Easy Way To Stop Fear, Worry, Panic, Depression and Anxiety

Tanya — Sat, 05 May 2012 18:24:24 +0000

I had a thought today while taking a walk with my lovely wife. We were walking near some abandoned railroad tracks and she started walking on one of the rails like on a balance beam. She was able to walk quite a distance without falling off. We talked about this and agreed that if she had been walking on this rail and it was 100 meters in the air or if there were hungry crocodiles under her, she probably would have fallen. So we thought about this and wondered why? Of course the answer is confidence in perceived reality.

You see she was confident that if she fell off the rail she would only fall a few centimeters to the grass. That was the reality she was believing in. But what if the true reality while she was walking, was that there was a nest of poisonous snakes in the tall grass nearby and if she slipped off the rail she would startle them and they would bite her? You see we are always basing our confidence and behavior on a perceived reality.

So we kept walking and I thought about this more. It seemed to me that the opposite of this confidence was often true. People that worried all the time were putting their confidence (negatively) in something that had not happened yet. Whether they were worried about dying, losing their job or even getting stung by a bee, they were putting their confidence/belief in a future that had not yet happened. So in some cases fear was becoming a reality that had not even happened, ( a complete false reality) or worse was holding them back from living their life, because of what they think could happen in the future.

Then I thought how do people win battles if they have negative confidence/fear for future events? Fear of losing?

The answer is they usually cant.

People that win battles are putting their confidence and focus on something else. They understand that there is no true reality except the reality of now. This very second. So when a battle is going against them and things are difficult or scary, they can look at a false future reality of defeat and suffering. Or they can tell themselves that there is no true reality until the very second they meet their reality.

In life, when walking on scary balance beams 100 meters up, don’t worry about what you see below. Focus on what you need to do to get to the other side, or as far as you need to go. You won’t meet your reality until the very second it happens anyway, so what is the point of having negative confidence, worry and fear?

In the Bible God gives us many promises and truths to believe in and we know these things are true because God is true, but also because many others have gone before us and put their trust in God’s truths and have succeeded. The biggest promise and truth God has given us is himself as Jesus Christ. The Bible says that if we put our confidence/belief in Jesus, that we don’t have to worry or have fear about anything. Our second by second reality (as it happens) will be guided by God.

The story of Peter walking on the water with Jesus is a good example. If Peter had worried and believed in a future reality that when he put his foot on the water he would immediately sink, then this lack of confidence in Jesus and of being able to walk on water would have led to him falling into the water and getting very wet.

But he put his confidence in the second by second reality of Jesus, not in the fear of a future of sinking in the water. When he took the step out of the boat he met his reality second by second as he took the steps towards Jesus. It was only when he took his focus off the second by second reality of Jesus and looked around, that a fear of future reality came to him. This actually impacted his present reality as he started to sink. But even in the times that we start to sink, or fall, or lose a battle and things look hopeless Jesus is there to grab our hand and lift us up as he did with Peter.

Things to remember:

Live your life in the reality of now, second by second.

Focus your thoughts and confidence on winning and succeeding. The life storm that may be going on all around you, that you fear will destroy or harm you cannot, if you are focusing on the creator of the universe and savior of mankind, Jesus. Your second by second future reality can only get better, just as Peters second by second reality improved as he put his confidence and focus back on Jesus.

Fear can’t have a hold on you if you bring it into the present.

Fear, worry, and panic need minutes and hours of future time like bacteria needs oxygen. If you bring fear and worry into second by second now, (which means not thinking of them) they will die. We cant think second by second, we can only act and react. You will have better actions and reactions in the now, when your time is spent thinking and focusing on the positive.

There is no oxygen (time) for fear, worry, panic in the now.

Kill fear, worry, and panic (like bacteria) by depriving them of oxygen/ time. Put your confidence in good and perfect things like God’s love and promises. Then watch the new miracles that happen in your second by second reality today!

COME PEOPLE OF THE RISEN KING

Tanya — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:25:41 +0000

COME PEOPLE OF THE RISEN KING, who delight to bring Him praise;
Come all and tune your hearts to sing to the Morning Star of grace.
From the shifting shadows of the earth we will lift our eyes to Him,
Where steady arms of mercy reach to gather children in.

Rejoice, Rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice; O Church of Christ, rejoice!

Come, those whose joy is morning sun, and those weeping through the night;
Come, those who tell of battles won, and those struggling in the fight.
For His perfect love will never change, and His mercies never cease,
But follow us through all our days with the certain hope of peace.

Come, young and old from every land – men and women of the faith;
Come, those with full or empty hands – find the riches of His grace.
Over all the world, His people sing -shore to shore we hear them call
The Truth that cries through every age: “Our God is all in all”!

