Jan
31
How can I live a good Christian life?
Filed Under Christian Life | 7 Comments
Wonderin.. asked:
I’m very young, and I’ve been talking to my friend, who’s dad is a former pastor, and we were talking about how we can live a good Christian life. She said trying not to get mixed in with the bad crowds, not drinking, drugs, ect. But, I just wanted to get someone else’s opinion on how someone young like me can live a good Christian life that God would want me to live. Thankyou!
POWER
I’m very young, and I’ve been talking to my friend, who’s dad is a former pastor, and we were talking about how we can live a good Christian life. She said trying not to get mixed in with the bad crowds, not drinking, drugs, ect. But, I just wanted to get someone else’s opinion on how someone young like me can live a good Christian life that God would want me to live. Thankyou!
POWER
Jan
30
Filed Under Christian Love | Comments Off
Don Pieper asked:
Can we officially declare the flu season over and another year passed without pandemic bird flu threatened by gloom and doomsayers? What would we do without those reporters camped out at the Center for Disease Control or embedded with the American Medical Association who chill us with news of the latest medical scourge?
One time there was an epidemic. Rome, in the mid-200’s. It killed so many citizens of the empire historians say it was the economic beginning of the end for the Caesars. It was also the start of the rapid growth of Christianity, and here’s why. While the unbelievers, even the famous doctor and writer, Galen, fled Rome, deserting the dying, the Christians stayed and cared for the afflicted! A third of those cared for by Christians, some strangers and even former persecutors, survived! Many became Christians! Even the most cynical pagan marveled–“See how they love one another!”
I hope we don’t need bird flu next year to move us to show how we love one another. I think Jesus’ words will be motivation enough.
Then We Will Love.
1.For the glory of God (31-33).
2.For the blessing of mankind (34-35).
So many acts of love shine in the darkness. So, too, Jesus’ command to Christian love emerges from the darkness. It was the Thursday before Jesus’ death. He had just predicted Judas betraying him and Judas had just stormed out of the upper room where Jesus and the rest of the disciples would share the Lord’s Supper. John tellingly recalls, “And it was night.”
“When Judas was gone, Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, then God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once (31-33).’”
Events were set in motion that would lead to Jesus’ death on the cross. It would happen so soon, that Jesus uses this moment to say his final farewell to his disciples. “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come (34).” Well, why would Jesus’ death on the cross bring glory to God, such glory that God himself would glorify the Son?
We’ll get to that in a moment, but I don’t want to pass by that word, glorify. Five times Jesus uses it in two verses. What does it mean to glorify someone? I know what glorified rice is—rice sweetened up with custard and fruit so it has a zillion calories per teaspoon—but what does it mean to glorify someone?
To glorify someone means to have a good opinion about someone, to praise them, to hold them in high esteem. For everyone to do this! Now it is hard to find anyone whom we all hold in high esteem. We all hold President Bush and his policies in high esteem. Um, not all of us. We all hold the Senate majority leader, our Senator Harry Reid in high esteem. Um, not all of us. Governor Gibbons? Nope. Mayor Goodman? Uh-uh. Councilman Andy Hafen? Evidently not if he only won by 162 votes. You see how hard it is for all of us to hold someone in high esteem, to glorify them?
But Jesus’ death on the cross would glorify God. Ever since the Garden of Eden, God has been slandered. The devil tempted Eve, insinuating God was holding out on Eve and jerking her chain. Adam and Eve, when they sinned, hid from God, expecting only punishment from him. When King Ahab meets the prophet Elijah after the famine, he calls God’s prophet, “you troubler of Israel (2 Kings 17).” Don’t you see the reputation God has with those controlled by the sinful human nature? He causes trouble. He mercilessly punishes. He is jealous of our pleasures and tries to limit them.
That’s the way the world still looks at God—he causes troubles in marriages where husband and wife do not share the same faith, so better not to go to church and anger the spouse. He is out to get the “Good Time Charlie” when the liver gives out. Church is the last place the young buck wants to go with his little doe, because he doesn’t want to treat her respectfully and honorably.
No words of appreciation for God from that bunch, from our sinful human nature. But Jesus’ death on the cross reveals these false estimations of God for the lies they are. God is not the troubler—he is the Savior, the reconciler, who knocked off that chip we had on our shoulder. He is not the punishing God, he is the forgiving God whose Son took the punishment of sin upon himself for us. He is the God who wants us to experience lasting and real happiness, not the stolen lust of a moment. He wants us in heaven with him after we have led a happy and productive life we can be proud of here.
Anyone who doesn’t think of God like this really should have his or her head (or heart) examined.
Because Jesus did this, God the Father glorified Jesus by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand, King of kings and Lord of lords.
But what does this have to do with love? Plenty. It is the reason we love!
“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another (34-35).”
Remember the Roman plague of 252 AD and the pagan reaction to courageous Christians tending to the sick? Isn’t that what Jesus said would happen? Think of all the hospitals Christians built in this country and throughout the world. If it weren’t for the Lutherans and the Catholics, there wouldn’t be a hospital at all back in my folks’ town of 50,000 people, La Crosse, Wisconsin! Come to think of it, there wouldn’t be any in Henderson, Nevada, 231,000 strong! Orphanages—religious. Even today Catholic Social Services seems to be the biggest place for adoptions in Clark County. Did you know the first Kindergarten in America was started in the town I went to college, Watertown, Wisconsin, by a Lutheran? General charitable giving? Christians lead the pack, outdistancing Muslims, Jews and pagans alike.
What makes this commandment new? Everybody will, to a certain extent, love their friends and **** their enemies. Jesus calls us to love our friends and love our enemies. That’s the parable of the Good Samaritan. That’s the start of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount—bless those who curse you; do good to those who persecute you. In our response to other people’s problems, like hunger in Africa, AIDS, the Christmas tsunami and Gulf Coast hurricanes, we are showing love to others whom we normally wouldn’t even think about.
But what really makes it a new command is the role model. “As I have loved you, so you must love one another (34).” As Jesus loved us. Hmm. Wait! That’s a one-sided love, a love that loves without needing or demanding to be loved back. That kind of love led Jesus to put away the glories and luxuries and perks of heaven to be born in a barn, raised in poverty, be misunderstood by his own people, betrayed by one of his closest friends, dragged before a kangaroo court, publicly executed as a terrible criminal and his lifeless body thrown into a borrowed tomb. He did all this for us, not for himself. He was already 100% God when he put it all away to become human. He couldn’t be 110% God afterwards. There was literally nothing in it for him. He did it all for us, that we might live forever.
“Show that love,” Jesus told his disciples, as he tells us, and everybody will know that you belong to me.
There are two ways to make a church grow. One is preach the Word, but rely on gimmicks to keep the people riled up and excited enough to drag other people in. A lot of the megachurches go in for this and, after a few years, have burned through enough of the population that the charismatic preacher leaves for greener pastures, usually in an even larger church in an even larger metropolitan area.
