06 November 2011

By Raymond Billy | ResonateNews.com

 

Miranda Day doesn't consider herself a Christian artist. The gloomily raw nature of some of her lyrics belie the optimism that Christians expect in their brand of music. But, the 24-year-old Tylerite said, her songs do have a spiritual message — one that speaks of life, truth and consequences.

“When I was 7 or 8 years old, a lady who babysat me died in a car accident along with her baby. She was an alcoholic and she'd been drinking that day. I wrote “No Turning Back” about her — and the tragic price we have to pay for the choices we make sometimes,” Day said, whose music is a blend of folk, blues and rock. “Some people say 'Your music is too depressing, it's not Christian.' But that's life. Just because you're a Christian, that doesn't mean you're not exposed to some really difficult experiences. I want my music to reflect my life and what I've seen and gone through.”

Day said she hasn't felt compelled to make music into a ministry of sorts. But if anyone listens closely enough — and is spiritually receptive — they will recognize God's influence in her music, she said. Add a comment

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06 December 2010

By Craig Groeschel - Pastor of LifeChurch.tv

Excerpts From Resonate’s, THE REVIEW by JASON GHRIST

“Groeschel challenges our attitudes and motivations but his tender and transparent discussion regarding troubling – often traumatic – occurrences in our lives and the issue of forgiveness, is profound and inspiring”

“His disarming warmth and transparency under-girds the powerful
truths he seeks to communicate and shows he is not interested in
offering platitudes or shaming the abused. He addresses real issues
for very real people that really do believe in God – yet are often
hindered as a result of misperceptions influenced by an extremely
painful past”
“The key is to understand that belief in God is experienced at different levels of knowing God. The more intimate we are with God, the more our lives, actions and motivations will be in line with our beliefs”

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30 September 2010

234 pages, YWAM Publishing, 2010, Seattle

www.ywampublishing.com

Review by JASON GHRIST

ResonateNews.com

For anyone seeking to live the “balanced” and sedate spiritual life, "Taking On Giants: A Pioneer Missionary's Pursuit of God's Vision For Ministry and Life" by Joe Portale is not recommended. In the pages of this remarkable good read, we find the farthest thing from quiet spirituality. Instead is an unsettling invitation to enter into the risky conflict of a life lived in absolute dependence on God, in a world yet fully surrendered to Him.

Portale challenges our comprehension as he recounts the experiences and lessons learned – and reveals understandings of God he has developed – during years of ministry to the French-speaking world as a missionary with Youth With a Mission. “Taking on Giants” calls us to a “new” way of living with God - going beyond the Sunday school religion many may have been taught. For some, the challenge may seem to be too great.

The God in whom he believes, Portale says, is still very active and involved in our daily lives. God expects to be listened to and depended upon for every major and small decision of life. Phrases in the pages such as, “God was leading me,” “showing me,” “revealing to me” are written in such a matter-of-fact fashion, we are led to believe such experiences should be common for all.

 

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28 August 2010

By JASON GHRIST
ResonateNews.com

From the book’s cover a reader might conclude that “Sacred Waiting,” by David Timms, is merely another study in the disciplines of the Christian life. The reader might erroneously assume this is a book on patience with the “how-to” for making it through a traffic jam or dealing with an unruly child without loosing one's cool. Other, “at-a-glance” assumptions might be that Timms is writing to decry our fast-paced distracted society and show us how to slow down and live in the present.

For this reason, the reader who is struggling not simply with patience to deal with life’s difficulties, but rather peace in the midst of a difficult life may in fact overlook its revolutionary message.

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