Chuck SpanglerGrace Memorial Parishioner and former Youth Christian Formation Teacher “Child of Love” Album: Live Album Release Concert Artist: We The Kingdom Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than victorious through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of We The Kingdom is a contemporary Christian music band consists of multiple generations of the Cash family. Ed Cash, the recognized leader, is well known for his songwriting abilities. Prior to the formation of WTK, Ed penned music for the likes of Chris Tomlin. The lone female vocalist, Franni Rae Cash, is Ed’s daughter; the drummer is Ed’s son; the lead guitarist is Ed’s brother; the keyboards are played by Ed’s nephew. The youth of Grace Memorial attended a We The Kingdom concert in Hattiesburg, MS, in March, 2022. Saul was a leader of the fundamental Jewish faith at the time of Jesus. He was apparently well-educated (fluent in Greek, Latin, and Aramaic), and probably a man of significant wealth (evidenced by his Roman citizenship…an “honor” bestowed upon him by the occupying Roman government). He was devoted to Jewish law and bitterly opposed Christianity until his miraculous conversion shortly after Christ’s resurrection. “Saul” became Paul, and set out to travel around the Mediterranean basin preaching the gospel and helping to establish and nurture the early Christian church. St. Paul was a prolific and gifted writer, having authored more New Testament books than any other (16 books of the New Testament are attributed at least in part to St. Paul). He also was instrumental in breaking down the barrier to allowing “Gentiles” to become Christians, as many of the early followers of Christ (most notably St. Peter and St. James, the brother of Jesus) were initially reluctant to allow non-Jews to follow Christ. One of arguably the most inspirational passages authored by St. Paul is found in the book of Romans. Paul wrote his letter to the infant Christian church in Rome during his third visit to the new Christian church in Corinth. It truly cannot be read often enough. It is full of hope, faith, and love. I encourage you to read it as often as you can. Scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), Copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.
0 Comments
Chuck SpanglerGrace Memorial Parishioner and former Youth Christian Formation Teacher “This Is Now” Album: Thrive Artist: Casting Crowns Casting Crowns was established in 1999 under the direction of Mark Hall (lead singer and primary songwriter). 13 million of their 9 albums have been sold…6 of have gone platinum. They have received 15 Dove Awards, 1 Grammy, 2 American Music Academy (AMA) and 2 Billboard Music awards for “Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist”. Casting Crowns’ music was a frequent subject of Grace Memorial’s Christian Formation group…as a result we travelled to 2 Casting Crowns concerts (Lafayette-Apr., 2017 and at the Smoothie King Center in Nov., 2019). As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Immediately he made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. "This is Now" Lyrics: Standing at the water’s edge…I dropped my dreams when I dropped my nets. No hesitation, no regrets, I followed You, but that was then…this is now You washed my feet and You changed my name, I swore I’d never be the same Just like the tides I guess people change, cause that was then and this is now. I wish I could go back but I don’t know how, I remember when I stood my ground, I swore I’d never let You down, I want to be that man again, but that was then…and this is now. I watched the blind man lift his head…and look his savior in the eyes. I heard a dead man take a breath…dropped to my knees as I watched him rise. I felt the sea beneath my feet as I stepped out on the angry waves, But You saw the storm raging within, You reached out and caught me then…but this now. I wish I could go back but I don’t know how I remember when I stood my ground, I swore I’d never let you down…I want to be that man again, But that was then…and this is now. Just when I thought my sin had closed the door, I see my savior standing on the shore, With arms wide open, just like the first time You called my name, You said “that was then…and this is now. “My child I bore your cross I wore your crown. “When you couldn’t come to Me, My love came down. So take My hand I’ll lead you out, “cause that was then…and this is now. “My child I bore your cross, I wore your crown…you couldn’t come to Me, “so My love came down. “Take My hand I’ll lead you out, Cause that was then…and this is now.” Scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), Copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.