Here’s the other way, and I will be very blunt to recommend this way to Green Valley Evangelical Lutheran Church. Preach the Word and do what it says. That’s what I have endeavored to do all my years here. I have preached the Word to you, week after week, season after season, year after year. I have loved you, shown you compassion and care, calling you by name, laughing with you, crying with you. I think for that reason almost every one of our members considers me a friend as well as their pastor and the door, if I were on their front step, would open without hesitation.
Do you show that compassion as fellow brothers and sisters in the faith? It is so easy to be caught up with family, to be a slave to the job, to be buried in a busy schedule, or ensnared by the idolatry of sports that America serves. But Jesus did not call us to love our own. He called us to love the other. Jesus did not direct us to shun the Word and the worship, but to flock to it out of habit and custom. Do we know our fellow brothers and sisters in the faith? Do we want to know their needs, so we can pitch in? Do we want to know their strengths so we don’t have to reduplicate their efforts? Do we have a church so caring that an outsider would say, “That’s the church I want to belong to—look how they love one another!”
I say this not to our shame, for I can hardly blame anything in this congregation on my predecessor! He is me! But I say this to urge us all on ever more, as if we were just starting this church out all over again. Don’t let your love for each other grow cold. Make the fellowship of this congregation and service from this congregation a high priority, not just something you will do if there’s nothing else on your calendar.
I’ve preached way too long and it isn’t ending as joyfully as I wanted it to end. But out of the darkness, Jesus’ love calls forth our love. That is always my hope, that the words of Jesus will be realized in each one of us, for
Then We Will Love.
1.For the glory of God (31-33).
2.For the blessing of mankind (34-35).
PROFFITT
Can we officially declare the flu season over and another year passed without pandemic bird flu threatened by gloom and doomsayers? What would we do without those reporters camped out at the Center for Disease Control or embedded with the American Medical Association who chill us with news of the latest medical scourge?
One time there was an epidemic. Rome, in the mid-200’s. It killed so many citizens of the empire historians say it was the economic beginning of the end for the Caesars. It was also the start of the rapid growth of Christianity, and here’s why. While the unbelievers, even the famous doctor and writer, Galen, fled Rome, deserting the dying, the Christians stayed and cared for the afflicted! A third of those cared for by Christians, some strangers and even former persecutors, survived! Many became Christians! Even the most cynical pagan marveled–“See how they love one another!”
I hope we don’t need bird flu next year to move us to show how we love one another. I think Jesus’ words will be motivation enough.
Then We Will Love.
1.For the glory of God (31-33).
2.For the blessing of mankind (34-35).
So many acts of love shine in the darkness. So, too, Jesus’ command to Christian love emerges from the darkness. It was the Thursday before Jesus’ death. He had just predicted Judas betraying him and Judas had just stormed out of the upper room where Jesus and the rest of the disciples would share the Lord’s Supper. John tellingly recalls, “And it was night.”
“When Judas was gone, Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, then God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once (31-33).’”
Events were set in motion that would lead to Jesus’ death on the cross. It would happen so soon, that Jesus uses this moment to say his final farewell to his disciples. “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come (34).” Well, why would Jesus’ death on the cross bring glory to God, such glory that God himself would glorify the Son?
We’ll get to that in a moment, but I don’t want to pass by that word, glorify. Five times Jesus uses it in two verses. What does it mean to glorify someone? I know what glorified rice is—rice sweetened up with custard and fruit so it has a zillion calories per teaspoon—but what does it mean to glorify someone?
To glorify someone means to have a good opinion about someone, to praise them, to hold them in high esteem. For everyone to do this! Now it is hard to find anyone whom we all hold in high esteem. We all hold President Bush and his policies in high esteem. Um, not all of us. We all hold the Senate majority leader, our Senator Harry Reid in high esteem. Um, not all of us. Governor Gibbons? Nope. Mayor Goodman? Uh-uh. Councilman Andy Hafen? Evidently not if he only won by 162 votes. You see how hard it is for all of us to hold someone in high esteem, to glorify them?
But Jesus’ death on the cross would glorify God. Ever since the Garden of Eden, God has been slandered. The devil tempted Eve, insinuating God was holding out on Eve and jerking her chain. Adam and Eve, when they sinned, hid from God, expecting only punishment from him. When King Ahab meets the prophet Elijah after the famine, he calls God’s prophet, “you troubler of Israel (2 Kings 17).” Don’t you see the reputation God has with those controlled by the sinful human nature? He causes trouble. He mercilessly punishes. He is jealous of our pleasures and tries to limit them.
That’s the way the world still looks at God—he causes troubles in marriages where husband and wife do not share the same faith, so better not to go to church and anger the spouse. He is out to get the “Good Time Charlie” when the liver gives out. Church is the last place the young buck wants to go with his little doe, because he doesn’t want to treat her respectfully and honorably.
No words of appreciation for God from that bunch, from our sinful human nature. But Jesus’ death on the cross reveals these false estimations of God for the lies they are. God is not the troubler—he is the Savior, the reconciler, who knocked off that chip we had on our shoulder. He is not the punishing God, he is the forgiving God whose Son took the punishment of sin upon himself for us. He is the God who wants us to experience lasting and real happiness, not the stolen lust of a moment. He wants us in heaven with him after we have led a happy and productive life we can be proud of here.
Anyone who doesn’t think of God like this really should have his or her head (or heart) examined.
Because Jesus did this, God the Father glorified Jesus by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand, King of kings and Lord of lords.
But what does this have to do with love? Plenty. It is the reason we love!
“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another (34-35).”
Remember the Roman plague of 252 AD and the pagan reaction to courageous Christians tending to the sick? Isn’t that what Jesus said would happen? Think of all the hospitals Christians built in this country and throughout the world. If it weren’t for the Lutherans and the Catholics, there wouldn’t be a hospital at all back in my folks’ town of 50,000 people, La Crosse, Wisconsin! Come to think of it, there wouldn’t be any in Henderson, Nevada, 231,000 strong! Orphanages—religious. Even today Catholic Social Services seems to be the biggest place for adoptions in Clark County. Did you know the first Kindergarten in America was started in the town I went to college, Watertown, Wisconsin, by a Lutheran? General charitable giving? Christians lead the pack, outdistancing Muslims, Jews and pagans alike.
What makes this commandment new? Everybody will, to a certain extent, love their friends and **** their enemies. Jesus calls us to love our friends and love our enemies. That’s the parable of the Good Samaritan. That’s the start of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount—bless those who curse you; do good to those who persecute you. In our response to other people’s problems, like hunger in Africa, AIDS, the Christmas tsunami and Gulf Coast hurricanes, we are showing love to others whom we normally wouldn’t even think about.
