It occurs to me that we don’t elect leaders, we elect followers. Leaders don’t change stances with every new poll that is taken Leaders actually take the initiative to go against the grain of popular opinion. In a democracy, popularity is what matters. Whoever gets the most votes wins, thus those who win must constantly be seeking out the will of the majority. Successful politicians are followers who create the illusion that they are leading. What they are actually doing is seeking re-election. Every move is calculated to please/follow the will of the majority and the majority is whoever has the most money to lobby a cause through. It would be nice to have leaders, but leaders, for the most part, don’t get elected. This is why I don’t personally put a lot of stock in elections. We get what we want, not what we need. We can complain all day that a politician has done “this” or “that” but they are following the will of the majority. Leaders don’t get elected and when they start leading then they don’t get re-elected, unless of course where they are leading is where the majority is going. Unfortunately, the majority is almost always wrong. This is why the church must be the voice of God speaking the truth to so called “power”. This is why as a minister of the gospel I will never endorse a candidate and will never talk politics in church. God’s politics are concerned with the minorities who don’t have power; the poor, the disenfranchised, and the outcast…the refugee, the widow, and the orphan. Seeking to help these people is pure religion. The Kingdom of God is “political” not in the sense that it follows the will of the majority, but in the sense that that politics is a term for how a community orders itself. The church is a politic all it’s own. When churches start preaching partisan politics then the church has given up its power and it’s prophetic voice. This is happening too much and thus the church is too often impotent. The world will not be changed by another election, by Caesar’s sword, or by another carnival. The church operates best on the outside doing the hard work of leaders. It seems like the people with power to change things do not lead from a political arena, they change things by lowering themselves and helping the helpless. Those leaders don’t generally win elections because they are called to do unpopular things. Unpopular things don’t win elections…thus we have a broken system.
Category: Politics of Jesus
Want to hear a track from my new CD?
Want To Hear A Track From My New CD?
If you haven’t heard yet, my new album is recorded and mixed, promo photos have been taken, publishing contracts have been executed, and I am currently in talks with media promoters and graphic designers.
With that being said we still are quite a bit short financially and could really use your help to complete the album. I still have to pay for mastering, printing the discs, distribution fees, art design, and promotion. This puts me at least $1000 short at this point.
The record is being released on March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day) but my plan is to have it mastered, pressed, and mailed out to donors before Christmas. With your help I know this can be accomplished. If you could once again help me spread the word about our gofundme page that would be a great help.
Also, several,of you have told me that you are planning on contributing but just haven’t yet. I would encourage you to do it now if you are planning to, then you can get a copy of the album well before the rest of the world.
Just to sweeten the pot a bit more, to all new donors who give $10 or more between now and Thanksgiving, I will immediately send you a track from the new record.
I’ve listened to the unmastered mixes from start to finish about 6 times now and I still Cant believe how great it sounds.Craig Adams did an amazing job of producing, singing BGV’s and assembling some of the best musicians and engineers that Nashville (the world really) have to offer. I’m a blessed man to have such care given to my songs.
Help me spread the word and give if you can.Wishing you all a great week.
Rick Lee James
Voices In My Head Podcast Episode #144 – The Amazing Spider-Man with Matt Anderson
This week on the Voices in my Head Podcast I am joined by Matt Anderson of the Sci- Fi Christian Podcast. We talk about Spider-man and the themes of “Power” and “Responsibility” while revisiting a classic Stan Lee and Steve Ditko storyline of the Amazing Spider-Man, The Master Planner!!!
Listen in iTunes :
Podcast Episode #139: KHK
LISTEN NOW
Since 2010, KHK (Kids Helping Kids) has performed in over 80 events! They were blessed to open for such well known Christian artists and some Dove award recipients such as The Newsboys, FFH, Jason Gray, John G. Elliott, Jo Vogels, flyfaith, and yours truly, Rick Lee James. God has big plans for these kids and it was my privilege to have them, as well as their founders John and Karen Flaugher, on the Voices In My Head Podcast This week. KHK’s new record, Keep Him King, is available everywhere online including CDBABY.
Rick Lee James Tour Schedule 2015
A Letter from the People of the Cross to ISIS
This is such a profound Christian response to violence that I really felt compelled to share it. This is the message of the followers of Christ to any who would make themselves enemies, in this case ISIS.
Email: community@mighty.la
Website: mighty.la (coming soon)
Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @teammightyla
As the world responds to the Islamic State with hatred, revenge, and shock, there is one group that is responding differently. They are not allies with ISIS but enemies. And they have been slain by the thousands in the hands of ISIS. ISIS calls them The Nation of the Cross – The ones they have killed are bringing a message of forgiveness and hope. Declaring a love that they do not know – A love that reconciles even the worst of us and can make enemies into brothers.
We worked with several Arab Christians and Middle East Refugees to get their feedback. Also had it translated by an Arab Christian from Egypt.
Mighty is a new company based in LA with the vision that one day Christians would have a powerful and consistent voice in online media.
Shot on a GoPro Hero 4 Black in 4k with a DJI Phantom 2. And a Panasonic GH4 with Zeiss 35mm lenses.Shot around the Big Sur region in CA.
Music is ‘Rise’ from The Music Bed.
Today, Rick Lee James “Changes” album is only $1 on BandCamp.com
Today, Download Rick Lee James’ Changes Album for only $1.00
All sales benefit the Rick Lee James Hymn Project so please tell your friends. 12 tracks for $1.00, …but you can give more if you like.
#throwbackthursday
http://rickleejames.bandcamp.com/album/changes
This album features tracks with Brandon Sipes , Brannon Hancock , Brenda Spicer Thornberry-Crabtree , Mandy Holcomb, Shawn Alex, and more.
Also, we are still raising funds for the Hymn Project. It’s a record, a film, and a documentary we want to make in Nashville with Dove award winning producer Craig Adams. Click any of the graphics below for more information on the Project. You can also click this link. http://www.GoFundMe.com/Hymns
Take the $5.00 Challenge – Make The Record
Podcast #117: Questions From God – Part 2
How Do We Love Our Enemies? How Do We Pray For ISIS? How Did Jesus Do It?
How do we pray for our enemies? Are we called to pray any differently in times like these when terrorists groups like ISIS slaughter people without remorse? Isn’t this just like the world Jesus was in 2000 years ago when Romans occupied his Jewish homeland, enslaved his people, and demanded that they declare “Caesar Is Lord” or face execution? Is it any different than ISIS forcing victims to convert to Islam or die today?
It’s hard to be like Jesus these days. It was hard to be like Jesus 2000 years ago as well. It was hard for Jesus to be like Jesus, but he was like Jesus all the way to the cross, and back. That is to say, Jesus was being like God, perfect as He is perfect. His call to His followers is to follow His example and to do the same. What would Jesus do? Jesus would die for the sins of man. Maybe a better way to say it is, Jesus would die by the sins of man, at the hands of sinful men. In fact, Jesus did die, at the hands of sinful men, execution by sinfulness.
Being like Jesus so often will lead us to the wrong side of a cross, a machine gun, a knife, machete, or a death squad, but I don’t think He was kidding when he taught his followers to take up their cross and follow him. It’s insane, but it’s an insanity that ushers the Kingdom of God into the world.
“Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee.”
Do we mean that in the bad times when our lives are at stake?
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Do we mean that when terrorists like ISIS are threatening to kill, steal, and destroy our families and take our lives?
Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Are we willing to bless when we are cursed? Are we willing to bless the common cup and share the common bread, even when Judas is at the table?
God never created an evil thing. There is no evil anywhere that was created by God. God is love and every act of God is an act of love. Evil is a distortion of the good things of God. ISIS is made up of humans who are created in God’s good image. However, that image has been distorted by sin and evil. God creates and redeems, but these men are doing the opposite of that, they are destroying and causing chaos.
These are not things blessed by God, willed by God, condoned by God, or overlooked by God. It doesn’t matter if they do it in God’s name or not, these murderous acts are not of God. Religion enforced by violence is not true religion! It never has been and it never will be. ISIS is a distortion of the good things that God has made, namely human beings. These men are not being their true selves, they are not being who God made them to be. They are distortions of human beings, not the holy thing God created them to be.
My prayer is that God would restore his image in these human beings in spite of the evil things they have done and are doing. Show them Your Glory, O God, and in doing so bring them to repentance. The God we serve is a God that can change even the cold hearts of the men in ISIS. Only God can do the healing that needs so desperately to be done.
Lord, break the bows and shatter the spears. Make every missile miss it’s Mark and let every bullet be a dud. Thwart the plans of the wicked and restore them, to your image, O God. Bring violent men to justice and heal the wounded hearts and shattered lives of the people who have become victims of their deeds.
Bring about a forgiveness and mercy that only you can bring. You are the God who bore the worst that man can do on a Roman cross. Mankind is at it again, doing the worst that they can do. Overcome them, Lord, In Jesus name. Save, O God. Protect the innocent.
Deliver the suffering, O God of love. Above all, let Christians who are suffering, show the world what Jesus looks like, even in their suffering. Help your followers to love their enemies and pray for their persecutors. This cannot be done without divine intervention, Lord. We simply don’t have it in us to love people who cut innocent children in half, but You call us to do it anyway. This is what we signed up for when we signed up to follow you, Jesus. If it takes our death to show the love of Jesus then let the love of Christ be seen in death and in life, for we believe it can change the world. It is a path we can only take because you took it for us, showing the way. I pray for the victims as I would pray for myself, let Jesus be seen, and come quickly Lord.
And since you call us to pray for our enemies as fervently as we pray for our loved ones, we pray for ISIS. Stop them, discipline them, punish them, bring them to repentance, save them, and turn them into brothers in Christ. Bring to them an overwhelming remorse for what they have done and are doing. Change things, Lord. Set this right. Make all things new. Show us Your Glory and make wars cease to the ends of the earth. We don’t believe violence will ever stop violence, but we believe the love of Christ can.
And We believe the words we declare in our creeds.
We believe in the one High God, who out of love created the beautiful world and everything good in it. He created Man and wanted Man to be happy in the world. God loves the world and every nation and tribe on the Earth. We have known this High God in darkness, and now we know Him in the light. God promised in the book of His word, the Bible, that He would save the world and all the nations and tribes.
We believe that God made good His promise by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, a man in the flesh, a Jew by tribe, born poor in a little village, who left His home and was always on safari doing good, curing people by the power of God, teaching about God and man, showing the meaning of religion is love. He was rejected by his people, tortured and nailed hands and feet to a cross, and died. He lay buried in the grave, but the hyenas did not touch him, and on the third day, He rose from the grave. He ascended to the skies. He is the Lord.
We believe that all our sins are forgiven through Him. All who have faith in Him must be sorry for their sins, be baptized in the Holy Spirit of God, live the rules of love and share the bread together in love, to announce the Good News to others until Jesus comes again. We are waiting for Him. He is alive. He lives. This we believe. Amen.
(The Maasai Creed composed in 1960 by the Maasai people of East Africa)
Published on Aug 13, 2013
Lead Sheet Available at this link:
http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/3ba9459bf5f952a99f3997477058d30d11f85429
Lyrics and Music by Rick Lee James
Love Our Enemies
Verse 1
God has made this declaration
through His Son, the Prince of Peace,
that to enter in His Kingdom
we must love our enemies.
They may seem our adversaries
but are merely slaves to sin,
so our battle is not with them
who are only hostages
Verse 2
Lord, deliver us from hatred,
prejudice, and cruelty.
Come remove discrimination
that the truth may set us free.
When we look at our reflection
we not only see ourselves
but we see a former captive
whom the grace of God has helped.
Verse 3
Father, show us how to free them
with Your mercy above
for our enemies are brothers
who’ve forgotten how to love.
You have made us in your image,
You’ve redeemed us through Your son.
Gather us into Your Kingdom
where no sword is drawn but love.
Verse 4
Jesus Christ, is our example
showing us the face of God
when He chose to die for sinners
rather than to shed their blood.
So we’ll fight them with affection,
we will conquer them with grace.
May our enemies see Jesus
when they look upon our face
Verse 5
In His time and for His pleasure
pray we all will stand one day
reconciled before the Father
when the old has passed away.
When revenge would cloud our vision
turn our eyes to Calvary
where our Savior died to show us
how to love our enemies.
Ending
Lord and Maker of creation,
every life is dear to Thee
In the holy name of Jesus
help us love our enemies
The 4th of July and The Christian
Contrary to what many people seem to think, July 4th is not a Christian holy day (holiday). Moses didn’t come down the mountain holding the Constitution in one hand and the Declaration of Independence in the other. The only Christian nation that has ever existed or will ever exist is the kingdom of God, whose reign has no end.
The earliest statement of Christian belief, “Jesus is Lord”, is the pledge of allegiance for the citizens of God’s Kingdom. The Sermon on the Mount is the Constitution for the people of God. It’s impossible to live it out alone but that’s the point. It takes Jesus and a group of disciples sharing life together to see His Kingdom take shape in this world.
Presidents and politicians like to tell us that The United States of America is last great hope of the world, and Christians chuckle at such an absurd statement. The United States of America is not not even close to being the last great hope of the world. The last great hope of the world is the first great hope of the world, and in fact the only hope for the world, Jesus Christ.
With all that being said, I like living in America. There are a lot of beautiful places here, with a lot of great people who have achieved some amazing things. I truly hope you will enjoy your 4th of July celebrations with your family and friends, but remember where the Christian’s true allegiance lies and Who the true hope of the world is. It is the hope that will outlast The United States and every other nation on earth. Be grateful for the place you live, be proud of the good things it has done, hold it accountable for the evil it embraces, and be grateful for the place you live while remembering that it is not your home.
Declare and celebrate your dependence upon God this 4th of July and remember that any other freedom than the freedom He offers is counterfeit at best. Freedom is the power to do the right thing, not to do anything you want to. Freedom is holiness lived out, serving others, and denying self. Love The Lord your God and worship Him only. Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord your God
Revelation 11:15
The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
Podcast #112: Ryan Stevenson Live From The Depot Coffee House
My guest this week is Gotee Records artist Ryan Stevenson. Ryan is a husband and father of two boys who currently serves as worship leader at Vertical Church Boise. Prior to his full-time music career, Stevenson spent seven years as a paramedic. He has performed at Creation West, Fish Fest and Lifest, among other top Christian festivals around the country, and has toured with such artists as Toby Mac, Group 1 Crew, Rachael Lampa and more.
“Ryan is an impressive songwriter who understands the delicate balance of writing songs about his faith and walking it out in a cold, cold world,” said TobyMac. “He never shies away from a ‘Jesus’ lyric, ’cause he is fully aware of where his strength comes from.”
On the podcast this week we have an exclusive live show with Ryan recorded at The Depot Coffeehouse in Urbana Ohio. Brought to you by the Gathering of Miami Valley.
LISTEN HERE: