Talking about the local church, better uses of your time than Facebook, and a sermon.

The title explains it! If you're up for a talk about the gospel, listen in!

Anna Beth, Silas, Kaylee, and I invite you to a real-life reading of Luke 2. Luke 2 reveals Christ coming into the world and we want you to join us as we read this account together. It is also very real-life and you will hear the natural sounds of us all. As in any family Scripture reading with little ones, there were bloopers...

Music is a wonderfully created gift from God. He formed our ears and our ability to hear sound. He allowed our minds to have conscious thoughts, and gave us the ability to communicate with our voices. When we're speaking with each other, we know that our conversations mean something. When we sing with one another, we communicate an agreed upon truth in the beauty of His music notes. We're able to notice something special is happening in music. Glory to God!

Jesus, unsurprisingly, is clear about worship needing to be in spirit and truth. It's obviously a necessity and something that shouldn't be taken lightly. We can't worship with just any lyrics, only true ones.

Christians seem to have different stances when it comes to this question. The question is asked in these kinds of forms:

• Should Christians listen to rock music?
• Should Christians listen to hip-hop music?
• Should Christians create Christian rock music?
• Should Christians create Christian hip-hop music?
• Should Christians avoid [insert genre here] genre?

In my own encounters with this kind of question in public forums, many seem to be passionate about their own stance. In this article, I will give my own stance, in which I intend to appeal to Scripture. If we base this on feelings or opinions we will end up with a meaningless answer.

Addressing an argument that seems to be more and more common.

1 Your way, not mine, O Lord,

however dark it be;

lead me by Your own hand,

choose out the path for me.

2 Smooth let it be or rough,

it will be still the best;

winding or straight, it leads

right onward to Your rest.

3 I dare not choose my lot;

I would not if I might:

Oh, choose for me, my God,

so I will walk aright.

4 The kingdom that I seek

is Yours, so let the way

that leads to it be Yours,

or I must surely stray.

5 Lord, take my cup, and it

with joy or sorrow fill,

as best to You may seem;

Lord, choose my good and ill.

6 Lord, choose for me my friends,

my sickness or my health;

and choose my cares for me,

my poverty or wealth.

7 Not mine, not mine, the choice

in things or great or small;

Lord, be my guide, my strength,

my wisdom, and my all.