But what really makes it a new command is the role model. “As I have loved you, so you must love one another (34).” As Jesus loved us. Hmm. Wait! That’s a one-sided love, a love that loves without needing or demanding to be loved back. That kind of love led Jesus to put away the glories and luxuries and perks of heaven to be born in a barn, raised in poverty, be misunderstood by his own people, betrayed by one of his closest friends, dragged before a kangaroo court, publicly executed as a terrible criminal and his lifeless body thrown into a borrowed tomb. He did all this for us, not for himself. He was already 100% God when he put it all away to become human. He couldn’t be 110% God afterwards. There was literally nothing in it for him. He did it all for us, that we might live forever.
“Show that love,” Jesus told his disciples, as he tells us, and everybody will know that you belong to me.
There are two ways to make a church grow. One is preach the Word, but rely on gimmicks to keep the people riled up and excited enough to drag other people in. A lot of the megachurches go in for this and, after a few years, have burned through enough of the population that the charismatic preacher leaves for greener pastures, usually in an even larger church in an even larger metropolitan area.
Here’s the other way, and I will be very blunt to recommend this way to Green Valley Evangelical Lutheran Church. Preach the Word and do what it says. That’s what I have endeavored to do all my years here. I have preached the Word to you, week after week, season after season, year after year. I have loved you, shown you compassion and care, calling you by name, laughing with you, crying with you. I think for that reason almost every one of our members considers me a friend as well as their pastor and the door, if I were on their front step, would open without hesitation.
Do you show that compassion as fellow brothers and sisters in the faith? It is so easy to be caught up with family, to be a slave to the job, to be buried in a busy schedule, or ensnared by the idolatry of sports that America serves. But Jesus did not call us to love our own. He called us to love the other. Jesus did not direct us to shun the Word and the worship, but to flock to it out of habit and custom. Do we know our fellow brothers and sisters in the faith? Do we want to know their needs, so we can pitch in? Do we want to know their strengths so we don’t have to reduplicate their efforts? Do we have a church so caring that an outsider would say, “That’s the church I want to belong to—look how they love one another!”
I say this not to our shame, for I can hardly blame anything in this congregation on my predecessor! He is me! But I say this to urge us all on ever more, as if we were just starting this church out all over again. Don’t let your love for each other grow cold. Make the fellowship of this congregation and service from this congregation a high priority, not just something you will do if there’s nothing else on your calendar.
I’ve preached way too long and it isn’t ending as joyfully as I wanted it to end. But out of the darkness, Jesus’ love calls forth our love. That is always my hope, that the words of Jesus will be realized in each one of us, for
Then We Will Love.
1.For the glory of God (31-33).
2.For the blessing of mankind (34-35).
PROFFITT
Jan
27
Filed Under Music | Comments Off
Eric de Fontenay asked:
It’s part festival, part music conference, part business networking opportunity and part gathering of old friends held in Nashville, TN every third weekend of June. The live performances, education and Open House are concurrently running events. Here’s a day by day account from Friday morning and continuing on till Sunday midnight.
Day 1, Friday, June 19th, 2009
It’s Friday 9 AM we start with some pro instruction. Richard Adler, Grammy, Platinum/Gold recording engineer & producer talks about the nitty gritty of being in the music biz. Then Dave Gibson shares some insights and plays a few songs that have worked for him. (Texas Tattoo, Big Heart, Red White and Blue Collar, Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys, Queen Of Memphis, Daddy Never was the Cadillac Kind, Ships That Don’t Come In, Jukebox In My Mind, Lonely & Gone). Following Dave is Stan Webb, SESAC Legacy Award. “I’m From the Country”(and I like it that way.), and other commercial successes. Stan talks about the realities of becoming a long term professional songwriter.
After Lunch, Steven Sharp’s inside knowledge from successes of running a major label talks about, “The Politics of Getting a Song Heard and Cut”. Next, entertainment law expert Bill Whitacre will take your questions on copyrights, rules on co-writing and collaboration, publishing, artist deals, digital rights and more. Finally, wrapping up the afternoon session is Radio Host Karen Reynolds, who will speak on “The business and skills of the performing songwriter”.
Friday afternoon @ 5:30 PM we begin firing off the stages. Starting at the Curb Music parking, lot, it’s time to begin the non stop original tunes till Sunday midnight! There are scheduled featured writer segments intermingled with regular writers. About 6:30 the writers start finding their place in the mix at the various Video, Web Cast and other outdoor theme venues. Unscheduled Create-A-Rounds pop up throughout the evening. Some writers browse a Booth or drop off their CDs to display at the Writer’s Table. The stages hum till about 2 AM. As the evening winds down the hard core gather and play unplugged at the after hours Open Sing Ring. Thus begins a life changing weekend, so pace yourself.
Day 2, Saturday, June 20th, 2009
It’s Saturday morning @ 10 AM, the Writers who got some rest are up-and-about getting first hand experience of the Row. The second day of the Pro Instructors classes starts with a Guitar workshop with Dave Isaacs “Driving The Groove.” Next Debi Champion gives pointers on “How to Host a Successful Writers Night”. Lisa Aschmann explains her concepts behind the book, “1000 Songwriting Ideas.” Pete & Pat Luboff will tell ya why “Collaboration is the Key to getting songs cut.” and Tirk Wilder rounds things off doing Song Critiques for students.
Also at 10 AM on Saturday the Open House begins. Fest Heads will be able to drop by participating recording studios, producers, publishers, publicists, consultants, managers, duplicators, and other trade related music businesses on or near the Row. These businesses will have an “Open Door Policy” from 10 AM-6 PM June 20th and 21st. These established Music Row businesses will offer tours of their facilities and answer questions about “What part they play in the biz?” Writers are encouraged to drop off and pick up samples of each others works.
Around noon, live music begins filling the Row again and the booths are open for traffic. Little clusters of writers develop, each sharing stories and talking shop. Everyone is laid back and having a meaningful experience thanks to the no contest, no talent search emphasis of the fest, making for a more relaxing atmosphere. At some point we present the Life Time Achievement award to the festival Grand Master. Last year Tom T. Hall took the honors and was presented the keys to Music Row. The stages close down again at 2 AM and the really late niters head for the after hours Open Sing Ring to watch the sun rise. By the end of the second day, Fest Heads have been effectively scattered from one end of the Row to the other.
Day 3, Sunday, June 21st, 2009
It’s Sunday Morning 8 AM and thus begins a special Christian Music Segment at the Curb Music Parking Lot. A special emphasis on Contemporary Christian related music is pursued till noon.
10 AM, Survivors from Friday and Saturday hit the Row again! The Sunday session of the Open House begins. Fest Heads loaded down with business cards, CD’s and goodie bags take advantage of the “Open Door Policy” till 6 PM.
10:30 AM, The 3rd day of Pro Instruction kicks off again and runs till about 6 PM. Starting things out is a guitar workshop by master Denny Sarokin. Then find out how to be “Ready for the Row” with Barbara Cloyd. After Barb, Bob Dellaposta will speak on “How to start and maintain a publishing company.” Also critically acclaimed author and songwriter C J Watson will talk on “Everything Songwriting”. Finally 15 year Music Row veteran Jo Crowe will help ya get your stuff ready to plug from publisher to label & also do song critiques for the gang.
At Noon all the stages begin firing back up, booths are open and everything hums along as usual. Some of the late-niter’s begin straggling in and the party continues. Go with the flow, 12 more hours to go.
At 6 PM. If anyone wants to get married at the Fest then this is the time we do it, free of charge. Festival provides a Hall of Famer to minister the ceremony. The bride and groom read a poem or play a special tune to each other on stage, kiss and then head off to a reception nearby. Don’t worry. I think there will be plenty of live entertainment.
In the evening about 8 PM we start winding down the video, web cast and other stages and Southern Fried Fest Heads start gravitating to the Curb Music Parking Lot as we get ready to Jam till midnight. Having gotten our musical fill, we yearn no more. Little elves clear the row of gear, stages, and by the next day it’s like we never existed.
The week following the Fest some writers are still hanging around the Row, following up on leads and cementing plans for the future. For better or worse, at least you know your way around now.
The Nashville SongWriters Festival is many happenings in one. ASCAP, SESAC and BMI writers of all genres come together. Publishers, recording studios, producers, song pluggers, managers, and others are in attendance as a broad spectrum of the industry, past, present and future will be there getting the feel. Take in all or parts of the Fest and “Play it by ear”.
Writers are encouraged to come as they are and find their place in the mix. Everyone who comes to the fest will have an opportunity to share their original lyrics, song or music. There are no set pre qualifications to play and no set registration fee to attend the Fest. Each individual determines how they can contribute to help be a part of this music magic. Many special guests and surprises await but the real featured writer is you.
So step outside the cliques and come hang with the gang. If you have a talent to contribute, the call goes out. Invite yourself to be a part of Music City history. The fest is now accepting sign ups for the June 2009 season. Throw down at this years congregation to celebrate the spirit of the songwriter.
The 3 day music peoples gathering is hosted by SongWritersFestival.com. Music Fans and the general public are also invited to attend. Plenty of free parking. For more information visit www.SongWritersFestival.com, call 615-424-1491 / 931-296-4067 or email Popcorn@SongWritersFestival.com. A Page available with links to all the instructors and venues listed above are at http://www.songwritersfestival.com/big_weekend_fest.htm
Some scheduling aspects may vary due to VIP and Pro Instructor considerations at the live event.
http://www.songwritersfestival.com
http://www.songwritersfestival.com/musicdownloads/stick-your-job.mp3
LITTLEFIELD
It’s part festival, part music conference, part business networking opportunity and part gathering of old friends held in Nashville, TN every third weekend of June. The live performances, education and Open House are concurrently running events. Here’s a day by day account from Friday morning and continuing on till Sunday midnight.
Day 1, Friday, June 19th, 2009
It’s Friday 9 AM we start with some pro instruction. Richard Adler, Grammy, Platinum/Gold recording engineer & producer talks about the nitty gritty of being in the music biz. Then Dave Gibson shares some insights and plays a few songs that have worked for him. (Texas Tattoo, Big Heart, Red White and Blue Collar, Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys, Queen Of Memphis, Daddy Never was the Cadillac Kind, Ships That Don’t Come In, Jukebox In My Mind, Lonely & Gone). Following Dave is Stan Webb, SESAC Legacy Award. “I’m From the Country”(and I like it that way.), and other commercial successes. Stan talks about the realities of becoming a long term professional songwriter.
After Lunch, Steven Sharp’s inside knowledge from successes of running a major label talks about, “The Politics of Getting a Song Heard and Cut”. Next, entertainment law expert Bill Whitacre will take your questions on copyrights, rules on co-writing and collaboration, publishing, artist deals, digital rights and more. Finally, wrapping up the afternoon session is Radio Host Karen Reynolds, who will speak on “The business and skills of the performing songwriter”.
Friday afternoon @ 5:30 PM we begin firing off the stages. Starting at the Curb Music parking, lot, it’s time to begin the non stop original tunes till Sunday midnight! There are scheduled featured writer segments intermingled with regular writers. About 6:30 the writers start finding their place in the mix at the various Video, Web Cast and other outdoor theme venues. Unscheduled Create-A-Rounds pop up throughout the evening. Some writers browse a Booth or drop off their CDs to display at the Writer’s Table. The stages hum till about 2 AM. As the evening winds down the hard core gather and play unplugged at the after hours Open Sing Ring. Thus begins a life changing weekend, so pace yourself.
Day 2, Saturday, June 20th, 2009
It’s Saturday morning @ 10 AM, the Writers who got some rest are up-and-about getting first hand experience of the Row. The second day of the Pro Instructors classes starts with a Guitar workshop with Dave Isaacs “Driving The Groove.” Next Debi Champion gives pointers on “How to Host a Successful Writers Night”. Lisa Aschmann explains her concepts behind the book, “1000 Songwriting Ideas.” Pete & Pat Luboff will tell ya why “Collaboration is the Key to getting songs cut.” and Tirk Wilder rounds things off doing Song Critiques for students.
Also at 10 AM on Saturday the Open House begins. Fest Heads will be able to drop by participating recording studios, producers, publishers, publicists, consultants, managers, duplicators, and other trade related music businesses on or near the Row. These businesses will have an “Open Door Policy” from 10 AM-6 PM June 20th and 21st. These established Music Row businesses will offer tours of their facilities and answer questions about “What part they play in the biz?” Writers are encouraged to drop off and pick up samples of each others works.
Around noon, live music begins filling the Row again and the booths are open for traffic. Little clusters of writers develop, each sharing stories and talking shop. Everyone is laid back and having a meaningful experience thanks to the no contest, no talent search emphasis of the fest, making for a more relaxing atmosphere. At some point we present the Life Time Achievement award to the festival Grand Master. Last year Tom T. Hall took the honors and was presented the keys to Music Row. The stages close down again at 2 AM and the really late niters head for the after hours Open Sing Ring to watch the sun rise. By the end of the second day, Fest Heads have been effectively scattered from one end of the Row to the other.
Day 3, Sunday, June 21st, 2009
It’s Sunday Morning 8 AM and thus begins a special Christian Music Segment at the Curb Music Parking Lot. A special emphasis on Contemporary Christian related music is pursued till noon.
10 AM, Survivors from Friday and Saturday hit the Row again! The Sunday session of the Open House begins. Fest Heads loaded down with business cards, CD’s and goodie bags take advantage of the “Open Door Policy” till 6 PM.
10:30 AM, The 3rd day of Pro Instruction kicks off again and runs till about 6 PM. Starting things out is a guitar workshop by master Denny Sarokin. Then find out how to be “Ready for the Row” with Barbara Cloyd. After Barb, Bob Dellaposta will speak on “How to start and maintain a publishing company.” Also critically acclaimed author and songwriter C J Watson will talk on “Everything Songwriting”. Finally 15 year Music Row veteran Jo Crowe will help ya get your stuff ready to plug from publisher to label & also do song critiques for the gang.
At Noon all the stages begin firing back up, booths are open and everything hums along as usual. Some of the late-niter’s begin straggling in and the party continues. Go with the flow, 12 more hours to go.
At 6 PM. If anyone wants to get married at the Fest then this is the time we do it, free of charge. Festival provides a Hall of Famer to minister the ceremony. The bride and groom read a poem or play a special tune to each other on stage, kiss and then head off to a reception nearby. Don’t worry. I think there will be plenty of live entertainment.
In the evening about 8 PM we start winding down the video, web cast and other stages and Southern Fried Fest Heads start gravitating to the Curb Music Parking Lot as we get ready to Jam till midnight. Having gotten our musical fill, we yearn no more. Little elves clear the row of gear, stages, and by the next day it’s like we never existed.
The week following the Fest some writers are still hanging around the Row, following up on leads and cementing plans for the future. For better or worse, at least you know your way around now.
The Nashville SongWriters Festival is many happenings in one. ASCAP, SESAC and BMI writers of all genres come together. Publishers, recording studios, producers, song pluggers, managers, and others are in attendance as a broad spectrum of the industry, past, present and future will be there getting the feel. Take in all or parts of the Fest and “Play it by ear”.
Writers are encouraged to come as they are and find their place in the mix. Everyone who comes to the fest will have an opportunity to share their original lyrics, song or music. There are no set pre qualifications to play and no set registration fee to attend the Fest. Each individual determines how they can contribute to help be a part of this music magic. Many special guests and surprises await but the real featured writer is you.
So step outside the cliques and come hang with the gang. If you have a talent to contribute, the call goes out. Invite yourself to be a part of Music City history. The fest is now accepting sign ups for the June 2009 season. Throw down at this years congregation to celebrate the spirit of the songwriter.
The 3 day music peoples gathering is hosted by SongWritersFestival.com. Music Fans and the general public are also invited to attend. Plenty of free parking. For more information visit www.SongWritersFestival.com, call 615-424-1491 / 931-296-4067 or email Popcorn@SongWritersFestival.com. A Page available with links to all the instructors and venues listed above are at http://www.songwritersfestival.com/big_weekend_fest.htm
Some scheduling aspects may vary due to VIP and Pro Instructor considerations at the live event.
http://www.songwritersfestival.com
http://www.songwritersfestival.com/musicdownloads/stick-your-job.mp3
LITTLEFIELD
Jan
26
Luis D asked:
I would like to dedicate a love song to my wife, does anyone knows a romantic christian song or songs?
BORGES
I would like to dedicate a love song to my wife, does anyone knows a romantic christian song or songs?
BORGES
Jan
25
Filed Under Finance | Comments Off
Christian Seemuller VP asked:
Life insurance is a basic staple in the insurance shopping bag. If you think about it, life insurance is actually an ironic term because its benefit doesn’t occur during life, it is a benefit paid when a death occurs.
No one ever wants to think about not being around one day. But the truth is one should really take the responsible step and secure the financial side of life for those left behind. If you are married and have a child or children, life insurance is truly a must. If you are the main income earner that your family depends on to pay the bills each month, you need life insurance. There is no gray area here, it is black and white. Who would pay the mortgage each month if your income was gone? With life insurance you can be sure that should it be needed the income will be there through the life insurance policy to provide for the everyday money that the family needs to continue without problems paying the bills.
There are a few variations of life insurance. There is the popular type of life insurance policy called Term Life Insurance. The term life insurance provides coverage for a specific and stated period of time. This type of life insurance is a very popular choice for a policy because it can be purchased for an inexpensive premium. The way this insurance works is that you are covered by the policy for the time period specified. When that period ends you can decide if you want to extend the policy, if you have bought a policy with a renewable option, or buy another policy. The most commonly issued policies are 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 year term policies.
The other types of life insurance policies are whole life insurance policies, universal life insurance policies, and variable life insurance policies. There are many ways you can use one of these types of policies to enhance your finances. Which policy is right for you and your family’s needs is something that you should discuss with a financial or insurance specialist. They can help you maximize you financial portfolio and help you meet the needs that you are looking to meet. If you goal is only to have some peace of mind with a basic policy, maybe a term policy is the best thing for you and your budget. If you are looking to use insurance as a savings vehicle, maybe the universal life insurance policy is a better fit. This kind of policy can build cash value that can be borrowed from in the form of a policy loan. Maybe you are in need of paying for college tuition or some other large expense that a life insurance policy can help provide funds for. It is important to understand all of the details and risks involved with putting a policy into place.
Life insurance is an important policy to secure your family’s future. By going on line, in this day and age of the internet, you can learn a lot about this very simple but most important insurance protection. There are many websites that are definitely a great resource.
CROWE
Life insurance is a basic staple in the insurance shopping bag. If you think about it, life insurance is actually an ironic term because its benefit doesn’t occur during life, it is a benefit paid when a death occurs.
No one ever wants to think about not being around one day. But the truth is one should really take the responsible step and secure the financial side of life for those left behind. If you are married and have a child or children, life insurance is truly a must. If you are the main income earner that your family depends on to pay the bills each month, you need life insurance. There is no gray area here, it is black and white. Who would pay the mortgage each month if your income was gone? With life insurance you can be sure that should it be needed the income will be there through the life insurance policy to provide for the everyday money that the family needs to continue without problems paying the bills.
There are a few variations of life insurance. There is the popular type of life insurance policy called Term Life Insurance. The term life insurance provides coverage for a specific and stated period of time. This type of life insurance is a very popular choice for a policy because it can be purchased for an inexpensive premium. The way this insurance works is that you are covered by the policy for the time period specified. When that period ends you can decide if you want to extend the policy, if you have bought a policy with a renewable option, or buy another policy. The most commonly issued policies are 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 year term policies.
The other types of life insurance policies are whole life insurance policies, universal life insurance policies, and variable life insurance policies. There are many ways you can use one of these types of policies to enhance your finances. Which policy is right for you and your family’s needs is something that you should discuss with a financial or insurance specialist. They can help you maximize you financial portfolio and help you meet the needs that you are looking to meet. If you goal is only to have some peace of mind with a basic policy, maybe a term policy is the best thing for you and your budget. If you are looking to use insurance as a savings vehicle, maybe the universal life insurance policy is a better fit. This kind of policy can build cash value that can be borrowed from in the form of a policy loan. Maybe you are in need of paying for college tuition or some other large expense that a life insurance policy can help provide funds for. It is important to understand all of the details and risks involved with putting a policy into place.
Life insurance is an important policy to secure your family’s future. By going on line, in this day and age of the internet, you can learn a lot about this very simple but most important insurance protection. There are many websites that are definitely a great resource.
CROWE
Jan
25
Filed Under Christian Love | Comments Off
David B Smith asked:
The Greatest of these is Love
1 Corinthians 13
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I give over my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
The words of St Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians, from towards the end (thirteenth chapter, to be exact).
It’s one of the most familiar passages in the Bible, I think. Even if you have not studied it personally or heard it read out here on a Sunday morning before, there is almost no doubt that you have heard it read at some time, and most probably at a wedding.
I can’t remember being present at many weddings where this passage hasn’t been read and I can’t remember taking many weddings where the couple haven’t requested it.
Indeed, even those who do not know where to find the passage, when asked, “have you thought about what Bible reading you would like at your wedding?”, almost invariably answer, “how about the love passage?” Do you mean “Love is patient and kind, love is not jealous or boastful or rude – that passage?”, I ask. “Yes, that’s the one!”
And most of us clerical wedding celebrant types wince a little when this is said too, as we know, and as anybody who has been to Bible College or spent any amount of time studying the Bible knows, that this passage is really quite inappropriate for a wedding, and this for two reasons:
Paul’s eulogy here is part of his discussion about how to use spiritual gifts within the church community, and is not addressed to couples.
The sort of love Paul is taking about does not seem to be the sort of romantic love that we associate with weddings.
Yet people continue to ask for it, because it is beautiful and poetic, and indeed, as a piece of verse, it surely must be the most beautiful piece that St Paul ever wrote.
And they ask for it too, I think, because, even though St Paul is not talking about romantic love, and even though he is not addressing couples, I think we recognise in Paul’s description of love here some of the most fundamental elements that a long-term loving relationship needs if it is going to be successful.
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (vss. 4-7)
If Paul is not talking about romantic love, what is he talking about?
‘Commitment’ would be my usual response here: Christian love is not about feeling passionate towards lots of people, it’s about commitment to their needs.
And that’s gotta be true, as far as it goes. But as I read through this beautiful poem of St Paul’s again, I wonder whether Paul’s understanding of love was really as devoid of emotional entanglement as the word ‘commitment’ might suggest?
“Faith is passion”, said Kierkegaard, and I suspect Paul would have agreed with him, and if faith is passion, surely love is passion too.
You see, the problem we have here with getting inside Paul’s head to really grasp what he meant by ‘love’ is not only that he wrote it a long time ago and in another language, but that he and the rest of the early Christian community more or less constructed their own language of love.
C.S. Lewis wrote a book about this. I suspect that a number of you have read it – ‘The Four Loves’ it is called.
In it, Lewis points out that there were three words in first century Greek regularly used for love – ‘Eros’, ’storge’ and ‘philia’. These three loves are, respectively, romantic love, family love, such as we have for our children, and the more formal sort of love, such as the love the Godfather might have for you – a love that carries with it a clear expectation that a service will be done in return.
“Some day, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me. But uh, until that day, accept this justice as a gift on my daughter’s wedding day.” (Vito Corleone)
Strangely, when the New Testament writers chose a term for love, which is a word that turns up rather a lot in the New Testament, they deliberately avoided all these standard terms, and employed instead a reasonably colourless Greek word – ‘agape’ – and then went about the task of defining it!
Evidently the early Christians felt that they were talking about something new and different when they talked about the love of Christ, and so they felt that none of the old words for love would do. So instead of using one of those words, and trying to put a bit of a twist on it, they decided to take a little known word and mould it more appropriately for their own use.
Now, I don’t want this sermon to be just an academic dissertation on the meaning of certain words in ancient Greek, but we are dealing with a significant question here that is relevant to all of us.
Jesus is always telling us that we’ve gotta love people, but what was He talking about? We know He didn’t mean that you have to be in love with everybody, which would not only be an impossible task, but something that would be rather disastrous in our litigious environment, as you’d find yourself up on harassment charges very quickly! So what did He mean?
Well, if we take our starting point from these words of St Paul’s, we’d have to say that love has got a lot to do with persistence.
‘Love is patient’, Paul says, or as the older translations put it, ‘love suffereth long’.
In other words, ‘Love puts up with a lot of stuff”, and this same concept is reinforced again four times in verse 7 of this short passage.
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Love, it seems, has a lot to do with sticking it out. Love goes the distance. Indeed, St Paul concludes this passage by reflecting on the fact that while life is transient and all things pass away in time, yet “Three things abide, faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.”
I don’t know if many of you smoke Marlborough. Even if you don’t smoke the cigarettes, I suspect that most of us would be old enough to remember the ‘Marlborough Country’ ads.
I heard an interview once with marketing guru, Jay Conrad Levinson, where he talked about the history of the ‘Marlborough Man’ ad campaign. In its day, he said, it was the most expensive ad campaign ever undertaken by any company ever.
They created a whole world in the American wild west, which they called, ‘Marlborough Country’, and they created this rugged, outdoor individual, who had the strength and determination to survive and thrive in this world, and he smoked Marlborough!
They took this bold initiative because their brand was ranking poorly in terms of sales and because surveys showed that they were perceived as a feminine brand.
A year after launching this massive campaign and spending an enormous amount of money in rolling it out, they did their surveys and tallied up their figures again, and found that they were still doing poorly in sales and that they were still perceived as a feminine brand!
And so members of the board of Phillip Morris (who produced the cigarettes) moved to scrap the campaign and salvage whatever funds and credibility they had left. But the chairman apparently said, “give it a bit more time”. And sure enough, within another year, after continuing to pour time and money into the campaign, they’d hit no.1 in sales and their public perception had changed completely.
What’s that got to do with 1 Corinthians 13, you might be asking? It’s the concept of persistence, or, as Levinson put it in that interview, ‘maintaining the attack’.
You might think it a rather inappropriate illustration to use in a sermon, but I can tell you that I have found myself regularly reflecting upon that story in my thinking, as I have thought about our church!
I am in my seventeenth year here, believe it or not. Seventeen years ago I was convinced that we could build up this church, become financially viable, and offer genuinely useful service to this community. I thought it would take us a year or two. Seventeen years later, we’re still not quite there, though we’re closer than we were. And so I think back to that story and ask myself, ‘do you believe in what you’re doing?’ And the answer is always ‘yes’. Then ‘maintain the attack.’
Of course Paul’s exhortation to persist is not focused on projects but on people. It is people that we need to love, people that we must not give up on, people we must endure, hope for, believe in, and persist with, for this is what love is.
It is hard for all of us, as members of this church, not to sideline some members – write them off because they are difficult, unproductive, draining or just downright obnoxious. But Paul believed that everybody had a place and that everybody had something to offer. God so constructs the body of believers such that every member is important and every member has a vital contribution to make to the body as a whole.
Sometimes it is not obvious what it is that some persons have to contribute, but don’t give up on them – maintain the attack, persist, keep working with them, for God has placed those people here too so that they might enrich the life of the body as a whole and push us forward in our ministry and mission.
Persistence, it seems, is the key, pastorally, to making the Christian community work, which is why love is always deeply associated with that other fundamental Christian virtue – forgiveness.
It may be this emphasis on persistence that makes this passage is so popular in weddings too. For I think each of us knows deep down that so much of what makes a marriage work is the fact that we are willing to stick it out and keep working on it.
I heard of a women who was overheard, toasting her husband on the occasion of their fortieth wedding anniversary with the words, “in spite of everything!”
That might sound somewhat cynical, but I think it is true, that the miracle of good relationships is that they do work, in spite of everything, as there are so many things that can destroy them.
And that’s as true of the church as it is of our marriages. In spite of everything, we have opted to stick it out with each other, in the hope that we might still serve God more effectively by worshipping Him and serving Him together.
In spite of everything – in spite of our individual weaknesses, in spite of the dramas and scandals that regularly threaten to up-end us, in spite of our tiredness, and in spite of the fact that, even after seventeen years, we haven’t reaped all the rewards for our hard work, as we may have like, we persist … because we love, and because that’s what love is all about.
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. … So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
MENARD
The Greatest of these is Love
1 Corinthians 13
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I give over my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
The words of St Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians, from towards the end (thirteenth chapter, to be exact).
It’s one of the most familiar passages in the Bible, I think. Even if you have not studied it personally or heard it read out here on a Sunday morning before, there is almost no doubt that you have heard it read at some time, and most probably at a wedding.
I can’t remember being present at many weddings where this passage hasn’t been read and I can’t remember taking many weddings where the couple haven’t requested it.
Indeed, even those who do not know where to find the passage, when asked, “have you thought about what Bible reading you would like at your wedding?”, almost invariably answer, “how about the love passage?” Do you mean “Love is patient and kind, love is not jealous or boastful or rude – that passage?”, I ask. “Yes, that’s the one!”
And most of us clerical wedding celebrant types wince a little when this is said too, as we know, and as anybody who has been to Bible College or spent any amount of time studying the Bible knows, that this passage is really quite inappropriate for a wedding, and this for two reasons:
Paul’s eulogy here is part of his discussion about how to use spiritual gifts within the church community, and is not addressed to couples.
The sort of love Paul is taking about does not seem to be the sort of romantic love that we associate with weddings.
Yet people continue to ask for it, because it is beautiful and poetic, and indeed, as a piece of verse, it surely must be the most beautiful piece that St Paul ever wrote.
And they ask for it too, I think, because, even though St Paul is not talking about romantic love, and even though he is not addressing couples, I think we recognise in Paul’s description of love here some of the most fundamental elements that a long-term loving relationship needs if it is going to be successful.
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (vss. 4-7)
If Paul is not talking about romantic love, what is he talking about?
‘Commitment’ would be my usual response here: Christian love is not about feeling passionate towards lots of people, it’s about commitment to their needs.
And that’s gotta be true, as far as it goes. But as I read through this beautiful poem of St Paul’s again, I wonder whether Paul’s understanding of love was really as devoid of emotional entanglement as the word ‘commitment’ might suggest?
“Faith is passion”, said Kierkegaard, and I suspect Paul would have agreed with him, and if faith is passion, surely love is passion too.
You see, the problem we have here with getting inside Paul’s head to really grasp what he meant by ‘love’ is not only that he wrote it a long time ago and in another language, but that he and the rest of the early Christian community more or less constructed their own language of love.
C.S. Lewis wrote a book about this. I suspect that a number of you have read it – ‘The Four Loves’ it is called.
In it, Lewis points out that there were three words in first century Greek regularly used for love – ‘Eros’, ’storge’ and ‘philia’. These three loves are, respectively, romantic love, family love, such as we have for our children, and the more formal sort of love, such as the love the Godfather might have for you – a love that carries with it a clear expectation that a service will be done in return.
“Some day, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me. But uh, until that day, accept this justice as a gift on my daughter’s wedding day.” (Vito Corleone)
Strangely, when the New Testament writers chose a term for love, which is a word that turns up rather a lot in the New Testament, they deliberately avoided all these standard terms, and employed instead a reasonably colourless Greek word – ‘agape’ – and then went about the task of defining it!
Evidently the early Christians felt that they were talking about something new and different when they talked about the love of Christ, and so they felt that none of the old words for love would do. So instead of using one of those words, and trying to put a bit of a twist on it, they decided to take a little known word and mould it more appropriately for their own use.
Now, I don’t want this sermon to be just an academic dissertation on the meaning of certain words in ancient Greek, but we are dealing with a significant question here that is relevant to all of us.
Jesus is always telling us that we’ve gotta love people, but what was He talking about? We know He didn’t mean that you have to be in love with everybody, which would not only be an impossible task, but something that would be rather disastrous in our litigious environment, as you’d find yourself up on harassment charges very quickly! So what did He mean?
Well, if we take our starting point from these words of St Paul’s, we’d have to say that love has got a lot to do with persistence.
‘Love is patient’, Paul says, or as the older translations put it, ‘love suffereth long’.
In other words, ‘Love puts up with a lot of stuff”, and this same concept is reinforced again four times in verse 7 of this short passage.
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Love, it seems, has a lot to do with sticking it out. Love goes the distance. Indeed, St Paul concludes this passage by reflecting on the fact that while life is transient and all things pass away in time, yet “Three things abide, faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.”
I don’t know if many of you smoke Marlborough. Even if you don’t smoke the cigarettes, I suspect that most of us would be old enough to remember the ‘Marlborough Country’ ads.
I heard an interview once with marketing guru, Jay Conrad Levinson, where he talked about the history of the ‘Marlborough Man’ ad campaign. In its day, he said, it was the most expensive ad campaign ever undertaken by any company ever.
They created a whole world in the American wild west, which they called, ‘Marlborough Country’, and they created this rugged, outdoor individual, who had the strength and determination to survive and thrive in this world, and he smoked Marlborough!
They took this bold initiative because their brand was ranking poorly in terms of sales and because surveys showed that they were perceived as a feminine brand.
A year after launching this massive campaign and spending an enormous amount of money in rolling it out, they did their surveys and tallied up their figures again, and found that they were still doing poorly in sales and that they were still perceived as a feminine brand!
And so members of the board of Phillip Morris (who produced the cigarettes) moved to scrap the campaign and salvage whatever funds and credibility they had left. But the chairman apparently said, “give it a bit more time”. And sure enough, within another year, after continuing to pour time and money into the campaign, they’d hit no.1 in sales and their public perception had changed completely.
What’s that got to do with 1 Corinthians 13, you might be asking? It’s the concept of persistence, or, as Levinson put it in that interview, ‘maintaining the attack’.
You might think it a rather inappropriate illustration to use in a sermon, but I can tell you that I have found myself regularly reflecting upon that story in my thinking, as I have thought about our church!
I am in my seventeenth year here, believe it or not. Seventeen years ago I was convinced that we could build up this church, become financially viable, and offer genuinely useful service to this community. I thought it would take us a year or two. Seventeen years later, we’re still not quite there, though we’re closer than we were. And so I think back to that story and ask myself, ‘do you believe in what you’re doing?’ And the answer is always ‘yes’. Then ‘maintain the attack.’
Of course Paul’s exhortation to persist is not focused on projects but on people. It is people that we need to love, people that we must not give up on, people we must endure, hope for, believe in, and persist with, for this is what love is.
It is hard for all of us, as members of this church, not to sideline some members – write them off because they are difficult, unproductive, draining or just downright obnoxious. But Paul believed that everybody had a place and that everybody had something to offer. God so constructs the body of believers such that every member is important and every member has a vital contribution to make to the body as a whole.
Sometimes it is not obvious what it is that some persons have to contribute, but don’t give up on them – maintain the attack, persist, keep working with them, for God has placed those people here too so that they might enrich the life of the body as a whole and push us forward in our ministry and mission.
Persistence, it seems, is the key, pastorally, to making the Christian community work, which is why love is always deeply associated with that other fundamental Christian virtue – forgiveness.
It may be this emphasis on persistence that makes this passage is so popular in weddings too. For I think each of us knows deep down that so much of what makes a marriage work is the fact that we are willing to stick it out and keep working on it.
I heard of a women who was overheard, toasting her husband on the occasion of their fortieth wedding anniversary with the words, “in spite of everything!”
That might sound somewhat cynical, but I think it is true, that the miracle of good relationships is that they do work, in spite of everything, as there are so many things that can destroy them.
And that’s as true of the church as it is of our marriages. In spite of everything, we have opted to stick it out with each other, in the hope that we might still serve God more effectively by worshipping Him and serving Him together.
In spite of everything – in spite of our individual weaknesses, in spite of the dramas and scandals that regularly threaten to up-end us, in spite of our tiredness, and in spite of the fact that, even after seventeen years, we haven’t reaped all the rewards for our hard work, as we may have like, we persist … because we love, and because that’s what love is all about.
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. … So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
MENARD
Jan
24
Is it possible to love Jesus and not be a Christian,but be of some other religion who believes in Jesus as God?
Filed Under Christian Love | 5 Comments
Curious Christian asked:
I am a born again Christian but I was curious to see what other religions had to say on this question.So this question is open to anyone,regardless of religion! DO you love God?:)
Curious
BUTLER
I am a born again Christian but I was curious to see what other religions had to say on this question.So this question is open to anyone,regardless of religion! DO you love God?:)
Curious
BUTLER
Jan
23
kimmin3 asked:
Where can I download free Korean Christian music?
Mother’s day is coming and I want to make a CD for my mom, where can I dowload free Korean music.
MULLINS
Where can I download free Korean Christian music?
Mother’s day is coming and I want to make a CD for my mom, where can I dowload free Korean music.
MULLINS
Jan
22
Filed Under Religion | Comments Off
Jeff Fain asked:
A baptism is at the special moment in a Christian’s life when he or she makes the personal statement of faith in front of a crowd of fellow believers, friends, and churchgoers. It can be done in a river, lake, bath tub, or with even just a little water sprinkled on the forehead. Different Christians have different ideas about baptism, but most adhere to an immersion technique philosophy. The person is immersed in the water by his or her preacher, and the words are uttered, “I baptize you in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit.” Alternatively, the preacher will say something like, “I baptize you in the name of Jesus” or “I baptize you in the name of Jesus for the remission of your sins”. Typically, the friends are there for spiritual support but also because the Bible stipulates that it should be public. Therefore, it’s good to send out invitations. The bible offers basic instructions before leaving earth, and that’s an acronym for the word, Bible. Baptism invitations make sure that none of your non-believing friends miss out on the event. It’s important for non-believers to see the stand of courage, compassion, and hard work you’re making in the steps toward the Christian life and the Christian religion.
Baptism invitations can feature a cross, dove, ray of light, host of angels, sword of the spirit, water from heaven descending like a dove, group of Christians standing around a pool of water, or any of the other famous scenes of the Bible in which Christians were persecuted for their beliefs, martyred, or overjoyed when they ascended to heaven to partake of the heavenly fruits of their labor.
Baptism invitations should be sent out at least 2 weeks ahead of time, and the most important people to send them out to are people that don’t go to your church because they’re the ones that most need to see that someone like you can make a dedicated, fun, cool transition into the Christian life. They need to understand that the Christian life is about freedom, fun, and forgiveness, and that it doesn’t mean you have to be baptized to be saved from Hell. You can even be baptized in a bath tub in a small church. God doesn’t tell us directly how to get baptized, only that we should get baptized.
Send out your baptism invitations today. What are you waiting for?
ACUNA
A baptism is at the special moment in a Christian’s life when he or she makes the personal statement of faith in front of a crowd of fellow believers, friends, and churchgoers. It can be done in a river, lake, bath tub, or with even just a little water sprinkled on the forehead. Different Christians have different ideas about baptism, but most adhere to an immersion technique philosophy. The person is immersed in the water by his or her preacher, and the words are uttered, “I baptize you in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit.” Alternatively, the preacher will say something like, “I baptize you in the name of Jesus” or “I baptize you in the name of Jesus for the remission of your sins”. Typically, the friends are there for spiritual support but also because the Bible stipulates that it should be public. Therefore, it’s good to send out invitations. The bible offers basic instructions before leaving earth, and that’s an acronym for the word, Bible. Baptism invitations make sure that none of your non-believing friends miss out on the event. It’s important for non-believers to see the stand of courage, compassion, and hard work you’re making in the steps toward the Christian life and the Christian religion.
Baptism invitations can feature a cross, dove, ray of light, host of angels, sword of the spirit, water from heaven descending like a dove, group of Christians standing around a pool of water, or any of the other famous scenes of the Bible in which Christians were persecuted for their beliefs, martyred, or overjoyed when they ascended to heaven to partake of the heavenly fruits of their labor.
Baptism invitations should be sent out at least 2 weeks ahead of time, and the most important people to send them out to are people that don’t go to your church because they’re the ones that most need to see that someone like you can make a dedicated, fun, cool transition into the Christian life. They need to understand that the Christian life is about freedom, fun, and forgiveness, and that it doesn’t mean you have to be baptized to be saved from Hell. You can even be baptized in a bath tub in a small church. God doesn’t tell us directly how to get baptized, only that we should get baptized.
Send out your baptism invitations today. What are you waiting for?
ACUNA
Jan
21
Christians: can you live a satisfactory Christian life without personal experience?
Filed Under Christian Life | Comments Off
HockusPokess asked:
I mean if one believes in the Bible yet they don’t see anything distinguishable from nature is that a really bad thing?
ALSTON
I mean if one believes in the Bible yet they don’t see anything distinguishable from nature is that a really bad thing?
ALSTON