Kelley Mooney’s approved spiritual lyrical adaptation of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”
Be Blessed on this Resurrection Day!!
A crown of thorns placed on His head He knew that He would soon be dead He said did You forget Me Father, did You? They nailed Him to a wooden cross Soon all the world would feel the loss Of Christ the King before His Hallelujah
Hallelujah
He hung His head and prepared to die Then lifted His face up to the sky Said I am coming home now Father to You A reed which held His final sip Was gently lifted to His lips He drank His last and gave His soul to glory
Hallelujah
The soldier who had used his sword To pierce the body of our Lord Said truly this is Jesus Christ our Savior He looked with fear upon his sword Then turned to face his Christ and Lord Fell to his knees crying Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Took from His head the thorny crown And wrapped Him in a linen gown And laid Him down to rest inside the tomb The holes in His hands, His feet and side Now in our hearts we know He died To save us from ourselves, Oh, Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Three days went by, again they came To move the stone, to bless the slain With oil and spice anointing, Hallelujah But as they went to move the stone They saw that they were not alone But Jesus Christ has risen, Hallelujah
As I write this, I’m sitting in the makeup aisle of our local Target store. A friend recently texted me from a different makeup aisle and told me it felt like one of the most oppressive places in the world. I wanted to find out what he meant. And now that I’m sitting here, I’m beginning to agree with him. Words have power, and the words on display in this aisle have a deep power. Words and phrases like:
Affordably gorgeous,
Infallible,
Flawless finish,
Brilliant strength,
Liquid power,
Go nude,
Age defying,
Instant age rewind,
Choose your dream,
Nearly naked, and
Natural beauty.
When you have a daughter you start to realize she’s just as strong as everyone else in the house—a force to be reckoned with, a soul on fire with the same life and gifts and passions as any man. But sitting in this store aisle, you also begin to realize most people won’t see her that way. They’ll see her as a pretty face and a body to enjoy. And they’ll tell her she has to look a certain way to have any worth or influence.
But words do have power and maybe, just maybe, the words of a father can begin to compete with the words of the world. Maybe a father’s words can deliver his daughter through this gauntlet of institutionalized shame and into a deep, unshakeable sense of her own worthiness and beauty.
A father’s words aren’t different words, but they are words with a radically different meaning:
Brilliant strength. May your strength be not in your fingernails but in your heart. May you discern in your center who you are, and then may you fearfully but tenaciously live it out in the world.
Choose your dream. But not from a department store shelf. Find the still-quiet place within you. A real dream has been planted there. Discover what you want to do in the world. And when you have chosen, may you faithfully pursue it, with integrity and with hope.
Naked. The world wants you to take your clothes off. Please keep them on. But take your gloves off. Pull no punches. Say what is in your heart. Be vulnerable. Embrace risk. Love a world that barely knows what it means to love itself. Do so nakedly. Openly. With abandon.
Infallible. May you be constantly, infallibly aware that infallibility doesn’t exist. It’s an illusion created by people interested in your wallet. If you choose to seek perfection, may it be in an infallible grace—for yourself, and for everyone around you.
Age defying. Your skin will wrinkle and your youth will fade, but your soul is ageless. It will always know how to play and how to enjoy and how to revel in this one-chance life. May you always defiantly resist the aging of your spirit.
Flawless finish. Your finish has nothing to do with how your face looks today and everything to do with how your life looks on your last day. May your years be a preparation for that day. May you be aged by grace, may you grow in wisdom, and may your love become big enough to embrace all people. May your flawless finish be a peaceful embrace of the end and the unknown that follows, and may it thus be a gift to everyone who cherishes you.
Little One, you love everything pink and frilly and I will surely understand if someday makeup is important to you. But I pray three words will remain more important to you—the last three words you say every night, when I ask the question: “Where are you the most beautiful?” Three words so bright no concealer can cover them.
Where are you the most beautiful?
On the inside.
