Music Mondays 09/20/2010

The following videos are of Norway born singers.  Kurt Nilsen and Venke Knutson.  I stumbled across Kurt Nilsen on YouTube doing a version of Hallelujah with several other singers.  He really has an incredible voice and a purity of tone that is hard to ignore.  I did a little follow up and came across several songs that he had done and some with Venke Knutson.  The following videos are of Kurt and Venke together and separate.  Venke as a unique voice, little bit of raspyness and airy quality I like them both.  Take a few moments to enjoy some great music by a couple of artist that you most likely have not heard of before.  FYI Kurt does a song with none other than the Great Willie Nelson at the end of this post that is really great.  If you don't like Willie Nelson then I think you might be missing out period.  Willie has done many many songs with many many different artist and they are always great.  Enjoy!

















So what do ya think?  Thumbs up or down, you tell me.

The Gospel

I have been thinking about what is most important in the church.  With all the things that we do, under our own power, and not the power and direction of God.  I feel compelled to look back at what our call is to be and that is to share the Gospel.  We have done everything in our power to make church about connections with others, growing our relationship with others in the church, and serving ourselves.  I think we should be more concerned about serving others, those around us, as well as outside of church.  Connecting the lost with Christ through the Gospel, and growing in our knowledge and preparedness to disciple.

We have given worldly definitions and ideals to the things that we do.  It is off track and it will continue to manifest itself in chaos and poor harvest.  I want to put a short excerpt from Spurgeon below.  I think what he says here is the first bad seed that begins to infect the church and when we remove this weed from our presence it will start us in the right direction.

Quick to Criticize

 We shall, as we ripen in grace, have greater sweetness towards our fellow Christians. Bitter-spirited Christians may know a great deal, but they are immature. Those who are quick to censure may be very acute in judgment, but they are as yet very immature in heart. He who grows in grace remembers that he is but dust, and he therefore does not expect his fellow Christians to be anything more; he overlooks ten thousand of their faults, because he knows his God overlooks twenty thousand in his own case. He does not expect perfection in the creature, and, therefore, he is not disappointed when he does not find it. As he has sometimes to say of himself, ““This is my infirmity,”” so he often says of his brethren, ““This is their infirmity;”” and he does not judge them as he once did.

I know we who are young beginners in grace think ourselves qualified to reform the whole Christian church. We drag her before us, and condemn her straightway; but when our virtues become more mature, I trust we shall not be more tolerant of evil, but we shall be more tolerant of infirmity, more hopeful for the people of God, and certainly less arrogant in our criticisms.

From a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon entitled "Ripe Fruit," delivered August 14, 1870. 

The following are a couple of blogs that I follow that happen to post on the topics of the importance of making the Gospel priority over anything else. 

What is the pressing need in the church today that this book addresses?

I really believe the most pressing need in the church today is to rediscover the gospel. There's a lot of talk about the gospel these days but there's also a lot of evidence showing that we're still not getting it. If the gospel is ever going to reach people outside the church and change people inside the church, it's going to have to be distinguished from moralism because moralism is what most people inside and outside the church think Christianity is all about. Many people reject Christianity because the church has given them the impression that it's all about rules, standards, good behavior, and cleaning yourself up. Moralism assumes that we're decent people who need good examples. The gospel assumes that we're mangled sinners who need a merciful Savior. The reason moralism is so dangerous is because it inoculates people from the gospel by giving them something of "the real thing"--behavioral change, external conformity, and so on--ensuring that they miss out on the true gospel all together. As I say in Surprised by Grace, the gospel doesn't first make bad people good; it makes dead people live.

blog link here

The Gospel Song was first written for a musical my church put on in 2002 for our 25th anniversary. Drew Jones, who led the production, wanted to musically communicate how over the years the church is always tempted to make primary what is secondary. But it is the gospel that remains constant and preeminent. When secondary issues (relationships, serving, mission, spiritual gifts, evangelism, etc.) are given equal weight, the gospel has the potential of getting obscured, assumed, or lost altogether.

blog link here


I am praying that we all will prioritize The Gospel as the primary focus as believers in Christ.  I am also praying that we will not be Quick To Criticize and that we will stop and pray for wisdom and discernment before we act of our own understanding, perceived power and authority.