Keith and Kristyn Getty

A Way to Measure Your Personality’s Depth

Tanya — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 17:01:44 +0000

Recently, while preparing the lesson for the children club about “ How to control our emotions ”, I myself have learned something new. It’s good not to react immediately but first to realize what’s going on and think of the reasons of certain feelings we have at the crisis moment. After that, think of our positive reaction. Just take your time, don’t be in any hurry to answer. We don’t know what emotions can suddenly erupt into our inner world, but we are ABLE to take control of them and not make the people around us a sacrifice to our negative reaction.

The deeper person you are inside, the more time it takes for you to react in crisis moments. The deeper your personality the longer the distance between your unexpected emotional feelings and your reaction to the situation, that caused those feelings. The people, who don’t think of their feelings and emotions and react without any waiting, are shallow and need to work to become deeper inside. The world needs deep people who can make a positive difference because of their depth and maturity!

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

(Jas.1:19-21)

The naive believes everything, But the sensible man considers his steps.

A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, But a fool is arrogant and careless.

(Pr.14:15,16)

God’s True Fasting Is Not So Much About Food, But About Selfishness

Tanya — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:02:39 +0000

About The Little Frog Who Could (Because He Didn’t Hear He Couldn’t)

Tanya — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 11:24:47 +0000

Once upon time some tiny frogs organized a competition. Their goal was to climb to the top of a really high tower. The competition drew many spectators who wanted to watch the event and make fun of its competitors. The truth is that none of the spectators believed that the frogs could climb to the top of the tower. One could hear such remarks as: “It’s too hard! They will NEVER climb up on top”, or “No chance! Tower is too high!”

Small frogs began to fall. One after another, except for those who had gotten a second wind, they jumped up and up, while the crowd still screamed “It’s too hard! No one can do it!” Mean while, more frogs got tired and fell. Only a few kept going, rising higher and higher. They were the only one that did not succumb to failure! In the end, all failed at climbing the tower. With the exception of one frog who somehow, climbed to the top! Afterwards all the frogs wanted to know how he had done it?

One participant asked how this frog, who had reached the top, found the strength to accomplish the task? The answer to his question was that the winning frog was DEAF!!

Do not listen to people who are trying to bring you down with their pessimism, and negative mood. Because they end up taking your most cherished dreams and desires, the ones you cherish most in your heart! Do not forget about the power of words. All that you hear or read, affects your behavior!

ALWAYS BE POSITIVE! NEVER GIVE UP!

Be DEAF when people say that your dreams are unrealistic! With hard work and a positive attitude, you can do almost anything you set your mind to and overcome any situation, no matter how hopeless it may seem. Always think: I’ll do it!

“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”(Ps.118:8)

“Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.”(Ps.37:4,5)

Something More

Tanya — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:58:21 +0000

Nicholas James Vujicic, (born on 4 December 1982) is an Australian preacher and motivational speaker born with Tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of all four limbs. As a child, he struggled mentally and emotionally, as well as physically, but eventually came to terms with his disability and, at the age of seventeen, started his own non-profit organization, Life Without Limbs. Vujicic presents motivational speeches worldwide, on life with a disability, hope, and finding meaning in life. He also speaks about how God can use any willing heart to do His work and that God is big enough to overcome any and all disabilities.

Background and personal

The eldest child of a Serbian family,Vujicic was born in Melbourne, Australia. He was limbless, missing both arms at shoulder level, as well as legless. His feet were toeless except for two toes on one foot. Initially, his parents were devastated, though Vujicic was otherwise healthy.

Originally prohibited by Victoria state law from attending a mainstream school because of his physical disability, even though he was not mentally impaired, Vujicic became one of the first disabled students integrated into a mainstream school, once the laws changed.

Being bullied at school, Vujicic grew depressed and by the age of 8, contemplated suicide. At age 10, he tried to drown himself, but did not go through with it out of love for his parents. After praying to grow arms and legs, Vujicic eventually realized that his accomplishments could inspire others – and became grateful for his life. A key turning point came when his mother showed him a newspaper article about a man dealing with a severe disability. Vujicic realized he wasn’t unique in his struggles and began to embrace his disability.

He began to master the daily tasks of life. He learned to write using the two toes on his left foot with a special grip that slid onto his big toe. He learned to use a computer and type using the “heel and toe” method. He learned to throw tennis balls, play drum pedals, get himself a glass of water, comb his hair, brush his teeth, answer the phone and shave.

In grade seven he was elected captain of his school and worked with the student council on fund-raising events for local charities and disability campaigns. When he was seventeen, he started to give talks at his prayer group, and eventually started his non-profit organization, Life Without Limbs.

In 2005 Vujicic was nominated for the “Young Australian of the Year” Award.

Vujicic currently lives in California.