From my heart to yours,
Daddy
Like the last letter I wrote to my daughter, I wrote this first for her and the day I’ll eventually read it to her. But I also wrote it for every woman who needs to hear the words of a father. Women, no one else can define your beauty for you. But they’ll try.
My daughter is four years-old now. If her awakening to the makeup aisle comes at the typical age, I figure we have about five years to radically alter the arc of history and the subjugation-by-image of the female gender. We’ve got a lot of work to do. And it begins in the heart of each and every woman.
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Next Post: “The Key to a Man’s Heart (and Why He Gets Road Rage)”
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Disclaimer: My writings represent a combination of my own personal opinions and my professional experiences, but they do not reflect professional advice. Interaction with me via the blog does not constitute a professional therapeutic relationship. For professional and customized advice, you should seek the services of a counselor who can dedicate the hours necessary to become more intimately familiar with your specific situation. I do not assume liability for any portion or content of material on the blog and accept no liability for damage or injury resulting from your decision to interact with the website.
Kelly is a licensed clinical psychologist, practicing at Alliance Clinical Associates in Wheaton, IL. He is also a writer and blogs regularly about the redemption of our personal, relational, and communal lives. Kelly is married, has three children, and enjoys learning from them how to be a kid again. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
I just can’t believe Where my life was at All that I know is that my heart was broken And I don’t ever wanna go back
Ain’t no explanation How I saw the light He found me and set me free And it brought me back to life
Blame it on the transformation Changed down to the core His love is real And I can’t sit still ‘Cause my name’s not shamed no more
Great God Almighty, gonna change this Great God Almighty, He gonna change me
You gotta shake, shake, shake Like you’re changed, changed, changed Brand new looks so good on you So shake like you’ve been changed
Come on and shake, shake, shake like you changed Shake, shake, shake like you changed
Maybe He came to you When everything seemed fine Or maybe your world was upside down and hit you right between the eyes No matter when it happened At 7 or 95 Move your feet ’cause you are free And you’ve never been more alive
Great God Almighty, gonna change me Great God Almighty, He gonna change me Great God Almighty, gonna change me Great God Almighty, He gonna change me
Matthew 18:3
And He said:
“Truly I tell you,
unless you change and become like little children,
you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
(Photos: Tikaya and Casey at a drama team outreach at True Faith Deliverance Temple)
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
the new creation has come:
The old has gone,
the new is here!”
Romans 12:2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—
Global Christian Ministry Forum International (GCMF Int’l) is a spiritually focused overseeing international presbytery consisting of national leaders from around the world. The presbytery provides oversight and guidance to GCMF national leaders, working in partnership for the cause of Christ. The mission of Global Christian Ministry Forum International is to link with national Christian leaders and network with them to establish effective ministry organizations in various parts of the world, whereby pastors and Christian leaders can be locally equipped, inspired, and motivated for their unique ministry.
Global Christian Ministry Forum International provides ministry credentials to qualified individuals. Ministry credentials are issued in conjunction with a national leaders’ recommendation coupled with accountability and oversight at the national level.
I’m a licensed minister with GCMF and
I’ve also spent many weeks over the years at Christian Retreat with
Kids-A-Fame Camp and
YEX Youth Camp!
Christian Retreat in Bradenton, FL, is certainly…
“an oasis of spiritual refreshment!”
They host conferences, retreats, camping, events, family church, and more…
The facility includes the conference center and church, with hotel style lodging, a cafeteria,
meeting rooms, a gymnasium, a youth center, and outdoor recreation.
As soon as you turn onto Glory Way Boulevard,
you sense the peace that permeates Christian Retreat
located on the banks of the beautiful Manatee River in East Manatee County.
Towering oaks dripping with Spanish moss shade the 110-acre property
that is home to year-round residents, overnight guests, and groups
who use the conference center to host events, meetings and camps.
The speakers at the morning and evening services were phenomenal…
Rev. Eugene Weaver, our GCMF President, Pastor Emmanuel Derry from Trinadad, Dr. Phil Derstine, Pastor of Christian Retreat Family Church, which was founded by his Father, Dr. Gerald Derstine.
