Stay...Safe?
Dave Andrews • July 20, 2020
Is it God's Will For Us To Be Safe?
Correct me if I am wrong. I looked…I tried to find it…there doesn’t seem to be any verses in the Word of God commanding us to be “safe!”
Right now, the entire world, your friends and family, the local church, and maybe even you are at times consumed with “staying safe.” Billboards, businesses, emails, stores, governments, verbal greetings, all include that same robotic tag word. Yet, as for believers in Christ, it's different. We live for something... correction...Someone else. The concept of safety is not what God has called us to, nor is it found in the vain human efforts that we see today. A face mask does not prevent any and all people from dying of something; reductions to our churches doesn’t prevent disease or keep the world from persecuting (or prosecuting) us. In this sin-saturated world, safety is not fully attainable.
It’s not that safety in and of itself is a bad thing. On the contrary, I am rather fond of it! But it is not the goal for us, as it is for those who are perishing…those who have little else. Scripturally speaking, safety for the Christian is a benefit to knowing Christ and living a Godly life in Him. For example, God is our refuge and strength in times of trouble (Ps. 46). Also the Lord surrounds those who trust in Him (Psalm 125). There is no small supply of verses about God being our source of safety and protection. What an encouragement. God also wants us to care for the temple He has entrusted to us (1 Corthinians 6:19). Yet, there seems to be an intended silence in the area of safety being God’s will
for our life. In fact, there is a good argument for the opposite.
A side-effect of being chosen by Christ, is that trouble is likely a-coming. The world will hate us (John 15:18). 2 Timothy 3:4 says that anyone who wants to live a godly life will be persecuted. The disciples were killed in some pretty unsafe ways for the work of Christ. God sent the people prophets, knowing that that they too would be harmed and killed (Luke 11:49). Jesus prayed that we would not be taken from the world, but that the Father would protect us from the evil one (Jn. 17:15). Let’s face it, it’s not always safe being one of God’s people. God knew the risks to come; and yet He still has a task for us on this earth. We should be okay with that…safety is not our goal. Instead we have a serious hope. Our Hope is eternal.
We have that expectation of enjoying true existence in our Heavenly home just around the corner. There will be no more pain, no more death, for those things are about to pass away. In the noon hour, Dr. David Jeremiah has been discussing the amazing and very real life we get to look forward to one day soon…so we are to rather focus on that. Like the ‘ol hymn says…
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.”
While it is Biblical to exercise wisdom in this life, perhaps safety is a hurdle we need to overcome to truly be about the work of the Kingdom. Do we love others enough and care enough to risk a social connection, to bring them to Christ? Are we serious enough about our faith to do what God has commanded us to do…even to gather together, when it is not socially acceptable, safe, or even banned? How serious are you really about your faith…that He will truly “surround you if you trust in Him?” Did you know our brothers and sisters around the world risk everything in this life for His sake? Are you willing to contract COVID, be persecuted and harmed, or violate a man-made rule to fulfill His commands which are clearly laid out in Scripture? Whose Kingdom do you belong to?
We take a step out in faith, to do His work out of a love for Him, and then leave it up to God to worry about safety. He protects us…really. But whether we are actually safe or not…it’s all good. We trust the One who commands us, we know His power is at work within us, and as Hillsong quite correctly sings, there is "Another In The Fire.” He is with us in the fiery furnace…and always, to the end of the age. That is some seriously good news for Christians. Perhaps instead of telling each other to “stay safe,” we can start a new slogan…perhaps "For His Kingdom," or "Another In The Fire?"
-Dave Andrews
KJOL Station Manager
Local Christian Radio, KJOL
PS- Do you think it is time for Christians to proclaim a different slogan for the days we are living in? I would love to hear your slogan ideas! Email dave@kjol.org.
Recently I played a KJOL classic, “ Almighty ” by Wayne Watson . For those who don’t remember Watson, he had a string of hits during the 80s and 90s, including: Celebrate Friend of a Wounded Heart For Such A Time as This Home Free Another Time, Another Place (with Sandi Patti) Touch of the Master’s Hand As for “Almighty,” I found an article that explains the back story. In 1990, when Wayne was 36, a close family friend became ill and died, leaving behind her four young daughters. As Wayne struggled to understand how God could allow this tragedy, he sat at his piano and began to write a song that reaffirmed the sovereignty of God. Well time marches on, with the innocence gone, And a darkness has covered the earth But His Spirit still dwells, He speaks, "it is well, " And the hopeless still offered new birth He will break the leash of death, it will have no sting Let the prisoner go free, join the dance and sing Almighty (almighty) Most holy God Faithful through the ages Almighty, Most holy Lord Glorious, Almighty... When his friends heard the song, they told him he should record it. Wayne was reluctant, thinking it didn’t really match his typical style. Eventually he started singing it in his concerts, and the response was so strong, he included it on “ Home Free ” in 1991 and it became a No. 1 hit.
