S.E.E.D.S (Design Post)

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” John 12:24-25

That’s the premise for the new Christian rap album S.E.E.D.S. by Canvas.  The description sums it up this way: “S.E.E.D.S stands for "Salvation Enriches Everything Death Subjected;" this album is one mainly to inspire the Christian that in Christ we have the power to redeem any and all spheres of life. God created all things good, but due to the fall mankind now perverts Gods' good creation. We Christians are now called to go out and redeem what was once lost. We are Seeds of the Seed, Jesus Christ.”

Canvas grounds all his verse in scripture, presenting the Gospel over and over in every song.  From the straight Gospel message in “Structure and Direction” to the exultation to lay it all down for Christ in the title track “S.E.E.D.S.” the lyrics continually point to Jesus. 

I labeled this a design post, because I worked with Canvas to design the cover of the album, so I admittedly have some bias here, but really it’s a great album, and while the best part is that it brings glory and honor to our great God lyrically, Canvas also uses his music to evangelize and gives away the cd for the sake of the Gospel.  I have to say it’s awesome to see a heart for Jesus shining so brightly in a dark world.

So I encourage anyone reading this, to go listen, get a free copy of the album, and if you’re interested in donating to the work of this awesome man of God, you can contact him directly through his twitter account: @davethedoulos

Enjoy the music!

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Break Me

A few days ago, I had the privilege of having a brief conversation with Cindy Gibbs via email about a new song that she has just released called "Break Me."  It's a song about God's love for a broken and contrite heart, and our corresponding need to be healed and reshaped by the Potter's hands.

She pointed me to Dr. Michael Milton's website where he had written an incredible article about the song and our underlying need for God in our brokenness.  This is good theology.

I've reprinted the article below with permission, as well as a link to Cindy Gibb's music. I encourage anyone who reads these pages to take this message to heart.  God Bless!


Let the Broken Cry Out: A Devotional on Psalm 34


Bad theology leads to heartache. Heartache led to good theology applied, brings healing. My friend and long time backing vocalist in music I have recorded, Cindy Gibbs, has written a song that reminds me of this whole matter. Cindy calls it, “Break Me.” In her song she speaks of a smile that hides the pain. But then her lyrics leads us to see the freedom that comes to the one in the song as her openness to God’s grace and His atonement on the cross leads to freedom and joy. 

That is good theology. In fact, that is just plain old good Bible! I hope she releases that song soon. But the early composition that I saw got me to thinking.

There are bad ideas circulating today that somehow the believer should be living a life that is immune from the ordinary pains and sorrows of life. Those ideas come from many places but not the Bible. The mask that Cindy writes about is something we all identify with, and yet it is not what the Bible reveals as truth. In Psalm 34, such as, David openly speaks of his own pain and sorrow. Yet out of this brokenness and tragedy, which he endured with the hostility from those who sought his life, the sweet Psalmist of Israel wrote:

 “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”

 Oh how I love that. For there are many things in my life for which I should be ashamed. My own sins, others’ sins, and the sometimes-faithful-sometimes-not pattern of following the Lord in this old world leaves me feeling less than the model Christian! But the truth is, any radiance, any beauty and any good thing comes from Christ Jesus. Yet it all begins with a cry for help. That is when the radiance begins to break forth:

 “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34.6). 

Your invitation today is not to buckle up and do better. Your challenge is not to hope for the best and go on. Your greatest test is not to see how well you can do. Your invitation is to simply cry out to the Lord and bring your burdens to Him. Let Him paint the canvas of your life in a new color, a crimson color, that covers you with atoning pardon and sealing grace. Your invitation is to smile again because there is One, who despite your pain, still says to people like David, people like you and me,

 “Come unto Me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

 It all begins with being broken enough to cry out. It all begins with singing, “break me.” From there, Christ’s healing begins to flow.

© 2011 Michael A. Milton, all rights reserved

 

Top 7 Christian Songs - July 2011

1. Blessings – Laura Story

Laura Story reminds us that this world is not our home, and even when trials and tribulations come our way, they are not meant to turn us from God, but to turn us to our Rock and our Fortress.

2. You Loved Me Anyway – Sidewalk Prophets

The Sidewalk Prophets sing of God’s love.  How He sent His Son to die for us, and how each of our sins nailed Him to that tree.  But He loved us through it all and freely gave us the grace His death and resurrection bring.

3. Glorious Day – Casting Crowns

Casting Crowns layout Christ’s life from the love of His incarnation to the salvation offered via His death to the justification of His resurrection all the while reminding us that He’s coming back and what a glorious day it will be!

4. The Way – Jeremy Camp

Shine bright; let Your glory fill this land.  Lift high the name of the king of kings: the great I Am. Jesus, you are the way!  There’s not much that can be added to a statement like that.  Na na na na na Jesus!

5. Stronger – Mandisa

Mandisa is making a “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” statement in this song.  So God allows trouble in our life to make us stronger.  I’m not sure about that.  I’m pretty certain the Bible says He allows these things to show how weak we are and how strong He is.  At best He gives us strength to endure.

6. I Lift My Hands – Chris Tomlin

God is faithful.  That’s why we have can have faith in Him.  Neat huh?  Chris Tomlin’s praise and worship songs are really incomparable in the Christian music scene today—mostly because he just uses scripture and worships God with it.

7. Reach – Peter Furler

What happens when the lead singer and creative force behind Newsboys goes solo? You get a Peter Furler album that sounds just like . . . Newsboys!  The song is good too.  It’s all about God being personal with everyone at once and how amazing and inconceivable that is.

Bonus: My Top Pick for July!

Manifesto – City Harmonic

They sing a creed of the Christian faith with the Lord’s Prayer intermittent within the song.  Incredible.  I have never heard the Lord’s Prayer prayed with such intensity.  It’s almost like he means it.  

* Top 7 songs are according to the national Billboard charts for Christian Music in all categories