MKTO song: Thank You (a sarcastic thank you)
Lyrics:
This one's for you role models.
We are the ones, the ones you left behind.
Don't tell us how, tell us how to live our lives.
Ten million strong we're breaking all the rules.
Thank you for nothing, cause there's nothing left to lose.
Thank you for feeding us years of lies.
Thank you for the wars you left us to fight.
Thank you for the world you ruined overnight.
But we'll be fine, yeah we'll be fine.
Thank you for the world you broke,
Like yolk and it ain't no joke.
So cold and there ain't no coat,
Just me, my friends, my folks
And we gonna do what we like.
So raise that bird up high
And when they ask you why.
Just stand there laugh and smile.
We are the ones, the ones you left behind.
Don't tell us how, tell us how to live our lives.
Ten million strong we're breaking all the rules.
Thank you for nothing, cause there's nothing left to lose.
Thank you for feeding us years of lies.
Thank you for the wars you left us to fight.
Thank you for the world you ruined overnight.
But we'll be fine, yeah we'll be fine.
Thank you for the world you broke,
Like yolk and it ain't no joke.
So cold and there ain't no coat,
Just me, my friends, my folks
And we gonna do what we like.
So raise that bird up high
And when they ask you why.
Just stand there laugh and smile.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
From head to toe from the soul you ripped apart.
I say, "Thank you."
I say, "Thank you."
Yeah, yeah
Yo if you don't like what they tell you to do, don't do it.
If you don't want to be who they want you to be, screw it.
It's your world, it's your life and they ruined it.
Role models, tune in, turn up, drop out...
From head to toe from the soul you ripped apart.
I say, "Thank you."
I say, "Thank you."
Yeah, yeah
Yo if you don't like what they tell you to do, don't do it.
If you don't want to be who they want you to be, screw it.
It's your world, it's your life and they ruined it.
Role models, tune in, turn up, drop out...
So, guess who watched men & women in their 30s-70s stand to their feet dancing, clapping to this prophetic proclamation against themselves? Yup, that would be me(smile). Two teen member band, ex-child stars, raising the profound "bird in the air" to all the previous generations in great collaborative song saying in a nutshell, "#%^! You!" To my surprise, it doesn't take a great thinker or interpreter to discern what they meant. But deep feelings from a generation wanting nothing to do with the generations of the past; you, mom, dad, & grandpa.
It doesn't surprise me that this is the "anthem" of a fatherless & motherless generation. I hope I'm not scaring you but waking you up to see that this is the result of not stewarding a generation well. They want guidance but received neglect. They wanted love but you embraced another man or woman in your life. They wanted your attention but we gave someone else our energy, time, and creativity. In other words, we gave neglect. From the desperate housewife syndrome to keeping up with the Kardashians, what raised them up in values, actions, and nurtured their thinking was our neglect of this generation.This is the diagnostic reading of the issue at hand, BUT let me tell you what God's Kingdom & kids will and can do(smile)! There is hope!
4 "One generation after another will celebrate Your great works;
they will pass on the story of Your powerful acts to their children.
5 Your majesty and glorious splendor have captivated me;
I will meditate on Your wonders, sing songs of Your worth.
6 We confess—there is nothing greater than You, God,nothing mightier than Your awesome works. I will tell of Your greatness as long as I have breath." Psalm 145:4-6
Friends, parents...there is and always will be the antithesis of the culture of Heaven. To deny it would be foolish, however, we can ascribe to this generation where others failed to pass on and that is they are revolutionaries that need loving direction. This generation is hungry for consistency, hungry for healing, and burning for something to fight for. They are NOT a problem, but birthed to be a solution!
"But look ahead: I’m sending Elijah the prophet to clear the way for the Big Day of God—the decisive Judgment Day! He will convince distant parents to look after their children and resistant children to look up to their parents. If they refuse, I’ll come and punish the land.”-Malachi 4:5-6
Some glimpses into the future are taken into notice and others are being fulfilled:
"“I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people, Your sons will prophesy and your daughters.Your old men will dream, your young men will see visions. I’ll even pour out my Spirit on servants, men and women both. I’ll set wonders in the sky above & signs on the earth below: Blood, fire and billowing smoke, the sun turning black and the moon blood-red, Before the Judgment Day of God, that Day tremendous and awesome.Whoever calls, ‘Help, God!'gets help."-Joel 2:28:31
We need to understand as one generation that we have to resist seeing one another as an enemy. The Kingdom is not divided by adult tables & infant/toddler sections. We are one(smile)! The better I run my race, the better the baton-pass is given to the next generation. My kids, your kids, our kids are fighting an invisible battle and the win is great pleasure in the Kingdom but the loss is that more real; loss of life, stability, health, ability and the Kingdom.
Mom, dad, grandma, grandpa...we can turn this tide. It begins at home. Take a mirror and make an honest assessment of you. Now, wipe the tears, roll up your sleeves, and take this generation back child after child, son after daughter. Look at your child...their hearts depend on you(smile).
"Children are a gift from the Lord; babies are a reward. Children who are born to a young man are like arrows in the hand of a warrior. Happy is the man who has his bag full of arrows.
They will not be defeated when they fight their enemies at the city gate."-Psalm 127:3-5
They will not be defeated when they fight their enemies at the city gate."-Psalm 127:3-5
