The Blog: Ministry, Music, Media
Casting songs posted on April 29, 2009
Selecting the material is a joy for this Internet radio project. I love listening to the music and praying over what might speak to each of you all over the planet.
I can only say that what I once thought was my good instinct and result of my training, experience or education, turns out to be the movement of the Holy Spirit. So was the training, experience and education!
Living my life to serve the God of all creation is a journey that I am learning how to trust more and more each day. This entire project is a Holy Spirit driven journey. So goes the song selection.
Finding songs for the programming is so much fun for me, I can’t believe I get paid to do it! Oops, I don’t get paid to do it (maybe someday). From the heart, this ministry is a missional purpose project to bring support for your family, faith-centered lifestyle through media arts. If you like what you hear and see, please let us know because it guides us as we offer our gifts. I will not ask for donations on a regular basis, but donations help to pay the royalties, website and Internet costs. Please consider a tax deductible donation to CGR; we are really grateful for every five or ten dollars that comes our way, especially in these times. We just think we need hope and love through music and arts in these times, too. Your receipt will say North Central New York Annual Conference of the UMC, because this ministry is an extension of this Annual Conference and they are fical agents for us.
I just added some of the music from Casting Crowns to the playlist. This music ministry peopled by youth ministers just picked up Dove Awardsin Nashville, TN, including, Group of the Year. I am enamored by the song, Every Man. Included in the lyrics, “There is hope for everyman, Jesus is hope for everyman”. The setting is plaintive and prayerful and feels honest to me as they name roles for men and women in our western culture describing “Every Man.”
At CGR we speak to hope. I am thinking that this song is much needed support of parents in their adults journeys, but an aspirational song for children, too.
Listen for Every Man from Casting Crowns on CGR, let me know if you think it supports you in your parenting, faithfully.
blessings, Pastor Robin
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Loving God is good posted on April 27, 2009
Of all the good things I hope you will hear in the music on CGR, sharing that which is good, is important.
Up for total interpretation in your context of your family? Definately.
Christians have two basic ideas to live into, and I think they are good things for parents to share with the children starting when the kids are very young.
The two simple but comprehensive ideas are: Love God and one another.
Christians don’t have the market cornered on these ideas, but Jesus offered these instructions in scriptures (try Luke 10:27) and we like to quote him when we can, especially when speaking with authority to our children :D. There are a number of songs that help support the goodness and loving ideas, and here is one I like that speaks to loving God (first). Listen for, Hillsong Kids, Jesus Is My Superhero.
I am not wild over the whole superhero, comic book characters to violent movies marketed to little kids on the bags of fast food meals for pre-schoolers, thing.
However, the word, superhero, seems to have etched itself into the culture (and bedspread, backpack, skateboard, soda bottle..) so let’s make friends. Jesus IS the best hero of them all and the rest (Spiderman, Batman, Incredible Hulk, Prince Charming) simply fade into the background. This well produced, fun to sing and easy to remember song by these talented folks at Hillsong Kids, is great and could serve as a tool to help you help the kids remember how important Jesus is.
What about the superhero thing - is it difficult to compete with the media superhero when Jesus can’t get a sitcom that preschoolers can watch?
Or is this not an issue?
blessings, Pastor Robin
There are 16 comments “Loving God is good” was posted by Pastor Robin
Wonderful posted on April 24, 2009
The Earth is Full of Wonder, a song we play on CGR by Heaven’s Sake Kids, reminds me of this day. I am sitting at my desk and looking out the window, blessed with warm spring, sunshine and a call to get out there for a little while. This song reminds me to praise God and be thankful for the natural world. I hope the music we bring you on CGR will bring you to spiritual moments with your children - in respect for the natural world, relationship with one another, justice that needs your witness or gratitude for a God that loves you.
GPL with blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Bein’ Green: Earth Day posted on April 22, 2009
So, this is the day that the Lord has made! And, this particular 4/22/09, the day the people of the planet acknowledge that we have this fabulous planet which sustains our living and loving. We raise awareness of the needs of the planet’s life - from air, to water, land, and all the living creatures. How mindful are we that our human living is interdependent with all that exists on the planet?
Green living is the code for the awareness we might be mindful of. Green as the metaphor for that which lives and grows, naturally. It’s a great way to invite spirituality into the home, because you point to something beyond yourself and take part in making things better.
At CGR, we play music that speaks to this awareness and its importance. Be sure to listen for all the songs from Kid’s for Saving Earth. This is an organization that has been helping teachers, parents and faith groups empower the children they love (and themselves) for nearly 20 years to learn about healthy living and helping the planet.
Check it out: www.kidsforsavingearth.org
Lots of free stuff on the site for kids, parents and teachers and the KSE promise song, which is one of their songs we play on CGR, plays when you go to the site.
I also wanted to share this link with you:
www.commercialfreechildhood.org
Dr. Susan Linn, Director of Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, recently stated:
“But shouldn’t we also examine the environmental behaviors and values children learn in a society where the norm is a new toy the equivalent of every five days?”
Dr. Linn is thinking landfill, landfill, landfill. Even green Elmo ends up there - so how much consumerism is too much? Check out this org that cares about you and your children, and why marketing to kids about ‘green living’ might be something to think about before you plop down another 25 bucks for a new toy, promoting, ‘green’.
Enjoy your earth day and say a prayer for the creation that God imagined would care for us, if we care for it.
blessings, Pastor Robin
