Thursday, October 8, 2009
the saddest thing about going to Hell
The Saddest Thing About Going to Hell Do you know what the saddest thing about going to hell is? It is not the fact that you will live eternally with very wicked people (Revelation 21:8), It isn't the fact you will be eternally separated from those you love (Luke 16), nor is it the eternal darkness you will always be in (Jude 13), it isn't the fact of eternity without God-that is to say eternal death- (Revelation 20:13-14), it isn't the unspeakable sorrow (Matthew 13), the eternal buring remorse and memory (Luke 16), the unsatisfied cravings (Luke 16) where your tongue will be scorched, but there will not even be one drop of water to quench it, nor is it the eternal despair and hopelessness (Matthew 25:41 and 46), it is not even the flames that will be burning you forever (Matthew 13:41-42 and 49-50), and finally it is not the sounds of the wailing and gnashing of teeth or the sound of skin worms as they eat at your flesh (Mark 9 and Matthew 13). Do you want to know what the saddest thing about Hell is?..It is realizing that you didn't have to go there.1 Tim. 1:15 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.; 2 Pet. 3:9 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,[a] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.John 3:16-18 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.The Bible says"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;" Hebrews 2:3 May be you have never asked Christ to be Lord of your life. If not, and you want to please say this prayer believing in your heart who Jesus says He is and ask Him to come and be the Lord and Savior of your life. Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and unless you save me I am lost forever. I thank you for dying for me at Calvary. I come to you now, Lord the best way I know how, and ask you to save me. I now receive you as my Savior. In Jesus Christ Name, Amen.(Just to clarify, this blog was originally posted by my good friend Greg Baskin, pastor of Osage Mills Baptist Fellowship in NW Arkansas. It was so good, I wanted to make sure more people read it. If you have any questions about how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, please let me know. If I don't have the answer, I will find out for you. No matter where you are in life, please know that having Jesus Christ as your Saviour is the MOST important thing!)
it's God's job (repost from myspace)
Ok, so not everyone will know why I'm posting this, but a select few will. The message is true for all, but in my personal life, I'm seeing this type of thing happen between 2 people and it breaks my heart for the one who is on the recieving end. So, from the wisdom and insight of Max Lucado, here ya' go.
"Wait for the Lord, and He will make things right." Proverbs 20:22
Some of you are in the courtroom. The courtroom of complaint. Some of you are rehashing the same hurt every chance you get with anyone who will listen.
For you, I have this question. Who made you God? I don't mean to be cocky, but why are you doing His work for Him?
"Vengeance is Mine" God declared. "I will repay" (Hebrews 10:30 NKJV).
Judgement is God's job. To assume otherwise is to assume that God can't do it.
Revenge is irreverent...To forvice someone is to desplay reverence. Forgiveness is not saying that the one who hurt you was right. Forgiveness is stating that God is faithful and He will do what is right.
~When God Whispers Your Name~
It's bad enough to hold a grudge and keep replaying it in your own mind, but when you tell others, it makes them think of the other person in a bad way as well. As a new resident of my little town, I want to get to know people for who they are, not what someone else thinks of them. If you're gonna tell me something, I'd prefer to hear it based on this old addage from my mom...
"Is it true, is it needful, is it kind?"
If it doesn't go along with this, I rather someone not even waste their breath to tell me. Having grown up in a small Southern town, I know how tempting it is to spill the beans about what you heard at the beauty shop or what gossip was shared as a "prayer request" by the little old lady at church. There's hurt all around us. Maybe someone said something to you that burned you to the core. Maybe you're the victim of someone else's gossip and it came back to you or it could be that an event happened that you just can't seem to shake. I beg you, give it to God. Let Him handle it. As a Christian, go to His word and see what it says about how you should proceed and go from there. If you have an issue with someone, try to work it out. Don't spread the negativity and try to make yourself feel better by putting someone down! If you can't work it out on your own with that person, seek Godly counsel and meet with the person and your pastor/counsel.
