Music Mondays

In my original Music Monday, I shared that my favorite all-time band was dc Talk. The first and foremost reason is their music. But a lot of bands have made great music and strung together several excellent albums.

One additional reason that helps clinch it for me though is their transparency and honesty. I'm realistic to know that on some level, that 'openness' could be faked. But I'm not cynical enough to completely chalk it up to marketing and brand management. Even in their promotional video for "Free at Last", there's a clip of renowned author Brennan Manning calling the guys out for not resolving some conflict within their group*. The quote ends up introducing 'What If I Stumble' on their next album. That song by the way, is the pinnacle of dc Talk's personal and transparent musical expression.

But the original work is the song featured below, "The Hardway".  It's real and honest. The theologian in me wants to ask, "Should people really always have to learn the hard way?" And the answer is of course no.

But that's not the point. The point is that more times than not, we as flawed followers of Christ are stubbornly sinful people who don't learn lessons very well. Brokenness is usually a very painful process, and that's what this song expresses.

*I am going off of my memory that this episode is from their 'Free At Last' video. It could be from their 'Jesus Freak' album, but I recall being suprised it was on the previous album's video before it was on the actual album introducing "What If I Stumble?". And I usually remember weird details like that. But I could be mistaken because I can't find the scene on the Internet. Feel free to correct me via comments.

Music Mondays

I could probably showcase a Passion song each and every week on Music Mondays. Passion is the worship conference held every year that is led by Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, and Kristian Stanfill, among others.

Here's a favorite of mine from the 2012 conference/album:

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*Just a reminder, these Music Monday selections are the author's own personal preferences and are not intended to reflect on the preferences of my ministry, my family, or anything else I am associated with.

Sermon Snippets: Mark 4

This week, we're looking at several parables of Jesus in Mark 4. The most famous of them being "The Parable of the Sower", where the sower spreads seed out among various types of ground as he looks to plant a crop.

This title is a terrible name for the parable though. This parable isn't about the sower, it's more about the seed and the soil than the one planting. And the point of the parable really has nothing to do with the sower. The key is the soil, the seed is the same - the difference is the soil.

It's probably to late to change history and rename this parable. Plus, "The Parable of the Soils" sounds too weird. But we should be sure to pay attention, not to the sower, or even the seed, as much as the soil and how it relates to us.

Music Mondays

Switchfoot was at the top of the CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) world for a period of time and found some mainstream success along the way.

I fondly remember them as one of the new generation Christian rock bands that came on the scene in the mid-to-late 90's while I was in high school. Smalltown Poets, Third Day, Sixpence None the Richer, Audio Adreneline, and Reality Check were there contemparies, riding the wake of popularity of Jars of Clay and dc Talk.

They were always a little different though. Coming from Cali, that should be surprising though. They had songs played on 'Dawson's Creek' of all shows, had then pop-star/actress Mandy Moore as a prominent fan, and opened for Third Day at a small church in Bremen, Indiana my freshman year of college.

Then in 2003, they gained wide popularity for their album, The Beautiful Letdown. They had a solid follow-up work, but never duplicated the success of that hallmark album.

Like many others, I enjoyed their music, but was never a big fan. I had a friend who saw their frontman, Jon Foreman in a coffee shop 3 or 4 years ago. He told me he had no desire to go up and chat with him, even though he was really into CCM and pop music.

In my opinion, it was after reaching their zenith that they wrote and recorded their best song. If it's not their best, it's at least my favorite.

So after the jump, I offer to you, Awakening.

Sermon Snippets - Song of Solomon

Valentine's Day is next week, so I've decided to pause our series in Mark and preach on love. Love is not ignored within Christian circles, but romance, sex, and the book of Song of Solomon has been.

It's too bad, because God gives us practical and relevant principles in Song of Solomon that can teach us valuable things about how to romantically love our spouses in a godly way. It gives us a blueprint for how to date and approach the pre-marital state as well.

There are a number of different approaches to the book though.

• Some take it allegorically, believing it is all symbolic and meant to picture Christ's love for the Church. Problem is, the language is so graphic, it forces awkward and general interpretations at too many places.
• Some view it as a collection of love songs and poetry that Solomon wrote. Yet there seems to be a story developing as the book progresses.
• Others see it describing an ancient soap opera between a wife/concubine of Solomon, a shepherd, and Solomon or another king. The woman's true love is the shepherd, but she's stuck in a position where she is property of her husband. This is possible, but would contradict the rest of Scripture's view of marriage and paints Solomon in a very negative light.
• To take this more literally requires us to understand this as the story of Solomon and his bride (possibly his one true love). Kings were often portrayed as shepherds in the OT. And while Solomon did have a total of 1000 wives and concubines, isn't it possible that God is showing that if He can give us a redemptive message about romance from Solomon, He can redeem our stories too?

There are strong arguments also to be made for a movement within the text, seeing the relationship grow from initial attraction, to 'courtship', to the wedding, to conflict, and then to maturity.

I find it amazing that almost 3000 later, pop culture is still trying to capture creative expressions of what they think love is all about, but God's message stands as 100% relevant for those who will listen to it.

Music Mondays

This is Needtobreathe and their recent single "Keep Your Eyes Open". This group is a unique blend of styles, including Southern Rock and Country. This video feels to me like it was done by a professional, but one who didn't have a great grasp on what the song was about. 

Still, the song is catchy and inspiring, especially if I'm feeling down or struggling or lost. It's God's encouraging call to us to persevere and remained focused on Him.

After the 'jump', I have a controversial rumor to spread.

Sermon Snippets: Discipleship 101, Mark 3:7-19

Discipleship is a term used almost exclusively by Christians.
Growing up in church, we are told we need to be disciples of Christ and we need to "make disciples". It's part of 'The Great Commission' Christ gave us in Matthew 28. Programs and ministries are given the label "Discipleship".

It's pretty easy to spot one (Galatians 5), but how do you make one?
For a long time, I didn't have a good answer. It felt as confusing as diagramming Greek or doing AP Calculus. I was aware of the key elements that help me in my sanctification process, but I had difficulty translating it into a one-on-one relationship or applying it to leading a small group.

Mark 3:7-19 provides the basics to discipleship, including the simple answer to that crucial 'how' question.
(Secrets revealed after the jump)