On 12 February 2012, he married his fiancée Kanae Miyahara.

Career

Vujicic graduated from Griffith University at the age of 21 with a double major in Accounting and Financial Planning. Subsequently he became a motivational speaker, travelling internationally and focusing on teen issues. Having addressed over three million people in over 24 countries on five continents, he speaks to corporate audiences, congregations and schools.

Vujicic promotes his work through television shows and through his writing. His first book, Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life (Random House, 2010) was published in 2010. He markets a motivational DVD, Life’s Greater Purpose, a short documentary filmed in 2005 highlighting his home life and regular activities. The second part of the DVD was filmed at his local church in Brisbane – one of his first professional motivational speeches. He markets a DVD for young people titled: No Arms, No Legs, No Worries: Youth Version.

In March 2008, he was interviewed by Bob Cummings for 20/20.

He starred in the short film “The Butterfly Circus” which won the Doorpost Film Project’s top prize of 2009, and the Best Short Film award at the Method Fest Film Festival, where Vujicic was also awarded Best Actor in a short film. Butterfly Circus also just won the Best Short Film at The Feel Good Film Festival in Hollywood in 2010.

He also released a new music video called “Something More,” which is available for viewing on YouTube.

Wikipedia

Why Yell At God?

Tanya — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:57:34 +0000

All people of all times are unique and there is NO COPY. Does this fact tell us that God is not strong enough to make a copy of people? Or this fact tells us about His UNLIMITED creativeness?! I suggest you to do a little experiment to test your own level of creativeness: try to draw a human’s face as many times as you can in all possible varieties using only your imagination. It will take a lot of your time if you are very creative but still it will not be even 1000 unique faces… Some of us can’t draw even 100 of them:-)

Our God drew many billions of human faces. He likes to create NEW things. And He created us by His image, with ability to create NEW things. Adam created unique names for thousands of animals in his time. Today’s civilized world tells us about human ability to create new things. Despite that, most people today are LAZY and they just want to make a COPY. It’s easier and faster. Copy Cats! They limit themselves by existing patterns: fashion, jobs, food, views, systems, styles and even prayer style.

And here is the main point of this article: WHY DO CHRISTIAN CHURCHES COPY EACH OTHER EVEN IF THEIR EXAMPLE IS NOT BIBLICAL? Where did the popular charismatic yelling prayer come from? I understand when it’s a spiritual battle against Satan and his army. But very often I hear how Christians yell at God… May be they think that the louder the more spiritual and stronger? But prayer is conversation with God, it’s relationship with Him. What if these Christians talked to their spouses or friends like that? They would be asked: “Hey, why are you yelling?”

Once upon a time in a certain church on a certain continent a certain man was very sincerely praying and God put a desire into his heart to lead a spiritual battle. So he started to proclaim his prayer loud and in a fighting tone, and it was natural. Also, it was very anointed at that moment, and that’s why all other Christians started to practice that loud, fighting method… even praying to God and praying in tongues while the Bible tells us clearly that the prayer in tongues is the prayer to God ONLY. But it got onto Televisions and became very popular in church congregations today.

The people that come the first time to church don’t understand that at all. Instead of real joy, peace and righteousness (that’s the Kingdom of God according to the Bible) they meet aggressive people yelling at God and they think: “Oh-oh, it’s better if I just pray to God in my room by myself. I don’t want to be a part of something like this.” I know many people frustrated in church services because of these unnatural loud prayers from speakers.

Some quotes of real people:

“Anyway, the ‘prayer’ at the end was unlike anything I had ever heard before. Parents who wanted a special blessing on their families were asked to go forward, and the pastor prayed for them. He prayed as if he were yelling at God. I’d never heard anything like this before. And he kept getting louder and louder and faster and faster (the translator couldn’t keep up with him – we were wired for sound). Have any of you ever been to a service like this where the preacher prayed thus? We ended up walking out. Why would a pastor pray like that? Its a great way to motivate people if you’re talking to them one on one, but to talk like that while praying??”

“I have witnessed this. Loud, screaming preaching and praying. Like God can’t hear or something.”

“I was at a service one time we were told to Roar like lions. I don’t remember the Pastor’s reasoning. It was weird.”

“I guess it shouldn’t shock me, but the thought of praying to God in that way just seemed so disrespectful to me. I’m sure they meant no disrespect, but its hard to imagine believing that you’re worshiping in God’s presence and yelling as if…I don’t know what. How do you explain the obvious?”

“Sonya and I were trying to be polite but after 3 hours they still hadn’t even gotten to a sermon. My head was pounding from the loudness of the music, I was starving, and we finally decided to leave. I would have permanent hearing damage if I attended that Church.”

