Tip-Toeing Through the Tulips - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Tip-Toeing Through the Tulips

Steve Martin

“I and My Father are one." Spoken by Jesus (Yeshua) in John 10:30, NKJV.

There is a way to get mad about something in order to get the right thing done. Anger isn’t always wrong. It can be, if not used properly. But there is a time to get angry against that which is just wrong. God did. His Son Jesus did too. And together they both still do, along with the Holy Spirit.

As believers, we need to understand that there are proper times when to stand up, tell it like it is, and let the world know that we are not sissies, tip-toeing through the tulips, in order to not “offend anyone, or hurt someone’s feelings.”

Enough is enough.

How many Christians had been taught far too long that Jesus (the eternal God in the flesh), is “all loving, at all times” (which He is), but because of our inerrant understanding of love, which isn’t His, we think He is therefore not the same God that is revealed in the Old Testament (Torah, Tanakh, Prophets, and Psalms), bringing judgment and dealing with sin righteously. We have been taught that “that God” certainly is not the same God that exists now. How advanced we have become in our pride and arrogance.

We have been taught that the God people knew then is not the same One we should know now. Did not Jesus repeatedly reaffirm to those He walked with that He Himself is God? Did God somehow change between the Old and the New Testament?

I think not. Because He did not.

“I am the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) God (Jesus) has not changed from the time He was revealed in the Old Testament to the time He came in the flesh in the New Testament.

How foolish have we become when we use the excuse that we can’t say this, or do that, because we are Christians, followers of Christ, and therefore must “love all people at all times”. Yes, we are to love, but godly love doesn't just permit people to do anything they want to do when they want to do it.  While “God is love”, we can't use our misunderstanding as for the excuse we so often use to allow all things to be as they continue to be, which in turn is leading our nations down the road to ruin, destruction, and death.

It is past time not speaking out against those perverse actions that others continue to espouse and push on our society, which is horribly not biblical. It is past the time for us to simply “be sensitive to others, be kind and permissive for how they feel and act, and continually turn the other cheek”, letting God’s way of life be cast aside, because "Que sera, sera" (what will be, will be.)

What Bible are these people reading, who preach this stuff in our Sunday pulpits and synagogues?

To quote one popular TV celebrity (which I heavily resisted doing, but it gets the point across) – “Where has that gotten you?” 

Has it not occurred to us that when Jesus (His real name is Yeshua) walked on earth, He did not go around apologizing for any actions His Father did in the Old Testament, the exact same God of the New Testament as He is of the Old?

When God brought judgment upon people, cities, lands, and nations, He was indeed acting as the God of Love, as He still is. But with His righteous anger, and to deal with sin as it is, He must act accordingly. That doesn’t stop Him from being God. It places Him above all things, all people, all acts that mankind commits, BECAUSE He is God.

Is it a different God Who brings judgment in the Book of Revelation, which is coming soon in prophetic fulfillment, then it was the same God Who brought judgment during Noah’s time during the

earth’s destruction by rain and flood; Moses’ deliverance in Egypt, or Joshua’s taking of Canaan from the inhabitants who dwelt there? The God they knew and obeyed is the same God Whom we are called to follow now.

If we just sit by and let the world go to hell, falsely believing that we will be rescued out of here any day now, by some false teaching which has stymied the Church for decades, called the rapture (which didn’t start to be spread until the late 1800’s), then we are again among the most foolish of them all.

If God our Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit (God – all three in one) are the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8), then we too must understand that right is right, wrong is wrong, and we better know the difference, and respond to people and situations as they do, God the Trinity.

I pray that we will not be totally shocked when we see God act as He will, as He won't be fitting into our perfect religion that we have made Him out to be, trying to dictate and regulate in our minds what He can and can’t do.

We have got to stop “tip-toeing through the tulips” around those who continually speak out against life, liberty, and upholding godly principles. 

We must be the ones conducting ourselves, our families, our churches and our congregations as we should be doing, basing our lives on God’s Word and ways, and not on those of the current windblown non-believers, pushing their societal beliefs on our nations.

For far too long we have sat back and let the unrighteous take over.

No more.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$120 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

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Now Think On This #397 - in the year of our Lord 03.06.19 – “Tip-Toeing Through the Tulips” – Wednesday, 5:45 pm

Basics of Life - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Basics of Life

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“He commanded the people of Judah to follow the Lord, the God their ancestors followed. And he commanded them to obey the Lord's laws and commandments.” (2 Chronicles 14:4, ERV)

In 1992 a fairly new Christian contemporary group 4Him (full bio and concert playlist below), formed in 1990 in sweet home Alabama, came out with their third studio album. It was entitled The Basics of Life, released on Benson Records and produced by Reed Arvin and Fred Hammond. As the lead single song says, they sang of life principles as recorded in the Living God’s manual to us, the full Bible.

I still have the CD, these 25 years later, as I write these words.

4Him – The Basics of Life 1992 Benson Records

(L-R) Marty Magehee, Andy Chrisman, Kirk Sullivan, Mark Harris

For better than 4,000 or more years later after being written, the Torah, the Pentateuch (the first five books of Moses), the Tanakh, the books of the prophets, the Psalms and Proverbs, the Old and New Testaments, the Holy Scriptures – whatever you want to call them – are still the foundational truths given to us through God’s chosen people, the Jews, in order to live a full life.

The Arks inside the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Israel.

Contain Torah scrolls opened on Shabbat and feasts of the Lord.

(Photo by Steve Martin May, 2017)

You can find a copy of the Bible in most places around the world, in many translations for the local nationals. When the good Lord built it, you can bet it was meant to last.

I guess then that we should adhere to the principles that our Creator took so much care in bringing them to us. Knowing the different characters God the Almighty used to write the individual 66 books of The Book (unless you include the Apocrypha of the Roman Catholics, which add yet another seven for a total of 73), you get a good picture of its importance.

From Jewish kings to Jewish prophets, through Jewish scribes and Jewish apostles, and a doctor named Luke, these words have been the bedrock of solid civilizations for centuries. They are eternal, and should be treated as such.

In fact, based on the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in a series of twelve caves around the site known as Wadi Qumran near the Dead Sea and the Jordan River, between 1946 and 1956 by Bedouin shepherds and a team of archaeologists, these words have been meticulously passed down to us. They have been the most preserved and accurate of any writings, of any book, available today for mankind.

The Bible then must be that important to read and follow, if the God who brought these words to His creation took so great care in keeping the eternal words alive for us.

You want to know how to live? Read God’s Word.

You want to know what step to take in a decision you seek to make? Read God’s Word.

Don’t let it just sit on your bed stand or living room coffee table, or occupy a prominent spot in your home library, making it look like you are the Christian you want people to think you are. 

Or have it on your smart phone with app to look impressive either.

Read it. Believe it. Act on it.

Let His Holy Spirit, the third member of the Holy Trinity, the God-Head, guide your steps each and every day. Have a rock solid, never-changing footing to stand on in this crazy world that tries to change the rules and the belief system constantly.

You want answers? God has them all. Let His truth be known in your life today and every day, Sunday through Saturday.

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:12-13, NASU)

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People, Inc.

 P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

We are blessed when the ministry receives gifts to support the families that we do, primarily for those living in Israel, Pakistan, Northern Ireland and India, and the hurting ones here in the USA. You also can share out of the abundance you have been given.

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

If these messages minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

Click here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People. If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available). 

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc.  P.O. Box414   Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)

Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

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Now Think On This - In the Year of our Lord 06.04.17 - #290 – “Basics of Life” – Sunday, 3:33 am

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This

Again, I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

  

4Him -25th Anniversary Tour "Real Thing" – Irmo (Columbia, SC) 11.01.15 
- Riverlands Baptist Church (photo by Steve Martin)

Full playlist recorded by Steve Martin Listen at the concert: 4Him 25th Anniversary Tour "Real Thing"

4Him

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

4Him
4Him plays at Lifest 2006
Background information
Origin	Mobile, Alabama, United States
Genres	Contemporary Christian
Occupation(s)	Singers
Instruments	Voice
Years active	1990–2006
Labels	Benson, Word, INO
Associated acts	Truth
Past members	Andy Chrisman Mark Harris Marty Magehee Kirk Sullivan

4Him was a Contemporary Christian group founded in 1990 in Alabama, US. The group has ten Dove awards, a Grammy nomination and three certified gold albums to their credit. The group was inducted into Alabama's Music Hall of Fame, following the awarding of The Governor’s Achievement Award. The group has also been featured performers for popular Christian Evangelist crusaders, Billy Graham and Luis Palau.

4Him disbanded in 2006 to pursue individual careers of ministry and music. They have released 12 studio albums which have produced 27 number one singles.

The group has made sporadic reunion appearances since 2009.

Contents

  [hide] 

·         1History

·         2After disbandment

o    2.1Andy Chrisman

o    2.2Mark Harris

o    2.3Kirk Sullivan

o    2.4Marty Magehee

·         3Reunions

·         4Discography

o    4.1Video

·         5Major tours

·         6Awards and nominations

o    6.1Grammys

o    6.2GMA Dove Awards

o    6.3Other awards

o    6.4Other honors

·         7References

·         8External links

History[edit]

Andy Chrisman, Mark Harris, Marty Magehee, and Kirk Sullivan originally met when they sang together in Truth, a Contemporary Christian vocal group founded in the late 1960s and directed by Roger Breland. Truth had a rotating roster of four male and four female vocalists. After three representatives from Benson Records attended several Truth concerts in the late 1980s during which Andy, Mark, Marty, and Kirk performed, Benson approached the quartet saying that they wanted to use the guys to create a new male four-member vocal group under the Benson label. "Where There Is Faith", their first single, stayed at No. 1 on the charts for eight weeks, two months before 4Him left Truth. Releasing their self-titled debut in 1990, they blended the traditions of Christian music's past, with modern pop production and practical lyrics.

In 1996, with the release of The Message, 4Him changed their overall sound in an effort to keep pushing the creative limits of the group. The guys replaced the over-the-top orchestrations and choral vocal arrangements with a stripped down, acoustic band approach where one of the guys would sing lead and the other three would sing backing vocals. On 1998’s Obvious, each member took more ownership of their music – becoming more involved in the production and songwriting aspects.

By 2004, all four of the guys reevaluated the future of the ministry. After close to seventeen years together, the members of 4Him decided to embark on solo careers.^[1] On September 23, 2006, they performed their final concert at Cottage Hill Baptist Church in Mobile, AL, the city where 4Him’s 17-year journey first started. At that concert, various individuals (including family members, record producers, management, and Truth founder Roger Breland) were recognized for their contributions to 4Him’s ministry.

After disbandment[edit]

This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (May 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Andy Chrisman[edit]

Andy Chrisman released his freshman solo effort One in 2004, and is worship pastor at Church on the Move, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.^[2] In 2008, he, along with the Church on the Move Praise Band, released Beautiful Name, a live worship CD.

Mark Harris[edit]

In 2005, Mark Harris released The Line Between the Two. In 2007, Harris won a GMA Dove Award in the category of Inspirational Song of the Year for "Find Your Wings". On September 25, 2007, he released his second album Windows and Walls on INO Records. On October 13, 2011, Harris released his third album Stronger In The Broken Places on Stylos Records. In 2012, Harris had the featured song, "When We're Together" in the film, Courageous.^{[citation needed]} Until mid-2013, he served as Artist-in-Residence/Worship Pastor at Bay Community Church outside Mobile, AL. He is currently serving as Artist in Residence/Associate Worship Pastor at Gateway Church in Southlake, TX.^{[citation needed]}

Kirk Sullivan[edit]

In 2010, Kirk Sullivan released his independent solo release Timeless on his website. Timeless contains "Get Down Mountain" (previously featured on the Encore album), a new reworked arrangement of his trademark song "The Basics of Life", and a bonus track of a song recorded when he was twelve years old.

Marty Magehee[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

In 2008, Marty Magehee released his independent solo release, Open, on his website. The first single, "Eyes Wide Open", was released to Christian radio in May 2008. The album also included the song "Runaway Train", which appeared on 4Him's final CD, Encore. He is also producing albums for other artists. In 2011, Magehee is on the faculty of Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, teaching courses in Worship Band, Studio Recording, Beats and Loops, and Songwriting.^[3]

Reunions[edit]

After nearly five years apart, the quartet made their first reunion on the K-Love Friends and Family Cruise in January 2009.^[4] A one-off concert in West Monroe, LA took place in March, and another reunion happened on Kathy Troccoli's "KT and Friends Cruise" to Alaska in June 2010.^[5] In Spring of 2013, 4Him will perform several concerts on a tour dubbed "With One Voice" together with the group Avalon and solo Christian singer songwriter Cindy Morgan. Starting in September 2015, 4Him will begin a 25th anniversary tour.^{[citation needed]}

Discography[edit]

·         1990: 4Him

·         1991: Face the Nation

·         1992: The Basics of Life

·         1993: The Season of Love (Christmas)

·         1994: The Ride

·         1996: The Message

·         1998: Obvious

·         2000: Hymns: A Place of Worship

·         2001: Walk On

·         2003: Visible

·         2006: Encore... For Future Generations

Compilations

·         1999: Best Ones

·         2001: Chapter One... A Decade

·         2004: Simply 4Him

·         2015: 4Him XXV

Other album appearances

·         1990: Jesus - The Best Gift of All (various artists), "The Best Gift of All"

·         1992: Master Pieces (various artists), "Turn Your Radio On"

·         1993: The New Young Messiah (various artists), "The Trumpet Shall Sound"

·         1993: Chain of Grace, Dallas Holm (background vocals), "Chain of Grace", "Nothing Satisfies Me Like Jesus"

·         1993: Faith Hope & Love, Mylon LeFevre, "Give Thanks"

·         1995: Hymns & Voices, various artists "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name"

·         1995: My Utmost for His Highest (various artists), "You Are Holy"

·         1997: Love and Mercy, Kathy Troccoli, "Love One Another"

·         1999: Streams (various artists), "The Only Thing I Need" (which included vocals by Jon Anderson of Yes)

·         1999: Bridges (various), "It's Gonna Rain", featuring The Canton Spirituals

·         2000: Pure Hymns: The John Tesh Project, featured on "How Great Thou Art"

·         2000: Hope Changes Everything (various artists), "Broken"

·         2003: WOW Worship: Yellow (various artists), "Thy Word"

Video[edit]

·         1991: Face the Nation

·         1993: The Basics of Life

·         1995: The Ride Comes Alive

·         1996: The Message in the Making

·         2006: Encore (from the Encore Farewell Tour, recorded at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia)

Major tours[edit]

·         1994: The Ride Tour, featuring Kathy Troccoli, Clay Crosse, Greg Long and Steve Geyer

·         1995/96: The Young Messiah Tour (Christmas)

·         1997: Co-headlined tour with Point of Grace

·         1998: Headlined 1998 Spring Tour, featuring Big Tent Revival and Jeni Vernadeau

·         1998: Headlined tour with special guest Jaci Velásquez featuring Michelle Tumes

·         2000: Child of the Promise Tour, with Steven Curtis Chapman, Twila Paris, and more

·         2002: "4Guys And A Fruitcake" Christmas Tour with Chonda Pierce

·         2003: World Vision 2003 Spring Tour

·         2006: Encore Farewell Tour

·         2015: 25-Year Reunion Tour

Awards and nominations[edit]

Grammys[edit]

·         1997: Grammy nomination – Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for The Message

GMA Dove Awards[edit]

·         1991: Best New Artist of the Year

·         1993: Group of the Year

·         1993: Inspiration Album of the Year for Generation to Generation

·         1994: Group of the Year

·         1994: Inspirational Album of the Year For The Season of Love

·         1995: Group of the Year

·         1998: Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year for "Center of the Mark"

·         2003: Nomination for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year

Other awards[edit]

·         1990: CRR (Christian Research Report) Reporter Poll – Best New Artist

·         1991: CRR (Christian Research Report) – Best Group

·         1992: CRR (Christian Research Report) – Best Group

·         1993: CBA Impact Award – Total Promotional Campaign, Music: The Basics of Life

·         1994: CCM Magazine – Song of the Year: "For Future Generations"

·         1995: American Songwriter – Christian Artist of the Year

·         1996: CCM Readers' Poll – Favorite Long Form Video: The Ride Comes Alive

Other honors[edit]

·         RIAA Certified Gold Album – The Basics of Life (1996)

·         Featured performers with the Luis Palau crusade and the Billy Graham crusade

·         Performed at "Sold Out 1998" Promise Keepers conference the day before the Super Bowl

·         Co-host of the 1998 NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) Bobby Clampett/4Him Pro-Am Classic Golf Tournament, and have co-hosted every year since

·         The song "Ride of Life" was featured in chiptune form on a NES game by Wisdom Tree, on a cartridge which included their game Sunday Funday

References[edit]

1.     Jump up^ "4Him". 4him.net.

2.     Jump up^ "Church on the Move - Tulsa, OK". churchonthemove.com.

3.     Jump up^ "The incurable creative junkie of Castle Pines". castlepinesconnection.com.

4.     Jump up^ Premier Christian Cruises Presents the K-LOVE Friends & Family Music Cruise 2009

5.     Jump up^ JRI CRUISES

External links[edit]

·         Chrisman's official website

·         Harris' official website

·         Sullivan's official website

·         Magehee's official website