I spent more than a decade searching for quality hip hop and rap music. If it wasn’t for one of my former upper classman students at Red Lion, I might be still looking today. Yet, thanks to Dan, I was introduced to Lecrae. While Lecrae’s solo albums are good, the best one I’ve found is when Lecrae teamed up with K.B., Trip Lee, Tedashii, Derek and the crew.
Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it, Proverbs 22:6.
While I realize hip hop and rap isn’t for everyone, 116’s lyrics has the ability to reach an audience that most Christians can’t. As someone who grew up listening to Run DMC, 116 doesn’t compromise the gospel while bringing a fresh sound to hip hop and rap lovers. As you begin to prepare for 2024, don’t be afraid to Man Up to make a difference in your community and at work.
The Heroes Journey was developed by author Joseph Campbell as a story telling technique. In recent years, amateur screen writers have used the Hero’s Journey as an outline to follow while trying to craft their first movie. Campbell’s work has been turned into a cycle of life diagram where the hero of a story initially rejects a call to lead. After studying the context of Moses’ life, he is one of many saints who initially rejected God’s call.
And Moses said to the Lord, O Lord, I am not eloquent or a man of words, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and have a heavy and awkward tongue. 11 And the Lord said to him, Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the dumb, or the deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and will teach you what you shall say. 13 And he said, Oh, my Lord, I pray You, send by the hand of [some other] whom You will [send]. 14 Then the anger of the Lord blazed against Moses; He said, Is there not Aaron your brother, the Levite? I know he can speak well. Also, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be overjoyed. 15 You must speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you what you shall do, Exodus 4:10-15.
When asked to be the mouthpiece for the nation of Israel, Moses began to focus on all of his weaknesses. Rather than trust in God to equip him properly for success, Moses thought about everything that he wasn’t good at or gifted in. Like the hero in Joseph’s Campbell’s story telling outline, Moses initially rejects God call. Plan B involves using his brother Aaron, a priest to fill in this role until Moses has the confidence to grow into this position.
Now the word of the Lord came to [a]Jonah son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to [b]Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me. 3 But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from being in the presence of the Lord [as His prophet] and went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish [the most remote of the Phoenician trading places then known]. So he paid the appointed fare and went down into the ship to go with them to Tarshish from being in the presence of the Lord [as His servant and minister]. 4 But the Lord sent out a great wind upon the sea, and there was a violent tempest on the sea so that the ship was about to be broken. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each man cried to his god; and they cast the goods that were in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep, Jonah 1:1-5.
Meanwhile, God called Jonah to share the good news of God’s forgiveness to the sinful city of Ninevah. Rather than immediately respond to God’s call, Jonah gets on a boat heading in the complete opposite direction of Ninevah. Nonetheless, God send a storm so that Jonah takes the long way to get to the Lord’s desired destination. Although you may reject God once or twice, in His time, you’ll be prepared for your next calling in 2024.
Television has a way of skewing a human being’s perspective of God. Due to famous movies like The Ten Commandments and The Passion of the Christ, there is a belief that God uses acts and great miracles to speak to his followers. According to Moses, this simply isn’t true. Rather, the Lord is a relational God concerned about fulfilling the covenants made to the forefathers of faith.
I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty [El-Shaddai], but by My [a]name the Lord [Yahweh—the redemptive name of God] I did not make Myself known to them [in acts and great miracles]. 4 I have also established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their temporary residence in which they were strangers, Exodus 6:3-4.
Rather than carry on ungodly beliefs that have been passed down from generation to generation about God, it’s time to get your story straight. The Lord On High is a relational God, longing to walk with his followers like the days of the Garden of Eden. God doesn’t seek to scare people into belief. Although the Lord is jealous, God is similar to human beings who want to spend time with you.
Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble and lovable and generous benefactor someone might even dare to die. 8 But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us, Romans 5:7-8.
While the wrath of God does exist in the Old Testament, the apostle Paul points out God’s love in the passage above. One chapter later, Paul refers to the wages of sin leading to death in Romans 6:23. The good news of this is that it’s followed by the gift of God is eternal life. Therefore, as Christmas Day fades from your memories, tell others that God’s love is the reason for this season.
The term obtuse refers to individuals who are annoyingly slow to understand or dull-witted. This word is illuminated by the classic film Shawshank Redemption. When Andy Dufrene confronts the Wardon about his lack of concern for his innocence, Andy gets sent to solitary confinement. As for today’s featured passage, the Lord allows Pharaoh to become obtuse by replying in such a manner.
Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness. 2 But Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go, Exodus 5:1-2.
