Deadbolt and the Bible...

In 2002 the So Cal band Thrice released an album entitled, 'The Illusion of Safety'. The fifth song of this album is called 'Deadbolt'. One thing that I have come to learn and love about Thrice is that their lyrics are never empty and without meaning. Their lyrics have depth and tend to lead you to a one of those 'a ha!' or 'whoa....' moments.

For me, I love music. I love Jesus and His Word. What I love about these two together is that God ministers to me and speaks to me in big ways through these together. This morning was one of those mornings when I had my 'whoa...' moment.

In Proverbs 9, Solomon talks of wisdom and personifies it as a woman who has a prepared home and invites all to her openly to partake and learn. She says to those who lack wisdom to come in and gain understanding. (vv 4-6)

Then in a few closing verses, Solomon brings up the woman called Folly. She is seductive and knows nothing (v13) and she attempts to lure in those who go on the straight path (v15)

The last two verse are a cause and effect. Verse 17 speaks of stolen water being sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. verse 18 tells us what happens when we fall into temptation and heed the call of foolishness to enter into her home. If we accept folly's invitation then we are deserving of being sent to the pits of Sheol.

Here are the lyrics to Deadbolt. Read these then open up your Bible to Proverbs 9.
when deadbolts awake you from deja vu dreams,
at four in the morning you know where I'll be.
out running red lights asleep at the wheel.
the sirens feed my nightmares,

I just close my eyes and I'm already here;
its already too late.
I know its nothing but lies,
but they sound so sincere;
I find them too hard to hate.

and she calls from the doorway "stolen water is sweet,
so let's drink it in the darkness if you know what I mean"
and she calls from the doorway "stolen water is sweet,
so let's drink it in the darkness if you know what I mean"

and I'm almost sure
that I've been here before,
that this is not the first time I've stood in front of this door,
with an overwhelming feeling that I shouldn't go in,
but it seems this is a battle that I never could win.

and you!
my true love!
you call from the hilltop.
you call through the streets,
"Darling don't you know,
the water is poison."
and I say!
"Come on and give me my poison."

what have I done?
is it too late to save me from this place?
from the depths of the grave?
we all are those ..
who thought we were brave.
what have I done?

Grace... often kicked around in the dirt...

Grace... this word is tossed around, misunderstood, and too often used lightly in the Christian church today. Christian artist reference it enough to call it a cliche. However, it saddens me (and to be honest, to a degree frustrates me) that something that is at the very core of our faith is so understated.

Grace just doesn't refer to the gift of salvation or redemption from sin, though that is a prominent result of grace. I like to reference a definition given by Pastor Cody Padrnos at Generate Jr. High last night. Pastor Cody said that grace is when we are given something that we cannot earn or deserve. Think about that for a second and apply that to everything in your life. You'll begin to understand that God's grace resonates throughout our entire life and being. Its by grace that I am able to type this blog efficiently with ten functioning fingers. Its by grace that I am able to deeply inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide without effort and thought to take my next breath. Its by grace that God continues to keep the muscles in my eyelids working properly so that I can open them up each morning to try and do something to glorify God with my life.

With these thoughts in mind, let me add one more to bring it home. With each gift God gives us, we are to give it directly back to Him because we are so undeserving. With each stroke of a key, each breath I take, and each time my eye open in the morning (no matter how late or early) I am to give these things and many more back to God so He may be glorified. How will you take what God has given you by grace and use it to glorify Him?