Remembering John Arnold and his favorite Chicago song. I’ve been reading about a book about Paul and Barnabas adventures and toils in a foreign land in Book of Acts.

I hear songs and theme songs in my head all the time. I rejoice. People and places that I see or think of might have a theme song running across my thoughts captivated in my mind. Sometimes just a rhythm or just a melody. Thank you, Jesus! Sometimes old songs, sometimes new songs. Usually songs I know the music of, but not the lyrics. Singing is more of an instrument and less about words to my ears.

What I spent so many decades without Jesus as my center, I have to believe, has prepared me. Shifting my earthly desires to get behind me, my new beginning has Christ as the greatest musician, comforter, redeemer. All the glory is His.

I’m a musician, for about four decades, and often I think in music and write in music. Sometimes when I read bible verses, I do it in a singsonging voice. I’ve been inspired by scripture to write lyrically with Bible verses as part of the poems. Now, with Jesus in me, all music is holy and the greatest joy is the Lord. If I consider these worldly themes that I once listened to, now I can’t help but hear God in them. All praise to Him.

Song du jour

Today (January 28, 2025) and late last night, this song by Chicago “25 or 6 to 4” was present in my mind. About a year ago, this song came into my life and it sounded familiar, but I didn’t know the song title. I knew I had heard it before, but was surprised that Chicago could sound so heavy, punk and metal. If you take out the brass sections (and somehow keep these parts), I think this song could sound like so many grunge bands from the 90s.

When our dear friend and talented musician (and music teacher and music lover) John Arnold passed away, I worked with our mutual friend Brande to assemble a slideshow for his funeral. One of the songs suggested for the slideshow was this Chicago song. This is when I learned the title. I had scribbled down notes from a phone call with Brande and it took a few attempts on google. Finally google did autofill my “chicago 25” search entry to figure out the actual song title. I guess I miss heard Brande or my notes had been wonky. It was strange to see all numerals in a song title, so I looked into the song meaning (results below).

This song has become my theme song playing in my head for John Arnold. People and places develop musical themes in my mind. When I think of John, I hear Robert Hamm playing the guitar in a style that reminds me of Kurt Cobain’s aggressive style, and then the brass blares its hopeful theme over Hamm’s dark grinding.

Words of Wisdom

I wonder if John is trying to tell me something. Lately, I can see how the Glory of God was present and witnessed through John. I didn’t know the Holy Spirit in the time I knew John on earth. Every time I visited with him, I can remember feeling blessed, lightened and enlightened. John’s strength of character was prominent in any room and he gave relentless love that he shared with everyone. We shared a strong passion for music, while he played violin and I prefer guitar.

Now that I’m aware of John Arnold’s good fruits, when I consider the character of Jesus, or ask myself “what would Jesus do?,” I know I can recall John as an example and encouragement to be more. More. I grow from these seeds. John’s reaping is at hand. Thank you, brother.

Recently, I’ve been contemplating my callings as God draws me closer. We are all given a measure and gifts of the spirit. Perhaps I’m called for worship, teaching, intercession, prophesy seer, each of us has a ministry and I wonder which ones mine could be.

Always on my heart is thoughts toward sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and discipleship through the repetitive highlights of the Bible, as they are revealed to me. I believe John Arnold might be encouraging me to step into my callings through the Spirit.

Book of Acts

I’m currently reading a book out loud with my wife. The book is “The Diary of Silas” by Gene Edwards. So far, Barnabas and Saul (Paul) are the two main characters. It follows their adventures as they are traveling to places they’ve never been to share the Good News with Gentiles that have never heard of Christ Jesus and to plant gentile ecclesias.