None of us are perfect, we're just sinners saved by His grace. We all slip, we all have times of weakness, but remember this... "His strength is perfect when our strength is gone. He'll carry us when we can't carry on. Raised in His power, the weak become strong.". If you need help getting thru a sticky situation, lean on Him! Don't let something hold you back from the awesome relationship that God wants to have with you. If there is bitterness or a judgmental spirit in your heart, you can't be where you need to be in your walk with the Saviour.
Now I'll hop down off of my soapbox and get some laundry done :)
"Wait for the Lord, and He will make things right." Proverbs 20:22
Some of you are in the courtroom. The courtroom of complaint. Some of you are rehashing the same hurt every chance you get with anyone who will listen.
For you, I have this question. Who made you God? I don't mean to be cocky, but why are you doing His work for Him?
"Vengeance is Mine" God declared. "I will repay" (Hebrews 10:30 NKJV).
Judgement is God's job. To assume otherwise is to assume that God can't do it.
Revenge is irreverent...To forvice someone is to desplay reverence. Forgiveness is not saying that the one who hurt you was right. Forgiveness is stating that God is faithful and He will do what is right.
~When God Whispers Your Name~
It's bad enough to hold a grudge and keep replaying it in your own mind, but when you tell others, it makes them think of the other person in a bad way as well. As a new resident of my little town, I want to get to know people for who they are, not what someone else thinks of them. If you're gonna tell me something, I'd prefer to hear it based on this old addage from my mom...
"Is it true, is it needful, is it kind?"
If it doesn't go along with this, I rather someone not even waste their breath to tell me. Having grown up in a small Southern town, I know how tempting it is to spill the beans about what you heard at the beauty shop or what gossip was shared as a "prayer request" by the little old lady at church. There's hurt all around us. Maybe someone said something to you that burned you to the core. Maybe you're the victim of someone else's gossip and it came back to you or it could be that an event happened that you just can't seem to shake. I beg you, give it to God. Let Him handle it. As a Christian, go to His word and see what it says about how you should proceed and go from there. If you have an issue with someone, try to work it out. Don't spread the negativity and try to make yourself feel better by putting someone down! If you can't work it out on your own with that person, seek Godly counsel and meet with the person and your pastor/counsel.
None of us are perfect, we're just sinners saved by His grace. We all slip, we all have times of weakness, but remember this... "His strength is perfect when our strength is gone. He'll carry us when we can't carry on. Raised in His power, the weak become strong.". If you need help getting thru a sticky situation, lean on Him! Don't let something hold you back from the awesome relationship that God wants to have with you. If there is bitterness or a judgmental spirit in your heart, you can't be where you need to be in your walk with the Saviour.
Now I'll hop down off of my soapbox and get some laundry done :)
it's time to celebrate (old blog repost)
Just in case you missed my "status" update, last night, my 5 year old daughter Mackenzie accepted the gift of eternal life! She was praying along and then just out of the blue, she said something to this effect..."Jesus, I know that I'm not good enough by myself to get to Heaven, because I sin and sin can't come into Heaven. I believe that you died for my sin but you didn't stay dead, you came back to life so that I could live forever.Would you please forgive me for the bad things I have done and make my heart all clean? I want to be with you forever and tell people about you".
I was blown away by her approach and how bold she was as she prayed. Over the past few months, she's been talking about salvation a lot, but knowing how easily kids can be "talked" into "asking Jesus into their heart" without having a real understanding of the true sacrifice that Christ made for us and the gift of grace, I didn't push it. I just kept praying for her and letting her know that if she ever wanted to talk about it or had questions, that Michael and I would help her with them. From the time she was about 3 and she asked about where people went if they didn't "love Jesus" when they died. I was honest and let her know that no matter how good the person is, if they didn't accept the free gift of grace, they would go to hell. She of course, she then proceeded to tell a few people fairly bluntly "If you don't love Jesus, you've gotta go to hell". Out of the mouths of babes...she didn't care who she could offend.
The past 7-8 months or so, she's been thanking Him for dying on the cross for her sins and for the rest of the world, and praying for people she knows that haven't accepted Christ or are sick. Such sweet prayers they are, if you could only hear them! She prays for her kindergarten teacher to sleep good and have a good day teaching, for her friends and even her Papa and Nana's salvation.
I always thought that the day she was physically born was amazing, but it's so much more awesome knowing that she has made the ultimate choice in life, to follow our Saviour! She didn't waste any time either, she was telling friends at school about getting saved and get this... when I picked her up, she said "Mom, there was a 1st grader I was talking to and I asked her if she knows the Lord and then I told her my AWANA verses (John 3:16 and 1 John 4:14) so that she would know about Jesus too!" The fact that she is stepping out already and sharing her faith is so encouraging! I'm gonna head to bed now. Listening to the debate made my brain tired :)
I was blown away by her approach and how bold she was as she prayed. Over the past few months, she's been talking about salvation a lot, but knowing how easily kids can be "talked" into "asking Jesus into their heart" without having a real understanding of the true sacrifice that Christ made for us and the gift of grace, I didn't push it. I just kept praying for her and letting her know that if she ever wanted to talk about it or had questions, that Michael and I would help her with them. From the time she was about 3 and she asked about where people went if they didn't "love Jesus" when they died. I was honest and let her know that no matter how good the person is, if they didn't accept the free gift of grace, they would go to hell. She of course, she then proceeded to tell a few people fairly bluntly "If you don't love Jesus, you've gotta go to hell". Out of the mouths of babes...she didn't care who she could offend.
The past 7-8 months or so, she's been thanking Him for dying on the cross for her sins and for the rest of the world, and praying for people she knows that haven't accepted Christ or are sick. Such sweet prayers they are, if you could only hear them! She prays for her kindergarten teacher to sleep good and have a good day teaching, for her friends and even her Papa and Nana's salvation.
I always thought that the day she was physically born was amazing, but it's so much more awesome knowing that she has made the ultimate choice in life, to follow our Saviour! She didn't waste any time either, she was telling friends at school about getting saved and get this... when I picked her up, she said "Mom, there was a 1st grader I was talking to and I asked her if she knows the Lord and then I told her my AWANA verses (John 3:16 and 1 John 4:14) so that she would know about Jesus too!" The fact that she is stepping out already and sharing her faith is so encouraging! I'm gonna head to bed now. Listening to the debate made my brain tired :)
4 questions...
I was raised in church, so pretty much every story that you'd learn in Sunday School, I learned from an early age. I understood that salvation was a free gift, and that although God never WANTS us to go to hell, if we don't accept His free gift, that is our destination. At the age of 6, I asked my mom to tell me how to accept this free gift. We were huddled down in the hallway under a mattress because there was a tornado on it's way to our area. I was scared and thought that I may die, and I knew that unless I did something, I could miss out on God's gift of eternal life. I prayed along with my mom and then a few weeks later, I was baptized. I was so short that I had to stand on a metal chair to see over the baptistry walls. I don't doubt that a young child can accept Christ as their Saviour, but I now realize that it can't just stop there. I'm not saying that I didn't continue to learn about the Bible, but I didn't learn about the character of God and His awesome attributes. It wasn't until I was an adult that I learned how important it is to know God, not just know about Him. When you know about someone, you may be able to quote every statistic or fact about their life, but when you KNOW them, you gain so much more prospective. As you grow in your walk with God, He reveals Himself in such amazing ways! A cloudy day that most people don't even pay attention to can be a reminder of His goodness, a rainbow can remind of His promises and the sight of a newborn baby a reminder of the new life only He can give.
As a parent, I have been trying to teach my girls how important it is to say thank you. We even have to say thank you when someone gives us a gift we don't really like, because the giver put thought and effort into giving it to us. That's hard for a 4 year old, especially one as vocal and unfiltered as Maddie. Sometimes thing come up in our lives that don't make sense. We thank Him when things are going well, but His love never changes and all too many times we forget to thank Him for that unchanging and never-ending love. If you're a mom or dad, aunt or uncle, grandparent or if you don't have kids yet, please remember to take time to teach even the youngest people in your lives about the awesome love of our King! He gave so much for us, and even the dirtiest, smelliest little kid needs not only our love, but the love of our Father. We are His hands and feet, and when we see how much He has done for us, we should be letting the abundance of His goodness and love pour out into our community.
