Ooohh…another batch of JE music!

So who’s it from this time? This time it from some special groups like gYm and TegoMass. Also from some JE Juiors who done songs of their senpais in Shounen Club.!

So here’s the special groups’ (official or non-official) songs!!

>> Shuuji to Akira [修二と彰] – 青春アミゴ (Seishun Amigo).mp3
*Seishun Amigo is used as the OST of the Jdorama Nobuta wo Produce starring KAT-TUN’s Kamenashi Kazuya (Shuuji) and NewS’s Yamashita Tomohisa (Akira). This was released as an official single and named their collaboration unit as Shuuji and (to) Akira.

>> K.K.Kitty – Private Hearts.mp3
* Have no idea who K.K.Kitty is? The 3 K’s stand for the 3 K’s in NewS. Koyama Keiichiro, Kato Shigeaki, and Kusano Hironori’s voices are the ones singing in this song. This song was one of the tracks in NewS’s pre-debut single NEWSNippon. K.K.Kitty was a junior group with the 3 of them as the members as well.

>> Kanjani8 [渋谷すばる, 錦戸亮, 大倉忠義] – Glorious.mp3
* Can’t read the Kanji names? It’s Shibutani Subaru, Nishikido Ryo, and Okhura Tadayoshi. These 3 members of Kanjani8 made a special unit for further promotional reasons. The song is in full English. Their voices here are so sweet and heart-warming!

>> KoyaShige [小山慶一郎・加藤成亮 ] – チラリズム (Chirarizumu).mp3
>> KoyaShige [小山慶一郎・加藤成亮 ] – ムラリスト (Murarisuto).mp3
*Oh yes, the special couple KoyaShige. Some call them KoyaTo but I’m more comfortable with KoyaShige. It’s not an official unit unlike TegoMass but these 2 sure are meant for each other!

>> NewS [錦戸亮・加藤成亮・手越祐也 ] – 愛なんて (Ai Nante).mp3
>> NewS [小山慶一郎・山下智久・増田貴久] – なんとかなるさ (Nantoka Naru Sa).mp3
* NewS made this 2 units composed of 3 members of NewS. This is just for the concert Pacific. Ai Nante which was by Ryo, Tego, and Shige is a love song with that tune of dread while Nantoka Naru Sa by YamaPi, Massu, and Kei-chan is a bubbly lively song.

>> Hey! Say! JUMP [山田涼介＆中島祐翔] – 青春アミゴ (Seishun Amigo).mp3
*This was performed in SC by the back-in-those-times chibi Nakajima Yuto and Yamada Ryosuke of Hey! Say! JUMP.

that’s all for this one.!!

Hello again, brothers and sisters!!!

Before we get into today’s discussion, I just want to briefly say “thank you” to those of you who have been regularly taking part in these discussions, as well as those of you who visit whenever you are able.  I would also like to thank all of our first-time visitors.  It is a blessing and a genuine pleasure to have you all here:-)

For today’s discussion, we will review the parables of the treasure and the goodly pearl.  While these two parables were a couple of the shorter parables that Jesus shared, they are certainly just as important as all of the other parables.  Jesus was speaking with His disciples when He shared these parables.  The parables are as follows:

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field;  the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” – Matthew 13:44-46 (KJV)

Both of these parables are making the same point, right?  Let’s break them down, shall we?

The man seeking treasure, and the merchant-man seeking goodly pearls, are played in real life by sinners seeking the truth, redemption, and salvation.  The treasure hiding in the field and the goodly pearl, represent the kingdom of God found through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is also the Living Word of God.  So with that being the case, why would we have to sell all that we have in order to buy our way into the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ?  Doesn’t that run contrary to salvation being a gift given freely by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior?  It sure does.  however, the point of these parables is not that we are “buying” our way into the kingdom of God. 

The point is that once we have discovered the kingdom of heaven by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we should value nothing else as much as this “treasure/goodly pearl”.  Beloved, when we find the kingdom of heaven through Jesus Christ and His word, we should value the Lord, His word, and His kingdom above anything else in our lives.  As obedient and faithful servants, there should be no price we are unwilling to pay in order to serve Him completely.  If we live in complete submission to the Lord’s will, then there is no room for competing interests.  Just as with the Apostle Paul, all former things we held dear we must be willing to count as lost once we are saved.  Why?  Well, once we are saved, serving the Lord is to be the focal point of our lives, and our vision is to be focused like a laser on doing so.

Interestingly, in these two parables that Jesus Christ shared with us we can also Him as the man/merchant-man seeking the treasure/goodly pearls.  Think about it.  Jesus gave up all that He had and suffered death on the cross in order to pay our sin debt.  In so doing, beloved, we were saved and purchased by His blood.  The treasure being “hid” in the field refers to those who live in Christ being granted access to the kingdom of heaven, which is a place that someone who serves sin cannot find or gain access to.  Once we belong to Christ, He protects us from the enemy.  We are effectively “hidden” in His protection, as once we belong to Christ Jesus, we cannot be snatched away from Him.  As Jesus said:

“I told you, and ye believed not:  the works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.  But ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep, as I said unto you.  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:  And I give unto them eternal life;  and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.  My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all;  and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand.  I and My Father are one.” – John 10:25-30 (KJV)

Brothers and sisters, let us rejoice that the Lord considers us His “treasure/goodly pearl” and was willing to pay everything in order to save us!!!  Praise God!!!  Thank you, Jesus!!!  Furthermore, let’s praise the Lord God Almighty for His lovingkindness and longsuffering, and let’s show Him that He is the only real treasure that matters to us, as well!!!  Beloved, do you know what the word of God, the truth, salvation, entrance to the kingdom of heaven, light, love, peace, life, faith, wisdom, and understanding all have in common?  I’ll tell you what.  We find and receive all these things when we find Christ and turn our lives over to Him.  Jesus is the Truth.  Jesus is the Living Word of God.  Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  Jesus is the Author and Finisher/Perfector of our faith.  He is the Way to the Father and the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus Christ is the Life.  The Lord is the Light of the world.  You get the point, yes?

Beloved, besides the praise we offer to the Lord in the form of prayer, song, and worship, we need to commit ourselves to praise Him through our lives and actions.  That we belong to Christ Jesus should be obvious to all not just by the words we speak, but also by the things we do.  It should not appear to others that we live for money, or for the approval of man;  rather it should be clear to all that we live to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Just as Jesus paid for us by giving up all that He had for our sakes, we ought to esteem our treasure, found in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, above any passing “treasure” that this world has to offer.  Remember, beloved, the treasure of this world lasts for a limited amount of time and diminishes.  The treasure of the Lord is forever.  Suffer any necessary hardships, persecutions, or trials in this world in order to serve the Lord obediently and faithfully.  By so doing, your treasure in heaven will be waiting for you, and increasing, and will be with you forever:-)

Beloved, the Lord will always provide for, and take care of, those entrusted to Him.  It is, however, up to each one of us to make the decision to seek the Lord and His kingdom.  If we are willing to walk through the thorns, rats, mice, and bugs, and other treacheries of the field in order to find Him, then we will find that our “treasure” is more than worth the jouney.  Remember, beloved, hidden treasure only has value to us once we find it.  In order to find it, we must seek it.  As Jesus said:

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness;  and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

Precious one, we cannot claim hidden treasure that is never discovered, because we have no idea where it is.  Once we seek and find our treasure in Christ Jesus, however, we have the greatest treasure of all.  This is real treasure.  Everything other treasure pursued yields only fools gold.  So often we allow the cares of this world to distract us from searching for our hidden treasure.  Jesus was telling us not to get consumed/wrapped up in the concerns of this world.  He was telling us that we should put our whole focus on seeking the Lord and His will.  We can do so while not being overwhelmed with thoughts of what we will eat, where we will live, or what we will clothe ourselves with, because God will see to our needs just as He does with the birds of the air and the grass of the field.

Please pray for all those who have no idea of the hidden treasure available to them.  Let’s pray that they go searching for it, willing to brave the trials of the journey, in order to find the only treasure that really counts.  Furthermore, let’s pray that once they find that treasure, they see Him for who He really is and turn their lives over to Him as their Lord and Savior.  Jesus Christ is our treasure.

If you are ready to discover your hidden treasure, and claim your eternal inheritance from the Lord God Almighty, you can do so by accepting Him as your Lord and Savior today.  If you would like to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today, and be saved, please pray the following prayer with me:

“Lord God Almighty, I know that I am a sinner and that I am lost.  I know that I need to be saved from sin, but I also know that I can’t save myself.  Lord Jesus, I know that only You can save me.  I know that you paid for my salvation with your own life and blood on the cross.  I know that when You rose from the grave on the third day, you conquered death and provided everlasting life to all who trust in You.  Right now, I lay down my life and let go of my pride, my vanity and every other sin that has kept me from You.  Lord Jesus, I now completely trust my life to You.  I open my heart to You, Lord.  Please come into my heart.  Please forgive me of all of my sins, and please accept me as Your child.  From this point on, I commit my life to You. Please guide me and provide me strength as I begin to live the rest of my life for You.  In Your precious and matchless name I pray.  Amen.”

Beloved, if you just prayed that prayer sincerely, then you just found your hidden treasure.  I would encourage you to find out what’s all in the treasure chest by exploring it through God’s word, through prayer with supplication and thanksgiving to the Lord, and by asking Him to reveal the fullness of the treasure to you.  The treasure you have, precious one, is priceless.  God set aside this treasure just for you through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  Welcome to the family:-)  The angels in heaven are rejoicing this very moment at your decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  Find out about this and much more by exploring God’s word that He had written just for you:-)  This relationship with Christ is the most precious and important relationship you will ever have.  Invest yourself in growing the relationship as much as possible.  Seek the Lord’s will in all things, and let your will be completely surrendered to Him.

Thank you for joining our discussion today.   I hope you are able to join us on Friday to pray over this week’s prayer requests. 

Remember, if you would like to order the new book “Strapping On the Whole Armor of God – Suiting Up For Spiritual Warfare), please visit my website at http://www.yourbrotherinchrist.com .  If you prefer to order by mail, you will also find the mailing address on that website.  This book is very valuable in helping people understand how to go about securely and effectively putting on the whole armor of God that the apostle Paul refers to in Chapter 6 of Ephesians.  We are praying that many people will receive this book and be blessed in their walk with the Lord by reading it.

Have a wonderful and blessed rest of the day!!!  Walk in faith, knowing that you are loved by the Creator of the heavens, earth, and all life, and knowing that the treasure that you now carry in your heart and soul is priceless:-)

Have a happy, safe, and blessed Thanksgiving Day tomorrow!  Give a special thanks to the Lord for all that He has done for you and your loved ones.  Without Him, we’d be in a very bad place:-)

May the Lord bless you, keep you, guide you, and make His face to shine upon you and your loved ones always.

Your brother in Christ,

Rev Jason Thurwanger

Welcome back, brothers and sisters!!! 

Today we are going to discuss the parable of the ten virgins and the bridegroom.  Jesus was talking to His disciples about be ready for the last day when He shared the following parable:

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.  And at midnight there was a cry made, ‘Behold, the bridegroom cometh;  go ye out to meet him.’  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.”

