Angelus' Quote: If You Want to Be A Creative Frame of Mind, Listen to Jason Mraz

Are you stuck of an idea? Are you feeling overwhelmed and having a mental block? Do you feel the least bit creative? Then it’s time to get your creative juices flowing by listening to music. There are so many different things you can do such as take a walk, read a book or magazine, watch YouTube or movie, chat or talk to a friend. But let me focus on music.

Some suggest that you need to listen to classical music. Not necessarily. Listening to Mozart or Beethoven probably not you. I understand (at first I don’t like it either). Maybe you like to listen to rock music or techno, or jazz or pop, whatever music that inspires and motivates you. Music has different effects on different people, choose one or two genres that can inspire you (please include Rachel Platten's Fight Song).

For me, I prefer to listen to Jason Mraz. He wrote songs that have souls, great soothing voice, meaningful and heart-piercing lyrics, positive vibes, inspiring and uplifting words wrapped in magical music. Mraz blends with his guitar so well that you can rely on the quality of his music either from studio recordings or live on stage. Most important of all, listen to Jason Mraz can be relaxing and therapeutic and help in clarifying my mind of clutter. I can better concentrate and stimulate ideas (But I always end up sing along, whatever). If I need be in a creative state of mind, I listen to Jason Mraz. How about you?

[P.s: If I need a workout music, one of my favorites is Eminem. Btw, Jason Mraz has a new album out, Know (2018). Listen to it!]

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus and the Punk-Rocker

Not-so-hardcore-Japanese-punk fashion

As I Googled the word ‘Punk’, there are two basics definitions, 1) “a loud, fast-moving, and aggressive form of rock music, popular in the late 1970s”, and 2) “a worthless person” (often used as a general term of abuse). Punk rock (or simply, punk), as I understand it back then, is more of the message it brings than about the music. “What is punk to you?” I asked a student who doesn’t like to go to church and Christian fellowship but like hanging out with me for a cup of coffee and discussing the latest movies and a bit of music. “I’m not sure,” this guy with a black t-shirt and tight jeans said. I know, it’s difficult to describe it. He paused and then continued, “Punk is me. Punk is you. Punk is the way we show and expressed our anger, love, and passion in life… It’s inside of us… and some may express it through actions, words, clothes, etc. It’s about what you believe, values, and who you are.” I nodded not as approval but as a sign of understanding. “It’s about being an individual. It’s about breaking the status quo! There really aren’t guidelines or rules for punk… everything fuck off! If you don’t like certain kinds of music genres, fuck off, punk is for me.” He smiled. Too emotional I think but I understand.

How interesting, I said to myself. He is bold and authentic, rude but kind, punk, and a bit philosophical. I don’t like his language and I surely won’t listen to some of the songs that he recommended to me. But I do like this man. He knows that I work in a Christian student ministry, but he doesn’t feel uneasy or shy when he shared his life with me. I listened to his stories once per month at least over a cup of coffee, and I would share with him about my own life, the Bible, and Jesus whenever I could. Both of us like punk rock (such as Blink 182, Green Day, Bowling for Soup, The Offspring, etc.), but I’m not sure if he also likes the Jesus of the Bible (maybe He is not sure yet), and it doesn’t matter for now because it’s not about winning another ‘Christian’ but it’s about showing and introduce a person like him to the Person of Jesus Christ. Loving actions, truthful words, continue the prayer.  

In the Bible, after Jesus called Matthew (or Levi), the tax collector to follow him, he then had a dinner in Matthew’s house where “many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples” (Mark 2:15, NKJV). Know this, tax collectors were hated by people because they cooperated with the Roman government. Therefore Jesus’ actions in spending time with sinners transcended the taboos and culture of the day. Jesus may have broken some religious rules and traditions. Jesus, as a spiritual leader, (so the other religious leaders thought) shouldn’t be among the social outcasts of society or even spending time with the publicans and sinners – but Jesus does the opposite! Jesus looked past all that and saw their need. Jesus cares about people and their soul’s eternal destinies. He builds trust and relationships. He shows compassion and sincerity. He showed Himself to others. “Those who are well not need a physician,” Jesus proclaimed, “but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Mark 2:17). Jesus came to the sinners (build a relationship) and Jesus called people to repentance (changed life).

