My Top Christian Songs of 2010

#1 Our God - Chris Tomlin ; Awakening CD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlA5IDnpGhc

This is a choice that only the family cynic could object to. A worship classic for years to come.

 2. More Like Fallin' In Love - Jason Gray ; All the Lovely Losers CD
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKTW-srvr6E

  Serving Christ out of love not obligation. Hits the nail on the head like no song I've heard in a long time. How did I forget it my first time through?

3. Of Men and Angels - The Rocket Summer ; Of Men and Angels CD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_GmLkIu2ew

   "Here I am, dear Lord, tasting hints of fame
And I don’t want it anymore
If it’s not you that I gain
Wanna fall at your feet
Don’t wanna fall from your peace
I understand ..."

4. Something To Believe In - Parachute ; The Way It Was CD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hrpJZsJfPQ

You wake up every morning looking for your answer
You’re waiting for your sign
While Jeremiah’s on his way to tell the people
But you watch him pass you by

You walk the streets at night still looking for your reason
But you don’t want to try
You swear the world has got you backed into a corner
But no one holds your hand to walk into a fight

You swear the light is gonna find you
But it can’t find you if you’re waiting all the time

Not the most blatantly Christian words ever, but still not bad for a mainstream band of Christians, or so I am told. And the song is amazing! (and the theme for the Rose Bowl on ESPN)

5. Forever Reign - Hillsongs ; Beautiful Exchange CD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au3EGgISYMc

Another worship classic.

6. Burn Me Down - House of Heroes ; Suburba CD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9aOv5YMVPI

Christian rock opera? Great words. Song 2 and 4 have a common scripture passage. Guess what?

7. Surrender - Third Day ; Move CD
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlena_xOTBE

 Great words, great southern rock sound

8. Lift Up Your Face - Third Day ; Move CD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij71LWwPt-w

  Ditto

9. Start Somewhere - TobyMac ; Tonight CD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rT7Zci7LQQ

 So Toby, you fight with your wife too?

10. Lay Down - Jars of Clay ; Shelter CD

    John 15:13 put to music. Sorry, no link

11. Don't You Know You're Beautiful - Seabird ; Rocks Into Rivers
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsaMplgr3c4

     Struggle with self image? God thinks you're beautiful

12. Hey Devil - TobyMac ; Tonight CD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9tM4-8sOPM

    Love it. Fun song and it rocks.

13. Here Goes - Bebo Norman ; Ocean CD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S97O9395rgc

  Song about stepping out in faith, not being held back by fear. Good stuff

14. Moving Backwards - Ben Rector ; Into the Morning CD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAEBaBRk9oU

   If you tread water in the river of life you will be pulled backwards; heavy stuff

15. Love Invades - Robbie Seay Band ; Miracle CD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAJOlH8bUK4

 Love the early70's rock sound!

16. Hey - Rocket Summer ; Of Men and Angels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39zxvxSYwIQ

  The wrestle with the flesh.

17. Boasting - LeCrae ; Rehab
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np1-mO0Lvrk

  " Tomorrow's never promised, but it is we swear
Think we holding our own, just a fist full of air
God has never been obligated to give us life
If we fought for our rights, we be in hell tonight
Mere sinners own nothing but a fierce hand
We never loved him we pushed away his pierced hands
I rejected his love, grace, kindness, and mercy
Dying of thirst, yet, willing to die thirsty
Eternally worthy, how could I live for less?"

18. There is A Way - Neworldson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17eWXuUTq5s

Where did this song come from? The rest of the album is totally uncool!

There were alot of other good songs by Christian artists but I chose these because of the music and the message. Let me know which were your faves.

My Top Albums of 2010

#7  Jaymes Reunion

 The strength of this album is the melodies. They are catchy, easy to sing along to, and just well done. I wish it would be stronger lyrically and more "Christian". You won't be blessed listening to this album but you will enjoy a number of the songs. Even though it isn't overtly "Christian" it is "safe for the whole family". Good introductory album; hope they can build on it.