This book demonstrates one thing is reliable and constant: walking in your calling will be not easy. Many attacks will come. The book shows Paul and Barnabas persevere through many difficult trials and near death experiences: shipwrecked, frostbitten, fever, beaten, whipped, stoned, starved, abandoned and exiled. All of this toil to share the Good News. They found Gentiles that had never heard of Jesus. Meeting with about a hundred Phrygian slaves in Antioch of Pisidia, then into Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, four Galatia villages in two years. (Acts 12:25) (Acts 13) (Acts 14)

Sometimes God needs us to turn around. He is showing me the Book of Acts repeatedly for over a week now. I’m drawn to this novel that we’re reading… a novelization of the Book of Acts. Then hearing prophetic words for me from my pastor’s sermon Sunday about this very thing: “turn around and step into this calling, pour out the fresh wine. Born again in new Hope.”

This song “25 or 6 to 4.” The title literally means the actual time displayed on a clock in the room as this song was being created, the song title means Twenty-five or Twenty-six to Four-O’Clock or “3:34 or 3:35” and the song is about writing a song. The need to write a song, or the need to share the Good News… reading the lyrics, I could only be reminded of Paul and Barnabas and their adventures and toils in a foreign land. Then I read the lyrics again, and they seem demonic and I imagine drug use implications, and hippies of 1970. I don’t celebrate the lyrics, but I do enjoy the melodies and the good thoughts of John Arnold that I hold onto.

Chicago
25 or 6 to 4

Searching for the break of day
Searching for something to say
Dancing lights against the sky
Giving up, I close my eyes
Sitting cross-legged on the floor
Twenty-five or six to four

Staring blindly into space
Getting up to splash my face
Wanting just to stay awake
Wondering how much I can take
Should have tried to do some more
Twenty-five or six to four

Feeling like I ought to sleep
Spinning room is sinking deep
Searching for something to say
Waiting for the break of day
Twenty-five or six to four
Twenty-five or six to four

Song Info (according to songmeanings.com):
Copyright Lyrics © Bmg Rights Management, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Writer Robert Lamm
Duration 4:50
https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/1753/

Song Info (according to google.com):
Songwriters: Robert Lamm
25 or 6 to 4 lyrics © Lamminations Music, Spirit Catalog Holdings, S.a.r.l., Spirit Two Music Crescendo
https://www.google.com/search?q=25+or+6+to+4+lyrics>/

For some reason, I searched “Lamminations Music” on google to see what it might reveal. I quickly found this song: lyrics to a song by Chicago titled “Harry Truman.”

I have modified the word “Harry” to “Jesus” and “Harry Truman” to “Christ Jesus” here:

Chicago
Harry Truman (Jesus Christ)

[Verse 1]
America needs you, Christ Jesus
Jesus, could you please come home?
Things are looking bad
I know you would be mad
To see what kind of men
Prevail upon the land you love

[Verse 2]
America’s wondering, “How we got here?”
Jesus, all we get is lies
We’re getting safer cars
Rocket ships to Mars
From men who’d sell us out
To get themselves a piece of power

[Bridge]
We’d love to hear you speak your mind
In plain and simple ways
Call a spade a spade
Just like you did back in the days
When you would play piano
Each morning walk a mile
Speak of what was going down
With honesty and style

[Verse 3]
America’s calling, Christ Jesus
Jesus, you know what to do
The world is turning round
And losing lots of ground
Oh, Jesus, is there something we can do to save the land we love?
Oh, woah, woah, woah

[Instrumental]

[Verse 4]
America’s calling, Christ Jesus
Jesus, you know what to do
The world is turning round
And losing lots of ground
So, Jesus, is there something we can do to save the land we love?
Oh!
Jesus, is there something we can do to save the land we love?
Jesus!
Jesus, is there something we can do to save the land we love?

Song Info (according to google.com):
Songwriters: Robert Lamm
Harry Truman lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music
Youtube link Studio version: https://youtu.be/4mCQHqig-Uk?si=n52Rk5eaggoqyrSr
Youtube link Live version: https://youtu.be/7uAUoz7jimg?si=0PUbaxsVYj6wxvHF&t=28