Technorati Tags: Christian Praise, praise, sacrifice of praise, the Secret

I am not quite sure how any of you feel about this but since this is a Christian Praise Blog I suppose it is a better place than any to discuss the subject of the Christians on American Idol.

For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, American Idol is a reality Television show which selects a top 24 amongst a large pool of potential participants. These people perform before an audience and then they are voted on via phone or text messages each week and the people with the most votes stay while those with the least votes go home. This continues on until we are down to only 1 which is then declared Americas Idol.

After each performance, the judges give their criticisms, usually very constructively, sometimes not. The Judges this year are Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi, Ryan Jackson and this year Ellen DeGeneres. We have been told that Simon Cowell will be leaving American Idol at the end of this season and they are looking for a replacement for him. Some people heard a rumor that it would be Howard Stern but Howard Stern told the media that it was just a joke and he had no interest in being a judge for American Idol. This means the spot will be empty and open for next season.

Is God going to be the New Judge for American Idol?

Keep reading and let me know what you think.

The contestants are between the ages of 16 and 28. These people come from many walks of life and most of them are not professing Christians, but we are seeing more and more Christians stepping up to the podium and trying to make it as the New American Idol.

I personally don’t have any problem with Christians singing secular songs and if they feel called to go into the secular field of music that is between them and God. I am no mans’ judge. I must admit that I am not so comfortable with the term “Idol” because being a Christian we have a totally different attitude about idols. I realize that the secular world is using the term loosely for someone who can hopefully lead the top of the charts in singing. The better they sing, the more fans they get and therefore the more cd’s and mp3 downloads will happen and bingo, they make money!

Is this vanity? Is this really what God wants us to be doing with the talent He has given us? These are just questions we need to ask ourselves, I am not saying they are wrong in doing it I am just questioning whether I would feel comfortable trying out for a job such as this.

You are probably asking yourselves, why is God going to be the Next Judge for American Idol?

I’m glad you asked

Last night, week 2 of Season 9, we had a few of the “Christians” up and one in particular stuck out big time. It was Jermaine Sellers turn and he didn’t get the most rave review from the Judges Panel. I can’t find his exact words but basically he said that he wasn’t worried because he knows that God is going to make him the Idol. Simon told him he would be surprised if he made it to the next week and Jermaine replied “I know God” to which Simon replied, “I guess we don’t need to bother with the phone line then.

(I wish I could find his exact words, sorry if I am misinterpreting this in some way).

My question then becomes, since when is God the New Judge on American Idol? There are other Christian singers on American Idol and I am sure that they too are hoping and praying for God to make them the next American Idol.

I personally think that this young man has his faith a little confused. There is no where in the Bible that states that God is going to give us everything we want. He is setting himself up for a big fall if he truly believes that God is going to pick him instead of any of the other Christians on the show.

True faith is believing that God is true to His word and that He is in control of our lives, but that does not mean that God is always going to work things out for our favor because we prayed and believed. Yes, the Bible says that if you pray and believe that you have received it then it is yours, but it may not come around the same way that you expected it to. It’s back to the old story of one man prays for sunshine while the farmer prays for rain. Is God to be blamed for the weather? The Bible says it rains on the just and the unjust. Bad things happen to good people! Just because we are Christians we can not expect God to give us everything we think we want.

Maybe God wants to use this man in another ministry, maybe, for reasons unknown to us God doesn’t want him in any ministry. This can only be known in time.

If God were the New Judge on American Idol then wouldn’t it be fair that all of the Christians on American Idol won? People need to get their heads on straight here. If God has given you the talent for singing, Praise God! Use it for His Glory! Don’t get messed up with the things of this world. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

Believe me, God has better things to do than to sit as the New Judge on American Idol!

Technorati Tags: Christian Praise, God the Judge on American Idol, New Judge on American Idol

The Christian Praise Song “I Shall Not Be Moved” is based on Psalm 1 from the Bible. I have written out the words to this famous gospel hymn below. Enjoy

I SHALL NOT BE MOVED

Jesus is my Savior, I shall not be moved

In His love and favor I shall not be moved

Just like a tree that’s planted by the waters Lord

I shall not be moved

CHORUS:

I shall not be, I shall not be moved

I shall not be, I shall not be moved

Just like a tree that’s planted by the waters Lord

I shall not be moved

In my Christ Abiding, I shall not be moved

In His love I’m hiding, I shall not be moved

Just like a tree that’s planted by the waters Lord

I shall not be moved (chorus)

If I trust Him ever, I shall not be moved

He will fail me never, I shall not be moved

Just like a tree that’s planted by the waters Lord

I shall not be moved (chorus)

On His Word I’m feeding, I shall not be moved

He’s the one that’s leading, I shall not be moved

Just like a tree that’s planted by the waters

I shall not be moved (chorus)

Here is a nice version done by the Gaithers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzK4iXV_5Vk

Technorati Tags: Christian Hymn, Christian Praise Songs, I Shall not be moved

Ever since writing the blog post on “The Horse and Rider” song I have had many emails asking me if I know of other Christian Praise and Worship songs in a minor Key. The funny thing about this is that after answering these emails the same question came up on Yahoo Answers and so I was able to answer the fellow there also. Who would have thought that Christian Praise and Worship Songs in a Minor Key would have been so popular?

