Lecrae cont.

Two of my favorite Lecrae songs are Represent and Don't Waste Your Life

Some of my favorite lyrics from Represent include:





I feel your pain homey, I got the same story
But since you came to Christ you got to bring His name Glory

You've been reborn and you don't have to do the same stuff
You live regenerate, you get the benefit of Christ crucified 





Some of my favorite lyrics from Don't Waste Your Life include:




Paul said if Christ ain't resurrected we've wasted our lives
Well that implies that our life's built around Jesus being alive
Everyday I'm living tryin' to show the world why
Christ is more than everything you'll every try

We're created for Him

Magnify the Father why bother with something lesser
He made us so we could bless Him
To the world we confess Him

To live is Christ and that's Paul I recall
To die is gain so for Christ we give it all
He's the treasure you'll never find in a mall

'Cause I'm constantly trying to be used to praise the Christ 

Lecrae

A different take on how the Gospel is shared......

Lecrae Moore is the Grammy Award–winning rapper who represents the face of the gospel hip-hop movement. In songs like "Jesus Muzik," "Don't Waste Your Life" (based on the sermon by John Piper), and "Black Rose," Lecrae has developed a hard-hitting, straight-talking style that speaks to the everyday realities of fallen sinners and unfolds the cosmic solution to the problem of evil: Jesus Christ.

Fertilizer Plant Explosion Won't Stop Church Service

Even the fertilizer plant explosion won't stop a church in West, Texas from having it's church service. On the first Sunday after the explosion destroyed part of the small Texas town, pastor John Crowder of First Baptist Church help his congregations church service in the middle of a hayfield. Pastor Crowder stood on a flatbed and spoke to his congregation. 

National Day of Prayer

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” - 2 Chronicles 7:14

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May. Yesterday, May 2nd, was National Day of Prayer. National Dat of Prayer invites people of all faiths to pray for the nation. The mission of the National Day of Prayer is to mobilize prayer in America and to encourage personal repentance and righteousness in the culture. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and it was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. The National Day of Prayer is transforming our national through the power of prayer.  

This years theme was "All Together, All for Him"  

Brazilian Priest Excommunicated

The Roman Catholic Church has excommunicated Brazilian priest Father Roberto Francisco Daniel. His excommunication was a result of some of his teachings. Most recently he has taught that same-sex marriage is OK. Daniel has also expressed other controversial views. One of the most shocking was when he suggested that adultery is acceptable as long as the person's spouse is aware of it and allows it. Wow.....

Excommunication, or expulsion from the church, bars a believer from participating in the liturgy n a ministerial capacity, however it encourages the guilty party to work towards restoring their relationship with the church. Despite his excommunication, Daniel has not backed down from his controversial views.  

Former Pope Benedict Returns to Live at Vatican

Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, the first pope in about 600 years to step down and retire at the end of February, is returning to the Vatican. It has been reported that he will return to live at the Vatican. Benedict will live in a converted monastery located behind St. Peter's Basilica, where Pope Francis lives. Benedict will live with his secretary and four lay nuns who will help with his daily needs. There is also a guest room for Benedict's older brother. Benedict has said that he will not interfere in matters with the Vatican, and will only give advice to Pope Francis if he ever asks for it. This is the first time in the history of the Roman Catholic Church that the Vatican will be home to two Popes.  

Tebow remains strong in his faith

Tim Tebow, NFL quarterback who is known for his open displays of his Christian faith both on and off the field, is remaining strong in his faith after the New York Jets cut him on Monday. Tebow tweeted a verse from Proverbs that read, "Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Talking to an ESPN reported, Tebow said, "I felt like it was a learning opportunity for me. There was a lot that I'll take from it. There's a lot that I learned and there are lot of relationships that I've built, so I know that it happened for a reason."

A Homeless Man's Test

A homeless man in Austin, Texas recently did an experiment to see which religion cares the most about the homeless population. A photo shows the man sitting on the ground with pieces of paper labeling different religions. With each label is a bowl (and a hat) in which people can put money. The religions labeled include: Muslim, Atheist, Hindu, Jewish, Spiritual, Buddhist, Agnostic, Pagan, and Christian. When people have walked past him, some will ask about who is winning. The homeless man has been reported saying that Atheists and Christians are the two that give the most. He says that one day Atheists will be "winning" and the next day it is the Christians. Although this is not an accurate test, it is still very interesting.

 

"Not Today"

Producers of "Not Today" are hoping to raise awareness about sex slavery, one of the most critical problems in society today. Today, there are more slaves than at any other time in human history. Roughly 27 million slaves around the world are being exploited for manual and sexual labor against their will. Women and children are the primary victims in this industry, which is estimated to make profits of over $32 billion. The film is a feature film and not a documentary with a story that centers on a 20-year-old American youth, Caden Wells, played by Cody Longo, who is greatly disconnected with the suffering of the world before he randomly decides to travel to Hyderabad, India, with a group of free-spirited friends for a vacation. Dove Award-winning and Grammy nominated singer Kari Jobe believes the draw for her to fight human trafficking is because she is a woman and she sees such tremendous suffering as the result of the illegal trade. Her song, "What Love Can Do", is featured in the movie's soundtrack. Along with Kari Jobe, there is an impressive array of ministry partners who have pledged to promote the film. "Our Christian faith compels us to lift our hands up with conviction and stretch our hands across with compassion," said the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference Hispanic Evangelical Association. "'Not Today' moves us to reconcile sanctification with service, faith with action and righteousness with justice. Whether it's creating a firewall against a caste system that does not recognize the image of God in every human being or lifting a clarion call against human trafficking, 'Not Today' is more than a movie. 'Not Today' stands as a clarion call to do justice in the name of Jesus."

Amish Beard-Cutting Attacks

The leader of a dissident Amish sect was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a series of bizarre beard- and hair-cutting attacks on other Ohio Amish. Samuel Mullet Sr., 67, the leader, was sentenced in Federal District Court in Cleveland for coordinating assaults that prosecutors argued were motivated by religious intolerance. Fifteen of his followers, including six women, were given lesser sentences, ranging from one year and one day to seven years. The breakaway Amish were convicted last year of multiple counts of conspiracy and hate crimes, which carry harsher punishment than simple assault. The series of attacks in 2011 spread fear through Amish communities in eastern Ohio. Followers of Samuel Mullet broke into homes, restrained men and women, and forcibly sheared their victims, sometimes with tools used to clip horse manes. For Amish, descendants of 18th-century German-speaking immigrants, long beards and flowing women’s hair represent religious devotion and cultural identity. Prosecutors argued that because of the religious symbolism of the attacks, they were hate crimes.

"The Testament of Mary"

Fiona Shaw, perhaps best known for playing Harry Potter's aunt, is re-imagining the life of the mother of Christ in Irish writer Colm Toibin's New York premiere stage adaptation of his novella "The Testament of Mary," a haunting, provocative work, at the Walter Kerr Theatre. Fiona Shaw is alone onstage – except for the early presence of a real-life vulture – as she tells her version of "The Greatest Story Ever Told," one that often sharply veers from traditional Christianity.

Pope Francis Advisory Council

Pope Francis named eight cardinals from around the globe Saturday to advise him on running the Catholic Church and reforming the Vatican bureaucracy, marking his first month as pope with a major initiative to reflect the universal nature of the church in key governing decisions. The advisory panel includes only one current Vatican official. The rest are cardinals from North, Central and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia. It was reported that Pope Francis got the idea to form the advisory body from the pre-conclave meetings where complaints had been made about the fact that there was not an advisory group like this. The cardinals are to help advise him in the governing of the universal church. The advisory group will meet for its first session October 1-3, however, Pope Francis is already in contact with the members of the group. It was also noted that the cardinals are a consultative body, NOT a decision-making one. 