Me and the punk guy. Jesus and the tax collector. I’m not Jesus, Jesus is not me. The punk guy and the tax collector (and me) are sinners, but they’re not the same. We’re different. But all of us (and you) have the same need – we need Jesus. So if we are Christians, then we ought to be like (Jesus) Christ since Christians mean a follower of Christ. Follow. Exemplify. Be. Therefore, like Jesus, we should look beyond church building, Christian fellowship, and even the culture of the day to people’s hearts. Jesus showed us that we shouldn’t let cultural norms or even Christian subculture norms of today dictate who we should evangelize and befriend. Punk rockers, tax collectors, me and you need Lord Jesus. The sick need a Physician. Lost sheep need a Shepherd. The sinner needs the Saviour, Jesus Christ. Commenting on John 17:14-19, David Mathis, executive editor for desiringGod.org, writes, “Jesus’s true followers have not only been crucified to the world but also raised to new life and sent back in to free others. We’ve been rescued from the darkness and given the Light not merely to flee the darkness, but to guide our steps as we go back in to rescue others.”

“Even punk-rockers are seeking for the One true God.

Gives us a chance to discover more of Jesus and don't judge us very quickly.

Yes, hang out with us. Our hearts are restless until they find rest in God.

 Tell us (more) about Jesus.

Welcome us, Punk, but you may not affirm our music. We’re okay."

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Have You Heard Heavenly Music Lately?

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up,

left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

We live in a very busy and noisy world. Think about how life was less busy and much quieter (imagine) 100 years ago, 300 years ago, 500 years ago, 1,000 years ago, 10,000 years ago. It is only in recent time the world has become extremely busy and very noisy. We might probably not adapted to this yet, since everything changes so fast nowadays. Whenever we thoughts we have settled, another changes took place, even now. The most suffers are the young generations. We have iPad, iPhone, iPod, Facebook, Twitters, Instagram, assignments, practises, classes, and hundreds of mundane works!

Therefore, we need to experience quiet time in order to balance the busyness and loudness of life. Seek out and take advantage of quiet time. I know, for most of us, it is common to think of time spent doing nothing or solitude relaxing as a “waste” of time. But it is actually just the opposite. Everyone needs to pause, slow down, stop, breathe, and be in a solitude with God. Solitude is not loneliness. Loneliness is inner emptiness, whereas solitude is inner plenty. Loneliness is marked by a sense of isolation. Solitude, on the other hand, is a state of being alone without being lonely and can lead to self-awareness.

I don’t know if you realize this or not, but Jesus practised quiet time and solitude during his life and ministry. Jesus did not get away by himself just to get away from people, of course. But he used time of solitude as a means of getting closer to God. In his humanity, he knew that he needed to maintain a close relationship with God if he wanted to be effective in his ministry. He wanted a close relationship with the Father. He wanted to hear God whisper. He wanted to hear that “still small voice” of the Father speaks to him. So, Jesus intentionally sought quiet time and solitude so that he could hear God’s voice clearer.

Follow Jesus. Seek out your personal quiet time. By doing so, you are developing a sense of calm awareness, patience, attentive, refreshed and centred. This is something that will come in handy, possibly save you, many time in the future. Friends, the quieter you become – in heart, soul and mind – the more you can hear… there is heavenly music in silence.

Psalm 46 background are very busy and noisy,

But God through the psalmist still can say, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Verse 10)

It’s not about the place, it’s about attitude.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

God is Making Violins, There Will Be Concert in Heaven

Do you know? The difference in the musical tone of a violin depends mostly on the quality of the wood it is made of, even more than how it is made. The best violin maker in the world cannot make a good instrument from poor material.

Once I read about a famous violinist who always made his own instruments because he wanted to choose a special kind of wood. He shunned the forest but went instead to the mountains. There at the top of the cliff exposed to all the storms he obtained his trees. He knew the severe weather conditions toughened the wood and produced a quality of grain and resiliency that could be developed in no other way. In fact, he used only the wood from the side of the tree facing the wind!

When I thought about what I've read, I understand that like the wood that will be used to make violin it is true also that we will become a “special kind of wood” when we went through adversities and troubles in life. By storm of adversity, our loving Father prepare in us the music of heaven. Not just in the making but in the tuning God is perfecting us into the likeness of His Son. “Men think God is destroying them because he is tuning them,” writes Henry Ward Beecher, “The violinist screws up the key till the tense cord sounds the concert pitch; but it is not to break it, but to use it tunefully, that he stretches the string upon the musical rock.” God will shape you, He will fine tune you, because He is preparing in you the music of heaven. I tell you, there will be concert in heaven!

Read Book of James Chapter 1 verse 1 to 13

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

I Love Rock Music!

In his book Art and the Bible, Francis Schaeffer (I found it in our office library today) describes four categories of art: bad art with a true message, good art with a true message, bad art with a bad message, and good art with a good message. These four categories of arts reminds me of the modern rock music which I hear almost every day of my life. I love rock music!

Rock music is very exciting and yet very dangerous at the same time. Upbeat rock can increase our mood, make our mind alert and give the sense of freedom to our souls (especially when we sing along). Rock also has the invincible power to unite rock lovers from very part of the world. Just come to the live concerts and you will see how easily strangers can become friends.

The dangerous part is when good music combined with a false message, we can get confused. I don’t believe that Satan creates music. He has no power to create. God is the One who create music for His own glory and for us to enjoy. But Satan (as he always does) can misuse and manipulate music as an instrument of sins. Catchy music and clever lyrics give false messages a credibility they would not ordinarily have (This reminds me of how our generations today draw their many foreign ideas about God and world views from their favourite artists instead of the Scripture). By naturally responding to the song’s quality, we may suspend judgment and accept its false message, too. More over rock music primarily fall short in the areas of materialism, sex (‘love’ usually mean sex) and hedonism (pursuing pleasure and the ‘good life’). This is dangerous!

But why I still listen to rock music? Because the problem is not the music, it is our ability to discern good and acceptable songs from bad and manipulative songs. In reality we can’t get away from listening to rock music and the likes. Television, internet, radio and technology gadgets are full of many kind of music – good and bad and somewhere in between – that bombarded our ears with many confusing messages. To try to get away from this is not just unrealistic but also unchristian. The Scriptures says we are not “of the world” but (yet) “in the world.” Therefore, I still listen to rock but with cautious and discernment. This applies to any songs I hear every day. Just because there are words like “Jesus” and “God” in the lyrics, it doesn’t mean that the message is biblical. Thus, be careful!

But a word of warning: if we want the freedom to listen (or not to listen) to certain songs, then we must reserve judgment and allow others to make their own choices, too. We shouldn’t impose on others to “listen to this” and “don’t listen to that.” Let others have the freedom to choose. I think, rather than condemning rock, God’s people should be in the position of encouraging whatever is good, worthy and true to popular music. And rather than blacklisting, condemning or otherwise writing off rock bands and even Christian rock bands that don’t fit our stereotypes of what Christian musicians should be (unless it is obviously contain false messages), we must encourage them to higher achievement. The Christian community and the world at large desperately need the creativity, enthusiasm, courage and vision Christian artists can bring. Peace!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

It's Okay to Sing Off-Key this Christmas Eve

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;

let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” (Psalms 95:1,esv)

In her book In My Father’s House, Corrie Ten Boom used to tell a story about an old monk who sang a Christmas song every Christmas Eve for his brothers in the monastery, and for visitors who would come from the village for the special services. His voice was very ugly, but he loved the Lord and sang from his heart. One year the director of the cloister said,

“I’m sorry, Brother Don, we will not need you this Christmas. We have a new monk who has a beautiful voice.”

The man did sing beautifully, and everyone was happy. But that night an angel came to the superior and said, “Why didn’t you have a Christmas Eve song?”

The superior was very surprised. “We had a beautiful song,” he replied. “Didn’t you hear it?”

The angel shook his head sadly. “It may have been inspiring to you, but we didn’t hear in heaven.”

“You see,” Corrie would say, “the old monk with the raspy voice had a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus, but the young monk was singing for his benefit, not for the Lord.”

This Christmas sing with joy unto the Lord,

Sing with our heart and not just our voice,

Oh come; let us sing to the Lord,

To the rock of our salvation – let us make a joyful noise!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

What You Cannot Buy but You Have it Now, Don't Waste It

Take time to work – it is the price of success

Take time to rest – it is the antidote for failure

Take time to think – it is the source of power

Take time to play – it is the secret of youth

Take time to read – it is the foundation of knowledge

Take time to worship – it is the highway of reverence

Take time to help and enjoy friends – it is the source of happiness

Take time to love – it is the one sacrament of life

Take time to dream – it hitches the soul to stars

Take time to laugh – it is the music of the soul

Take time to care – it is the act of justice and mercy

Take time to remember – it will cultivates your gratitude

Take time to pray – it helps bring Christ near to your heart

Take time to THINK BIG – it is the way to gain wisdom

Take time to START SMALL – it is the step of obedience

Take time to GO DEEP – it is the way to spiritual growth

Take time for Everything – Don’t waste God-given time!

Linkin Park’s Music and Our Unique Differences

Linkin Park is forever my favorite rock band. Originally named Xero, they changed their name to Hybrid Theory in true spirit of their music which is a fusion (is that the right word?) of alternative metal, hip hop, electronic turntable and rap. But some group, called Hybrid threatens to sue them and in desperation, they settled for Linkin Park after Lincoln Park, “where the music could define the name rather than the name define the music.” Comprising Mike Shinoda (producer/vocalist), Chester Bennington (lead vocalist), Brad Delson (guitarist), ‘Phoenix’ Farrell (bassist), Rob Bourdon (drummer) and DJ Joe Hahn, Linkin Park doesn’t do drugs nor drink or smoke on tour. Their most success album, my ultimate collection, is Hybrid Theory which contains “zero vulgarity”, sales more than 15 million copies since its release in Oct 2000.

