Holding On To My Ugly

What do you mean by “God Loves Ugly”?

I was recently asked this question by some one who had read this blog.  He was familiar with where I got the title, but was curious why I used it as the title of my blog.  So, for those who aren’t familiar with either, following is the source and meaning for the title of this blog.

May I say first off that I have always had a wide range of tastes when it comes to music.  I enjoy country, rock and roll, folk, blues, jazz, hip-hop, R&B, rap, and well…pretty much any genre.  It doesn’t matter as long as it sounds good, and I especially enjoy music with lyrics that speak to my soul.  That said, the title “God Loves Ugly,” is a title I borrowed from the 2^nd studio album of the musical group Atmosphere, as well as the name of one of the better tracks on that album which was released in 2002. 

Atmosphere is an underground hip-hop group based out of Minneapolis, MN.  Originally comprised of artists Spawn (Derek Turner) as the MC and Slug (Sean Daley) as the DJ, Atmosphere now consists of Slug rapping as MC, and producer Ant (Anthony Davis) supplying the beats as DJ.  Although I would certainly not recommend their music to everyone (sometimes a lot of curse words, sexual content, etc.), many of their tracks contain lyrics which speak directly into my soul.  Part of this has to do with how candid and introspective they can be about their own broken lives.  Spawn lost his father at the age of 11, and Slug grew up in a home where drugs, alcohol, and abuse were present.  Both speak very honestly about their pasts and how it affected them, which makes many of the issues they raise resonate with me.  The word pictures they paint with their lyrics often leave me pensive, contemplating my own circumstances and how it is possible to overcome them or deal with them in the right ways   

Now, I don’t know if anyone in the group is truly a born-again believer in Christ, but they do sometimes bring a spiritual aspect to their music which I find intriguing.  They seem to acknowledge that there is a Creator and that there are spiritual forces at work in the world, both good and evil.  For example,

On the group’s debut album Overcast! Spawn MCs a song called “Caved In”, in which he enunciates the feelings he’s had to deal with surrounding his father’s death; feelings including “[being] mad at the Lord because He took him all too quick that day,” wondering “Why’s God cheatin’? Takin’ half of 2 that gave me life,” and finally concluding that he’d see his father again “later, on the day I have to meet our maker.”

The group has been known to talk about an attractive woman that tempts them to do wrong things, and how they hate themselves when they give in to her.  She goes by the name of "Lucy Ford" (allegory for Lucifer).

In the track “Little Man” on the 2005 album You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Havin’, Slug examines his relationship to 3 people – first his son, then his father, and last himself.  In the final verse when rapping (in 3^rd person) about himself, he cries out “Come and Save him, Jesus!  Place him back in time before the Reaganomics and Adidas.”

Anyways, the overall sweeping message of the album God Loves Ugly is that God loves people, even those who have ugly lives.

It doesn’t mean ugly people physically (although God loves them too J).  And, while I’ll let you make your own call on whether I’m a physically ugly person or not, the fact is I do have an ugly life background (I guess stay tuned for more details about that if you want them, because I’m sure I’ll share about it all at some point).  Then again – I’m sure everybody’s life contains some ugliness, does it not my friend?

Yet, God has shown me amazing love, even when I couldn’t or wouldn’t reciprocate any love to Him.  He is actively working to redeem the ugliness in my life.  And, because the lyrics of that album, as well as God’s handiwork in my life have meant so much to me – I chose to borrow the title for my blog.  But, it’s more than a title for my blog – it’s a personally experienced reality.  And, many of the posts I write will seek to reflect that reality.

Now, may I say that, admittedly, I still have a lot to learn about both showing love to others as well as experiencing and receiving love from others.  Among the limited things I’ve learned is that love is not lust.  Real love is more than just a feeling, it’s a decision – a choice to love.  That God loves me just the way I am, but He loves me way too much to let me stay that way.  And, the love of people is only a small fraction of the truly unconditional love that only God can show.

Now, mind you, love is not the way that God Saves us – grace is.  Grace, mercy, and love are all very closely related, yet there is a sharp distinction between each of them, and they should not be confused as many people seem to confuse them today.  But I suppose that subject deserves a blog posting all of its own.

