As someone who tries to be a connoisseur of Christian music, I appreciate artists who can show range. Some musicians change with the times to give their fans what they want. In the case of Plankeye, their debut album Spill was heavy metal. By 1997, Plankeye transitioned to more of a classic rock feel with a few songs that make you want to snap your fingers to the rhythm of the beat.
For He says, I will declare Your [the Father’s] name to My brethren; in the midst of the [worshiping] congregation I will sing hymns of praise to You, Hebrews 2:12.
Today’s song Some Day is the first song on the One and the Other album. The lyrics of Some Day refer to individuals who don’t see eye to eye on an issue. When new Christians begin to interact with friends from their past, it may be hard to communicate why you decided to give your life to Jesus. Therefore, the prayers of many believers is to wait for the day when a non-believer begins to understand your faith.
You don’t have to go far in today’s culture to find examples of money, sex, and power. Advertisements, commercials, magazines, and movies entice viewers with temporary pleasures. While these superficial factors may start out as innocent distractions, if individuals aren’t careful money, sex, and or power can become supernatural forces of evil, Ephesians 6:12. This isn’t a cautionary tale, but a spiritual reality.
David sent and inquired about the woman. One said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4 And David sent messengers and took her. And she came in to him, and he lay with her—for she was purified from her uncleanness. Then she returned to her house, 2 Samuel 11:3-4.
The best example in the Bible of money, sex, and power is the affair between David and Bathsheba. As King of Israel, David decided to take a vacation for couple of months. At some point in the first week, David got bored, taking an evening stroll on the roof of his palace. Upon recognizing a beautiful woman taking a bath, David invited her over for a romantic dinner for two. Despite being married, David seduced Bathsheba with his power and wealth.
For we brought nothing into the world, and obviously we cannot take anything out of the world; 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content (satisfied). 9 But those who crave to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish (useless, godless) and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction and miserable perishing, 1 Timothy 6:7-9.
As if a scene from a modern-day soap opera, Bathsheba misses her period and likely finds out from a nurse that she is pregnant. Upon hearing his news, David attempts to conceal his affair by permitting Uriah to take a leave of absence from the army. However, when Uriah refuses to have sex with his wife while his company is still fighting, King David panics. Subsequently, Uriah is sent on a suicide mission and dies in battle, opening the door for David to marry Bathsheba. This story of money, sex, and power serves as a warning to anyone who thinks they can conceal their sins from God.
Since I first started to listen to Christian music in 1984, I’ve come across several Christian rock groups. Like any phase in life, your current favorite is the best until another sound causes you to change your allegiance. As for me, Idle Cure from Long Beach California struck a cord with my soul in the 1980’s. This special connection influenced me to purchase all of their albums.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have any being. 34 May my meditation be sweet to Him; as for me, I will rejoice in the Lord, Psalm 104:33-34.
Today’s song accompanied me on many of my college road trips. Whether I was driving to a retreat or visiting a friend at another campus, Over Drive was one of my go to songs to pass the time. Since I’ve spent most of my life living on the East Coast, I’ve lived most of my life in overdrive, rarely stopping. Yet, like the song suggests, being a Christian inspires me to reach higher, by drawing closer to Jesus.
If you watch cable news, a minute doesn’t go by without at least one exaggeration, lie or mis-truth. Apparently, just reporting the news is too boring. In this age of click bait, providing one daily soundbite for social media is too tempting for commentators to abstain. According to one of Jesus’ disciples, this is not how human beings should live their lives. God has a different plan and will for your life.
For it is God’s will and intention that by doing right [your good and honest lives] should silence (muzzle, gag) the ignorant charges and ill-informed criticisms of foolish persons, 1 Peter 2:15.
I started this week by reading Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay the Social Network. The opening scene consists of Mark Zuckerberg sitting at a bar with his date. The dialog is designed to illustrate Zuckerberg’s desire to become part of the most elite club on the Harvard campus. This one-way conversation bores Ericka Albright, Mark’s date, who appears to want to live and good and decent life.
No [actual] evil, misfortune, or calamity shall come upon the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil, misfortune, and calamity. 22 Lying lips are extremely disgusting and hateful to the Lord, but they who deal faithfully are His delight, Proverbs 12:21-22.
Unfortunately, in this age of Cancel Culture and Wokeness, most people are afraid to share what they really believe and think in a social setting. Rather than risk offending someone, honest opinions are held back. Instead, a growing number of people sugar coat their replies to avoid conflict and criticism. While agreeing to disagree is a good option, God wants his followers to live good and honest lives as you learn to love your neighbors as yourself.
Ozzy Osbourne’s first album following his departure from Black Sabbath might be his best one. Based upon how many times I heard the Blizzard of Ozz playing 7 years later in college, this one album kickstarted Ozzy’s brand. Despite all of the sideshows of Ozzy’s career, the Blizzard of Ozz inspired me to find a similar sound in the Christian music industry.
Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great! You are clothed with honor and majesty—Psalm 104:1
This quest finally ended in 1992 when I was introduced to the Last Train album by Holy Soldier. While there is only one Ozzy, Holy Soldier provides a similar heavy metal sound with biblically based lyrics. I could have selected a half dozen songs from Last Train, but Hallow’s Eve is the most popular. This genre may not be your cup of tea, but I hope you can share Holy Soldier with someone who does.
Over the course of my life, I worked a couple of jobs where the turnover rate was extremely high. Some people would last a month, others a week or so and the unhappy might walk out after a couple of hours. According to one of the disciples, suffering is what you should expect as follower of Jesus, Luke 10:1-11. Therefore, whether you like it or not, suffering is part of a typical Christian life.
