Archives for posts with tag: jesus
I recently came across a blog post by some sorta well known christian musician about the christian music industry, its problems, its styles and so forth. The article pointed out some huge problems and cheesy elements within people and scenes that make up “christian music”. He made some great points but also reinforced the problems within the whole paradigm. He was essentially fighting against the lack of creativity within christian music that is found in the current industry, while benefiting from it at the same time. Its weird that people even call it an industry. But i guess it is. yikes. The Gospel is free not an industry! Dont even get me started on the christian licensing madness…
Anyways, I wanted to express my view point on the whole thing, and ask the question what does it really mean to have your music labeled as christian? Or not at all? I just released an album and i’m sure some might think its christian or others may not. For me Jesus was certainly the inspiration behind all the songs and i’m totally unashamed to admit it. But what i want to get at is what lies at the heart of the contradiction within calling something “christian music” and or “secular music”. Heres the problem: All music should just be viewed as music in its comparative genre, whatever the style, lyrics, or sound may be, but its not. People love to pigeon hole, label, lump in, throw out, discard when it doesn’t fit their mold or worldview. The contradiction in this is that some people think theirs no place for God in music or art but theres plenty of space for nihilism or atheism. This is insane. When you consider all the great ones from the Renaissance, to Carvaggio, to Dali, to Beethoven, and how they depicted Christ through their art form in one way or another, it brings things into perspective. The Holy Spirit has influenced millions to join with him in the creative process. The person of the Holy Spirit is a creative genius! We just have to except and seek out the amazing creative wavelength behind the words “all things were created by Him and for Him whether things in heaven or on earth.” If we are created in the image of God, what sweet inspiration can come from this place! Great art can come from this place and indeed it has. Bad art in a lot of ways fails to realize this. It fails to realize story of the cosmic servant King becoming one of his own!
I think about Dylan after he first got huge, he was a genius by not letting people pigeon hole him. Everyone wanted him to be the leader and music prophet of the anti-war/anti-establishment movement, but he totally rejected it. According to modern day labeling techniques and rules they should have put Dylan under the anti-establishment music label or industry. He simply made awesome music that had themes of this or that, and just so happened to ask some social radical questions. As he said in a recent interview, “all that matters is what i think and what God thinks.” So, whatever the lyrics are behind the music it should not be put in to one style or industry because of its lyrical content, it should be judged on its sound and quality alone. Now i know theres lots of cheesy christian music out there and its sad, but theres also a lot of cheesy shallow “i kissed a girl and i liked it” crap as well. I know there are a ton of people not in to people singing about Jesus, but why is it that nihilism and total depression pass as good inspiration or themes? Everyone is “preaching” through their music, it just seems to be somewhere between, extreme promotion of nihilism or an extreme hatred of it. So, If you sing about Jesus, sin, or redemption in your music, you should not be labeled as a christian style musician. Instead, if you sing about Jesus in your music you should be viewed as a musician who makes music who just so happens to sing about Jesus. Or could you just simply be viewed? All modern folk, rock, blues were all hugely influenced by old time hymn mountain music that was about the Gospel and Biblical stories. Long before there was rock n roll there was the Rock of Ages! The Bible is straight up poetic rock n roll, one read through the Psalms reveals great material, “Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” or the time where King David dances practically naked before the Lord or “How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow has she become.” We simply need to embrace this musical heritage and draw from it with no shame or historical revisionism. Be who you are and dont flinch for a second. Dont let the fear of man or opinions rule in your heart. “your heart is free have the courage to follow her!” I find this dudes music inspiring, who also happens to be a Christian.
Im so excited and so grateful to the Lord to release my first album called Zeal of Fire. It is a solo project i have been working on for the last two years. The spirit of Jesus has been the inspiration for all these songs–from His Zeal, His Love, His Truth, His Kindness and His relentless pursuit of us. This is what ignited the spark for a song to come forth, and that is where they came from and what they are all about. This is Zeal of Fire.
tcain.bandcamp.com
also available in itunes
Jesus said, “pray earnestly unto the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers” And, “the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.” The Gospel of Jesus is the only hope for, and the only faith that seeks to include every tribe, tongue, nation, and people group. Jesus truly is the hope of the nations! The story of God is the story of going. From Abraham to the apostle Paul, Gods call is go. To a land unknown, to a people unknown, God is always sending. “For God so loved the world He gave His only Son.” Jesus came into the world not to condemn the world but to save the world! That is good news! Before the great commission Jesus maintains the great mission of God by saying, “just as the Father sent me, so am I sending you.” Any believer in Jesus is a sent one. What an adventure.
This video is sooo good!
Its all happening! It really is happening!!! The school of the Circuit Rider was held last week in Lancaster PA, and it was truly amazing. I have never seen such unity and courage in one room before. Lancaster county has an amazing history of revival and deep wells of faith and family. It is the most generous mission sending and giving county in the world. The Lord was revealing his heart for the time we are living in. He is calling us to radical love and love for the family of Jesus. Its so radical because its so simple! It has always been the call and command of Jesus, that “we love one another.” No more skepticism, no more disunity, no more unbelief, just love love love love for Jesus and His family. The time is now. We will not delay any longer. We will rally around the person of Jesus Christ and the powerful simple Gospel. Just Jesus. It really is that simple.
As a result of this unity we hit the streets of Lancaster and saw 320 people in two days trust in Jesus for salvation! Calling people to Jesus is different than anything else the world offers. Jesus said, “behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me”-Revelation 3:20. Inviting people to know Jesus is not calling them to a set of rules, a philosophy, a belief system, but a real and abiding relationship with the living God, Jesus Christ. The invitation is the great banquet table of Jesus! When people put their trust in Jesus they are adopted into the family of God. A Jesus people family. A family of redemption, that encompasses the whole earth. Amen!!!