“And the foolish said unto the wise, ‘Give us of your oil;  for our lamps are gone out.’  But the wise answered, saying, ‘Not so;  lest there be not enough for us and you:  but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.’  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came;  and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage:  and the door was shut.”

“Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’  But he answered and said, ‘Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” – Matthew 25:1-12 (KJV)

Brothers and sisters, the message of this parable is very sobering.  Let’s break this parable down and discuss the thrust of the message.

First of all, cast in the role of the bridegroom is the one and only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ.  The ten virgins represent us, believers and non-believers.

Okay, so now that we know the cast, what is the tie-in to the oil and the lamps?  That’s simple, actually.  Why do we need lamps?  Lamps help us to see where we are going, right?  We are blinded when we are surrounded by darkness.

The lamps, beloved, represent our spirits/souls.  Why do I say this?  Consider the following scripture:

“The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.” – Proverbs 20:27 (KJV)

So if the lamp represents our soul/spirit, what does the oil represent?  The oil represents the Holy Spirit, which is attained through Christ Jesus.  Remember, beloved, that though Jesus is not present with us physically on earth anymore, He lives here in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  This is the same Holy Spirit that God the Father filled Jesus, His only begotten Son, with after He was baptized by John the Baptist.  Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ is also known as the Light of the World.  Having His light in us, we can rejoice in knowing that our lamps will be lit and shining brightly at the moment that Jesus comes for us.

You see, beloved, the Holy Spirit is the oil that shines brightly enough that all can see our light, which is the presence of the Lord in our hearts.  How can people see that light?  Well, let’s look at the type of light that the Holy Spirit emanates, as described by the Apostle Paul:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:  against such there is no law.” - Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)

You see, beloved, when we live in Christ, we are to be faithful and obedient servants of that which He blesses and graces us with.  Frankly, the manner in which we live should be a strong witness for Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  Remember, brothers and sisters, as His servants, our lives should be lived in such a manner as to reflect to others our service to our Lord and Savior.  That means we are to let the Lord’s light shine through us for all to see.  Jesus said the following about this:

“Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick;  and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16 (KJV)

Beloved, the 5 virgins that heed the Lord’s word, and live by it, are those that He will find doing His work when He returns for His bride, which is the church.  The church is comprised of all those who have accepted salvation given by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  Only those that have Christ in them will be called home to be with the Lord.  Those that do not have Christ in them have souls/spirits filled with darkness instead of light.  Since there will be no light found in such people, they will be passed over when the believers are called home.  Consider the parable of the ten virgins, and listen to what Jesus said would happen when He calls His servants home:

“Then shall two be in the field;  the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Two women shall be grinding at the mill;  the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Watch therefore;  for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.  Therefore be ye also ready:  for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, ‘My lord delayeth his coming’;  and shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites:  there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” – Matthew 24:40-51 (KJV)

Brothers and sisters, no one knows when Jesus will return.  Jesus Himself said that only the Father knows the appointed hour.  The point is that we are supposed to constantly live our lives doing the work of our Lord and Savior so that in that “twinkling of an eye” when Jesus does return, we are found as faithful and obedient servants, diligently doing His work and will.

Unfortunately, beloved, there are many that live without Christ in their hearts.  They do not have the oil of the Holy Spirit burning brightly within them and emanating His light in their lives.  This, brothers and sisters, is all the more reason for us to constantly have our lamps lit with the oil of the Holy Spirit.  By sharing, embracing, and living the Lord’s word and love, we will be more effective in shining His light through the darkness in order to reach those that are presently lost.  Just as we were once lost before being found, we are incredibly blessed with the opportunity to help gather many of our Shepherd’s lost “sheep” by lighting up the path that will lead them home to Him.  This is our mission, beloved, and the time is now to carry it out.

No one should take for granted that the Lord will not come back for “x” amount more time.  We simply do not know the Lord’s return date and time, as only the Father knows.  Jesus could return in 5,000 years, 5 months, 5 weeks, 5 days, or in the next 5 seconds.  Regardless of how long it is until Jesus returns, we need to commit ourselves to doing His work every single day of our lives.  When He returns for us, let’s bless and glorify Him by meeting Him with as many well-oiled lamps as possible!!!

I would like to ask each and every person taking part in today’s discussion a few questions.  If the Lord Jesus Christ were to return in the next few seconds, would you be ready?  Would the Lord find your lamp lit brightly by the oil of the Holy Spirit?  Just as importantly, are you confident and assured that all of your family, friends, and loved ones would be found ready if Jesus were to return in the next few seconds?  Are you confident that hte majority of people in this world are ready to meet the Lord?

Let’s be honest, beloved.  There are a great many people that are not yet ready to meet Jesus Christ.  If Jesus were calling His faithful servants home today, an incredibly large number of people would be among those left behind.  Evidence of this can be found all throughout the world today.  Just turn on the 6 o’clock news, or go for a drive through the city, and you will see that much of humanity is spiritually lost and adrift at sea, without boat or life jacket.  This, brothers and sisters, is the urgency of our mission.  Just as with the 5 foolish virgins, those who are not ready to meet the Lord when He calls His faithful home will find out the harsh reality that the time for making the decision to commit their lives to Him has passed.

Beloved, ask the Lord for the endurance, strength, perseverance, and courage to work tirelessly to share His love and His word with as many people as possible.  The Lord will give you the words and the guidance you need through the Holy Spirit.  The time is now, beloved, for us to increase our staffing levels of faithful and obedient servants to take part in the Lord’s harvest.  Let’s get to work!!!

