Van Morrison: When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God

After getting into a discussion over the much speculated on spiritual life of Van Morrison on another message board, I brought this up and thought I'd share it with you.

Like a lot of his songs, it touches on Christian themes.

What do you think?


When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God

The sun was setting over Avalon
The last time we stood in the west
Suffering long time angels enraptured by Blake
Burn out the dross innocence captured again

Standing on the beach at sunset all the boats
All the boats keep moving slow
In the glory of the flashing light in the evenings glow

When will I ever learn to live in God?
When will I ever learn?
He gives me everything I need and more
When will I ever learn?

You brought it to my attention everything that was made in God
Down through centuries of great writings and paintings
Everything lives in God
Seen through architecture of great cathedrals
Down through the history of time
Is and was in the beginning and evermore shall be

When will I ever learn to live in God?
When will I ever learn?
He gives me everything I need and more
When will I ever learn?

Whatever it takes to fulfill his mission
That is the way we must go
But you've got to do it your own way
Tear down the old, bring up the new

And up on the hillside its quiet
Where the shepherd is tending his sheep
And over the mountains and the valleys
The countryside is so green
Standing on the highest hill with a sense of wonder
You can see everything is made in God
Head back down the roadside and give thanks for it all

When will I ever learn to live in God?
When will I ever learn?
He gives me everything I need and more
When will I ever learn?


Now Playing: Bob Dylan – “Blood on the Tracks”

 

I disagree. I believe that it is a Christian theme and that it's relevant to Christians, as well as being the struggles of many of us, including the singer, who try to live out our walks with Christ.

I'm guessing that you're taking exception to the line, "But you've got to do it your own way", but isn't this true?

Hasn't God given each of us unique gifts, talents and callings?

I mean, your walk isn't like mine and mine isn't like someone else's.

I find the song very inspiring and I don't see what there is to disagree with.


Now Playing: Frank Sinatra and Tommy Dorsey – “Falling in Love with Frank Sinatra and Tommy Dorsey”

 

If you're not familiar with him, a lot of his songs touch on Christian themes or, at least, themes that are relevant to Christians.

He's even had a couple of hits on Christian radio (this wasn't one of them).

One of the interesting things about him is that, while his faith in Christ is pretty well known, he doesn't talk much about it. In fact, he's known for being somewhat reclusive and prefers to let his music speak for itself, which I think is probably the best thing to do.

Yeah, that is a great album.

A good rule of thumb is, if you want to get Curtis involved in a thread, throw Dylan a bone.

I see...

You, too.

Hey, you're moving up in the world.


Now Playing: Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes – “Black and Blue”

 

This is humanism, plain and simple. </font>[/QUOTE]So then you don't believe that we should fulfil the mission to which Christ has called us, or that we are all individuals in Christ, or that Christ makes all things new?


Now Playing:Jackson Browne – “Jackson Browne (Saturate Before Using)”

 

I guess he prefers to keep his personal faith....personal.

I can respect that.

Regards to you,
BiR

Now Playing: The Sisters of Mercy - A Slight Case of Overbombing </font>[/QUOTE]So do I. When did we decide that somebody was supposed to be a preacher just because he can play a guitar?

When you're a celebrity, I think you're in a bit of an awkward situation because it's hard to proclaim your faith without it becoming about you.

On the other hand, maybe he saw what we did to Clapton and Dylan when news of their conversions hit and decided he'd be better off keeping his mouth shut.


Now Playing: Lovin' Spoonful - "Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful"

 

I agree and I don't know that the song disagrees.

What's the problem?


Now Playing: Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson - "Best of Eddie Cleanhead Vinson"

 

Has anybody ever listened to Van's "Hymns to the Silence"?

He's known for usually including a Gospel song on his albums and several in his live shows, but this is probably as close as he's ever come to doing an all out Gospel album.


Now Playing: Rice, Rice, Hillman and Pedersen – “Running Wild”

 

Sometimes, when Jesus spoke, not everybody got it because it wasn't meant for everybody.

Maybe God doesn't just choose to speak to you the same way that He does to me.

Doesn't mean that His way of talking to me and you is any better or worse, just different.

In worship? No.

They're not worship songs.

Actually, Van Morrison, who is the subject of this thread is a Christian. Many of his songs reflect his Christian faith.

Some rock is. Some rock isn't.

So, what do you believe is the best way to worship God?

So then, if these songs are a result of God's hand, then why would they be bad for a Christian to listen to.

I believe very much in the Bible and study and read it every day.

This, unfortunately, is a music forum, so I tend to stick to that subject here.

If you'd like to see what I have to say about the Bible, I post quite a bit at ChristianForums.com.

I do tend to talk about light hearted subjects here on baptistboard, but you can see a lot more of what I believe over there.

That some of Van Morrison's songs contain a Christian worldview and that they might be thought provoking to the Christian.

Many of the songs I've posted here and in other threads contain Biblical themes.


Now Playing: Stacy Kent – “The Boy Next Door”

 

Actually, I'm not a big fan of either KISS or Black Sabbath.

They're very good. One of the memebers, Chris Hillman, is a born again believer. I may be wrong, but I think his partner, Herb Pedersen, is, too.

Hillman was a member of the Byrds and the Souther, Hillman, Furay Band (incidently, his partner in that band, Ritchie Furay, is now a Calvary Chapel pastor).

Herb Pedersen was a member of Emmylou Harris' Hot Band and Linda Ronstadt's band, as well as being a popular studio musician.

Tony Rice is widely heralded as one of the greatest guitarists of recent times.

His Brother, Wyatt Rice, is a talented songwriter.

He never renounced his Christianity, the way that Clapton did.

He simply said that he did not want to be a Christian celebrity.

I try to stay very far away from declaring who is or isn't saved.

Is that how one is saved? By writing Christian songs?

Why can't I share both?

Now Playing: Kelly Willis – “What I Deserve”

 

Forgot to mention that he was also one of the Flying Burrito Brothers and younger listeners might know him as a member of the Desert Rose Band.

There was also Manassas, but I doubt many people here would know them.

Now Playing: Sonny Rollins – “Way Out West”