Music Monday

Okay we are going to start something new here at Couldu Shouldu Wouldu and I am going to call it...... Music Monday.  Why?  Well because I really like music.  Music of all types and I am going to share some of it with you here. 

I will tell you this, I like the artist and the songs that are being posted.  In many cases I don't know the background of the artist or all of the songs that this particular artist may do.  So this is not a recommendation of character..... past or present.  It is a little glimpse into what I think is good music and a few artists that you may never have been exposed to.  Take a listen, I think you will find something you like.  I am going to post Music Monday from time to time just to share what I like to hear.  So here is the first post tell me what you think.

I came across this song last week and really connected with it right from the beginning.  It is well done and great lyrics.  I never heard of this particular artist before now, but I like it...... :-)

Never Gonna Stand for This Teachenor Clark



I have been listening to this young ladies covers for a while.  Great voice and she plays well you can check out some of her other songs if you choose most all of them are good.

Ana Free Sings Elton John



I have always enjoyed this song, and I have been watching this young man for a while also.  I have no idea how old this fellow is but I don't think he is over 18 which makes it even better.  The talent that goes into singing and playing the song, and the ability to record, master and edit the song as well as sync it with video is talent in and of itself.  To be young and be able to put all of these pieces together.... that is where it is going..... self producing and marketing.  Take a listen.

Michael Schulte Sings Hallelujah





Well let me know what you think.  Good, bad, like, dislike.  I would love to hear from you.

Things That Will Make You Say Hmmmmmmm 09/07/10

About a week ago I blogged with the same title as listed above.  I have decided to make it a series that will be posted from time to time with things that I come across that in my opinion should make all of us think a bit.  So here ya go........ the second instalment of Things that Will Make you Say Hmmmmmmm.

If someone were to interview Satan about the church it probably would sound a lot like this.  Take a look tell me what you think.






Here is a Sarah Groves video, I can't quite put my finger on it but it is a little unsettling.  Maybe you can give me a little insight.







Some fine men and woman of the United States military get the opportunity to surprise their loved ones.  This is a tear jerker.  We should be thankful for their commitment and the sacrifice that they and their families make on a daily basis.






Make no mistake the video below is a prime example of why our military personnel are fighting.  Remember it seems like a land far away and maybe we should not be there, but if we don't address it there as you will see in this video they are looking for every way to bring it to us. 



So let me know what you think about any or all the videos in this edition, I would love to hear your thoughts.

The Dynamics of Worship

Wow is how I want to start this book review.    Wow!  I just got done reading The Dynamics of Worship by James P. Gills.  I will give you a link to it a bit later on if you are interested in reading it.  This book has been around a while but it is full of valuable information and insight.  I will give you a little of the things that spoke to me personally.  A lot of it was a bit hard to swallow, mainly because this book forced me to reflect on what it truly means to worship.  I know I have heard others say some of these things before but it seems as if we just don't get them. Gills does a relatively good job in my opinion of breaking down the specifics of what worship is, what it should look like, where we should be as Christians in order to worship.  He explains these things with several specific terms and how they relate to our personal relationship with God.

Gills states early in the book "The void within us is spiritual.  Yet, how often do we look to other areas of life in hope of finding the answer to or malaise?"  I thought that statement was particularly indicative of how nearly all of us go about our lives from day to day.  We long for something, many of us know that it is a close relationship with God yet we fill our lives with all shorts of things that we try to fill the void with.  I don't feel like I need to go through a list of things here..... I am sure you all get it...... suffice it to say if you get more excited about anything.... ANYTHING!.... than you do about God there is a really good possibility that you have an idol before you and you are expending your energies worshiping that thing instead of expending your energies in improving your relationship with and worshiping God. 