Check out this awesome video for the 2013 Circuit Rider Schools! Last years schools were incredible and I believe the Lord is only going to do more! If you can make it, go to one of the schools near you, you will never be the same! Today is the day of salvation!
I love hearing people tell stories about the Jesus People Movement of the early 1970’s. My buddy said it best, “there was really something in the water back then.” People got saved in droves! It has been said of the time that “you could just say the name of Jesus and people would get saved.” People were disillusioned with the destructive nature of drug induced peace and love, so they went looking for a new kind of peace, and found it in the Prince of Peace! Following Jesus also offered a comunal style of living wich made the transition somewhat smoother for some hippies. People began moving into comune style houses and properties all over the country. Attempting to share everything they had was the mode of operation. A strong emphasis was made on evangelism, signs and wonders, and gifts of the Holy Spirit. When you talk to a guy or gal who got saved back then they can tell ya, “I got saved July 21st 1972 at 8pm!” Yes I love that! Salvation encounter all the way, the day and the hour. No doubt it hasn’t been total smooth sailing since then, but thats when they set sail for Kingdom shores, back in 72!
I believe were in the throws of another Jesus People Movement. This one will be global. This one will pick up where the other left off. Right now Christianity is exploding in China with the underground house church. Other parts of Asia and Africa are swelling with revival and salvations. Uganda is now considered a revived nation. In downtown Campala you can see “Jesus is Lord plumbers” on a random street corner. All this is on its way to the U.S. Jesus is the same yesterday and forever. The Gospel has been, and is, good news! The ancient wells of the 1st and 2nd Great Awakenings that swept this country are rising again. As I write this 24-7 prayer and worship houses are popping up all over the country. House churches and community houses are becoming common again among believers. People are responding to the Gospel where some thought they never would. The harvest is ripe! What is going on? Its another Jesus people revolution!
It is simply incredible how the Lord has used evangelist Reinhard Bonnke to literally save millions in Africa. Today truly is the day of salvation. John the baptist said of Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Jesus said himself, “I came to seek and save the lost!” Jesus truly ment, “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation.” Amen!
This late summer and fall have been incredible! In mid August I felt the Lord calling me down to Kansas City, Missouri for The School of the Circuit Rider. I didn’t think I would be able to get away from work and have the funds to pay for the two weeks but the Lord provided! 300 or so Jesus lovin fiery eyed revivalist descended on KC for two incredible weeks of salvation and the Lord imparting crucial truths of the hour. Fear, passivity, unbelief, were all stripped away as we repented and embraced His boldness!–“without faith it is impossible to please God.”The Lord is raising the level of faith and affirming he really is the God of the Bible! We can trust him for the impossible. He is the God who works in impossibility–“The kingdom of God does not come with talk but in power!” The call of the Circuit Rider is to, save the lost, revive the saved, and train them all. The original Circuit Riders were a mobile band of preachers that spread across the american frontier in the early 1800’s. Most of them did not live past the age of 30 but they lived passion filled lives consumed with seeing the lost saved and revived. My favorite Circuit Rider, Peter Cartwright said, “a man must be singular in his focus and purpose.” The Lord is releasing the Circuit Riders again! This is a time of walking in the ancient paths and ancient wells! I feel called to preach the Gospel in the highways and the byways. The Lord is shattering the lie that we are not equipped enough to preach the Gospel. Maybe in a year or two we will be ready, No! He has given us everything we need through the Holy Spirit to move out in power and preach the Good News! Today is the day of Salvation!! not in a month, not in a year but now!!!–“Today if you hear His voice do not harden your hearts.”–“Awake O sleeper and rise from the dead so Christ can shine on you!” Following Jesus always takes place in the ever-present now!–“Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” The disciples learned on the way and thats what we are called to do. We had four days of street evangelism and saw over 200 salvations and 70 healings!!! The anointing comes in the going. When you step out in faith, things happen! It was an incredible two weeks and I will never be the same.
“My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations!”
Kansas City
His Glory appears!
War in the Holy Spirit!
Circuit riding after Salvation encounters!!!
After Kansas City, we had an old fashioned camp meeting at my parents lake house! About 20 of us from Cleveland showed up to pray and worship for 24 hours. It was an incredible time of sharing around the camp fire and encouraging each other towards Faith Hope and Love. After the camp meeting Chelsey and I went down to Washington D.C. for some more tent meeting Holy Spirit awesome worship. God loves tents! Hes not crazy about temples built with human hands but loves to keep us mobile in His creation. We lead 3 two hour worship sets at Davids Tent a couple at night and one during the day. Davids Tent is going for it!! with 40 days of 24/7 worship to Jesus!!! no man will be exalted this november just Jesus the eternal One!! Revival is Now! There is another Jesus People Movement sweeping the nation and we will not stop till everyone knows about The Hope that is in Jesus!
The prayer tent! we took shifts all through the night!
Our flame is gona burn brighter!
Right on the White House elipse!
The Lord is our strong tower! not the pagan washington monument!
All over scripture you find references to, ancient doors, ancient paths and ancient ways. What are these ancient ways that we might walk in them? Who holds the keys to these ancient doors? Psalm 24 declares, “Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? Indeed, who is this King of glory? Jesus gives us and idea in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He goes further speaking of his own glory in John 17:5, “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” Who is this King of glory? Jesus, the King of glory indeed! In Matthew 11:28, Jesus holds out the offer to, “come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16 declares, “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” lets walk in this ancient path and find rest for our souls.
T. Cain's Thoughts. 