If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, but you would like to, please pray the following prayer:

“Lord God Almighty, I know that I am a sinner and that I am lost.  I know that I need to be saved from sin, but I also know that I can’t save myself.  Lord Jesus, I know that only You can save me.  I know that you paid for my salvation with your own life and blood on the cross.  I know that when You rose from the grave on the third day, you provided everlasting life to all who trust in You.  Right now, I lay down my life and let go of my pride, my vanity and every other sin that has kept me from You.  Lord Jesus, I now completely trust my life to You.  I open my heart to You, Lord.  Please come into my heart.  Please forgive me of all of my sins, and please accept me as Your child.  From this point on, I commit my life to You.  Please guide me and provide me strength as I begin to live the rest of my life for You.  In Your precious and matchless name I pray.  Amen.”

Beloved, if you just prayed that prayer then you can rejoice in knowing that you now have the presence of the Lord in your heart.  While you will still face trials and tribulation in this world, you will never again face it alone.  Nurture your new relationship with the Lord and grow that relationship by getting to know Him better.  You can do this by studying His word (the bible), while also making talking to Him continually through prayer made with thanksgiving and supplication.  All you have to do to find out what the Lord had in mind for your life when He made you is to ask Him to shape your life in manner in which serves His will and then embrace the changes that He makes in you and your life.  Welcome to the family, beloved!!!  You are precious in your Heavenly Father’s eyes, and the angels in heaven are rejoicing in your decision to accept Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior:-)  We are happy to have you!!!

Thank you for joining us for today’s discussion.  I hope you will be able to join us for tomorrow’s next discussion.  Now, go enjoy this day that the Lord has made, and make the most of it.  Be glad, and rejoice in it!!!  Share the Lord, His love, and His word with as many people as possible, doing so just as freely as the Father shared His only begotten Son with us:-)

May the Lord bless you, keep you, guide you, and make His face to shine upon you and your loved ones always.

Your brother in Christ,

Rev Jason Thurwanger

Being sentimental is idolatry.

It is like living in an image, a frame, a desirous, even lustful, state of what was or what one would wish to come to pass (covetousness).

The cure of which is to go to the cross!

Deny your life, lest you lose it altogether! For if you lose your life for Christ sake and the gospel sake, you will find it.

Ok then!  Listen to this.

Think of it, would you rather be truly forever fully loved all the time by some ‘one person’ who truly loves you; or would you rather the phoney, pretending love of the ones you habitate with, like maybe even your family, friends, etc., who says they love you but you KNOW it’s not real! It’s occasional love, i.e. Christmas, birthdays, etc. Phoney, completely superficial, ceremoniously, pretentious, a facade? ‘Tell me if you love this’! Tell me again! “

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.“

Now tell me, What does the Lord of all creation think of your love for him?! What does he think of your Sunday devotion? And how you think far more of sports, or work or whatever you are “self given to,” than you ever, if ever, think of him or the call of God on your life? Tell me, do you love God with all of your heart, soul, strength and mind? If you stoutly said yes, would your soul say, “lie!”?

Do you think God is retarded??

Like he’s so dumb that you can tell everyone you know about Jesus and still be completely ignorant of Him, and not know Him?

He is HOLY and set apart from sinners! Your testimony about him means more to you than it does to him! He see’s your heart and knows the truth that in you, that is in your flesh, NOTHING good dwells. He doesn’t have to look, or search to see what you are all about. He see’s you! He is not some sentimental old Grandpa who gets all fuzzy in the head when his grand children show up, because his children never show up either! So he’s so glad that they’d come to see him!

He is holy! He sees the ‘you’ that you cover up with a smile, and a mask! Scripture says “He’s angry with the wicked every day, and if they don’t repent, he sharpens his sword!”

Whom should he be more angry with? The pretenders of his own house hold, or the little dogs that stray by?

There is a WAY that seems right to a man, but in the end, it is death.

Scripture says if you are wise (in God) you are wise for yourself, and if you mock (God) you alone shall bear it!

Oh God have mercy on us all I pray amen.

help us to Get real, and to repent

H.R



I have HUGE respect for Paul Baloche and especially love 2 things about his ministry: he’s the most affable and warm host (when leading worship) I’ve ever seen and his album’s aren’t over-produced. It sounds like a 5 or 6-piece worship band leading worship in their church.

“A Greater Song” was easily his best album and his previous effort (“Our God Saves”) gave us the standout tracks “Our God Saves” and “Hallelujah to my King”. That’s the first thing I noticed about this album – there isn’t even one track that jumps out to you as one of those songs. It’s a testimony to PB’s consistency that I’ve come to expect that from every album! The song son this CD aren’t poor – the songs are solid – but that’s the operative word here, “solid”.

I have a real lyrical question about the first track, “Glorious”. It contains the line “My eyes have seen the glory of the Lord”. Were the song about nature, it would make sense singing that line – but it’s not a nature song. So I’m left feeling that it’s borderline Biblically inaccurate to sing the line “My eyes have seen the glory of the Lord”, as it’s patently false! I’m not comfortable singing those words without any type of context (e.g. after talking about the starts, the mountains, etc.). Any thoughts?

My favorite track would be “Just to be With You”. It has that sweet, worshipful quality to it that’s corporate and personal at the same time.

The back half of the album is noticeably weaker than the first half. PB’s version of “Today is the Day” doesn’t compare to Lincoln Brewster’s version and “A New Hallelujah” is simply not that good, despite being hyped up by Worship Leader Magazine and other outlets (like “Healing Rain” a couple years ago).

Standout Tracks:
2 (“You Have Saved Us”)
3 (“Just to be With You”)
4 (“Wonderful God”)

Skip:
7 (“Today Is The Day”)
8 (“Shaken”)
9 (“We Will Hold On”)
10 (“Almighty”)
11 (“A New Hallelujah”)

Bottom Line:
Download the first 6 tracks for less than $6. Amazon Download Link.

Glorious
Paul Baloche 

Get Paul Baloche at Emmaus Road Christian Store - 

http://www.emmaus-road.com/704417

Heerlijk i-am-on-top-of-the-world-lied

Welcome back, brothers and sisters!!!

Today we are going to talk about effectively dealing with anger. A large number of people have problems dealing with anger effectively. When anger is not dealt with effectively, the effects can be severe. Anger gone wild will adversely effect communication, relationships, mental health, spiritual health, emotional health, and physical health. Obviously, when a person’s anger spirals out of control, their levels of joy and happiness are seriously depleted.

Just how serious of an issue is uncontrolled anger? Do you remember that Jesus pointed out that being angry with another person without cause is akin to being guilty of violating God’s commandment against murder? You can find that in Matthew chapter 5, verses 21-26. If Jesus says that man’s anger is akin to violating this commandment (and He does), then we should accept that this is an extremely serious issue to get our arms around.

Let’s start off by dividing anger into two classifications. The first classification is God’s anger. This is the type of anger that the Lord God Almighty is okay with. Do you know what this type of anger is normally called? It’s normally referred to as righteous indignation. Consider the following example of righteous indignation that Jesus provided us when He visited the temple only to find moneychangers and merchants defiling the temple of God:

“And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, ‘Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.’” – John 2:14-16 (KJV)

Another example of righteous indignation was Jesus’ anger with the Pharisees when they were trying to catch Him working a miracle on the Sabbath day, so that they could accuse Jesus of violating the Sabbath. In Mark chapter 3, verses 1-6, we see this situation explained. Jesus was angry that the Pharisees had such hard hearts that they would actually condemn as sin the work of making a man’s withered hand whole again.

You notice any similarities in these two real-life examples? In both instances we see a kind of anger that is selfless. On both occasions the anger was motivated by defense of someone else, rather than being a tool of self-defense. Beloved, God’s anger/righteous indignation is ultimately distinctly different from man’s anger, because righteous indignation is effective at helping to solve a problem.

The second classification of anger is man’s anger. As we know all too well, God’s nature and human nature are very different. It is no surprise then that there is also a very real difference between God’s anger and man’s anger. God’s anger is righteous, selfless, and productive, as we saw in the aforementioned examples. On the other hand, man’s anger is completely opposite, and it is indeed a sin.

All too often man’s anger is selfishly motivated. Think about it. Oftentimes when someone is the target of verbal abuse, or gossip, they become angry. They feel that their name/image have possibly been tarnished as a result of such personal attacks. Subsequently, they justify their anger-fueled response by pointing out that they were just defending themselves when they responded in kind. Why is this wrong? It’s simple really. We do not serve ourselves. We serve Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We are to put His will before our own. When we respond in anger to personal attacks, we are prioritizing our own pride above our love for, and obedience to, the Lord. This is sinful.

Through much more severe personal persecution than we will ever have to experience, Jesus did not respond with anger and spite. He responded with love and forgiveness. Jesus never displayed man’s anger. He only displayed God’s righteous indignation when He was defending others, or some principle. When casting the moneychangers and merchants out of the temple, He was defending the temple of God. When He had righteous indignation towards the Pharisees trying to prevent Him from healing the man with the withered hand, He was defending both that man’s opportunity for healing as well as God’s authority to provide such a healing. None of this was selfishly motivated.

Another thing that makes man’s anger particularly destructive is our tendency to allow anger to linger for a long time. We often refer to this as holding a grudge. Yet we have no biblical justification for allowing our anger to linger for a long time. We do not see any examples of righteous indignation over an issue being carried on for an extended period of time. Righteous indignation is dealt with in a timely fashion. Man’s anger, however, often abides in the very human thought that we should bide our time until we can unleash our anger for maximum devastating effect.

Unfortunately, by holding onto such foolish anger for an extended period of time, the effect is indeed devastating, especially to the person who is carrying that anger. You see, beloved, this anger all to often transforms into hatred. That results from a lack of willingness to forgive; yet all that serve the Lord are instructed to readily forgive others of their wrongs against us. Jesus not only told us to do so by His words, He also demonstrated this lesson by dying on the cross to pay for our sins. Beloved, we did not deserve to have our King sacrifice everything for us. Yet, because Jesus loves us, He chose to suffer the cross so that we might be reconciled unto God and saved for all of eternity. The apostle Paul also instructed us not to hold onto our anger when he wrote the following:

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Neither give place to the devil.” – Ephesians 4:26-27 (KJV)

You see, brothers and sisters, we are to let go of the anger and forgive, just as Christ forgave us. When someone chooses not to let go of the anger and forgive, they are not doing the Lord’s will. Frankly, they are unwittingly/wittingly choosing darkness over the light of the Lord. When they do this, they give a place in their heart to the devil rather than choosing to have their heart filled with the Lord and His love.

Another destructive aspect of man’s anger is that, in addition to being selfish, it is oftentimes unrestrained. Oftentimes this anger is unleashed without the least bit of clear thinking having been done at all. This is nothing more than acting on emotion without the benefit of thought. Oftentimes the consequence this has is an overblown and destructive response that we usually regret afterwards. Consider what the apostle James has to say about anger:

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. ” – James 1:19-20 (KJV)

Beloved, it really is all supposed to be about God and doing His will. If we truly believe that, and live that belief, then there is no place for man’s anger in our lives. The only anger we should ever exhibit is righteous indignation/God’s anger.

So, in a nutshell, how can we keep from being consumed by being filled with man’s anger? First and foremost, take the apostle Paul’s advice whenever you do anything. Here is what Paul wrote:

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV)

• Always remember, beloved, the highest aim of our lives is to do the will of our Lord and Savior and to glorify God. We are not to love our own selves more than we love the Lord. We know that anger does not glorify God. However, we also know that love and forgiveness definitely glorify God. Our choice then should be clear.

• Next, remember that God can and will bring something positive out of every situation. No matter how badly someone attacks/persecutes you, just remember the lesson that Joseph learned after he was sold into slavery by his brothers and later falsely accused and imprisoned for allegedly trying to take his master’s wife. You can read Joseph’s response to his brothers’ fear of his retribution in Genesis chapter 50, verses 19-21. In short, Jesus pointed out to them that what they had intended for evil, God had turned to good. Beloved, we need always remember that. No matter what terrible situations people subject us to, we need only remember that the Lord can turn that situation around. Remember, Daniel in the lion’s den? Remember the rewards for Job, after he had gone through a severe period of tribulation brought on by the devil himself? In each of these cases, beloved, the Lord took what was intended for evil and turned it to good. This happens all the time. If you keep this hope in your mind and in your heart, then it becomes much easier to let go of the resentment.

• When you feel yourself filling up with man’s anger, let go of it. Do not allow it to linger. Choose love and forgiveness over that anger. Hold fast to God’s promise. Do not give that foolish anger the place that should be reserved for the Lord inside your heart.

• Should you act/speak in foolish anger, repent to God and to the person(s) that were targeted by your anger. Accept responsibility for the mistake you made, without marginalizing it through empty excuses and justifications. Sincerely apologize for your sinful anger so that it may no longer have a hold over you.

• Be honest with others. While we may think at times that people can read our minds, they most certainly cannot. Speak openly and honestly when communicating with others. Speak the truth in love always, as the apostle Paul instructs in Ephesians chapter 4, verses 15 & 25.

• Attack problems not people. By doing so, you avoid falling into the trap of judging others and delivering vengeance unto them. Judgment and vengeance do not belong to man. Both are reserved for God. By attacking the problem, you realize an opportunity to ally yourself with the other person(s) to counter the problem. This builds stronger and more loving relationships between us. Consider what the apostle Paul instructed when he wrote:

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:29-32 (KJV)

• Seek the Lord’s will in determining what action you will take. You can do this through prayer and through reading His word.

• Lastly, do your part to diffuse the anger. Do not fall into the trap of saying/thinking, “I wanted to let it go, but then they said/did such and such.” Beloved, control what you can control. In this case, you are to control your response. You do have the ability to forgive someone for wronging you, even if they are not seeking your forgiveness. Likewise, even if someone may not forgive you for offending them, you will have the power to sincerely apologize for what you have said/done.

Through adhering to these steps, beloved, you will be enabled to effectively identify and deal with anger in a manner that serves the Lord and does His will. I can tell you from my personal experience, that when you start choosing love and forgiveness over anger and hatred, life becomes much more enjoyable. Remember, beloved, our ultimate priority is to do the Lord’s will and glorify Him always. When we focus on that as our ultimate priority, we truly receive a very different perspective on life. Believe me when I say that it is indeed a wonderful and blessed perspective. All you have to do to find that out for yourself is try it:-) The Lord will help you to see things in a whole new way, and you will overflow with His love.

If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, but you would like to, please join me in praying the following prayer:

“Lord God Almighty, I know that I am a sinner and that I am lost.  I know that I need to be saved from sin, but I also know that I can’t save myself.  Lord, I know that only You can save me.  I know that you paid for my salvation with your own life and blood on the cross.  I know that when You rose from the grave on the third day, you conquered death and provided everlasting life to all who trust in You.  Right now, I lay down my life and let go of my pride, my vanity and every other sin that has kept me from You.  Lord Jesus, I now completely trust my life to You. I open my heart to You, Lord.  Please come into my heart.  Please forgive me of all of my sins, and please accept me as Your child.  From this point on, I commit my life to You.  Please guide me and provide me strength as I begin to live the rest of my life for You.  In Your precious and matchless name I pray.  Amen.”

If you just sincerely prayed that prayer, then you are now born-again spiritually in Christ Jesus.  You will still face many problems in this world, but you will never again face them alone:-)  Your new relationship with Jesus is the most important relationship you will ever have.  I would encourage you to cultivate your relationship by getting to know the Lord better.  You can do this by spending a few minutes each day reading His word (bible), talking to Him frequently in prayer (& listening), and by reaching out to enjoy fellowship with other Christians.  God knows all there is to know about you.  He formed you in your mother’s womb.  He made you unique and for a purpose.  Ask Him to show you how to fulfill the purpose for which He created you, and then follow His guidance.  He won’t disappoint you:-)  Welcome to the family, precious one!!!  If ever we can join you in prayer, or help you in any other way, please don’t hesitate to reach out through the “Comments” box at the end of this message, or by emailing me directly at jasonthurwanger @ dellmail.com (no spaces).  I am your brother in Christ Jesus, and it is always a blessing to be able to support you in any way that I can:-)

I want to thank you all for joining us for today’s discussion.  I hope you will be able to join us for tomorrow’s message, as well.

Have a wonderful and blessed rest of the day!!!

May the Lord bless you, keep you, guide you, and make His face to shine upon you and your loved ones always.

