From the whirlwind

look at my ticket!

2008-06-10T16:41:00.001-04:00

Is this true of you, and ME?

Embracing Accusations

2008-06-01T15:18:00.002-04:00

There is a song called Embracing Accusations on the most recent Shane and Shane album and this song has caused me some reflection lately. The song is as the titles states a confession of embracing accusations brought against us by none other than Satan. Now I know you are probably thinking as I did when I first heard the song, "what did he just say?"

A careful listen will reveal that the authors are highlighting many of the tactics commonly used by the evil one to discourage us as believers, namely "you are not good enough", "cursed are the ones who cant abide in the Lord", "you cannot attain salvation", "you are cursed and gone astray." The author then goes on to say "he is right, the devil is preaching the song of the redeemed." The point being that when the devil sends these thoughts and words to the redeemed that we should embrace these accusations because this is the beginning of the majesty of the gospel, we are cursed, BUT Christ has born the curse for us. The song builds to say the devil sings the first verse so conveniently, but he has forgotten the refrain JESUS SAVES!

What a great song, what a great truth for us when we are in the midst of discouragement. You nor I can ever be good enough, nor will we ever get everything right, but we have a glorious redeemer who has!

Musical Musings

2008-05-08T11:59:00.002-04:00

It is time!

Many of you who have known me for any amount of time know my fascination with all things music. It is a passion of mine which I hope does not consume me to the point of sinful preoccupation. Perhaps it is because I am curious about the future of my daughters tastes in music or just curiosity that makes me ask the question of whats next?

You see for me in high school the punk rock scene was my niche, not the days of the clash, Dead Kennedys, or Black Flag, but the days of Lagwagon, NOFX, MXPX, etc. I would go to these shows frequently and loved them, I loved the community of friends around music, it was priceless. Towards the end of my high school days the hardcore scene was coming into bloom, which has since bloomed and mushroomed, to the point where divisions into subgroups such as emo, screamo, post-hardcore, nu-metal, metalcore, and my personal favorite and my current playlist SOUTHERN METAL (That genre just sounds cool, and is even cooler to listen to and behold, as i did last Tue. in Augusta)

But as I have thought, and continue to think about the changing face of music, I wonder what will be next. To be honest, when I listen to metal I am convinced that music could not get heavier (in sound, not weight, especially considering the fact that an mp3 is considerably lighter than a compact disc). Here is where I find myself contemplating as of late, what is the future trend of young American music? Will I be passed by, or do the hard work of listening, understanding and engaging it positively, and when needed negatively?

I guess the goal of this post is to encourage you and I to never be complacent and dismissal to music that simply isn't our taste (for me this includes hip-hop), but rather see and appreciate the artistry and engage the culture of music in a non-stereotypical fashion.

SDG

P.S. to those of you curious about this SOUTHERN METAL, check out my personal fave and latest addiction Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, or the likes of Once Nothing, The Showdown, or Memphis May Fire. All of these bands are believers in Christ who know how to rock for Jesus.

WIALT (2)

2007-11-30T15:44:00.000-05:00

The 2nd installment of what I am listening to, enjoy!

First let me start off with a little different flava. If you are into podcasts, and into hard music I would encourage you to check out the HM magazine podcast, for a couple reasons. First they play entire songs not just snippets, so that you can get a feel for the given bands songwriting. Second the host is good and not dorky like many podcast hosts are. Third the interviews are decent. So if you are into hard Christian music I would definately encourage you to download a few episodes and see if you like, also they are free, which is the case with the vast majority of podcasts, so this kinda goes without saying.

Sleepwalking, by Blindside

Pieces, by Red

Chinatown Jail Break, The Galley Slave, Warriors by Flatfoot 56

The Glory of it All, Can You Feel It?, by David Crowder Band

No more Christian t-shirts!?!

2007-11-20T16:04:00.000-05:00

its true....
I am not the biggest fan of Christian t-shirts.....there are some I like but more that I dont. I am saddened as my friend informed me, and after verifying it on the web, that my favorite Christian clothing retailer is calling it quits early next year. I encourage all of you to go and check out there clothes if for nothing more than reading the stories behind the clothes they make.......and hey maybe grab a shirt, or a sticker while you can!

check em out!

Could there be a silver lining, well yes there is. This weekend at NYWC I was introduced to the Jedidiah clothing company. AMAZING! Check them out here! They are way more pricey, but the clothes are awesome, and they donate a portion of all their sales to support a bunch of humanitarian causes which you can also read about on their website.

Good clothes are so hard to come by!

What I am listening to!

