Inspired by “Rich Man” by 3 Shades of Blue

Listen to Rich Man by 3 Shades of Blue by Clicking Here:

Crash! The sound of shattering glass echoed through the house. Both Randy and his mother ran into the kitchen. “Oh April, you didn’t!” her mother exclaimed when they saw the little girl looking in dismay at the pieces of a crystal vase scattered all over the floor. “I told you not to touch that! You’ve broken my new vase!” “I didn’t mean to,” April sobbed. “I just wanted to hold it.” Her mother nodded. “I see that,” she said. “Right now I want you to go wait in your room before you get cut on this class. I’ll be here to talk to you in a minute, but first I need to get this picked up. Randy would you get out the vacuum for me please?” As they worked, Randy shook his head.

April should have known better than to pick up the vase,” he said. “But since she did pick it up, she should have hung on tight!” “That’s true,” agreed his mother. “I can’t help but think of something else that we are all holding in our hands, something people often let slip away,” she added. Randy looked at his empty hands in bewilderment. “Our souls are in our hands,” continued his mother. “The soul is the most valuable thing we possess,, ye people play with it so carelessly. Many are like the rich an Jesus talked about, interested only in having enough to eat, having a good time, and being popular. Remember, you need to handle your soul with care.”

Why is the soul so valuable to God? That’s an easy question to answer if you think about John 3:16. God gave His Son, Jesus, so that we could have eternal life. Just as family members are priceless to us, the life of Jesus was priceless to His Father. In spite of how simple it is to understand, for some of us, it is equally difficult to believe. Otherwise, we would not make the decisions in life that we make. Every day, people trade their souls for earthly riches, fame, and sinful pleasures. Sadly, many of us believe in God, but we don’t believe Him. At least, we don’t act as if we do.

There was a story in the Bible that illustrates this point perfectly. It’s found in Matthew 19:16-22. It says this, “Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.”

The rich young man came to Jesus looking for assurance that he would make it into Heaven. He desired a business plan to follow to insure that Eternity would be his destination. Clearly from a successful family, he was familiar with discipline as he indicated that he had “obeyed all the commandments” that Jesus Christ listed. However, when it came time to take a calculated risk for eternity, the businessman walked away.

Life is full of calculated risk. Before we commit to anything in life, we weigh all the options. We put careful consideration into our profession, purchases and how we spend our time, but when it comes to our soul’s eternal resting place, have we taken the same time and thought?

Following Jesus is a calculated risk. If you are truly committed to Jesus Christ, there will be many things lost in this world to gain the Kingdom. Without sowing, there is no reaping and no harvest. For those who reap sparingly, the benefits of the Kingdom seem small and not worthwhile because to follow Jesus Christ requires all of your life. Only those who seek a relationship with Jesus Christ as a marriage and union will be able to live a successful Christian life as His Follower.  To be a Christian is to give up our identity to become one with the Lord.  Are you willing to give your all to Jesus? Pause and count the cost.

Whether you want to admit it or not, eventually, we all will die and our soul will move on to eternity. Philanthropy will not get you into Heaven. Neither will religion. The only way to get into Heaven is by following Jesus Christ and allowing Him to inhabit our soul. For me, the rewards of heaven and the ability to spend eternity with the creator of the universe is a choice worthy of my soul. The idea of an eternity in hell is in no way appealing to me in any way shape or form. However, I can’t make the decision for you, only you can chose where you want to spend eternity. Jesus was straightforward! His offer of salvation, forgiveness and new life is free to anyone who is willing to accept it. It is up to you to count the cost.

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Tim Ewing is the founder of Kindred Concert Ministries. You can learn more about Kindred by going to www.facebook.com/kindredconcerts or by emailing him at kindredconcerts@gmail.com

3 Shades of Blue is a pop rock band out of the Philadelphia area. Rich Man is from their Pick A Side CD which can be found on iTunes or on their website. For more information about 3 Shades of Blue you can go to their website at: http://www.3shadesofblue.org/

Want to read other devotionals written by Tim? Go to:  https://www.facebook.com/notes/kindred-concerts-for-christ/kindreds-devotional-series/463516160364310

inspired by Fully Justified’s song “Rescue Me”

Click here to listen to “Rescue Me” by Fully Justified

Thirteen year old Sean and his father were walking down Main Street and noticed an unusual display in a shop window. “There’s a dog in that cage!” A large hand lettered sign on the cage read: “Death row!” This animal has one more day to live.” Sean stopped and looked at the small, brown eyed puppy inside. “What does that sign mean, Dad?” he asked. “It’s a new program that the animal shelter is trying out,” said his Dad. “They can’t take care of all the stray dogs and cats. This display lets people know about the problem and gives the animal’s one last chance to be adopted. If no one takes the puppy, he’ll be put to sleep.” “You mean this little puppy is going to be killed?” moaned Sean.  “Yes, Sean, he is.”

He stared through the glass at the unfortunate puppy. “Poor little guy,” he said sadly. “Oh Dad, can’t we take him home? Look, he likes us already.” Dad sighed. “We already have two hamsters.”  “But this is different,” Sean insisted. “This dog needs us, Dad. It sort of reminds of Jesus.” What do you mean? asked his Dad. “Well, you told me we were already condemned, on death row in a way, before Jesus saved us from our sins,” explained Sean. “If Jesus hadn’t rescued me, I’d still be on my way to hell. I want to rescue this dog like Jesus rescued me.”

Do you know that how you see Jesus determines what you receive from Him? If you see Jesus as your healer, you will receive healing. If you see Jesus as your refuge and fortress, you will receive protection. The people of Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown, saw Jesus in the natural. They said of Him, “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us?” (Matthew 13:55–56) They saw Jesus in the natural. They did not see Him as God in the flesh. As a result, He could not do many mighty works there. (Matthew 13:58)

Today, many people, including some philosophers, see Jesus of Nazareth as a good person who led an exemplary life. They feel that if all of us could live our lives like Him, the world would be a better place. They don’t see Jesus as the bread of God who came from heaven to give life to the world. (John 6:33) They don’t see Him as the one who came to give them living water, so that they would never thirst again. (John 4:14) They don’t see Him as the Lamb of God, who took away the sin of the world. (John 1:29) They don’t receive from Him what they need because they don’t esteem Him rightly.

Jesus did not come just to set a good example for man to follow. He came to be our Redeemer. (Galatians 3:13) He came to be our righteousness. (1 Corinthians 1:30) He came to be our shepherd, so that we will not lack anything. (Psalm 23:1) Jesus asked His disciples once, “But who do you say that I am?” How you answer this question depends on how you see Jesus. And how you see Jesus will determine how and what you receive from Him.

The Bible says for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) And that the wages of that sin is death.  But the good news is that the verse continues by saying, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23) Jesus’ whole purpose for coming to earth was to be the sacrificial lamb that would ultimately be the savior of the world.

Just like the dog in the story, we too were on our way to death row. Our only escape was through being rescued. Sean rescued that little dog, and so too did Jesus rescue us from our fate. He gave us an opportunity to be saved one and for all. And it was a no brainer for the dog to want to go home with the family, so too I would hope it would be a no brainer for you to be freed from your sin and penalty of death too.

God made it really simple. He tells us in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Also in Romans 5:8, it says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” In other words, we have to first realize that we’re on death row because of all the things we’ve thought said or done that displeased God. Then we have to recognize that there’s nothing we can do on our own to be freed from this sentence. Finally, we need to accept the offer of freedom given to us through Jesus. It’s that simple. When we are honest with God, He listens.

So, if you are reading this devotion and are thinking to yourself, I don’t want to be on death row any more, I want to be taken home. Just reach out to Jesus and say, “Rescue Me” I’ve sinned. I’ve done things that have displeased you and I’m sorry. Please forgive me and save me from the penalty of death and take me home. If you just said that, you have been rescued. The verdict has been reversed, you’re free to go home. God promises us in the Bible in John 14:3 that He is preparing a place for us in His home in heaven. And for all those He has rescued, He will come back and get and bring them home.

So as I close, I have one final challenge. I want you to be like Sean. If you know someone who is on spiritual death row, that has never asked Jesus to be their Savior, show them how to be rescued. And if you still haven’t asked Jesus to save you, what are you waiting for? It’s a no brainer. Be free from your sin, get off of death row and come home.

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Tim Ewing is the founder of Kindred Concert Ministries. You can learn more about Kindred by going to www.facebook.com/kindredconcerts or by emailing him at kindredconcerts@gmail.com

Fully Justified is a rock band based out of West Virginia. If you’d like to read the lyrics to this song or any of their songs, you can go to: http://www.reverbnation.com/fullyjustifiedband.  For more information on Fully Justified you can also go to: https://www.facebook.com/FullyJustified

Want to read other devotionals written by Tim? Go to:  https://www.facebook.com/notes/kindred-concerts-for-christ/kindreds-devotional-series/463516160364310

What do you get when you combine the styles of Jimmy Needham, Sanctus Real, Needtobreathe, Switchfoot and a hint of Casting Crowns?; You the signature sound that can only be defined as 3 Shades of Blue. Combining elements of rock, with piano, acoustic guitar, and beautiful harmonies, 3 Shades of Blue creates a new innovative style of contemporary music that is not only energetic and fun, but most importantly Christ-centered.

Consisting of three brothers and a best friend, 3 Shades of Blue is re-defining the idea of what a “rock band” is all about. With their diversity and energy they bring to the music, each track creates a different set of emotions that brings the audience on a musical journey of fun and reflection. The opening track Surface and the final track Encore, are a really upbeat fun rock tracks. Love Will Sing Out and Hallelujah are much more pensive and worshipful, while Rainy Day is a laid back chill with your friends kind of song. For me the highlight songs on the CD have to be Hallelujah, Love Will Sing Out and Rain Day, but each song is great in its own right. I would highly recommend you take a listen for yourself to pick your own favorite.

Bonus Review: 3 Shades of Blue “Colors EP”

Recently 3 Shades of Blue released a 3 song EP entitled “Colors.” What I love about 3 Shades of Blue is that every new track they release seems to get better and better in musical and lyrical quality. 3 Shades of Blue has the “it factor,” and I truly believe any one of the songs on this CD could be heard on Contemporary Christian or Christian Rock radio stations. As with most of 3 Shades of Blue songs, the music is fun, positive and energetic that could appeal to a wide variety of ages both young and old.  And with the addition of electronic and dance elements, this EP is much more full and refined.

“Colors” opens the CD with the same rock driven spirit that 3 Shades of Blue is known for. But as I mentioned in the paragraph above, with the subtle elements of dub-step and electronics, it really makes the song pop in a way that they previously weren’t able to obtain. The same pop follows with Good Times and Fairytale. In Good Times, I love the guitar riff in partnership with the heavy piano. It’s a fun combination that is really danceable. Fairytale concludes the CD with the most dance driven beat behind it. Every time I hear this track, I envision a stadium full of people dancing, clapping and jumping in unison through the different parts of song.

Overall, these EPs are a great representation for the future of Christian music. I truly believe these EPs are a great prelude for bigger and better things to come for 3 Shades of Blue. They are the real deal and I have no doubt they will be a success in whatever they set out to do. I would highly recommend giving them a listen. You won’t be disappointed.

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Tim Ewing is the founder of Kindred Concert Ministries. You can learn more about Kindred by going to www.facebook.com/kindredconcerts or by emailing him at kindredconcerts@gmail.com

3 Shades of Blue is a pop rock band out of the Philadelphia area. Love Will Sing Out and their Color’s EP can be found on iTunes or on their website. For more information about 3 Shades of Blue you can go to their website at: http://www.3shadesofblue.org/

Want to read other reviews by Tim? You can read them here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/kindred-concerts-for-christ/cd-reviews/469516346430958

Inspired by “Colors” by 3 Shades of Blue

Click here to listen to Colors by 3 Shades of Blue

Consider your attention span and how quickly your mind wanders. Your brain distracts you with daydreams, stress, or music. Add Twitter, smartphones, email, and countless other activities to the picture, and it’s a miracle if we can accomplish anything in a day. Take this devotional for example. I got so distracted today writing this, it took me an hour just to write the first paragraph.

According to a compelling infographic created by Assisted Living Today called “How Social Media Is Ruining Our Minds,” during the past 10 years, “the average attention span has dropped from 12 minutes to a staggeringly short 5 minutes.” Social media’s effect on our attention span impacts not only our ability to focus, but also our multitasking skills and social interactions. Distractions enter our faith too. They may take the form of a habitual sin that keeps us from consistently spending time with God or simply peripheral issues we fixate on that shift our focus from the gospel.

When a horse is pulling a carriage or running in a race, blinders may be covering the sides of its eyes. Blinders keep the horse focused on its path. Without blinders, the horse will want to study its surroundings. If a horse isn’t focused, getting it to follow a path poses a host of challenges. The blinders help avoid distractions. As Christians, just like a horse, we need something to function as a “blinder” in our lives. God has given us plenty of options, such as a mentor, someone older and more experienced to help us work through sidebar issues of Christianity while keeping us focused on what really matters: a relationship with God and how He’s using us in the world.

Distractions often draw us away from accomplishing our goal and purpose in life. We are and were created to praise God. We were created to please God and not ourselves and our friends. Distractions often attach themselves to something good and positive. Therefore, we must ask ourselves what are the consequences of this distraction and am I accomplishing my goal and purpose in life with this distraction. Distractions may cause us to lose focus on our dreams in life. Whether we want to make good grades, change our attitude, be more kind and friendly towards others, respect our parents and teachers more or simply liking who we are, if we allow ourselves to be distracted we may not do any of the things we really want do. When we fail to succeed we often become agitated and even frustrated. These emotions may lead to a desire to give up or quit on our dreams in life. 

It is very important that we identify our distractions. What keeps interrupting us, slows us down, or simply stopping us from doing our best? Is it relationships, friends, worry, your past mistakes or failures, unforgiveness, social media, insert your distraction here: _________. It’s not easy to say no. So, to tackle distractions, it’s good to come up with a game plan. If your cell phone is a distraction turn it off. Set a time to respond to your messages and make new calls or texts. If games and TV are a distraction, set a time limit and stick to it. Don’t get into the habit of saying, just 5 more minutes. If relationships and friendships a distraction, be sure that you are pleasing God and not others. Choose your company wisely. Whatever the distraction, have a way to counter it so it doesn’t consume your life.

With that said, does this mean we have to always be at church or in prayer or in the Word twenty-four/seven? No not at all. It’s perfectly acceptable to enjoy a book, a movie, a sports game, or whatever else you enjoy doing in your free time. What it does mean is that we must be cautious of how much time we give to those things. If the devil can’t deceive us with evil things, he will do his best to deceive (and distract) us with good things.

Distractions are not always easy to identify. Many times, the distractions in our lives get in the way of our time with God. When God is left at the bottom of our cup, we don’t always have the energy to focus on our relationship with Him. Prioritizing our daily activities is a must if we want God to be the center of our lives. So, be challenged today to make God a priority in your life. Before you pick up your distraction tool of choice, ask yourself if your time would be better spent in quiet time with God.

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Tim Ewing is the founder of Kindred Concert Ministries. You can learn more about Kindred by going to www.facebook.com/kindredconcerts or by emailing him at kindredconcerts@gmail.com

3 Shades of Blue is a pop rock band out of the Philadelphia area. Colors is from their newest 3 song EP called Colors which can be found on iTunes or on their website. For more information about 3 Shades of Blue you can go to their website at: http://www.3shadesofblue.org/

 Want to read other devotionals written by Tim? Go to:  https://www.facebook.com/notes/kindred-concerts-for-christ/kindreds-devotional-series/463516160364310

Led By Fire will be playing at Mantua United Methodist Church on Friday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.

Cumberland County Community Church in Millville presents WILLET in concert on Sunday, May 19! Willet is a popular Maryland-based Christian rock band. The band will play a concert at 5:30 p.m. and also be providing the worship music in both Sunday services at 9 and 11 a.m.