When my dad came to get me I had no idea what was going on.
Then he told me someones here to see you.
Then I was really confused???
Then I
saw you and was like wow.
Then I
whent back to youth. 
Well
How did you like our church? 
Pastor
frank is a real crack up.
What
does that mean exzactly?
He
says well starts out 
Dear CHRISTine,
The title 'Vanity
of Vanities' comes a phrase in Ecclesiastes (King James Version). In
the NIV, they translate it as "Meaningless. All is Meaningless." The point of
the song is that we all have big ideas (at times) but that all of it is worth
nothing compared to knowing Christ.
Now, the verses themselves are all connected to what was happening in Kalamazoo,
Michigan (and around the world) back when I was in a ministry there. Sometimes
songwriters (and poets) disguise their thoughts so that they will have deeper
meaning. Preachers do the same thing with their sermons. Hopefully, others who
listen to that song will be able to identify the Vain Imaginations of their
day-to-day lives. If you don't understand this, just keep listening to the
song--and keep reading from Ecclesiastes during your life. You will grow in
understanding.
Also, CHRISTine, I would like to congratulate you for your listening skills. You
correctly identified the voice of Mr. T (Tom Shoneff) --the substitute teacher
at Galt High School. His voice over the instrumental in 'Blessed
Assurance' was an excerpt from a sermon he once preached at my
church. Did you know that he was a preacher?
Your nice comments are much appreciated. I'm happy that you are serving the
Lord.
Stay in touch,
pastorob
www.fbcgalt.org/rob'sblog.htm
AudioTrack
for Vanity of Vanities
Lyrics
for Vanity of
Vanities
During the summer of 1982--having
received a FreshStart in life--I
started attending every available
public event hosted by Pastor Ezell
Plair and the Church of God in
Christ--House of Prayer (presently
ministering in Kalamazoo, Michigan).
At that time, Elder Plair pastored
his church from a small sanctuary
(converted from a house in a
Comstock neighborhood). At one of
the Tuesday Evening Bible Studies,
we considered the recurrent phrase
in Ecclesiastes: "Vanity of
Vanities...all is vanity." The
chorus of this song grew out of that
evening's discussion.
There are probably extant versions
of this song (with varying lyrics)
in the archives. However, I began to
write the current verses when, a
year prior to Iraq's invasion of
Kuwait, I read an article about a
megalomaniac who was rebuilding
ancient Babylon as a tourist
attraction. His name was Saddam
Hussein.The news of a man claiming
to be a modern-day Nebuchadnezzar
was of great interest to me.
I also tied biblical references (i.e. 'the place where Satan has his throne') to local situations (Planned Parenthood of Kalamazoo). The cacophony of voices was a birthday surprise. Cathy had invited twenty friends to show up at Brayton and Sons recording studio. I asked them to all boast of vain imaginations and fruitless pursuits. I really like this song.