Randy
It's Tuesday, the best day of the week!!! Welcome to the place to find info you didn't know about your favorite songs or bands, and maybe just a few things you didn't know about yourself in the process. Come on in...you're safe here!
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I Will Follow Him" (Cast from Sister Act/Little Peggy March)
Randy
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Running On Empty" (Jackson Browne)
Welcome
To Tuesday's Musical Notes!!! The place where music and missional
minds exist in concert to encourage, enlighten and invigorate readers. A
place where trivia about music and truths about life coexist in tandem
to cause us to think, ponder and engage the world around us. Or, maybe
its just a fun way to kill a few minutes reading a blog about your
favorite songs. Regardless of your reason, Welcome and thanks for tuning
in. (Don't forget to check out the archives...)
"Running On Empty" Jackson Browne from 1977's Running On Empty
WE
do realize that it is over a year away before ANY actual caucuses or
primaries begin. We also realize that your current temptation to press
"delete" is almost more than you can bear. But, please continue
reading, as we hope to provide you with some insights into what is
looking like a very confusing choice that we have ahead of us as
Americans in 2016. Without the right information, much of which you
will have to discover and ponder for yourself, it could be very easy to
vote for someone who is "running on empty".
According to a George Mason University article, (McDonald, Michael (March 25, 2013). "2012 General Election Turnout rates), in
the 2012 Presidential election, 58.2% of Americans voted. This means
that over 130 million Americans did not vote. That's a lot of folks.
As a percentage, it rivals the number of church members who are not consistent church attenders. (check out last weeks notes for more...Tuesday's Musical Notes - "We Are The World").
While
much is being done by Democrats and Republicans to get out "their"
vote. Not as much is being done to educate the general populace about
the candidates themselves. With recent "stirrings" surrounding Jeb
Bush, Mitt Romney, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
regarding their candidacy in 2016, interest and much media time is
already being devoted to their downsides.
According to some news outlets, as many as 25 potential candidates are
investigating the prospects of a 2016 Presidential run in the Republican
party and their are 3-5 potential candidates on the Democrat side.
This doesn't count a Libertarian, Green Party, or any other number of
smaller political factions getting candidates on the ballot. With all
of the negative comments that are sure to begin happening, how are we to
decide who is the best out of this cavalcade of politicians? Let's go
to the best resource book available...Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge people with equity? Psalm 58:1 NIV
When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order. Proverbs 28:2 NIV
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; Phillipians 2:3 NASB
But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously- take God seriously. Micah 6:8 The Message
Do
nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind
regard one another as more important than yourselves;
Matthew 20:26 NASB
Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kind; sound leadership has a moral foundation. Proverbs 16:12 The Message
When good people run things, everyone is glad, but when the ruler is bad, everyone groans. Proverbs 29:2 The Message
Matthew 20:26 NASB
Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kind; sound leadership has a moral foundation. Proverbs 16:12 The Message
When good people run things, everyone is glad, but when the ruler is bad, everyone groans. Proverbs 29:2 The Message
There is much to be gained by doing research on what the
Bible has to say about leaders and leadership. I would absolutely love
to see a Presidential debate where the primary focus was on the faith of
the candidates. Unfortunately, due to a misinterpretation of a letter
written by Thomas Jefferson, that will probably never happen. (read the
actual letter here and decide for yourself: Thomas Jefferson's "Church And State" letter to Danbury Baptists)
There are ways of discovering the spirituality of those who are seeking the highest office in the land. If you read the biographies of, or books written by those considering a Presidential campaign, you soon see most all of them list a religion, or perhaps a denominational affiliation as an indicator of their faith. This listing alone should not satisfy our investigative efforts, for if we apply normal church statistics, over 50% of these candidates will be non attending church members.
More importantly than their denominational alliance, what do they personally believe about...the Bible? God? The Holy Spirit? Satan? Creation? Sexual fornication? abortion? and most importantly...who do they think Jesus is? What is their take on...the Virgin Birth? the crucifixion? The resurrection? and the 2nd return of Jesus to earth? What has their life stood for? What have they done in or out of office to support the claims they make with regard to these questions. What is the character of the people in which they surround themselves? The answers to all of these questions are available via the internet, the candidates own words through books they have written, or as a matter of the public record. Our ability to become an "educated, believing" constituent is greatly enhanced if we have the wherewithal to find the answers to those questions as well as ones that are important to you.