So, WHY YELL AT GOD WHEN HE IS NEAR? He is among us when we get together in His Name. He is not far. The farther the hearts the louder the talk. That’s why people shout at each other when they are arguing. Is your heart close to Gods heart? Why not talk to Him like He is there? If God really showed Himself to the church congregation at least for one second, nobody would yell at Him anymore… All ‘popular’ patterns and styles taken from TV preachers would go away. Everybody would take his mask off and be just by himself.

We could talk about many other unbiblical things that are as popular as ‘yelling at God prayer’. For example: “In the name of Jesus” phrase is used today often as a magical tool; asking people to repeat the repentance prayer; the idea about having a church building; church service schedule patterns; imitation of Holy Spirit; “Christian” Rock and many other things with no Biblical foundation.

Why not leave all these complicated and unnecessary things. What do we need them for? To scare people whom we want to reach for God? Let’s get closer to God’s heart? Let’s be simple as God created us. “Behold, I have found only this, that God made men SIMPLE, but they have sought out many devices.” (Ec.7:29)

Let’s follow Jesus’ example. He didn’t yell at His Father in His prayers, He didn’t yell in tongues, but He came to Him as a Son. To Satan and demons He talked without screaming BUT with authority. Jesus healed the sick people without spending lots of time pushing them around and praying in tongues, but He just touched them and talked to them in their language. Jesus didn’t use popular methods and patterns, but used creativeness in approaching every single person. “He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.” (Isa.42:2,3)

Loans And Gifts

Tanya — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:06:27 +0000

Hello all,

I thought I would talk about loans and borrowing money today. Ive recently decided to look at loans (particularly small loans by friends and family, in a different light)

Here it is:

When times are prosperous people borrow money from friends/family and normally have no problem paying the loan back because there are plenty of jobs and business opportunities. Because of the prosperity that everyone is enjoying they generally don’t think about the downside to having a loan.

The problem comes when times are not prosperous and people borrow money from friends and family. Im not talking about deadbeat relatives that always are “bumming” money from everyone, Im talking about your normal person here. What Ive noticed happens when you loan them some money for them to get through the next month or to get their cars transmission fixed or whatever, is that the small loan becomes a huge weight for these people’s conscious’s. Because of the bad economy or their financial circumstances, they have just gotten themselves into a more difficult situation then they were in before. And you helped them get into this situation, by your well meaning loan.

You see taking a loan for anything is taking the easy way in almost all cases. You learn nothing about real life by taking a loan. Getting loans allows you to comfortably step over lifes canyons, when really you need to sit down and figure your own way across the canyon even if it takes some time, sacrifice and “gasp”…pain. The reason for this is that you will be guaranteed to have more canyons in your future and if you never learned how to make a rope bridge, or you never tried to hike into and out of a canyon or hang-glide across a canyon you wont have the knowledge and skills necessary to cross the next canyon in life.

If you are still paying on a loan that easily got you over your last canyon and you come to a new canyon and you of course don’t know how to cross it, your only thought is to take another loan. If you are the person taking the loans it is obvious with this example that you are wrong and you need to become self sufficient and learn how to cross canyons in your own way which will build your trust in God, wisdom and self reliance. If you are the person giving loans and not allowing your friend to cross these canyons on their own, you are hindering them and their personal development.

So what to do when we see friends and family in financial trouble and want to help? The best thing is to give encouragement a helping hand when possible and financial gifts. Financial gifts are different from loans as they are normally smaller and more focused on a personal need. A financial gift will free the persons conscious from worry about having to pay back a larger loan. And they will still have to figure out their own way of crossing the canyon, which builds wealth in themselves in the form of wisdom that they can use to get across the next canyon more easily. And they will remember your gift when they get back on their feet and return the favor if you ever find yourself at the edge of a financial canyon.

Of course there are prideful people that will say that they cannot take a financial gift from you, and that they insist that it must be a loan and that they will pay it back. You must not give them the money gift if this is their attitude. You will only be enslaving them to a loan which will stunt their growth opportunities for the future. Only give them a money gift if they can accept it as a gift.

So that’s it about personal loans and gifts for friends and family. Also remember for yourself that you are only cheating yourself when you take out a loan or borrow money for a newer car, for a bigger house, for a church building, for some new clothes…whatever. You must learn to trust God, learn to be resourceful and build personal wisdom and courage to attain these things. If you want a snapshot of what happens when an entire country lives off of loans and doesn’t trust in God and doesn’t learn to be resourceful, but always sides steps the difficult canyons in life through loans and borrowing money you can take a look here: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/united-welfare-states-america-2011-nearly-half-population-received-some-form-government-benefit

People need to start trusting in God again and relying on their own brains and physical strength to get through lifes canyons. The culture of quick fix loans is coming to a natural end at least in America and you may find yourself on the wrong side of that 50% if you have not learned to trust God and build wisdom and ingenuity in yourself and the people around you.