The worship/choir music was anointed, also…
Led by Worship Pastor, Rick Giannico, of Glad Tidings Assembly
God has raised Pastor Rick up in this fellowship
and has equipped him to encourage others to fall in love with Jesus
and to make “Melodies from the heart unto the Lord”.
The Lord has blessed Pastor Rick with an ability to write songs, such as;
“‘Indebted”, “‘Lord Of Everything”, “Glory, Glory To The Lamb”‘, “Rescue Me” and several others.
The songs God gives him are specific for a time and season for the ministry of the church.
“In February 2013, we conducted our first crusade in Vero Beach, Florida,
and the Holy Spirit moved mightily.
Then, in September we had our second outreach in the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.
There we saw some 20,000 in attendance,
and nearly 2000 people make a decision for Christ!
Now, we will continue across the nation,
Gospel crusade after Gospel crusade, from stadium to stadium.
This is not the day to join the choir of the despaired
but to ‘blow the trumpet of God in Zion.’
This day is the best day ever, because it is the day of salvation.
There will be a crop for God’s glory, not a flop.”
“Evangelism must always lead into the church.
This is a central truth I have practiced everywhere.
I, the evangelist, bring my nets and borrow the boats of the local churches.
Together we will cast our nets into the human ocean
and pull them in to be emptied on the beach.
My promise to you is not to take a single fish
but to leave them all with the local churches.
Then I will dry and mend my nets and move to the next place.”
“I am scanning the skies for men and women
who pray and weep for the salvation of America.
As Bill Bright used to say, ‘Let’s leave our logos and egos.’
Let’s rally at the foot of the Cross of Calvary
And preach the Gospel of salvation to the nation.
The Holy Spirit will cooperate.
God is pouring out His Spirit
With glorious indifference to our differences!
He said, ‘I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh.’
And it seems to me He pours Himself into the mold of any vessel.
Please determine how you and your church
can participate in any of these upcoming crusades.”
“The primary truth about God is that He is the Deliverer, the Emancipator, and the Savior.
He is God only to the free.
Faith is a venture that turns life into an adventure.
Doubts get us nowhere.
They are mooring ropes.
Believing God means we cast off,
like ships designed for riding the high seas and going somewhere.
Faith inspires. Doubt paralyzes.
Faith says, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’
Unbelief does nothing.
Faith in God is exciting.
I’m an incurable believer, and I don’t want to be cured!
God bless you!”
Rev. Reinhard Bonnke, Evangelist
hwww.facebook.com/evangelistreinhardbonnkettps://
I walk the streets of London And notice in the faces passing by Something that makes me stop and listen My heart grows heavy with the cry
Where is the hope for London? You whisper and my heart begins to soar As I’m reminded Every street in London in Yours, oh yes, it is
I walk the dirt roads of Uganda I see the scars that war has left behind Hope like the sun is fading They’re waiting for a cure no one can find
And I hear children’s voices singing Of a God who heals and rescues and restores And I’m reminded That every child in Africa is Yours
And it’s all Yours, God, Yours, God Everything is Yours From the stars in the sky To the depths of the ocean floor
And it’s all Yours, God, Yours, God Everything is Yours You’re the Maker and Keeper Father and Ruler of everything, it’s all Yours
And I walk the sidewalks of Nashville Like Singapore, Manila and Shanghai I brush by the beggar’s hand and the wealthy man And everywhere I look I realize
That just like the streets of London For every man and woman, boy and girl All of creation This is our Father’s world
And it’s all Yours, God, Yours, God Everything is Yours From the stars in the sky To the depths of the ocean floor
And it’s all Yours, God, Yours, God Everything is Yours You’re the Maker and Keeper Father and Ruler of everything
It’s all Yours, God It’s all Yours, God It’s all Yours, God It’s all Yours, God
The glory is Yours, God All the honor is Yours, God The power is Yours, God The glory is Yours, God You’re the King of kings And Lord of lords
And it’s all Yours, God, Yours, God Everything is Yours From the stars in the sky To the depths of the ocean floor
And it’s all Yours, God, Yours, God Everything is Yours All the greatness and power The glory and splendor and majesty Everything is Yours, yeah, it’s all Yours
inspired by various people who have touched the country superstar’s life in one way or another.
