Christian Music #4 Taylor Worship

Continuing my posts on Christian Music, one of the other influential things for me was Taylor Chapel, and worshipping at Taylor University, where I went to college.  Taylor Chapels introduced me to Keith Green, and to worshipping God as young adults.

Worshipping together in groups, whether big or small, has been a great help in walking with Jesus and the others who follow Him.  There is something about worshipping Jesus Christ together.

Christian Music #3 Summer's Best Two Weeks

Continuing my posts on Christian Music I was heavily influenced by Summer Camp Music.  The Summer camp I went to was called Summer's Best Two Weeks.  We sand songs to Jesus.  We sang YMCA while washing the tables.  We cheered.  This is when Christian Music came alive to me and that I found something out that many have not.  Partying with drugs will only go so far.  Partying with Jesus Christ (without drugs) has no limit.  

Even though no campers are here, I still remember Kent when I was a camper.  Takes me back....

Christian Music #2 Rich Mullins

Continuing my ten posts on Christian Music, I was influenced early in my Christian life with Rich Mullins, a man from Richmond, IN near where I live.  Although it is hard, I will list my top ten favorite Rich Mullins songs.

1.  Hard to get

this song was honest about struggles in death that I needed and still need.  Honesty in worship is so needed if we are to reflect our song book, the book of Psalms.

2.  My one thing

3.  Land of my Sojourn

4.  Sometimes by step

I sand this while climbing Mt. Kenya.

5.  We are not as strong as we think we are.

6.  Creed

this is the apostles creed.  so good.

7.  Hold Me Jesus (Sorry this should have been #2 or 3)

8.  Ready for the storm
(my brother, Josh Hawkins and I think Lori Beadie sand this in Gerig Hall at TU)

9.  Peace

10.  While the nations rage

Christian Music #1 Evie

My first exposure to Christian Music was when I was in my mother's womb listening to her sing praise songs to Jesus.  Praising Jesus has always been a part of my life.  I am going to share in the next ten posts Christian Music that has been influential in my life to lead me to Jesus.

My mom played Evie records in our house growing up, and our favorite was "I may be 4 foot eleven but I'm going to heaven, and that makes me feel ten feet tall."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quPBRwFsljU

The faith of Judas

At the end of John 6 many disciples walk away from Jesus because of his hard teaching that they could not accept.  Jesus knew the ones who did not believe.
The twelve did not turn away but stayed and believed that Jesus was the Holy One of God.
One group did not believe and walked away.
One group believed and did not walk away.
One group had unbelief.
One group had belief.
Their belief shaped their behavior.
What about Judas?  What kind of belief did he have?
Judas was known to Jesus as the one who would betray him, as also Jesus knew those who did not believe.  So it seems that Judas is in the lot with those who did not believe.
On the other hand, Judas was one of the Twelve, who did not walk away, so it would appear that Judas was with those who believe.  What group was Judas in?  I believe that Jesus hints at this when he calls Judas a devil.
The devil is a liar, and the father of lies.
Judas had devilish belief.
Judas was a liar.
Judas pretended to go on with belief in Jesus, even though instead of following Jesus he intended to lead Jesus into a trap.
How am I like the many who walked away?
How am I like the twelve who believed and stayed with Jesus, having no plan B?
How am I like Judas, clinging to my own agenda, and pretending like it is following Christ, when I am only using Christ for my own purposes?

Lord, search my heart, and if there is any devilish belief, strip it out of me at whatever cost.
Please, Lord search our hearts, and help us to have true belief.

Carefrontation

When I was in college at a Christian University, someone introduced me to the idea of care-frontation.  Confrontation sounds so bad right?  It often can go bad, especially when I am confronting my kids.  I am also a soccer coach and I coach the blue team.  Often I have to yell these two words from the sidelines of a game, "SAME TEAM!"  I feel like someone should yell these two words to me when I am yelling at my kids.

Let me discuss three main aspects of how confrontation usually goes normally with my children. After something triggers my anger I decide what the main goal is, and 1. the main goal is for me to win the arguement.  After the main goal is established, I go about accomplish it by 2. the strategy of fight or flight (mostly fight), by using my voice as a weapon.  3.  I see myself as my ally, and the kids are my enemies.

Funny how this confrontation style, the one that comes naturally to me, is not very effective.  It usually creates a war in which win or lose I always feel horrid about later.  Is there any hope for confrontation, or should we not confront?

That is where Paul in Galatians 6:1 helps us in describing what I think is where people must have found the idea of carefrontation.

"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.  Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted."

Essentially Paul was crying, "SAME TEAM!"

1.  The goal is not for me to win but for the team to win.  Restore him to what? - to the team.
2.  The way toward restoration is not fight or flight, but in a spirit of gentleness.  If I come calmly, the other person will not as easily perceive me as the enemy.
3.  The enemy is myself.  There is no I in team.  Not only could I fall prey to the very sin the other person was caught in, but I could be caught in the more destructive sin of self-righteousness and pride.

How can you do this in your life?

Decide who God is leading you to confront.
1.  See the goal as a team win not an individual win (same team).
2.  Approach not as an enemy, but as a friend (same team).
3.  Watch yourself, especially lifting yourself above the other (same team).

that the King of glory may come in

Lift up your heads, O gates!
  and be lifted up, O ancient doors,
  that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
  the LORD, strong and mighty,
  the LORD, mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates!
  and be lifted up, O ancient doors,
  that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
  the LORD of hosts,
  he is the King of glory!

Psalm 24:7-10

In the time of David and the Kings of old, there was a time of great rejoicing when the arc of the covenant would come into the holy city (see 2 Samuel 6:16-19).  Though David was a king, he knew that the LORD was THE King.  There was a call to the city "Open your gates!"  The honor of having the King of glory come to dwell inside!

In the time of Herod the King a messenger from the LORD came to speak of a greater king than Herod.  The angel spoke to a young woman named Mary, a woman who was willing to open herself to the King of glory.  In a sense, it was as if the call to the city of old, came to a young woman, "Open your gates!" and open herself she did.  The honor of having the King of glory come the dwell inside!

In our own time each is his or her own king or queen, and yet at Christmastime we sing of a baby king.  A baby who grew up to be a man, a man who took his own cross, a cross on which he died, a death though, which could not hold inside the King of glory!  The King of glory cannot be contained even in death.  And the Risen King of Glory now pours Himself into those that open their gates through His Holy Spirit.  "Open your gates!"  he calls.  The honor of having the King of glory come to dwell inside!

Soon will come a day when the kings of this earth lose all their crowns and thrones and only One King will shine brighter than the light of the sun.  The King of glory will come to the open gates of the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, and the dwelling of God will be with humans.  That city's gates will be open!  The honor of having the King of glory come to dwell inside!