Assure Me Once and For All

As I sat before work listening to a sermon on Assurance of Salvation, I began to lament. I lamented of my own failings to live up to God's standard. I wondered if I could really be saved. I began to wonder again about loss of salvation, or "once saved, always saved," and tried to contemplate a bit further these two sides' implications for the believer. Here are some thoughts.

Listed as one of the hardest to swallow passages in the entire Bible, Matthew 7:21-23 does put forth a rather bleak picture, even for believers.

"Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, will go into the kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. A great number will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, were we not prophets in your name, and did we not by your name send out evil spirits, and by your name do works of power? And then I will say to them, I never knew you, depart from me you workers of evil." Matthew 7:21-23

After thinking about this further, and my own salvation experience/ongoing struggle with assurance of that, I have come up with a few ways to look at this passage. Each way could be right, as I am not sure the true "scholarly" perspective. Nonetheless, I wanted to break it down visually somewhere, and that's for what blogs are intended.

1) Believers who had a "salvation experience" but were simply confessors of the faith, and did not bear fruit of their faith.
Why not bite the bullet and start first with this one, the one mentioned in the sermon series. This interpretation of it is what makes it a very convicting/scary verse. We are told in the evangelical realm of churches (non-denom, pentecostal, baptist, etc...) that the altar call salvation experience is our true assurance that we are "saved."

I have no issues with this definition, and it is in fact close to where I fell myself for my own. The problem with that mindset could really only be the idea that someone confesses Christ and salvation, but does not sanctify that relationship through daily walking with God. The Bible says we are a new creation when we are born-again, that we seek repentance, and we honor God with our lives. Through this we are "saved" from God's wrath by the blood of Christ, who accepted that Wrath on our behalf on the cross.

What worries me is this. How does one really know? In this scenario, it is on the believer to "choose" to follow God, which also seems to mean they could "un-choose." Even those who stay faithful, may still appear before Christ someday to hear the harsh words of Matthew 7:23.

Christ says they prophesied and worked wonders in His name, but he never KNEW them. And that is probably the key to this interpretation. The believer whether saved by altar call, or God calling by his Spirit, must truly seek to follow Christ. And only in sincerely desiring forgiveness of sin in the midst of following God's will can the believer truly hope to maintain assurance of their salvation. It becomes a heart matter for sure, not a head matter.


"Take up your cross and follow me." -Jesus


"If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9


2) The Verse is referring to False prophets of old, and those to come in the last days, who counterfeit the miracles of God, and seek to lead his flock astray


I'll be honest, this interpretation is more what I gather from the context of Matthew 7 as a whole. The chapter started with that famous "tolerance" verse, Judge Not lest ye be judged (verse 1) that the nonbelievers are so fond of adopting for their personal agendas and to justify sin. But, the verse as a whole seems to be Christ speaking to those who would portray belief on the outside, but be false on the inside. Hypocrites.

Now, I have always felt the largest cop-out in Christian/Non-Christian world was, "I can't go to church because they're all hypocrites." Obviously we are there for a reason, and each and every one of us, full of sin as we are, is most decidedly hypocritical without Christ's covering. We go to church to rid ourselves of that attribute (and those who don't are the subject of this chapter).

Paul told believers to be willing to rebuke one another, and that would in some cases involve speaking out against another's action: Judging. But in the context of keeping the church full of sound believers, the elimination of internal sin that causes others to be led astray must be addressed.

1 Corinthians 5 has Paul rebuking the Corinthian church for not rebuking their brother believer who is sleeping with his stepmom. The church had gone so far as to basically promote this immorality in their midst. It wasn't that they weren't all sinning; There is a laundry list of Corinthian church sins. Rather, it is that they refused to rebuke their brother for his outward sin that was infecting the rest of the church. Paul specifically says,
 "For it is no business of mine to be judging those who are outside; but it is yours to be judging those who are among you;" 1 Corinthians 5:12.

But, before the unbelievers get excited telling Christians to stop judging them, read the rest of the verse:
As for those who are outside, GOD is THEIR Judge. So put away the evil man from among you." 1 Corinthians 13


Non-belivers are most definitely not off the hook, and are probably worse off with GOD being their only judge. There is no one to rebuke the non-bleiver but God himself, and that should be a sobering thought.