The Notes would never suggest that you have to believe the we way that we do. In fact, we encourage you to find out what you truly believe on these topics through your own Biblical study and then chose the candidate whose beliefs are the most closely aligned with yours. Do not allow Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, NBC, Time, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, Sean Hannity, Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Larry King, Jon Stewart, or your political "affiliation" influence your decision. Use the Bible as your benchmark, the Holy Spirit as your guide and then pray. It is never to soon to start finding out all you can about the men and women who at the very least will mold the debate regarding the election of our next President.
There are ways of discovering the spirituality of those who are seeking the highest office in the land. If you read the biographies of, or books written by those considering a Presidential campaign, you soon see most all of them list a religion, or perhaps a denominational affiliation as an indicator of their faith. This listing alone should not satisfy our investigative efforts, for if we apply normal church statistics, over 50% of these candidates will be non attending church members.
More importantly than their denominational alliance, what do they personally believe about...the Bible? God? The Holy Spirit? Satan? Creation? Sexual fornication? abortion? and most importantly...who do they think Jesus is? What is their take on...the Virgin Birth? the crucifixion? The resurrection? and the 2nd return of Jesus to earth? What has their life stood for? What have they done in or out of office to support the claims they make with regard to these questions. What is the character of the people in which they surround themselves? The answers to all of these questions are available via the internet, the candidates own words through books they have written, or as a matter of the public record. Our ability to become an "educated, believing" constituent is greatly enhanced if we have the wherewithal to find the answers to those questions as well as ones that are important to you.
The Notes would never suggest that you have to believe the we way that we do. In fact, we encourage you to find out what you truly believe on these topics through your own Biblical study and then chose the candidate whose beliefs are the most closely aligned with yours. Do not allow Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, NBC, Time, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, Sean Hannity, Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Larry King, Jon Stewart, or your political "affiliation" influence your decision. Use the Bible as your benchmark, the Holy Spirit as your guide and then pray. It is never to soon to start finding out all you can about the men and women who at the very least will mold the debate regarding the election of our next President.
According
to 2010 census data, over 2 million people in the United States of
America consider themselves evangelical. Here's where they are located
by state:
Imagine
what would happen to Presidential politics if these folks began today
praying for and investigating every person who is expressing interested
in running for President. Imagine the possibilities of conversations
that begin as political dialogues and end up as prayerful declarations.
Imagine electing a President who is not..."running on empty".
"Run To The End Of The Highway" Keith Green from 1984's Jesus Commands Us To Go
"Run To The End Of The Highway" Keith Green from 1984's Jesus Commands Us To Go
'Til Tuesday
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
Randy
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Tuesday's Musical Notes - "We Are The World" (USA For Africa)
Welcome
to Tuesday and our January 20th edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes.
The place where we can come together and explore our favorite
passions...music, The Message, and ministry. If these 3 things don't
happen to be areas to which you don't have passion, I can promise that
there will be something in today's notes, that will stir you...well, at
least stir the nostalgic part of you...well, at least if you are a
certain age demographic your nostalgia might be stirred, otherwise, it's
a good musical history lesson. While you're here you might even check out the archives...they are here
Recent
terrorist events have reminded us of the preciousness of life.
Politicians want us to believe that they have our backs, and are doing
everything they can to protect us. Leaders throughout history have
tried to maintain a similar message as they allocate resources and
assets to maximize effectiveness to protect or negate the impact of
natural or man made disaster. Unfortunately, things occur that are
outside anyone's control. The cause of these things occasionally are
man made, look at Paris this week, New York City 13 years ago, or Pearl
Harbor 74 years ago. Other times things occur in nature to cause
disaster to befall mankind. (As a disclaimer, Tuesday's Musical Notes
does not believe that mankind can control nature, we are only to be
stewards and do the best we can with the God given resources we have,
therefore we do not subscribe to the theories that surround global
warming. Perhaps when 75% of the country isn't experiencing one of the
coldest winter's on record we might walk down that path, but not
today...) If you study history for very long, you soon realize that
floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and famine are a
part of what we face as residents of planet earth. We cannot control
these things, however, when the uncontrollable occurs, mankind tends to
step up and do things that are within their control...in other
words..."there comes a time, when we heed a certain call", and now we
take you to a recording studio on Beverly Boulevard in Los Angeles,
California, 30 years ago tomorrow...