Pope Francis Advisory Council To Reform Church With Permanent Panel Of 8 Cardinals

Jesus>Religion

This video came out a little over a year ago, but I just came across it again. Just two days after this video had been posted on YouTube it had more than 2 million views. Jefferson Bethke, the video's creator, draws on his own experiences and the Bible to argue that "Jesus and religion are on opposite spectrums," when people don't practice what they preach.

Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus

Rick Warren

Pastor Rick Warren founded Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. Saddleback is a megachurch and at the weekend services there are usually around 20,000 people attending. Pastor Warren is also the author of the bestseller book The Purpose Driven Life. I have attended many services at Saddleback Church, and absolutely love this church family! Some sad news appeared this weekend as word broke that the Warren's youngest son, Matthew, committed suicide. I met Matthew a few times at Saddleback, so for me this news was a HUGE shock. Many people are asking how such a tragedy could happen to such a devout Christian family.

Prays for the Warren family......

KKK

The Ku Klux Klan is America's oldest, most visible and most (in)famous hate group. They consider themselves a Christian organization and base their doctrines upon their own reading of the Bible. Their theology is strongly influenced by Christian Reconstructionism - they hope to "reconstruct" the United States along biblical (primarily Old Testament) lines and to establish a white-dominated theocracy. A cross burning is the most well-known symbol of the Klan. Many Christians consider it sacrilege to burn or otherwise destroy a cross. Klan Christians, however, state that it is not destroying the cross, but "lighting" it, as a symbol of the members' faith. 

Now, why am I talking about the KKK? Well, in Memphis on Saturday there was a KKK Rally. That is right, the KKK STILL exists. I was just as shocked...

White Smoke

Ooooopps. Did it again. I pushed save rather than publish!

White smoke has appeared! YES! There is a new Pope! The cardinals of the Roman Catholic church chose Jorge Maria Bergoglio as the 266th Pope. He took the name Francis, the first Pope to take this name. He is from Buenos Aires and is the first Jesuit priest.  

Black smoke, no pope. White smoke, new pope.

The cardinals of the Catholic Church held their first ballot today to elect a pope. The conclave began 12 days after Benedict XVI renounced the throne. He became the first pope in modern times to do this. As the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel, they leave the outside world and enter a very private space. The cardinals remain locked in isolation until one of the candidates receives two-thirds of the votes. At that time, that man will emerge from the process as the new spiritual leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics. 

 Since the cardinals are locked in isolation, their only contact with the outside world (everyone waiting for the word that a new pope has been elected) comes in the form of smoke signals. Black smoke means that no decision has been made on who among them will be the next pontiff. However, if white smoke emerges out of the chimney, than the world knows there is a new pope. 

To create the smoke, the Roman Catholic Church use to burn wet straw with all the paper ballots to give them smoke a dark color, indicating no decision had been made. However, instead of creating black smoke, wet straw creates grey smoke. In the past this has led to some confusion. To help eliminate confusion, chemical compounds are know used to give the smoke its proper color.

According to the Vatican, there are two iron stoves in the Sistine Chapel. The older stove will burn the ballots and the modern one, which is controlled by a computer, will add the chemicals to produce either white or black smoke. With black smoke billowing from the chimney today, the signal is clear--no new pope on the first day of the conclave. 

Tebow

Tim Tebow has always been very open about his faith and as a follower of Jesus Christ, has always expressed his gratitude to his Lord and Savior. Throughout his collegiate career, Tim was known for the Bible verses he wore on his eye blacks during football games. During his first season in the NFL, his constant praying on one knee became trademark term known as “Tebow-ing.”

Since Tebow is so open about his faith, people were shocked to hear that he had canceled a scheduled appearance at First Baptist Church of Dallas. First Baptist is the megachurch of Robert Jeffress, the very controversial pastor whose views on other religions and homosexuality have drawn outrage in the past. Jeffress has said that Muslims practice a religion that came from the depths of hell and “promote pedophillia.” 

