I have a music player with all Christian music on this blog.
I have received some concern that my player at WIXY's Gone Bananas didn't have enough praise and worship music.
I use this blog mostly to glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the music player will also Glorify God.
I hope it's a blessing to you.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Please let me sing in the choir, in the choir...
O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Psalm 95:1 KJV
I decided that this part of the tribute of my brother, Ricky would be better suited for this blog,
While he was growing up, Ricky always liked going to church. He got into everything that was going on there. And he liked to sing hymns- very loud. This is one thing he did despite the fact I wasn't going since I was sowing my wild oats at that time(don't worry, that crop wouldn't have a decent yield).
We would go to church on Sunday, St. Mark Lutheran Church Brunswick, Ohio. Ricky was in the choir. This choir would let anyone sing with it, only requirement was a desire to sing. Ricky had that, but no talent. We sat in church and when it was time for the choir, his voice could be heard over the others. I'm sure folks were cringing listening to that, but these people were probably as spiritual as I was at the time as I wasn't saved then.
In later years while he was able to, Ricky would help out in whatever capacity he could in the church, first St. Mark then St. Paul Lutheran Church Cleveland, Ohio. People in the church took an interest in him, taking him to movies and ball games. And he still sang, very loud and extremely off key.
The reason I bring this up on this blog is I want to give one of my observations. Sometimes we don't someone to sing in "our" services because they either don't sound or don't look like what WE feel they should.
If someone who sings off key affects the way we worship the Lord then who is closer to God? The one who can't sing but tries anyhow, or those who have the talent but won't?
The Bible says to make a joyful noise, not a perfect one.
By the way, Ricky is singing with the angels today. He is singing all the right notes and blending in perfectly.
Psalm 95:1 KJV
I decided that this part of the tribute of my brother, Ricky would be better suited for this blog,
While he was growing up, Ricky always liked going to church. He got into everything that was going on there. And he liked to sing hymns- very loud. This is one thing he did despite the fact I wasn't going since I was sowing my wild oats at that time(don't worry, that crop wouldn't have a decent yield).
We would go to church on Sunday, St. Mark Lutheran Church Brunswick, Ohio. Ricky was in the choir. This choir would let anyone sing with it, only requirement was a desire to sing. Ricky had that, but no talent. We sat in church and when it was time for the choir, his voice could be heard over the others. I'm sure folks were cringing listening to that, but these people were probably as spiritual as I was at the time as I wasn't saved then.
In later years while he was able to, Ricky would help out in whatever capacity he could in the church, first St. Mark then St. Paul Lutheran Church Cleveland, Ohio. People in the church took an interest in him, taking him to movies and ball games. And he still sang, very loud and extremely off key.
The reason I bring this up on this blog is I want to give one of my observations. Sometimes we don't someone to sing in "our" services because they either don't sound or don't look like what WE feel they should.
If someone who sings off key affects the way we worship the Lord then who is closer to God? The one who can't sing but tries anyhow, or those who have the talent but won't?
The Bible says to make a joyful noise, not a perfect one.
By the way, Ricky is singing with the angels today. He is singing all the right notes and blending in perfectly.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Repost: About This Blog
Cliff Note:As I am working on a series of posts about my recently deceased brother at my other blog, WIXY's Gone Bananas. I thought I would repost my debut musing on this blog.
This post is from December 19, 2006. If you are unfamiliar with my other blog, go on over and read about the memories of one who thought the world of his big brother.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.-Matthew 6:33
I thought of this verse this morning as I was driving to work. I was trying to give my son some counsel last evening about a struggle he has had for some time, and I could not think of what to tell him. I feel that the Lord had given me the verse, which I was meditating on for a good part of the day.
Another thing that this verse inspired me to do was to start this blog.
For those who have just happened by here, let me introduce myself. My name is Cliff Feightner, from Rittman, Ohio. I am the author of another blog which is called "WIXY's Gone Bananas". That blog is about my life, my family, my interests, and my faith. Most things I write about there center around my home town of Rittman.
I hope to dwell a little more about my faith on this space. I was invited last week to join Christian-Bloggers.com. I made mention in WGB last week that that wasn't necessarily a Christian blog, but I was a Christian with a blog. This one will be, I hope, a "Christian Blog".
Let me start by saying that people have complicated, what should be a very simple salvation. Let's keep it simple.
This post is from December 19, 2006. If you are unfamiliar with my other blog, go on over and read about the memories of one who thought the world of his big brother.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.-Matthew 6:33
I thought of this verse this morning as I was driving to work. I was trying to give my son some counsel last evening about a struggle he has had for some time, and I could not think of what to tell him. I feel that the Lord had given me the verse, which I was meditating on for a good part of the day.
Another thing that this verse inspired me to do was to start this blog.
For those who have just happened by here, let me introduce myself. My name is Cliff Feightner, from Rittman, Ohio. I am the author of another blog which is called "WIXY's Gone Bananas". That blog is about my life, my family, my interests, and my faith. Most things I write about there center around my home town of Rittman.
