bible quiz - John Mayer Edition

Throughout this summer we are looking at how the band Coldplay communicates biblical truth throughout their music.  The creativity of musicians/writers always astounds me.  I bet that if you were asked, you might not be able to tell the difference between what is the Bible and what are the lyrics.  Let's give it a try...

(Much thanks to Jon Acuff for originally posting this quiz.)

1. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

Then they get in all their shopping sprees. At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep,

2. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

Belief is a beautiful armor, but makes for the heaviest sword

3. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

Now we see everything that’s going wrong, with the world and those who lead it

4. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

I dare to believe that the luckless will get lucky someday.

5. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

She takes you in with your crying eyes, then all at once you have to say goodbye

6. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

You should have seen that sunrise with your own eyes, it brought me back to life

7. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

I’m tired of all this—so tired. My bed has been floating … on the flood of my tears.

8. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

Take all your wasted honor, every little past frustration, take all of your so called problems, better put them in quotations.

9. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

She says the bible is all that she reads and prefers that I not use profanity

10. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

And I will walk outside on my own into the light, the kind of clarity that only comes to me on Sunday’s shine, Sunday’s shine

11. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms— I’m celebrating your rescue.

12. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

He comes up empty. A string of zeros.

13. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

Someday I’ll fly, someday I’ll soar

14. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

Nightly he strolls in our garden, delighting in the flowers, until dawn breathes its light and night slips away

15. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

You tell me where to go and though I might leave to find it, I’ll never let your head hit the bed without my hand behind it

How did you do? Did you score a perfect 15 for 15? Check your answers at http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2008/01/answers-to-the-john-mayer-bible-quiz/

lost and found

I once was lost, but now I'm found.

What an interesting picture to describe salvation.  Jesus gave us the original example in the story of the lost son.  Luke 15 is a beautiful chapter that speaks of three lost things; a sheep, a coin, and a son.  The first two have value to the contextual listener, but even more so for them and us, is the value of a son (or daughter).

I desrire for the places, people, time, and opportunities that I lost to be regained or found again.  This is what the hope of the gospel tells us.  "all that was lost can be found."  We are a people that even though we have lost things/people, they can be found.

This moment right here is one we can't suspendYour breathe and mine tells me just where I have beenYou know the song of long lost causeWe're running in circles and coming back again
Now could I go the long wayTaking the easy way down?If I was wrong would you show meWhere all that I lost can be found?
'Cause you can shoot me straightStraight to the heart 'cause you already have itSay what you wanna say, we're coming out of the grayWhat goes around now is coming back down todayYou can shoot me straight away
Don't wanna fight and you don't wanna lose controlWe're losing light and the night is getting coldEveryone wants to hear their story toldWe're not the only ones, we're not the only ones
And now could I go the long wayTaking the easy way down?If I was wrong, would you show meWhere all that I lost can be found?

dreamed of paradise

I still have dreams, they're not the same
They don't fly as high as they used to
I saw my friend, he's in my head
And he said, "You don't remember me, do you?" - John Mayer: Born and Raised


Normally, I don't like to comment upon music with another quote from music, but this one is just too good.  This past week we talked about the Woman at the Well (John 4: 4-26) in light of Coldplay's insight about a woman who dreams of paradise.  


"When she was just a girl
she expected the world
but it flew away from her reach
and she ran away in her sleep 
and dreamed of paradise." 


I wonder if our dreams begin to soar less because of the passing time or disappointment in our lives?  There is something that calls us to dream, but also life calls us into the reality of the moment where often our dreams are so far away it wouldn't even be productive to attempt to dream again.  We change as people.  We age, we become frustrated, or simply we just develop different priorities.  Our dreams do not fly as high as they used to.  We do not even remember who we once were or who we had hoped to be.  This is what life can do if we are not connected to the One who is life.  


I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full.


"When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near." - Andy Stanley


Start dreaming again.