mumble...mumble...JESUS SAVES! JESUS SAVES!..mumble

The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD.
Isaiah 38:20

One person once said that you can tell a person's spiritual temperature by their singing. I have seen this to be most true. I will preface this post with the following information.......
1. Most everyone in my family past and present can sing decently well.
2. My grandfather sang bluegrass Gospel for nearly 40 years as part of the John Burke and the Layman Trio.
3. I took 8 years of Trumpet Lessons, basic music philosophy in college, and was always part of our school/youth choir.
4. I have a cousin and uncle who formed a well known Christian Rock Band.
5. I have sang in our adult choir since 1994,and still sing in it as pastor.
6. I have read over a dozen books concerning sacred, church music.
7. I have led our youth choir and adult choir in the past 10 years.
8. I have, as a preacher, spent numerous hours studying God's Word on the topic of music and preached many sermons concerning it.

I say all that to inform the reader that I am not an expert on music as some others will be, but neither am I a novice. I am not in a "bubble" of sacred music, but am informed as to the types of music and dangers of wrong music. My goal in this post is not to convince the reader of what kinds of music you should listen to (but I would love to do that soon...as music is not a-moral. There are right and wrong types of music and it is destroying people's lives). My goal in this post is to cover question number 4 on our teen questionnaire, which reads:

My family sings together at home:
A. Never
B. I think we did once or twice
C. At least once a week
D. Every Day

Our goal in this question was to get an idea as to how important music was in the home. We did not ask what type of music was being sung, but are we singing at all in our homes? The results were:

A. Never 56%
B. I think we did once or twice 25%
C. At least once a week 14%
D. Every Day 5%

Thus we learn that in our independent fundamental Baptist homes, 56% of our families have NEVER sang in their homes with their children. 25% may have sang once or twice in their lifetimes with their families, and so on. While it probably is not reasonable to believe that every family sings everyday in their homes, it should be alarming that 81% of our families have never or maybe once or twice sang in their homes as a family. And it shows...
The title of the post is "mumble...mumble...JESUS SAVES! JESUS SAVES!mumble" because that is how the typical teen sings in church, if they sing at all...and alot of adults! The responsibility is ours as parents! We are commanded in Scripture repeatedly to Sing unto the Lord. We are to sing to others and to ourselves, teaching and admonishing, with Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. There are literally 100's of references in Scripture commanding us to sing!
Music in Scripture is powerful. It comforts, praises, teaches, exhorts, drives away depression, encourages, rebukes, tells stories of victory, and worships the Lord.
As a result of neglect, homes are invaded by distress, discouragement, oppression, lack of knowledge, anger, discontentment, and an ignorance on how to properly worship God. We need to SING!
We can recite the schedule of our favorite college team, the starting line up for our favorite baseball team, the phone numbers of our top 10 friends...but we don't know the third verse to "Amazing Grace." We can't get the gumption to open a song book during the singing service because singing is "lame." We have used the excuse of "not having a good voice" enough to where no one has a good enough voice but the "chosen few" who sing specials in church. We have neglected playing and singing solid music in our homes now to a point to where music and singing does not interest in the least bit our young people...and we lose the benefits thereof.
I can share a plethora of stories of singing with my family while growing up. Every trip to Papa Burke's was a Burke concert. No one taught me how to sing a part, I learned in the car. No one taught me how to breathe properly with your diaphragm, I learned by watching my mom and her correcting my chest breathing. My basic music knowledge came from car rides and a living room with a T.V. turned off. That turned in to church singing. I've always loved it, because my parents. My sister and I sang our first special at church at age 8 and 5..."He's Still Working On Me."
That singing created a desire in my life to learn more; thus the trumpet, choirs, and college classes. That early singing is why I, as pastor, still leave my seat on the platform durring the third congregational to take my place in the bass section of the choir. I love singing. Here's the kicker...I'm not good at it. I just love it; because I was trained that way.
That's one reason why I smile, why I have joy, why I don't get defeated, why I do not have to see a psych at every week...music! I prescribe it to those who are struggling with depression. I counsel it for those whose marriages are rocky. I push it upon those whose chldren are rebelling. There is a reason why God commanded us to sing!
Imagine an auditorium where the song leader gives the hymn number, everyone with a smile and anticipation turns there, the orchestra (because a love for music has led them to learn) begins to play, every adult, young person and child open their mouth's wide and sing God's Praise thunderously. That is worship! It all starts in the home.
Or we can ignore it, allow pride to keep us from singing, and enjoy our ignorance; and watch as oppression continues, discontentment and rebellion rule, and our young people CONTINUE TO LEAVE IN SEARCH OF SATISFYING WORSHIP-which they will temporarily get in a modern praise and worship service. Why? Because in their eyes that is much more real and moving than...

mumble...mumble...Jesus saves, Jesus saves..mumble...mumble

Duh!!!

