New Sojourn Christmas Album: A Child Is Born

by Rick Pidcock

It’s getting to be that time of year again, when songs of chestnuts, an imaginary fat guy, and flying reindeer fill the airwaves.  It’s a time when unbelieving secular artists sing a song or two about a God they don’t believe in.  And it’s time for many of us to wish that there were more creative, excellent Christmas music choices to enjoy.

I’d like to let you know about a new album that has just been released by Sojourn Music, entitled A Child Is Born.

Sojourn Music is a group from Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY that produces contemporary hymns, psalms, and songs of lament and praise, with a very modern, folk rock style.

In their newly released Christmas album, they provide a soulful, desperate, and fresh approach to a number of well known, and some not so well known Christmas songs.

I am especially excited about their rendition of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”  I’ve always wished that this song would be recorded with a more upbeat, desperate rejoicing feel to it.  And their rendition did just that.

If you’re looking for some fresh, creative new Christmas music this season that rises above what you generally find on pop radio, then I strongly recommend checking out A Child Is Born.

You can listen to the album below for free, and purchase it at the link provided for as low as $9.

Continuationism: Orderly Worship & Speaking In Tongues

by Rick Pidcock

Earlier this year, I began a series on biblical continuationism. After an initial introduction article, I wrote two additional articles entitled, Continuationism & the Sovereignty of God, and Continuationism & the Sufficiency of Scripture.

When I began to come around to the idea of ongoing biblical prophecy, I really struggled with the idea of speaking in tongues.  And as I talk with other believers, I get this sense from them as well.

I hear questions like, “Isn’t speaking in tongues simply witnessing in another human language?  Doesn’t Paul say that speaking in tongues is selfishly prideful?  What about the modern day craziness that goes on in churches? What is the meaning?  What’s the point?”

I’d like to say up front that I have never experienced this gift in either private or corporate worship.  So I am writing this article, not based on experience, but rather based on my understanding of Scripture.

Speaking in tongues is a topic mostly met with very strong convictions, and a lot of confusion.  So I’d like to work my way through 1 Corinthians 14, in order to try to give as accurate and simple of an explanation of tongues as I can.

Theological Imperialism and the Black Community

by Rick Pidcock

Over the past few years, there has been an awakening of greater interest in reformed theology from some within the Black community.  However, this interest among some has been met with a racially-influenced skepticism by others.

In the following interview, Trip Lee, Eric Mason, and Lecrae reveal a very honest and thought-provoking assessment of the struggles that they face in their communities as reformed theologians, as well as share some thoughts on how to effectively communicate reformed theology to the Black community.

The Gathering

by Rick Pidcock

During our last year in Denver, CO, we were members of Sovereign Grace Church, which is part of a family of churches known as “Sovereign Grace Ministries.”  While we were a part of SGM, I was very excited to be able to get an up close experience of some of the planning stages that went into the most recent live worship recording, “The Gathering.”  I’d like to share a little bit about what went into this project, as well as a few thoughts on the project as a whole.

Hebrews 6: A Warning & Hope For The Christian School Movement

by Rick Pidcock

In May of 2000, I walked out the center aisle of a small Baptist Church with twelve other classmates for my high school graduation.  And at the time, I found myself feeling torn.  On one hand, I was very excited to be finished with school, and to begin the next phase of life.  But my excitement was mixed with fear.  My fear was not the fear of major life choices such as where to go to college, who to date, what career to pursue, or where to live.  My fear, rather, was in the potential spiritual disaster that would lie ahead for my Christian school friends.

As life has developed since that event, I’d like to share some thoughts on the Christian School movement (CSM) in light of Hebrews 6:4-12.  Though this passage was not originally intended for today’s CSM, it can be applied in order to give us a much clearer understanding of what is going on with graduates of Christian Schools.

Before I begin in Hebrews, I would like first to give one of the most fundamental foundations of the Christian life.  Namely, that what God begins, He completes.