She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. (Proverbs 31:25)
Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. —
-The Cost of Discipleship
Dis “Jesus Music”
Found this site for Mars Hill Church , which has some great sermon series and (my favorite part) great music.
Honestly, I’ve found it difficult to find any decent Christian musicians over the years. Most of them seem to get lost among the “cookie-cutter” phenomena that pervades the Christian music scene. They undergo a formula of sorts, the most common being “I’m going through some struggles (nothing TOO serious of course), but if I keep looking to you God, all things are gonna be just dandy!”
I’ve actually avoided listening to my hometown’s Christian radio station for this reason. All it really plays are the same old catchy, corny hits over and over and OVER again. And although they had some good artists tucked in there sometimes, the station doesn’t even try playing any of the ‘legit’ songs: just the ones that you could clap your hand and sing along to. The ones that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The ones that allow you to be comfortable in your faith.
That’s why I appreciate old-school bands like Jars of Clay (early work) and DC Talk, and why I currently adore work from artists like Jon Foreman, The Ember Days, and the Gungors. They sing worship that really stick to our hearts, not just our minds in thoughtless repeat. The stories they do tell can be raw and reveal the beauties and the broken pieces of our world in ways that are far more relatable than the narratives in songs like “Jesus Take the Wheel” ever could hope to be.
Needless to say, it’s nice to see some fresh work coming out in Christian music scene. Work that derives straight up from Scripture, especially ones that challenge and encourage us to be disciples of Christ and Children of God, not simply sing along to their latest smash hit album…although they do sound pretty awesome.
Making A Living
My dad just sent me a link to a great article by Jon Foreman (no, I’m not obsessed…) Check it out!
Making a Living by Jon Foreman
Study Up
Despite having numerous responsibilities this summer, I’ve been reading a lot of books; but instead of reaching for my go-to classics and N.Y.Times best-sellers for my own entertainment, I’ve looked into literature that could help strengthen my spiritual life.
One of the books that I’m reading now, Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson (check it out!), has been a really eye-opener for me. It is actually what inspired me to take some time away from Facebook and social media for a while to just focus on being still in God and rediscovering my center in Him. What’s even better than reading these books yourself is sharing in the experience with a book-buddy; in this way, we can look at the content from another perspective and learn from each other.
With the Fall semester over the horizon and crazy class schedules only one month away, it’s important to take some time to study up on God and take what you learn to heart. I encourage you guys to (if you get the chance) find a book that will challenge and strengthen your spirit.
Recommended Reads:
Abba’s Child, Renovations of the Heart, Lady in Waiting (ladies), Mere Christianity, The Cost of Discipleship, Wild at Heart (gentlemen), King’s Cross, Fearless, The Divine Conspiracy