2007-11-13T11:39:00.000-05:00

I have an addiction, and that is music. My wife wishes I had a less expensive addiction, but I say hey at least its not (insert more expensive item to be addicted to here). So here is the thing some of the students have asked me about music suggetstions, what I listen to, how I find out about shows etc. So this is my attempt I am going to post weekly about the albums and the songs (for you itunesers)that I am listening to and any shows that hear of that are coming somewhat close, hopefully we can get together and go to some shows, because I love shows. Anyhoo here is this weeks list (and I know some are older, but its what I am listening to, and you may not have heard them yet!), and they will never be in order of importance, just a mass of info

1.) All Around Me, Flyleaf

2.) Breathe Into Me, Red

3.) Hawk Nelson, The One Thing I Have Left

4.)Tough as John Jacobs, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster

5.) Ignition, TobyMac

6.) Awakening, Switchfoot

Check these out and enjoy!

Warning: Maylene is not for the faint of heart!

A blow to self-exaltation

2007-11-07T09:01:00.000-05:00

I am reminded often that the world does not revolve around me. It is true of not only my life but the lives of the majority of those around me. We are a people who desire to have things our way and on our time-table. The sad thing is that we often transpose this aspect of our thinking on to the character of God. We think that we are the center of all things, and that somehow because of our existence God is obligated to do certain things. The truth is that God is only obligated to us to the extent that he obligates himself to us.

I was reading yesterday and reminded that when we think of salvation, and our redemption by Christ. We ought to keep it in perspective. So I share with you a quote from Stephen Charnock:

"It was a pure goodness. He was under no obligation to pity our misery, and repair our ruins: he might have stood to the terms of the first covenant, and exacted our eternal death, since we had committed an infinite transgression: he was under no tie to put off the robes of a judge for the heart of a father, and erect a mercy seat above his tribunal of justice."

Praise God that when we deserved only justice he gave mercy.

Viva Reformata!

2007-10-31T12:27:00.000-04:00

Happy Reformation Day!

The Glory of Christ

2007-10-31T12:02:00.000-04:00

I enjoy reading the puritians very much, but I have to read them very slowly, mainly due to the fact they were brilliant and I am less than brilliant. I am reading a book by John Owen right now about the Glory of Christ, and as I was reading yesterday I came across this statement and it hit me with its brutal honesty. Owen writes:

"Reckon in your minds, that this beholding of of the glory of Christ by beholding the glory of God, and all of his holy properties in him, is the greatest privelige of which, in this life, we can be made partakers...............Unless you value it, unless you esteem it as such a privelige, you will not enjoy it; and that which is not valued according to its worth is despised."

I know that often I dont esteem Christ in my heart the way that I should and reading this I realized that I esteem other things in his place and wonder at why my heart feels so empty.

Let us fill our hearts with the delight in the Glory of Christ, that we may see it for the privelige that it truly is!

I'm Shipping up to Boston

2007-10-29T15:56:00.000-04:00

This is quite possibly one of my favorite songs, in fact it is my ringtone. Just so I can pass along some of my musical enjoyment to the masses. Its riverdance on steroids! For other DKM (dropkick murphys) fun check out "the state of massachussetts" video.

World Series Champs!

2007-10-29T15:25:00.001-04:00

My boys did it! What is amazing is the kid that pitched yesterday Jon Lester was being treated for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma this time last year, and this year he pitches his team to a World Series victory. On a different note, I think Jonathan Papelbon might just be becoming my baseball hero (he's from Jacksonville you know)!

trained by grace

2007-10-26T12:12:00.000-04:00

Titus 2:11-12:

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age

In Titus 2:11-12 I encountered an interesting thought communicated by Paul. In verse 11 Paul says "For the grace of God appeared" This statement works as a transition in the letter, and more immediately a new chain of thought regarding the foundation for a godly life, and its manifestation through good works.

What stopped me in this passage was the verb that begins verse 12. Paul uses the term "training" in reference to the work of the grace of God in our lives. What an amazing and humbling thought. It is not the fear of the Lord, though that is the beginning of wisdom, or the judgment of God which trains us, but rather the grace of God. The tool which the Lord sharpens our desires for him is his grace.

The grace of God trains us to resist "worldly passions", but how? Paul makes it clear in the verses which follow describing the majesty of the work of Jesus Christ:

who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (2:14)

Our understanding of this majestic rescue of our souls by Jesus Christ is a constant reminder to the us that we are desperately in need of the grace of the Lord. It is not that the grace of the Lord is always a pleasurable training, in that we are often forced to see our own filthiness, to smell the stench of our sinful behavior, but to the one who has tasted and seen that the Lord is good, the grace of the Lord is a sweet deliverance to the soul.

Finally the wonderful grace of the Lord trains us not only for our lives in the "present age", but for our future with Him.

Maranatha! Our Lord Comes!

quiet before the STORM!

