Who can forget the sheer brilliance of Gilbert O'Sullivan?

Well, actually I susspect that most of you can.  Or already have.

Nevertheless, he gave me the title for a message.

Because as we go deep into Constant Contact, I have a message from the life of Jesus that I desperately want to share with you.  But more than that, it's a message I want to live out.  So come out on Sunday and you can discover what in the world Gilbert O'Sullivan has to with Jesus of Nazareth.

Sunday.

8:30.  10.  11:30.

In the study guide "Lord, Change My Attitude," Pastor James McDonald offers this definition of covetousness:

"Wanting something so much that you lose your satisfaction in God."

I like that.

I like that because I live it.

Things I want so badly it causes me to lose satisfaction in God:

      To have major church growth with only minor complications;

      To be 17 again;

      To be liked;

      To have a good reputation;

      To take vacations in warm places with nice pools;

     To have a good book going at all times;

     To drive a car that's clean inside and out;

     To find five day's worth of blog material each week.

My best defense in battling covetousness over the last 18 months has been Paul's compelling declaration in Colossians 3:11:  "Christ is all, and is in all."

So he is.





     

     

    

 

One day while driving the streets of Charlotte not too long ago, I stopped by Kiss 95.1 on the radio.

If you're not from here, 95.1 is the pop station in town -- the place where you can expect to hear Kelly Clarkson, Ke$ha (did I spell that right?), and Lady Gaga.

In other words, a station that while it may be one of my buttons on the car radio, is not someplace I venture to with much frequency.  Its appeal is limited for a 51 year old man raised on Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, and, of course, the Eagles.

Except on this day.  What I heard was a revelation: a song called Carry On that featured so many music genres within one tune.  It moves from folk to pop to glam to rock and back.  All backed by some of the most glorious lead vocals and lushest harmonies I've heard in a long time.

Any time I like a song that much on first hearing . . . well, that means I'll like it on second & third & fourth hearings as well.

Turns out the band's name is fun. (I have heard of them; a little bit!) and its lead singer is Nate Ruess.

Here it is:



The song's title, plus the harmonies, make me think of a Carry On from an earlier generation.  As in the Woodstock generation.  Here's one of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's very best: