What We Receive on the scale of good and bad

 

 

Recently posted two different questions:   

Is God good to us when we are good?  
Does God allow bad things to happen to us when we are not good?  

When you think about it, you have to answer both questions the same, because both are based on the same scale of our behavior.  If God only blesses us when we are good, then He would have to punish us when we are not good.  Many of you commented, some based on opinion, and others quoted scripture.  My aim here is not to get into or pull people into heated debates with each other.  As a matter of fact, I discourage that.  My intention is to bring some clarity to some viewpoints and perceptions that are wrong.  Over the years, I have grown in understanding by what I call, “connecting the dots.”  The Bible refers to this process as seeking and finding, but regardless when you do this, your understanding becomes clearer, and the “mystery box” that we like to throw much of the bible into is thrown open, and we realize that many things are crystal clear when we dive in and seek.  

First I want to address some of the comments that were similar.  Many quoted Romans 3:10 which says; as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; (ESV)  

Paul wrote this, and I love Paul’s approach when he presents the gospel.  He is probably the most brilliant evangelist of all time because he looked at the culture around him and found a way to tie the gospel to what was happening.  Now I am a big advocate for rightly dividing old covenant and new covenant because when you mix the two, and try to apply both at the same time, the end result is confusion and frustration.  It is easy to assume that everything written in the New Testament is new covenant application, but in Romans 2 and 3, Paul is talking about how God saw us under the old covenant.  Paul does this as a set up to share the gospel, which he does, starting in Romans 3:21.  If you read verse 20 and 21, you will clearly see the distinction between old and new as he transitions into sharing the good news that righteousness has now been revealed.  2 Corinthians 5:21 and all of the new testament declares that through the cross, we have been made righteous.  If you don’t see the distinction Paul is making, it sounds like he is contradicting himself, but obviously he is not, he is simply proclaiming the gospel by explaining what the cross made available to us.  

Another common response to the question concerning God allowing things to happen when we are not good was simply this; “Remember Job.”  

Many view the book of Job as the book of suffering, but in reality, the book of Job is actually a book of blessing.  I’m not belittling what Job went through, it was horrible, but most Bible scholars believe that the suffering in Job’s life that is recorded took place in about a 9 month span.  They also believe that Job was about 70 years old when Satan began his attacks, but afterwards lived another 140 years, and was blessed with twice as much as he had before.  We want to take 9 months of suffering in a life-span of over 200 years and think that God has ordained a life time of suffering for us.  The idea of living a life of suffering and taking it on unnecessarily is nothing more than false humility.   I will not get into too much of that 9 months of severe suffering, but the idea that Job was perfect and did everything right is not correct.  We have the overview of what was going on, but Job did not.  He clearly thought that God was killing him when in fact every attack came from the enemy.  Job also made a statement that often gets overlooked when covered in sermons and lessons, which was, “The thing I feared the most has come upon me.”  Fear and faith cannot co-exist.  We will choose one or the other, but both cannot be at play at the same time.  Fear over faith will always open us up to attacks.  

Another response I saw was, God disciplines his own.  

This is based on Hebrews 12:6, which says,  For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”  

I have heard preachers talk about God taking us out back and giving us a good beating.  I remember as a kid thinking that this sure seems like a warped sense of who God is.  Over the years, I’ve realized that our definition of “Discipline,” is often based on how we were disciplined.  Other kids who were abused from an angry parent who justified their abuse by labeling it as discipline have a completely different definition of discipline.  When you have a word that can be interpreted in so many ways, you want to look at two things; original text, and context.  Often times this will bring much clarity.  

Since the book of Hebrews was to Hebrews, we can safely assume that the original text was in Hebrew.  The words discipline and chastisement are taken from the original Hebrew word, Bikoret.  This word has two meanings:  

To deeply scourge (used to describe the scourging of Jesus, that would often kill it’s victims before they could be crucified.)  
To deeply inquire into someone’s life  

The disciples, whose titles come from the word discipline were not scourged by Jesus (definition 1), but definition number two accurately describes how they were disciplined.  Jesus deeply inquired into every aspect of their lives.  