Your brother in Christ,

Rev Jason Thurwanger

I love Rick Mercer.   (Go to www.rickmercer.com)  He’s funny, smart, irreverent, and is never afraid of making a fool of himself for the sake of  his country.    He talks about political things that I can never say on this blog, so I thank him for being my voice.   Plus his famous rants are always bang on, and leave me cheering and laughing.   Rick’s sense of humour projects what lies at the heart of Canada:  cheering for the underdog, the ever-present self-loathing and inferiority complex along with the justifying need to overcome those things, the desire to do the right thing, and the righteous beast within that rears its head in the face of injustice and especially in the wake of stupid politicians’ actions and words.  Rick is a master at highlighting the inconsistencies, fallacies, and sometimes just plain dumbness of politics in Canada.  And with that as a springboard, he’ll never run out of material.

A few years back, he ran a segment on his show, where he went down to the States and held man-in-the-street interviews, asking your average American citizen questions about Canada.  The point was to highlight how little Americans know about Canada and Canadians in general, as opposed to our ingrained  knowledge of the USA, its culture and its politics.   And you know, it stands to reaason that we WOULD know more about the US,  given that they are bigger and more influential.   Even if I sometimes feel Canada is saturated with American culture, it’s still better to know the score with your neighbour than it is to be ignorant, even if you come by that knowledge and understanding through assimilation and osmosis.  (I’ll try to apply that same logic to my own tale of two solitudes……but that’s a whole other blog post). 

ANYWAYS…..  Rick Mercer’s segment was funny, the people interviewed were good-natured about their ignorance of we, the people of Canada, and it made for good TV.  Everyone was happy.  But here’s where I got to thinking……

As you know, dear reader, my Mr. C. is an American living in Canada with me, his French-Canadian sweetheart (his words, not mine).  You would think that there wouldn’t be too many differences between us, given that I’ve just said that Canada is absorbed into US culture.    However, Mr. C’s political views (sometimes) clash real loud with mine, and we’ve had many opportunities in the past two years to put the word “truce” into action.  Yet our cultural differences have knit us into this warm and woolly scarf, where we bask in happy contentment & respect for each other’s country.  There’s more to be gotten from learning and understanding then there is in standing with your arms crossed, unwilling to budge.  Especially when you’re married.  And you sleep in the same bed. 

As Mr. C. and I embarked on this amazing knitting project of enmeshing our two selves together, I found myself feeling more and more….dare I say it…..ignorant.  Ignorant of my heritage, ignorant of my culture, ignorant of how my government operates.   As a newbie to Canada,  just about everything was new and different to Mr. C.:   our “Monopoly” money (he eventually conceded that ours is better),  health care (’nuff said),  looking for work, Celsius degrees, our politics, our history, our history as it relates to American history, our perceptions of Americans, our perceptions of him….HE was new and different here;  people were quick to pick up on his accent, to his growing bemusement, because he doesn’t feel he has one.   I keep trying to explain that we ALL have accents, however, it might take time. 

So whenever Mr. C. came across something he wasn’t familiar with,  he would, of course, turn to me, his smart Canadian wife, his link with his new world, and he would ask:

“Why did Trudeau repatriate the constitution?”   ”What’s the House of Commons?”    “What’s the FLQ?”   “What’s the NDP?”    ”Why do I have to take my shoes off in the house?”    “Why do you have  a Governor-General?”    “Why do magazines cost more in Canada?”    “Who’s Brian Mulroney?”     “What’s the deal with Québec?”        “What’s that in Farenheit/gallons/miles?”     ”Why the conflict between the English & the French?”     “What’s a ‘too-que’ and why do you pronounce it ‘too-que’ but you spell it ‘toque’ ?”  ……..

And I, in all my Canadian smartness, found that more often than not, I could only smile sweetly and say: 

“I’ll have to look that up and get back to you…..”. 

It’s embarrassing.  It took marrying an American to make me see how pathetic my knowledge, awareness, and understanding of my own country was.   When you know your history, when you understand your culture, how your government works, all of that stuff, it goes deep inside of you and gives you a much deeper sense of belonging and enlightenment.  You understand others on another level, you see past the garbage-media-fed mentality and you succeed in “un-stunting” your own growth:  in other words, what was “Us vs. Them” becomes “Us & Them”. 

But when you don’t fully know from whence you came, and when you can’t explain the whys and hows of important events that have shaped your country, it’s more than embarrassing.  It’s apathetic.   Apathy is the opposite of passion and enthusiasm.  And I am nothing if I’m not passionate. 

So, in case I’m not the only Canadian who finds herself in this apathetic boat-to-nowhere, here’s what I propose to Rick Mercer:

Mr. Mercer, in the same vein as your “What do Americans know about Canada ” segment on your show, maybe you could do one where you hit different provinces and ask the average person on the street what they know about Canada.  We’re quick to laugh at Americans’ lack of knowledge about us, but I think we’d get a bigger laugh at our own deficiencies about ourselves.   We’ve proven time and again that we have a great sense of humour (elections, anyone?),  and think of what this would do to the self-esteem of Canadians everywhere….by doing this, you would greatly contribute  to the enlightenment and progress of this magnificent country!  Take a step to lead us out of this apathy, Mr. Mercer!   Show us the short-sighted, unaware people that we really are, so we can become open-minded and true citizens of Canada and the world!

I, for one, am trying to take a more active interest in how my country is put together, if only to preserve the image that Mr. C. has of me.  If he starts suspecting that I may not be completely up to snuff in the brains department, I may NEVER get him to take his shoes off inside the house! 

In the meantime, me & Mr. C. will cast on,  knitting &  purling our lives in a unique red, white, and blue pattern, happy and content to know that our warm and woolly scarf grows warmer and woollier with each difference shared and understood.       

