We all have a purpose in God's plan. We're all here for a reason. We don't get to pick our gifts. God knows what's best for us, so HE's the gift-giver. If we didn't have his guidance, who knows what would happen? Who would we be?
“If I had to do another job, I imagine that I would be a theology professor. That’s what I was studying before Crouton [a fellow band member] called and asked me to audition for the band. Or perhaps a draygon (spelling intended) slayer. Or maybe a fisherman. I think I’d be a pee-wee football coach.”
—Chap Stique, Family Force 5
13.5.08
11.5.08
Songwriting (Rebecca St. James)
Rebecca St. James, an Australian songwriter, gave her gift to God at 13. (See, you're not too young to serve a purpose for God!) She takes the common church songs and turns them into works of art with her clear, beautiful voice. Where does she get her inspiration?
Most of Rebecca's song ideas come straight from the outdoors, God's beautiful creation. “I’ll go for a walk and notice a little flower. I might think, Wow, God crafted that flower!” During her devotional time, an idea expands into the lyrics for the song “God,” for example. “Then I’ll start to sing to the words, and I’ll think, Yeah, that works!” says Rebecca.
Amazingly, Rebecca spends some time away from her career by talking to God and praising him. According to Rebecca, “Just like a prayer, worship isn’t reserved for one or two days a week. It’s a constant part of our lives."
Go check out one of her songs today!
Most of Rebecca's song ideas come straight from the outdoors, God's beautiful creation. “I’ll go for a walk and notice a little flower. I might think, Wow, God crafted that flower!” During her devotional time, an idea expands into the lyrics for the song “God,” for example. “Then I’ll start to sing to the words, and I’ll think, Yeah, that works!” says Rebecca.
Amazingly, Rebecca spends some time away from her career by talking to God and praising him. According to Rebecca, “Just like a prayer, worship isn’t reserved for one or two days a week. It’s a constant part of our lives."
Go check out one of her songs today!
My Purpose [part 1]
I was thinking about some of my friends yesterday. Maddy has a great sense of style and organization. Morgan will probably wind up taking care of the elderly, or the very young, because she’s kind and gentle. Tiffany, my cousin, can probably beat the snot out of any boy in football, and Corey…well, he would definitely make a great actor. As I thought about this, I wondered what I was here for. What was I doing on earth, if I wasn’t serving a purpose? What was my purpose?
You might be in the same situation. We all have God-given talents and gifts. But sometimes its hard to know what those gifts are. Maybe you’re good at singing, while some of us can’t carry a tune in a bucket, and you’ll land a job as a Christian rock star, jammin’ on stage, while I’m stuck here singing in the shower.
And what about your brother, who could play in the NFL? And your sister, who’s practicing for her ballet recital? But what about you?
What do you love to do? What are you good at? Really think about this. If you were given an award for something, what would it be?
In the Comments section, jot down everything that you’re good at – everything that is a gift from God.
You might be in the same situation. We all have God-given talents and gifts. But sometimes its hard to know what those gifts are. Maybe you’re good at singing, while some of us can’t carry a tune in a bucket, and you’ll land a job as a Christian rock star, jammin’ on stage, while I’m stuck here singing in the shower.
And what about your brother, who could play in the NFL? And your sister, who’s practicing for her ballet recital? But what about you?
What do you love to do? What are you good at? Really think about this. If you were given an award for something, what would it be?
In the Comments section, jot down everything that you’re good at – everything that is a gift from God.
Songwriting (Thousand Foot Krutch)
Have you tried writing poetry, or composing a song? It's a great way to organize your thoughts and get a message out to people. (And it's also a great thing to work on while singing in the shower.) When writing a poem or song, look around you. What do you see? What do you feel? What do you want people to know? What do you believe?
"I'm inspired by a lot of things I see, hear and feel that move me everywhere I go. We're traveling a lot, so I'm usually writing on airplanes or buses, or in hotel rooms. I used to go to the top of this hill in the city I grew up in that overlooked downtown. It was a great place to sit on the hood of the car and write."