I hope to dwell a little more about my faith on this space. I was invited last week to join Christian-Bloggers.com. I made mention in WGB last week that that wasn't necessarily a Christian blog, but I was a Christian with a blog. This one will be, I hope, a "Christian Blog".
Let me start by saying that people have complicated, what should be a very simple salvation. Let's keep it simple.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Repost: Arrogance is not a Spiritual Gift
Cliff Note: This post was originally on WIXY's Gone Bananas October 12, 2006. This was the last of a three part series that I dealt with some spiritual issues, mainly music. The reaction from this led to this blog being started.
Two books of the Bible immediately come to mind when I think about arrogance. 1 Corinthians and James. I imagine that the apostle Paul probably had his fill of know-it-alls around during his time. And James was handling the holier than thou crowd.
We see the same problems today.
If you are expecting an expository message, don't. I'm just sharing my heart.
You have people nowadays who think that if they have been saved longer, go to the correct church, make more money than you or come from the right region, they are more spiritual than you.
Oh, and if you listen to the wrong music, you can't possibly be spiritual at all.
Some of the worst name calling comes from folks from different denominations. Baptists call Pentecostals a bunch of "snake handling holy rollers". Freewill Baptists tell Southern Baptists, who are Calvinistic that they believe they "are going to Heaven whether they want to or not." Southern Baptists tell Freewills that they can be "saved today and lost tomorrow"
I've heard that eternity is going to be so long because God has to straighten us all out.
I once took part in a discussion in Sunday School. A question was asked, and I volunteered an answer. I knew the split second the words got past my lips that I was wrong. An elderly saint in the back of the sanctuary proceeded to say that "that was the view of narrow minded people". Imagine that. I was rebuked and insulted at the same time. So much for a soft answer turning away wrath(no I didn't get revenge. But I don't attend that church anymore)
A poster on the listening party forum today, stated that "everybody he has known that's been saved, has been pretty screwed up." That's another arrogance problem I've ran into the past twenty-five or so years. We always wanted to hear the testimony of the drug dealer, prostitute, porn star, prison inmate, etc. who has gotten gloriously saved. Heck, I smoked a little dope, drank some, and did a few other things I'm not proud of before I accepted Christ as my personal savior. But who are you going to church to hear the testimony of? Nikki Cruz or Cliff Feightner? Thought so. I doubt if my story will be on "Unshackled" soon.
My point on the above paragraph is that any who read this who are saved, no matter what you did before accepted Christ, you are just as saved as me.
And another bit of good news is this: you have the same access to the throne of grace that I do. It's not what I've done but it's what Jesus did on the cross for me.
Two books of the Bible immediately come to mind when I think about arrogance. 1 Corinthians and James. I imagine that the apostle Paul probably had his fill of know-it-alls around during his time. And James was handling the holier than thou crowd.
We see the same problems today.
If you are expecting an expository message, don't. I'm just sharing my heart.
You have people nowadays who think that if they have been saved longer, go to the correct church, make more money than you or come from the right region, they are more spiritual than you.
Oh, and if you listen to the wrong music, you can't possibly be spiritual at all.
Some of the worst name calling comes from folks from different denominations. Baptists call Pentecostals a bunch of "snake handling holy rollers". Freewill Baptists tell Southern Baptists, who are Calvinistic that they believe they "are going to Heaven whether they want to or not." Southern Baptists tell Freewills that they can be "saved today and lost tomorrow"
I've heard that eternity is going to be so long because God has to straighten us all out.
I once took part in a discussion in Sunday School. A question was asked, and I volunteered an answer. I knew the split second the words got past my lips that I was wrong. An elderly saint in the back of the sanctuary proceeded to say that "that was the view of narrow minded people". Imagine that. I was rebuked and insulted at the same time. So much for a soft answer turning away wrath(no I didn't get revenge. But I don't attend that church anymore)
A poster on the listening party forum today, stated that "everybody he has known that's been saved, has been pretty screwed up." That's another arrogance problem I've ran into the past twenty-five or so years. We always wanted to hear the testimony of the drug dealer, prostitute, porn star, prison inmate, etc. who has gotten gloriously saved. Heck, I smoked a little dope, drank some, and did a few other things I'm not proud of before I accepted Christ as my personal savior. But who are you going to church to hear the testimony of? Nikki Cruz or Cliff Feightner? Thought so. I doubt if my story will be on "Unshackled" soon.
My point on the above paragraph is that any who read this who are saved, no matter what you did before accepted Christ, you are just as saved as me.
And another bit of good news is this: you have the same access to the throne of grace that I do. It's not what I've done but it's what Jesus did on the cross for me.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Repost-Holy War part 2
Cliff Note: I reposted the first part of what was originally a three part series over at WIXY's Gone Bananas. I thought I would at least repost this one here. It was the reaction from this three part series that got me to thinking about starting this blog.
Cliff Note part 2: Recently, Kathy's Klavier had a post titled "Music and Christianity." She has posted several scriptures to go with it. I think that would be a worthwhile read if you haven't already seen it.
I once heard an evangelist say that music is the most carnal part of worship, and in some ways I agree with him. As human beings we sometimes are too selfish to see ministry opportunities in front of us because we don't think God honors "their" style of music.