6. Ben Rector

 Easy listening introductory album with insightful lyrics and catchy tunes. Once again not overtly "Christian" but songs like "Moving Backwards" give great insight into the Christian life without alienating non-christian listeners. If you like Bebo Norman, Warren Barfield, Sean McDonough, etc. you will really like this album.

5. Third Day

 Not their best but when they are good, they are REALLY good. I thought about not including this in my top 7 but I know I will be listening to this one, or some of its songs, long after I am tired of Jaymes Reunion  and Ben Rector. Third Day is unique as are the rest of these top 5. If you hear them on the radio you say "thats Third Day." If someone asks you who they sound like you say "um, Third Day?" We need more Christian bands like that!

#4. LeCrae

 Christian rap that even a 55 year old white guy can love. Great words, overtly "Christian", 17 songs (I think) so if you don't like one go to the next and you will probably like it. And I think for Christian rap it is totes "legit". (Kids, did I use those words correctly?)

#3. TobyMac

 OK, say what you will about TobyMac, the driving force of DCTalk, and his ?4th album. Yes he is probably getting too old to act this young, yes he has settled into a comfortable formula,yes quit promoting your kid as your successor, yes his concerts look eerily similar - I don't care. There is noone like him anywhere, he doesn't compromise on his faith, he hasn't sold out, and he just writes good music. His albums are a treat, well worth listening to over and over (with the volume up), invigorating, great for getting psyched up to, and becoming more and more radio friendly. Whats not to like? I'd name a kid after him.

#2 House of Heroes

 A peculiar pick for this high, I will admit, but these guys are unique and amazingly talented. Vocals, harmony, song writing like nothing else out there. Non-formulaic (3 verses a chorus and a bridge - ha) these often break into rock operas. There are Christian themes throughout but not enough to alienate an unbeliever (Is that good or bad?). Still, such a treat for the ears and such a work of art it has to be way up there.

#1 The Rocket Summer

 I've been waiting for him to make this album. Boldly Christian, well accepted by secular audiences, a prodigy that plays all the instruments on the album along with vocals, this album is clearly my #1. Yes it has a few throw away songs, but what I really like about Rocket Summer is the passion behind his music. I feel it when he sings, he moves me. It's not like he is just adding vocal tracks like so many artists. In a sub-par year for music, this album stands out. You will like it because it sounds like ... um....um...um    
   

Monopoly Game - The American Dream

¹⁵ Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
 ¹⁶ And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
   ¹⁸ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. ¹⁹ And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
   ²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
   ²¹ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:15-21

I had never noticed this before this year,but the number of Monopoly games out there are staggering.  There are G.I.Joe, Charlie Brown, Harry Potter, etc.;you have an interest in something, I bet you can find it in a Monopoly game.
    I don't have anything against the game other than I hate playing it; it takes too long and it is pure luck. Yes, you heard me, pure luck. If you land on the right properties and get monopolies and don't land on the bad ones (all determined by dice roll) you win. But that has nothing to do with my blog.
     How many of us are playing Monopoly with our lives? The rich man in the above passage was. He got more "money" so he bought more "property" on which he built more "hotels" and then he kicked back and said "I won." This is how I have been "taught" my whole life. I'm not sure where I learned it but it certainly has been ingrained - get a good job, become self-sufficient, make lots of money, invest it wisely, increase your net worth, then retire, relax, and enjoy. Isn't this the American Dream? Or if we are talking Monopoly - get lots of money, buy properties, buy more properties, take money from other people, build, invest, take more money from people, reach the top and then you enjoy and gloat while everyone else moans and hates you.(Back when we were dating, Karen threw the gameboard at me and cussed me. True story) Jesus would say, “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
         What does it mean to be "rich to God"? Let me illustrate it this way; let's say you are in the army and deployed to Afghanistan for 2 years. Do you use your paycheck to buy land there? Do you invest in a car. Do you buy the latest in Afghani wardrobe? Do you buy a house? No! You are sending all your money back to the states because you are headed back there in ... (you are probably counting the hours). That is the mindset behind being "rich toward God"; realizing you are an alien here, a short-timer and handling "your" money in a way that makes sense with that in mind. How do we "send money home"? How do we invest in things that are off the Monopoly board? Paul puts it this way in 1Timothy 6:18

                Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age...

Jesus puts it this way in Luke 12:33:

                 "Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail."

If I could summarize the "just" of what they are saying it would be - money should be seen not as something to be accumulated on Earth but rather as something to spread around to help those who don't have any. In that way, those who are proper managers, or stewards, of the money will be given more to disperse and will be sending treasures for themselves up to their permanent homes. It is sort of like my drug sample closet at work;

       The drug-rep (God) comes and gives me samples (money). Now I can choose to hoard them and say, "Wow, look at how full my closet is. I must have $50,000 worth of drugs in here.(earth)" When the rep comes back what will he say? "I guess he doesn't need anymore since he hasn't used what I gave him." He will go away unhappy and come less and less.Plus the medicines soon go out of date and become worthless. But if I give "my" samples away, patients (those in need) are happy and are praising God and me. The drug rep comes and refills my closet and gives me extra because he sees how fast it is going out and I become his favorite doctor. This is how we are to treat earthly possessions.     
        So don't get caught in the "mousetrap" of  playing "Monopoly" in your "game of life". It really is a stupid game.

Rethinking Prayer

       Prayer is not a magical formula to get what you want from God. When I moved to Tennessee i was told by some well meaning Christians that as a doctor all I had to do to stop hemmorhage (uncontrollable bleeding) was pray Ezek. 16:6 (in KJV of course) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ezek%2016:6&version=KJV. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a secret formula to move the all-mighty God of the universe to be obligated to do our bidding? If there was these might be the keys:
1. confess sins - Ps.66:18
      If I had cherished sin in my heart,
    the Lord would not have listened
2. follow Biblical patterns such as the Prayer of Jabez who got what he asked for
3. Have confidence- James 1:6-8
 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
4. Have faith - James 5:15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well
                        Matt. 21:22  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
5. Abide in Christ - John 15:7
               If you abide in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
6. Pray passionately - Hebrews 5:7
            During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard ...
 7. Be persistent - Luke 18:1-8  Parable of the persistent widow
8. Don't ask selfishly - James 4:2,3
            You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures
 9. Pray with someone - James 5:14-16
               ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ^{... 16} Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed
10. Deal with relational friction -  1 Pet. 3:7
              Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
11. Get in a fellowship - Eph. 6:18
              And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

 Now I still believe this to be true in that when there is no sin blocking our communication, we pray according to Biblical guidlines passionately in faith, and abide in the vine - we will be so in tune with God that our prayers will become His prayers. In other words we will be asking for what He wants rather than what we want and thus we will always get what "we" want. But in the rest of this blog bear with me as I try to give a different slant on prayer.
        This is the traditional approach to prayer; we have problems which drive us to prayer to get results or answers.

                  Problems  ------> Prayer -------> Answers

So according to the above 11 points we are focusing on the 2nd arrow because answers are the bottom line as seen below;


                                               confidence, obedience, abiding, passion,biblical examples, faith, etc.
              Problems -------> Prayer ----------------------------------------------> Answers

Let me take you back to Hebrews 5:7 " During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission." Do you see that! Jesus our greatest example in Gethsemene prayed with sweat drops of blood that if there were any other way other than the cross let it be done. Now do you think Jesus followed the 11 conditions for getting prayers answered that I listed above? Of course! Did he get the answer He wanted? No, but He got something better; He was heard. Have you ever wrapped your mind around the fact that when you pray the God of Isaiah 6, Daniel 7, Ezekiel 1, Exodus 19,33, and Revelation 4 actually hears you just like when you are in a conversation with an earthly friend, spouse, etc. I think our prayer diagram should look more like the below diagram with prayer being the bottom line. Prayer should be the culmination not answers.


Problems ----------> Prayer-----------> Answers

See that - prayer redefined. God gives/allows problems in our lives to drive us to our knees so we can experience that relationship with him that we were created for, to experience that oneness with him that Jesus prayed for (John 17:23), and possibly more important than that, acknowledging our utter dependence, allegiance, and submission to Him which gives Him the glory He deserves. That is truly why we exist - for the praise of His glory - and prayer makes that happen. This is not just some random thought but is seen all through scripture. Therefore this is what finally happens to our diagram:

                                                   obedience, passion, biblical examples, faith, confidence, abiding, etc.
Problems ----------> Prayer <--------------------------------------------------- Answers

See the difference? The answers are what strengthens our relationship with God and the magnification of His glory.(The < is pointing the other direction) The confession of sin/obedience that used to be on our checklist of things to do in order to get  what we want now is done to give us a more intimate relationship with God. The passionate prayers deepen our emotional connection with our heavenly Father rather than part of a formula to get answers. The confidence in getting answers now becomes a confidence in The Faithful and True One.And so on,you get the point - I hope.
              I encourage you to rethink prayer. Prayer is the bottom line.

Kids Devotion - Anxiety, worry, fear

1. Watch the video.
2. Why was Doug worried? Were his fears justified? How did Doug react to his fears?
3. Websters defines anxiety as ; an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs (as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it. Put that in your own words.
    What are you afraid of? Have you ever been afraid of a situation and then when it was over you realized there was nothing really to be afraid of? Discuss it.
4. Read 1Kings 19. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Kings%2019&version=NIV Elijah had just won a great victory on Mt. Carmel and the people rallied around God and killed all the prophets of Baal. Immediately after that Elijah became scared to death of what? Was his fear justified? Why or why not?
What 2 things helped Elijah thru his anxiety?
5. Tell your parents about something you are worried about and turn it over to God. Watch and see how God takes care of it.

Where Did Thanksgiving Go?

        Dennis Hutchinson shared this idea with me so I thought I would steal it from him. Have you ever noticed how Walmart goes from selling trick-or-treat candy half price straight to Christmas decorations? By Nov.1st we hear Christmas songs playing in ToysRUs or Lifeway Christian Stores for that matter. Whatever happened to Thanksgiving? Now I understand the need for this in our economy - Christmas and Halloween have become the 1,2 punch in consumer holidays. Now don't get me wrong, I can't wait to start listening to my new Christmas music which came out October 26th. Afterall, "We Gather Together to Ask The Lord's Blessing" is the only Thanksgiving song I know .(although "Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart" and "I Will Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving in My Heart" will soon be 25 years old and thus enter the Hymnal) Also, celebrating the birth of Jesus is 10 months too late in coming in my estimation.
          But note what the Bible says in 2Timothy 3 ; ¹This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
 ²For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,...

      Could it possibly be that as a society, as God is increasingly forced out of the picture (like the above turkeys) we forget to be thankful to God and thus miss or skip a month of thankfulness? We even historically redefine Thanksgiving as the pilgrims (native Europeans) got together with the Native Americans and they gave thanks to the Native Americans for helping them learn how to survive. Didn't they get together for a day of thanks to God? The word "thankful" by Webster's definition - conscious of benefit received - implies that someone has given us something and we are grateful to them for these blessings bestowed on us. As we increasingly remove God from the picture in these last days, Thanksgiving basically becomes non -sensical as seen in this movie clip.
        Let's, as Christians, not race through to Christmas but see November as a month to be thankful to our God for his grace and mercy to us because after all according to Heb. 12:28 thankfulness is indicative  of someone on their way to Heaven ; "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful..."
               Happy Thanksgiving

Kids Devotion - Forgiveness

1. Watch the video.
2. Read 1Cor. 13:5 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20cor%2013:5&version=WE. What did Davey do when Goliath broke the kite? Why? How did he obey the above verse?
3. Read Jonah 4. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jonah%204&version=MSG. A lot of people think Jonah didn't want to go to Ninevah because he was scared. This passage actually says that he was really just afraid that God would forgive these people who Jonah didn't love, and thats just what God did. Why would God forgive these wicked people? What did Jonah love in chapter 4 more than the people? Who did Davey love more than Teddy?
4. Is there anyone that has done something to you that you haven't forgiven? Why don't you forgive them now.