If the results of the question regarding youth's knowledge of their parents was Pastor Burke's shocker, this week's was mine. It probably shouldn't be given what is accepted as a "church"; in that case, we're all doing pretty well. Maybe we should have been a bit more specific in our question; the numbers then would have been a little more realistic. So again we find ourselves asking that all important question - Why? Why, if everyone expects a certain result, is that result not evident? There are a few different scenarios possible. One is that too few Christians want to fight the battle anymore and are content to see that their child grows up and is in "church", even though that "church" is a far cry from what a true New Testament Baptist church should be. That would be the Conforming Christian. Two would be the Christian who is kinda putting up a fight but not real consistently or enthusiastically. Then when the child goes off into the world, they toss their hands up and say, "I don't know what happened. We did all we could. They're in the Lord's hands now." We might call this the Conceding Christian. Third would be the Christian who is a good moral person with great standards, who doesn't do this and doesn't do that but that begins to be their religion. Instead of putting up standards to protect themselves from sin so they might better serve God, those standards become their god, the thing they trust in and judge themselves and others by. This person might be called the Condescending Christian. What do all these have in common? All their "religion" is based on self. They don't want to take a stand, they don't want to be consistent, they don't want to look bad. God is removed from the center, and is replaced with me. Is it any wonder then, when young people grow up, they follow the same pattern? Producing a self-centered, self-pleasing religion. "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away." II Tim 3:5

Why I Deleted My Facebook Account

About a year ago I was introduced to myspace through listening to others talk. I went to go check it out and was greatly disturbed by the pictures and advertisements and language and filth found on myspace. Thus, I never bothered with it and even preached against it.
A few months later I was told about facebook. I was told that it didn't have the trash on it, and that it was where most "our stripe" was tech socializing. I checked it out and found that the trashy advertisements were not there, the music was not there, and I didn't see any pictures that were morally challenging either. Thus, with the help of my brother in law, I joined.
My first clue should have been the fact that the day I joined, many of our young people and college age and adults "changed their information". It was humorous, and gave me more reason to stay on...every city block needs a policeman!
I have greatly enjoyed catching up with family and friends and school/college peers. It has been refreshing to hear how many are doing and what the Lord is doing with them. I have enjoyed being able to let my parents and sisters and church friends be able to see and share pictures of what all is going on in our lives and how our families are growing up so quickly. I have enjoyed having another avenue to remind people that I am praying for them, to give counsel, and tell them I love them and thank the Lord for them. I have enjoyed getting to know other sound in the faith Christians. I could go on...and my point is (don't miss this) I do not think it is a sin to be a member of facebook. That said....
For me, I deleted my account. Here are my reasons and perhaps the Lord will use them to speak to you as He did me. My counsel for every reader is "Do what the Lord tells YOU to do."
1. Romans 14:20-22, I do not want to be a stumbling block to anyone.
Recently, I had a close friend who mysteriously removed myself and many others from their friend list. It brought great concern amongst us...what had we done to offend them? Come to find out, that person was seeking to remove themselves slowly from facebook due to many reasons...of which I stand behind them. Because of the myriad of emails and contacts asking that person what we had done, they added us again as friend so not to offend. I do not wish to be a stumbling block, and what if, there are others too struggling with things that I am being a stumbling block to? Thus, based upon Romans 14, I deleted my account.
2. Psalm 101:3, I must not set wicked things before my eyes. As I stated above, when I first "joined facebook," there was not the trashy advertisements I saw in 30 seconds of myspace. But slowly, and increasingly, they have crept in. Advertisements of immodestly dressed women have become more and more frequent the last month. Finally, two days ago, on a Google Ad, that was it. I "must not set wicked things before my eyes." I can't, I must not, I will not allow my self to be tempted in such ways. Why? Simple: I don't trust me. I am wicked...and so are you. I challenge you to prayerfully consider this. Thus, I deleted my facebook account.
3. 1 Cor. 10:10 We are not to murmur and complain. We are saved...we are a child of God...we are not to be murmurers or complainers. God dealt seriously with murmuring. Where is the murmuring on facebook? Have you read a status lately? I decided to peek, while writing this at current status' of my friends:

_____ is soooo borred

Why is life so hard

Doctors are a pain in the rear

I have nothing to do today

_____ is depressed and discouraged

______ is wishing she had a real friend

______ hates this month

____________ is sick of being sick

_________ can't stand hypocrites

I could go on and on with others I have read in the last few months. You get the point. Facebook sets the stage for murmuring. I came home a few weeks ago after a rough day. I went into the living room and my wife changed my status to "Travis is :-(" After a sharp rebuke and a new status, my wife was reminded about the sin of murmuring. Thus, I deleted my facebook account.
4. Ephesians 5:16 We are to redeem our time. I am not saying that facebook is a total waste of time...but I did find myself checking on everyone else and updating everyone else on me numerous times a day. There are much more important things to be done. My "Travis is studying for history class" never led a soul to Christ; nor did my "Travis is :-(" show a lost person how great God is. Reality is, most with a facebook account check or update it nearly 10 times a day if not more. For me, I began to compare how many times I thought of a verse of Scripture compared to how many facebook checks I made....thus, I deleted my facebook account.
5. 1 Cor. 15:33 I must be careful who my friends are. On facebook, I have "friends" I've never met or talked to. When I first joined, I was so happy to get friends. Then requests started coming in that I ignored...I could tell from the image that I couldn't be friends with them. Then, people whose lifestyles are...in a word...wicked, requested me as a friend. I offended a few by not accepting this friendship, but I cannot let their pictures of boozing, dancing, and immodesty in my home. That evil communication will corrupt good manners. Then I began to notice as others removed me as their friend after they posted pictures or notes they didn't want me to read...all situations that can be avoided by deleting my facebook account.
6. Hebrews 10:25-26 We are to be encouraging one another with our faithfulness, not discouraging one another with willful sin. Those "changes of information" when I first joined are not so these days. How it discourages my heart to see our young people flauning their wicked music...when they know it is wrong. How it is discouraging to read the criticisms by others of yourself and your church. How it breaks your hearts to see those who you loved and invested in drinking their beers and cursing our God. How it breaks hearts to read or see pictures of those you love, flaunting adultery and sin. Thus, I deleted my facebook account.
I could give you more reasons as to why the Lord led me to do so, but just one will suffice.....
7. God told me to. John 14:15.
I love you all hope you stay in touch via this blog and email.

On another note, the Lord confirmed this in my heart...He had been speaking to me about it, and just now I saw this posted on facebook. Thank you Lord for confirming Your will: http://kentbrandenburg.blogspot.com/

Inspect what you Expect

Thus far we have seen that our young people are, for the most part, faithful to church. They are hearing the right message, they are taught the doctrine, they are loved, and they have great opportunity to serve the Lord. We were suprised to find that most of our young people come either from homes where their parents were lost as a "teen ager" or they have no idea what their parent was like, spiritually speaking as a young person. Parents, we MUST take the responsibility of rearing our young people in the nurture of the Lord. It is NOT the pastor or youth pastor's responsibility to rear young people...it is the parents.
I have spent the last two days organizing thoughts and penning rough drafts for this post, but all I have gained is a heart that hurts for our young people. I feel I need to stop and remind myself and others that it is worth the struggle. I thank God for my 6 years working with our young people as their youth pastor. There are, at this very moment, two in the ministry, 4 Godly wives to great men, 6 in Bible college training for the Lord's will in their lives, and two others serving faithfully in their churches waiting for the Lord's direction. How I praise God for this. I do not want to give the impression that I threw away 6 years of my life and theirs, there are victories. I praise God for you all!
Some, would probably accept that ratio as great success and write off the others as unfortunate loss. My problem is, I hate losing. I hate losing especially in an area such as this. These are souls, lives, and potential. And the icing on the cake....God PROMISED we could train them up in the way they should go and they would not depart from it.
Believe me, I have heard every excuse concerning that promise including "It 's the training they will not depart from, not that they won't go into rebellion; but that they will, while in rebellion be constantly reminded of their training." My problem with that thinking is this: If it all comes down to chance-whether they will 'turn out right' or not-what is the point of putting all the work into it like the Lord commanded us to do? Now I know that man was created with a free will, and so were our children; but I also know that God promised me that if I train up my child in the way he/she should go, they will not depart from it...not that it won't depart from them. I kinda like claiming promises. If I can't do that...what do I have?
I believe we as parents-in the typical IFB church-have the mentality that "I will keep my child in church and all activities, send them to the Christian school, and let the pastors do their job." That will not work. We expect our young people to be fine if we do those simple things. That won't work. We expect our young people to have a love for the Lord and a desire to serve Him, without us instilling it. That won't work. Even our young people EXPECT each other to turn out right. The next question on the questionnaire was

I expect most of my peers in my youth class to grow up and...
A. Serve the Lord
B. Go away from God but come back later
C. Serve in Full time ministry
D. Get out of church and make money

