#throwback theology song of the week

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Take Note #TBT | Throwback Theology | @theogtunnelrats @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

Take Note #TBT | Throwback Theology | @theogtunnelrats @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

“All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with…

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Out of the Old

In This Edition

In this week's edition, I share thoughts on online music worship, recording video content for Sunday School, influencer culture, HSMTMTS, The Imagineering Story on Disney+, what's new with my book reviews, church social media, and what's coming soon across my creative projects.

I know there's a lot of content to consume these days. It seems like everyone is pushing harder and harder to make an impact during isolation. So as always, thank you for your support and taking the time to read my newsletter.

Walnut Notes: Trusting God with Endora Pan

Walnut Notes: Remembering God in All Things with Jon Ng

Dive In Dig Deep: IGTV Guide

Book Reviews

Playlists

Extended Play

Coming Soon

Weekly Review

Walnut Notes: Trusting God with Endora Pan

Endora Pan is a worship leader and small group leader at our church, FCBC Walnut. We talked bout her exhortation from our online worship service, recording her vocals for video worship, and small groups during the time of COVID-19. This episode was recorded LIVE on IGTV and you can watch the video on YouTube.

Endora and I have been about the music ministry since the first day we met, so it was good to see her on screen during our online worship service. We talked about how she was still raising her hands in a recorded video, and I was honestly very encouraged. I have been trying to grow in my physical expressiveness during musical worship, and maybe COVID-19 is what it's going to take to make me go all-in when we get back to church.

Walnut Notes: Remembering God in All Things with Jon Ng

Jon Ng is a Sunday School teacher at FCBC Walnut. Due to COVID-19, we moved our Sunday School class online. We shared a devotion with our students and I saved it to share with the rest of our church. We recorded LIVE on Zoom and you can watch the video on YouTube. Here's his main point: Keeping God at the forefront of all actions and thoughts is wise, but when we forget about God, everything is worthless.

I think recording these videos works well for my Sunday School class, and I am happy to share them with the rest of the church. I teach the 11th and 12th grade class, but we also invited the 9th and 10th grades to join us when we have the live class session. Over on Facebook, I've been playing with adding captions - and the 10-15 minute video length is perfect for me to get the job done.

Dive In Dig Deep: IGTV Guide

I have been recording unboxing videos of the books I receive to review over on Instagram. I wanted an easy way to keep track of them, so I created an IGTV Guide. I group my episodes into different seasons, and they are rather arbitrary, but in my mind they are based off of the waves of books that I get in a certain time period.

What I hope to do is introduce more video content. Of course I still plan to be book-based. But experimenting with live interviews and sharing some music on my stories has seemed to work well. In my feeds, it seems like the LIVE trend is starting to wind down. But I still see more and more people - and Christian ministries for that matter - trying to make an impact. This Twitter thread from NYT Styles reporter Taylor Lorenz has some great insights into what's currently going on in influencer culture.

Book Reviews

This week I reviewed two sets of books from The Good Book Company. These books read like a commentary but feel like a devotional. Check out my reviews of Luke 1-12 For You by Mike McKinley, Luke 12-24 For You by Mike McKinley, John 1-12 For You by Josh Moody, and John 13-21 For You by Josh Moody.

Reading has been difficult for me during quarantine, so this week I made it my goal to read and review one book per day. They were shorter books, so I made sure to pick them up instead of surfing on my phone. Writing reviews came easily sine the books were still fresh in my mind. I should be able to take it easier next week, and I'm looking forward to having a clearer calendar.

Playlists

I kept playing the HSMTMTS soundtrack, and it's been growing on me. There's a lot of filler tracks from the movie, and I think only a few of the tracks can stand on their own outside of the context of the movie - but that's okay. Unlike the original HSM, I don't quite care to revisit the actual film. In this case, the songs will suffice.

MUSICGOON: 10 songs I enjoyed this week.

SVRGNLA: Jess and I love these songs.

ETJ: Music that inspires my band.

DIDD: A crowd-sourced worship playlist.

TGIF: Crowd-sourced for SOLA Network.

This is FCBC Walnut: Sunday setlists.

Extended Play

Speaking of Disney, we watched all episodes of The Imagineering Story on Disney+ and I highly recommend it for any fan of Disneyland. As a child of the 90s, the series started picking up for me at Episode 3 where former CEO Michael Eisner came into the picture. Before we had kids, Jess and I were blessed to go to every Disney Park in the world, so it was nice to revisit them and see the story behind them.