Below I've copied/pasted a simple way to tell kids about how they can have a relationship with our Heavenly Father. It seems so simple , yet there are so many who don't know! Please take time to talk to the youngsters in your life about how great God really is. As you share point 3 with them, please emphasize the fact that salvation isn't just a way to avoid hell, but it's a way to have the greatest love, the love of our Father, in their lives forever.
Kids, we're all in deep trouble and some of us don't even know it.
The Bible tells us in Romans that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
God hates sin. He is perfect and He wants us to be perfect.
He is so holy that somebody has to pay for our sins.
God loves us so much that He gave us a way out of our punishment.
He sent His Son Jesus to pay the penalty for the sins of everyone who believes.
Jesus never sinned, and He died on the cross for us.
We know that God was satisfied with Jesus' sacrifice because God raised Him from the grave.
Jesus is in heaven now, getting ready to come back some day.
If we want to escape our punishment we have to believe in Jesus and follow Him.
We have to give up and turn away from our sins.
Jesus will help us do that. Believing and following Jesus does more than help us escape punishment.
Jesus wants to be our friend and He makes our life right now pretty special.
He also promises that when we die, we will go to be with Him in heaven forever.
Grown-ups call that eternal life.
If you want to be saved from sin, you don't need to wait. You can pray to Jesus right now:
Dear Lord Jesus: I know that I am a sinner and I believe that you died to pay the penalty for my sins. Thank you for taking my punishment. Please come into my heart and help me to live for you. Amen.
You can learn more about Jesus and how to live for Him by talking to someone else who is saved and by going to a good church or Sunday School.
As a parent, I have been trying to teach my girls how important it is to say thank you. We even have to say thank you when someone gives us a gift we don't really like, because the giver put thought and effort into giving it to us. That's hard for a 4 year old, especially one as vocal and unfiltered as Maddie. Sometimes thing come up in our lives that don't make sense. We thank Him when things are going well, but His love never changes and all too many times we forget to thank Him for that unchanging and never-ending love. If you're a mom or dad, aunt or uncle, grandparent or if you don't have kids yet, please remember to take time to teach even the youngest people in your lives about the awesome love of our King! He gave so much for us, and even the dirtiest, smelliest little kid needs not only our love, but the love of our Father. We are His hands and feet, and when we see how much He has done for us, we should be letting the abundance of His goodness and love pour out into our community.
Below I've copied/pasted a simple way to tell kids about how they can have a relationship with our Heavenly Father. It seems so simple , yet there are so many who don't know! Please take time to talk to the youngsters in your life about how great God really is. As you share point 3 with them, please emphasize the fact that salvation isn't just a way to avoid hell, but it's a way to have the greatest love, the love of our Father, in their lives forever.
Kids, we're all in deep trouble and some of us don't even know it.
The Bible tells us in Romans that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
God hates sin. He is perfect and He wants us to be perfect.
He is so holy that somebody has to pay for our sins.
God loves us so much that He gave us a way out of our punishment.
He sent His Son Jesus to pay the penalty for the sins of everyone who believes.
Jesus never sinned, and He died on the cross for us.
We know that God was satisfied with Jesus' sacrifice because God raised Him from the grave.
Jesus is in heaven now, getting ready to come back some day.
If we want to escape our punishment we have to believe in Jesus and follow Him.
We have to give up and turn away from our sins.
Jesus will help us do that. Believing and following Jesus does more than help us escape punishment.
Jesus wants to be our friend and He makes our life right now pretty special.
He also promises that when we die, we will go to be with Him in heaven forever.
Grown-ups call that eternal life.
If you want to be saved from sin, you don't need to wait. You can pray to Jesus right now:
Dear Lord Jesus: I know that I am a sinner and I believe that you died to pay the penalty for my sins. Thank you for taking my punishment. Please come into my heart and help me to live for you. Amen.
You can learn more about Jesus and how to live for Him by talking to someone else who is saved and by going to a good church or Sunday School.
so you wanna be a rock star...
This is an older blog from my myspace account but I wanted to share it. I'll be posting others that meant something to me, so bear with the multiple blogs today.
So You Wanna Be A Rock Star
by Keith Green
For as long as be could remember, Keith Green's greatest dream was to be a musical success. After be gave his life to Jesus, however, he felt the need to surrender those dreams and aspirations by laying down his music...perhaps never to perform publicly again.
