rock bible study blurb...newsboys...your love is better than life

I dunno nothing that I haven't been taught,
I dunno why I was born into the family I’ve got,
I dunno if I ever had an original thought,
maybe not, maybe so, maybe later, I dunno

I dunno how I can end a prayer, then turn on a friend,
I dunno what I was thinking when I just pressed send,
I dunno why I still criticize the things I dunno
I dunno, I dunno, I dunno, but this one thing I know

In just a few lines a lot of themes are covered. Let's focus on one major theme. Check out the last four lines.

The Newsboys aren't really saying they "donno" in the sense of their understanding of the Gospel. It's pretty clear we're fallen creatures and they know it. They're saying "I donno" like Paul did in Romans 7 when he said: "I do not understand what I do." It's about our fallen nature.

But wait...what are the Newsboys onto here with those last three lines? 
They didn't say,
"I dunno how I didn't rob that bank" or
"I dunno how I didn't kill that guy 'cus he so rank."

They said I donno why "I turned on a friend." and "...pressed send." and "...criticized."
They're talking about harmless stuff right?

Turnin' on a friend...who doesn't do that once in a while...or more. Come on, if they're really a friend they can handle it right? They can forgive me right?

I just pressed send! I shouldn't have. I was angry...who hasn't done that?

I criticize the thing I donno. Hey, I'm entitled to my opinion right. Everyone is.

The thing all these have in common is...the tongue. James is held as a big book of authenticity. How should the Christian walk look? He never even mentions stealing, cheating, adultery or other biggies. He talks a lot about the tongue. James says: "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless."

That's pretty potent. James also says: "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires."

A few years ago I saw a lady on one of those 20/20 type news shows. She is the subject of all kinds of scientific research for her memory prowess. You can pull out any day from her late childhood or adult life and she can tell you what happened that day in the news or in her life.

She related a story of some of her distress wth her mother. You see her mom's commented on this ladys weight. The mom thinks it's been a time or two. Well it turns out the memory lady knows exactly how many times Mom's mentioned her weight...something like 289 times....and it hurts her feelings.

Our pastor has told us that more harm has come to his flock, pain and dissention, from the tongue's torture than any amount of adultery or steeling.

The Newsboys go on to talk about reasons for tongue caution:
1) "I’m just a broken machine."
2) I dunno when to walk away or stand and fight
just when I’ve got it wrong, I’m sure I heard you right
and when my arguments are watertight you expose every hole with a flash and a flood and I know.

In other words some humility is in order. We're fallen; we're so often wrong...and, our motives are often, well, skewed.

One final thought. Our culture is into speaking your mind. Bold is better and lots of kudos go to the blunt. I used to be in that camp...kinda uninhibited...until I was in my uninhibited zone in a meeting. I had one of the team in tears. When I asked her she said I had unfaily unloaded on her.

Can you relate a time when you've seen the tongue work its wiley ways?___________________________________________________

YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
Without your love, I’m just a broken machine
Without your love, it’s all a mindless routine
Without your love, I’m in another free fall
Without your love, I’ve got nothing at all

I dunno what goes down the moment we die
Do we get halos & harps? Do we sleep? Do we fly? I dunno
how, when and why this world will finally end,
Speculation’s gonna grow, who knows best, I dunno
I dunno if I should push ahead or stop and grieve,
I lie awake and wonder how to make a city believe,
I dunno when it’s a ministry and when it’s a show
maybe neither, maybe both, I dunno, but this one thing I know

YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
Without your love, I’m just a broken machine
Without your touch I’m not a full human being

If I should ever leave, where would I go?
I look to you ‘cause you’re the lover of my soul

I dunno when to walk away or stand and fight
just when I’ve got it wrong, I’m sure I heard you right
and when my arguments are watertight you expose every hole with a flash and a flood and I know
I hear you call in the eye of the storm and I know you’ve had my back since the day I was born still stoking my heart
still stirring my head
you’re my pillar of fire
you’re the wine, you’re the bread, and

YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
Without your love, I’m just a broken machine
Without your love, it’s all a mindless routine
Without your love, I’m in another free fall
Without your love, I’ve got nothing at all

YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
I dunno nothing that I haven't been taught, I dunno why I was born into the family I’ve got,
I dunno if I ever had an original thought, maybe not, maybe so, maybe soon, maybe later, I dunno
I dunno when I’ve got it right or wrong, I dunno how I can wrap it in a four minute song, but I know
My grip is better when I’m not hanging on, your love is making us strong (all along)
Your love is better than life