Gills goes on to say the following "You understand why religion was invented.  It was to keep God at a safe distance.  I used to believe that all the religions of the world were men reaching out for God.  It isn't.  All the religions of the world are there to keep God at a safe distance.  You see, man knows there's a God, but he's scared spitless of Him, so he's got to keep Him away.

I thought that was a very interesting perspective and in retrospect when I look at how religion is organized there are an unbelievable amount of similarities with church today and the very religiosity that was created by the Pharisees and the Jews in the old testament.  There seems to be a desire to compartmentalize God and worshiping Him to the point that we have control over what things are being done.  Almost to the point of us being able to say what we will do and won't do in the name of God.  Could you imagine if we made a choice to live a radical life for Christ.  One that made others in the so called current establishment uncomfortable.  A life that was focused on pleasing Christ first and others secondary.  We would be called crazy..... koookooo for coco puffs..... and many other things along the way.  I don't think we would be very popular.  ( I am used to that one)

There were several quotes used in this book to make some really great points.

Worship is the missing jewel of the evangelical church!  A. W. Tozer

I can see that.... I don't know that I have truly worshiped God in the way that he would have me worship Him, a life totally abandone to him.  (again the point here is not what the worship leader is doing, all though they should be helping the congregation understand what true worship is as well as the pastor)  It is about our relation ship with God through Christ on a day to day basis.  I have heard this given lip service also..... I am guilty as well.

To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God.  William Temple. The Archbishop of Canterbury in his book The Hope of a New World.

I often wonder while we are worshiping God, in song, in prayer, in scripture.  How many times are we somewhere else?  Are we thinking about the game, lunch, the bills, the ugly tie that Mr. Zimbart is wearing today and not focusing on worship God or the attributes of God that make him worthy of worship.

The only person justified in not worshipping is the unbeliever.  For to worship you have to have a Savior, and your Savior has to be the central figure of your life.  Chuck Swindoll

I would venture to say for most of us there are a lot of things that are the center of our lives and Christ is not one of them....... oh don't get me wrong Christ is a part of our lives...... but he is not the center of our lives.  We make choices every day that relegate Christ to the smallest portions of our lives, the little back corners, that we suppress while we engage in the futility of what we call life here in the world.   We hardly notice what Christ would have us do until there is a ............... Crisis then we pull out all of the stops, we pray with out ceasing...... we make promises to him that we don't keep.  We just go about it in the most selfishest of ways.... you know what I am talking about.

The path of wholehearted discipleship has never been crowded, or popular           A. P. Gibbs

There goes the popular thing again.   I am thinking God wants us to not worry about being popular with people.  There just might be a correlation with how popular you are in the world and with people and just how popular you are with God.  Popular with God just makes everyone else uncomfortable cause you are saying and doing the things that most everyone else does not want to hear or do.

Most Christians have read parts of the Bible.  Yet, they admit they can't understand much of it -- especially the more profound divine truth.  Only the Holy Spirit can reveal the shades of meaning.  Relying totally on His guidance, we submit our entire beings -- spirits, souls and bodies --- to Him.  That may take a while because we cherish our independence.  We surrender little by little.  When we do though, our study and prayer times, as well as our praise and worship, will produce much spiritual fruit.  James. P. Gills

I do think our independence is the biggest obstacle to a real relationship with God.  We all want to belt out a line from the Frank Sinatra song,  I DID IT MY WAY.  While we may all want to puff up with pride and say that it will get us into a lot of trouble and even a one way ticket to H. E. double hockey sticks.  I can assure you that will not be any fun.

