Music Mondays

In honor of Memorial Day:

Music Mondays

I've said it before - I'm all in on these guys.

Their latest album is coming soon and their latest video is out. I'm not qualified to say, but I will state it anyway - this is a quintessential twenty one pilots song. It mixes genres, has a catchy hook, uses fascinating-bordering-on-strange visuals, and actually makes you think the more you listen.

Here is Ride:

Music Mondays

You'll have to forgive me for having Revelation on the brain, but we're just wrapping up a sermon series in that book. And as I've been preparing for it, I've come to a greater appreciation for how the book unfolds and what it is communicating. 

We finished the book yesterday, looking at 22:6-21. Even if you take just a cursory glance at that passage, it's hard to miss the fact that three times, Jesus declares "I am coming soon!" And the Church responds at the very end "Amen. Come Lord Jesus."

While there are important specific responsibilities based on this key overriding message, this week's song selection ties directly into the fact that Jesus is coming again soon.

This is a new song from Passion 2015 that I've already heard on the radio multiple times. It captures the essence the conclusion of Revelation, expressing a desire for His return and a commitment to be ready.

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.