Ironically, when sometime later he felt God release him to pick up his music again, he soon had a recording contract and his first album soared straight to the top of the Contemporary Christian Music charts.
The following message was birthed out of Keith's encounters with those who approached him, usually after a concert, to ask how they too could "make it big" in Christian music.
Today, so many people ask me if I can tell them how they can start or enter into a music ministry. At concerts I get countless questions about this, and I also get lots of letters and even some long-distance phone calls from many people who feel they are only "called" into the music "ministry." One day I began to ask myself why so few have ever asked me how to become a missionary, or even a local street preacher, or how to disciple a new believer. It seems everyone would prefer the "bright lights" of what they think a music ministry would be, rather than the mud and obscurity of the mission field, or the streets of the ghetto, or even the true spiritual sweetness of just being a nobody whom the Lord uses mightily in small "everyday" ways.
Are You Willing?
My answer to their question is almost always the same. "Are you willing to never play music again? Are you willing to be a nothing? Are you willing to go anywhere and do anything for Christ? Are you willing to stay right where you are and let the Lord do great things through you, though no one may seem to notice at all?" They all seem to answer each of these questions with a quick "yes!" But I really doubt if they know what their answer entails.
Star Struck
My dearest family in Jesus...why are we so star struck? Why do we idolize Christian singers and speakers? We go from glorifying musicians in the world, to glorifying Christian musicians. It's all idolatry! Can't you see that? It's true that there are many men and women of God who are greatly anointed to call down the Spirit of God on His people and the unsaved. But Satan is getting a great victory as we seem to worship these ministers on tapes and records, and clamor to get their autographs in churches and concert halls from coast to coast.
Can't you see that you are hurting these ministers? They try desperately to tell you that they don't deserve to be praised, and because of this you squeal with delight and praise them all the more. You're smothering them, making it almost impossible for them to see that it's really Jesus. They keep telling themselves that, but you keep telling them it's really them, crushing their humility and grieving the Spirit that is trying to keep their eyes on Jesus.
Ultimately, what we idolize we ourselves desire to become, sometimes with our whole heart. So a lot of people who want to become just like their favorite Gospel singer or minister, seek after it with the same fervor that the Lord demands we seek after Him! And again, we insult the Spirit of Grace and try to make a place for ourselves, rather than a place for Jesus.
A Thankless Job
How come no one idolizes or praises the missionaries who give up everything and live in poverty, endangering their lives and families with every danger that the "American dream" has almost completely eliminated? How come no one lifts up and exalts the ghetto and prison ministers who can never take up an offering, because if they did they would either laugh or cry at what they'd receive?
How come?
Because (1) we're taught from very early on that comfort is our goal and security… and (2) that we should always seek for a lot of people to like us. Who lives less comfortably and has had less friends and supporters than the selfless missionaries who have suffered untimely, premature deaths trying to conquer souls and nations for the whole glory of God? Do you really believe we're living in the very last times? Then why do you spend more money on Gospel records and concerts than you give to organizations that feed the poor, or to missionaries out in the field?
There are ministries all over the world where "penniless" people are being saved and transformed. They are broken people who have promise and qualities, but just need someone to bring them God's light during the times when their lives seem so completely hopeless.
I repent of ever having recorded one single song, and ever having performed one concert, if my music, and more importantly, my life has not provoked you into Godly jealousy (Romans 11:11) or to sell out more completely to Jesus!
Quit trying to make "gods" out of music ministers, and quit desiring to become like them. The Lord commands you, "Deny yourself take up your cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23). My piano is not my cross, it is my tool. I'd never play it again if God would show me a more effective tool in my life for proclaiming His Gospel.[God gives us each our own unique tools. But we may never use them if we become more interested in someone else's. Seek God, ask Him for His plan for ministry (true, God glorifying ministry) in your life.]
Conclusion
To finish, let me say that the only music minister to whom the Lord will say, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant," is the one whose life proves what their lyrics are saying, and to whom music is the least important part of their life. Glorifying the only worthy One has to be a minister's most important goal!
