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Tim Pepper Music – Soulful Tuesday – Promises

July 19, 2016 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

PROMISES

Genre-Description

It’s authentic. If “Authentic” isn’t a genre, it should be.

It’s visceral. I really didn’t want to us the word “Visceral” to describe this song. The word is worn out. Everyone uses it, but despite the overuse, there’s no mistaking how aptly it fits. This message emerges from the recesses.

And it’s universal. Who hasn’t quietly questioned “Where are the promises?” Even the greatest examples of faith – Abraham, Moses, King David and Job – entertained the question. It’s universal and to be expected.

If Guitars Could Speak

As songs go, the words to Promises are few but what the words don’t say, the guitar does. That’s one of the most prevalent qualities of Tim’s music. He talks with his fingers and this song is a good example.

Lyrics

Oh my children won’t you come to me
You’ve been broken if you need some peace
All your sadness I will gladly keep
For the price of your gentle sleep

Where are the promises you made to me
The road I travel has been hard on me
I’ve been searching trying to believe
Where are the promises you made to me

Oh my Father you said to me
Your path is straight and your way is ease
I am broken I am on my knees
It’s a struggle just to believe

Where are the promises you made to me
The road I travel has been hard on me
I’ve been searching trying to believe
Where are the promises you made to me.

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Ooh ooh oh oh oh oh ooh oooh [Read more…] about Tim Pepper Music – Soulful Tuesday – Promises

Differences Between Calvinists And Arminians

June 25, 2016 by EnnisP 2 Comments

Either/Or
Neither/Nor
What Are You
Going To Be

I consider myself neither Calvinist nor Arminian but rather a mix of the two. I don’t mean to sound uncommitted or indecisive when I say that.

It’s just difficult for me to think any person could really side completely with either.

And the two ideas vary a lot.

I doubt any person in either camp today is exactly what the forebears of either belief were in the past. Which, of course, means that if you say you are a Calvinist now, you will be differing with Calvinists of yesteryear.

As things move forward, and we think more deeply about our beliefs, perspective changes.

Don’t overreact. I didn’t say belief changes. I said perspective changes. If it doesn’t, you’re standing still.

It’s a fact. Today’s Calvinist is different.

The same could be said of Arminians but does anyone ever talk about Arminianism. Other than Calvinists.

Of the two ideas, the one most talked about, studied, explained and argued over is Calvinism. Everyone joins in that conversation. Arminianism, however, gets most of it’s attention from Calvinists.

So, I decided to put together a comparison of the two. Don’t get upset though. No insult is intended. The following list of comparisons is not exhaustive and is written in the spirit of fun and humor. [Read more…] about Differences Between Calvinists And Arminians

5 Lessons From The Life Of King David

October 29, 2015 by EnnisP 2 Comments

David Never Waited
For Special Dispensations
From God

There are very good reasons David is one of the most popular figures in the Bible.

His story is long and spread out, which means you won’t read very far before bumping into him, but more to the point, it’s personal. We don’t have to wonder what David said or what he thought or how he felt. Many of those details are laid out for us.

It also never gets boring. It’s the stuff that inspires movies.

The history extends from 1 Samuel 16 to 1 Kings 2 (42 chapters) and much of it is repeated, with additional detail, in 1 Chronicles. All total, he is the focus of about 70 chapters and since God made timeless promises to David and his descendants, he is mentioned repeatedly throughout the Old and New Testaments afterward.

Additionally, large portions of the Bible were actually written by David and his son, Solomon.

David is credited with 75 Psalms
Solomon is credited with 2 Psalms (although he wrote over a thousand), much of Proverbs, Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes.

These portions of the Bible are still read and embraced daily. Psalms and Proverbs are the starting points for many devotions. Saying David is influential is an understatement.

In short, David is the reference point for personal-relationship with God. If you want to know what that relationship feels/looks like, David’s your guy.

He’s easy to identify with. He’s spiritual without being super righteous and human (meaning sinful) without being committed to evil.

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If we were to ask people which Bible personality they would like to emulate, David would probably top the list. Who wouldn’t want to be the little guy who takes on and defeats Goliath? [Read more…] about 5 Lessons From The Life Of King David

Where Is Jesus? How Can I Connect?

May 16, 2015 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

Anyone
Anywhere
Anytime

One question people often ask is, “Where Is Jesus?”

It’s a good question that deserves attention but I need to expand on the idea a bit.

To do that I’ll ask a few more questions:

How is it that people make a connection with Jesus? What are they thinking and feeling?
What exactly is happening to make the connection? Is something special being said or done?
Where are these connections usually made? Is geography a part of the formula?
When are these connections likely to occur? Young, old, before, after – what?

These are even better questions but the most common answers don’t agree with the facts.

Let me clarify. [Read more…] about Where Is Jesus? How Can I Connect?

6 Reasons To Question Infant Baptism

May 7, 2015 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

This Is Intended
To Promote Thinking
Not Fighting

A friend recently posted a question on Facebook about infant baptism.

It seemed like he was genuinely asking, not saying, or baiting. He addressed his question to “scholar” types.

The essence of the question was:

When the Bible mentions baptizing an entire family (household) when the head of the house is baptized, does this imply infant baptism?

It’s a good question. The Book of Acts does record two incidents when one person – the head of a household – believed and was baptized. Lydia was one and the other was the superintendent of the city jail.

The interesting thing is, in both cases, all the family members were baptized at the same time.

It doesn’t specifically say each family member confessed or believed but the idea that faith comes before baptism is so well established in Scripture it doesn’t need to be repeated ad nauseam.

Both incidents occurred in Philippi and you find the details in Acts 16.

The question naturally arises:

Does this imply infant baptism?

The short answer is “no it doesn’t” but that isn’t much of an argument. There are many churches that baptize infants – I was sprinkled as an infant in a Presbyterian Church – so the question can’t be easily dismissed. It is an established practice.

Here are my reasons for thinking infants were not involved: [Read more…] about 6 Reasons To Question Infant Baptism