Tuesday, September 1, 2009

A Fortune in Lies

A Fortune in Lies

"For the first time in a long time
...everything was right in my
world... and then I woke up."

I can remember when,
In the unity of our five-day sessions
Not even once did we hear the siren
song
What kind of imagination
Asleep in some lyrical coma
Who's vain futile memory
Could have been so wrong?

You can make a fortune in lies
You can keep a giant alive
You can ride the red
Until everybody smiles
A trifling euphoria
was such an untimely religion
maybe your life can explain
the reason for my indecision
Here is a poor man
the heart of this monster creation
He said we both will be heroes
and I was led into temptation

You can make a fortune in lies
You can keep a giant alive
You can ride the red
Until everybody smiles

Can you show me your gold
and your silver?
A hero in frozen water

Now you've made a fortune in lies
and you kept a giant alive
You rode the red
You rode the red


So here we go! The Dream Theater adventure begins. I will start all of the entries with the lyrics and if you do not have the song, go listen to it at YouTube. You can probably find at least a live version of every song. This song is off the album When Dream and Day Unite released in 1989. At this time the line-up was a little different. Replace Jordan Rudess with Kevin Moore and James LaBrie with Charlie Dominici and you are set. This album and song has a more 80’s feel than the rest of their stuff, which kind of makes sense:). This song rocks with a sweet opening and jamming solo. This song is about a friend of Petrucci and Portnoy who was apparently low on cash and therefore stole some stuff and apparently the lessons he learned. Enough introducing the song. Let’s talk about me through the lens of A Fortune In Lies.

So today I went to the Old City of Jerusalem, which was a truly awesome experience. It was really awesome seeing this very important Biblical city. It is very rich in Biblical (and non-Biblical) history. I saw an example of some making A Fortune in Lies today. I went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which sits on the site where Jesus was probably crucified and buried. It was really cool being there, but there is quite a bit of idolatry going on there. People are worshiping “a piece of rock that Jesus layed on” among either things. People are worshiping these supposed holy relics. It is sad that these people are being deceived because there is no good reason to believe that there are any actual relics related to Jesus’ passion in there.

But what is more repulsing is that people are worshiping creations rather than the creator. They should be worshiping the one and only True God, who exist in three distinct persons with one essence. Instead, they worship objects and images associated with Christ. This idolatry is disgusting. But, I must remember that I commit disgusting idolatry all the time. Whenever I sin I am putting my pleasures and wants before God. Also, I must admit at times I hold Dream Theater too highly. They are an awesome band, but they are just a band. They did not create me. They did not save me from my sin. They do not love me how God loves me. They are not perfect like God. I must remember these things. I must keep God God and everything else not God. Though, there are legitimate reasons to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, some of the draw (the Holy Relics) is founded in lies. Some of the tourism of Israel is in a sense making A Fortune in Lies. So sad. We all most remain honest and Worship the Creator, not the Creature! Soli Deo Gloria. Keep it real.

1 comment:

  1. "there is no good reason to believe that there are any actual relics related to Jesus’ passion in there"... i love how you refer to the passion.

    happy to see that you are repulsed by the idolatry. sad to hear about the actual idolatry....

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