Let's all repent of the idolatry in our hearts and our desires for a comfortable, rewarding life when, really, the Bible tells us we are just passing through as strangers and pilgrims in this world (Hebrews 11:13), for our reward is in heaven. Let's not forget that our due service to the Lord is "... not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake"(Phil. 1:29).
Amen. Let us die graciously together and endure to the end like brave soldiers who give their lives, without hesitation, for our noble and glorious King of Light.
+++++My father in law has been converting some of his old records to mp3's and sent me some of the files to listen to the "Jesus music" that he was into in the 70's. The music on some may sound odd to us now, but the lyrics are still so relevant. I put my favorite quotes in red, and I hope they speak to you as well. The article above is from www.lastdaysministries.org and I'd encourage you to go and read more about Keith Green. +++++
So You Wanna Be A Rock Star
by Keith Green
For as long as be could remember, Keith Green's greatest dream was to be a musical success. After be gave his life to Jesus, however, he felt the need to surrender those dreams and aspirations by laying down his music...perhaps never to perform publicly again.
Ironically, when sometime later he felt God release him to pick up his music again, he soon had a recording contract and his first album soared straight to the top of the Contemporary Christian Music charts.
The following message was birthed out of Keith's encounters with those who approached him, usually after a concert, to ask how they too could "make it big" in Christian music.
Today, so many people ask me if I can tell them how they can start or enter into a music ministry. At concerts I get countless questions about this, and I also get lots of letters and even some long-distance phone calls from many people who feel they are only "called" into the music "ministry." One day I began to ask myself why so few have ever asked me how to become a missionary, or even a local street preacher, or how to disciple a new believer. It seems everyone would prefer the "bright lights" of what they think a music ministry would be, rather than the mud and obscurity of the mission field, or the streets of the ghetto, or even the true spiritual sweetness of just being a nobody whom the Lord uses mightily in small "everyday" ways.
Are You Willing?
My answer to their question is almost always the same. "Are you willing to never play music again? Are you willing to be a nothing? Are you willing to go anywhere and do anything for Christ? Are you willing to stay right where you are and let the Lord do great things through you, though no one may seem to notice at all?" They all seem to answer each of these questions with a quick "yes!" But I really doubt if they know what their answer entails.
Star Struck
My dearest family in Jesus...why are we so star struck? Why do we idolize Christian singers and speakers? We go from glorifying musicians in the world, to glorifying Christian musicians. It's all idolatry! Can't you see that? It's true that there are many men and women of God who are greatly anointed to call down the Spirit of God on His people and the unsaved. But Satan is getting a great victory as we seem to worship these ministers on tapes and records, and clamor to get their autographs in churches and concert halls from coast to coast.
Can't you see that you are hurting these ministers? They try desperately to tell you that they don't deserve to be praised, and because of this you squeal with delight and praise them all the more. You're smothering them, making it almost impossible for them to see that it's really Jesus. They keep telling themselves that, but you keep telling them it's really them, crushing their humility and grieving the Spirit that is trying to keep their eyes on Jesus.
Ultimately, what we idolize we ourselves desire to become, sometimes with our whole heart. So a lot of people who want to become just like their favorite Gospel singer or minister, seek after it with the same fervor that the Lord demands we seek after Him! And again, we insult the Spirit of Grace and try to make a place for ourselves, rather than a place for Jesus.
A Thankless Job
How come no one idolizes or praises the missionaries who give up everything and live in poverty, endangering their lives and families with every danger that the "American dream" has almost completely eliminated? How come no one lifts up and exalts the ghetto and prison ministers who can never take up an offering, because if they did they would either laugh or cry at what they'd receive?
How come?
Because (1) we're taught from very early on that comfort is our goal and security… and (2) that we should always seek for a lot of people to like us. Who lives less comfortably and has had less friends and supporters than the selfless missionaries who have suffered untimely, premature deaths trying to conquer souls and nations for the whole glory of God? Do you really believe we're living in the very last times? Then why do you spend more money on Gospel records and concerts than you give to organizations that feed the poor, or to missionaries out in the field?
There are ministries all over the world where "penniless" people are being saved and transformed. They are broken people who have promise and qualities, but just need someone to bring them God's light during the times when their lives seem so completely hopeless.