The King James Version actually uses the word, “Scourges”, and quite honestly given the two meanings of the word, I believe they chose the wrong one.  We deserved to be scourged and crucified, but Jesus stepped in and took that punishment for us.  This is an important point that I hope you remember.  God does NOT punish us for our sin.  ALL punishment, ALL wrath, and COMPLETE payment for the wages of our sin was put on Christ and nailed to the cross.  Quite simply, if we still get punished for our sin, then the cross was not enough to satisfy God.  If that were the case, we are all doomed because God’s plan was flawed.  The purpose of the Holy Spirit that indwells us is called the Counselor, the Comforter, and the one who empowers us. Knowing the role of the Holy Spirit, let me say this;  There is a mental disorder known as Munchausen Syndrome where a parent will intentionally make their child sick, sometimes by malnutrition, or even poisoning them, so they can step in and offer the cure, making themselves the hero.  This makes the child dependent, looking to them as the savior of their lives.  When no one else could help, mom saved me.  It is sick.  I’ve only seen this personally one time in my life, and I can tell you that mom had her child taken from her, and in my opinion should have gone to prison.  If we realize how twisted this is, how could we think that God would hurl confusion at us, and then step in to be our Counselor, or hurl disaster at us so He can step in and be our Comforter?  Are you starting to see how warped our perception of who God is can be?  Misperception on this level will affect every aspect of our relationship with God.  How can we come boldly to the throne and ask for anything if in return we might get is poison?  I mean, after hearing a preacher tell me what a dirty, undeserving wretch I am as a believer, I might think I deserve the poison.  

The fact of the matter is, there are many things that come at us in a fallen world, that is not coming from God.  We also face consequences for choosing sin when we are well aware of the consequences.  Consequence is not punishment, although it can sometimes feel like it.  Remember, the punishment for our sin is paid in full.   

Getting back to the context in Hebrews 12 concerning discipline, look at the analogy here and many other places when it talks about us being in a race.  When an athlete is being trained, they are being coached and are living under discipline.  They can step away from that disciplined diet, and eat whatever they want, but they will not run the race as well.  They can choose to not train under the discipline of a trainer, but they won’t run as well.  This is how a trainer disciplines an athlete, and quite honestly, this is in line with how we discipline our kids.  We are preparing them for a successful, abundant life, and that requires the same type of discipline that a well-trained athlete.  Set your eyes on the prize and run.  When you hit a hurdle, don’t stop and focus on the hurdle, keep your eyes set and run!  This is what Paul meant when he said to not to focus on the sin that so easily besets us.  It’s just a distraction, keep running!  If you stop and worry about how you hit the hurdle, or if you knocked it over, trying to set it back up and make it right, you will not finish the race.  Keep running!  Sin has no power over us, it is merely a distraction.  Keep running!  

Now let’s look at how or if God rewards our good behavior.  This is a much shorter explanation.  

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places – Eph. 1:3  

All blessing have been made available to all who believe.  Abraham believed God and his belief was why he was counted as righteous.  If Abraham’s righteousness had been measured or rewarded on the scale of good and bad, he would have not been counted as righteous.  This is the common theme throughout scripture.  I say this, and it often gets weird looks in church, but what you believe is more important than what you do.  

I heard a great preacher recently say this concerning God’s discipline that is also called training.  Training is for our future, not punishment for our past!   

Keep seeking

but no matter what….keep running!

 

Welcome to the official website of Grammy nominated and award winning singer/songwriter, David Staton!  Be sure to get total access to FREE music and more right here!  To interact with David, follow him on Twitter and "like" his Facebook page where he answers questions and talks with fans and friends regularly! 

 

Welcome

Welcome

WHO ARE YOU?

WHO ARE YOU? 

I have often said that if we as Christians could ever really grasp what happened on the cross, it would rock our world and change everything. Our impact on those around us and the results of our lives would be drastically different. Have you ever wondered why the turning point for any championship sport’s team is the coaching staff? The leadership provided by the coach does not change the physical limitations of the team, but they do change the mental limitations. A great coach makes his team realize who they are and who they can be. When a coach is successful in doing this, the results are amazing. The players become more than members of the team, or someone who just wears the uniform, they become champions! They win! 

