By Faith Trust and Obey

         The point of doing God's will is not understanding. There are some things we will never understand until Heaven- and some we just may never understand period. And it doesn't matter. The point of doing God's will is obedience. Read through Hebrews 11, the chapter often called the "Hall of Faith", and you will see numerous people in The Bible who didn't totally understand (or at all) what God was telling them to do- but they were faithful to obey.
        By faith, Noah built an ark to save his family and two of every kind of animal from the flood. By faith, Abraham led his family out to a place that God would tell him about. By faith, Jeremiah faithfully preached the destruction of Jerusalem throughout his years of ministry, knowing the people would never listen to him. (God specifically told him this.) By faith, Isaiah went around naked for 3 years as an object lesson. (check Isaiah 20). By faith, Hosea married a prostitute- and took her back after she cheated on him. By faith, Jesus' disciples and the apostles boldly preached the Gospel of Christ to people- and many of them were martyred for it.
       There are numerous other examples that could be listed...None of these received the promise, since God had provided something better for us. They went through suffering just like we do as followers of Jesus. But they were looking forward to the coming glory of eternal life in Heaven with The Lord- and not just to this fleeting life. Jesus did the will of His Father and He certainly endured suffering just like we do. "Although He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered." (Hebrews 5:8) (see also Philippians 2).
       "But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, 'Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.' But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls." (Hebrews 10:32-39)

What If You Believe? (song)

The world is often dubious, brothers and sisters. The world is dubious of the claims of Christ and His followers. There are so many things that are listed as excuses. The world at large finds the tenets of Christianity to be only what a fool believes. Of course, if we're out of our minds, it's for Christ. And He takes the vain and foolish things of the world and confounds the wise. Yes, it may seem like foolishness to believe that God would love us all so much that He became a man and died on the cross for us and rose again in order that we might have forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Heaven instead of the eternal damnation in hell we deserve. But what if you believe what the world calls foolishness? Explore the evidence and truly consider the words of Christ- and you might find it making more and more sense minute by minute as God reveals Himself to you. This song talks about the encounters of Jesus with His first disciples and the miracles He showed to Nathanael and all the others who dared to believe. They left what they knew and believed on Christ. Now what if you believe?

"What If You Believe?"
(parody of "What A Fool Believes" performed by The Doobie Brothers and written by Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 2/11/2017)
(John 1)

He came in somewhere back 2000 years ago
The quintessential Yule log scene
Triune God is incarnate
Creator joins the created- Here comes Jesus Christ

His cousin's so wild-
Jesus' Messianic herald
Saw Him coming near- Johnny called out to say
"Behold, the Lamb of God
Who takes sins away"- Jesus!

They seek the place of the Christ
The Baptist's made ID twice
And disciples move there- (both) following
Son of God asks what they want to know
They're wanting to go

"Well, come and you will see"- They see
What wise men and the prophets all so longed to see
Andrew then leads
His own ol' brother (named Simon)
To Jesus Who calls Peter- fisher of men

Come way back in here- John 1- go!
Where in Galilee Jesus just states His invite
"Come follow Me"- Philip's on board

He went to Nate- "We've found Christ"
Nathanael balked but went to Christ
He surprises him, "Saw you under fig tree"
"Son of God," Nate says- How else would He know?
"You're the King of Israel!"

But what if you believe? You will see
Some wild things- so much powers far greater than these
Angels ascending
Come down like a ladder on Son of Man
With Heaven opened
Now that all you believe- you will see!

But what if you believe? You will see
Some wild things- so much powers far greater than these
Angels ascending
Come down like a ladder on Son of Man
With Heaven opened
Now that all you believe- you will see!

Luke's book's Sequel (song)

When Jesus left us to go back to Heaven, He didn't leave us as orphans. He sent The Holy Spirit to guide and counsel us, convict us and lead us into all truth. And He gives us power to stand strong and share His Word with everyone. And we must be like Christ's first disciples and take the Gospel of Christ crucified and raised for the payment of all sins, offered free to all by faith and repentance, to the world at large. It's the power of God of salvation for the Jews first and then to the foreigner. And we can look to both Luke and Luke's book's sequel for great examples of witness in action. Start where you are and take the love of Christ far and wide.



"Luke's book's Sequel"
(parody of "Jukebox Hero" by Foreigner; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 10/02/2014)
(The book of Acts-[particularly Acts 1-2, Acts 1:8, Acts 4:20, Acts 5:27-32], Luke 4:42-44, Luke 10:1-24, Luke 24:36-53, Romans 10:8-17, Jude 1:17-25, Matthew 28:18-20)

Standing on mountain 'cause The Lord said so
Out on Mt. Olivet- Jesus is about to go
He arose in a cloud- Can you picture the scene?
Just these here disciples- they look up intently
Appeared two angels- just blew in to say
"Why're y'all starin' at the sky? He's returning same way"

So Men of Galilee go out serving The Lord
Didn't know how it'd all play out, but they knew for sure
Acts 1 records- Christ laid out the plan- "Don't leave town- 'til Spirit lands
Then comes power upon you guys so
Preach The One Way ticket- only One Way to go"
So they started walking- ain't never gonna stop
Gotta keep on preaching- So they gonna take Christ all throughout

Go to Je-rusalem, yo- Get started there, guys
Hit up Ju-dea, yeah- in Acts 1:8, go- Sa-maria
Far and going wide- End of the earth (far and going wide)
They're taking Christ worldwide!

Back to town all in one place- they're all in one accord
So they cast lots for disciple- fell on Matthias (yo)
Take a trip to 2 Acts- to that day when He came
And those tongues of fire made their whole lives change
Now they need to keep on talking- they just can't stop
Gonna speak emboldened- The Lord is gonna shake things up!

It'll be like Luke 4:43- go far and go wide
Read in Luke's book's sequel- got started where they were
Yeah, Luke's book's sequel- start of the church
With Acts 1- our charge (start witness, guys!)
The church will thrive (with) changed lives through Christ...Whoa!

Yeah, we're gonna keep on talking- just can't stop
Acts of the Apostles- and now the job is laid to us

24 Luke 48 shows- Got charged to share Christ
Read in Luke's book's sequel- go far and go wide
(Those tongues of fire) Luke wrote Theo (aah aah aah)- Gospel's going worldwide
It's all in Luke's book's sequel (aah aah aah)
You've got (a part) you know (charge! charge!)
Jude 1:23, yo! (charge! charge!)
We've got a charge to share Christ- start here, go wide!

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Jesus Arose Then (song)

This song kinda came about in the heat of the moment- I had heard this song on the radio and really liked it and wanted to a parody song with it. And yes, it’s an Asia song and it’s set near Asia- in the Middle East- about 2000 years ago or so. It’s recounting the events of that first Easter from the point of view of John the apostle. At first things seemed so crazy when Jesus died and was buried- but it’s okay because on that third day, Jesus arose then! :-) And because He lives, we can live too.


Jesus Arose Then
(parody of “Heat of the Moment” by Asia; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 12/12/2013)
(John 3:16-17, Romans 10:9, Acts 16:31, Acts 1:8, Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-21 [particularly John 20:29-31], 1 Corinthians 6:14)

I never felt so weak and bad- confused
It’s like Christ said when we left (the) Upper Room
(On) Account of Him, we all would fall away
‘Cause God would strike shepherd; sheep run away
Do you remember when Pharisees asked?
The sign they’ll get is Jonah’s circumstance
Spent 3 days underwater in fish’s tum
So Jesus’ 3 days under- Here comes the sun (and Son!)

 
(Chorus 1) We didn’t believe at that moment
Stubbornly wouldn’t trust Him
But Pete, me and the women saw He’s alive!

And now we find ourselves the empty tomb
The devil’s hot spot holds no claim on You
You just fulfilled 15 in Genesis 3
He struck Your heel; You crushed the serpent’s head

And it was Pete and me running,
Beat him that morning-
Yet Pete went in before me-
(it’s) just cloths inside

24 Luke- saw God; thought You were a ghost
Shows hands and side, eats fish- it’s Christ; You rose!
Then ascending You called us to compel
The Great Commission- we must go and tell

 (Chorus 2) If you believe Christ’s atonement
Invite Him into your heart then
You’ll be saved that moment- give Him your life!

Well, we believed when we were shown Him
20:29 John says
He blessed the ones who
Trust without sight!

Believe on The Lord then-
(He) redeems everyone then
Redeems every moment
(‘Cause) Jesus arose then- we will soon join Him …………………………………………………………………………………….. 

Sacred Mountain High (Song)

It’s easy to forget sometimes that even the disciples struggled with doubts, worries and fears. Even though they had the pleasure of basking in the Sonshine on their shoulders, they still didn’t quite get it all. One day Jesus took Peter, James and John and showed that all the poems, prayers and promises they had heard about Him from The Scriptures were true. They took a camping trip to the mountains and had a real rocky mountain high- and a sacred mountain high, when they got an awesome picture of Jesus in all His splendor and glory. This is one experience that helped it all sink in for them and helped them understand just Who it was who called to them, “Follow Me.”

“Sacred Mountain High”
(Parody of “Rocky Mountain High” by John Denver)
(Matthew 16:13-20, Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 8:27-9:13, Luke 9:18-36, 2 Peter 1:12-21)
(parody copyright by Nathan Ludwick 2/19/2014)

Jesus polled His disciples- Mark 8:27^th. verse
“Tell Me, Who do they say I AM?” asked The Lord
“The Baptizer John, Elijah, and some say a prophet come again”
“What do you say?”- Pronounced Peter, “He’s Christ The Lord”

An excursion to the mountains- ‘cause Christ wants to go pray
Only goes with James and Peter and John
And the things that He had spoken that they didn’t really catch
They’ll believe at last and this will help them along

It’s called in The Bible- Transfiguration of Christ
A scene of His reigning high and glorified
Foreshadows by the bright light, the luster of His holy light
God is glorified! (all around, yo!)
Sacred mountain high (high up down in Israel)

They climbed a high, tall mountain- and left city crowds below
They saw Jesus’ clothes whiter than you can bleach
17 Matt. says His face just shone with a light just like the sun
Mark and Luke 9, friends, recount the memories

Now He talks on all He’s gonna do with Moses and Elijah
Leaving grace in every step He takes
Disciples are beside themselves to try and understand
Christ’s divinity- how more clear can it be made?

And a cloud surrounds them- rocks their world, alright?
They’re hearing Father’s voice from the sky
Talk from God says, “Listen to My beloved Son Christ”
God is glorified! (all around- whoa!)
Sacred mountain high (high up out in Israel)

Now their eyes are full of wonder but their hearts still know some fear
Bowed down fearfully- Then The Master touches them
When they pry their eyes back open now, it’s just them and Christ The Lord
Now Peter and James and John must ask

Why the law profs. say first must come Eli(jah)
Christ said he came- they didn’t recognize
And just like The Son of Man- He will suffer by their hands in time

God sent Christ to die
For desperadoes- every girl and guy
Christ’s rise obtaining us eternal life
Friend Christ now with candor and everything’s alright!
Got eternal life! (Life in Paradise- yo!)
All through Jesus Christ! (Life and Way and Truth- yo!)
God is glorified! (2 [Two] Peter 1:17 [one seventeen], yo!)
Sacred mountain high (high up out in Israel)
Sacred mountain high (high up out in Israel)
God is glorified! (on high for all time- yo!)

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