To make a long story short here are the answers that I wrote to the query on Christian Praise and worship songs in a minor key on Yahoo Answers:

p.s. I go by the name of Cyberscribe on Yahoo Answers

What are some good Christian hymns or praise and worship songs that are in a minor key?

Best Answer – Chosen by Asker

Source(s):

Technorati Tags: Christian Praise, Christian Songs in a Minor Key, praise and worship songs, praise songs

Well, I don’t know how many of you watch American Idol, but I do. Last night there was a Worship Pastor auditioning as well as a woman pastor. Avril Lavigne was the guest on the panel of judges for the evening and showed up wearing a hoodie with devils horns on the top of the hood. As soon as the Worship Pastor was finished singing (And he did do a great job) Avril piped right up and said, “No, American Idol will be too much for him since he is working as a Worship Pastor.” NOTE: These are not her exact words I don’t think.

It bothers me that Avril Lavigne would judge according to his position rather than his skill as a singer. The whole point of American Idol is to judge them on their singing skills, not whether they feel they can make it out on the road away from their family.I suppose we will chalk the comment up to her young age and forgive her.

Have you noticed that there have been quite a few Christians who have been auditioning for American Idol in the last couple of years. The ones that stand out to me are David Gokey, Kris Allen and this year Tasha Latyon and Jim Ranger.

I know there is a lot of slack going around about how Christians should not be going after fame and fortune but on the other hand I see how churches expect their music ministers to perform their duties and yet many of them get no recompense for doing it. There are people who say that they should do it for nothing because their reward is in heaven, but even the Levites were set aside to perform the work for God and were paid to do it.

I don’t understand how anyone can stand back and say that these people are wrong to try and provide for their families. What they know is music, and they are good at it. If we don’t want them going to “the world” to make a living then maybe we better start considering how we are supporting them as a church.

Is it any worse for a Music Pastor to get a job singing “non-christian” songs than a Pastor who tries to provide for his family by working in the secular world such as bankers or politicians?

I really think that we as Christians should stop judging what other people are doing and keep an eye on our own lives.

What do you think?

Sharron

You can view the audition here. Jim Ranger comes on at 7:55 in the video. Pay no attention to the writing on the top right corner of the video.

Technorati Tags: American Idol, Avril Lavigne, Christian Praise, Jim Ranger, Worship Pastor

Not all Christian Praise Songs are created equal. In fact, there are many so called “Christian Praise Songs” which I would not even consider appropriate to sing in churches today. A few years back, in the 90’s there was a song that people liked to sing which really bothered me tremendously. It was called “I Command Thee Satan”

Here are the words:

I Command Thee Satan

In the Name of the Lord

To Drop Your Weapons and Flee

For the Lord Has Given Us Authority

To Walk All Over Thee

I do realize that we have full authority over Satan so that really does not bother me, what does bother me is that by singing this Christian Praise Song or Chorus, we are singing to Satan. I believe that if we are to offer Christian Praise it should be actual Praise to God. I can see how we can rejoice in the fact that Satan has no power over us, but to sing this song, in my opinion is singing to Satan and I really don’t feel that it has a place in the church because of that.

I am sure you can think of many Christian Praise Songs, which can be doctrinally sound, but not really appropriate to be singing in church.

What do you think?

Sharron

Technorati Tags: Christian Praise, Christian Praise Songs, Singing to Satan

Christian Praise is a subject that is very close to my heart and so I was curious this morning when I received a message telling me of a certain website which was asking the question: Who Wants All That Music! He said,

“Here’s my question: Who wants 30-40+ minutes of music in worship? Who? Why? I mean…explain this to  me. I seriously do not get it.”  

My interest was certainly peeked by this question and the answers that followed. It was so peeked that I almost was late for my own Christian Praise and Worship Service   and yes, we had about 30 minutes of Christian Praise and Worship and I loved every moment of it.

In reading the responses from many of the people it was clear to me that most do not understand the purpose of spending 30-40 minutes singing in a church service. They do not realize that this is actually a very short period of time.

The Psalmist David said in Psalm 84:1-4

1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!

 2. My soul yearns, even faints,for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out

for the living God.

3. Even the sparrow has found a home,and the swallow a nest for herself,where she may have her young—a place near your altar,O Lord Almighty, my King and my God.

4. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.     

Then verse 10 says: Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

David loved being in the presence of God. His heart and soul yearns for the courts of the Lord. He says better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.

Why can’t we be like David, why don’t we all yearn for the presence of God? Where is the presence of God? In the praises of His people! Psalm 22:3

What about Zephania 3:17 that says that God rejoices over us with singing.

What about the fact that the Levites were commissioned to praise God on musical instruments…Do you think they did this for 5 minutes and then gave up?Do you think that the Glory of God would come into our presence without our praises?

Do you think that the worship in the temple lasted only 1 hour so that people could get home to make their roasts for Sunday dinner?

God says to keep the Sabbath and that it is Holy unto Him…We work for 8 hours every day, do we complain about spending time in God’s presence for 30-40 minutes?