2010 Christmas Releases

Here is my top 4. It has been a very weak year for Christmas music! Many of the compilations have songs previously released as in Gotee's Christmas. Point of Grace easily put out the worst Christmas album. I'm not saying this just because I'm a guy. My wife was saying, "Can't you fastforward?" So here goes from 1 to 4. A little explanation - #3 was 2 EPs (short albums) so I combined them to make one good album. #4 was a disclaimer; if you like alternative music you will like Happy Christmas 5. If you don't you will be happy with David Phelps. No one can like both. (sort of like God and money)

#1

#2

+

#'s 3

#'s 4

The Blessings of God

Why is it when we think about the blessing of God and pray for it, we mainly think of it in terms of financial or physical blessing. God has promised to bless us if we are following him and there are 539 verses on blessing. I picked some of my favorite and put them to music. Watch this video and "forget not all his benefits"!

Teen devotion - Conformity

1. Watch the video
2. Read this definition for "conform" http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conform
2. Why did the new boy stand out? If you were in his position what would you do? Was it sinful for him to conform?
3. (optional) Read Daniel 1. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=daniel%201&version=NIV What areas did Daniel conform in? What area would he not? Why wouldn't he conform in this area?
4.  Read this passage. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1 Corinthians+9:21-23&version=NIV. What is the reason Paul gives for becoming like people around you?
5. To balance out the previous passage read this one. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%206:16-18&version=NLT  What are the limits to conforming? Come up with a 25 word summary of what the Bible says about conforming.

Abortion and God's Omniscience

        Over the past few weeks I have been reading through Jeremiah. I saw a phrase once and I put a "?" next to it in my Bible because it seemed peculiar to me. Then a few chapters later I saw it again and I thought, "that's odd." But when I saw it a 3rd time I said, "I need to study this one." I cross referenced this phrase throughout the Bible and only found it 3 times - all in Jeremiah. And what is this odd phrase? I'll show you the verses.

Jeremiah 7:31 (New International Version)

³¹ They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind.

Jeremiah 19:5 (New International Version)

⁵ They have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter my mind.

Jeremiah 32:35 (New International Version)

³⁵ They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to sacrifice their sons and daughters ^[a] to Molech, though I never commanded, nor did it enter my mind, that they should do such a detestable thing and so make Judah sin.

                   Do you see the phrase - "nor did it enter My mind". This is God talking and He is saying there is one thing so terrible, so evil, so heinous, so debase that an omniscient, all-knowing God didn't even consider it; and that is the killing of one's own children offering them to another God. Now we don't have Molech today. We don't have Baal today. What gods would we consider killing our kids for? How about Pride - I'm so ashamed, what would the neighbors think?, what would the youth group think? what would the relatives think? How about Comfort - a child would really cramp my style. I'm just a teen, I've got a lot of fun ahead of me. How about Wealth - I need to go to college, I need to get a good career, I've got to make some money. I can't afford to raise a baby. So what people do is offer up their babies to the gods of pride, comfort, and wealth and kill them.
                Obviously, the argument to this is -a fetus isn't a baby and that is an argument for another day. Also, I'm not arguing the traditional view that God knows everything. "Never entering My mind" is probably just a humanizing phrase about God comparable to resting under His wings doesn't mean God has wings. But I still found it intriguing how killing children seems to be the lowest behavior for mankind and how disgusted God is with it.