In conclusion to this one, I’d like to offer the following summary of My King and His love, which was inspired by Dr. Shadrach Meshach Lockridge of San Diego Calvary Baptist Church, and supplemented from many additional sources:

There is no means of measuring
   His limitless love,

It was written in blood,
   on a wooden cross
      erected in Judea
         2,000 years ago.

He is the King of the Jews
   He is the King of Israel
But He’s also
   King of all the Ages;
   King of Heaven;
   King of Glory;
   King of Kings;
      ..and Lord of Lords.

He is
   the promised seed of Abraham,
   a prophet before Moses;
   a priest after Melchizedek;
   a champion like Joshua;
   an offering in the place of Isaac;
   a king from the line of David;
   a counselor above Solomon;
   beloved, rejected, and exalted
      like Joseph;
and yet far more...

The Heavens declare His glory...
   and the firmament shows
      His handiwork.

He is, He was, and He always will be;

The first and the last
   the Alpha and Omega
      the Aleph and the Tau
         the A and the Z;

He is the ego eimi,
   the "I AM that I AM"

The voice of the burning bush
   the Captain of the Lord's Host
      the conqueror of Jericho.

He is our Kinsman-Redeemer
   and He is our Avenger of Blood;
      and He is our City of Refuge;

He died upon a cross of wood;
   Yet He made the hill
      on which it stood.

By Him were all things made
      that were made;
   without Him was not anything made
      that was made;

By Him are all things held together!

In Him dwells
   the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
      The very God of very God.

He became
   the first fruits of them that slept.

He is our Performing High Priest;
   Our Personal Prophet;
      Our Reigning King.

He loved sinners more than anyone else,

      Yet also spoke the most red-hot scorching words against sin.

He is enduringly strong;
      entirely sincere;
         eternally steadfast;

He is imperially powerful;
   immortally graceful;
      impartially merciful;

He stands alone in Himself:
   He's unique,
      pre-eminent,
         supreme,
            unparalleled:

He's the Loftiest idea
      in Literature;
the highest Personality
   in Philosophy;
the Fundamental Doctrine
   of Theology;
and the Supreme Problem
   in "higher criticism"!

He's the Son of God!

He was born of a woman
   so that we could be born of God;
He humbled Himself
   so that we could be lifted up;
He became a servant
   so that we could be made joint-heirs;
He suffered rejection
   so that we could become His friends;
He denied Himself
   so that we could freely receive all things;
He gave Himself
   so that He could bless us in every way.

He
   is Available to the tempted and the tried;
   Blesses the young;
   Cleanses the lepers;
   Defends the feeble;
   Delivers the captives;
   Discharges the debtors;
   Forgives the sinners;
   Franchises the meek;
   Guards the besieged;
   Heals the sick;
   Provides strength to the weak;
   Regards the aged;
   Rewards the diligent;
   Serves the unfortunate;
   Sympathizes and He saves!

His Offices are many;
His Reign is righteous;
His Promises are certain;
His Goodness is limitless;
His Light is matchless;
His Love never changes;
His Grace is sufficient;
His Mercy is everlasting;
His Word is enough;
His Yoke is easy and
   His Burden is light!

He's indescribable;
He's incomprehensible;
He's irresistible;
He's invincible!

The Heaven of heavens
   cannot contain Him;
Man cannot explain Him

The Pharisees couldn't stand Him
   but soon learned
      that they couldn't stop Him;

They railroaded Him
   through 6 illegal trials,
      and yet the witnesses couldn't agree against Him
   and the personal representative
      of the ruler of the world,
         couldn't find any fault with Him;

Herod couldn't kill Him
   death couldn't handle Him
      the grave couldn't hold Him!

He has always been and always will be;
   He had no predecessor and
      will have no successor;
You can't impeach Him and
   he isn't going to resign!

His name is above every name;
   That at the name of Yeshua
Every knee shall bow
   Every tongue shall confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord!

His love endures forever.

His is the kingdom,
   and the power,
      and the glory...
         for ever, and ever.

Amen!