Tim Tebow tweeted:  

“While I was looking forward to sharing a message of hope and Christ's unconditional love with the faithful members of the historic First Baptist Church of Dallas in April, due to new information that has been brought to my attention, I have decided to cancel my upcoming appearance. I will continue to use the platform God has blessed me with to bring Faith, Hope and Love to all those needing a brighter day. Thank you for all of your love and support. God Bless!”

Tebow seems to have responded to the uproar with a honest stand against Jeffress and he did so without creating more controversy. This simple gesture is an effective rebuke of intolerance.

Christians in China

Christian missionaries have always seemed to go to China, despite how dangerous it can be if caught. In 2012, the number of persecutions increased, however Christianity in China is thriving. China tried to get rid of religion all together, but after realizing this was impossible, they just created a religious bureaucracy that oversees all sanctioned religious practices. Because of the control and influence the government has on religion and specifically within the state-sanctioned church, many Chinese Christians attend “underground” churches. China’s state-run seminaries also are not turning out enough pastors for China’s growing Christian population. With more persecutions occurring, there becomes an even bigger concern for being a Christian in China. However, according to Christianity Today, Christians are not being persecuted for simply being Christians. In fact, in all the persecution cases there have been certain triggers that prompt authorities to take action. Some of these include directly opposing the Communist Party, engaging in political activity, openly championing human rights, and having foreign involvement. Of the numerous Christians in China who have suffered persecution, more than two-thirds were involved in cases where one or more of these triggers were present. Despite incredible persecution, Chinese Christians have made progress, demonstrating their faith, flexibility, and perseverance.

Christ Pantocrator

Figures in Byzantine art are highly stylized. The goal was to have symbols which clearly represent people, not to portray them as they appear on earth, because the emphasis was on their religious souls. Figures generally look elongated. Since Byzantine art isn't meant to portray natural images, artists didn't create depth or perspective. 

The icon image of Christ Pantocrator is one of the most widely used religious images of Orthodox Christianity. Usually, in Byzantine church art and architecture, an iconic mosaic or fresco of Christ Pantocrator occupies the sapce in the central dome of the church. This iconic image was one of the first images of Christ developed in the Early Christian Church. Christ Pantocrator portrays Christ as both Moral Judge and Lover of Mankind. In his left hand, Christ holds the Gospel. His right hand makes the gesture of teaching or of blessing. This blessing proclaims God’s loving kindness towards us and is showing us that we are forgiven.    

Greek Orthodox Church

After visiting Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church, I decided it would be interesting to wrote a blog post about what I learned and some of the differences between Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholics. 

Eastern Orthodoxy or Greek Orthodoxy arose as a distinct branch of Christianity after the “Great Schism” in the 11th century. Greek Orthodoxy was centered (and is still centered) around the area of the former Byzantine Empire. With this in mind, much of the Greek Orthodox Church architecture and art are influenced from the Byzantine period. Greek Orthodox Christians believe in a single God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.    

When Father George was talking, I learned that the Orthodox Church claims to be the one true church of Christ, and it seeks to trace its origin back to the original apostles through an unbroken chain of apostolic succession. I found this very interesting. Another thing I learned was the importance of icons. Greek Orthodox Churches pay homage to icons while Roman Catholic Churches have statues.

Father George also explained the difference between the concept of original sin. For Catholics, Mary was born with no original sin. For Greek Orthodox, Mary, just like all other people, was born and will then die. In Greek Orthodox, God created man perfect with free will and specific directions to follow. Adam and Eve, however, chose to disobey God by eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. In doing this, the changed the “perfect” to the “flawed”. This idea of flawed nature and everything that comes from it is a result of original sin. 

One major discrepancy between Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic has to do with Easter. Easter is a moveable feast. Easter is linked to the Jewish feast of Passover. The First Council of Nicaea established the date of Easter as the first Sunday after the full moon following the March equinox. For Roman Catholics, the date of Easter varies between March 22nd and April 25th. This date is determined using the Gregorian calendar. Greek Orthodox uses the Julian calendar and therefore Easter varies between April 4th and May 8th. The main reason the date for Easter is different has to do with the fact that in Greek Orthodoxy Easter can not take place until after Passover is finished.   

http://www.stspeterandpaulboulder.org/Pages/Our_Faith_Introduction2.shtml

Article on Pope's Final Days

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/25/world/europe/vatican-archbishop-resigns/index.html

Rome (CNN) -- Scandal is threatening to eclipse the poignancy and pageantry of Benedict XVI's historic final days as pope.
Vatican officials were already trying Monday to swat down unsavory claims by Italian publications of a brewing episode involving gay priests, male prostitutes and blackmail when news broke that Benedict had moved up the resignation of a Scottish archbishop linked over the weekend by a British newspaper to inappropriate relationships with priests.
Benedict announced two weeks ago that he will step down as pope Thursday, becoming the first pontiff to leave the job alive in 598 years.
At 85, he said he was too old, frail and tired to continue on as spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church and its 1.2 billion followers worldwide.
It was a stunningly unexpected announcement that left church scholars poring over Catholic law to answer such basic questions as when the pope's successor would be chosen and even what he would be called in retirement.
But the scandals -- along with lingering questions about how the church has handled claims of abuse by Catholic priests around the world -- have dimmed the spotlight on Benedict's final days as pope.
"Clearly, prior to these scandals erupting, the cardinals had a long checklist of things they were looking for in terms of the new pope," CNN senior Vatican analyst John Allen said Monday, including finding someone to help spread the message of the church and inspire faith amid flagging practice of the Catholic faith in many parts of the world.
"But in the wake of everything that's happened in the last 72 hours or so, quite clearly a new item is on that list, which is they also want to make sure they pick somebody who's got clean hands," Allen said.
Archbishop's resignation
The Vatican confirmed Monday that Benedict had accelerated the resignation of Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the archbishop of Scotland.
O'Brien told the pope in November that he would resign effective with his 75th birthday, on March 17. But Benedict decided to make the resignation effective immediately in light of the pope's imminent resignation, the Scottish Catholic Media Office said.
The announcement comes a day after a Sunday report by the British newspaper The Observer that three priests and one former priest leveled allegations against O'Brien that date back 30 years.
The Observer did not recount details of the claims or identify any of O'Brien's accusers, but said one of the priests alleged "that the cardinal developed an inappropriate relationship with him."
O'Brien did not attend Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh on Sunday, but the Scottish Catholic Media Office told CNN that the cardinal "contests these claims and is taking legal advice."
His accusers took their complaints to the Vatican representative in Britain and demanded O'Brien's resignation, The Observer reported. At the Vatican, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, a spokesman for the church, told reporters that Benedict has been informed of the allegations.
As late as last week, O'Brien appeared to be making plans to take part in the conclave, when the College of Cardinals gathers in Rome to pick a successor to Benedict.
But in a statement in which he thanked God for the good he was able to do and apologized to "all whom I have offended," O'Brien said Monday that he would not be part of that gathering.
"I do not wish media attention in Rome to be focused on me -- but rather on Pope Benedict XVI and on his successor," O'Brien said.