Centuries later, God raised up a prophet who would approach the nation of Israel with a similar message. In the days of Isaiah, eighth centuries Before Christ, leaders of Israel adopted pagan rituals like the New Moon festival. Subsequently, in the days of Isaiah, God stopped listening to prayers of the Israelites. Israel explains what needs to happen before regaining God’s attention.
Your New Moon festivals and your [hypocritical] appointed feasts My soul hates. They are an oppressive burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 And when you spread forth your hands [in prayer, imploring help], I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood! 16 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes! Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do right! Seek justice, relieve the oppressed, and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken it, Isaiah 1:14-20.
Since America no longer adheres to Judeo-Christian values, educators have taken God’s place in the pulpit. Subsequently, college professors have become modern day Pharaoh’s proclaiming the same question, “who is the Lord that I should obey His voice?” May this question challenge you in the final days of December, so that others will know the name of Jesus in 2024, Acts 4:12.
In this progressive age of wokeness, it’s hard to fathom workdays without human resource departments. Yet, after reading Moses’ account of his interactions with the Pharaoh of Egypt, this king was like the sensi in Karate Kid I, NO MERCY. Beside the public spanking of men, the taskmasters of Egypt had no concept of fringe benefits.
Go, get [a]straw where you can find it; but your work shall not be diminished in the least. 12 So the people were scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather the short stubble instead of straw. 13 And the taskmasters were urgent, saying, Finish your work, your daily quotas, as when there was straw. 14 And the Hebrew foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, Why have you not fulfilled all your quota of making bricks yesterday and today, as before? – Exodus 5:11-14
The concept of Labor Unions in the United States dates back to 1794. While this didn’t guarantee safe and sanitary working conditions, businesses and companies have been forced to begin complying with reasonable standards. Unfortunately, the concerns of working conditions for the Israelites were ignored as Pharaoh increased the daily workload after hearing their complaining.
Then the Hebrew foremen came to Pharaoh and cried, Why do you deal like this with your servants? 16 No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, Make bricks! And behold, your servants are beaten, but the fault is in your own people. 17 But [Pharaoh] said, You are idle, lazy and idle! That is why you say, Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord. 18 Get out now and get to work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the full quota of bricks. 19 And the Hebrew foremen saw that they were in an evil situation when it was said, You shall not diminish in the least your full daily quota of bricks, Exodus 5:15-19.
The downside to Labor Unions in the United States is that productivity isn’t always tied to pay. Increased annual pay is rarely seen by blue collar workers, often going directly to administrators and executives. Yet, today’s featured passage serves as a reminder of progress as imagine how miserable it would be to work in conditions where supplies need to be found before completing your actual job. May this passage help you to be thankful for what you have in life.
Nicknames have a way of taking on their own identity. Depending upon the person and setting in which this nickname was derived, this can bring a new dimension to someone’s personality. As for Moses, God introduces Himself as El-Shaddai. While I have heard Michael Card’s classic song on numerous occasions, I never realized that this name refers to God as the Redemptive One.
I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty [El-Shaddai], but by My [a]name the Lord [Yahweh—the redemptive name of God] I did not make Myself known to them [in acts and great miracles], Exodus 6:3.
Over the course of the Old Testament, followers of God mention more than 20 distinct names when addressing this Supreme Being. Twelve of these reflect personalities of God in the form of Jehovah. Each title distinguishes the abilities, nature and power of God. In the passage above, God introduces Himself to Moses as the Redemptive One.
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([d]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him, John 3:16-17.
Thousands of years later, Jesus meets with a first century Pharisee named Nicodemus. This religious leader wanted to know more about Jesus’ teaching of being born again. After a touch of sarcasm from Nicodemus in John 3:1-4, Jesus privately reveals God’s plan of salvation. John 15:12-13 and Romans 5:7-8 both highlight the spiritual powers of the Redemptive One.
Every year in America, families travel to be with members of their family. This may require a car ride across town or to another state. To anyone spread out from family, a plane trip is necessary to be with ones whom you love. As for Mary, the teenage mother of Jesus, she is the only one who witnessed the birth of Jesus and His death on a cross.
And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace ([y]free, spontaneous, absolute favor and loving-kindness) with God. 31 And listen! You will become pregnant and will give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great (eminent) and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His forefather David, Luke 1:30-32.
Based upon the prophecies throughout the Bible like Genesis 3:15, the birth of Jesus is only the beginning of this Christmas story. When Jesus began his earthly ministry at age 30, He started dropping hints to what would come in the near future. While Christmas has become a feel good story to end each calendar year, Jesus’ death and resurrection places a bow on God’s plan for redemption, John 3:16-17.
Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me. 2 In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 And when (if) I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way, John 14:1-14.
The apostle Paul points to the death in Christmas in Romans 5:7-8. Meanwhile, Jesus unveils God’s will for His life in John 15:12-13. Based upon Old Testament practices, the shedding of blood was necessary as Paul highlights in Ephesians 1:7. As individuals unwrap gifts placed under a tree, the ultimate gift is found in Romans 6:23. This is the life and death in Christmas that the lost need to hear this Christmas, Luke 19:10.
As a high school freshman who didn’t know to dance, I waited for ballads to play so that I could ask a girl to slow dance. Early on, I received more rejections than a yes, but bands like Air Supply provided me the comfort in their ballads to overcome disappointment. While I was teaching high school Bible at Red Lion, one of my former students introduced me to Sixteen Cities.
So when they were assembled, they asked Him, Lord, is this the time when You will reestablish the kingdom and restore it to Israel? 7 He said to them, It is not for you to become acquainted with and know [b]what time brings [the things and events of time and their definite periods] or fixed [c]years and seasons (their critical niche in time), which the Father has appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own choice and authority and personal power. 8 But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth, Acts 1:6-8.
While no modern band compares to Air Supply, songs like Only After You and Captured By Your Love brings me back to my high school days. Sixteen Cities is a poppier version of Air Supply with a few songs that make you feel like you’re listening to the Outfield. If you find yourself feeling down this Christmas season, listen to the attached You Tube and I promise you’ll feel much better about life.
When the Lord delivered His final message through Malachi 397 years Before Christ, 400 years of silence followed. From a statistical perspective, this meant that God didn’t speak to anyone on earth for 146,200 consecutive days. As Christmas Eve activities begin for followers of Christ, this wasn’t just one silent night. Rather, this was 4 centuries of silent nights.
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men [astrologers] from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, 2 Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east [a]at its rising and have come to worship Him, Matthew 2:1-2.
Despite God’s silence, this didn’t stop a group of astrologers from researching what Jewish historians were discussing. Something in the evening sky didn’t make sense. Where did this new star come from in the eastern sky. Subsequently, these curious Magi, also known as wise men, begin a journey across the desert to see what another silent night might bring them.
When Herod the king heard this, he was disturbed and troubled, and the whole of Jerusalem with him. 4 So he called together all the chief priests and learned men (scribes) of the people and [b]anxiously asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They replied to him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 And you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are not in any way least or insignificant among the [c]chief cities of Judah; for from you shall come a Ruler ([d]Leader) Who will govern and[e]shepherd My people Israel, Matthew 2:4-6.
One of the reasons scholars believe that Jesus was born in 3 BC is that the chaos brought on by King Herod. Fearful of this future Jewish king, Herod’s edict led to the slaughter of innocent Jewish boys two years and younger. For those parents seeking to hide their infants, these were not silent nights. These events all set the stage for the birth of the Christ child, Matthew 2:9-10, ending once and for all countless silent nights.
As a former Roman Catholic, Mary mother of Jesus was often idolized by members of my former church. When I was younger, I didn’t pay much attention to Mary’s elevated status to sainthood and worship. Yet, as an adult, as I read what is often called Mary’s Song, helps me see the truth. The deliverer of Jesus will be delivered by the Son of God, Psalm 18:2.
And she cried out with a loud cry, and then exclaimed, Blessed (favored of God) above all other women are you! And blessed (favored of God) is the Fruit of your womb! 43 And how [have I deserved that this honor should] be granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, the instant the sound of your salutation reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy, Luke 1:42-44.
Bible scholars believe that Mary was likely a 13 or 14 year old teenager at the time of this immaculate conception via the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:35. According to Matthew 1:19, Joseph and Mary were already betrothed, equivalent to a modern-day engagement. When Mary left to stay with Elizabeth, there were no signs of this pregnancy. If Joseph wasn’t a prudent man, he could have her stoned publicly for adultery. When Mary’s life and marriage was spared, thanksgiving followed.
And blessed (happy, [z]to be envied) is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul magnifies and extols the Lord, 47 And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, Luke 1:45-47.
The above passage clearly states Mary’s public confession and need for a Savior. Despite all the great accolades placed and stowed upon Mary, she knew her place in life. As the Son of God quickly grew into a man, Mary began to treasure things within her heart and mind. Despite the blessing and honor of being the mother of Jesus, Mary acknowledged that the deliverer will soon need to be delivered herself. This is one of many unspoken truths about Christmas.
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