The Apostle Paul compared our Christian life to a sport. We all play, but the goal is to keep your eyes on what’s ahead and finish well. We all finish, but some finish well. Billy Graham finished well! My dad finished well! If heaven is your only goal, then one could say that we all “win,” but I believe that when we receive Christ, and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in the deepest part of who we are, we get way more than just a ticket to heaven. I believe because scripture teaches that we receive power. In fact, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us! Do we really grasp what that means? I don’t think we do. Why do I think this? I don’t see much power, transformation, earth quaking, mountain moving, hell shaking results from the majority that wear the team uniform. I don’t see much winning. This frustrates me. As a matter of fact, it frustrated me to the point that I wanted a coach. If the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of me, then I don’t want to cross the finish line worn out, defeated, clinging to my ticket to heaven. I want to finish strong. I want to win! That means I had to expand my thinking outside of denominational barriers and absorb truth. I turned to scripture and prayer and God has sent coaches into my life that have convinced me that I can access that power! I can win! 2 Corinthians 5:21 says “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 

I have two beautiful daughters. Katherine is 10 and Grace is 15. Both have chosen to follow Christ and are saved, but for kids today, life is tough. Peer pressure today is ending lives. Suicide, death from that first time trying drugs, and having sex even before your body is fully matured is what kids today wake up with every morning. When my girls were saved, I explained to them exactly how God made them (Spirit, Soul, and Body), and explained to them what happened when they surrendered their lives to Christ. I’m amazed that you rarely hear this taught in most churches, but it is foundational to understanding who we are. They memorized 2 Corinthians 5:21 and now every morning before they go to school, I ask them, “Do you know who you are?” They reply out loud, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ!” The other night, Grace told me that since she has been declaring that out loud every morning, something has happened. She went on to tell me that when she is about to make a choice, no matter how big or small, something inside her lets her know which one is the right choice and which one is the wrong choice. She told me that making a wrong choice is now gut-wrenching. So what happened? Rather than letting her behavior determine who she is, she is letting her identity determine her behavior! She is beginning to realize exactly who dwells in her spirit, and who she is because of it. Declaring it every morning makes her more and more aware. There are only two times when we are not a threat to the enemy. There are only two times when we are not in the race; before we start (before we are a Christian) and after we cross the finish line (in Heaven). What happens in between those two times is when we are in the game. Run the race, don’t just wear the uniform. Make a difference! Win! Finish well! 

David Staton

SEND ME  

SEND ME 

How then can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 

                                                                                                    - Romans 10: 14,15 

Anyone who knows me well, especially my wife, will tell you that I have a hard time asking for help. However, I realize from time to time that I cannot do everything myself. I also realize how much God blesses me when I make myself available and purposely choose to help others. That is why I am letting you know about a very real need that I am facing. 

I have had the same vehicle that has taken me all over the country, singing and ministering for the past 13 years. It has served me and my ministry well, but after many miles of sharing the gospel, the time has come to replace it with something more dependable. If you have seen me in person and attended one of my events, you know that I share way more than just music with the people I am in front of. I also work closely with churches to make sure that there will be people in attendance who do not go to church and need to hear the gospel. I make sure that before the event has come to a close, that everyone not only knows what it takes to follow Christ, but they are given an opportunity to make that decision. I’ve been blessed to see countless numbers of people do exactly that, and see believers be drawn closer to the Lord. I’m asking you to send me. Let me paraphrase and pose what Romans 10:14,15 means to me right now: 

How can those people where I sing ever believe? How can they believe in Christ, in whom they have not heard? And how can they hear if I don’t go and tell them? And how can I go and share the gospel with them through word and song unless you help send me. 

I’m asking you to prayerfully consider sending me by doing the following: 

Pray for my ministry. My family is becoming more and more involved in what I do as my wife and I train our girls for ministry. 
Any financial donation will go toward purchasing a dependable vehicle to effectively take us where God opens doors. 
If you are going to be selling a vehicle this year, would you prayerfully consider donating a portion of the profits toward fulfilling our transportation needs? Perhaps 10%, 25%, or more? I am sure that there are some who could afford to provide the transportation we are in need of with no problem. Anything you are willing do, we are most grateful! 

I love how verse 15 describes those who share the gospel. 

As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 

I know that if that applies to those who are actually going and doing, then it has to apply to those who send and make it possible for some to go! I love you all, and I’m grateful for those of you who have supported me through the years. The work continues, and we will go. Will you send us? 

Donations can be made through my website (www.davidstaton.com) using paypal. Thank you for partnering to SEND ME! 

Make checks payable to: 

David Staton 

2469 Pleasant View Road 

Pleasant View, TN 37146

Real. Worship. Music. 

Real. Worship. Music. 

Any teenager will tell you that there is nothing more embarrassing for them than to see their parents trying to be as cool and current as they are. When they see someone as young as thirty, trying to act, talk, and dress like a teenager, they roll their eyes and think, "how pathetic." Those parents who think they can hang with the ever changing trends with their kids are only fooling themselves. When it comes to music in most of our churches today, I think it is past time that we address something that may just bring a little reality to Sunday morning. 

I'm going to point out some things to you that you may not want to hear, but it is absolutely, undeniable truth. That's why we call my column, "Can You Handle the Truth." According to a fairly recent survey conducted by Lifeway, two thirds of kids between the ages of 18 and 22 will drop out of church at some point. There are several reasons that are speculated as to why, but I would like to address a huge elephant in the room that almost seems too obvious to ignore, yet we do. Let's talk about the music and trends that have filled the majority of our churches. No one wants to address this because at some point, we have to admit that we are wrong and we need to make some changes. It all started when someone had a brilliant marketing plan by labeling a style of music as, "Worship Music." It almost sounds blasphemous to say that you don't like worship music. If you don't like worship music, then you must not like worship. And that ladies and gentlemen, that is where the church has fallen prey to a music industry that has convinced their target audience that somehow this music, regardless of any sign of anointing, lack of depth or lack of musicality, must be an essential part of our worship services. After all, it is "worship" music. We have failed to realize that worship is a lifestyle, not a music style. 

The main thing I hear so many pastors, youth pastors, and parents say is, "but that is the kind of music that our kids like, so we have to do it to keep them and attract more kids." Really? Well, the stats don’t lie. It isn’t working. Have you checked your kid's iPad or phone and looked at their playlist? For the overwhelming majority, it is not filled with worship music. They are listening to Justin Timberlake, Tori Kelly, Adam Levine, and other secular artists whose music in no way sounds like what we sit through on Sunday morning. Listen, I'm not condemning an entire musical genre. There are some songs that come out of that genre that are good, well written, and anointed, but not nearly enough for us to feel like if we don't cover at least one of the top ten songs on K-Love, then somehow we haven't experienced real worship. I told someone once that there was worship long before any of these worship artists got their record deals. Remember when I told you how kids feel when they see their parents or anyone over 30 trying to be cool? Well watching their parents do the 1974 Freebird sway back and forth on Sunday morning definitely does not make them like it any more. In their minds, any chance of this music being cool just flew out the stained glass window. 

I recently had a meeting with a very good praise & worship singer/songwriter. She played me several songs, many of which were very good. On one song that we talked about writing together, I suggested bringing in some scriptural references of past accounts that would strongly support the title of the song. She told me that she wanted to keep the song as a prayer so it would be a “worship” song. I shared with her many scriptures where God told His people to remember what He had done? Why? Because it strengthens our faith, and prepares us to sing to 

God and thank Him for His faithfulness, love and power. She told me that what I shared with her totally opened up her perspective on writing. There is nothing wrong with those songs that are directed to God. However, as much as they are needed, we also need those songs that make us remember and make us look forward. Let me give you a very real example of what I’m talking about. If your pastor got up every Sunday morning and prayed for twenty or thirty minutes, having a conversation directed only to God, the congregation may be impressed with his prayer, but that congregation will spiritually starve if nothing is directed and ministered to them. If we are going to call our music a ministry, why does the same logic not apply? We have to stop limiting our worship to songs that we sing on Sunday morning, and realize that how we think, the decisions we make, how we pray, and renewing our mind through scripture Monday through Saturday is more important than our Sunday morning music. If we don’t know how to use our hands to lift each other up and be the hands of Jesus to our neighbor, do you think God is impressed when we raise them on Sunday morning? 

Is the answer to drop the new music and only do songs based on the copyright date? Absolutely not! What I am saying is that we need to pay attention to the content, the message of the music. A music minister who is called, talented and anointed can make that message musically relevant. The emphasis is anointing. If you don’t like the style of a particular song, that’s a minor issue. If you don’t recognize and appreciate the anointing and message, that’s a far more serious issue. I'm telling you this in hopes that we can get back to something with some depth that will help our kids want to stay and truly minister to the entire church. The church is starving for something that goes deeper and lasts longer than the life of a song that is trending. I'm telling you this, hoping that we can trade shallow lyrics, skinny jeans and out of tune guitars for something better. Real. Worship. Music.

WHY YOU SHOULD SCHEDULE A DAVID STATON EVENT! 

Most churches want to reach the lost in their community, but many do not know how to do it effectively.  What if I told you that you could have an event where your church is filled with people from your community who do not go to church?  Would you do it?  For decades, I've watched churches break the budget to bring in the most famous Christian celebrity that they can afford.  The end result, even when successful, was a church building filled with Christians from surrounding churches.  Much of their resources are spent and there was very little outreach to the lost.  To someone who doesn't go to church, the most famous Christian celebrity is unknown to them, because they are not familiar with the Christian world.  It's time to back up and refocus our efforts if we truly want to win the lost around us.  I have been fortunate to work with some of the biggest names in music.  I have recorded and produced projects with Michael Jackson's producer, India Arie, Jagged Edge, 4.0, and sang back up for Wynonna Judd.  These are all names that anyone outside of church will recognize. Let's work together to reach the lost within miles from your church!  It CAN happen!  Contact us today to plan an event that has the ability to get the lost inside the four walls of your church where they will hear and see a powerful presentation of the gospel.  

Chasing fame in Jesus' Name is not how we reach the lost.  There is a better way.  Let's work together and win the lost and grow your church.
 

Rich, Young, & Successful! 

Rich, Young & Succesful!
 
Matthew 19: 16-22
 
I'm an American and I believe in freedom.  I believe in our system of government, capitalism, and what is left of the American Dream.  I love stories about how someone started with nothing and through hard work and persistence, became a success.   However, as patriotic as I am, I have realized in recent years that there is a huge difference between the American dream and the gospel.  In many ways the two are polar opposites, and in America, the church has a hard time accepting or even seeing the differences.  The American Dream says, "believe in yourself and you can be successful."   Jesus said that we must deny ourselves if we want to follow Him.  These are two drastically different world views, and more times than not, we end up with a twisted perception of ministry in America.  
 
     We want to think that if a ministry is successful and in good standing with God, money and success will be a sign of God's blessing, favor and even anointing.  In America, we are drawn toward success, so the church that is doing God's work will have a multi-million dollar campus, hundreds of thousands of dollars in stage lighting and sound, a pastor who shows up in a thousand dollar suit and stands in the lobby signing copies of his latest self help book that promotes the American dream more than it does the gospel. He lives a much more affluent lifestyle than most of his congregation, and if his wealth is ever questioned, the default response is God's blessing and favor.  The Christian music industry is no different.  I know artists who will do everything they can to drive a newer bus, buy the clothes and do all they can to appear to be financially successful because they believe it will help them be more desirable to churches and as a result be more successful.  It sounds crazy, but in most cases it works.  
 
     Most of the ministers and singers that fall into this mindset are good people.  They actually believe that their income and success is confirmation that they are living in obedience.  This may be the case at times, but I want to give you a great example in scripture that will show all of us how we can be so easily deceived by financial success 
 
     In Matthew 19: 16-22, a very successful young man comes to Jesus and asks Him a very important question; How do I get to heaven and live forever?"  First, notice the focus of the question.  It is very revealing of his motives and his, 'what's in it for me' attitude. How can I make sure I live forever and reap rewards for eternity.   No interest in the work of God and how he could impact the world around him, just tell me how I can get the final reward.  It's a subtle point but one worth noting.  I've been to many churches, large and small and the only time they get emotional is when the topic of heaven comes up.  Focusing on all that heaven has for me with no concern for others who may not make it there is nothing short of selfish.   I'm not trying to diminish the hope of heaven at all, but if all we think about is what will be waiting there for us, and we do nothing to reach those around us, then we have no love, no compassion, and absolutely no desire to do the work of Christ here and now.   But it's okay because God will overlook our disobedience as we are counting our rewards in our very own mansion.  
 
     After the successful young man asks Jesus how he can make sure he will live forever in heaven, Jesus tells him to keep the commandments and names a few of them.  Don't murder, don't steal, don't commit adultery, honor your parents and love your neighbor as yourself.  The rich young man tells Jesus that he has kept these commandments since he was a child. He must have been a pretty good guy.  He had an excellent resume for a ministerial position.  If he could sing, he could have bought a new bus, hired the best singers, had the best sound system money could buy. They would have been the best dressed group on the road.  They could easily be on the road 250 days a year. He could have certainly had a church staff poison or even started a successful church in America.  His best selling book could have been titled,"The Night I Met Jesus!"   We would all buy tickets to go see and hear this young minister who had the means to brand and market himself as the guy who had met Jesus.  His success would be proof that God's favor was on him.  Yes, today in the United States, the rich young ruler could easily be America's pastor!
 