A
dream by singer Harry Belefonte, a newly formed charity organization
called United Support of Artists for Africa (USA for Africa), a song
written by superstars Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie, and an
assembly of some of the best known names in 80's entertainment would
come together to make a recording that would impact the world. It was
an effort to relieve an incredible famine in Africa. It was an effort
that would raise over $63 million in relief effort for Africa and the
hungry world wide. In case your memory is a little foggy or you're
wondering "who in the world are these people?", here is a list from the
Wikipedia listing of the contributors to the single with an estimated
global sales of 20 million, making it the 5th best selling single of all
time:
Amazing
that this diverse group, with millions of combined record sales, could
see the plight of folks half way around the world and come together to
make an impact. The idea would follow Band-Aid's efforts, (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Do They Know It's Christmas Time")
and would assist the hungry not only in Africa, but domestically as
well. This would begin a movement of "crusades" by musical artists that
benefit social issues on a world wide scale. "We Are The World" would
serve as the inspiration for the mega world wide concert "Live Aid",
improved exposure for UNICEF, Farm Aid, and then come full circle when
the song was rerecorded in
2010 by an updated group of artists who called themselves Artists For
Haiti, to provide support and financial assistance for the survivors of
the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit the island nation of Haiti..."it's
true we make a brighter day, just you and me..."
"We Are The World" 25 for Haiti from 2010
Artists for this effort (source: Wikipedia)
These
artists are to be applauded for their efforts. Again, it goes to show
what like minded people can do to benefit folks they don't know when
they pool their talents and resources together. In both efforts, the
artists donated money as well as their vocal stylings to the relief
efforts.
Their
is an organization that is much larger than USA for Africa, Band Aid,
or Artists for Haiti. It is called the church. Your relationship to
this organization is most likely predicated by what you believe about
its most sacred document, the Bible. More on the Bible and its role in
the world in a later notes, today we want to explore the church.
Approximately,
2 Billion people make up the membership roles of churches world wide.
What are those 2 billion members supposed to be doing? What was God's
intention for creating the church? According to Paul:
"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." Ephesians 3:10-12.
That seems pretty simple. Tell the
whole world that Jesus is God, that He came in a form we could
understand (our own), died to bridge the gap between our unholiness and
God's holiness, and is now alive with God being a mediator for us as we
live in a fallen (unrighteous) world.
What
could happen to our world if all of the 2 billion members of God's
church would become passionate about achieving "His intent"? I fear
that far too many times the words that I am known by have been, "I'm a
member at _______ church" instead of "I'm a part of the bride of Jesus,
can I tell you what that means?". Imagine if the 2 billion people who
are on church roles, consistently participated and actively engaged in
the ministries of the churches to which they belong. I'm told the
average church has an attendance of 50% of its membership. Less than
that participate in small groups or Sunday School.
We
just entered 2015. If you are active in your church, pause and
evaluate if there are possibilities for service that you have yet to
explore. What is God calling you to? If you have been inconsistent as a
church member, today is the day for you to start the habit of actively
participating, engaging, and being discipled at a church of your
choosing. If you aren't a follower of Jesus, today is the day that can
change. Find a Bible, read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and
John. Then explore the Book of Romans. Open your mind, heart, and soul
to what God will say to you through His Word. Then find a group of
folks who you can share this new life. Discipleship does not occur in a
vacuum. We need each other. Together we can accomplish more for God's
kingdom than we could ever hope to achieve on our own.
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy |
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Tuesday's Musical Notes - "It Takes Two" (Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston)
Happy New Year!!! Welcome to the very first Tuesday of 2015! Today we present to you a reprint from Tuesday's Musical Notes - The Email. It is inspired by the Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston 1965 hit duet, "It Takes Two". The song would peak at #14 on Billboards Pop Charts and as high as #4 on the January 1967 Soul Singles Chart.
