(click here to visit the 21 post and download the song)
Render unto Caesar... http://www.religionnewsblog.com/21574/kenneth-copeland-money
Forget the Disney day care (see 21 post and song linked thereto), what about a private Jet? Rusty, how many villages would that feed?
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Blog Roll Building
It's time for us to build a blog roll. Have a blog? Comment with the name and we will add you to the blogroll we are creating. Just find it in our heart to reciprocate.
Back to work... see the posts below.
Back to work... see the posts below.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Thoughts on "21"
(click here to download the song "21")
Visit this blog regarding the Willow Creek model. This was sent to me by my dear friend Nicole after reading the lyrics to 21 (see post below). See also http://wiseserpents.blogspot.com/.
The day after Nicole sent me the above link, I had an incredible dinner conversation with a friend (hereinafter known as "Friend" for confidentiality sake) over a very bland Oklahoma crab boil. Friend is a small town, big church youth minister who is unafraid to ask some very difficult questions, including "why is this crab so darned bland? Didn't they put any crab boil in here?" We began discussing church programming and he intimated that constant programming hasn't really done much for his youth's spiritual growth. In fact, it hasn't even added that many new, committed youth. We then began discussing re-thinking bible-belt church and bibl-belt language. Which led me to the following questions:
What if we could shell all of the programs and all of the church language (i.e. "saved") and begin to explain Christianity at a relational level? What if we stopped feeding our selves with pot-lucks, and revivals, and VBS's, and started serving the school districts in which our churches are situated? What if we stopped throwing money at projection screens and started throwing it toward community clean-ups and homeless ministries? Would that make a difference in the number of believers that came to faith? Would that faith be more authentic, more genuine? Would it eventually make a difference in the spiritual depth of believers that are raised up in the church?
My questions for you:
(1) what kind of church do you attend? Is it program driven (i.e. pizza blasts, revivals, sponsored super bowl parties, special events)? If so, do you think it is effective in "making disciples?";
(2) If you don't attend a program driven church, what does your church do to make disciples? How do you get into the community?
I need answers here. I think the boys in Mozambique should also put their two cents in the hat. Come on Kyle and Rusty, you can be part of my church.
Comment here, or on the "21" post... Just comment.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
21
(click on the title to download song)
Warning: this is the song that could get me in trouble. Really. At least with some of you.
Please do not take this song as a comment on any one church. It is not. Instead, it is a commentary on the materialism that seems to drive certain congregations in America, and throughout the West. I apologize for the raw commentary, but please understand that I very much identify with the church of which I speak and, from time to time, find myself wanting to be a part of that church. After all, who here does not get excited by the "stuff of earth"? I do. Especially when I can justify the stuff by its particularly keen spiritual application (who else here has bought an x-box for purposes of ministry? I have.).
I guess my broader question is, does this have to be the focus of our local congregations? Is there anything wrong with our "play places"? Does the church that makes such outlays make correlating expenditures to missions, poverty, community devlopment. I don't know, maybe this is where I rely on you guys for some input...
Lyrics
The church just purchased all their dreams with a buck
that was borrowed from the bank
That was borrowed from the government
They filled it up with movie theater seats and flat screens
That were borrowed from the bank
That were borrowed from the government
They rationalized it with the lies that if you build it they will come
And pay for all you built
They graced the halls & walls with shades of paints in gray that muted all their guilt
Chorus:
Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's
You draft, your vote, your tax
Your government TV
Render unto Jesus that which is Jesus'
And when you've paid Matthew
Leave with him, come follow me
V2:
The church just purchased ethical degrees with a buck
That was borrowed from the bank
That was borrowed from the government
They purchased corporate morality with a buck
That was borrowed from the bank
That was borrowed from the government
They entertained the candidates
And were obliged to make endorsements on politico.com
And in return they wrote the bill
That made its way to Capitol Hill
That rezoned the homeless wanderer
To maintain their white facade
Chorus:
Bridge:
We sacrificed our charity so that we could have our own
Disney Day Care Place
We reconciled our ledger and became the moral debtor
So that we could tax a tithe their wage
We rant and rave and froth and foam to justify the loan
So that we can lay claim to another piece of land
And we ignore the rising anger in the stomach of the MakerAs his fists of fury pound out--"Frankly, I do not give a damn!"
Warning: this is the song that could get me in trouble. Really. At least with some of you.
Please do not take this song as a comment on any one church. It is not. Instead, it is a commentary on the materialism that seems to drive certain congregations in America, and throughout the West. I apologize for the raw commentary, but please understand that I very much identify with the church of which I speak and, from time to time, find myself wanting to be a part of that church. After all, who here does not get excited by the "stuff of earth"? I do. Especially when I can justify the stuff by its particularly keen spiritual application (who else here has bought an x-box for purposes of ministry? I have.).
I guess my broader question is, does this have to be the focus of our local congregations? Is there anything wrong with our "play places"? Does the church that makes such outlays make correlating expenditures to missions, poverty, community devlopment. I don't know, maybe this is where I rely on you guys for some input...
Lyrics
The church just purchased all their dreams with a buck
that was borrowed from the bank
That was borrowed from the government
They filled it up with movie theater seats and flat screens
That were borrowed from the bank
That were borrowed from the government
They rationalized it with the lies that if you build it they will come
And pay for all you built
They graced the halls & walls with shades of paints in gray that muted all their guilt
Chorus:
Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's
You draft, your vote, your tax
Your government TV
Render unto Jesus that which is Jesus'
And when you've paid Matthew
Leave with him, come follow me
V2:
The church just purchased ethical degrees with a buck
That was borrowed from the bank
That was borrowed from the government
They purchased corporate morality with a buck
That was borrowed from the bank
That was borrowed from the government
They entertained the candidates
And were obliged to make endorsements on politico.com
And in return they wrote the bill
That made its way to Capitol Hill
That rezoned the homeless wanderer
To maintain their white facade
Chorus:
Bridge:
We sacrificed our charity so that we could have our own
Disney Day Care Place
We reconciled our ledger and became the moral debtor
So that we could tax a tithe their wage
We rant and rave and froth and foam to justify the loan
So that we can lay claim to another piece of land
And we ignore the rising anger in the stomach of the MakerAs his fists of fury pound out--"Frankly, I do not give a damn!"
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
R. Palmer Anyone?
(click on the title to download song)
Really, who didn't want to be him (or one of his dancing girls, ladies)? He sang an incredible song in the 80's. If you haven't heard it, go download it at iTunes (Mudpuppy?). You will find his song as inspiring as I did. And so, I redid it. I did not write any of these lyrics. I merely took my own slant on the tune.
WARNING: Unabashed use of falsetto in this song. Listen at your own risk!
Beneath the fun, there is some really good stuff in this song lyrically speaking. Have at it.
Previous Songs: 1. Train Wreck, 2. Land of Fools, 3. Great Jehovah
Monday, May 26, 2008
Bless the Lord
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD (OR ON TITLE)
This song is simple.
I am of course singing about Jesus here.
The thing is that lately my life has been drug through
the mud along with the lives of several of my friends.
One of them recently told me that he had been driving
and was singing worship music to God and at the same
time was enraged and violently opposed to him. This was
a strange place to be, he told me.
In the midst of this pain, loss, and our souls being stretched
thin, this song was a joy to write. It is a joy to praise God.
And, i believe it blesses Him, yes, i believe we can bless Him.
I believe it makes Him fall down silly with happiness when we
speak words of hope, when we stare disappointment in the face
and say PRAISE JESUS.
Musically the chorus part that repeats is in minors for a reason, and the reason is that
i'm not bubbly and bouncy right now when i am praising God. This is
not a campfire 3 chord summer-stunt. This is the time when the stuff gets real and
we can only say, as Amber Haines quoted a friend as saying, 'we are sustained.'
Baker's Album: 1) Blinding; 2) Welcome Here
This song is simple.
I am of course singing about Jesus here.
The thing is that lately my life has been drug through
the mud along with the lives of several of my friends.
One of them recently told me that he had been driving
and was singing worship music to God and at the same
time was enraged and violently opposed to him. This was
a strange place to be, he told me.
In the midst of this pain, loss, and our souls being stretched
thin, this song was a joy to write. It is a joy to praise God.
And, i believe it blesses Him, yes, i believe we can bless Him.
I believe it makes Him fall down silly with happiness when we
speak words of hope, when we stare disappointment in the face
and say PRAISE JESUS.
Musically the chorus part that repeats is in minors for a reason, and the reason is that
i'm not bubbly and bouncy right now when i am praising God. This is
not a campfire 3 chord summer-stunt. This is the time when the stuff gets real and
we can only say, as Amber Haines quoted a friend as saying, 'we are sustained.'
Baker's Album: 1) Blinding; 2) Welcome Here
Friday, May 16, 2008
Land of Fools
(CLICK ON POST TITLE TO DOWNLOAD THE SONG; or click here)
This is a song inspired by my friend Kyle and his family in Mozambique Africa. As I have reflected over this song in the past few months, I have thought also of Craig and Cindy, who seem to be defying the rich-man syndrome that plagues us. As an addendum, please see this video after listening to the song. Piper has a way with words that I will never have.
Lyrics:
There’s a faith deep in our pocket books
Pinstripe in our suits
There’s a jingle in each step of our shoes
We drive on streets of stone
Awash in Texas gold
We all rich men in a land of wealthy fools
We say grace before our next belly full
Let us thank us for our food
We profit on the poor man’s toil and blues
We devise a miserly portion
So to steal the widow’s mite
We all rich men in a land of wealthy fools
Chorus
We are rich men in a land of wealthy fools
Where the rich men and their money make the rules
With no thought of the narrow
Closing gates to walk on through
We are rich men, in a land of wealthy fools
There’s a love like a dirt floor
Grace like a thatched roof
There’s a faith the length of a soy bean root
There’s a blister bellied boy
With a hope to hold on to,
We all rich men, in a land of wealthy fools
Chorus
Wisdom is a strange man
With calloused feet and stretching skin
On a road hoed with migrant’s shoes
How beautiful the feet that bring,
The poor man’s simple news
We are rich men in a land of wealthy fools
Where the rich men and their money make the rules
With no thought of the narrow
Closing gates to walk on through
We are rich men, in a land of wealthy fools
We are rich men, in a land of wealthy fools
Where the rich men and their money break the rules;
We place our trust and spend our coin
On metal rust and passing joy
We are rich men in a land of wealthy fools
Seth's Previous Posts: 1. Train Wreck
This is a song inspired by my friend Kyle and his family in Mozambique Africa. As I have reflected over this song in the past few months, I have thought also of Craig and Cindy, who seem to be defying the rich-man syndrome that plagues us. As an addendum, please see this video after listening to the song. Piper has a way with words that I will never have.
Lyrics:
There’s a faith deep in our pocket books
Pinstripe in our suits
There’s a jingle in each step of our shoes
We drive on streets of stone
Awash in Texas gold
We all rich men in a land of wealthy fools
We say grace before our next belly full
Let us thank us for our food
We profit on the poor man’s toil and blues
We devise a miserly portion
So to steal the widow’s mite
We all rich men in a land of wealthy fools
Chorus
We are rich men in a land of wealthy fools
Where the rich men and their money make the rules
With no thought of the narrow
Closing gates to walk on through
We are rich men, in a land of wealthy fools
There’s a love like a dirt floor
Grace like a thatched roof
There’s a faith the length of a soy bean root
There’s a blister bellied boy
With a hope to hold on to,
We all rich men, in a land of wealthy fools
Chorus
Wisdom is a strange man
With calloused feet and stretching skin
On a road hoed with migrant’s shoes
How beautiful the feet that bring,
The poor man’s simple news
We are rich men in a land of wealthy fools
Where the rich men and their money make the rules
With no thought of the narrow
Closing gates to walk on through
We are rich men, in a land of wealthy fools
We are rich men, in a land of wealthy fools
Where the rich men and their money break the rules;
We place our trust and spend our coin
On metal rust and passing joy
We are rich men in a land of wealthy fools
Seth's Previous Posts: 1. Train Wreck
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Walk On By
(click on the title to download song)
So I haven't written many love songs (a fact my wife often lovingly chides me about), and it's almost summertime, so why not have a summertime love song? So here it is - Staci, I love you!
Here are the lyrics:
Up into the stary night
Watch her glowing as she shows us
We should slowly say goodnight
Can you see the fireflies dancing
To the music in the air
And the whole earth joins the chorus
For this song we're meant to share
So I haven't written many love songs (a fact my wife often lovingly chides me about), and it's almost summertime, so why not have a summertime love song? So here it is - Staci, I love you!
Here are the lyrics:
Walk On By
Can you see the sun a waiving
On it’s way out of the sky
Watch it go and hope it’s slow
And know it’s time to say goodbye
Can you hear the calm of evening
It’s a summer melody
Come on and stay a moment longer
Won't you linger here with me
I love, I love, I love you
I want you to be mine
And I’ll be yours tonight
I love, I love, I love you
I’m waiting for you now
So don’t turn and walk on by
Up into the stary night
Watch her glowing as she shows us
We should slowly say goodnight
Can you see the fireflies dancing
To the music in the air
And the whole earth joins the chorus
For this song we're meant to share
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