Trevor McNevan, Thousand Foot Krutch
"I'm inspired by a lot of things I see, hear and feel that move me everywhere I go. We're traveling a lot, so I'm usually writing on airplanes or buses, or in hotel rooms. I used to go to the top of this hill in the city I grew up in that overlooked downtown. It was a great place to sit on the hood of the car and write."
Trevor McNevan, Thousand Foot Krutch
10.5.08
Switchfoot Speaks [part1]
Jon and Tim from the band *drumroll* Switchfoot, give us some info.
One Voice: When you were growing up, did you listen to Christian radio?
Tim: We didn’t have Christian radio, but we were definitely exposed to Christian artists. People like Keith Green were part of my musical childhood.
We’re pastors’ kids, and it was a nurturing environment where there wasn’t this hard-cut line of sacred versus secular. I feel that if the God we serve were truly great and wonderful, why wouldn’t [Christian bands] want His beauty and truth fingerprints all over culture, not just making music for the church?
Jon: It’s healthy to remember as a church that the industry that is Christendom isn’t equated one to one with the body of Christ. These are the same issues that have plagued the church from the beginning. That type of conversation of what is a Christian band could go in so many different ways, but at the same time, as believers we’ve always been honored to be affiliated with the name of Christ. That’s a true honor and isn’t something to be taken lightly. In fact, our hesitancy to jump into the Christian label has more to do with the amount of respect I have for the name of Christ, and I’m not sure I’m willing to sanctify every single thing I’ve ever done in a band and say, “That’s a Christlike action.”
One Voice: When you were growing up, did you listen to Christian radio?
Tim: We didn’t have Christian radio, but we were definitely exposed to Christian artists. People like Keith Green were part of my musical childhood.
We’re pastors’ kids, and it was a nurturing environment where there wasn’t this hard-cut line of sacred versus secular. I feel that if the God we serve were truly great and wonderful, why wouldn’t [Christian bands] want His beauty and truth fingerprints all over culture, not just making music for the church?
Jon: It’s healthy to remember as a church that the industry that is Christendom isn’t equated one to one with the body of Christ. These are the same issues that have plagued the church from the beginning. That type of conversation of what is a Christian band could go in so many different ways, but at the same time, as believers we’ve always been honored to be affiliated with the name of Christ. That’s a true honor and isn’t something to be taken lightly. In fact, our hesitancy to jump into the Christian label has more to do with the amount of respect I have for the name of Christ, and I’m not sure I’m willing to sanctify every single thing I’ve ever done in a band and say, “That’s a Christlike action.”
Jason Dunn (Hawk Nelson) Speaks
"I fell off a stage once when I was like 15 years old. That was pretty embarrassing!"
"If I had all the money and time I needed, I'd love to build a center for homeless people to get them back on track. My heart goes out to the homeless or those who are 'less fortunate.' "
Jason Dunn, Hawk Nelson
"If I had all the money and time I needed, I'd love to build a center for homeless people to get them back on track. My heart goes out to the homeless or those who are 'less fortunate.' "
Jason Dunn, Hawk Nelson
6.5.08
What's YOUR Purpose?
Have you ever wondered why God made you? What’s your purpose?
Well, you have many purposes, which we are going to go over for the next week or two, but in the end, all of your purposes lead to God. Yeah, everything you do – every good thing, at least – is totally for God. Because he made you, and he gave you this life. Why not live it for him?
So, for the next 2-7 weeks you’re going to discover what your purpose is – why you are here on earth. That’s a big thing, and it will make you think a lot differently than you ever have before. So, I encourage you to read this blog every day so you won’t miss a thing. This is going to be fun.
Well, you have many purposes, which we are going to go over for the next week or two, but in the end, all of your purposes lead to God. Yeah, everything you do – every good thing, at least – is totally for God. Because he made you, and he gave you this life. Why not live it for him?
So, for the next 2-7 weeks you’re going to discover what your purpose is – why you are here on earth. That’s a big thing, and it will make you think a lot differently than you ever have before. So, I encourage you to read this blog every day so you won’t miss a thing. This is going to be fun.
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