I probably have mentioned before that I consider Keith Green to be one of the greatest modern day Christian songwriters. He was able to convey convicting messages along with great emotion; along with truly proclaiming the Gospel through tracts and his words at the time; he was tragically cut short in the early 1980s with the plane crash but God had his reasons. As far as I know his widow to this day is still doing charitable work in his name.
If we look at music; whether "secular" or "Christian" since that era we see less of what many could call natural love ( Matt. 24:12) in a society dominated by quicker thrills and obsessed with shallow relationships. The only place I can see where this remains these days is with bluegrass music which has had a sort of revival lately; with many talented young people singing new and classic renditions of songs and some new material. Now of course with Artificial Intelligence everything seems to be in a surreal sort of blur. I'll delve into that subject in a later posting.
It has been brought to my attention a common issue today in Christian music is the "I" factor; everything has to be limited to often subjective emotional experiences in what God is doing in our lives if many artists even get that far. Honestly on Christian radio today many djs or broadcasters hardly talk about the Lord at all; those who do stand out.
IF we assume there is some Gospel truth in singing about our own experience; we still miss out on two things; namely God's glory and how our focus should be on seeing others saved through the Gospel. This is the benefit of singing Psalms or at least leaning heavily on scripture; it is there to guide us in how to start worship with true praise; as well as showing God's promises during very real struggles; particularly with David in scripture.
I don't have the answer here but the troubles of the world; persecution of saints and the like never seem to be a subject of song.
Something is mondo bizarro here; two places to sign in and then defaults to saved bible verses that I read. Somehow other comments misdirected to me.
Anyway much of what I'm talking about is probably too obvious to warrant comments; perhaps it helps me to search out scriptures so it is more for my own edification. Personally still dealing with Dad in facility now for a month; lay there at least seems to know the Lord hopefully her or someone there will witness to him. My aunt has convinced me to let him have his computer; his mind is so far gone he doesn't even recognize the two gift cards I bought him and of course he's still obsessed about going back home.
IF I hear from my friend in Pittsburgh I plan to go second week of April to check about working with former employer full time; but it seems legally speaking I can't sell my parent's house. May look for another part time job or full time work here in Philly area.
Helping out a friend in church who is too physically impaired to work and appreciate the fellowship for the time being. I may reconsider getting to nursing home ministry; seems after my illness in summer 2023 the one has new management and the door may be closed but there is one down the street where I had one study with 2 people back then before I was hospitalized.
May be a good thing for the summer; was able to get a few weeks work with frozen produce job with my current employer again this summer.
You can pray for these postings in general I talk A LOT probably too much; would be beneficial to spend more time evangelizing and reading the Word; I am trying though to use as much time as I have effectively. Also starting with biweekly prophecy discussion with someone online; her husband as well as a few other people. I want it to be focused on God's presence and not get into intellectual exercizes (others aren't PreTrib Rapture proponents) but nonetheless fairly mature people there.
I remember Keith Green. He was a few years older that my husband and I. We first met him in a concert at our college in 1980.
I do think many of the songs he created are wonderful and perhaps now, classical. we were planning to attend an upcoming concert of his but his plane crash and death of all on board happened first.
I think he was so young and fresh in the Lord in the years he walked with Jesus here. He was pretty sold out. And that was admirable.
However, he did not have a great deal of biblical background or training in these years and there were some things he promoted that I would not embrace. He was Arminian in his approach to the reception of the Gospel. Even so, he certainly was an impetus to the Christian music venue, taking it to a whole new level that it was before (which was quite "folk musicy" for many years).
Jump ahead 40+ years and there have been some serious artists with some great worship songs that have been a great aid to me in my worship times. But concerts, that is another thing. I cannot go to them anymore because they are so over the top, like worldly concerts. And so overstimulating with flashing lights, big screens, smoke, musicians umping up and down, loud, loud music and other special effects. The last one I went to I had to ask myself, "Where is Jesus in all of this? Is He being magnified? Are people drawn to undistracted worship of God in Christ or distracted by the "show".
I don't know if we can go back to those early years before music videos where we just heard the music, singing of the artists at a volume we could deal with. It would be so good if artists could rewind a bit and return to bringing a strong sense of worship of God to their presentation without the "look at me (us) up here" aspect and effects that are meant to excite the emotions and drown out our rational thinking as we bring heartfelt and thoughtful praise to God.
Perhaps God will step in a redeem this avenue of worship soon.
I probably have mentioned before that I consider Keith Green to be one of the greatest modern day Christian songwriters. He was able to convey convicting messages along with great emotion; along with truly proclaiming the Gospel through tracts and his words at the time; he was tragically cut short in the early 1980s with the plane crash but God had his reasons. As far as I know his widow to this day is still doing charitable work in his name.
If we look at music; whether "secular" or "Christian" since that era we see less of what many could call natural love ( Matt. 24:12) in a society dominated by quicker thrills and obsessed with shallow relationships. The only place I can see where this remains these days is with bluegrass music which has had a sort of revival lately; with many talented young people singing new and classic renditions of songs and some new material. Now of course with Artificial Intelligence everything seems to be in a surreal sort of blur. I'll delve into that subject in a later posting.
It has been brought to my attention a common issue today in Christian music is the "I" factor; everything has to be limited to often subjective emotional experiences in what God is doing in our lives if many artists even get that far. Honestly on Christian radio today many djs or broadcasters hardly talk about the Lord at all; those who do stand out.
IF we assume there is some Gospel truth in singing about our own experience; we still miss out on two things; namely God's glory and how our focus should be on seeing others saved through the Gospel. This is the benefit of singing Psalms or at least leaning heavily on scripture; it is there to guide us in how to start worship with true praise; as well as showing God's promises during very real struggles; particularly with David in scripture.
I don't have the answer here but the troubles of the world; persecution of saints and the like never seem to be a subject of song.
Anyway much of what I'm talking about is probably too obvious to warrant comments; perhaps it helps me to search out scriptures so it is more for my own edification. Personally still dealing with Dad in facility now for a month; lay there at least seems to know the Lord hopefully her or someone there will witness to him. My aunt has convinced me to let him have his computer; his mind is so far gone he doesn't even recognize the two gift cards I bought him and of course he's still obsessed about going back home.
IF I hear from my friend in Pittsburgh I plan to go second week of April to check about working with former employer full time; but it seems legally speaking I can't sell my parent's house. May look for another part time job or full time work here in Philly area.
Helping out a friend in church who is too physically impaired to work and appreciate the fellowship for the time being. I may reconsider getting to nursing home ministry; seems after my illness in summer 2023 the one has new management and the door may be closed but there is one down the street where I had one study with 2 people back then before I was hospitalized.
May be a good thing for the summer; was able to get a few weeks work with frozen produce job with my current employer again this summer.
You can pray for these postings in general I talk A LOT probably too much; would be beneficial to spend more time evangelizing and reading the Word; I am trying though to use as much time as I have effectively. Also starting with biweekly prophecy discussion with someone online; her husband as well as a few other people. I want it to be focused on God's presence and not get into intellectual exercizes (others aren't PreTrib Rapture proponents) but nonetheless fairly mature people there.
Will be glad to meet you after the Rapture.
RHP
I am reading your posts and find them helpful.
I will be praying for your Dad to adjust more comfortably too his new living space. Thanks for the update.
I remember Keith Green. He was a few years older that my husband and I. We first met him in a concert at our college in 1980.
I do think many of the songs he created are wonderful and perhaps now, classical. we were planning to attend an upcoming concert of his but his plane crash and death of all on board happened first.
I think he was so young and fresh in the Lord in the years he walked with Jesus here. He was pretty sold out. And that was admirable.
However, he did not have a great deal of biblical background or training in these years and there were some things he promoted that I would not embrace. He was Arminian in his approach to the reception of the Gospel. Even so, he certainly was an impetus to the Christian music venue, taking it to a whole new level that it was before (which was quite "folk musicy" for many years).
Jump ahead 40+ years and there have been some serious artists with some great worship songs that have been a great aid to me in my worship times. But concerts, that is another thing. I cannot go to them anymore because they are so over the top, like worldly concerts. And so overstimulating with flashing lights, big screens, smoke, musicians umping up and down, loud, loud music and other special effects. The last one I went to I had to ask myself, "Where is Jesus in all of this? Is He being magnified? Are people drawn to undistracted worship of God in Christ or distracted by the "show".
I don't know if we can go back to those early years before music videos where we just heard the music, singing of the artists at a volume we could deal with. It would be so good if artists could rewind a bit and return to bringing a strong sense of worship of God to their presentation without the "look at me (us) up here" aspect and effects that are meant to excite the emotions and drown out our rational thinking as we bring heartfelt and thoughtful praise to God.
Perhaps God will step in a redeem this avenue of worship soon.
If I should be led to go to such I hope I will find it profitable.
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