Kids Devotion - Video Games

 1. Watch the video
 2. Read 1 Timothy 6:17 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20tim%206:17&version=NIV. Is God against us having fun or enjoyment? Is God against video games?
 3. Read 1 Corinthians 6:12 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%206:12&version=NLT. What is the danger of video games? Are there other areas in life that aren't "bad" but can cause us to get mastered by them.
 4. Read Psalms 42:1-2 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+42:1-3&version=NIV. What should consume us?
 5. Look up Psalms 101:3 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20101:3&version=NLT Discuss what "vile" and "vulgar" mean and how it might pertain to the entertainment areas of your kid's lives and the video games they play.
         If you have extra time watch this video on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVlod4SdLD8&ob=av2e and discuss it along with question 4.

Kids Devotion - Finders Keepers

1. Watch the video - what did Davey find?
2. Have you ever found anything? What did you do with it?
3. What was the quote Davey used about finding things?  _______s ________s, _______s ________s
4. Read Rom. 12:15. How does this go against the above quote?
5. How did the collar change once they realized whose money it really was?
6. Look up Prov.10:2 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=prov%2010:2&version=NLT) and Prov. 21.6 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=prov%2021:6&version=TNIV) How do these verses explain Davey and Goliath's change of heart about the collar?
7. Develop a policy of what you should do when you find something.

Christian music reviews

Here is going to be my grading scale.
1 - worst album of the year
2 - regretted listening to it once
3 - worth one listen
4 - one good song
5 - two to three good songs
6 - four good songs
7 - five good songs
8 - six good songs
9 - seven good songs
10 - instant classic
I will review the albums I'm interested in. I've also decided not to review EPs as my protest against them. . Just remember, music is all personal taste. My 1 could be your 10 so don't get bent out of shape!

2

6.5

6.5

4

6

7

3.5

7.5

4.5

4

8.5

3

1

3.5

Why Work?

       I was reading where 10 people split a $150 million Jackpot and they interviewed each one and asked what they were going to do now. Every one of them said "quit my job". I found that fascinating. Would you quit your job if you won the lottery? If the only reason we work is because WORK = $$$ then if you get enough $$$ you might as well quit work. What I want to address is that there is so much more to work than money and try to give you a 7 point Biblical view of "Why Work?". Women, points 1 and 3 may not apply but the rest certainly does.
        1. Work is part of our nature - When everything was right in the universe what did we do - work (Gen. 2:15) When everything will be right in the universe what will we do - work. (Rev. 22:3,5) Work gives us joy and fulfillment. (Ecc. 2:24, 3:22, 8:15) Have you seen an unemployed guy or a Mr. Mom? Sure they like it for a while but eventually they are miserable, unfulfilled, and feel unrespected as a man. It is "in us" to work. That is how we are "wired".
        2. It is sinful to be lazy - Proverbs 6:5-10, 15:19, 21:25,26 and Ecc. 10:15 all refer to the sluggard as being unrighteous, not upright, and a fool. God is pleased when we work (He did- Genesis 1 and still does John 5:17)  because it is His character, too.Also, when we don't work and are idle, we tend to gravitate toward sinful behavior. (2 Thes.3:11,12) It is important to stay busy.
        3. To meet our NEEDS and our family's NEEDS - This is the whole WORK=$$$ argument. We need to work to eat and if we don't work we don't deserve to eat (2Thes. 3:7-11). If we aren't meeting our family's needs we are worse than an unbeliever. (1Tim. 5:7-9). The question is what about our WANTS? That question is much more individual and beyond the scope of this blog but use 1Timothy 6:6-10 as a warning. Could it be that your wants are the impetus for your dual income living?
       4. To serve - God is continually sanctifying us in the "serving" area because this is so contrary to who we are. The 2 greatest commands are to Love God and Love your neighbor. We learn in 1Cor. 13 "the greatest of these is love". God is Love. What is "Love"? Andrew Murray says "Love is the deep desire to give itself up for the beloved." It is all about considering others above ourselves. The opposite of love is not hate it is selfishness. So as God changes us through the Holy Spirit indwelling us, His biggest job is getting us to die to ourselves. 3 areas he uses in us as men are marriage (I'm convinced all fights stem from selfishness), fathering (are you going to give up doing what you want to do to do what your child wants and needs to do?), and work.
              Col. 3:22-24 talks about when we serve our boss we are actually serving Christ. How often do we hear people complain, "I am making minimum wage while this company is making millions off of me. Its not fair." Brothers, this is the goal of work, to make those who hired us rich. We should be thrilled that our serving them has blessed them! That is our goal but it is SO contrary to our nature. And if you happen to be a boss your goal should be to advance those "below" you. You are responsible for meeting their needs, getting their kids an education, their health, retirement, and even career advancement to the point they outgrow you, even. You are serving them. Thats Biblical.
          5. To witness - People are always asking me, "When are you going to retire?" Do I look that old? I guess I am 55 so most people work 7 - 10 more years. The problem is my work enables me to have at least 50 witnessing contacts per day. Where would I get that if I retired? There are multiple ways to witness at work but Titus 2:9,10 talks about what a great witness our integrity can be. Do you see work as your missionfield? Do I see myself as a doctor who happens to be a Christian or a Christian who happens to be a doctor? That is what makes all the difference.
                        Also, according to 1Thes. 4:11,12, if we aren't working and are dependent on other people, it is hard to win the "outsiders'" respect. In other words, it is tough to witness to your unsaved neighbors (or be a witness) and be at home not working while they are. It just doesn't give the gospel the platform it deserves. They won't hear it because they will be stumbling over you.
          6. To provide for the poor - Eph. 4:28 is as clear as can be. Do you ever think, "I hope I get a good bonus so I can give it to the Rescue Ministry"? Every day I read my One Year Bible, the "poor" jump off the page at me. Yesterday it was Isa. 58:6,7,10 today it is Isa. 61:1-3, Ps.72:12-14. It's in there!
         7. To provide for ministries sacrificially - Acts 4:32,33. You are the reason pastors can pastor, missionaries can mission, ministries can minister. That is why we work. Note to ministries; points 1-7 also apply to you.
   Work is not our punishment from the "Fall". It is God's character and if we want to follow God and experience life as He has planned for us, rethink WORK.
     

