Here’s a Christmas Cloud I created for your enjoyment.
Archive for the ‘Song Topics’ Category
Merry Christmas Everybody!
Friday, December 9th, 2011Jason Upton – I’m so Disappointed
Tuesday, November 9th, 2010
Jason Upton - Trusting The Angels
My wife and I went to a Jason Upton concert several years ago. We had a great time. As a spirit filled worship leader myself, it was wonderful to see someone, on a much larger scale, operate and flow in a prophetic worship style. He has a great voice, a great platform, a great musical style. We left thinking what an awesome time we had and that we could possibly be able to follow Jason’s music with enthusiasm into the future.
But, unfortunately I was wrong. It appears as if he’s fallen head over heals into pseudo-christian spirituality. This is the same red-herring gospel that we’re hearing from the likes of Joyner, Bentley, NAR, and a ton of others, where the focus is a “spiritual Experience” rather than an authentic worship to God. It’s really narcissism in a Christian shaped wrapper.
I came across this album (and sadly there are others just like it) called “Trusting the Angels”. The whole point of the CD seems to be that “Angels can take you to higher dimensions”. I find it ironic that the Bible explicitly tells us “DON’T trust angels”, and yet here he is telling the opposite.
So I’m guessing he’s gone the way of all the other “professional prophets” who abandon a true spiritual life for the pursuit of angels, trips to Heaven, soaking, gem stones, angel feathers, talking to dead people, strange smoke, etc.
Where are the truly spiritual musicians anymore? Where are the leaders who form their theology from what they read in the Word rather than torturing it to conform to their new “enlightened” or “higher dimension” doctrines? Where are the prophets whose prophecies actually come to pass? Where are the healers that actually heal? Where are the Christian meetings and gatherings that actually cause the earth to shake and touch the Father’s heart? Where are the apostles who demand to be taken OFF the Elijah List?
Because of my age I missed the Keith Green era. But I’m still waiting for the next great Christian musician that actually calls a generation to Holiness and strives for uncommon greatness. I was hoping Jason Upton was one of those. But instead… I see a misguided showman – along the order of Kim Clement.
I’m just disappointed.
Tis So Sweet
Friday, July 23rd, 2010
(a more personal note – a more intimate nature)
Well, I haven’t posted since January of this year. I guess I just got bogged down in other things and also maybe didn’t feel like posting rebuttals to the usual garbage that goes on here in the metro area I live in. But my silence is broken today. I just felt the need to express a little bit after watching some YouTube clips.
You know how when you hear something over and over again you start to take it in and make it personal. Well… for some reason the last several months the song ‘Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus’ has been rolling through my head. I don’t know why, but I just can’t seem to shake it (not that it’s a bad thing really). Every time I sit down at the piano that’s the first thing I think of and so I start playing it immediately. When I’m driving down the road in silence the lyrics seem to float into my brain like clouds and push out my other ‘more pressing’ thoughts.
So today I spent some time listening to YouTube clips of people singing the song. I must have listened to the song sung 30 different times by just as many people, each one putting their own spin on the melody. Along with the usual thoughts “Wow these people can really sing!”, and the subsequent insecurities of “What am I thinking even trying to pursue music after listening to these guys?”, something happened as I listened. I shut my browser window and just sat there a minute to let the words and music just sink in.
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. Just to take Him at his Word. Just to rest upon His promise. Just to know “Thus saith the Lord”. Jesus, Jesus, how I trust You. How I’ve proved you over and over. Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus… Oh for grace to trust You more.
How many times have I said (usually privately) “God, I KNOW you didn’t bring me this far in life just to let me go. I know you will come through for me this time.” When I look back on my life I see so many times that I should have been completely sunk. Broken, paralyzed, bankrupt, overwhelmed, cast down, crushed, defeated, jobless, homeless, friendless, etc. But something always happened just at the right time. Something unexpected, something miraculous. Some series of events came together to save the day. That’s what trust is… looking back and seeing the consistency of the hand of God then looking forward and knowing the same will be true for the future.
They say that trust is earned. And I think that’s exactly the point of this song. “How I’ve proved You over and over”.
I have now been overwhelmed with the sense of His bigness compared to my smallness. (I guess that’s the core definition of humility, isn’t it?) Somehow the world doesn’t seem like such a meaningless place. Somehow the future doesn’t seem so scary. Somehow I think things are going to turn out OK (even if the country does collapse in economic ruin). To be in the hand of God is the only safe place to be. “Oh for grace to trust You more.”
Blessings to you all.
Thanks for letting me write what is stylistically and topically somewhat out of characteristic for me.
sending...