Let us forgive As Esau forgave Jacob As Joseph forgave his brothers As Stephen forgave those who stoned him And as Jesus forgave those who nailed him to the cross
The Wind, The Sea, The Rain, the newly released 2nd album by Brown Eyed Soul, is an instant classic (no, really) and well worth the four-year wait.
With 20 songs (including the hidden track) adding up to almost 80 minutes of music, it's almost enough for two separate albums, but the quality hasn't been compromised for quantity: Naul & Co. have not only improved on their craft of songwriting, they've also upped the ante on musicianship, having composed all but two of the songs. Now how many Korean "artists" can boast of that?
Most of the album has a throwback late-80s-to-early-90s R&B/Soul sound (the title itself pays homage to Earth, Wind & Fire), which I've made a few of my favorites available on my Audioblog. Being the groupie that I am, I've also taken upon myself a labor of love to create a Facebook group.
The Wind, The Sea, The Rain has been playing on repeat in my car and on my iTunes (the Store now carries the 1st album) for the last five days since my dad got me the CD fresh from Korea. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do!
Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 7 (NIV, any emphasis is my own):
1 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. [or "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman."] 2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. . . . 25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. 27 Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. . . . 32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
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I've been thinking about celibacy since my travels this summer, when I became aware of the need for single men serving in the m-field, especially in ministries culturally inaccessible to women. In our society where marriage is the norm (not to mention family pressures), I suspect few singles voluntarily choose to stay unwed.
But
again, this is a calling for which one receives the gift. I have no idea if I indeed have the gift (or if not, whether I really want it), but all 40-year-old-virgin jokes aside, I believe there are very few who are able to accept this voluntarily. I quote Reverend John Stott, who has remained celibate all his 86 years thus far:
"The gift of singleness is more a vocation than an empowerment, although to be sure, God is faithful in supporting those he calls."
And in case you are wondering, no, I did not just get out of a heartbreaking relationship. (BTW Brown Eyed Soul's long-awaited second album is finally out today... and RIP Robert Goulet)