Dr. Gills gives an example of a triangle and each of those sides being equal.  On each of those sides he places the words, Covenant, Knowledge, Worship.  He makes points specifically about anytime one of these things gets out of measure with the other it creates imbalance that ultimately effects our worship and our relationship with God.  He uses this to drive home with specific examples how it does effect our relationship with God and what Churches or people look like when they have one or more of these specific relationship points with God out of balance.  He goes in depth here and it is a real eye opener as I can see certain times in my life were specific imbalances in these areas effected my relationship with God in specific ways, I also recognize specific patterns in churches that I have attended past and present.

Finally he goes in to specifics about the obstacles to worship.  I am going to list the points here, he goes in depth and defines and describes what these obstacles look like and how they prevent us from worshiping.  (I stay away from the phrase true worship because there is only worship either you are doing it or not.)

1.  Pride
2.  Lack of Knowledge
3.  Independence
4.  Critical spirit
5.  Laziness
6.  Impatience
7.  Legalism
8.  Emotionalism
9.  Elitism
10.  Traditionalism
11.  Unforgiveness
12.  Worldly Influence

This is a good book that will help you put into perspective what a life of worship to God looks like.  It will help you identify the pitfalls that are there that would separate you from that relationship with God that he wants to have with you.  A relationship that far exceeds anything that most have ever experienced.  While there are a few things that I don't agree with it in no way takes away from the validity of this book, and those issues do not in any way do injustice to the core Christian beliefs, or doctrine.  This book can be found for a very cheap price in some cases as little as $1.  I would recommend that everyone take the time to read this book and you can start your search for a copy by going to the following link

Abstinence Education

Some of you may have heard about this.  A report on Abstinence Education was paid for with tax payer dollars.  The Obama administration refused to release the findings.  It has taken some effort for it to be released and took multiple request through the freedom of information act to get it done.  It is in my opinion a blatant effort to stand in the way of family values.  Parental access to meaningful public programs that support Christian and family values on teenagers having sex and sex before marriage.  The left is now saying that the report has no significant information in it and it shouldn't be a big deal that it was not released.  I would venture to say a read of it yourself will prove otherwise.  Here is a article.

Feds embargo pro-abstinence findings

The full results of a national study that favors abstinence education is being withheld from researchers and the public.

The taxpayer-supported survey from 2008 found that around 70 percent of parents and their teenagers believed that teens should wait until marriage to have sex. Despite release of the study's summary and its highlight at two major public health conferences last year, the Department of Health and Human Services is withholding the full results according to Valerie Huber, executive director of the National Abstinence Education Foundation.

"When a researcher [Dr. Lisa Rue] asked the HHS for the full results, she [was told it] is not public information and it has not been released to the public and so you don't have access to it," relates Huber. "[I find that] a little incredulous since it was shared publicly at two different venues."

Huber questions the motivation of the Obama administration, noting that "as of this past fiscal year, President Obama specifically put in his budget a desire to end all funding for abstinence education."

She hopes a change will be made soon. "We think that an administration that wants things to be open and clear should certainly do something different than the decision that is currently being exercised," Huber remarks.

Read the rest of this story here

For a link to a PDF file of the actual report click here.  If you have a digital reader such as a Kindle you can download the PDF to that and read it on the go. I am currently wading through it now it is 195 pages long.  I think it is worth the read I will post some additional information on it at a later date.  It took a significant amount of effort to get this released.  I think Christians every where should take the time to read it. 

Why do you think the Obama administration would benefit from with holding this report?

Things That Will Make You Say Hmmmmmmm

Gonna try to limit my words on this post.   I have some other media that will make several points.  I feel that these are all tied together or at least they have been for me.   This material has presented itself and I think sometimes we just need to step back and think about what we are doing.  Take a look see what ya think.

The Least from Floodgate Productions on Vimeo.


OUCH!!!!!

Next is excerpts from a blog that I check out from time to time.  His points are about tithing.  I have heard this type of sermon many many times. 

