Category: Devotional Blog

Profound thoughts, often challenging the Christian.

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Christian Music?

Paintings have many parts. The art of the painting contains line, color, shape, texture, etc. When observing a painting it can also be helpful to understand what was going on in the life of the artist at they time they painted it. Why then do we treat music any different than other forms of art, such as paintings?

I think we should be cautious to label music “Christian” or “Secular.” Music has line, color, shape, and texture just like any other work of art. What do the words communicate? What emotion does it evoke? What associations are made in your mind? If these things dishonor God, then we probably shouldn’t listen to it . . . at least not without an extremely protected mind and heart.

God made music, and he made it good. Many people pervert it into something it isn’t. But I don’t think that means we should completely ignore any music that doesn’t have “Jesus Saves” on the front cover.

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Bigger Than My Imagination.

My church has a daycare which holds a chapel service for the preschoolers every Thursday afternoon. Last week it was my turn to talk to the kids. As I finished and was leaving, one of the children asked me, “Pastor Adam, how big is God?”

What a question.

I replied to the boy, “Bigger than your imagination.” After thinking about it, I suppose that’s about the best answer I could have given. God really is bigger than any of us could possibly imagine. I am reminded of this especially when I see God work in my life in ways I wouldn’t expect in a million years.

Since I’m talking about it, I’ll take this opportunity to make a “plug” for Michael Gungor’s incredible CD called “Bigger Than My Imagination.” It’s got some very tight music on it, including a rhythmic acoustic guitar rendition of the Doxology. Check it out.

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Putting Them All Together.
Hearing God’s Voice

If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been doing a blog series on Hearing God’s Voice. I’ve talked about hearing God’s voice through circumstances, divine revelation, Godly counsel, and through the Bible.

Is one of these “more accurate” than any of the others? Yes. I believe so. Correct interpretation of the Bible is always the true voice of God. Every time. God will never speak something contrary to what He’s already said (in the Bible).

Just like in my pizza hut example, hearing God’s voice through circumstances is subject to human error. Hearing God’s voice through divine revelation is also subject to others’ selfish desires. And the Godly counsel we receive could always turn out to be not-so-Godly after all. But correct interpretation of the Bible is a sure thing. Every time.

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The Bible.
Hearing God’s Voice

Of all the ways God speaks to us, I believe the Bible is the most overlooked. That’s pretty ironic, because when I think about it, its probably the most obvious as well.

I have a tendency to first look for God’s voice in places besides the Bible. I’m not sure why. But really, God put the Bible here to reveal His will for our lives. The other ways should only supplement His voice in the Bible. If you want to hear God’s voice, the Bible should be the first place we turn.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT

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Godly Counsel.
Hearing God’s Voice

Another way God speaks to us is through Godly counsel. A great Bible example is in 1 Samuel when God called Samuel. Samuel was a boy who lived with Eli, a priest. Samuel heard someone calling him three times in the middle of the night, and he thought it was Eli. After the third time, Eli told Samuel that if he heard someone calling his name again, he should respond, “Yes, God. I’m listening!” Samuel did just that and then God spoke to him (through divine revelation). The point here is that God first spoke to Samuel through Eli.

Let’s start listening for God’s voice in the words of others.

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Divine Revelation.
Hearing God’s Voice

God can also speak to us through divine revelation. This is when God shows us something directly in our spirit. I’ve see two types of divine revelation. One is when I am praying, seeking God’s face, and I hear (maybe “feel” is a better word-because its not audible for me) God say something in my heart. The second type is when someone else has heard something from God regarding my life. The latter should always be treated with extreme caution; unfortunately some people manipulate others by placing the words “God says that you need to . . .” in front of their own personal desires. But I believe both are totally valid.

I don’t get how some people don’t believe that God speaks through divine revelation today. Some people believe that God limits his communication with us only through the Bible (which is partly true, but that’s for later). That bugs the snot out of me. The entire book of Revelation was nothing more than a Divine Revelation to the apostle John. The conversion of Saul to Paul was certainly a divine revelation; in fact, the book of Acts is jam packed full of them!

