Bruce Springsteen's people
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Well singer songwriter, Bruce Springsteen
may have been “born in the USA”, but he has recently been over this side of the
pond. “The Boss” as he’s affectionately known in the world of rock, played to
some big crowds in Cardiff, Ireland and Sunderland, and while he was here he
actually picked up the prestigious Ivor Novello fellowship award for his contribution
towards the music industry, having sold more than 140 million records, and
having won an Oscar, a Tony and 20 Grammy Awards. He received the award from fellow
legend Paul McCartney who gently mocked him,
saying that he couldn’t think of a more fitting recipient… “except Bob Dylan, or Paul Simon or Billy Joel or
Beyonce, the list goes on”.
I remember in the 80s being shipped
out to France as a 12-year old on a school trip to improve my French, and stayed
with a young couple who played “Born in the USA” on repeat. It left quite an
impression on me!
Well I was quite struck by
something that Bruce Springsteen said about his recent UK tour. He played in
Sunderland and true to form the English weather was atrocious. But he said he
never considered cancelling the show. The now 74 year old said, “'What is this
weather? Driving rain, wind roaring… but standing in front of me, in the rain,
I realised: These are my people."
There’s something very special
about that bond that draws a massive crowd together from different backgrounds
all singing the same songs. You get it at football stadiums and you get it at
rock concerts and festivals. These are my people.
The Bible says
that history will end with a massive crowd drawn from every nation, tribe, people
and language and they are all singing together a song of praise. It’s not “born
in the USA”, but a song about God’s amazing rescue. “Salvation belongs to our
God, who sits on the throne and to the lamb”. The lamb is Jesus Christ because he
gave up his life sacrificially so that others who know they don’t deserve it
can have forgiveness and therefore an "access all areas pass" to get into God’s presence.
Bruce Springsteen said standing in
front of me in the rain, “I realised these are my people”. Well those who come
to Jesus now will one day be part of his people then, a crowd from all of history,
made perfect by his Amazing Grace.Amazing Grace.
Thanks for listening. Have a great day.
Charlie Newcombe 30MAY24.