The results show that our young people, like our parents, expect a good turn out. ("Like our parents"--we are teaching them and training them). Here are the results:

A. Serve the Lord: 68%
B. Go away from God but come back later 17%
C. Serve in Full time ministry 6%
D. Get out of church and make money 9%

Great expectations! Someone once said, "Inspect what you expect." May I challenge parents not to just "send your kids to a good school and take them to a good church," but get involved in their lives. I inspected and found young people that filled out these questionnaires rebelling in many music, dress, and dating. What chapter of the Bible did your young person read today? What did the Lord speak to them about durring the sermon Sunday? When was the last time you prayed with them and they prayed in your presence? Who are their friends? What are they saying? Who are they praying for to be saved? Who was that last text message to?
Now the other side screams "You will overprotect them?" Is that possible? My children are a most sacred gift from God to my wife and I, and I have been giving a Biblical mandate to protect them and nurture them and train them in the way they should go. In my life's experience, everyone that has been afraid of overprotecting their child was not protecting them enough.
We have great expectations, but we had best inspect what we expect!

I am my father's son

Continuing the principle of sowing and reaping, we dealt next with the parents of youth and how they fared in passing on the truths they had learned to their children. The result showed that about half of those young people were given next to nothing in terms of a spiritual example. For the 31% who didn't know about their parent's spiritual state as youth, the question came to mind, "How do you not know?" Could it be, that we as adults, ashamed of our past, pretend that it never happened and hope that since our kids are in church, it won't happen to them? That is a hopeful perspective, but not a very realistic one. Those young people are going to struggle with the same problems as their parents, and those in their life best equipped to teach them how to overcome those struggles, because of pride, fear of others opinion, or because they never overcame the struggles themselves, refuse to give the instruction so desparately needed. Do what I say, not what I do(or did), isn't a very effective parenting principle. I John 1:8, 10 - "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us" - both approach this line of thought. We deceive ourselves by ignoring the sin in our life, as well as ignoring the fact that our young people are not fooled by our hypocrisy. Rather than getting things right, we go on living a lie, covering instead of confessing our sin. Proverbs 28:13 shows clearly the end of this life - "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." We want our youth to prosper, yet we ignore teaching that simple thing that enables them to. In our attempt to portray the perfect parent, the only thing we accomplish is to successfully drive a wedge in the relationship. We must show them, not how to be perfect, but how to be perfecting; that is, growing, maturing. We only do that when we humbly confess our faults, and make them right. This is the example our youth need. Three of the hardest words to say in the English language are really very simple - I was wrong. What a great promise we have in I John 1:9. Forgiveness is readily available, and we hear much talk about it in modern Christianity. What we hear less of is that which must always precede forgiveness - repentance. A wonderful example of this is in Luke 15:11-32, the parable of the prodigal son. Far more important than the son , however, is the forgiveness which the father so freely and earnestly gives - after the son repents. When was the last time, we went to our Father and humbled ourselves, and repented of the wrong we had done Him, or perhaps a spouse, or even one of our children? Forgiveness and restoration are waiting - will we heed the call?

"This Ruins Everything!"

Last week's poll question was perhaps the surprise of the questionnaire to me. There were many thought provoking results, of which many I was suprised; but this question's results I thought I knew. I did not. In many ways this brought me to say, "This Ruins Everything!" The question given to independent Baptist Teens was:

My parents as teen agers were:
A: Separated and sold out for the Lord
B: Lost
C: Saved but worldly
D: Don't Know

My assumption was that the results would look something like: A: 50% B: 15% C: 30% D: 15%. It would be from that result that I would build my case that "the line of Seth" was being stopped; or as a certain man dressed in black would have put it, "The Circle was being broken." To my surprise the results were as follows:

A) Separated and Sold out for the Lord: 14%
B) Lost: 40%
C) Saved but worldly: 15%
D) Don't Know: 31%

Do you see that? The Godly line is not being broken, it was broken already. Of our young people today, 71% of their parents were either lost or have not shared their spiritual history with their children. Then it hit me...this is not just this generation's dilema, it has been a problem for all generations. Where is the answer? Come on....you know the answer....where is the solution to our problem?....YES! I knew that you knew it...GOD'S WORD!
I believe the Lord warned His people of the potential to lose their young people from the very beginning...
In the garden of Eden in Genesis 2:16, "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou maest freely eat: but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:" As we all know, it was Eve whom the Devil tempted and it was Eve who "ate them out of house and home." But the Lord commanded Adam. Eve, according to Genesis 3:2&3, knew this command of God. She had been instructed by Adam. In Genesis 4 we have Cain and Abel. Cain "brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord." Abel "brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering." We read in Hebrews 11:4, "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous..." Notice, Abel offered his offering by faith. Romans 10:17 reads, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Abel offered to God the correct offering, not by chance, but by faith. He had heard the Word of God. Where did he hear it? From his parents, Adam and Eve. Cain's offering was not accepted, because it was not of faith. He rejected the Word of the Lord which he had received from his parents. From the beginning, parents were to teach their young people of their spiritual heritage. Other verses:

Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.
Deuteronomy 4:10

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Deuteronomy 6:7

And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Deuteronomy 11:19

Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Psalm 34:11

If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore
Psalm 132:12

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children
Titus 2:3-4

Repeatedly in Scripture there were memorials left by one generation to be a reminder of the next generation of their spiritual heritage such as when Israel crossed the Jordan river into the promised land in Joshua 4:

21And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?
Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.

It is evident that it is God's plan that we live our lives in the center of God's will and in accordance to the Word of God, and that we teach these things to our children. According to our survey, the typical independent Baptist teen ager's parents were either lost or have not shared anything spiritually speaking of their past. Now, I get a bad taste in my mouth everytime I hear someone glorify the "30 years I lived in sin, doping, drinking, and doing whatever I pleased" to our young people. I am glad God saved you from that..Amen!!! But don't glorify it to our young people. We too many times teach them the lesson that "You can go and do what you want and please your flesh and everything end up 'hunky dorey.'" If the Lord does lead you to share a testimony to them in this manner, please also share the scars you carry to this day because of those choices.
So if that is the reason for not sharing the past, then I agree for the most part, but still share with them that they can have a Goodly heritage.
I could go on much how we as parents should teach, live, and build Godly lives...perhaps Pastor Carr can do that.
My synopsis is this: Good news is that we weren't necessarily the generation to drop the ball; it's been going on for sometime now. Bad news is, it is still a major problem for us as parents today, if not worse. Imperative news is, we must start now not just instructing our teen, but also living in front of them how great and wonderful a life surrendered to the Lord is. May it be our challenge that our young people can stand and say to their children:

The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
Psalm 16:6

The poll question this week is not found on the questionnaire, but is a question for you...the adult reader to help in research and thought in this matter. Thanks for your help.

Ignorance is not Bliss

There is a simple, yet very powerful principle found in the Word of God and made evident throughout nature that we seem to either have forgotten or believed to not be relevant to our daily spiritual lives. We apply it to sports and business and we see successful people use it all the time. The world does not deny it, though they may word it a little differently. We have already touched on it by asking the question "Why?" The simple answer - we reap what we sow. The response to our survey regarding the number of services attended each week showed that the vast majority of our young people are in church for nearly all the services. It would seem then, that this principle has failed. If we are raising our children in church, and they are not remaining when they have "come to fruition", then the sowing and reaping principle is defunct. If that is the case, then what is the point? There would seem to be no reason to continue this discussion. Before we give up so quickly, however, let's stop and examine exactly what we have been sowing. On the surface, it would seem that we have done all we could do. There are so many avenues that we have gone down to try and help our youth. Note the following: youth groups, youth activities, youth camps, youth conferences, youth competitions, Christian schools are all out there in abundance and are all well and good, but they do not fill the void left when we ignore our Biblical responsibility. What responsibility is that?
Deuteronomy 6:5-9 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates."
In other words, it begins in the home, not the church. The church will be no stronger than the homes that make it up, not the other way around. For several decades now, we have poured many resources into reaching the youth of our churches, and by doing so, we have placed the cart before the horse. Am I against all these things? No, but I am against promoting the idea that church is only fun and exciting when you're young and then when you grow up, you grow out of church. Oh, you may still go, but it's more in the role as an observer of the young and not as an active participant. As far as my limited knowledge and understanding can gather, it was the adults who led the way in the early New Testament church in being excited and enthusiastic and on fire, not the youth. Can the youth be excited? Can they be on fire? Yes, they can and should, but it sure is hard to be on fire when those that should be your example are as cold as ice.
What are we reaping, or rather, what have we reaped? To close, here is a quote by Wilbur M. Smith, a preacher from days gone by.
"The reason so many of our young men today are not embracing the Christian faith, have no fellowship with God, and know nothing of redemption in Jesus Christ, is not because they are so well-informed about the facts of the Christian faith, and find them impossible of acceptance, but because they are so ill-informed, or misinformed."
We can outgrow camps, and activities, etc., but we cannot outgrow the truth of God's Word. What are we reaping? Only that which we have sowed.
C. Lee Carr