12 reasons why you don’t like sermons about money. Chris Elrod



Over the years I have discovered that no other subject brings more disagreement and heated conversations than when I preach about money. People get mad…they get defensive…they become defiant…and some even leave the church. I’ve also discovered over the years why this happens…and have taken the time to make a list of 12 reasons why some people don’t like sermons about money. By the way…if you think I’m writing this about you…or to you…you are correct.

1. You don’t give. - 90% of the people that get upset about sermons on money do so because they don’t give. The sermon hits too close to home, makes them feel guilty…and makes them have to confront their sin.

Read the rest of the post at the following link.  Chris Elrod's Blog

After reading the post..... it didn't  set exactly right with me and as I usually do......  I read the comments.  The following comments made me think a bit about the sermon that I hear most often over the years or the statements that I hear most often over the years about tithing.

Here are those comments:

Does your church teach that you are to follow the Old Testament law? I thought the law ended at the cross.



Tithing was an Old Testament law that ended at the cross along with the Levitical priesthood per Hebrews 7:5,12,18. In Malachi 3:7 God makes it clear He is speaking about not following His ordinances (in Numbers 18).


Do YOU follow God’s ordinances in Numbers 18 – take the tithe to the Levites, those who receive the tithe can own no land, etc. etc.? Do YOU follow God’s definition of His tithe in Leviticus 27:30-33 – crops and animals raised on the Holy land?


According to The Word, those who put themselves under the law will be cursed by the law.


The New Testament teaches generous, sacrificial giving, from the heart, according to our means. For some, $1 might be a sacrifice, while for others, even giving 50% of their income might not induce a sacrifice. In the Old Testament, ONLY the farmers tithed, and it was equal percentage (a tenth). The New Testament teaches the principle of equal sacrifice instead of equal percentage. Equal sacrifice is much harder to achieve than giving ten percent.


I can give you two good reasons why many don’t like your sermons about money. You are teaching what church leaders came up with in the second half of the 1800s – CHANGING God’s definition of His tithe from GOD’S increase of crops and animals to man’s increase, and CHANGING God’s directions to take the tithe to the Levites to take the tithe to the church.


Gary Arnold - August 19, 2010 at 12:35 pm


Reply


5.


I completely agree with Gary. Chris, I encourage you to read Malachi and understand the context of that book before using it as a basis for tithing.


Also, through your Reasons #7 and #8 you’re basically calling folks who volunteer their time while not giving money “thieves” and that is absolutely ridiculous.


Josh - August 19, 2010 at 1:58 pm


Reply


6.


A few thoughts.


Matthew 5:17-18 states Christ came to fulfill the law and not abolish it. Subsequently, the introduction of Christ in the New Testament does not mean that we are exempt from the Old Testament laws. For example, Mark 12:28-31 describes Christ instructing His followers to love God first and others second. This verse reinforces the law found in Leviticus 19:18. Alternately, Christ taught us (parables, miracles) there are new areas of focus for those who follow Him. For example, see The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 that represents a new direction for those who claim God. This is different from Old Testament accounts of God instructing His people to destroy all foreigners (Deuteronomy 7:1-5).


On to tithing…


I interpret your reference to Philippians 4:19 within the broader context of the section (Phillipians 4). Paul is thanking the Phillipians for being generous and sending him, Paul, gifts. Paul isn’t talking about the Phillipians giving to God.


Here are other NT scriptures about giving. Please note they do not specify an amount:


1 Cor 16:1-2


1 Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do.2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.


2 Corinthians 9:6-8


6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.


While I understand your passion to teach your flock, I view your teaching as incomplete. It’s typical in modern churches. I believe the cause of the issue isn’t the hearts of the people, but the financial overhead burden of the church. In my opinion, churches should not own any property. Pastors shouldn’t be paid a salary, either. The NT model is vastly different from our current implementation of church.


I suggest those interested in another view of church read “If The Church Were Christian” by Philip Gulley.


Keith - August 19, 2010 at 10:33 pm


Reply


7.