Cardinal controversy
While O'Brien will no longer be involved in electing the new pope, another controversial cardinal's plan to attend is further taking focus from Benedict's final days in office.
Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles is facing fresh attention for his role in the cover-up of sexual abuse by priests.
Documents recently released as part of the 2007 settlement in a previous abuse case detail what Terry McKiernan, founder of the watchdog group BishopAccountability.org says is "stark" evidence of efforts by Mahoney and others to sidestep authorities investigating sexual abuse.
He recently gave a deposition in a 2010 civil lawsuit filed in the United States by a Mexican citizen suing the Los Angeles archdiocese. The man alleges Mahony and a Mexican cardinal conspired to allow a priest accused of abuse to flee to Mexico, putting an untold number of children at risk. Mahony has denied the allegations.
Two groups seeking to stop Mahony's participation in the election said Saturday they have collected nearly 10,000 signatures on a petition against his involvement.
"His participation in the conclave would only bring clouds of shame at a time that should bring springs of hope," said Chris Pumpelly, the communications director for one of the groups, Catholics United. Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests also worked on the campaign.
Church law requires that Mahony attend, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles said.
Father Albert Cutie, an Espiscopal priest who studies the Vatican, said it would be impossible to exclude every cardinal with a hand in the church's vast sex-abuse problem.
"Unfortunately, if you were going to tell me no one can go to the conclave who has part in any type of cover up, you would probably exclude every cardinal in the church, because unfortunately that's the way the church is operated," he said.
Blackmail allegations
As if the controversies over O'Brien and Mahony were not enough, two Italian publications reported over the weekend that Benedict had decided to resign not because of age, but because of a brewing scandal over the blackmail of gay priests by male prostitutes in Rome.
Benedict received a 300-page report in December detailing the possible blackmail, la Repubblica newspaper and the Panorama news weekly reported, citing an unidentified senior Vatican official and dozens of unnamed sources.
The Vatican emphatically denied the allegations this weekend, with Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone criticizing a rash of "often unverified, unverifiable or completely false news stories" as the cardinals prepare for their conclave.
Cardinal Velasio de Paulis, one of the men who will help elect Benedict's successor, called the claims "guesswork and imagination."
"There is no proof and these allegations only serve to create a climate of division that helps no one," he said.
While no one outside the Vatican has seen the document that purportedly details the claims and Vatican officials have not confirmed it exists, Allen said such a claim is not improbable.
"To me that passes the smell test," he said.
Retirement preparations
Amid the scandal, the Vatican still has a transfer of power to manage.
On Monday, Lombardi said it remains unclear when the gathering of church leaders who will elect the next pope will begin.
While Benedict issued an order Monday to allow the election to begin sooner than the 15 days after the seat becomes vacant mandated by church rules, the date for the election will be set by the cardinals when they first gather, Monsignor Pier Luigi Celata said Monday at a Vatican press briefing.
It still must happen within 20 days of his resignation, the pope said.
After his retirement, Benedict is expected to head to the pope's summer residence in Rome before eventually settling in a monastery in Vatican City. Church officials have said he will seek no influence over the election of his successor, or over management of the church.
Among other issues, Vatican officials are still trying to work out what Benedict will be called in retirement. One suggestion is "pontifex maximus," Celata said. The term can be translated as "supreme bishop."
Vatican officials hope to have an answer next week, Lombardi said.
Ben Wedeman reported from Rome; Michael Pearson reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Wayne Drash, Hada Messia and Chelsea J. Carter contributed to this report

