Christopher M Reed

What makes a thing cliche'?  I was reading in a comment section today that I saw while checking out a new song by Hillsong Y&F Fet. Lecrea (did I just type all of that? and all of this?) and I saw the use of the term CCM (Christian Contemporary Music) like it was a bad thing, like the meaning of CCM had changed to showcase all of the Christian artists that were of poor quality.  It got me to thinking as I went upstairs to finish getting dressed, about me.  About the uses of words that I have abused. About the things that I, in my past would not see, listen to, or participate in because they had become cliche'.  What I find foolish about this behavior, is that in order for something to become cliche' it has to be really cool at first.  It has to be really fun to do, or listen to, or be a part of.

Yesterday (1/8/2015) the world lost the most influential Christian musicians of our time Andre Crouch.  People called him the father of modern gospel music, in reality he was the one that God used to change the whole face of how we worship Him today.  Andre's legacy moves on with every contemporary, gospel, soul, and worship musician that puts their pen to the paper to write another song to glorify God.  I have recorded one of my favorite Andre Crouch songs.  "Jesus is the Answer"  Mostly because Andre and his sister wrote it together in 1973 and I, a 15yr old young man in 1991, up in my room, with the door closed shut sat in there with my nylon string guitar worshiping my Lord with this very song for hours.  Why?  Because Jesus is the answer, for the world today...and yesterday....and forever.  Thank you Andrea for your legacy, enter in to the Joy of our Lord. I hope you all enjoy my tribute to this wonderful man of God.

     I did not ask for it, I needed it, I wished for it, I wanted it.  Everyone around me knew that I needed it but it never came, until that day.      I have asthma, it really sucks and I have had it all of my life.  I have learned to live with it and despite many prayers and my faith being much bigger than a mustard seed, it has not happened yet.  Does that affect my relationship with God?  Yes, yes it does.  It has caused me to believe stronger, to pursue a life of faith more.  Most of all it has caused me to fall deeper in Love with the one who created me.  You see, even though I believe that what He says is true when He said in Matthew 18:18-20

     So there they were, together, just as Jesus had instructed them to be.  They were obedient, because they trusted Jesus to do what He said that He would do.  Acts 2 busts out with "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting."      Can you imagine being in there at that time?  The sound that came must have been tremendous!  Was it as loud as a jet fighter?  Was it louder?  To be there when that happened must have been so exciting!      Then, to top it off, the fire that John the Baptist prophesied about came. (Matthew 3:11) "Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them." (Acts 2:3)       A huge sound of wind and then BAM!  Tongues of fire!  Awesomeness!! But God was not done yet!  No, they had not yet experienced the best part. "And they were a...

     So I grew up a Foursquare kid and a great deal that I had heard about was the Azusa Street Revival.  The power that was displayed by the move of the Holy Ghost and the impact that it had on the evangelical community today.  I was elated, I wanted to be able to experience that for myself, I mean, why not?  Why couldn't God do what He did back then, now?  He could, was my opinion after examining all of the facts surrounding that event and knowing what His Word says.  But what I failed to see was that God had already done more than that, He had already topped what happened at Azusa Street, and has continued to do so repeatedly throughout history.      Let me tell you about the Original Azusa Street.  Acts 1 begins this event, Jesus told the disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit fell on them. (Acts 1:8)  He said check it out guys something amazing is going to happen when I leave.  Remember tha...