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As I told you in an earlier post release Tuesday had some great music coming out.
Today, I will review the new Matt Redman Beautiful News. So far I have really enjoyed this cd. It reminds me of some of Redman’s early stuff. It sounds a lot like the Father’s Song cd. If you are a fan of his you will definetly want to purchase this album. It’s a two disc which has the enhanced cd and a dvd. He gives you some background on the new songs that he wrote and what they mean. He shared some personal testimony and the Bible verses that correlate with them. It also has some concert videos and some acoustic bonus tracks of the new release.
Some of my personal favorites are Shine, Beautiful News, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made. It’s tough to pick favorites because lyrically and musically they are well done. Which what else do you expect from someone who has put out so many great albums and worship songs for the church.
All in all out of a possible 5 stars. I would rate this a 5. Go out and get this one you will not be disappointed.
A few weeks ago, I asked our young people. Who can tell me the meaning of Christmas? I received a wide range of answers. The explanations shared were presents, baby Jesus, Santa, giving gifts, lights, family dinners and decorations. Then, one of them asked, “Do you want the world’s meaning of Christmas or the spiritual meaning of Christmas?” I reiterated to them that I wanted the real meaning of Christmas. What would your answer be?
My favorite Christmas movie is of course Charlie Brown Christmas. The premise is great. Charlie Brown is trying to figure out what is the true meaning of Christmas. He begins asking people and some shared similar answers to the young people. It’s about giving, Santa, getting the biggest and brightest tree for the Christmas play which featured dancing kids and a Christmas queen. Then, Linus recites my favorite lines of the whole movie.
Luke 2:8-14
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
“That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown” replies, Linus.
I would say Linus is on the right track.
This is what Christmas is all about but I would take it a step further by asking a few other questions like I did with the young people. Who is Jesus? They said, that Jesus was our Savior. Why do we need a Savior? Ephesians 2 answers the question. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”
I proceeded to tell them that Jesus was both God and man. Why is that necessary? Could Jesus be a perfect sacrifice if he was only man? Could Jesus be the perfect sacrifice if He was only God? The answer to both of those questions is a resounding no. He had to be man so that he could atone for man’s sin. He had to be God so that he could live a sinless life. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
The next question, have you ever been disappointed at Christmas? All of them could remember a time when they were disappointed when they did not receive a gift they really wanted. I asked if any of their best gifts they received were ones that they still used or played with. Some of them responded yes and some of them responded no.
I asked because I was looking for a deeper meaning. The gift that never disappoints or passes away is the gift of grace God gives. As Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—”
In the midst of giving gifts to others, what gifts have you given to God? According to Matthew 2:9-11, “After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.”
So, what can you give to God? Give Him praise and adoration to His matchless name for who He is and what He has done. Ephesians 1:3 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”
At the end of the talk all of them admitted it was important to be reminded because it brought back the reality of what this season means. This Christmas season I challenge you to not get caught up in the commercialism. May God awaken your heart to the true meaning of Christmas.
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
December 26, 2006
How can you not love release Tuesday with this list coming out.
Matt Redman – Beautiful News
Passion – Best of Passion Now
Switchfoot – Oh Gravity
Who: Chris Tomlin with Matt Redman & Louie Giglio
When: Friday, February 16, 2006, 7:00P.M.
Where: Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA
Price: $30 per ticket.
Thanks for coming to check us out. This site is devoted to the Upside Down Youth. We are here to contend for the truth of the Gospel and reflect God. We accomplish this by having Bible studies, book and music reviews, sharing personal stories.