‘Bread and Water’ is a poignant track about a seemingly homeless man who wanders into a mission looking for food but finding a whole lot more. The Country Music Hall of Famer sat down with The Boot to tell us how his brother Bob, who passed away in 1993, inspired the song.
“‘Bread and Water’ was a song I wrote with Leslie Satcher,” Vince explains. “I threw out this line: ‘One night, he wandered into that old mission.’ The first lines of songs are the most important part of the songs. If you really want to tell a story, that first line has to capture you. I said that line and then got a big lump in my throat and almost teared up. It reminded me of my brother.
“My brother had a rough stretch of life,” continues the country legend. “He had a car wreck at age 21 and was almost killed. He was in a coma for many months and wasn’t expected to live, and he never really fully recovered. He did pretty great considering the depth of the injuries and as a result of it, he would spend some time kinda hobo-ing around and not checking in with us. We didn’t know where he was for periods of time and found out he’s been down in the mission, or working at the Salvation Army or out picking fruit somewhere. So the song is loosely based on my brother.”
inspired by various people who have touched the country superstar’s life in one way or another.
‘Bread and Water’ is a poignant track about a seemingly homeless man who wanders into a mission looking for food but finding a whole lot more. The Country Music Hall of Famer sat down with The Boot to tell us how his brother Bob, who passed away in 1993, inspired the song.
“‘Bread and Water’ was a song I wrote with Leslie Satcher,” Vince explains. “I threw out this line: ‘One night, he wandered into that old mission.’ The first lines of songs are the most important part of the songs. If you really want to tell a story, that first line has to capture you. I said that line and then got a big lump in my throat and almost teared up. It reminded me of my brother.
“My brother had a rough stretch of life,” continues the country legend. “He had a car wreck at age 21 and was almost killed. He was in a coma for many months and wasn’t expected to live, and he never really fully recovered. He did pretty great considering the depth of the injuries and as a result of it, he would spend some time kinda hobo-ing around and not checking in with us. We didn’t know where he was for periods of time and found out he’s been down in the mission, or working at the Salvation Army or out picking fruit somewhere. So the song is loosely based on my brother.”
inspired by various people who have touched the country superstar’s life in one way or another.
‘Bread and Water’ is a poignant track about a seemingly homeless man who wanders into a mission looking for food but finding a whole lot more. The Country Music Hall of Famer sat down with The Boot to tell us how his brother Bob, who passed away in 1993, inspired the song.
“‘Bread and Water’ was a song I wrote with Leslie Satcher,” Vince explains. “I threw out this line: ‘One night, he wandered into that old mission.’ The first lines of songs are the most important part of the songs. If you really want to tell a story, that first line has to capture you. I said that line and then got a big lump in my throat and almost teared up. It reminded me of my brother.
“My brother had a rough stretch of life,” continues the country legend. “He had a car wreck at age 21 and was almost killed. He was in a coma for many months and wasn’t expected to live, and he never really fully recovered. He did pretty great considering the depth of the injuries and as a result of it, he would spend some time kinda hobo-ing around and not checking in with us. We didn’t know where he was for periods of time and found out he’s been down in the mission, or working at the Salvation Army or out picking fruit somewhere. So the song is loosely based on my brother.”
Vince Gill’s latest album, ‘Guitar Slinger,’ is an emotional rollercoaster ride, mixing fun uptempos with tearjerking ballads, along with a few songs that tap into his darker side. All of the project’s tracks, however, have one main thing in common: they’re inspired by various people who have touched the country superstar’s life in one way or another.
‘Bread and Water’ is a poignant track about a seemingly homeless man who wanders into a mission looking for food but finding a whole lot more. The Country Music Hall of Famer sat down with The Boot to tell us how his brother Bob, who passed away in 1993, inspired the song.
“‘Bread and Water’ was a song I wrote with Leslie Satcher,” Vince explains. “I threw out this line: ‘One night, he wandered into that old mission.’ The first lines of songs are the most important part of the songs. If you really want to tell a story, that first line has to capture you. I said that line and then got a big lump in my throat and almost teared up. It reminded me of my brother.
“My brother had a rough stretch of life,” continues the country legend. “He had a car wreck at age 21 and was almost killed. He was in a coma for many months and wasn’t expected to live, and he never really fully recovered. He did pretty great considering the depth of the injuries and as a result of it, he would spend some time kinda hobo-ing around and not checking in with us. We didn’t know where he was for periods of time and found out he’s been down in the mission, or working at the Salvation Army or out picking fruit somewhere. So the song is loosely based on my brother.”
To believe that wholehearted commitment to Him is more important than any other thing or person in our life.
To know that nothing we do in life will ever matter, unless it is about loving God and loving the people He has made.
True faith means holding nothing back; it bets everything on the hope of eternity.
This whole swimming-upstream, pursuing-Christ, taking-up-your cross, counting-the-cost thing isn’t easy.
The road is narrow and few will actually find it!
We can’t afford to just assume we’re one of the few on the narrow way.
Be totally in love with Christ.
Even Heaven would be a desolate place without Christ.
Don’t just let life happen.
Love and desire Christ, for when we love, we are free!
Let God change us.
We need to let Him in our life.
We need God to help us love God, and if we need His help to love Him, a perfect being, we definitely need His help to love other fault-filled humans.
Don’t hold back, be consumed with Christ.
We need to show a “Love” that is crazy to the world.
True love, a kind found nowhere else, but through Christ.
Don’t be lukewarm, be obsessed with Christ.
People obsessed with Christ…
Love people and are friends to all…
They’re crazy risk takers for Christ…
They’re humble…
They serve…
They give…
They think about eternity…
They’re engrossed and delighted with God’s Word…
They’re passionately in love with God…
They’re unguarded and open with Him…
They meditate, are nourished by, and are rooted in the Word…
They’re dedicated and faithful to Christ.
They know they’re a child and a friend of God.
Let’s evaluate our lives…
Is what we’re doing, what we want to be doing, when Christ returns????
Taken from: Crazy Love by Frances Chan
Lukewarm is completely useless…
Neither like hot water (as in a comfortable bath)…
Nor like cold water (as in a refreshing drink)…
Interpret “hot” and “cold” in light of the historical context of Laodicea…
It had no permanent supply of good water…
Efforts to pipe water to the city from nearby springs were successful…
But, it would arrive lukewarm…
Located close to both natural hot springs by Hierapolis…
Often used for medicinal purposes…
And a cold, pure stream by Colossae…
Both hot and cold water are desirable…
Both are useful for distinct purposes…
All believers can be used of God…
The spiritual state of this church…
More closely resembled the tepid, lukewarm water…
That eventually flowed into Laodicean pipes…
Neither hot nor cold…
It was putrid!
The metaphor condemns Laodicea for not providing…
Spiritual healing (being hot)…
Or, spiritual refreshment (being cold) to those around them…
Revelation 3:15 is a condemnation of their lack of works and lack of witness.
They spread spiritual disease…
What disease?
They believed they were spiritually rich…
When in fact they had gone bankrupt…
They thought they could see…
But they were blind…
They thought they were healthy…
But they were corrupt….
They thought they were fully clothed…
But they were naked…
The difference was in their opinion of themselves…
vs reality…
They thought they were well off…
But they were starving to death…
They were spiritually content and self-satisfied…
Although actually they were wretched and pitiful…
In Revelation 3:17, they had the audacity to say…
“I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.”
The problem with being lukewarm…
And the case against Laodicea…
Revolves around the idea of self-deception…
They were self-deluded…
The church at Laodicea was made up of Christians…
Who were trusting in themselves and their wealth…
Or, what they thought their wealth could buy them!