Love,

Chantal xoxox

after all these tears have dried
these knots are gonna come untied
and when I climb down from this tree
to walk on land will be so heavenly
and if I don’t know what to do
oh, I swear I won’t follow any of you
because all thats wanted by us
to lay our tracks in the settling dust
all that’s wanted by us
mhmm, is the glorious

and I’ve been loved inside a heart for years
and I’m breaking out
I’m busting rims
and I’m led blinding through the light of day
and I know now that none of you fools know the way
none of you fools know the way

when my words are rehearsed and clear
may I speak loud enough for everyone to hear
and when my arrow flies straight and true
may it pierce the clouds soar through on through
and when I gain the strength to make a move
I’ll drift above and sail away from this cold wet ground

because all that’s wanted by us
is to lay our tracks in the settling dust
all that’s wanted by us
mhmm, is the glorious

and I’ve been loved inside a heart for years
and I’m breaking out
I’m busting rims
it’s time for me to go off on my own
you can tell them that this child has grown
tell them that this child has grown

The spatuletail hummingbird is among the most rare and striking of birds.

By using a high speed camera, a BBC natural history film crew was the first to capture the mating sequence in super slow motion.

Meaud/ YT

PV tiếng Anh, từ album “Puzzle” phát hành ngày 15/04

Tacchon, Tyo & Baru

—

Lyric sẽ cập nhật =D

C’était juste avant le concert Anuncio, soit approximativement y’a pas si longtemps que ça. J’en ai découvert une bonne, figure-toi ! Tu sais, l’an dernier, Glorious a sorti un album intitulé Génération louange… eh bien figure-toi que j’étais convaincu de l’avoir écouté, alors qu’en fait non.

Je suis comme toi : j’en suis resté complètement sur le cul stupéfait.

Il a fallu que je réfléchisse un peu (je t’arrête tout de suite, tous ceux qui veulent dire un truc du genre : “Ah bon, ça t’arrive ?” – parfaitement, ça m’arrive !), et puis j’ai réussi à me souvenir que j’avais dû en écouter un ou deux extraits sans en être emballé ; ensuite, la dimension hautement sélective de la mémoire a probablement complété pour me donner le sentiment d’avoir entendu le disque entier et d’avoir été – globalement – déçu. C’est bête, parfois, la mémoire. Surtout la mienne.

Alors, fort de cette prise de conscience aussi subite que transcendantale, je me suis dit que ah ouais quand même peut-être que ça serait plus juste d’écouter tout le disque, un jour… Ensuite – crois-moi si tu veux – je l’ai fait. J’ai écouté. L’album. D’un bout à l’autre. Et plusieurs fois.

La pochette est pas magnifique, je te l'accorde.

Bilan ? En fait, j’ai bien aimé.

Prends quand même conscience que quand leur premier disque était sorti, Glorious était devenu le symbole immédiat d’une génération de cathos qui voulaient témoigner ouvertement et joyeusement de leur foi. Sans être parmi les “fans” parfois hystériques (quoique généralement plutôt féminins) des trois frangins, j’avais envie de les soutenir par principe. Peut-être pas au point d’acheter les yeux fermés tous leurs disques et produits dérivés, mais quand même : ne pas leur cracher dessus comme le faisaient certains autour de moi sous prétexte qu’ils étaient “trop ceci” et “pas assez cela”.

Je me souviens surtout d’un très bon concert durant le congrès Paris Toussaint 2004. Pourquoi celui-là ? je n’en sais rien. Mais celui-là. Coïncidence amusante : ils seront demain en concert à Paris à l’occasion de la même soirée HolyWins. Et le pire, c’est que je ne m’en rappelle que maintenant ; il n’y a donc pas de lien spécial avec ce billet, c’est un pur hasard.

Je me rappelle aussi d’une brève rencontre avec Benjamin Pouzin, alors que j’étais en train d’accrocher une affiche pour un spectacle “concurrent” le soir d’un de leurs concerts… Bêtement, je m’étais presque excusé qu’il me voie faire ça (ouais, bon, j’étais jeune !), et il m’avait répondu en rigolant : “T’es malade ou quoi ? On bosse pour le même Dieu ! C’est cool que tu fasses ça…”

Bref : le dernier album. Au micro, Thomas (le chanteur – j’espère qu’il ne lit pas ce blogue !) a toujours quelques soucis de justesse par moments, même s’il s’améliore, mais le groupe a assez positivement évolué. Les chœurs, par exemple, sont intéressants dans la façon dont ils sont intégrés à l’esprit de l’album. Il y a des maladresses, quelques naïvetés, des phrases parfois hasardeuses d’un point de vue syntaxique, mais tu vas rire : ça donne aussi du charme à l’ensemble. C’est sincère, comme si les p’tits voisins du dessus avaient enregistré un disque qui se révélait bien plus pro(pre) que ce à quoi on s’attendait.

Ne me fais pas dire ce que je n’ai pas dit : Glorious ne révolutionnera certes pas la musique et n’est toujours pas le groupe que j’écouterai en boucle pendant les vingt prochaines années. Y’en a déjà suffisamment en concurrence pour cette place-là. Mais il fait son petit bout de chemin avec une certaine classe. J’ai toujours envie de les soutenir, par principe. Rien que pour les jeunes à qui ils font du bien, ce serait dommage de les arrêter. Et finalement, à revenir au concept de départ de louange pure et douce, Glorious retrouve paradoxalement une simplicité à hauteur de la professionnalisation de sa musique.

Il y a de bonnes choses dans ce disque. De très bonnes choses. Ça ne fera toujours pas de moi un “fan” hystérique (d’ailleurs, je ne suis pas féminin), mais  ils regagnent un cran dans ma sympathie, alors que je pensais avoir été déçu… Je ne sais pas où j’avais été pêcher cette idée, mais ça valait le coup que je le dise.

Promis, les gars : la prochaine fois j’essaie de ne pas attendre un an pour vous écouter !