Chuck SpanglerGrace Memorial Parishioner and former Youth Christian Formation Teacher “The Altar and the Door” Artist: Casting Crowns Album: The Altar and the Door As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet such a person has no root but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. Casting Crowns was established in 1999 under the direction of Mark Hall (lead singer and primary songwriter). 13 million of their 9 albums have been sold…6 of have gone platinum. They have received 15 Dove Awards, 1 Grammy, 2 American Music Academy (AMA) and 2 Billboard Music awards for “Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist”. Casting Crowns’ music was a frequent subject of Grace Memorial’s Christian Formation group, as a result we travelled to 2 Casting Crowns concerts (Lafayette-April 20, 2017 and at the Smoothie King Center in November, 2019). The “YouTube intro” below gives insight to the message of “The Altar and the Door”. "The Altar and the Door" Lyrics: Careless…I am reckless. I’m a wrong way traveling slowly unraveling shell of a man. Burned out… I’m so numb now. Let the fires just an ember way down in the corner of my old cold heart. Lord this time I make it right here at the altar I lay my life. Your kingdom come, but my will was done, my heart is broken. As I cry like so many time before…but my eyes are dry before I leave the floor. Oh Lord I tried but this time Jesus how can I be sure I would not loose my follow through Between the altar and the door. Here at the altar oh my world so black and white… how could I ever falter what You’ve shown me to be right. Lord this time I’ll make it right, here at the altar I’ll lay it my life. Your kingdom come, but my will was done, my heart is broken. As I cry like so many time before…but my eyes are dry before I leave the floor. Oh Lord I tried but this time Jesus how can I be sure I would not loose my follow through Between the altar and the door. I’m trying so hard to stop trying so hard. Just let You be who You are…Lord who You are in me. Jesus I’m trying so hard to stop trying so hard. Just let You be who You are…Lord who You are in me. Oh Lord I cried like so many times before…but my eyes are dry before I leave the floor. Oh Lord I tried but this time Jesus how can I be sure I would not loose my follow through Between the altar and the door. Like so many times before… but my eyes are dry before I leave the floor. Oh Lord I tried but this time Jesus how can I be sure I would not loose my follow through Between the altar and the door. …Like so many times before… Scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), Copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.
Chuck SpanglerGrace Memorial Parishioner and Former Youth Christian Formation Teacher Over my several decades of leading youth Christian Formation, I resorted to any number of “enticements”, “behavioral modification”, and outright bribery to reach our kids (boys and girls, ages 12-17). And I must admit, it’s no small feat to attract 14 year olds with wildly fluctuating hormones.
What seemed to do the trick was the introduction of contemporary Christian music (aka “Praise Music”). I must confess that a caramel latte and a blueberry muffin from PJ’s didn’t diminish the youth’s interest! The evolution of the “Christian “Praise” Music Reflection” began by my listening to hours of YouTube videos by scores of artists and settled on a dozen or so of my favorites. Once I settled on a cut that I felt would be enjoyed, I went through my Scofield Bible looking for scripture that was reasonably related to the song lyrics, putting them all together on a single sheet. Guess what? Our fabulous sons and daughters responded. I then began each Sunday tying each individual cut to closely related scripture and made the scripture the focus of each session, supplemented by the song. The typical presentation begins with a specific scripture reading. We challenge each other to read directly from the Bible…if one is not handy, the text is included with the handout. We then discuss the Christian music group that is upcoming. We discussed their origin, history, and resume (one might be surprised at the accolades earned by some of those groups by the professional music industry). We then share the YouTube video on my iPad while keeping up with the music by referencing the typed lyrics. After the music video concludes, we revisit the selected scripture and try to draw analogies between the video and the Scripture reading. While I’m uncertain if our youth gained much from this type of lesson, I am 100% certain it helped me grow and discern scripture more deeply. Hope you enjoy the upcoming offerings which are presented here as they were shared with Grace Memorial youth over the past 8-10 years. |
RSS Feed
