Tag Archives: Pandora Radio

Another Friday Night

Posted on January 28, 2017 by expressyourself4him

http://http://www.invubu.com/music/show/song/Kenny-Marks/Hope-for-a-Broken-Heart.html

According to my former high school students, I possess one of the most eclectic collections of music.  I think this was just a nice way of saying you have a strange taste in music.  A large portion of the artists I enjoy can’t be found on Pandora or other internet sites.  Subsequently, I have to convert cassette tapes into CD’s before downloading them onto my computer.  Recently, I stumbled upon a graveyard of forgotten favorites.  The one with the best lyrics is Hope for the Broken Heart by Kenny Marks.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit, Psalm 34:18.

Written and recorded in 1989 on the Another Friday Night album, this song addresses high school students coping with friends who party each weekend.  Instead of trying to fit in, the individual within the song stays home on Friday night, trying to make sense of why teenagers turn to alcohol to have fun.  After another lonely night on Saturday, this student seeks refuge in church, praying for the people she loves.  During this time in prayer, the Lord provides a message, “there is hope for the lonely and broken-hearted.”

God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds, Psalm 147:3.

Not much has changed since 1989.  In many ways, this issue has gotten worse as the idea of clean fun is foreign to many.  I’m no saint by far, making bad decisions and giving into temptation throughout my life.  Yet, the last time I was drunk was over 20 years ago.  After a wedding reception, I nearly died of alcohol poison.  Call it common sense, but I can’t imagine ever drinking again as the desire within is dead.  May anyone caught in the habit of drinking away another Friday night see the light of Christ, thereby ceasing their addiction.

by Jay Mankus

 

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The Soothing Sound of Music

Posted on April 8, 2014 by expressyourself4him

Record players, eight tracks and cassette tapes were just the beginning to the revolution called music.  Today, MP3 players, iTunes and computers able to download thousands of song, enable the soothing sound of music to be just one click away.  Life without cell phones, electronic devices and voice activated technology is now unthinkable as silence has been replaced by your favorite play list.

Yoga and meditation rely on music as an alternative to healing and relaxation.  Serving as a substitute for God, retreat centers, seminars and private classes are exploding in popularity, ushering in a New Age.  The angel of song, Lucifer, uses all kinds of music to entice individuals like Eve in the garden, replacing an apple with a catchy beat, void of any true meaning.  Meanwhile, whispers penetrate your soul, “I don’t listen to the lyrics,” planting seeds for compromise to commence.

To battle this movement, churches are introducing Soaking in the Spirit, turning prayer rooms into a comfortable place to relax while listening to worship music.  Based upon the principles within Romans 12:1-2, minds are being transformed by words inspired by the Bible, Romans 10:17.  Considered a skilled musician, 1 Samuel 16:14-23, David understood the gladness, joy and peace one experiences while listening to music, Psalm 45:8.

For me, the choice of my music often dictates my mood and or behavior.  Whether you prefer hip hop, rap or classic rock and roll, pieces of the songs you listen to stay with you for hours, days or weeks.  If you’re skeptical, take the Music Challenge.

Spend one day listening to secular music, journal at the end of the day how this music influenced you.  Then, take a day listening to Christian/Gospel/Worship music, using Pandora if you don’t have a large selection.  Compare your language, thoughts and overall mindset.  If you don’t see a definite difference, consider a longer time span, like the challenge found in Daniel 1:8-16.

Feel free to share any findings you discover or interesting insights on the soothing sound of music.

by Jay Mankus

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Renewing Your Mind

Posted on October 18, 2012 by expressyourself4him
     I have heard pastors preach about taking your thoughts captive and renewing your mind, Romans 12:1-2, since high school.  Yet, no one has ever explained to me what this actually means and how it can be done successfully.  Today, I hope to provide biblical insight into why this is necessary and how you can practically renew your mind daily.
     The first obvious place to start with is why; why should I renew my mind or take thoughts captive?  Like Eve in Genesis 3:1, Satan is a schemer and the father of all lies, John 8:44.  Nor is Satan passive, 1 Peter 5:8; he is moving from place to place, searching for signs of weakness.  When he finds a helpless soul, Satan pounces like a lion going in for the kill.  If you are not ready for his attacks, Ephesians 6:10-11, you might end up like the individual in the parable of the sower, Matthew 13:19.  Thus, it is clear you must sharpen your mind with the word of God, Joshua 1:8-9.
     Once this message get’s through, you need to start small, taking baby steps until you work your way into shape spiritually.  Step 1, examine the first thing you think about when you wake up each morning.  Is it selfish, spiritual or worldly?  Depending upon your thought, you might want to consider starting each new day with a short prayer clearing your mind of all unnecessary data.  Then read a short passage of scripture or a verse to give you an emphasis, thought or vision for the day.  Finally, close this time with a worship song to draw you near to God, Colossians 3:16.
     Step 2 begins with mentally preparing yourself for each day.  Remember, Satan will attempt to sow seeds of doubt within your mind.  Therefore, begin to pay close attention to any little thought which enters your mind.  Don’t compromise a bit by disregarding things or letting your mind wander.  Compromise is the language of the devil.  Thus, you may want to write 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 on a note card as a constant reminder to take spiritual authority over your thought life.  Although this sounds easy, this process can be draining or alarming.  Don’t be afraid to keep a daily journal or log book so you won’t repeat the same mistakes day after day.
     Finally, the 3rd step to renewing your mind daily is to fill your mind with a minimum of one hour of Christian music each day.  If you don’t own any, there are outlets like Pandora, where you can create your own playlist for free.  When I allow my tired mind to be rejuvenated by uplifting lyrics, I am a completely different person, energetic and connected to the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25.  However, when I substitute this with talk radio during the day and the television at night, I become vulnerable, Ephesians 4:26.  One of benefits to renewing your mind is you can limit the number of spiritual footholds the enemy has over your life.  Before you give this a try, test everything, 1 Thessalonians 5:21.  Once you begin to renew your mind, let me know how your spiritual journey goes.
by Jay Mankus

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