The article that impacted me the most this week was Churches, You Don’t Have to Compete with Disney+ by Vermon Pierre for The Gospel Coalition. As the social media officer for FCBC Walnut, I can give my input, but the pastors are the ones controlling the big pieces of content. Overall, I think we're doing a good job. We need to be wise, adjust for our church context, and be flexible to change. This Twitter thread from DesiringGod's Tony Reinke offers some great advice regarding content strategies for pastors during the COVID-19 crisis. I don't agree with everything, but it's definitely a good place to start.

Throwback: They Do All Their Deeds to be Seen by Others: 4 Resolutions for Creative Christians

Movie: The Imagineering Story

TV: HSMTMTS

Article: Churches, You Don’t Have to Compete with Disney+ by Vermon Pierre

Book: Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers

Song: Out of the Old by Olivia Rodrigo for HSMTMTS

Coming Soon

I'll be recording my friend Joyce Ho's Sunday School devotion this weekend, and I'm scheduled to give the next one. I'm a bit nervous about being recorded, but if my Sunday School teachers are open to doing it then I should be willing to join them. I've actually been thinking about how I can better pivot to video across different platforms, and after next Sunday I'll be carefully considering my options.

I have book reviews lined up and ready to go for next week. I've been shying away from hosting my own book giveaways, but I'm working with IVP right now to try a partnership for something fun soon.

Weekly Review

SOLA: How Chinese Pastors Developed Their Theology for Suffering / The Sanctifying Grace of Inefficiency / Goodnight Chinatown.

Thank God it’s Friday: The new issue of Themelios / A new hymn from Jane Kang and Heidi Tai / God does the magic in disciplemaking / What sins disqualify a pastor for life?

Book Review: John 13-21 For You by Josh Moody

Book Review: John 1-12 For You by Josh Moody

Book Review: Luke 12-24 For You by Mike McKinley

Book Review: Luke 1-12 For You by Mike McKinley

Dive In Dig Deep: IGTV Guide

Walnut Notes: Trusting God with Endora Pan

Walnut Notes: Remembering God in All Things with Jon Ng

Recommended Reading: The Sanctifying Grace of Inefficiency / Four Ways to Build and Sustain a Healthy Worship Ministry / Goodnight Chinatown / Jeremy Lin on the Coronavirus, Hate, and What he is Doing about It

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TGIF: ROUNDUP FOR AUGUST 21, 2020

As the school season begins, read our most popular article for the year - and one that is still relevant - by Heidi Wong, College Ministry Director at Exilic Church in New York City: An Open Letter to College Students Affected by COVID-19.

We have a new Instagram aesthetic and a simpler way to access our articles via the link in our bio. Over on Twitter, we link to our new content and throwback articles daily. But the best way to never miss out is to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

To better equip and encourage the online efforts of our churches, I started an Asian American Worship Leaders Facebook group. I invite you to come and check us out. Do you have a link or article to share? Find me on Twitter or Instagram.

ARTICLES FROM AROUND THE WEB

1. Brett McCracken: Are Churches Losing the Battle to Form Christians?

“In the age of Google, there will always be better preaching and better worship music just a click away. But such online “content”—yes, even from TGC—can never replace church, and pastors must think carefully about why.”

2. Abigail Dodds: Woe Is Me: The Sin of Self-Pity and How to Be Free

It’s only when we turn our eyes to Christ and through him behold the incomparable love of our Father that our self-pity will shrivel and die — finally shown to be the imposter it really is in the light of God’s powerful pity, his decisive grace, and his sacrificial love.

3. John Lee: Who Are the Most Generous? Not Who You’d Expect.

“The wonder of salvation is that God did not have to save fallen people. He chose to save through his own sacrifice, a father’s loss and a son’s life. Generosity flows down to us.”

BOOKS, PODCASTS, MUSIC, AND MORE

1. Monergism: Download the Entire Monergism eBook Library

Monergism promotes only content that is consistent with historically reformed theology, and their entire free eBook library with over 600 titles can now be downloaded with a single click. For a smaller start, you can browse their library.

2. All Nations Community Church: My Worth is Not in What I Own

Drums are tasteful and right in the pocket, female vocals fit the song perfectly, and a surprisingly powerful bridge brings it all together.

3. Aaron Lee: Miscellaneous

Book reviews: Matthew (Guided Meditation) by Alabaster and IVP, John (Guided Meditation) by Alabaster and IVP, On Beauty and Faith by Alabaster, The Ascension of Christ by Patrick Schreiner, Christ and Calamity by Harold L. Senkbeil, and Pages from a Preacher’s Notebook by John Stott. Our TGIF playlist is available on Spotify. Join my Asian American Worship Leaders Facebook group.

FEATURED THIS WEEK ON SOLA NETWORK

1. Wayne Hu: Loving Our Kids in this Coronavirus and School Season

“A Gospel-centered home is one where everyone is constantly reconciling every day through the power of the gospel.”

2. Young W. Yi: What Should Christians Do About Cancel Culture?

“In Christ Jesus and through His sacrifice, we are no longer condemned by God because He died for both our private and public sins.”

3. David J. Schuman: What to Do When You're Afraid

“The next time you feel fear welling up inside, pause and remind yourself of the power and faithfulness of God.”

4. TGIF: Roundup for August 14, 2020

In case you missed it: Black and Hispanic Churchgoers Concerned About Safety of In-Person Services / Planning for the Fall with Covid-19 (and Taylor Swift) / An Encouragement for Every Christian to Read

General disclaimer: Our link roundups are not endorsements of the positions or lives of the authors.

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Sight Beyond Sight #TBT | Throwback Theology | @ohmegawatts @brianbraille #soulplasma #acts29 @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

Sight Beyond Sight #TBT | Throwback Theology | @ohmegawatts @brianbraille #soulplasma #acts29 @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling— if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be…

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Deal Or No Deal #TBT | Throwback Theology | @officialrswift @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

Deal Or No Deal #TBT | Throwback Theology | @officialrswift @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

“I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints.…

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Rainy Days #TBT | Throwback Theology | @shadkmusic @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

Rainy Days #TBT | Throwback Theology | @shadkmusic @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

“For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.”

Matthew 5:45 NLT

It would be nice if life was all sunny days, walks in the park and chillin’ in the meadows. Unfortunately, it’s not. Life can be hard and sometimes just downright difficult. Life situations come and can be hard to deal with. It gets tough to navigate through life.

Days…

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The Main Ingredient #TBT | Throwback Theology | @kj52 @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

The Main Ingredient #TBT | Throwback Theology | @kj52 @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

  In this life we could never completely know and understand God. He’s too long, too deep and too wide for us to ever comprehend. We are finite and He is infinite. No beginning or end. From everlasting to everlasting He is God.

Despite how overwhelmingly vast God is He made this walk with Him very simple. You don’t have to be a theologian or have a masters degree to know the Lord. He said we…

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Rooted #TBT | Throwback Theology | @mouthpi3ce @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

Rooted #TBT | Throwback Theology | @mouthpi3ce @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:6-7‬ ‭NRSV‬‬

We are kingdom citizens. That sounds pretty simple, but it is easy to lose sight of a simple yet profound truth. We are in this world, but we are not of this world. We…

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The Kingdom #TBT | Throwback Theology | @thecantonjones @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

The Kingdom #TBT | Throwback Theology | @thecantonjones @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

I was watching the live remake of “All In The Family” and “The Jeffersons” the other night. They were great remakes of 2 classic tv shows created by Norman Lear. Both shows dealt a lot with the racial climate of America in the 70s. The commonality between both shows was community.

The shows had impact, because they dealt with the relevant topics of that time and they weren’t afraid to push the…

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Lead With Compassion #TBT | Throwback Theology | #CamThePlatform @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

Lead With Compassion #TBT | Throwback Theology | #CamThePlatform @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

“For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:13-15‬ ‭NRSV‬‬

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The Only Way #TBT | Throwback Theology | @group1crew @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

The Only Way #TBT | Throwback Theology | @group1crew @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”” ‭‭John‬ ‭14:6-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When you walk with the Lord it’s a sad thing to see people walk away from the faith. Unfortunately, I’ve seen that from a distance and from people that I know…

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Glory Revealed #TBT | Throwback Theology | @flame314 @lecrae @damo_seayn3D @trackstarz

Glory Revealed #TBT | Throwback Theology | @flame314 @lecrae @damo_seayn3D @trackstarz

“Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the…

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Ego #TBT | Throwback Theology | @rhemasoul @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

Ego #TBT | Throwback Theology | @rhemasoul @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

“First pride, then the crash— the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.”

Proverbs 16:18 MSG

We all aspire to go higher. To excel to be something great. It is engrained in us. We go through the obstacles and struggles of life to reach a goal. Nobody, even if they’re doing something evil, aspires to be the worst at something. No one ever wanted to be in the NFL or the NBA to be the worst player in…

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Break Free #TBT | Throwback Theology | @kierrasheard @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

Break Free #TBT | Throwback Theology | @kierrasheard @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

“A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,…

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Gems #TBT | Throwback Theology | @iamjekob @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

Gems #TBT | Throwback Theology | @iamjekob @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

“Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.”

Proverbs 31:10-12 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/pro.31.10-12.nlt

Typically when you hear people talk about Proverbs 31 or a virtuous woman it is usually from the angle of telling women that they are…

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Keep Running #TBT | Throwback Theology | @theogtunnelrats @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

Keep Running #TBT | Throwback Theology | @theogtunnelrats @damo_seayn3d @trackstarz

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross,…