I repent of ever having recorded one single song, and ever having performed one concert, if my music, and more importantly, my life has not provoked you into Godly jealousy (Romans 11:11) or to sell out more completely to Jesus!
Quit trying to make "gods" out of music ministers, and quit desiring to become like them. The Lord commands you, "Deny yourself take up your cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23). My piano is not my cross, it is my tool. I'd never play it again if God would show me a more effective tool in my life for proclaiming His Gospel.[God gives us each our own unique tools. But we may never use them if we become more interested in someone else's. Seek God, ask Him for His plan for ministry (true, God glorifying ministry) in your life.]
Conclusion
To finish, let me say that the only music minister to whom the Lord will say, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant," is the one whose life proves what their lyrics are saying, and to whom music is the least important part of their life. Glorifying the only worthy One has to be a minister's most important goal!
Let's all repent of the idolatry in our hearts and our desires for a comfortable, rewarding life when, really, the Bible tells us we are just passing through as strangers and pilgrims in this world (Hebrews 11:13), for our reward is in heaven. Let's not forget that our due service to the Lord is "... not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake"(Phil. 1:29).
Amen. Let us die graciously together and endure to the end like brave soldiers who give their lives, without hesitation, for our noble and glorious King of Light.
+++++My father in law has been converting some of his old records to mp3's and sent me some of the files to listen to the "Jesus music" that he was into in the 70's. The music on some may sound odd to us now, but the lyrics are still so relevant. I put my favorite quotes in red, and I hope they speak to you as well. The article above is from www.lastdaysministries.org and I'd encourage you to go and read more about Keith Green. +++++
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
13 million per year...
I just read an article that truly breaks my heart. As a family, we pray for the country of China and it's people. The Gospel message is not freely spoken there, and those who do believe in Jesus Christ are persecuted harshly for their beliefs, sometimes even killed. With the news that 13 million abortions are performed in China each year, it is even more reason for us to pray for the love of God to break through the barriers that their government has built. America is by no means innocent of murdering our own young, at the rate of over 1 million in the last year, but at least for now we have our religious freedoms. With the way things are going now, we cannot count on that always being the case. Please friends, take a moment during your quiet time or when you see something that reminds you, to pray for China!
13 million abortions in China each year
Thu, Jul 30, 2009 (Reuters) — Some 13 million abortions are carried out in China each year, in part because there is little education about contraception or disease for the rising numbers of young people who are having sex, state media said on Thursday.
Fewer than one in three callers to a Shanghai hotline knew how to avoid pregnancy, and only one in five were informed about venereal disease, the official China Daily quoted a survey by the city's 411 Army Hospital saying.
"Sex is no longer considered taboo among young people today, and they believe they can learn everything they need from the Internet. But it doesn't mean they have developed a proper understanding or attitude toward it," the paper quoted hospital gynecologist Yu Dongyan saying.
Until the 1990s, doctors asked for women's marital status at abortion clinics, which were part of the family planning system that limited urban couples to one child.
Now, government data shows that nearly two thirds of women who have abortions are between 20 and 29, and most are single, the paper said.
Birth control information is mainly given to young couples.
Some single women may also be driven to seek abortions because under current laws unmarried mothers cannot get a "hukou" or household registration card for their child.
Without one it is extremely hard for Chinese citizens to get access to education, healthcare and other public services. China also sells about 10 million abortion pills a year, and there are many other abortions performed in unregistered clinics, the paper quoted Wu Shangchun, a division director at the National Population and Family Planning Commission, as saying.
In the United States, by contrast, which has a population less than one-quarter that of China, official figures from the Center for Disease Control show there were 820,000 abortions performed in 2005, excluding California, Louisiana and New Hampshire for which no figures were provided.
Sun Xiaohong from the education department of Shanghai's family planning authority said it was difficult to promote sex education in schools because some teachers and parents thought it would encourage teenagers to become sexually active.
Ordinary web users in China will be banned from surfing sex-related medical and research websites from July, amid an Internet crackdown on pornographic online content, that threatens to make information about sexual health even harder to access.
13 million abortions in China each year
Thu, Jul 30, 2009 (Reuters) — Some 13 million abortions are carried out in China each year, in part because there is little education about contraception or disease for the rising numbers of young people who are having sex, state media said on Thursday.
Fewer than one in three callers to a Shanghai hotline knew how to avoid pregnancy, and only one in five were informed about venereal disease, the official China Daily quoted a survey by the city's 411 Army Hospital saying.
"Sex is no longer considered taboo among young people today, and they believe they can learn everything they need from the Internet. But it doesn't mean they have developed a proper understanding or attitude toward it," the paper quoted hospital gynecologist Yu Dongyan saying.
Until the 1990s, doctors asked for women's marital status at abortion clinics, which were part of the family planning system that limited urban couples to one child.
Now, government data shows that nearly two thirds of women who have abortions are between 20 and 29, and most are single, the paper said.
Birth control information is mainly given to young couples.
Some single women may also be driven to seek abortions because under current laws unmarried mothers cannot get a "hukou" or household registration card for their child.
Without one it is extremely hard for Chinese citizens to get access to education, healthcare and other public services. China also sells about 10 million abortion pills a year, and there are many other abortions performed in unregistered clinics, the paper quoted Wu Shangchun, a division director at the National Population and Family Planning Commission, as saying.
In the United States, by contrast, which has a population less than one-quarter that of China, official figures from the Center for Disease Control show there were 820,000 abortions performed in 2005, excluding California, Louisiana and New Hampshire for which no figures were provided.
Sun Xiaohong from the education department of Shanghai's family planning authority said it was difficult to promote sex education in schools because some teachers and parents thought it would encourage teenagers to become sexually active.
Ordinary web users in China will be banned from surfing sex-related medical and research websites from July, amid an Internet crackdown on pornographic online content, that threatens to make information about sexual health even harder to access.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
What this world needs
I am not much a "radio" gal, I prefer to listen to my favorite bands. Anyway, Michael just got some speakers to hook up to the HTPC and we were listening to Casting Crowns. The lyrics really caught my attention and I wanted to share, just in case you'd never heard/read them. This phrase in particular is SO relevant in today's churches, especially the super conservative ones. They expect people's "dress code" to change the moment they walk into the church building, but what they don't realize is that AFTER their hearts are changed by Him, then they will see that modesty is important. And as an FYI, if you know me, you know that I choose very modest clothing, yet I still wear pants and don't see anything in the Word that tells me that I should only wear skirts or culottes. I'm not bashing you if you feel that way, but I don't think you should shove that belief down someone's throat or judge them for not thinking the way you do. Anyhoo, here's the quote I love... "Have we become so blind that we can't see God's gotta change her heart before He changes her shirt."
Here is the remainder of the song...
What this world needs
Is not another one hit wonder with an axe to grind
Another two bit politician peddling lies
Another three ring circus society
What this world needs
Is not another sign waving super saint that's better than you
Another ear pleasing candy man afraid of the truth
Another prophet in an Armani suit
CHORUS:What this world needs is a Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love them in their time of need
A Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love
That's what this world needs
What this world needs
Is for us to care more about the inside than the outside
Have we become so blind that we can't see
God's gotta change her heart before He changes her shirt
What this world needsIs for us to stop hiding behind our relevance
Blending in so well that people can't see the difference
And it's the difference that sets the world free
Jesus is our Savior, that's what this world needs
Father's arms around you, that's what this world needs
That's what this world needs
Here is the remainder of the song...
What this world needs
Is not another one hit wonder with an axe to grind
Another two bit politician peddling lies
Another three ring circus society
What this world needs
Is not another sign waving super saint that's better than you
Another ear pleasing candy man afraid of the truth
Another prophet in an Armani suit
CHORUS:What this world needs is a Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love them in their time of need
A Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love
That's what this world needs
What this world needs
Is for us to care more about the inside than the outside
Have we become so blind that we can't see
God's gotta change her heart before He changes her shirt
What this world needsIs for us to stop hiding behind our relevance
Blending in so well that people can't see the difference
And it's the difference that sets the world free
Jesus is our Savior, that's what this world needs
Father's arms around you, that's what this world needs
That's what this world needs
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