The church my wife grew up in split one time mainly because of musical preferences. Those who founded the church were southern of origin(the founding pastor of the church was from Georgia), so the members for the longest enjoyed four part harmony, quartet singing with just the piano. Well time marches on, people come, others move, some go on. The biggest struggle in life, it seems, is change. Well the pastor the church elected was NOT from the south. The people he reached out to also were not from the south. The music they liked was traditional. A house divided against itself shall not stand. That church to this day has not had a powerful influence on the community.
It's been said that "Christians are the only one that shoot their wounded." I feel that this is especially true when it comes to a singer or preacher who don't specifically ministers to our tastes. Some have fallen. I've heard some defended, and others condemned by some of one preference, and the other way around with those of the opposite preference.
The sad truth is this- Jesus told the disciples to go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature. It's easy to talk to those you like and whose tastes match yours. It's not as easy to go to those that you may not like, especially those who think that the music you listen to is "of the devil." Most of those people are our elders. We get past personal preferences, and maybe they have something for us that might help our personal walk with the Lord.
May God richly bless those who have read this message, and may we all have patience toward those we may meet.
The first part of this series, Can't We All Just Get Along? is reposted over at WIXY's Gone Bananas.
Cliff Note part 2: Recently, Kathy's Klavier had a post titled "Music and Christianity." She has posted several scriptures to go with it. I think that would be a worthwhile read if you haven't already seen it.
I once heard an evangelist say that music is the most carnal part of worship, and in some ways I agree with him. As human beings we sometimes are too selfish to see ministry opportunities in front of us because we don't think God honors "their" style of music.
The church my wife grew up in split one time mainly because of musical preferences. Those who founded the church were southern of origin(the founding pastor of the church was from Georgia), so the members for the longest enjoyed four part harmony, quartet singing with just the piano. Well time marches on, people come, others move, some go on. The biggest struggle in life, it seems, is change. Well the pastor the church elected was NOT from the south. The people he reached out to also were not from the south. The music they liked was traditional. A house divided against itself shall not stand. That church to this day has not had a powerful influence on the community.
It's been said that "Christians are the only one that shoot their wounded." I feel that this is especially true when it comes to a singer or preacher who don't specifically ministers to our tastes. Some have fallen. I've heard some defended, and others condemned by some of one preference, and the other way around with those of the opposite preference.
The sad truth is this- Jesus told the disciples to go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature. It's easy to talk to those you like and whose tastes match yours. It's not as easy to go to those that you may not like, especially those who think that the music you listen to is "of the devil." Most of those people are our elders. We get past personal preferences, and maybe they have something for us that might help our personal walk with the Lord.
May God richly bless those who have read this message, and may we all have patience toward those we may meet.
The first part of this series, Can't We All Just Get Along? is reposted over at WIXY's Gone Bananas.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Now I know!!
And Joseph said to them, Fear not; for am I in the place of God? [Vengeance is His, not mine.]
We spent the weekend very discouraged. Kathy was expressing many bad thoughts. We had other problems within our family and could not see the light at the end of the tunnel. And to top it off, Kathy had to take one of our cats to the vet this morning. It turned out the cat had feline lymphoma and had to be put down.
With all of what my family had gone through in the past couple of weeks, I was at wits end.
Meanwhile Liquid, who recently has gone through things I wouldn't want, to is flying high. Not drunk, not high on drugs, and not in an aircraft. Suzanne had taken all she could and yesterday left it at the altar, as she had rededicated her life to the Lord Jesus Christ. She couldn't wait to email me about it. PRAISE THE LORD!!!
We got to emailing each other and I told her about the cat and wondering on our keyboard why all his was happening, having a mini pity party for myself.
Suzanne's reply was that we all are making Satan angry. He's upset that several of us are using the internet, something he likes to claim as his playground, for witnessing and fellowship.
Believe me when I say I enjoy it when I hear someone has been blessed by something I post here. It is an awesome responsibility that we all have to uplift others while using our blogs as a witness to a hurting world.
As for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are this day. Genesis 50:19-20 Amplified Bible
We spent the weekend very discouraged. Kathy was expressing many bad thoughts. We had other problems within our family and could not see the light at the end of the tunnel. And to top it off, Kathy had to take one of our cats to the vet this morning. It turned out the cat had feline lymphoma and had to be put down.
With all of what my family had gone through in the past couple of weeks, I was at wits end.
Meanwhile Liquid, who recently has gone through things I wouldn't want, to is flying high. Not drunk, not high on drugs, and not in an aircraft. Suzanne had taken all she could and yesterday left it at the altar, as she had rededicated her life to the Lord Jesus Christ. She couldn't wait to email me about it. PRAISE THE LORD!!!
We got to emailing each other and I told her about the cat and wondering on our keyboard why all his was happening, having a mini pity party for myself.
Suzanne's reply was that we all are making Satan angry. He's upset that several of us are using the internet, something he likes to claim as his playground, for witnessing and fellowship.
Believe me when I say I enjoy it when I hear someone has been blessed by something I post here. It is an awesome responsibility that we all have to uplift others while using our blogs as a witness to a hurting world.
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