#1
Thank you to everyone who prayed for us, played the songs, stocked the discs, interviewed me, came to shows and bought White Flag on July 12th. You made it the #1 Christian album in the country. Thank you.
SG
posted by Shaun Groves @ 7/20/2005
6 comments
6 Comments:
Shaun,
I know that I emailed you earlier, but wanted to share some of my thoughts from listening to you share the evening of your CD Release Party at People's, and from listening to "White Flag" and diving into to looking at the Beattitudes on my own. The following is a copy/paste from my blog/xanga. Thank you again for being so open, honest, transparent, and real. May God continue to bless your efforts. Here are the thoughts I "journaled". Apologies for the repetion of the summaries of some of what Shaun has shared/is sharing through "White Flag".
Though we have probably all "heard" these verses in Matthew 100 times, and even seen them even more as plaques hung on the wall somewhere, have we honestly grasped the concept of what Christ was really saying when He brought forth the Beattitudes?
As some of us have heard, Shaun shared at a recent CD Release Party that Jesus was very specific with His intent in sharing these 8 "little" (or maybe NOT so "little") statements. Christ shared them in a certain order. The first one is the building block for the others verses following. We must first be broken. We must first be at a point of desparation, and see our need. We need to see how wicked, ugly, gross, selfish, prideful, and ungodly we are without the beauty of Christ covering all of our "junk". I have shared in this journal before that I have been learning a lot about what my identity in Christ really entails...and all of this plays a massive part.
More than anything, what strikes me is the 4th verse of this passage. "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN, FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED." Do I truly know what it means to completely mourn? Webster defines mourning in this way "to feel or express grief or sorrow; to feel or express deep regret for; to utter sorrowfully." I see two sides of what Jesus is saying...and that could be just me.
The first side I see is Jesus making a point of saying that if we are going to be truly repentant, if we really are going to have a heart willing to change, we have to not just be "sorry"...but go WAY beyond sorry. We have to mourn over, and get that "almost sick to your stomach" type feeling of disgust and remorse when we look at ourselves in the mirror and see who we really are without Christ. Once we do that, it is His sweet Spirit that sweeps in, reminds us of who we are now only by the grace and mercy of God, and brings us comfort in those broken places...as only He can do.
Secondly, I think that Jesus also meant that not only should I mourn my humaness, but I need to consider my willingness to take the risk, love others, and love them enough to mourn with them. To weep with them. To walk through the valley with someone and just sit and cry with them. After all, isn't that what our Lord did? And, after all, are we not called to be the "hands and feet of Christ"? Are we not supposed to be a tangible way to bring someone comfort by loving them...hugging them...telling them we love them, and just anything that would express the love of Christ? Is that not at least a part of what loving well means? I find myself not being able to get past this verse. To see the depth of what Christ's intent was in sharing these verses...it's just wow.
Isn't it amazing how God brings to life certain truths and once He does so, we seem to automatically need to put those very truths to use? And does anyone else find it "funny" that once you start learning about a certain truth, it seems to be in everything you see and hear? I had been sharing in earlier entries that I have been learning about the reality of what it means to "be in Christ", and have my identity in Him continues to both confound and astound me. I think I am finally starting to truly understand what the Apostle Paul meant in Phillipians 1:6 (which was part of our text in our message at my home church Sunday incidently). "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." In other words, we are a work in progress until Christ comes back. Paul also shares in chapter 2 that we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling...and that it is God who works in us to will and act according to His good purpose...both verses 12 and 13. So, it is a step by step, day by day thing. Once we think we have mastered one area...we have nowhere reached perfection, but simply "graduated" if you will, to the next level...if that makes sense.
Of course, this also ties into what I took to heart from last week's new connection I have to the Beattitudes. We have all heard that the Bible is our roadmap and directional to living a Godly life...it is very cliche'...but it is all so new and fresh to me right now. To see that in striving for perfection, racing to reach the goal/prize...it will never be accomplished and completed until Christ's return. But...until that time, until that very minute, this life is a process. Maybe that is why so many of us have struggled with the all too familiar identity crisis. Even we, as Christians, forget who we are...and struggle to find out our identity through this world. Oh, that we would see this life is to be lived to find out who we are in Christ. This life is a time for growing. This life is a time for learning. This life is a time to always be seeking out what it truly means to live out life to the fullest for Christ. The "how" is not an easy thing. Jesus didn't promise us "easy"...but, by His life example, He did make the path plain and simple to see and follow. He calls us to a life a discipleship...of sacrifice...of obedience. The "directions" are there for us to read...literally...in His word. Yet, it is a heart issue and battle within us to make the choice to both follow and obey.
Thanks for allowing me to share. Sorry for the length...Peace and grace to you.
Kris (AGAPE)
Sometimes good guys finish first. :)
All the glory to God,
n
Hey! I went to your concert in Greensboro, NC and was really touched by the passion you showed. Not to mention the truth of how much we all fall short. And I thank you so much for that. I'm doing a Battle of the Bands sort of thing at school this coming year at Northwest Guilford High where you performed and I was wondering if there was a way for you to email me the chords to Damage Done. Again, thanks for being a great encouragement! in Him always, Lin
designed4God@triad.rr.com
we missed your Shlogging too!!!
Congratulations, Shaun. White Flag is your best album yet, and I'm pleased that it's getting the reception and attention that it deserves. Here's to grassroots support.
hey congrats shroves. hope you sell a trillion. although i feel a bit offended by the cd's success for it has stolen from us shlogers our daily read. oh well. i guess we'll live i thought about posting my most recent novel on tonight but i think ill save it for another day.
O
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