I've Searched All Around

Seeking and finding. It's the plotline of any number of movies, be they science fiction, romantic comedy, suspense, or even documentaries.

It's also the theme of the 4th song on Larry Norman's In Another Land, "I've Searched All Around".

Darkness can't hide much longer

The Spirit is getting stronger

You keep the dance halls humming,

But the end of the age is coming.

I searched all around the world to find a grain of truth.

I opened the mouth of love and I found a wisdom tooth.

Maybe you think I'm plastic, 

But your situation's drastic

I'm glad my faith is stronger

This world won't last much longer

I searched all around the world to find a place of peace.

I sat in the shade of God and I watched the joy increase.

There's no time left for stalling

Can't you hear someone calling?

Life all around is crumbling

I think this world is stumbling

Maybe you think I'm wrong, now,

But this is my only song, now

I searched all around the world to find a grain of truth.

I opened the mouth of love and I found a wisdom tooth.

I searched all around the world to find a place of peace.

I sat in the shade of God and I watched the joy increase.

https://youtu.be/QGLgvIRdK6w

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Truth is...plenty of people like to hold on to the designation of being a "seeker". That way, you never have to commit to anything. But the words of Jeremiah 29:13 still ring true: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (NIV) Or, as the Amplified Bible puts it: "Then, with a deep longing you will seek Me and require Me as a vital necessity, and you will find Me when you search for Me with all your heart."

If Jesus Was a Rock Star

It's been a while since we've checked in with Radio Free Babylon's Web comic, Coffee with Jesus. This particular episode should be encouraging to us all.

We begin with Ann talking about her desire to know Jesus better...to experience Him more closely...and Jesus quotes Paul to express both empathy and encouragement.

It seems like she understands, but then Jesus comes in with a boffo finish.

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Truth is...Jesus loves us even more than the metaphor can express. Whatever separation or isolation we feel in the here and now will be totally and completely reversed at the end of time. (And knowing He loves us like that should help dispel those feelings in the here and now!)

UFO

The return of Jesus to Planet Earth was a common theme in the Jesus Music (Jesus Rock/Contemporary Christian Music) of the Seventies, and Side One/Song Three of Larry Norman's In Another Land had an interesting take on the subject.

He's an unidentified flying object

You will see Him in the air

He's an unidentified flying object

You will drop your hands and stare

You will be afraid to tell your neighbors

They might think that it's not true

But when you open up the morning papers

You will know they've seen it, too

He will come back like he promised with the price already paid

He will gather up His followers and take them all away

https://youtu.be/gjd265vNIlQ

He's an unidentified flying object

he will sweep down from the sky

He's an unidentified flying object

Some will sleep but will not die

He's an unidentified flying object

Coming back to take you home

He's an unidentified flying object

He will roll away your stone

And if there's life on other planets, then I'm sure that He must know

And He's been there once already and has died to save their souls

He's an unidentified flying object

You will see Him in the air

He's an unidentified flying object

You will drop your hands and stare

He's an unidentified flying object

Coming back to take you home

He's an unidentified flying object

He will roll away your stone

©1973 Glenwood Music Corp.

Strawbed Music

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Truth is...the pervasive idea in the Seventies of what the end of time and the return of Jesus was going to be like is something that I don't really buy into. I lean more toward "and Christ's great kingdom shall come to Earth" than "I'll fly away, oh glory" (but because intelligent, sincere lovers of God have differing opinions on it all, I won't belabor the point in a blog titled Truth is...). The bottom line is that life as we know it will one day be interrupted by the return of Jesus, and the time to let that truth affect how I live that life is now.