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, says,
Lukewarm…
Useless and self-deceived…
They thought they were of great value…
But were hypocritical…
Promoting themselves, as those who saw the truth…
When in fact they did not…
Actively covering their sins with a cloak of religious observance!
Lord…
Help us to be obsessed with You…
Show us where we’re lukewarm…
Give us the strength to deal with these areas…
Do whatever it takes…
For us to please You…
We need constant infilling of Your Presence…
A constant love relationship…
Constant prayer…
Constant worship…
Constant renewing of our minds…
With the Word of God…
We don’t want to be lukewarm:
A believer who isn’t a threat to satan’s kingdom,
A person who is unable to accomplish anything for the Lord,
Who no longer brings God glory,
Who no longer accomplishes His will,
Who no longer builds His kingdom.
Refresh!
Rekindle!
Our lukewarm hearts…
Restore!
Us to a heart perfect in its commitment to You!
Amen!!
Lukewarm is not enough…
Try Crazy Love!
Ahhh…
My new non-lukewarm refrigerator!!!!
Cold and Colder!!
To match my repaired non-lukewarm dryer…
Hot and Hotter!!
Forget lukewarm!
If a dryer’s not HOT…
Or, a refrigerator’s not COLD…
They’re useless…
And so are we!!
Amen!
Don’t sing these Top Ten Songs Of The Lukewarm Christian!!!
1. Blest Be The Tie That Doesn’t Cramp My Style
2. Pillow of Ages, Fluffed for Me
3. I Surrender Some
4. I’m Fairly Certain That My Redeemer Lives
5. Sit Up, Sit Up For Jesus
6. What An Acquaintance We Have In Jesus
7. Where He Leads Me, I Will Consider Following
8. He’s Quite a Bit To Me
9. Oh, How I Like Jesus
10. It Is My Secret What God Can Do – See more at: http://diggingtheword.blogspot.com/2010/03/top-ten-songs-of-lukewarm-christian.html#sthash.IJf1kito.h1RhYzKB.dpuf
1. Blest Be The Tie That Doesn’t Cramp My Style
2. Pillow of Ages, Fluffed for Me
3. I Surrender Some
4. I’m Fairly Certain That My Redeemer Lives
5. Sit Up, Sit Up For Jesus
6. What An Acquaintance We Have In Jesus
7. Where He Leads Me, I Will Consider Following
8. He’s Quite a Bit To Me
9. Oh, How I Like Jesus
10. It Is My Secret What God Can Do – See more at: http://diggingtheword.blogspot.com/2010/03/top-ten-songs-of-lukewarm-christian.html#sthash.IJf1kito.h1RhYzKB.dpuf
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have in my hands a copy of today’s top ten list.”
“Today’s list is top ten songs of the lukewarm church.”
1. Blest Be The Tie That Doesn’t Cramp My Style
2. Pillow of Ages, Fluffed for Me
3. I Surrender Some
4. I’m Fairly Certain That My Redeemer Lives
5. Sit Up, Sit Up For Jesus
6. What An Acquaintance We Have In Jesus
7. Where He Leads Me, I Will Consider Following
8. He’s Quite a Bit To Me
9. Oh, How I Like Jesus
10. It Is My Secret What God Can Do
Let’s be fired up this Sunday when we sing. Our Savior was passionate for us and we need to be equally as passionate for him.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have in my hands a copy of today’s top ten list.”
“Today’s list is top ten songs of the lukewarm church.”
1. Blest Be The Tie That Doesn’t Cramp My Style
2. Pillow of Ages, Fluffed for Me
3. I Surrender Some
4. I’m Fairly Certain That My Redeemer Lives
5. Sit Up, Sit Up For Jesus
6. What An Acquaintance We Have In Jesus
7. Where He Leads Me, I Will Consider Following
8. He’s Quite a Bit To Me
9. Oh, How I Like Jesus
10. It Is My Secret What God Can Do
Let’s be fired up this Sunday when we sing. Our Savior was passionate for us and we need to be equally as passionate for him.
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