Romans 13:8

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.”

Is ‘Christian Rock’ Christian?

Tanya — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:14:47 +0000

“… Music is a powerful communicator. Do you see that music is not neutral? It is never entirely neutral. Sure, words say more than music, but nevertheless, music in varying degrees will move both the spirit and the body. It has content. It gives out a message and that message then can either rightly or wrongly represent Christianity and the living God.

Now we have this question: does ‘Christian rock’ represent Christianity? Is it Christian? Does it fit amongst the saints?

Listen to these testimonies:

The testimony of godly men. I could list several men of God whom others and I highly esteem in the faith who cry out against so-called Christian rock – its music, its worldliness, and its carnality. Some years back, two leaders of the underground church in Russia sent a message to the USA churches asking them to not send Christian rock over there. Now, we know, man’s word is not conclusive when it comes to making an absolute. But, nevertheless, when men, many men, men greatly used of God in turning hundreds of souls to righteousness, speak out against a thing, it is at the very least significant. (See: 2 Chr. 36:15,16).

The testimony of the secular artists themselves. If you won’t believe the men of God, hear what the secular leaders say about the music.

LITA FORD: “Sex and rock go together like wheels on a car.”

LITTLE RICHARD: “I was using dope, marijuana, angel dust, cocaine and heroin with pills and drinking and all I wanted to do was have orgies … rock & roll doesn’t glorify God. You can’t drink out of God’s cup and the devil’s cup at the same time. I was one of the pioneers of that music, one of the builders. I know what the blocks are made of because I built them.”

FRANK ZAPPA: (quoting Hal Zeiger, one of the first big promoters of rock) “The big beat matched the great rhythms of the human body. I knew it and I knew there was nothing that anyone could do to knock that out of them (the youth). And I further knew that they would carry this with them the rest of their lives. The ways in which sound effects the human body are myriad and subtle. The loud sounds and bright lights of today are tremendous indoctrination tools.”

DAVID BOWIE: “Rock has always been the devil’s music and you can’t convince me that it isn’t.” TED NUGENT: “Rock is the perfect primal method of releasing our violent instincts.” He calls his music ‘combat rock’ and speaks of raping his audience.

MICK JAGGER: “We communicate aggression and frustration to an audience, musically and visually.”

ALLEN LANIER of Blue Oyster Cult: “Rock and roll brings out violent emotions. There’s a lot of violence, a lot of aggression in the music.”

JERRY LEE LEWIS: “I am sorry that I was involved in the beginnings of rock and roll. It has helped to destroy untold millions of young people the world over.”

JIM STEINMAN: “Rock is the perfect idiom for the supernatural.”

LINDA RONDSTADT: The purpose of rhythm “is to get into an orgiastic state of losing yourself.” TOM MCSLOY: “To get into rock you have to give in to it, let it inside, flow with it to the point where it consumes you, and all you can feel or hear or think about is the music.”

GRAHAM NASH: “Pop music is the mass medium for conditioning the way people think.”

TIMOTHY LEARY: “Don’t listen to the words, it’s the music that has its own message…I’ve been stoned on the music many times.”

BOB DYLAN: “If I told you what our music is really about, we’d probably all get arrested.”

RICHARD OLDEN: (manager of Rolling Stones) “Rock music is sex and you have to hit teenagers in the face with it.”

JANIS JOPLIN: “I couldn’t believe it — all that rhythm and power. When I first heard rock and roll, I got stoned just listening to it. Like, it’s the best dope in the world. It was so sensual.”

JAN BERRY: “The throbbing beat of rock and roll provides a vital sexual release for its adolescent audience.”

PETE TOWNSEND of The Who: “When performing I don’t know who I am. If someone walked on the stage I’d probably kill.” “We wanted to blow their minds with our music, turn up the amplifiers so they could not hear themselves think.”

The testimony of sociologists, psychologists, doctors, lawmen and newsmen. These make connections between violence and rock.

Drs. Daniel and Bernadette Skubik say, “Indeed, as rock music has moved farther away from its historical roots and medium (viz. folk music) it both causes and expresses an increasing association of overt aggression linked with sexuality.” It should be apparent that more than just the lyrics are involved in producing such powerful effects as seen at concerts and in lives. The content of the Beatle’s “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” and of Elvis’ “Teddy Bear” is fairly mild and hardly worthy of the fame accorded them, but the music is gas to the fire in the words.