Back in Jesus' climax to his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7, we see that prior to verses 21-23, he talks of false prophets who come in sheep's clothing, but are wolves inside. This is followed by a discussion on them not bearing fruit, and then we reach verse 21-23 with Jesus saying he never knew them.

A false prophet would go about performing miracles (Backed by Satan and demons) to deceive God's children. False prophets will arise even in our day to deceive if possible the elect (believers). Jesus then in this interpretation is saying that those prophets who did things "in the name of Jesus" were not really doing them for Jesus, but for Satan, and they will be cast away.

This interpretation does take some burden off of the believer doubting salvation, but still presents the problem of not everyone who THINKS they are entering Heaven, being allowed in.

3) Religious people who think they can earn their salvation with works and deeds; even those who confess Christ as LORD.


This interpretation would have Jesus referring to the Pharisees and religious leaders of his day, who were assured in their own religiousness, but most certainly not of Christ. These are the same leaders who had Christ crucified.

In our day, the popular association would be with the Catholic church (though I know there are good Christ/Bible believing Catholics out there). The emphasis on Doctrine and religion over a relationship with God through Christ, puts them in danger of either becoming Prideful of their own salvation, or depressed because of their constant failures in sin as humans.

Martin Luther struggled with this very thing. Either you could follow the religious aspects to a T and become boastful that your salvation was better than your neighbors'. Or, you would realize no amount of works or procedures could earn your salvation and become depressed.

Salvation breeds good works, but good works do not breed salvation. The religious man's struggle if this passage refers to him, is that he did all these wonderful things in Jesus' name, but it was for his own glory instead of Christ's.

Matthew Henry, in his commentary on Matthew 7:21-23 writes, "He shows, by a plain remonstrance, that an outward profession of religion, however remarkable, will not bring us to Heaven, unless there be a correspondent conversation."(Matthew Henry Commentary)


Simon Magus in Acts 8:13 tries to buy the ability to perform the same miracles and wonders as the apostles. The Bible says he was "amazed" at them (which could be considered believing in them), but he clearly had only selfish motives behind that belief.

In Conclusion whichever interpretation fits best, we are still left seeing that there is more to salvation than simply expressing outwardly devotion to Christ. It must be a change on the inside. It will reveal itself by our changed attitude and lifestyle which can truly only be brought about by the Holy Spirit, not of ourselves.

This is where some reformed theology (Presbyterian, Calvinist) has what I think is a more assured view. If it is by the Holy Spirit's moving alone that we accept Christ and become "saved," then it is nothing we do ourselves, but rather something that God calls us to. Jesus says his sheep will hear his call and come to him, but not all sheep who hear will come. But like any good shepherd, the sheep which are His, he will never lose.

From that we get a basic understanding of "once saved, always saved," which I'm sure none would argue is certainly more appealing for the constant doubter of salvation. With this mindset, it is God's sovereign decision as to whom will be saved, and while this does not mean He just sits around picking people all day, it does mean that in his infinite wisdom, he knows who will ultimately choose Him and who will reject him. Just as Pharaoh's heart was hardened so that his Glory would be revealed in Egypt, so God knows those whom are His and who will reject him not matter what.

The conflict comes from situations in which a professing believer backslides, or rejects the faith altogether despite an earlier salvation experience. This view proposes then that they were not truly saved to begin with, but that is a short answer at best. From these verse we can see that God will always be willing to forgive and accept back a true believer who goes astray for a time. Just look at Israel. They backslid constantly, but still maintained a relationship with God in the end leading up to Christ's appearance when the old ways were supplemented with the new covenant.

If any people who are CALLED by my name will humble themselves... (I) will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14


If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins. 1 John 1:9


"Before the children had come into existence (referring to Rebecca in OT), or had done anything good or bad, in order that God's purpose and his SELECTION might be effected, not by works, but by him whose purpose it is, it was said to her (Rebecca), the older will be servant of the younger." Romans 9:11-12


We can see certain verses which could argue for assurance of salvation due to God knowing from time eternal who would ultimately choose him.

The other option would be that it is entirely in the individual's hands. We choose to follow or reject God, and it is our decision. This is how most of us were raised, and in evangelical circles; as well as, most Methodist circles this is the view (Arminianism). The idea is then that we affect our salvation by making a decision to follow Christ or not. Like the old song "I have decided to follow Jesus."

Now if I may speak to my own struggle with both of these views. My whole life has been seeking God as far as my heart was concerned. And, though the outside did not always reflect it, I've always wanted more than anything to do God's will, be forgiven, and have that Assurance of salvation. Thanks to an upbringing in a church afraid of words like "saved," I never really understood salvation until late high school/ early college. As soon as I understood, I got on my knees and prayed for Christ to be in my heart.....and then promptly began sinning again.

This is where I find the problem. In my entire walk with God, I am always falling back to sin. I suppose it is our nature, but how can I be assured of salvation, when I can't even maintain a proper walk without something going wrong. The reformed "once saved, always saved" view would tell me that because in my heart I am changed and want to follow God, that my sin is forgiven and salvation not possible to lose.

The Arminian side (possible to lose salvation), would suggest that if I continue to fall into the same patterns, I could lose my salvation, no matter how much I truly desire it.

So, while I don't see this argument between views being resolved anytime soon, I think I can say one thing to conclude this. We will have our struggles as believers. We will sin. Whether old sin brought back, or new sin dreamed up, we are by nature sinners. Salvation in Christ does Wash that sin, regardless of what viewpoint above is taken. True repentance brings about righteousness. As much as I would love for God to just come out and say, "Chris Byers, you have been, are and always will be saved and I'll see you up here some day!" I don't expect that to happen. Isn't that what we all want though? Or am I really the only believer struggling with this?

Part of my lack of assurance comes from the fact that I didn't cry when I was saved, which might appear silly at first. I don't know why...I tried...everyone else I saw at altars always cried when it happened. I simply assured God that I wanted to live for him, accepted all his son had done for me, and asked to be filled with saving grace. No tears. No tongues. And that is at the heart of this. Was I supposed to cry? Was it supposed to feel like MORE than it did?

I can feel it often now. I know God works in my life, and I know I am forgiven if I ask, but am I going to get past the Jesus blockade someday? I confess Lord, Lord all the time. Am I one of those who outwardly displays salvation and inwardly is rotten? To that I would say 'no.' If anything it is all hiding on the inside and I'm not outward enough.

I will close differently with some verses on assurance of salvation, and let this just stand as an honest attempt at understanding. I just want to know that I am truly, 100% saved by grace, by Christ, and that my eternity with Christ is secure.

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us." Psalm 103:12


"Whoever hears my word and believes...has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24


"I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life." John 6:47


"I give them eternal life....no one can snatch them out of my hand." -John 10:28


"He who began a good work in you, will bring it to completion." Philippians 1:6


"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Acts 2:21


"By grace you have been saved through faith...not by works." Ephesians 2:8-9


"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins." 1 John 1:9


I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back...no turning back- Song

The Gospel is not a Buffet

I love to eat at china buffet restaurants. There is just something about having all of that selection. I can take some chicken here, maybe some steak there; toss it all on a bed of fried rice and I am one satisfied patron. There are some areas of our lives as Christians (and really for people in general) where choice can be a good things.

Golden Corral is another current favorite when I’m looking to stuff myself so full that I can barely drive home. A little seafood here, a slice of pizza there; finished off with some ice cream with a variety of delicious toppings.

There is one place; however, that Christians should not be looking for multiple choice options. If you hadn’t guessed by now, surely you see where this is going. We cannot compromise the true Gospel message by making it into a buffet. 

My favorite food is steak. Maybe a friend of mine decides his favorite food is spaghetti. We could argue all day, back and forth, about which is truly better because ultimately the answer is subjective. You might even say in this case, spaghetti is right for him and steak is right for me and both of us need to accept each other’s food decisions. In that context it’s perfectly fine.

But ultimate moral truth is not subjective. God’s truth is not up for debate. We cannot take issues of subjective taste and apply them to Truth claims as it relates to God*(paraphrase). For the Christian, any idea against the wisdom of God is wrong. 

Some will see this as intolerant. Christ certainly expected we who follow to receive some guff for this. When he told us to take up our cross and follow him, he wasn’t asking us to pick up a fluffy pillow. Rather, he was telling us to pick up this representation of death and follow him down the hard path ahead.

As Christians today in the U.S. we often get so comfortable that we forget the real message of Christianity is not prosperity and riches for everyone. That isn’t to say God could not grant us favor, and in fact he often does. But, we must not forget the essential truth of the Gospel is that we are sinners, fallen from God’s grace and it is only by the cross of Christ, through his blood, that God’s wrath was withheld from us. 

We walk around saying we are saved, but as R.C. Sproul asks, “what are we saved from?” Most of us do not think about this with any more than a passing brain wave. We are saved from WRATH. 

“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23:

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal live in Jesus Christ our  LORD.” Romans 6:23

Genesis 2:17- “But of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you may not take; for on the day when you take of it, you will surely DIE.”

Have we really ever stopped to read that closely. Our nature is sin. Our lives are pathetic without the cross of Christ. Christ being fully God and fully man, living a perfect life without sin, accepted God’s wrath on our behalf, and sacrificed himself in the most painful of ways, that we might believe on Him and have our sin nature forgiven; past, present and future. 

Pastor Mike Fabarez makes a good point in his sermon “Head Games” regarding what exactly is so hard about this truth for the world to grasp. I will use my own example in place of his to get the same point across. 

The other day I was trying to connect a Wi-Fi router in our house. There are few things more evil in this world than home networking, and I decided to tackle it full force having been successful in Muskogee on my mom’s router. I had the device, I had the instructions, but the thing just would not work properly. Whether she said it or not I can’t remember, but I’m sure Juliet was thinking, “Chris just call tech support and have them walk you through it!” 

She killed time playing with my new iPad that I got that day for a few hours before I fwas finally successful. But, do you see? It was my pride and inability to accept HELP that prevented me from potentially saving a major headache. (Fabarez example is computer related, but this story did really happen to me).

He points out in the message that it is our desire to EARN every thing as humans that often drives us away from the free gift of God which is salvation in Christ. Did you catch the second half of Romans 6:23?

“...but the GIFT of God is eternal life.” You see, salvation is God’s gift to human kind (though totally undeserved).

“For God so loved the world that he GAVE his only son, that WHOSOEVER believes will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

There is something so elementary, and yet so profound in there. I’m sure that was the first verse many of us memorized. I still remember my Mema teaching it to me in her Sunday School class. I remember struggling with the word “perish,” not knowing what it meant at the time. 

Friends, I point all of this out to get to this point. The Gospel is not to be compromised for the sake of mankind. If mankind is completely fallen, why would we want to bend over backwards to satisfy its own sinful desires. We have been offered the ultimate gift of God, who loved us enough to rid us of sin once and for all, if we only accept. 

It will sound intolerant for Christians to stand firm for the true Gospel. We cannot stand for anymore of the falsified gospel preached by so many false prophets in our world today. We cannot let a “fluffy” Christianity replace the True Christianity. The one that calls the world to repentance, not the one that rewards its behavior by stepping on glass around non-Christians and fellow Christians, refusing to call sin what it is. 

I’m not saying we shouldn’t love people. We are all in this together as they say. But even in Christ’s ultimate moments of love, there was rebuke of sin. 

Does your church preach that we should let anyone preach, regardless of calling? Does your church preach that Jesus was a great moral teacher, but not fully man and fully God? Does your church deny the virgin birth? Do they deny the resurrection? Does your church hide Hell in favor of universal salvation to all? Do they promote promiscuous lifestyles among members by not rebuking them in the fashion Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 5:8 when he says, “Let us then keep the feast, not with the old leaven, and not with the leaven of evil thoughts and acts, but with the unleavened bread of true thoughts and right feelings?”

He follows that verse in with, “...I said to you that you were not to keep company with those who go after desires of the flesh; but I had not in mind the sinners who are outside the church, or those who have a desire for and take the property of others, or those who give worship to images; for it is not possible to keep away from such people without going out of the world completely...”

Do you see where this is going? 

“But the sense of my letter was that if a brother had the name of being one who went after desires of the flesh...you might not keep company with such a one or take food with him.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-11

Paul is saying that the church and Christians as a whole have got to stop compromising our values with those of the world and sometimes even with our fellow believers, because it has potential to grow within our churches. Like a cancer, one or two people not called to repentance can grow to 20, 30 or even 100, until finally a church is so Apostate or just plain ASLEEP that Christ spews them from his mouth. 

It’s time to WAKE UP. It’s time to stand firm on the Word of God. There are not many roads to the mountaintop as the eastern philosophies and new agers like to say. There is one way to the top.

“I am the way, the truth and the life, and NO one comes to the Father but by me.” John 14:6

I cannot understand how people can be super supportive of Jesus the moral teacher, and flat out ignore one of his most controversial and truth-bearing statements. Christ said he was God:

“Jesus said to him, Phillip, have I been with you all this time, and still you have no knowledge of me? He who has seen me, has seen the Father. Why do you say, Let us see the Father? have you not faith that I am in the Father and the Father is in me...” John 14:9-10

“Then Jesus said with a loud voice, He who has faith in me, has faith no in me but in him who sent me. And he who sees me, sees him who sent me.” John 12:44-45

These are just a few of the times he outright said that he and the Father were one in the same. People skim past John 14:6 and push for John 14:27, 

“May peace be with you; my peace I give to you...” 

without really addressing the context of the chapter. Christ is saying that his peace is not the peace that the world is trying to offer. There is no peace apart from Christ. We can sit around negotiating at the UN and in our coffee shops all day, longing for peace that humanity and science can bring, but it is a LIE. Christ is the only bringer of peace, and that peace is for those who follow his commands, and believe upon him for salvation. For others, I’m afraid the loving hippie of a Jesus you’ve created is going to have some rather strong words when he gets back. And those words may be for some of us Christians too if we don’t stop believing in the False Christs of fluffy Christianity.

I have to trust and put my faith in my sincere belief that Christ was who he said, and that  the Bible is inerrant word of God.  Paul says the world will see it as foolish. The foolishness of Christians is alluded to well before our current time when Paul is speaking to a church that is not so different from some of our current churches. 

“...where is the man of this world who has love of discussion? has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For because, by the purpose of God, the world, with all its wisdom, had not the knowledge of God, it was God’s pleasure, by so FOOLISH a thing as preaching, to give salvation to those who had faith in him.” 1 Corinthians 1:20-21

Paul is being rather humorous here, asking where the wisdom of all the wise people has gone. Where has it gone? God deliberately used something that would appear foolish to  confound the prideful and wise of the world, so that seeing the foolishness of the Gospel, those who still had belief in spite of foolish appearance on the surface would be saved, and be aware of the real TRUTH.

“But God made selection of the foolish things of this world so that he might put the wise to shame; and the feeble things that he might put to shame the strong; And the low things of this world , and the things without honor, did God make selection of, yes, even the things which are not, so that he might make as nothing the things which are: so that NO flesh might have glory before God.” 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

That last part is key. We are not to put our own desires and our own glory above the one to whom we owe everything. Above the one who were it not for grace, could have condemned us all, and been rightly justified in doing so. But, God is PLEASED to save ANYONE who clings to the Gospel, no matter how foolish it may appear to them at first. 

I can choose my preferences for food, clothing and other opinion based things of the world. But 2 + 2 will always equal 4. I can’t say that because I  strongly believe that 2 +  2 = 5 that my opinion is as valid as those saying 2 + 2= 4. There are absolute truths in this world, and the highest of these is God’s truth. 

Christians, quit sugar-coating the Gospel and stand up for your beliefs. Quit bending your preaching and discussions to the will of human desires, and talk about God---the easy to swallow and hard to swallow parts together. No one said being Christians was easy, and everyday that we get through without hardship is a blessing from God. Even the non-Christian has God to thank for their days of ease and blessing. For all are under the common grace of God, but only those trusting on his son, can be a part of that sweet gift of saving grace, which brings about true repentance, and a new creation in Christ.

Folks, their is only one path up the mountain that reaches the top. It is narrow, and many who see it will turn towards the broad paths that lead to destruction trying to make their climb easier. Religion is man seeking God by his own sinful means and prideful works. And it is by the grace of God we are saved, not of our own works or anything we could possibly do to earn it.

Christianity is God reaching out to man, though totally undeserving, and saying come unto me all you are weary, and I will give you rest. 

Be Blessed Friends,

Chris

Footnote *Mike Fabarez from “Head Games” sermon June 23, 2012 http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/focal-point/listen/head-games-part-1b-286339.html

Contemporary Christian Rocker

I've started a habit lately of recording songs quickly on Thursdays (my day off alone). I say quickly because what usually happens is an idea forms, I record it with just basic instrument and vocals, and then I pass it off as  a finished product.

I justify this by pointing out that I am at my best musically in raw form (often in the open air on a street corner belting out cover tunes). I find the more instrumentation and recording trickery I add, the less I enjoy the final product.

Juliet (wife) has always been my toughest critic, and I am actually thankful for that because it gives me insight into my songs I might not otherwise honestly get. Many of you probably have humored me in the past by listening to a song or two. I'm not the best musician in the world, but I also don't think I sound terrible. It depends on the song.

My new dilemma is my desire to enter into a genre of Christian music with my originals. So far every Christian themed song I've written has come off with more critique than my secular (love) songs. Juliet points out that there is an existing "style" in Christian music, and my gravely voice and rocker style don't quite fit for all songs. I agree, with the stipulation that I think it could be a good thing to not completely fit in.

I used to hate listening to contemporary Christian music because it all sounded the same. Actually a lot of it still does, though there are artists like Josh Wilson and Matt Maher branching out from the pack.  Matt Maher has a nice gravely voice similar to mine so I like that.

So, this Thursday I got inspired for a very mellow, prayerful song. Its verses paint the picture of Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane that God's will be done. Acceptance of what was to come and the suffering he would endure. The chorus is a general look at people saying prayers for our own desires, but finishing it with "your will be done." The point is, it's mellow.

I did a simple piano line and overdubbed two vocal tracks. Simple and raw. The problem, according to Juliet (and I mention this as reference, not out of anger), is that my gravely rock vocal treatment of a softer piano song was not fitting. I can agree to an extent. My goal was more to express anguish and passion through a rougher singing style to show that Christ would not be yelling "Father, Father" in a choir voice, but rather a strained, pleading voice (something my style matches decently).

The point of this is to say that I think it's time for a revolution in Christian music. I think it's time the rockers got their say. And I'm not talking about the Pearl Jam/Creed-ish vocal stylings of Third Day and Mercy Me's lead singers. The alternative rock scene overused that style of vocals long ago, and it seems Christian mainstream is only now catching up to it.

Listen to "Guardian," a classic rock styled band with Christian influence. I think this is the direction we should head, and I'll be happy to help glorify God in a less-mainstream, more openly accessible way if anyone wants to listen.

That last statement sounded rather arrogant, and that's not my point in this. I just think a less cookie cut version of Christian vocalization is needed. Harmonizing is wonderful, but you don't need the lead singer to be head of the angel choir, there can be an edge that still glorifies God.

I'm sure there are examples I am leaving out of artists currently doing this. I know also that by investing a little more time in my finished product, or with assistance from other musicians and vocalists, I could vastly improve my original work.

For now, I don't have that set up, so I will settle for my raw recordings, one or two takes of my expression of music. It has been applauded in the past, and in all humility, I accepted that. I like my gravely voice. I don't mind singing a little more chorus- like for morning praise and worship at church, but there are still songs that need that edge, and without it, we end up sounding more forced than if someone just belted out with raw emotion to God.

I think God can handle all styles, as long as the goal brings glory to Him. So with that, God, I would like to glorify you through music if possible. If it's not my main calling, I accept that, but would still like permission to continue as a hobby. Even so, your will be done.

I will post the newest recording here, with the stipulation that it will likely have some changes before being a final version. I think this one is a good start, and welcome some constructive criticism. This blog is not in anger or frustration, but rather in exploring what I think is a unique, God-given style of singing with which I've been blessed. I may be wrong, I may be right...but it's a passion to pursue to God's glory whether right or wrong about how I actually sound that drives me forward.

Enjoy what is tentatively titled "Gethsemane (Your Will Be Done)"

View this Related Blog Post: http://chrisbyersblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/proverbs-27-humble-pie-or-story-of-how.html