Mixed Up Lyrics

I was reading about the most misquoted songs of all time. Most of them are pretty funny, and I must confess, some of them are lyrics I have mangled.

For instance, Jimi Hendrix sang “excuse me while I kiss the sky,” not “excuse me while I kiss this guy.”

Creedence Clearwater Revival sang “there’s a bad moon on the rise,” not “there’s a bathroom on the right.”

The Beetles didn’t sing, “Lucy’s in a fight with Linus,” but they did sing “Lucy in the sky with diamonds.”

Eddie Money didn’t have “two chickens to paralyze,” he had “two tickets to paradise.”

Abba never once sang, “See that girl, watch her scream, kicking the dancing queen,” but they did sing, “See that girl, watch that scene, digging the dancing queen.”

Toto didn’t leave their “brains down in Africa,” but they did “bless the rains down in Africa.”

Def Leppard wanted someone to “pour some sugar on me” not some “pour some shook up ramen.”

When I was a kid I hated the great hymn, “Victory in Jesus.” When I told my mother, she was shocked and asked me why. I answered, “Because of the part where it says ‘He socked me and he bopped me.’” My mom pointed out that the chorus says, “He sought me and he bought me.” It does make a lot more sense that way. I’m not sure why I thought we would sing a song about Jesus socking me. Maybe I ate a lot of paint chips as a child.

It’s also funny how many Bible verses get mixed up or used out of context.

For example, the Bible doesn’t say “cleanliness is next to godliness.” Cleanliness is a good thing, but not necessarily biblical.

The Bible also doesn’t say that “money is the root of all evil.” It does say in 1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil.” It changes the context when you quote it correctly.

How many times have you heard, “God moves in mysterious ways?” While it may certainly be true, the Bible doesn’t say that.  Maybe people are thinking of Isaiah 55:8: "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD."

Sometimes we misapply scriptures. For instance, I have seen Philippians 4:13 on locker rooms and bumper stickers, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” However, that verse isn’t about striving to achieve something, it is about enduring suffering for Christ. In the verses that precede this one Paul says that whether he mas much or little, in prison or out, hungry or well fed, he has learned to be content.

There are, however some verses that absolutely apply to all of us.

Jesus died for us before we even knew we needed him to. Romans 5:8 Paul says, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

John 3:16-17 tells us that “God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him”

I love the promise of John 8:12, “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’”

The great thing about these verses is that they are universal, and they are easy to grab onto. Your life really can be changed, you really can be fulfilled and happy. The key is to accept the promises that Christ willingly sacrificed his life for, and freely offers to you. Drop me an email if you need more info.

Glad that Jesus didn’t want to sock me or bop me… Jerry