Professor William Shafer, a non-Christian sociologist, says, “What is undeniable about rock is its hypnotic power.” Jimi Hendrix, one of the devil’s best pipers who died early and miserably, as many of them have, said, “Atmospheres are going to come through music, because music is a spiritual thing of its own…you can hypnotize people (with music)…and when they get to the weakest point we can preach into the subconscious what we want to say. Our music is just as spiritual as going to church.” He called his concerts “the electric church.” Yes, music is a very spiritual thing. It speaks to our spirit. Sin and bondage can be ministered by music. Righteousness and deliverance can be produced by music (2 Chr. 20:22, Ps. 149:6,7, 1 Sam. 16:23, Ac. 16:25).

Think. If David’s harpistry could drive away demons (1 Sam. 16:23), we should not be surprised if certain other music could also invoke them. Think. If Elisha’s musicians could invoke the Holy Spirit (2 Kg. 3:15), we should not be surprised if certain music could invoke evil spirits. Hendrix often used a young African from Ghana, Kwasi Dzidzornu, a skilled conga drum player. Kwasi said Hendrix’ rhythms were identical to those used by his father in demon-raising voodoo ceremonies. The devil is a musician. If his demons can inspire doctrines (1Tim.4:1), it should not surprise us that they can also inspire music. Admittedly, music is not as much a hard science as math or chemistry. Room must be left for personal taste. There are gray lines. But music is not at all entirely subjective, and we who profess Christ would do well to exercise discernment, to be as objective as possible, and to stay away from devilish music. “Do not touch what is unclean” (2 Cor. 6:17). There is such a thing as good music produced by ungodly men, which nevertheless fits the Christian worldview. There is such a thing as bad music, produced by true Christians with the best of motives, but nevertheless, music that simply does not fit Christianity. It does not communicate a Christian worldview. Music can be a powerful tool for good or evil. Music matters, and the right music with the right words sung by a right heart is more pleasing to God than the offering of a herd of cattle on some altar (Psa. 69:30,31). May it be so amongst the saints for Jesus’ sake to whom be glory forever. Amen.”

The testimony of Scripture. What does God say? Is there a direct scripture? No, there is no scripture that directly says that Christian rock is not Christian, just like there is none that directly says that cocaine or pornography or abortion is wrong. We must look at underlying scriptural principles and then make applications and conclusions, just as has been done, for example, with the doctrine of the Trinity.

Ephesians 5:3,4 tells us to consider what is “FITTING” and “PROPER”. Just as we would consider what clothing fits the occasion or what food fits the occasion, so we must ask if this music fits Christianity. Does rock music communicate attributes and virtues of God? Is it Godly? Does the music exalt God? Specifically, does it minister submission to Him or does it communicate aggression and rebellion? Does the music minister cheer or tension? Does it suggest order or disorder and chaos? Does it suggest hope (tension followed by resolution) or despair? The answer is obvious. Look at rock. It is loud and pushy. It is daring and tough. It is lawless. Pete McRae, a disc jockey pushing for Ted Nugent’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, said, “He embodies the spirit, energy and wild abandon that rock and roll is all about.” Wild abandon! Well said! And, rock is sensual; it calls me to move my hips. None of this fits the deepness, the richness, the seriousness, the urgency, and the majesty of the great God of heaven and His glorious gospel. These C-rock singers snarl out a commitment to God. This does not fit the contrite disciple of Jesus. None of this fits the God of the Bible. It is a different message. It is a different worldview.

Ephesians 5:19 calls for “MELODIOUS” music. The music of heaven is “like harpists playing on their harps” (Rev. 14:2). David was called the “sweet” psalmist (2 Sam. 23:1). There should be a sweetness in Christian music. But rock is (in varying degrees) harsh, strident, snarling, distorted and kind of nasty. Furthermore, in rock music, the beat is generally very dominant and competes with the melody. The body must have a (heart)beat, yet when the beat becomes predominant, you’ve got trouble. Rock is not Christian. Rolling Stone Mick Jagger said, “It’s a noise we make. That’s all. You could be kind and call it music.”

I Corinthians 14:33, similarly, tells us our God is “the author of PEACE.” Again, the strident, harsh, and driving elements of rock are condemned. Rock is a pounding music; it won’t let you rest. There is indeed virtue in lively music but the roar and the scream of rock makes it anti-Christian.

Colossians 3:16 says that Christian music is to “TEACH and ADMONISH.” But the characteristic high volume of rock music is not only unapologetically, sinfully injurious to the hearing, but it disgustingly covers the words. Dave Roberts, a columnist for Buzz, a CCM (contemporary Christian music) magazine, agrees, “Heavy rock is body music designed to bypass your brain and with an unrelenting brutality induce a frenzied state amongst the audience.” Content should be preeminent for the Christian.