Ash Wednesday

Whoops! Thought I had posted this.....saved it as a draft instead..... 

What is Ash Wednesday? 

Ash Wednesday is a Christian holiday. Ash Wednesday falls at the beginning of Lent, which is a six week season of preparation of Easter. The term ‘Lent‘ comes from the word Lenten (lengthen), referring to the season of the lengthening of the days - Spring. Ash Wednesday is traditionally a day of repentance. As a sign of repentance, believers have ashes placed on their foreheads in the shape of a cross. The person who places the ashes on people’s foreheads usually quotes, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19).   

Creation of Adam

Continuing on the topic of my last post of Christian Art, this post is about Michelangelo's Creation of Adam. 

In 1508, Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint a series of ceiling frescos for the Sistine Chapel.  The nine images that adorn the central part of the ceiling illustrate important scenes from the Book of Genesis. The first three are devoted to the creation of the world, the second three to the creation and fall of Adam and Eve, and the last three to the story of Noah. One of the best-known image from the Sistine Chapel Ceiling is Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam, in which God stretches out his finger to provide Adam with the spark of life. In this scene, the two focal characters are set in contrast. Adam is depicted as earthbound and slightly sluggish, while God has a commanding presence and appears to be barreling through the heavens surrounded by a cadre of angels. Yet Adam’s muscular, well-formed body, echoing the position of the Creator, communicates the true significance of the scene—that Man is created in the image of God.

The focal point of the Creation of Adam painting is the contact between the fingers of God and those of Adam, through which the breath of life is transmitted. By not painting the fingers of God and Adam touching and leaving a small space between the two, Michelangelo creates a tingling tension, an anticipation of that wonderous moment, as we all wait for God to complete his Creation of Adam.

Michelangelo clearly draws on classical examples for his work in the Sistine Chapel. However, combining his study of ancient sculpture with his first-hand knowledge of human anatomy and a confidence in imaginative power, he takes the body somewhere entirely new. This can be seen most clearly in the naked, youthful figures placed at the corners of each central panel. As Michelangelo painted the ceiling, moving forward from the entrance, these figures become progressively more animated, more robust. The figures on the Sistine ceiling reflect Michelangelo’s firmly held belief that the body should be celebrated as a reflection of both divine beauty and the beauty of the human soul.

The Taking of Christ

During my senior year, as part of one of my classes we studied Christian Art. One of my favorite pieces we studied was Caravaggio’s oil painting “The Taking of Christ”. This painting is from the Italian Baroque period and is very dramatic. Italian Baroque art is not that different to Italian Renaissance painting but the color is richer and darker and the theme of religion is more popular. 

The Taking of Christ by Caravaggio
Oil on canvas

“The Taking of Christ” represents Jesus Christ being captured by soldiers who were led to him by one of his disciples, Judas. Judas had been tempted by the promise of financial reward and agreed to identify his master by kissing him: “The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him and lead him away safely” (Mark 14:33). In the painting, Caravaggio focuses on the moment when Judas betrays Jesus by grasping Christ and delivering his treacherous kiss. Christ accepts his fate with humility, his hands clasped in a gesture of faith, while the soldiers move in to capture him. At the center of the painting, the first soldier’s armor contrasts with the vulnerability of Christ. Christ does not resist the soldiers, but his anguish is conveyed by his furrowed brow and down turned eyes. The dramatic impact of the painting is intensified by the strong lighting, which focuses on the expressions of the foreground figures. The contrasting faces of Jesus and Judas, both placed against the blood-red drapery in the background create a dramatic psychological effect. The terrorized expression and gesture of the fleeing man, perhaps another of Christ’s disciples, convey the emotional intensity of the moment. The man carrying the lantern at the extreme right, who looks inquisitively over the soldiers’ heads, has been interpreted as a self-portrait of Caravaggio.

Take This World and Give Me Jesus

I love those lyrics! Wouldn't it be nice if we could all realize AND remember that the things of this world are only temporary and not what really matter?

Building 429 has definitely hit a vein with Christian fans as their song "Where I Belong" has been at the top of the charts for weeks. There song has also been a top hit on Christian radio stations across the nation.

Obviously, this is a great song. But what exactly is this song saying? What is the message Building 429 is trying to convey? In this video, lead singer of Building 429, Jason Roy, explains the meaning of the song.

#PrayForTrey

Like everyone else in America, I have lost family and friends to the thief known as cancer. Cancer knows no race, nor station in life.  It attacks the young and the old, the rich and the poor. This past year I dealt with the struggle of watching one of my friends battle cancer. Back in March 2012, Trey Erwin was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. 15 year old Trey was given about 6 months to live. Trey’s story inspired all of Memphis and even spread across the country. His story began to inspire people all over the country when his message went viral on Twitter through the hashtag #PrayForTrey. Trey’s story captivated so many people that “Erwin” was trending on Twitter as one of the most commonly tweeted phrases. This post is dedicated to Trey and the Erwin family, and is giving an inside look at his battle with an adult cancer. 

Trey’s battle with cancer began in March. Although he had a roller coaster of journey, my focus here is on his last few days. Trey’s goal was to make it to his 16th birthday, July 31st. On July 4th, Trey’s condition began to take a turn for the worse. The next day as I, along with Trey’s family, pastors, and other close friends stood in Trey’s extra large room at St. Jude, we constantly watched his heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen level. We all knew by his levels that his kidneys were failing, as was his liver. Everyone in the room knew God had brought us all together for a special reason. We were surrounded by the people we needed. With all of us in the room, we were singing songs such as White Flag, Lay Me Down, and 10,000 Reasons. The entire room had their hands lifted in worship. Julianne, Trey’s girlfriend, asked if we all wound sing 10,000 Reasons. Trey passed away during this song. In fact, he passed away as these lyrics  came from our mouths: “And on that day when my strength is failing/The end draws near and my time has come/Still my soul will sing Your praise unending/10,000 years and then forever more.” It still gives me chills to think about. That is truly God at work. At Trey’s funeral, we sang Lay Me Down and 10,000 Reasons. Trey’s funeral was a true celebration of his life. God is still using Trey. Even through he is no longer here with us on earth, his faith and story live on. 

“I’m not inspiring anybody. I’m being used by God, and I’m wanting all the glory to go to him and none to me.” -Trey Erwin  

Trey Erwin Video PLEASE WATCH

Burning Lights

Can you believe it? This week's Billboard 200 album chart is not filled with the usual pop artists at the top. Nope. This week, Christian music artist Chris Tomlin holds the number one spot with his newest album release, Burning Lights. His new album was released on January 8, 2013. I was very excited for Tomlin's new album to come out! He is one of my favorite Christian artists, and his music always resonates with me. After listening to his new album, I believe I know the message he is sharing with his audience. Burning Lights is a collection of tributes which declare our dependence on God, our lives of service to Him, and the joy that accompanies this amazing gift. 

Chris Tomlin's new songs accurately capture the God of the Bible. Tomlin does this by portraying Him in vivid terms such as 'the God of Angel Armies' and 'a great God of countless wonders'. Tomlin's song, "Awake my Soul" features the voices of LeCrae. LeCrae powerfully speaks the words of Ezekiel's prophecy concerning Israel, found in Ezekiel 37 (The Valley of Dry Bone). One of my favorite songs on Burning Lights has to be "Lay Me Down." Although there was already a live recording of "Lay Me Down" from Passion 2012, this is a studio recording. "Lay Me Down" is an unashamed declaration of faith and desire to serve God. "I lay me down, I am not my own, I belong to You alone, lay me down, lay me down...there is no life apart from You, lay me down" is the bold testimonial of this song. This song has a special place in my heart, which I will talk about in my next post.     

Passion 2013

January 1-4 I attended the 2013 Passion Conference. The four-day conference, held in the Georgia Dome, featured speakers like  Beth Moore, Louie Giglio, Francis Chan, and John Piper in addition to worship led by Chris Tomlin, Kristian Standfill, Charlie Hall, Christy Nockles, Matt Redman, Jesus Culture, and David Crowder (plus a short concert by Lecrae). This year’s conference was attended by 60,000 18-25 year olds from all 50 states and 50 different countries. In addition, over $3 million was donated to end modern day slavery as a part of the End It Movement. Passion is about uniting as believers to glorify the name of Jesus Christ through worship with music and preaching.

“If you live for others approval, you will die by their rejection.” - Lecrae

“Jesus is the key that unlocks the mystery of history. Once unlocked, it is clear He’s the center of the story.” - John Piper

Passion is an experience that you can hardly describe without cheapening it in some way. God's presence is so heavily felt in that place, that it would seem impossible to leave unchanged.