Kids devotion - Who I am when noone is looking

Parents, watch this 6 minute cartoon with your kids and then discuss with your own questions or these thoughts
1. When Johnny figured out time was standing still, what did he decide to do?
2. What would you do if you could do whatever you wanted to do and noone was looking?
3. Read Genesis 6:5,6. Why do you think Johnny decided to do bad things? How does God feel about that according to that verse?
4. Read Eph. 6:6,7. How should you behave when your parents, teachers, coaches, etc. aren't watching? Who is watching all the time?

5. Read Gal. 5:13,14. When we feel like we can do anything we want to do, what should we do?

Al Mohler in Christianity Today - The Good and Bad - Limited Atonement

      My son told me that if you are going to have a blog and call it "Thoughts From the Right Brain" that I should post some original thoughts, not just quote people. Although my media clips and songs and how they relate to the topic were my own thoughts his point is well taken so here are some of my thoughts on a recent article I read in CT on Al Mohler who is the president of Southern Seminary in Louisville,KY which is the flagship seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention.
     Al Mohler is an "impeccably groomed", brilliant, aristocrat with a personal library of 41,000 books and rare artwork, with museum like collectables of Charles Spurgeon and Winston Churchill. He is a frequent contributor to the Washington Post, has appeared on Larry King Live several times and Time Magazine has called him "the reigning intellectual of the evangelical movement in the U.S. Not at all the stereotype you picture when you mention "Southern Baptist". The surprising thing is that this "renaisance man" stands for such fundamentalist views as the inerrancy of scripture, a conservative view of gender roles, conservative politics, creationism , etc. In fact in a matter of 3 years he was able to purge the seminary of liberal professors through means the KGB would have been proud of.
       In my mind this is great! You don't have to check your brain at the door to believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God and I'm thrilled that a person like Al Mohler can be our spokesman. When my oldest son was looking at schools we interviewed at Carson Newman a SBC university in our area. I talked with the head of the religion department about their view of scripture and both he and the president of the school both gave me the same answer, "Well, what do you mean by inerrancy?" It reminded me of when I asked one of my youth group proteges who went off to a liberal school and had a change of heart about his faith if he still believed Jesus is the only way to Heaven. His reply was, "Well, what do you mean by Jesus?" The professor and president also were proud of the fact that they present all views and let the students make an educated decision of what they want to believe. I truly believe this was the direction the SBC was headed and Al Mohler has been instrumental in stemming and reversing that tide of giving in to cultural pressures to appear relevant, thinking that will reach more for the kingdom. Thank God for Al Mohler.
        Now for the bad. Al Mohler is a 5 point calvinist. Now dont get me wrong, if God works that way, who am I to argue. All I would say is thank you Lord for choosing me. I don't know why but I will worship and praise You forever. But the 5th point of Calvinism, limited atonement, I believe is contrary to scripture. It basically say that Christ died only for the elect; the blood spilled on the cross was not for the whole world's sins but only for the people He had chosen ahead of time. Christ therefore on the cross could have looked out over the crowd and said, "I'm dying for you and you, not you, not you, you...". Here are some scriptures that teach otherwise:

Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ²He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1John 2:2

¹⁴And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 1John 4:14

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ²²For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 1Cor 15:21,22

¹⁴For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

  ¹⁹that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.                         2Cor 5:14,15,19

⁵For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.   1 Tim. 2:5,6

 ⁹This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance ¹⁰(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. 1Tim4:9,10

⁹But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

¹⁷For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people   Heb. 2:9,17
 
¹⁵But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! ¹⁶Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. ¹⁷For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
 ¹⁸Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. ¹⁹For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.    Rom 5:15-19

³²For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.  Rom 11:32

⁷He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. ⁹The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
 ²⁹The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!   John 1:7,9,29

³²But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."   John 12:32

¹¹For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.   Titus 2:11

 ⁸"Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. ⁹Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find. Matt 22:8,9

²⁰and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.     Col. 1:20

¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Luke 2:10

 ²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement,^[i] through faith in his blood.    Rom 3:23-25

 ⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
       each of us has turned to our own way;
       and the LORD has laid on him
       the iniquity of us all.   Isa. 53:6

    Coming from a background of Reformed theology I've seen several dangers. One is an intellectual elitism that almost borders on cultish. It says "I am right and everyone else is wrong. When you study enough and get intellectual enough you will come to the light." The second is the loss of evangelical thrust. According to the article the number of baptisms are down. Of course they are. If the elect will come to God no matter what, why evangelize? I know, it's the means by which God acts just like prayer is the means by which God acts so we don't say, "Why pray when God is going to do what he wants to do anyway?" Or they will say "the reformers started Evangelism Explosion." Thank you D.James Kennedy for that. But having been in that way of thinking it's a rare church that has an outreach evangelism team that is flourishing. Its rare to see an altar call - in fact many churches believe it is not scriptural.  And it is rare to see people saved; it just anaesthetizes your zeal for evangelism.
      In conclusion I'm thrilled with Al Mohler I just don't get how a guy so right on can adopt Calvinism to it's full extent.

Why is God so narrow minded?

Hey friends. This is my first attempt at a blog. I hope this whole blog sight helps you grow in Christ and also serves as a resource sight to help you help others grow. As Tim Tebow would say, "God bless"

Also I found a link to a song that talks about it. It was my first ever "Jesus Rock" album from Explo 72 which was a Christian "Woodstock". The band was Armageddon Experience and the song was "One Way". Its funny to listen to it. Christian music has improved so much over the years in quality but not in clarity of message. Every song back then was clear and to the point. http://mp3freeplay.com/track-166555/Armageddon+Experience-One+Way

Here is a clip from one of my favorite preachers ,Peter Briscoe, doing a comparison and contrasting of the major religions. Some people say, "Don't all the religions basically teach the same things?" The answer is NO

Here is a clip from Poseiden Adventure saying there is only one way. How unfair. Maybe people balk at that because they don't believe the peril they are in.