, “Show me the reason why I’m here / Show me the reason why I’m here, O Lord / Show me the reason why I’m here,” a mellifluous one-drop rhythm, incorporating a bit of soukous flavor, provides the ideal complement.  A lovely guest vocal by Melissa Durazo creates the musical equivalent of sun breaking through clouds.  In addition, lead guitarist Adam Hawley adds some wonderfully syncopated soloing.

“Without You” is light and airy lover’s rock with a deep bass line, punchy clavinet and swirling organ flourishes.  Lyrically, Paap uses clever similes to illustrate the incompleteness that exists due to separation from his lover.  Some deejay vocal passages and cooing background vocals add just the right amount of energy and sweetness in this yearning for “two hearts that beat in a reggae riddim“.  With the touching “I Count My Blessings”, Paap ponders the realities of his own suffering and dissatisfaction as largely a matter of perspective.  Far from pedestrian, the message here is filled with poetic illustrations and reflections, in which Paap comes to the realization that he is indeed blessed, especially considering the challenges and struggles others are facing.  With renewed vision, he expresses gratitude to God for what he has and resolves to reach out to and pray for those less fortunate.

“Devil in a Bottle” is a groovy roots tune that describes the woes of drunkenness and alcoholism.  Rather than condemning, Paap comes across like a concerned friend walking alongside one who is struggling, even using a bit of humor in order to expose inherent danger and deception.  Durazo’s backing vocals and Hawley's searing lead work effectively to punctuate the musical statements.  With astute lyrics such as, “Saying things that you should keep inside / Soon you find yourself kicked outside / Then you get a DUI, yeah / Then you ask Who am I?“, “Devil in a Bottle” is conscious reggae at its best.

In “Rules of Mt. Sinai”, Paap sees himself as an ambassador, encouraging people through pointed social commentary to consider the moral and social pillars that are the ten commandments.  African-influenced call and response background vocals are the ideal counterpoint for his admonishment.  As he sings “We know You are a jealous God, but we are so weak in the flesh and the mind / Lord, we pray for Your mercy / Help us to overcome and show us the way“, Paap avoids coming across as self-righteous.  It is clear that he sees himself as a man in need of that mercy as much as anyone.

Coloring himself unimpressed with technology merely for the purpose of convenience and curiosity, and sounding quite a bit like Burning Spear both vocally and in terms of musical backing, Paap delivers the smooth roots track, “Achieve Peace.”  A buoyant and bubbly rhythm underscores the reggae gospel of “Get Behind Me Satan,” which contains lyrics of Christian devotion and commitment to fighting the good fight and rebuking the enemy.  Here, as in many places throughout Show Me The Reason, Paap’s approach to the keyboards reveals his Ghanaian roots in a way that nicely complements the reggae flow.

The synth flute, percussion, keyed notes and harmonized vocals which make up the intro to “Gossip Mongers” offer perhaps the most vivid influence of Paap’s African homeland in a tune that wouldn’t sound out of place on one of Lucky Dube’s albums.  A cavernous bass line anchors the proceedings in this rebuke to gossipers and warning to those who could be object of their vitriol.

“A Simple Man” offers Paap’s life philosophy with poignant snapshots of dysfunction within the family unit and society at large.  Singing, “We say we are grownups and act sophisticated, but we have to learn from our children,” Paap dispenses encouragement as he points to the words of Jesus who said we must become like children if we want to see the kingdom of God.  The lively “Don’t Know What You Got” yields an appropriate closing message as Paap expresses the need to appreciate life and relationships rather than allowing them to slip away due to quarreling or neglect.

Clearly, Micky Paap is an artist deserving of more attention from reggae enthusiasts and lovers of positive music in general.  Though there are a few flaws in Show Me The Reason, revealed in a couple of weak intros and some less than stellar programmed drum and synth sounds, the overall quality of songwriting, singing and arrangements make this album a winner.

Review by Mike Roots
Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5)

Breaking down the distance between right and wrong

I've always enjoyed Bob Dylan's "Ring Them Bells" off the "Oh Mercy" (1989) album. I didn't discover the recording until I starting getting into his music around ten or twelve years ago. Among the many insightful observations in the song, near the end he says this:

Ring them bells St. Catherine

From the top of the room,

Ring them from the fortress

For the lilies that bloom.

Oh the lines are long

And the fighting is strong

And they're breaking down the distance

Between right and wrong.

And that was twenty years ago. Where is that "distance" today? I'm not exactly sure what Dylan is getting at by saying "Ring them bells St. Catherine" nor am I clear on the similar directives given "St. Peter" and "Sweet Martha" in the first line of the two previous verses. My hunch is he might be referring to I Cor. 6:1-2:

"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to the law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know the saints will judge the world? And if the world be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?" (I Cor. 6:1-2 NKJV)

This passage, along with Rev. 2:26-27 and Rev. 3:21, seems to indicate that Christians will in some way be assisting Christ in his judging of the world in the millenial kingdom. Dylan's reference to the "the lilies that bloom" brings to mind Luke 2:27-28 where Jesus teaches His disciples not to worry about what they shall wear since God clothes the fields with such beauty (with lilies) that not even Solomon and his presumably extravagant wardrobe could match. In verse 28 He mentions the lilies being here today and cast in the oven tomorrow. If God so cares for the field, how much more does He care for us?

My interpretation of "the fighting is strong" is that it's Dylan's observation of the increasing intensity of spiritual warfare. Finally, he closes the song with a killer line: "And they're breaking down the distance between right and wrong". I believe "they" refers to the world and all that is anti-Christ. Just think about how the clarity between right and wrong has been muddied over the years, not only in this generation, but in those preceding it. And that distance has been closing with greater and greater speed.

If you ball your two hands into fists and hold them up at eye level, with the right representing "right" and the left representing "wrong" and gradually move them towards the center, you'll have a clear illustration of Dylan's commentary. And there's no denying it's a tragic truth of the world we live in. By saying "they're breaking...." he's telling us it's something that is happening. And it's still happening today. It's now for the bride, the church, to be actively upholding that which is right by lifting up Christ and His standards as well as clearly pointing out what is wrong.