I enjoy Christian music in its many forms, which includes mostly everything from the liturgical to the contemporary. Though I’m not likely to utter a Georgian chant, I admire the many different forms of worship that is expressed by the Body of Christ, marveling at the scope and breadth of believers from around the world and down through the ages.

Contemporary Christian Music

I have a fairly good grasp of the origin of what is known as CCM — Contemporary Christian Music — having listened to Larry Norman (the father of Christian rock), Keith Green, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Mylon Le Fevre and others from a generation ago proclaim God’s goodness through songs employing a modern beat.

These days, Christian music has changed and I can honestly say that I like a lot of what I’m hearing. There was a period during the late 1980s to late 1990s when there just didn’t seem to be too many artists with a strong heart for God, though Steve Camp, Steve Green, Twila Paris and a handful of others I found to be particularly inspiring.

One CD given to me recently by my wife, The Best of Passion (So Far), has been getting a lot of playtime from me lately as I find myself listening to it in the car or at home. A collection of 30 songs — the two disc CD contains music from a variety of artists including the David Crowder Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, Candi Pearson Shelton, Kristian Stanfill, and others. Many of the songs we sing at church while others I have heard on Christian music radio stations, particularly K-LOVE.

The Passion Conferences

The album is from the Passion Conferences, a movement of college students that began in 1995 under the banner of CHOICE Ministries. Birthed at Baylor University, the movement has spread across the country and is now global, encouraging believers to hold fast to Isaiah 26:8 — Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. Those who are involved with the Passion Conferences are called the 268 Generation, a term pointing to that verse in Isaiah.

Music, of course, is a big part of the Passion Conferences and out of these conferences quite a few CDs have been produced. The “Best of” CD encompasses music from the first nine CDs produced, with three more having been released since its 2006 debut. I must say that I have never hear a more generous collection of quality Christian songs put together in one package as this CD offers. I find it a treat when you can get 12 good songs, but when you find 30 the blessings are abundant!

I haven’t included a sample of the music here, rather I encourage you to explore what Passion Conferences is all about and to hear some of these tunes yourself by clicking the links located in the fourth and fifth paragraph above.  I hope that you find the music to be uplifting, worshipful music for Lord Jesus Christ.

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Samaritan’s Purse Targets 8 Million Boxes This Season

Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child shoe box gift drive is about to begin, with collection dates set at various times in

November, depending on what country you live in. In the US, that week is November 17-24, a time when shoe boxes should be turned in to local collection points. From there, shoe boxes are transported to regional distribution centers where they are inspected and prepared for delivery to as many as eight million children in more than 100 countries.

Since the program was launched in 1993, more than 61 million boxes have been collected and distributed. As part of preparing for the campaign, Samaritan’s Purse asks that donors do the following:

Pray — The most important part of packing a shoe box is praying for the child who will be receiving your box. Although you won’t necessarily know who the recipient is, you can ask God to use your gift to reveal His love to the child in a special way and to draw that child to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Pack — Lots of stuff can be packed in a shoebox including personal hygiene items, hard candy, school supplies, toys, and a personal note to the child. Find age appropriate material for the child that you want to help who will range in age from 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14; keep in mind whether you are packing for a boy or for a girl.

Samaritan’s Purse asks that you include a $7 check for each box that you pack as that money will defray shipping costs. You can find drop off locations by visiting Samaritan Purse’s website.

Give — Working with church partners around the world, Samaritan’s Purse makes available special Discipleship Program material and New Testaments for children who want them. Children who complete the Discipleship Program receive a New Testament, a program where you can contribute funds to separately if you desire. Donations can be made online or you can add those funds to your check and place it in your shoe box.

My Personal Involvement With Operation Christmas Child

For the record, I’m not directly tied in with Samaritan’s Purse, but have been a long time supporter of Operation Christmas Child. When I contacted them earlier this summer about providing public relations work, they mentioned that their greatest need is for more boxes. Therefore, I’m sharing that information with you, asking that you prayerfully consider how God would use you to respond.

Over the next few weeks, millions of people from around the world will be packing shoe boxes and dropping them off at collection centers. Feel free to share your experiences with Operation Christmas Child by leaving a comment at the end of this article. Ideas, tips, and other information you have to share can inspire so many others to contribute this year.

Let’s not allow the current economic climate stop us from participating in a wonderful event. Our God isn’t impacted by what goes on in the world, but we can impact the world one soul at a time by helping out in constructive ways including packing a shoe box for a child and bringing hope to them. Ask God to supply what you need to meet the needs of others — you’ll be glad that you did!

Addendum — Participating Countries

Lest I forget our friends from around the world who participate in Operation Christmas child, the following list and links are for the eleven countries where shoe boxes are collected and sent out. Thanks to The Gospel Report I can give you links to nine of the eleven websites, but our friends in Austria and Finland will have to search for that information locally:

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1  And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.
2  Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3  Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4  Blessed are those who mourn,  For they shall be comforted.
5  Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
6  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
7  Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
8  Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
9  Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-12, NKJV)

It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but I’m not sure how that statement fits in with posting the notes from a recently concluded three-part sermon that I heard. I’m not plagiarizing — as I’m crediting Jeff Rudd with the sermon — rather I’m sharing with you seven points he made about the Beatitudes that I think you’d be interesting hearing about.

Jeff Rudd, Free In Christ Prison Ministry

First, a little background information: our church’s pastor has been away on and off throughout the year, making several trips to India as part of organizing and holding a national pastor’s conference. The conference ended this past Sunday, but while he was gone several guest preachers were welcomed into the pulpit. Jeff Rudd, who found the Free In Christ Prison Ministry, had the pulpit for the last three weeks, thus the series on the Beatitudes.

The Beatitudes, which appears in Matthew (while also getting a partial write up in Luke) is often cited as the central theme for exhorting Christians to godly behavior. Mostly everyone has heard the Beatitudes in one form or another, though I’m certain that we’ve heard it misapplied often too.

Beatitude Observations

So, what did Jeff have to say about the beatitudes? Much, but I’m only going to share with you his seven observations as compacting three messages into one article isn’t something I’m about to do. Rudd’s observations about the beatitudes were as follows:

1. Jesus was speaking to His followers, namely his disciples. I’ve heard plenty of people ascribe the beatitudes to specific groups of people who may or may not be followers of Jesus Christ.
2. The sermon on the mount does not tell us to live a certain way and you’ll become a Christian. Instead, it says that since we are already following Jesus Christ, that we’re to live like this.
3. The beatitudes stresses spiritual qualities, not natural tendencies. We are called to this responsibility which will also lead us to the way of true happiness.
4. The beatitudes are both a privilege and a responsibility.
5. The person described in this passage is only type of person who is truly blessed. This is the character of a happy man!
6. Every single one of the beatitudes apply to each Christian. We are not called to specialize.
7. All Christians are called to live like this, not just the pastor or church leaders.

In concluding his message, Rudd mentioned that God blesses our likeness to Christ, more than any talent we might have. Clearly, using our talents wisely is important, but our attitude — or beatitude — toward God is what He honors the most.

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