CeCe Winans was a guest at NPR (National Public Radio) this week, and took them to church. She performed a half-hour concert, called a “ Tiny Desk Concert , ” before a small friendly audience in the NPR building. Between the songs, she shared her faith: “God is faithful, and what I love about him, he stays the same. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done or where we’ve been, I just want everybody to know that God loves you with an everlasting love. And because He never changes, we can always run to Him. Just know that if God be for you, who can be against you!” She also appeared in an 8 minute interview on the NPR news program. The host said she had listened to Cece’s song “Alone In His Presence” when the host was a child. CeCe said, “Yep, his presence is definitely my hiding place, being in the spirit of God. And I live a life to please him, and that has brought me good success, you know?” She added, “I don't have to fear about what's going to happen because I serve a God who knows the end from the beginning. So I can actually experience true peace of mind and heart because of that relationship. So my hope is in him. You can hear CeCe’s latest song, “ Come Jesus Come ,” on KJOL right now. It was written and originally recorded by Stephen McWhirter in 2023. CeCe performed it for the American Idol Easter special in April.
The Newsboys were supposed to be touring Canada starting May 31. But the tour was abruptly canceled last week. Both the Newsboys and the promoter are claiming the other side is at fault. The Canadian promoter said it canceled the tour because there were too many unanswered questions about why Michael Tait abruptly left the band in January, just days before the Newsboys started their world tour. The Newsboys said the promoter breached the contract so the band canceled the tour. Neither Tait nor the Newsboys have given a clear explanation for Tait’s sudden departure . Band member Adam Agee took over as lead singer and the band quickly re-recorded their new single with Agee on lead vocals instead of Tait. The concert promoter said fans in Canada were confused about who the new lead singer was, wondering if this was the same Newsboys band they were expecting. Then on May 26, the promoter announced that Sanctus Real had agreed to be the last-minute replacement for the Newsboys. Sanctus Real had to hurry, because their first concert was just six days later in Canada! The timing works well for Sanctus Real, which just released their new single, The Difference , on May 29. Listen for it on KJOL in the coming days and weeks.
Every week, an estimated 30 million worshippers sing the most popular worship song of our generation, “Shout To The Lord” by Darlene Zschech and Hillsongs Australia. You’ve probably heard (and sung) it. But do you know the story behind the song ? Darlene Zschech wrote “ Shout to the Lord ” 30 years ago. She says the song was born out of a low point in her life. She had married at age 19 and moved to Sydney, where she began singing at the Hills Christian Centre. But at home her husband’s business was failing and times were tough One day she sat down at her daughter’s piano and started singing some words she’d been thinking about. She turned it into a song but was too shy to tell anyone. Finally she sang it for the worship director (but she made him turn around and not look at her!). He convinced her to sing it at church. By the end of the first chorus, people were standing to their feet and singing along! In 1994, the Hills Christian Centre recorded it, and in 1996, Hosanna Music released “Shout to the Lord” in the U.S. under the name Hillsongs Australia. It went straight to the top of the praise & worship charts. It has had more than 160 million views on YouTube just in the last 10 years.
We like to say around here that our Secretary Martha is the most famous person at KJOL. We mean it too! With a naturally likable personality, and an active disposition, a lot of people know her.
Tenth Avenue North is back with a new album Back in 2019, Tenth Avenue North announced they were retiring. They had formed in 2000 in Florida. Founder Mike Donehey said the name came “Tenth Avenue North” was supposed to be temporary. They had been scheduled to play at a conference and could not agree on a name for their band. So they chose the name of the street where they lived in West Palm Beach. And the name stuck for 25 years! In 2019, they released “ Greater Than All My Regrets .” And then they announced plans to retire, with a farewell tour in 2020. However, COVID interrupted that. In 2021, they finally played two farewell concerts. But four years after the break “sharpened the band’s focus and God used what they thought was an end to create room for them to experience Him in a new way.” So in 2024 they started recording new music , and the full-length album is being released on May 30. The Archers return! Fifty years after the Archers (siblings Tim, Steve, and Janice) made their debut in contemporary Christian music, they are back with a new album called “Legacy Medley.” It contains new versions of five of their previous hits: Give Us This Day 1980 It Won’t Be Long (Andrae Crouch) 1972 Make Me An Instrument 1977 I Never Knew Love 1991 (from their hit album “Spreadin’ Like Wildfire”) Pickin’ Up The Pieces 1979 The Archers debuted at Jesus festivals during the height of the Jesus Movement in 1971. They came to the attention of Andrae Crouch, Ralph Carmichael, and Pat Boone among others. (They were the first to record Crouch’s “Jesus Is The Answer.”) In 1975, they released their first major label album on Light Records. In 1994, they disbanded.