I think that God speaks to us in this way a lot more than we realize. We are just too “loud” to realize it. We need to shut up in order to hear divine revelation more often. Not just audibly but quiet down in our spirits — staying focused on God and remaining moldable.

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Circumstances.
Hearing God’s Voice

I was 16. I sat in Pizza Hut’s parking lot in my mom’s car. I wanted to apply for a job there, but I didn’t want to do it without God’s leading. So I made a deal with God. I said, “God, if someone comes out of that door in the next 5 seconds, then I’ll know that you want me to get a job here. 1 … 2 … 3 … 4 … 4 1/2 … 4 3/4 … 4 7/8…”

This is not an example of hearing God’s voice through circumstances. This is an example of “stupid.” When God speaks to us through circumstances, he doesn’t speak through circumstances that we set up. He speaks to us through divine situations.

One Bible example is Jonah. He disobeyed God and was running from Him. He had himself thrown off a ship in order to save the lives of everyone else on the boat. He expected to die. But then this whale came and swallowed Jonah. Jonah’s plan was to die; but his circumstance changed that. Through the circumstance he found his way back to God. (Read the short book of Jonah if you don’t know the story).

Hearing God’s voice through circumstances is a topic that must find balance between two pillars. Firstly, God certainly uses circumstances to guide us. Secondly, circumstances do not always indicate God’s plan. For example, bad things may be hindrances from Satan or a sign from God that we should stop. Both are possible, but the conclusions have opposite results. We make a big mistake if we look solely at our circumstances to hear from God, yet ignore the Bible, Godly counsel, and divine revelation.

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No Bell-ringer.

I was walking into Wal-Mart today. As I was, I observed a father with two children in his shopping cart walk right past the Salvation Army donation bucket. There was no attendant at the bucket; no bell ringer. I heard the child say something. The father promptly stopped, backed back up several steps to the donation bucket, and told his small child, “You’re right! You’re absolutely right! We do need to put something in here.” He pulled out a few bills from his wallet. As he did, I heard him continue to teach his children, “Do you know why we need to do this? . . . ”

At that point I had entered the store and couldn’t have watched any more of the interaction without being rude. But I can only imagine that the father taught his children a valuable message about caring for others in need.

Those who God has blessed are blessed with the purpose of being a blessing to everyone else. Our blessings from God are for everyone else. It’s our job to take the blessing we have received and give it to those who have not. I’m not just speaking about money.

If you are a great swimmer – teach someone how to swim.
If you are blessed with a musical gift – use it at church.
If you have great thoughts – blog.
If you have the ability to smile – do it more often.

We are blessed to be a blessing!

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My Thanksgiving.

On Thanksgiving Day I rode down to Kokomo, Indiana with my parents and grandma for Thanksgiving. My aunt lives in Kokomo. (I know what you’re thinking . . . Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama . . . down to Kokomo! We’ll get there fast and then we’ll take it slow…)

This Thanksgiving meal was great. I loved it. Turkey, mashed potatoes, my mom’s famous corn casserole, stuffing, rolls, butter molded in the shape of a turkey, etc. etc. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it. We chillaxed there for awhile and headed back the same day. On Friday my sister, her husband, and their daughter were here visiting from Nashville. My brother and his wife came over as well. It was some good family time.

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The Other Wow Factor.

I am here at the car dealership’s waiting room again. When I arrived, the service representative greeted me at my car door and said, “Hey Adam, what’s going on?”

I don’t know this guy except for being here at the service department. I don’t know if he has a wife or girlfriend. I don’t know if he has children, where he lives, or if he goes to church. My only contact was a few days ago that I was here, and even then I had dealt with a different service rep most of the time. I’ve hardly talked with this guy. Yet for some reason, this guy knows my name!

Am I that unforgettable? I don’t think so. I think this guy has excellent interpersonal skills. He knows how to put the “wow” in a conversation. That’s how I felt when I walked away . . . “wow.” And all he did was remember my name.