Music Mondays

On Sunday, we looked at Scripture's most extended description of heaven. 

So on this Music Monday, I had no better ideas but to feature some classic heaven-themed music. They represent what's true and good about Christian music. But they also represent what makes you cringe about Christian music. So try to ignore the hair, fashion, and over-dramatic acting and focus on the glory, wonder, encouragement, and joy of heaven that these songs communicate.

First a song I previously featured on one of my first posts, "Another Time, Another Place". An incredible and inspiring duet:

Next, an understated but poignant song by Steven Curtis Chapman that lifts our vision past the-here-and-now and towards eternity:

Finally, a fun, borderline silly song that captures the joy and frivolity that will undoubtedly characterize the New Heaven and the New Earth:

Sermon Snippets

"What will heaven be like?"

That question is just as likely to be asked by an adult as it is a toddler. We all are fascinated with the afterlife. The Bible actually speaks very little of it. In fact, Revelation 21-22 is the only major one to describe heaven in depth. 

If I were to answer that question biblically but succinctly, I would say, 'new'.

New. 

We love getting new phones, new clothes, new furniture, and what's better than a new car smell? 
Heaven will be new in every way. In fact, as Revelation describes it, heaven is not merely a 'new' dimension. It is actually a "new heaven and new earth" (21:1). Depending on how you read it, it will either be a totally new world or a renewed earth. But it will be transformed and transforming, either way. Everything will be new, and perfect, and right, and good.

All that is bad about our human existence will be gone. All that is good will be magnified. And best of all, we will be with God. 

We have had tastes of this - the tabernacle and temple, Jesus, the Holy Spirit's presence. But it will be complete and unfettered communion with all of the Trinity all at once.

There is so much more that will characterize heaven and I invite you to come Sunday to discover it (or wait til the recording is up). But for now, let's ponder the hope all believers have of a new existence in a new world.

Music Mondays

Of all the Christian bands and artists out there, there's not a band I've wavered more on than the Newsboys. I got hooked on their early stuff when I was looking for more progressive sounding music my mom would still let me listen to. Then as CCM became a real commercial industry and they gained more popularity, I became less and less enthusiastic about their stuff. Every so often I'd like one of their singles, but I was generally not interested. 

And then they brought on former dc Talk member Michael Tait as their lead vocalist and I was contractually obligated to like them due to my lifelong commitment to enjoy all things dc Talk related.

This week's song selection perfectly encapsulates my feelings towards the band. I don't really turn it up or pay attention if it is on the radio (mostly because it has been overplayed). Yet its message and overall quality is pretty good when I consider them on their own merits.

And since it seems like a natural fit with what I preached on yesterday in Revelation 20, I figure now is as good of a time as any to feature them in a positive way:

Music Mondays

Handel's Messiah oratorio is widely recognized as one of the finest pieces of music ever composed. One of it's most famous and well-revered parts is it's Hallelujah Chorus. It is directly inspired by Revelation including Revelation 19 which we studied last Sunday.

Revelation 19, in context, is a vision of the future worship given to God when Christ returns to judge sin and evil. For a belated Music Monday, I thought I'd feature a top-notch rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus to give us just a taste of what it will be like on that glorious day.

Sermon Snippets

Last week's National Championship Game was the most watched since I was a sophomore in high school. I am thirty-four years old, almost thirty-five.

My favorite team wasn't playing, but I was pulling for the Wisconsin Badgers. By the end of the game, Duke pulled out the win. As is typical in such contests, the Blue Devils were overjoyed in the end, while the Badgers were despondent.














It was one singular event with two vastly different responses, depending on your point of view.

Such will be the case with the long-anticipated and dreaded battle of Armageddon. Unlike the aforementioned basketball game, this future battle will be no contest. T

Revelation 19 captures the two vastly different responses to the return of Christ and the clash at Armageddon. Both responses are pictured in terms of a "supper". On the victorious side, those of God's Kingdom, it is a wedding supper filled with jubilation and celebration. On the defeated side, it is a feast of terror as birds are invited to feast on the flesh of the defeated kings and powers (19:17-18).

We will look in-depth at this contrast tomorrow and how we can live today in light of these future realities

Music Mondays

One thing I've learned about music since my high school days is that songs can't always be taken straightforwardly or literally. There is often nuance and layers - music is art after all. And like some of the best paintings, songs must be absorbed, considered, and even re-evaluated - but more importantly they must be enjoyed for what they are.

This defines the music of Twenty One Pilots to a 'T' in my opinion. Granted, I'm in no real position to assert my opinion as the defining word, but this group consistently pushes its listeners to go deeper and consider issues of real life. Even when they approach the most common of pop music tropes, i.e. the Love Song, they do it uniquely:

I'm surprising myself today in making this my first post featuring this group because I'm all-in with these guys and have been listening to their stuff non-stop for over a year. Their sound cannot be categorized, but like classic art you just know its good stuff.