2007-10-24T16:04:00.000-04:00

The World Series starts in a few short hours. I am ancy and excited. The Sox have a chance to win this one, but it will not be easy. Who cares man we made it to the series! We were all but cleared out by the Indians, and they climbed out of the basement to emerge victorious.

Back again for the first time!

2007-10-24T12:16:00.000-04:00

I am terrible at getting excited about something and then not following up on it, but I am going to try the blogosphere once again.

Mike says hi to himself as he is the only one reading this right now.

God-willing that will change

Warped Inside and Out

2006-08-08T11:10:00.000-04:00

I recently became re-acquainted with underoath, the Florida born Christian screamo-hardcore band. They are, in my opinion, amazing. Until 2 weeks ago they were touring on the Vans warped tour as they had been for the last two years. They have cancelled the remainder of their shows because in their words, "We felt it necessary to take some immediate time to focus on our friendship, as that is more important than risking it for the sake of touring at this time." While I know this stinks if you were going to see them at one of the remaining warped shows I am glad they are attempting to preserve the band dynamic because I love their music and hope to hear more from them.

I mention this because I heard rumors that, this year especially, they were being railed against by the other bands on the tour because of their faith. I took the info with a grain of salt understanding that much hear-say is usually greatly exaggerated, but last night I tuned into the "fuse" network an watched the show "Warped inside and out" which is a show that has multiple camera crews traveling with the music festival and taping it, and I must tip my hat to the editors they seemed to show all that is going on from feeding 600 musicians everyday, to sound set-up and tear-down, portions of bands shows and the interpersonal communication between the many bands.

The episodes that I saw gave truth to all the rumors I previously heard, especially with regards to NOFX. A large portion of the show surrounded the evening bible studies that were taking place on the tour. The lead singer of NOFX, Fat Mike, saw the flyer advertising the study and proceeded to blast Christianity throughout the majority of his show, and the cameras taped it all. He Began by making fun of Christian bands having a bible study on the warped tour, and as the show went on, and he got more and more intoxicated, he singled out Underoath and launched his attacks at them with name calling, a barrage of obscenities, and stating that they do not belong on the warped tour. He did not stop there though, by the end of the show he was just railing against Christianity, and blaspheming Christ. He told any Christians who were watching the NOFX show to just leave, and finally dedicated their song "idiot, son of an ***hole" to the name of Jesus Christ. After the end of their show another bands singer asked Fat Mike why he had done what he did, and his reply was "If their (underoath) here to praise Jesus then I am here to tear that down, that's punk rock."

Later that same evening while the Bible Study was going on Fat Mike decided to go, and while trying to disrupt the study was met by a group of believers who knew what was said and still asked him to join. The members of the study invited discussion and included Fat Mike, though he simply spewed foul language, and ultimately tried to justify himself as a good person. He did however stay through the whole study and was invited back by the leader of the study.

I was stunned, on this tour where most would say Christians should not be, the gospel is being spoken through song, and more importantly through their actions. The love of Christ is being shared with people who hate Christianity and oppose all Christians.

The purpose of this post is to prompt fellow believers to pray for Christians in service in difficult areas. Pray for underoath, though I don't think NOFX is to blame for their departure I do think they are wounded and need the ministry of the Spirit to strengthen them and unite them as a band, to energize them for the service to which God has called them. Pray that the evil one will not be victorious in this situation. Secondly pray for the other Christian bands, Emery and Amber Pacific to name two, who are still on the tour sharing their faith with people like Fat Mike.

May the gospel triumph on the Warped Tour!

YELLOWCARD

2006-08-07T11:53:00.000-04:00

I saw Yellowcard recently, they are from my hometown of J-ville FL, they have a violinist, and they rocked my sox off.

You'll Have to speak louder!!

2006-08-07T11:37:00.000-04:00

Many times I act too much like Job.

I like Job, in fact I would never make it if I went through what he did emotionally or physically. However I do see the audacity that Job has in his speeches when he highlights his righteousness before the Righteous Himself. He beckons and cries out that he would love to lay his case before the Lord face to face. In a manner of speaking the Lord does so, he answers Job from the whirlwind in an awesome and terrifying way. This however was not the only answer from the Lord.

No matter where I have heard the book of Job taught I hear his friends trashed, which is deserving in nearly all of their speeches. They approached Jobs suffering from a flawed mindset; all of them save, Elihu. Elihu the youngest speaks with the deepest wisdom and the most sobering words. The Lord spoke of His majesty through the words of Elihu. Elihu rebuked Job's hubris and confronted him about it, but to no avail. It took a mighty display of the Lord's power over creation for Job to see who he really was, which was not what Job saw himself to be.

I see myself so focused on self often to the point that I cannot hear the voice of God around me. So I pray that I will quiet myself and be alert to hear the Lord around me, so that I may not call down the whirlwind as Job did.

Read Job, its good.