James 4:4 condemns WORLDLIKENESS. Contrary to this, Christian rock often is a deliberate, professed attempt at friendship with the non-Christians to try to identify with them and win them. Amy Grant’s manager says her music gives Christian kids something to be proud of so they can say, ‘Hey, we’re normal’. But God does not need the world’s tunes to carry His message any more than a Philistine ox cart to carry the ark (1 Chr. 16:13). That is not Christian. 1

Corinthians 10:31 says, “DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD.” Rock music is generally so wild that it is quite incompatible with congregational singing. Thus, these musicians are not able to be worship leaders; they are performers. Their ministry is more like a showboat than a lifeboat. What so often comes across is not ‘Look, the Lamb of God’, but ‘Look at me saying, “Look, the Lamb of God”.’ Thus, the musicians steal the glory. The girls even scream at these fellows! Someone asks, “Are they servants or stars? Are they producing followers or fans?” It has all the smell of flesh. It is idolatry. Contrast this show business with Paul’s ministry — “night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears” (Acts 20:31). Let’s look at some of the leaders of Christian rock. Are they doing “ALL to the glory of God”? Consider their lyrics and their conduct, as well as their music. One leader unashamedly says that his intent is to entertain. The crowd laughs, yells, and claps at his blasphemous skit, “Are You the One?”, a mock conversation between Jesus and John the Baptist. Now entertainment may have its place, but the gifts of God are given by God, not to divert, not to amuse, not to entertain, but to edify the church (1 Cor. 14:12, 26). This fellow is cute. His music is cute; it is clever — the very thing the apostle Paul says “nullifies the gospel” (1 Cor. 1:17).

Another CCM leader’s music so ambiguous that it sells equally well to the devil’s crowd. She says, “If an audience feels I’ve walked away from God because I no longer talk about Him on-stage, then that’s their loss.” On another occasion she says, “I’m a singer, not a preacher … I’m not trying to convert anybody.” Beer companies sponsor her TV shows. Another CCM group’s performance was so vile and violent that MTV would not even tolerate it without some changes. Probably the most prominent, in one album, The Big Picture, uses the name of Jesus once in the nine songs.

One Reunion Records promo says, “[He] took the stage with some twirling dance steps that sent the crowd into rocking frenzy.” Glory to God? Another says, “We’ve been careful to avoid any religious terminology in this record that would turn people off.” Jesus turned people off so much that they killed Him! Another takes their song, “Bargain”, from an old secular song by The Who. No wonder it is a little thin on doctrine. One Christian music magazine says of another’s album, Live to Die, “It is a sound your parents will hate.” Christian? Glory to God? Another: In one album you could count the references to Christ on two fingers. They say the reason they don’t give altar calls is that the crowd might mob them and rip their clothes off (what little they have). Christian? These “effeminates will not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9,10).

Here’s another group that makes reference to the resurrection of Christ by saying, “You can’t keep a good man down.” This is not Christian. This is cheap blasphemy! Remember, these are the leaders! Can you see, there is a yellow streak right through the Christian rock scene revealed by, not only the music, but also, the lyrics and the manners of these C-rock idols? And these concert-hopping, money-loving, fame-promoting, merchandizing, compromising entertainers are ashamed to be too different from the world. They are ashamed to come out for Christ entirely (Mk. 8:38). They are ashamed to “glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:3).”

“Written Briefly” by Bob Jennings

Jesus Wish For Christmas

Tanya — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:03:12 +0000

Dear child,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking my name out of the season. Maybe you’ve forgotten that I wasn’t actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate my birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered any time.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate my birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Now, having said that, let me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting my birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all my followers did that, there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a “holiday tree” instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can and may remember me any time you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish. I actually spoke of that one in a teaching explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks was. If you have forgotten it, look up John 15: 1-8.

If you want to give me a present in remembrance of my birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it.

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way my birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know. They tell me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up… it will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of my birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that’s hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile. It could make the difference. Also, you might consider supporting the local hotline. They talk with people like that every day.

7. Instead of nitpicking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “merry Christmas” that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn’t make so much money on that day, they’d close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary, especially one who takes my love and good news to those who have never heard my name. You may already know someone like that.

9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas” tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don’t know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Marines, the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in me. They will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to me, then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in my presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of myself. Just love me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work. Time is short. I’ll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love. And remember,

I love you,
Jesus

Author Unknown

Heart Of God

Tanya — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:05:14 +0000

Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this,

to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction,

and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (Jas.1:27)

While reading the Bible, walking with God and ministering the people around us, day by day more and more we understand our Father’s heart for mission. This mission is not traditional religion or attending the church every Sunday. This mission is not the big Christian concerts or programs for satisfying human emotions. God’s mission is not something super complicated. His mission is VERY SIMPLE: it is to take care of fatherless and widows – the children and adults who are rejected, abused, hurt, naked, hungry, wounded, lonely, stressed, depressed… With every day in our modern society the number of such people is growing. It doesn’t matter if it’s developed or developing country. Yes, Africa and India need missionaries. But Europe desperately needs missionaries now too… The missionaries who will not seek comfortable place to leave or satisfying their own needs only and sometimes participating in their church’s programs. Europe needs the real Christian Missionaries who will have open their eyes to the needs of the surrounding them people, help them as much as they can and bring them hope and love from God.

So, we believe that this is time not for the “big” evangelists or prophets… This is time for the simple Christians, as we and you, to change the world around us:

to loose the bands of wickedness,

to undo the heavy burdens,

to let the oppressed go free,

to break every yoke,

to share our bread with the hungry,

to bring the poor that are cast out to our houses,

to cover the naked

and not to hide from our brothers and sisters!

(Isa.58:6,7)

Let’s remember, Jesus Christ conquered the power of sin and death. He shares His victory and authority with us and He sent us to do His mission! He knows we can do that and He believes in us!

Do You Desire God?

Tanya — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:12:27 +0000

I don’t believe Love is just doing the right thing. I don’t believe love is just keeping commandments and I don’t believe love is just being patient and kind and … that’s what love looks like when it walks and talks but that’s not love.
Love is Passion.
Let me ask you a question, “Do You Have A Passion For God?”, “Do You Desire Him?”, “Do You Long For Him?” Yes, we all go through times in which our hearts are dull. Yes, we go through times when we need to be encourage. Yes, we all go through times when our eyes are mesmerize by things they should not be. Yes, we all struggle in that but if someone would look at your life would they say, “This person has a passion, not for ministry, not for missions, not for evangelism, but for God.”

The sign of a genuine work of God in the heart is that you began to hate the sin you once loved and to love the righteousness you once ignored. The question is not, “Do you agree with that?”, or “Are you challenged?” The question is, “Is that a reality in your life?” Is it young lady, young man, elderly woman, elderly man, middle age man in the prime of life? Is it a reality in your life? Are you continuing to grow in your hatred of sin and your love for righteousness? That’s the question.

So it’s not a question, “Do you want to do the right thing?” or “Do you want to be moral?” or “Do you want to have a good life?” It is this, “Do you desire Him?”
I hate preaching that goes something like this, “You know you got a wonderful life there, yuppie. You got a really nice house, a really nice job and you got a really beautiful wife and you got 1.2-5 children. And you got three cars, and Subaru’s and Suburbans and you just have a great job. You got a great life. Everything fits perfectly in place. You just lack one thing: you lack Jesus.”
That is the most disgusting thing that you could ever say. What would be more appropriate to say is “Sir, your life is nothing. It has no value at all apart from Jesus Christ.” He is not some little accessory that a yuppie puts on top of his life as though it were cherry on top of ice cream. You have Jesus and Jesus has you or you are barren and wasted and lost.

So it’s not a question of “Do you want a better life?”, “Do you want to go to heaven?”, “Do you want to fix your marriage?”, “Do you want all these things? No.
Do you want God? Do you desire Him?

Everyone knows they are a sinner, they just don’t realize how heinous and terrible that is, nor do they want to let go of the very thing that they choose to drink down as though it was water. You see the question is not, “Do you recognize you are a sinner?” The question is, “Sir, as I was speaking to you, or maybe it’s long term discipleship over a period of time, Sir as I was sharing with you and discipling you, “What has God done to your heart?””

People come to me all the time, “I have a new relationship with God” But I say, “Do you have a new relationship with sin because if you do not have a new relationship with sin, you don’t have a relationship with God.”

Has God done such a supernatural work in your heart through the Holy Spirit that although prior to that you lived a life of ignoring God; of hating God. You now see Him as esteemed above all things and you desire Him above all things.

God is infinite. Heaven will be an infinite chase, an infinite tracking down of the glories of God. But most don’t want that even most who attend evangelical churches don’t really want that and I can prove it: they don’t want it now. If you don’t want it now, you won’t want it then because eternal life doesn’t begin with dying and going to heaven. He says, this is eternal life that they may know You, know You and that begins the moment He regenerates your heart and reveals to you… this place ought to be a contradiction. First Baptist Church a muscle shows ought to be a contradiction in every sense of the term. Our theology should be high and even it should be called academic into some degree. People should think that the only thing we think about is theology and truth and yet, when the worship leader gets up here This Place Ought To Go Wild!

Do you desire Him?

“YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART,
AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL,
AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH,
AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND;…”
(Lk.10:27)

Mission Trip With Gospeltribe Team, 2011

Tanya — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:06:05 +0000

It was a fantastic mission trip with lots of funny adventures and God’s blessings on the way!:-)

Mission Trip To Derazhnya 2010

Tanya — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:01:30 +0000

Nursing Home, 2010

Tanya — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:00:32 +0000