Lenny Kravitz: "Fear"

I'm sure that if this song was put on a cassette and brought back in time to 1970, nobody would guess that it had been recorded more than twenty years in the future. This solo artist has mastered that 1970 vibe which you can hear in this song.

We who believe in Christ mustn't live in fear but faith. As Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:7 (Bible in Basic English), "For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of self-control."

This is why I oppose some Christians' morbid fascination with figuring out whom the Antichrist will be. Not only is it a waste of time but non Christians scoff whenever predictions of "Armageddon" fail to happen.

I believe that doomsday prophets abuse the last book of the Bible. Revelation 1:1 and 2 (BBE) explains the purpose of the book. "The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him so that his servants might have knowledge of the things which will quickly take place: and he sent and made it clear by his angel to his servant John; Who gave witness of the word of God, and of the witness of Jesus Christ, even of all the things which he saw."

To those who figure the Antichrist will come in our near future, I pose this question. How could first-century Christians know whom the twenty-first century Antichrist would be?

Please take note of Revelation 1:3(BBE) about when these things predicted in the book will happen. "A blessing be on the reader, and on those who give ear to the prophet's words, and keep the things which he has put in the book: for the time is near." The only event yet to happen is Christ's return.

Some preachers claim that the word "near" means two millennia. Why then is this letter sent to seven first-century churches if all the horrors written in it would happen to us?

Remember also that these strange creatures and disasters reference Old Testament verses. Believers back them knew the references, just as we understand references to modern events. For example, before 2001, 9 1 1 was merely the emergency phone number.

If the great return of our King of Kings hasn't happened by Thursday, I'll post about machines and how they seem to run our lives.

Lenny Kravitz: "Black And White America"

The civil rights movement of the sixties was supposed to end discrimination and give black folks equal opportunities. In spite of Affirmative Action and legislation against racism during the past fifty years, America is more racially polarized than ever.

Lenny Kravitz wrote a powerful song addressing the struggle for equality and the end of racism. Check it out here:

This may come as a surprise to certain folks but racism exists in every culture. God rightfully forbad the descendents of Israel from intermarrying with gentiles or even to enter into their homes. Yet the Jews of Christ's time felt superior because God had chosen them to be his people.

As we read in Acts 10:44 and 45 (Bible in Basic English), "While Peter was saying these words, the Holy Spirit came on all those who were hearing the word. And the Jews of the faith, who had come with Peter, were full of wonder, because the Holy Spirit was given to the Gentiles."

And in spite of gentiles coming to have faith in Christ, the apostles at Jerusalem couldn't accept that fact at first. Peter had to go to Jerusalem and contend with those who felt he shouldn't have gone into an uncircumcised man's house.

As Peter explained in Acts 11:17 and 18 (BBE), "'If then God gave them, when they had faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the same as he gave to us, who was I to go against God?' And hearing these things they said nothing more, but gave glory to God, saying, 'Then to the Gentiles as to us has God given a change of heart, so that they may have life.'"

We can read in the next few verses that many who were preaching salvation only went to the Jews. But Paul was continuously having to explain to believing Jews that salvation was for all who would call upon him for salvation.

Provided that Christ hasn't returned by Saturday, I hope to feature the last song Jim Morrison sang on before his untimely death.

Lenny Kravitz: "Bank Robber Man"

The lyrics on this song are hard to hear so I'll explain the song. It's about a man walking on a city street when the police arrest him. He fit the description of a man who had just robbed a bank but it wasn't him who did it.

Listen, if you can, to this song:

I don't blame black American folks for hating being mistaken for criminals. Though a higher percentage of African-American men commit crimes, it's still insulting to be thought of as being guilty until proven innocent.

We Christians are in the same sort of situation. Non Christians make assumptions about us such as what Paul wrote in Romans 3:8 (Bible in Basic English). "'Let us not do evil so that good may come' (a statement which we are falsely said by some to have made), because such behaviour will have its right punishment."

Likewise, Peter explained why we suffer for righteousness' sake and yet it's to our credit in 1 Peter 3:15-17 (BBE). "But give honour to Christ in your hearts as your Lord; and be ready at any time when you are questioned about the hope which is in you, to give an answer in the fear of the Lord and without pride; Being conscious that you have done no wrong; so that those who say evil things about your good way of life as Christians may be put to shame. Because if it is God's purpose for you to undergo pain, it is better to do so for well-doing than for evil-doing."

If you still wonder why we must suffer for being righteous, Paul provides the answer in Philippians 1:29 (BBE). "Because to you it has been given in the cause of Christ not only to have faith in him, but to undergo pain on his account:"

If Christ hasn't returned to reward us for our faithfulness by Monday, I hope to post about the folly of using faddish techniques to proclaim the gospel.

