Bang a Drum

I went to see the preacher
To teach me how to pray
He looked at me and smiled
Then the preacher turned away
He said if you want to tell Him something
You ain't gotta fold your hands
Say it with your heart Your soul and believe it
And Id say amen

Bang a drum for the sinners
Bang a drum for the sins
Bang a drum for the losers
And those who win
Bang a drum bang it loudly
Or as soft as you need
Bang a drum for yourself son
And a drum for me

I called upon my brother just the other day
He said: John I'm gonna die if I don't start to live again
I work each day and night like clockwork
Just trying to make ends meet
I could kick this bad worlds ass if I could just get on my feet

I'd bang a drum for the dying
Bang a drum for the truth
Bang a drum for the innocence
Lost in our youth
Bang a drum bang it loudly
Or as soft as you need
Bang a drum for you brother
And a drum for me

I don't know where all the rivers run
I don't know how far, I don't know how come
But I'm gonna die believin'
Each step that I take
Ain't worth the ground that I walk on
If we don't walk it our own way

No I don't claim to be a wiseman
A poet or a saint
I'm just another man who's searching
For a better way
But my heart beats loud as thunder
For the things that I believe
Sometimes I wanna run for cover
Sometimes I want to scream

Bang a drum for tomorrow
Bang a drum for the past
Bang a drum for the heroes
That wont come back
Bang a drum for the promise
Bang a drum for the lies
Bang a drum for the lovers
And the tears they've cried
Bang a drum bang it loudly
Or as soft as you need
But as long as my heart keeps on bangin'
I got a reason to believe

- Jon Bon Jovi


Ironically, it was this 'secular' song that taught me a lot about Jesus. Last night, a bunch of us were talking about how experience, tradition, reason and Scripture are 4 filters that affect how we interact with God. I realized that because many people who don't go to church don't really understand their experiences with God, and don't understand Scripture, they have a very limited understanding of who God is.
I am convinced that Jesus wants everyone to know Him. Not so much because He wants to save us from Hell and get us into Heaven; but, because He has so much to give to us in the Here And Now. I am sure that He didn't give us life so that we could pass some test to get into the Pearly Gates; He gave it to us as a foretaste of what Eternity is like... our life in Eternity should be the next logical step as this life ends. If it isn't, I think we've missed something here.