I really don’t understand how people are complaining about praising God. Maybe I’m missing something here but I think we need more people like David who wished he could spend more and more time in God’s presence.

Just in case you wish to read the comments that were made then I will give you the link:

http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/open-mic-at-the-imonk-cafe-who-wants-all-that-music/comment-page-2#comment-518334

Technorati Tags: Christian Praise, long song services, praise and worship

I just finished reading an article on Christian Praise and how it affects non-christians. It bought back fond memories of when I first attended a Pentecostal Church.

Being bought up as a Baptist in the Montreal area of Canada I was used to singing hymns and nice little songs like Jesus Loves Me. This kept me on track when I was a little girl, but when I grew up and came back to God, my relationship with Him was completely different. He was no longer a God somewhere up there in the sky who was watching to see if I was naughty or nice (Kind of like a glorified Santa Claus), this time it was different.

I could feel the presence of Jesus in my life and knew something inside me had changed. I decided it was time to go back to church. Sadly, what I found in church was not what I was experiencing in my own one on one time with God.

I started to think perhaps I was strange, perhaps I was overly emotional, perhaps I was wrong somehow. Those around me didn’t get all excited about Jesus like I did. What was wrong with me?

I still continued to go to church as I knew this is what God wanted of me, and I loved learning more and more every chance I could get. Later, I met my husband and he was a Pentecostal. He told me about the Pentecostal church and I thought to my self….This sounds very strange to me…He finally convinced me to go to a meeting with him and I was totally surprised.

Please don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that Baptists are not true worshippers or have no feelings, or that Pentecostals are the only true believers or whatever. I am simply stating that the two churches I had attended were as different as night and day.

That night that I attended the church with my then to be husband was a turning point in my life. I realized as I stood there praising God with those around me that there was a presence that I had never felt in a church before. Yes, I had experienced this presence in my own prayer life, but never in a congregation. It was like I was finally home. Finally, I could see and feel the presence of God amongst those worshipping. It was like heaven came down and the glory of God filled that auditorium that night.

Since becoming a worship leader it has always been my goal to lead those in the congregation to the place where they too can feel the presence of God in the midst of them. It is only in the presence of our awesome God that people can know, without the shadow of a doubt that they are in the presence of God. As worship leaders we are like the doorkeepers to the very presence of God. We must lead them gently from the outer courts into the Holy of Holies where they can sense God and the beauty of His Holiness.

The article that I just read, reminded me of the importance of worship and its effects on the non-christian as well as those called by God to be His children.

The article is entitled: Worship and the Visitor

I think you will enjoy reading it and hopefully realize the importance of Christian Praise in our services.

Here is the link: http://www.catalystspace.com/content/read/worship_the_visitor

Technorati Tags: Christian Praise, praise and worship

Someone was asking me for the lyrics of the Christian Praise song “The Horse and Rider Song”. It’s very difficult to find this song on the Internet so I am writing the lyrics here for you and made a .wav file of my acapella version.

(click on the play button if you wish to hear my acapella version of it )

The Horse and Rider Song 

I Will Sing Unto the Lord For He Has Triumphed Gloriously

The Horse and Rider Thrown into the Sea

I Will Sing Unto the Lord For He Has Triumphed Gloriously

The Horse and Rider Thrown into the Sea

The Lord, My God, My Strength My Song

Has Now Become My Victory

The Lord, My God, My Strength My Song

Has Now Become My Victory

The Lord is God and I will praise Him

My Fathers God and I will E-x-a-l-t Him

The Lord is God and I will praise Him

My Fathers God and I will Exalt Him!

Technorati Tags: Christian Praise, Christian Praise Songs, The Horse and Rider Song Lyrics

Many people are still asking what is the difference between Christian Praise and Worship. I do agree that there is a fine line between the two when they can merge together but generally Christian Praise is where we sing about What God has Done For Us, Christian worship is where we sing about Who God Is. We concentrate on His Holiness etc., when we worship God.

If you look through the blog you will see more concisely the difference I make between the two.

To give you another example I would like to show you a couple of Bible passages that may explain it better.

Our first example is Matthew 21:1-17 also known as “The Triumphal Entry”

Here is the NIV version:

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5″Say to the Daughter of Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest!”

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

11The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, ” ‘My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.”

14The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
” ‘From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise?”

17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

We see here that the people were shouting “Hosanna” which literally translated means”To Save”. Here was their Savior riding in Jerusalem on a donkey ( there is a lot of significance here about the donkey but I am not writing a book, this is only a blog post).

It was a happy, jubilant time for the crowd. They did not realize that Jesus had come to save them by offering his blood for their sins. They were hoping that he had come to save them and usher in a new kingdom, but that was not to be as they had anticipated.

I want you to notice the air of festivity, the happiness of the crowd, how they took palm branches and placed them in front of him as he passed. They were rejoicing and so should we be rejoicing in Christian Praise as we make mention of all that the Lord has done on our behalf.

The Christian Praise Song “Hosanna in the Highest” shows this the best.

Compare this now with a story of Worship found in Revelation 4:10-11 NIV

¹⁰the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
¹¹“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”