For one is regarded favorably (is approved, acceptable, and thankworthy) if, as in the sight of God, he endures the pain of unjust suffering. 20 [After all] what [f]kind of glory [is there in it] if, when you do wrong and are punished for it, you take it patiently? But if you bear patiently with suffering [which results] when you do right and that is undeserved, it is acceptable and pleasing to God, 1 Peter 2:19-20.
According to one of Jesus’ disciples, the pain of unjust suffering is part of the faith journey. Perhaps, Peter is referencing the private conversation with disciples in John 15:18 where Jesus reveals the source of this suffering. Nobody enjoys being hated as human nature places a desire inside of individuals to be liked. In the passage above, Peter alludes to suffering as a badge of honor as long as you do what is right.
Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same ([g]identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you, 1 Peter 5:9-10.
At the end of his letter to first century Christians, Peter brings back the topic of suffering. As if to suggest, “whether you like it or not,” suffering is part of the body of Christ. Prior to saying the world hated Him first, Jesus reminds the disciples of their call to love one another. Whenever anyone repays evil with good, it’s shocking. When a Christian embraces suffering for their faith, they will be able to fulfill the words of Solomon in Proverbs 25:21-22. This is your calling whether you like it or not.
The first artist to appear twice on SANS is Steve Wiggins. However, this time Steve isn’t alone, serving as the lead singer of Big Tent Revival. Since I’ve spent a majority of my life in the state of Delaware, I live in between two famous locations where revivals were held. Pike Creek and St. Georges each contained naturally amphitheater’s where preachers like George Whitfield led outdoor big tent meetings.
For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord, Romans 6:23.
These big tent revivals during the first great awakening led to the creation of the Methodist Church. Named after John and Charles Wesley who were methodical in their Bible Study and prayers. As for today’s song, I could have chosen a few from Big Tent Revival’s Open All Nite Album. Yet, the lyrics of the Best Thing in Life comes right out of scripture. A free gift for all to receive.
While the apostle Paul provides a general classification of the acts of the sinful nature in Galatians 5:19-21, other New Testament authors go into more specific aspects of wickedness. Jesus’ earthly brother refers to the process of temptation that wears down weakened souls, James 1:13-15. The disciple whom Jesus loved blames this on sensual desires, lustful eyes and pride in 1 John 2:15-17. These passages serve as warnings for Christians to be done with every trace of wickedness.
So be done with every trace of wickedness (depravity, malignity) and all deceit and insincerity (pretense, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind, 1 Peter 2:1.
The decision to become a Christian is like committing to a new diet. Whenever you make a transition from eating whatever you want to healthy or full vegan, taste will be one of the greatest obstacles. When I served as an elder at Red Lion, one of our members went off to a cancer treatment center. This particular facility used natural foods to make human bodies less acidic. In the case of my friend, after 6 months on a rigid diet, he became cancer free. Yet, his roommate was unable to alter his eating habits.
Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; 23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], 24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, rejecting all falsity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one body and members one of another, Ephesians 4:22-25.
The apostle Paul applies a similar method to altering one’s lifestyle. Like a filthy kid playing in the mud all day, Paul urges new Christians to strip off their former nature. Whenever you hold on to bad habits and former addictions, traces of a wicked past will cling to your soul. This is when a divine intervention may be necessary. Like doing laundry once a week so that you can have clean clothes to wear, Christians need to practice Paul’s advice in Colossians 3:1-9 to remove your past and replace this with Jesus Christ.
Today’s selection made a powerful impact on my life. I was invited to attend a Lay Witness Mission at a Methodist Church in Friendship, Maryland. My spiritual mentor Ken Horne was in charge of high school and college leadership team. Lay Witness Missions are 3-day revivals to help spiritually rejuvenate a dead or dying church. On this particular weekend, I was asked to share my testimony during the Sunday service.
O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation! – Psalm 95:1
One of my best friends from high school had recently died of cancer. Maureen often asked why I was so happy in high school, but I was afraid to tell her about Jesus. In the Ray Boltz song, Feel the Nails, the lyrics talk about playing games. I played this song at the conclusion of my first sermon with a call to action of stop playing games with God. As the congregation heard the chorus to Feel the Nail, people were literally running to the altar. This is what happens when you feel the nails of your past sins.
Patience is one of my weakest traits. No matter how hard I try, I usually find myself in a hurry to get to somewhere. Slowing down and forced to travel at someone else’ pace isn’t my style. If patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:22, bearing patiently with suffering takes an added degree of faith. This is one of many areas where I still have a long way to go and mature spiritually.
[After all] what [f]kind of glory [is there in it] if, when you do wrong and are punished for it, you take it patiently? But if you bear patiently with suffering [which results] when you do right and that is undeserved, it is acceptable and pleasing to God, 1 Peter 2:20.
In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis states that success is the process of arriving. Before you achieve any dream or goal in life, failure is one of many obstacles that you will have to endure. As you continue on the journey called life, you will be embarrassed, humiliated, and filled with disappointment on a weekly basis. Yet, if you keep the faith and bear patiently with suffering, God has called Christians to be faithful, not successful.
Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. 3 Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. 4 And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of [c]character (approved faith and [d]tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] [e]joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation, Romans 5:2-4.
In the passage above, the apostle Paul is essentially saying, “keep your eyes on the prize.” Like the words of Jesus’ earthly brother in James 1:2-4, your spiritual journey is never ending. Whenever you taste the agony of defeat, it’s by God’s grace that you can get right back up and stand again. If you can develop the mindset that every affliction, hardship, and trial is an opportunity for spiritual growth, it won’t be long before you too will be able to bear patiently with suffering.
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