Saturday Song: Lenny Kravitz, "Let Love Rule"

Are you one who likes music because of its sound? I'm like that. It doesn't matter to me who creates the kind of music I like. There are no quotas in my music collection. I like what I like.

That's why I fell in love with the sound of Lenny Kravitz in 1991. It sounded so much like what I heard on 630 CHED in 1970 that I bought many of his albums.

Enjoy "Let Love Rule" here.

We who trust in Christ are encouraged to do this throughout the scriptures. Instead of separating ourselves into cliques, we should fellowship with all the members of our church. As Paul pointed out in Romans 12:9 (KJV), "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."

Because we have the love of Christ dwelling in us, we naturally are kind to others and passionate about worshipping the Lord. As it says in John 3:21 (KJV) "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

So, what's your opinion on Lenny Kravitz's music and what I've written? Please let me know. But if you'd rather not comment, have a beautiful weekend anyway.

On Monday, I'll post about a misapprehension which many Christians have regarding prayer.

Saturday Song: Lenny Kravitz, "The Resurrection"

Though Lenny Kravitz is a Christian, he also is a well-respected rock star in his own right. Neither is he afraid to sing about the Lord. I'm glad because I both love Christ and good rock music.

Take a listen to Lenny's song here.

Each Easter, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ. But why should this matter so much? It certainly mattered to the early Christians. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:19, (KJV) that, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

We have the hope of our rising from the dead because of what Christ did to pay our death penalty. Romans 6:23 KJV) tells us, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

But why should we be held guilty because of Adam's sin? Because he represents us all and he failed to obey God. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:21 (KJV), "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead."

Revelation 20:6 (KJV) explains why this rising to life eternal is so important to us who obey Christ. "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."

I hope you liked what I wrote and this beautiful tribute to Christ's resurrection.

On Monday, I'll be posting about how the Christian life is like bowling.

Saturday Song: Lenny Kravitz, "Let Love Rule"

Are you one who likes music because of its sound? I'm like that. It doesn't matter to me who creates the kind of music I like. There are no quotas in my music collection. I like what I like.

That's why I fell in love with the sound of Lenny Kravitz in 1991. It sounded so much like what I grooved to in 1970 that I bought many of his albums.

Listen to "Let Love Rule" here.

We who trust in Christ are encouraged to do this throughout the scriptures. Instead of separating ourselves into cliques, we should fellowship with all the members of our church. As Paul pointed out in
Romans 12:9 (KJV), "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."

Because we have the love of Christ dwelling in us, we naturally are kind to others and passionate about worshipping the Lord. As it says in John 3:21 (KJV) "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

So, what's your opinion on Lenny Kravitz's music and what I've written? Please let me know. But if you'd rather not, have a beautiful weekend anyway.

I'll be posting on Monday about church membership baptism and why it doesn't appear in Scripture. Stay tuned for that controvercial post.

Saturday Song: Lenny Kravitz, "Life Ain't Ever Been Better Than It Is Now"

As I promised, here's a great song by Lenny Kravitz. We who know Christ and follow him usually don't have a good life in this world. Even so, we can praise the Lord for what we have. Salvation is a wonderful treasure and it won't suffer from the uncertainties of life in this world.

Hear Lenny Kravitz' praise song here.

Many Christians around the world suffer persecution, yet they have the Lord whom persecutors can't remove from them. Hebrews 13:5 (KJV) reminds us to, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.'"

Neither should we become fixated on obtaining more and more material blessings. Jesus said in John 12:25 (KJV)that,  "He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal."

Even so, we must be thankful for what we have, no matter how little it might seem. As Jesus also reminds us in Luke 12:23 (KJV), "The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment."

Let's therefore give thanks for what we have, like Lenny sang in this song. May you all have a good weekend too.

My next post will deal with the error of allegorizing the Bible. Watch this space.

Saturday Song: Lenny Kravitz, "The Resurrection"

What a joy the resurrection is to us Christians! Without it, we have no hope of our own resurrection when Jesus returns. Better still, we'll have bodies which will live forever and they won't be plagued with sin and death. All this was accomplished by his rising from the dead.

Lenny Kravitz sang about the resurrection on his Circus album. Here's the song for you to hear.

The resurrection is crucial to Christianity. Look at what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:19 (KJV). "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

Jesus is our hope of resurrection. As he told Martha when her brother Lazarus was dead for four days in John 11:25 KJV), "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:"

Though our physical bodies die, our spirits will be reunited with our glorified bodies. Paul reminded the church in 1 Corinthians 15:42 (KJV), "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:"

This isn't a strictly New Testament doctrine either. Old Testament saints believed they would be resurrected. Job 19:26 (KJV) plainly states, "And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:"

How wonderful it is then that we who believe in Christ aren't abandoned by him. He rose from the dead and after teaching his disciples for forty days, he ascended into heaven.

If you'd like to comment on this post and the song, please do so. Also, have a blessed Resurrection Sunday!