What make me so attracted with Linkin Park’s music is that they are able to creatively blend many genre into one – a new fusion of music – that change the way we see rock forever. Well, at least for me. I was thinking, as an implication of this talk about Linkin Park’s music, is it possible for people with their many differences can come together as one?

God creatively make people so difference with one another. It is through each person’s uniqueness that we can work together to accomplish important and significant tasks. God made each of us with unique set of abilities and gifts (as many genre of music) so that we can benefit the church and culture and advance His Kingdom on earth (as a new fusion of music). When we use our unique abilities, we feel significant and worthwhile. We better learn how to use our differences to work together and complement each other instead of using our differences to separate us. The church, I see, should be the ultimate example of people with many differences coming together to work in harmony and accomplish great things. Like ‘alternative metal’, ‘hip hop’, ‘electronic turntable’ and ‘rap’ in Linkin Park’s music; so it is the pastor, evangelists, missionaries, Sunday school teachers, prayer warriors & intercessors, etc., for example, are one fusion of God’s ‘Music’ in His Kingdom [I’m not talking about Doctrines differences, but our unique differences. I’m using an analogy here].

The song is ‘Glory to God’
The mean is ‘our unique differences’
The subject is ‘People of all nations’
The object is ‘Jesus Christ the King’

Ronald A. Beers writes, “When a group of people come together to solve a problem, their differences are necessary to ensure that all angles are thought through, new ideas introduced, rough ideas sharpened, and a final solution agreed upon. The result is far better than what one individual could have done.” How true. Don’t allow differences to set us into confusion, conflict, and tension – strive to use our differences to bring us together to accomplish more than we ever thought possible. The Scripture says, “We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other” (Romans 12:5NLT). With God’s constant rhythm of help and guidance – we are able to make music that can change people’s life forever.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

I love LINKIN PARK!

Week 78: Music - Created to Praise the Lord

“Praise the Lord! How good to sing praises to our God!
How delightful and how fitting!” (Psalm 147:1NLT)

“The sole purpose of all music is to bring praise to God.” (Johann Sebastian Bach)

An old Jewish legend says that after God had created the world He called the angels to Himself and asked them what they thought of it. One of them said, “The only thing lacking is the sound of praise to the Creator.” So God created music, and it was heard in the whisper of the wind and in the song of the birds. He also gave man the gift of song.

……………………..

The sole purpose of all music is to bring praise to God. The beauty, the grandeur and the harmony of music that I heard whenever I tuned to listen to orchestra concerts (or Christian old hymns) either in my car or on my DVD players testified that God is a musical God and He is filled with glory and majesty! Music gives glimpse into the awesome creative beauty of God Himself.  Last week when I was at Matang Wildlife centre, I silenced my mind and my soul just to hear bamboo making music, the birds singings, and insects whistle praises – it awaken my souls to cherish God in all of His glory and majesty by the sound of heavenly music in nature.

Music is an essential role in expressing worship to God. Just go to The Book of Psalms (translated as ‘The Book of Praises’) in the Bible, you’ll see that the psalmists are using song to express their feelings and prayers. They prayed their worship songs and sang their prayers. They relate their relation to God is a form of music. “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.” (Psalm 95:1); “Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.” (Psalm 29:2) etc.

As for today, in the midst of many distorted usage of music – I valued music that’s honoring to God; music that breathe Scriptures truths.  Its lyrics point to God, the beauty of the notes and sounds touches our heart in a way that mere words and readings cannot do. Music connects our heart into God’s presence in a unique way. Music, its origin, is for the purpose of bringing praise to God.

Martin Luther* writes, "I wish to see all arts, principally music, in the service of Him who gave and created them. I would not for the world forego my humble share of music. Singers are never sorrowful, but are merry, and smile through their troubles in song. Music makes people kinder, gentler, more staid and reasonable. I am strongly persuaded that after theology there is no art that can be placed on a level with music; for besides theology music is the only art capable of affording peace and joy of the heart… the Devil flees before the sound of music almost as much as before the Word of God." Again he writes, “Next to the Word of God music deserves the highest [mean of] praise. The gift of language combined with the gift of song was given to man that he should proclaim the Word of God through music.”

Here is my thesis: The sole purpose of all music is to bring praise to God. Music is one of the mean to praise God, one of the greatest I guess, but God and God alone is the end of our praises.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

“Let the godly sing for joy to the LORD;
it is fitting for the pure to praise him.
Praise the LORD with melodies on the lyre;
make music for him on the ten-stringed harp.
Sing a new song of praise to him;
play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.”
Psalm 33:1-3NLT)

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References:

1) Old Jewish legend above is quoted from The Speaker’s Quote Book by Roy B. Zuck

2) *Quoted from Martin Luther’s Music: a Fair & Glorious Gift.