Some final thoughts, Chris… in response to your #8 and #9 reasons.


In Malachi 3, the rightful recipients of the tithe were the widows, the fatherless, and strangers. Israel was ignoring the needs of these 3 groups by withholding her tithes. The real message of Malachi 3 is that God opposes the oppression of the poor.


So, in the context of Malachi 3, it is my understanding that the tithes were given to support widows, the strangers, and the Levites… who owned absolutely nothing.


Again, I encourage you to look at the contexts before using these ancient passages as basis for arguing that Christians should give 10% of their income. As Keith mentioned above, I also think the real issue here is the financial overhead burden of the church. I don’t see a problem with asking members to give money to fund certain things the church needs, but I would encourage pastors to do so without manipulating scripture.


Josh - August 19, 2010 at 11:12 pm


Reply


8.


Keith said, “Matthew 5:17-18 states Christ came to fulfill the law and not abolish it.”


This is where some education in law is useful. What does fulfill mean? What does abolish mean?


Let me give an example. A legal contract is enforceable under the law. Let’s say you hire a contractor to build a swimming pool in your back yard. Once the contractor has completed the job, and everything in that contract has been completed, the contract has been fulfilled. The contractor’s job is to fulfill the contract, not abolish it. He fulfills it by completing the terms, bringing it to an end.


Consider:


Hebrews 8:13 (KJV) – In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.


Colossians 2:14 (KJV) – Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;


Galatians 5:18 (KJV) – But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.


Galatians 3:19 (KJV) – Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.


Until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. In other words, until Jesus came


and fulfilled the law.


Galatians 3:23-25 (KJV)


23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up untofaith which should


afterwards be revealed.


24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be


justified by faith.


25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.


Galatians 3:10-14 (KJV)


10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed


is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to


do them.


11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just


shall live by faith.


12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.


13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is


written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:


14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we


might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.


Gary Arnold - August 19, 2010 at 11:17 pm


Reply
  Gary Arnold has a website and on his comments his name was highlighted as all commenter's are when they put a website in the URL box while typing a comment in to any blog.  Here is that website.  Gary Arnold

FYI:  The original poster of the blog has since deleted all of the comments and made derogatory comments about the comments that were made.  I knew this was going to happen so I copied the entire text of the blog and saved it.  Couple of points here.  If you are going to have a blog...... moderate the comments.  If you do not agree with them don't publish them.  If you do allow them to be published and they are just a different view and are in good taste and form.  Then DON'T DELETE THEM!!  If you allow comments to be published or you moderate and post comments do not go back and delete them especially if you have actually responded to them.  Your readers will know and it looks dishonest.  It is your blog you don't have to defend anything if you don't want.  But don't cover up what you have already allowed to be said unless it is obscene or inappropriate.

Next is a post from a blog that I also read..... 

Proving John Wesley Wrong

In the 1700s John Wesley realized something frightening about Christians I’ve only just learned about myself in the last few years.

In a sermon titled “The Inefficacy of Chrisianity” Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, cried out:


“I am distressed! I know not what to do! …true, scriptural Christianity has a tendency, in the process of time, to undermine and destroy itself.”  Read the rest of it at.....  Shaun Groves

I don't think we do a good job of proving Wesley wrong at all.  I think as a whole we prove him right.... day after day.   These things fit together for me in this way.

• 
  
  I don't think we do what we need to do as the Church
• 
  
  There are more non-profit organizations that are not Christian based reaching people in need than ,even most, Churches are and they have a better percentage of amount per dollar that actually goes to the needy.
• 
  
  I think we preach and teach religion and what man has created and not true scripture in many cases or at least manipulate them for our own purpose.
• 
  
  If so many others see this----- even Wesley hundreds of years ago.  Why are we not doing something different.

Finally I want to leave you with this...... a video that has hope and a call to make something happen.

Well what do you think.  I feel kinda woozy...