“STAND UP, MOVE OUT” – Monday July 3, 2017

REWIND… The CONTINENTALS OPENING NIGHT 1993

STAND UP… MOVE OUT                                                

All four of my talks in 1993 on this subject centered around being committed and having the courage to stand up for what we believe and then putting that belief into action by moving out to make a difference.  Will Rogers said, “even if you are on the right track, if you just sit there, you’ll get run over”.

Here are the highlights from the fall talk….

Recently, The Continental Singers were welcomed in Russia, China, Romania, Poland, Hungary, and East Germany. However, we were not allowed to sing Christian music in Elipse Park, across the street from the White House, here in America.  When he heard about it, Paul Harvey, a nationally syndicated broadcaster, incredulously announced this story to America, coast to coast, on his news program.

“See you at the Pole” is a student prayer movement, started by an organization founded by a former Director of The Continental Singers, Paul Fleischmann.  I am sure many of you have met at your school’s flag pole before school to pray for your classmates and our country.  But, school after school, and now, principal after principal are not allowing their students to pray on school grounds.  They are being shut down.

David Bryant, a renowned prayer leader and authority on revivals, says, “Young people in student-led prayer bands have been at the forefront in almost every spiritual awakening”. Jesus said, in Matthew 18:20, “Where two or three come together in My name, there I am with them.”  One of our directors once said, “Fall on your knees, and fight like a man!”

America is being eased into civil liberties for everyone but Christians.  It’s important to stand up together right now before it is illegal to sing about Christ in any public place.

I know what you are thinking.  “I’m just an amateur and I’m really new, and I....”  Listen to me right now.  Making a difference and being great are not about how talented you are.  I am a case in point!  It has always been about how committed you are.

MAN ON MOUNTAIN DID NOT JUST FALL THERE

(Chinese proverb)

You didn’t just land here, tonight, on your own.  Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit”.  It’s pretty clear, you have a musical appointment.  And, we intend to send you to fulfill the “Go” part!!

James talks about showing your faith by your actions.  Paul says you can do all thing through Christ, because He is your strength He assures us, by his own experiences, that we will be more than conquerors, through Christ.

Your mission (should you decide to accept it) is to STAND UP for Christ, and your belief in Him, and to MOVE OUT with that message in courage.  That’s where faith and action meet to make a difference in our country and the rest of the world.  Don’t just sit on the bus and let the days and concerts go whizzing by.  Make every day count by praying together, standing together, and moving together.  Give that church the best and most important night of their whole year.

Music is the language of young people the world over.  Now take your life changing message that Jesus is alive, and that He can change their life, and take it in the exciting and beautiful package of your music.  That will make a difference!