Welcome to today!!! "Do you believe in miracles?!!!" On February 22nd,1980 a certain Olympic Hockey team certainly did. You know you want to hear Al Michaels say it....hit this link:
"Do you believe in miracles?" - Miracle on the Ice
It
amazed everyone in the world that a group of college students from the United States could
defeat the 4 time world champions at hockey, USSR. I'll never forget watching
as Al Michaels called the only hockey game I have ever watched from
start to finish. Hollywood even made a movie about it with Kurt Russel
starring as Herb Brooks, the US Olympic Hockey team coach. It's a good
movie, that I'm sure if you're my age, you would enjoy. It's called
simply "Miracle".
I know you're probably wondering what a duet by Marvin Gaye and Kim
Weston, and hockey
have in common, especially how they are linked to scripture. Think
about it for just a minute. Anything you have achieved in your life was
probably achieved through the help of other people. You acted as part
of a team and through your combined efforts you achieved the goal. Many
times goals in our lives would be totally impossible through our own
efforts. You soon discover that if put 1 and 1 together that sometimes
it equals more than 2. In fact, the Beatles wrote a song about
teamwork. Joe Cocker ("You Are So Beautiful", "Up Where We Belong"),
who died last month, had this iconic performance with it at Woodstock.
The Bible has many things to say about man combining his efforts or gathering together to do great things.
Matthew 18:19-21 (New King James Version)
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning
anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in
heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am
there in the midst of them.”
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning
anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in
heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am
there in the midst of them.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (New International Version, ©2010)
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
What these passages elude to is the
old saying that there is strength in numbers. We can achieve
exponentially more if we work together. When even one member of the
team is missing, the maximum output cannot be achieved.
Did you notice in the last sentence of the Ecclesiastes passage, that 2 transitions to 3..."A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Up to this point Solomon has spoken in regards of 2 folks coming together to "have a good return for their labor, "one can help the other up", or to keep warm. In this last sentence, a third party shows up to make the cord even stronger. I confess to not knowing anything about how cords are put together, but I do know that we have promise after promise of God's help when we need it. One of those promises is found in Matthew 18:19, Jesus said this, "Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven." So as two folks come together to achieve something, the Father comes along as the third strand of the cord to strengthen the task.
That's why it is so important
that you come "whenever the doors are open" to the church in which your
membership resides. There is encouragement, education, edification, and
enjoyment when you join with like minded people to worship God, His Son
and His Spirit and work to see others delivered from the enemy.
What exactly gets accomplished when we "gather together to ask the
Lord's blessings"? The Bible says that we join with the heavenly throng in worship, children get taught Bible
stories, God gets glorified, and preChristians get delivered!!
It's
the start of the new year and resolutions are abounding. Perhaps you
are one of the thousands of folks who resolved to get involved at a
church, be more consistent in your relationship with your church family
or to take more initiative in your relationship with Jesus. As a start
to that, let me encourage you to strongly evaluate how and what your
membership
at church means to you. Does it mean enough to you that you sacrifice
your tithe, time, and talent.....? Please don't get me wrong,
membership in church doesn't get you in heaven, only the blood of Christ
can do that. However, to use another old cliche'....."actions speak
louder than words" Do you have an "active" faith? Your answers to these
questions will go a long way to determining the success of your New
Year's resolution.
A couple of years ago, I read the book called "Sun Stand Still" by Stephen Furtick, pastor
at Elevation Church in North Carolina. I highly recommend this book to
you and ask that you pray that I can have the "audacious faith" to
which it refers. Here is a few questions that reading this book has
generated for me. I serve a God who I believe physically caused the
Sun to stay in the sky for an entire day, why do I believe He can do
less now? Why do I not ask for the sun to stand still? Why do I trust
my eternal destination on His Word, but not my day to day life? Why do I
not serve Him in areas that he has blessed me with as strengths? Am I
being a willing participant, or spectator. Have I fulfilled the
commitments that I made when I accepted Christ's redemption?
These are just a few of the questions this book has caused me to ponder. I admit that I haven't come up with all of the answers, I'm not completely sure I am finished asking all of my questions, but perhaps if we work on it together we can find answers that surprise us both. Will you join with me? It takes two....me and you!
"It Takes Two" - Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston from the 1966 album Take Two
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)