Sunday, June 03, 2007

Mountain Railroad or Highway

What is life like?

If you are over 50, then life is probably like a “mountain railroad” and you will hear the old country gospel song playing in your mind.

If you are under 30, then likely you will say that life is a “highway” and you want to ride it all night long and you will hear a song by Rascal Flatts playing in your mind.

If you are somewhere in between... Well, I don't know what you hear.

I have become very interested in reading a fellow blogger lately. His name is Trey and he posted last week about life as a highway and it got me to thinking. If you would like to read his original post, then follow this link. I think he took the highway analogy and did a fantastic job with it. I highly recommend you check him out.

I have an uncle that claims that there is sufficient theology in the old song that you can find salvation if you follow the words in the lyrics. I am not sure about that. But I think there is more to that song about the mountain railway than there is to the highway. Especially if your highway is like Rascal Flatts describes it.

Now don't get riled up with me. I actually like Rascal Flatts. I think they are an outstanding group. So don't pound me with email and responses about Rascal Flatts! But do you know the lyrics to that song? If not, I will include them for you. How about the old country gospel song? Do you know the lyrics to that one? If not, I will include them for you as well.

Read through the lyrics. Read Trey Morgan's post and then respond back with any of your thoughts about these two analogies of life.

Life is a Highway by Tom Cochrane

Life's like a road that you travel on
When there's one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend and sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your head to the wind
There's a world outside ev'ry darkened door
Where blues won't haunt you anymore
Where brave are free and lovers soar
Come ride with me to the distant shore
We won't hesitate
Break down the garden's gate
There's not much time left today

Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long
If you're going my way
I wanna drive it all night long

Through all these cities and all these towns
It's in my blood and it's all around
I love you now like I loved you then
This is the road and these are the hands
From Mozambique to those Memphis nights
The Khyber Pass to Vancouver's lights

Knock me down get back up again
You're in my blood
I'm not a lonely man
There's no load I can't hold
Road so rough this I know
I'll be there when the light comes in
Just tell 'em we're survivors

Gimme gimme gimme gimme yeah
If you're going my way
I wanna drive it all night long
There was a distance between you and I
A misunderstanding once
But now we look in the eye

There ain't no load that I can't hold
Road so rough this I know
I'll be there when the light comes in
Just tell 'em we're survivors

Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long
If you're going my way
I wanna drive it all night long
and

Life is Like a Mountain Railroad by Eliza R. Snow and M.E. Abbey
Life is like a mountain railroad, with an engineer that’s brave;
We must make the run successful, from the cradle to the grave;
Watch the curves, the hills, the tunnels; never falter, never fail;
Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

Bless'd Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.

You will roll up grades of trial; you will cross the bridge of strife;
See that Christ is your Conductor on this lightning train of life;
Always mindful of obstruction, do your duty, never fail;
Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

Bless'd Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.

You will often find obstructions; look for storms of wind and rain;
On a hill, or curve, or trestle, they will almost ditch your train;
Put your trust alone in Jesus; never falter, never fail;
Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

Bless'd Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.

As you roll across the trestle, spanning Jordan’s swelling tide,
You behold the Union Depot into which your train will glide;
There you’ll meet the Superintendent, God the Father, God the Son,
With extended hand He'll great us, “Weary pilgrim, welcome home!”

Bless'd Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.

12 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:44 PM

    i know i'm missing the point here, but i am quite partial to the rascal flatts song :P

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  2. You assume there is a point! :P

    I am mostly looking for anyone to respond to those to analogies of life. This post is not all that deep. I just was impressed with Trey Morgan's post and it got me to thinking.

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  3. Anonymous6:39 AM

    I am too tired to be too serious at the moment, I just wanted to say 2 things.

    1. ick, country (Rascal flatts? Really?)
    2. For some reason I am thinking of someone getting lost on a jetski after reading this, maybe the train should be changed to jetski, the road changed to channels in Galveston.....heh

    blessings
    Scott

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  4. I see that you have stumbled across my blog as well. Thanks for the visit, and I hope you'll be a regular!

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  5. Anonymous12:01 PM

    I am reminded of Abram/Abraham again on this post and the link you put up. Maybe it is because of our recent bible studies being focused on him, but it never the less brings him to my mind.

    Many times did he go down the wrong road on the highway of his relationship with God. Sometimes he had to do a u-turn and go back to the spot where he last knew he was in the right spot. Other times God opened up new exit ramps for his life to move along. It is a roadmap goverened by God after all, thankfully He is a good God and leads us on the right highway.

    He is our GPS for life.

    Blessings
    Scott

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  6. Anonymous9:34 AM

    oh daddy, i think its sad that people dont appreciate the wonder of life known as "country music".
    i'm sorry, that song about the county auction? timeless. classic. amazing.

    i like what someone said about God being our GPS. thats cool bc it means that no matter how lost we think we are, we're never "too lost" to find our way back.
    also, does this mean that He can speak with a British accent??
    sorry, i'm getting off topic again...

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  7. Lib, you are correct. We are never "too lost" that we can't find our way back. There is another old country gospel song that comes to mind based on your reply. It is called "The Ninety and Nine." It is about the parable of the lost sheep. I'll find it for you.

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  8. The Ninety and Nine
    lyrics by Elizabeth Clephane

    There were ninety and nine that safely lay
    In the shelter of the fold.
    But one was out on the hills away,
    Far off from the gates of gold.
    Away on the mountains wild and bare.
    Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.
    Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.

    “Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;
    Are they not enough for Thee?”
    But the Shepherd made answer: “This of Mine
    Has wandered away from Me;
    And although the road be rough and steep,
    I go to the desert to find My sheep,
    I go to the desert to find My sheep.”

    But none of the ransomed ever knew
    How deep were the waters crossed;
    Nor how dark was the night the Lord passed through
    Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
    Out in the desert He heard its cry,
    Sick and helpless and ready to die;
    Sick and helpless and ready to die.

    “Lord, whence are those blood drops all the way
    That mark out the mountain’s track?”
    “They were shed for one who had gone astray
    Ere the Shepherd could bring him back.”
    “Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?”
    “They are pierced tonight by many a thorn;
    They are pierced tonight by many a thorn.”

    And all through the mountains, thunder riven
    And up from the rocky steep,
    There arose a glad cry to the gate of Heaven,
    “Rejoice! I have found My sheep!”
    And the angels echoed around the throne,
    “Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!
    Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!”


    Maybe I'll post some thoughts on this later.

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  9. I'm closer to 50 then 30 , and I like the mountain railroad song!

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  10. Anonymous11:59 AM

    O.K., give me the song in either bluegrass or hardcore and I will probably like it, lol.

    Blessings on your wedding annivesary as well. Your wife is admired, heh.

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  11. Anonymous11:14 AM

    Hello; I'am Michael Martin.
    Can you please help me find the song Roy Acuff sang about The Lost Sheep?
    It starts out; The sheltering fold held securly, the ninety and nine safe within. But one poor lost sheep found no shelter, out on the desert of sin---- at the end the line goes; For I was that sheep that was lost.
    My e-mail is michaelj63@yahoo.com
    Thanks

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  12. I agree with you that "Life Is Like a Mountain Railroad" does present the way of salvation--at least, not with any clarity. It is more a song about living the Christian life after one gets saved.

    Small piece of trivia: Today is the 66th anniversary of the death of the man who composed the tune for that song, Charles Tillman. If you want to learn a bit more about him, you can check out my blog today at Wordwise Hymns.

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