     On the outside he is successful.  There is no denying that he had encountered Jesus and eye witnesses would testify to the fact that he had in fact met Jesus.  No scandals!  He is a good guy.  He Doesn't lie, doesn't cheat on his wife, never killed anyone, yet something isn't right.  This guy was listed in scripture and had a conversation with Jesus, yet we don't even know his name.   How could scripture not tell us the name of such a successful and influential man?   Who is this guy that most of us work to be like?  His only identity was success.  In the end, the only thing we know about him was that he was rich and young.  He was everything we want in America and possessed every attribute we want to see in a singer or preacher.  Jesus looked at the successful young man and in so many words said, "Just one more thing. I want you to give up your identity and follow me."   Take everything that is important to you and give it away. The bible says that he walked away from Jesus sorrowful because he couldn't get past himself and all he had worked for to follow Christ. He would not deny himself, lose his own identity to follow Jesus.  He obviously had a certain level of faith in Jesus or he wouldn't have asked Him such a question. Like so many, he wanted the reward, but wasn't willing to pay the price. 
 
     I believe there is another reason why the young, rich guy was not named.  At one time, I was that guy.  I know a lot of people in ministry who are that guy.   If Jesus told them to sell the bus, walk away from the fancy suits and the stage,  they would walk away sorrowful and not miss one singing date.   I'm not saying they've never met Jesus, but I am saying that many of them would not walk away from their identity of what they have aspired and worked to be identified as.   Their identity, brand or image is the hardest thing to give up.  They are also convinced that somehow in the self promotion world they've created, that Jesus is the one being promoted.  We can go to great lengths to justify ourselves.  
 
     I could end this right here, and just let the singers, preachers and people in ministry examine themselves, but I'm not going to.   This applies to ALL of us.  Do you know why this endless pursuit for fame and financial success so easily becomes an obsession for so many in ministry? Because churches feed it and contribute to the problem.  When we schedule singers and outside ministries into our churches, we want the most well known, successful celebrities our budgets can afford.  The higher our perception is of them, the more we will pay, and the cycle never ends.  We want a celebrity who is so busy, the only time they are in church is when they are being paid to be there.  It is a recipe for disaster   Then when that "celebrity" ends up on drugs, loses their family, and ends up like most Hollywood celebrities that crash and burn, we wonder what on earth went wrong.  After all, they were so successful! 
 
     The story of the rich young ruler who was financially successful and spiritually bankrupt should cause all of us to redefine our definition of success.  Don't pursue what you can't give up!
 
David Staton
 
     
 
     

THE MISSION 

A friend of mine who is in gospel music recently posted something on facebook that got my attention.  He said, "I wonder if there are islamic Quartets that go across the country singing in mosques?"  I know he meant for this to be funny, but it really made me think.  Obviously, we know there are no islamic quartets or music groups that tour.  The bigger questions we should ask is; why aren't there?  I mean, surely the islamic world needs someone to encourage them as they struggle to get through the week.  They certainly need someone to come sing songs about the 70 virgins that will be waiting for the faithful followers of allah.  I know there has to be those who have had their feelings hurt in a mosque and they need a ministry that tells them everything will be alright and allah loves them.  Does this sound ridiculous?  Do you know why they don't see the need for such "ministries?"  The answer is obvious and convicting.  They are too focused and determined with their mission. 

I have sung in countless churches in my lifetime and the two main topics that churches want a preacher to preach on and singers to sing about are encouragement and heaven.  We say we believe what the Bible says and that Christ has overcome death, hell and the grave and He has redeemed us, but bless our hearts, we've been hurt by someone in the church and we just need some encouragement.  It's either encouragement we want, or a good old song about heaven to make us look forward to what Christ has prepared for each one of us.  Both of these should lead us and motivate us to the mission that God has commanded each one of us to do?  I used to hear songs about heaven and imagine how it will be for me.  It made me feel good to think about how I'll have a mansion, and other luxuries that this world's wealth could never afford.  All for me, all about me, won't it be wonderful there for me.  Don't ask me to think about those who are around me right now who will not be in heaven, but rather in eternal torment.  Who are these lost people that we like to clump into one group of "evildoers?"  I'll tell you who they are.  They are people in our family, friends we've known for years and co-workers that we have never shared the gospel with.  We assume that they know what we know and somehow that excuses us from ever having to make sure.

The mission is simple.  Share the gospel!  Study, learn how to share the gospel and do it.  When Jesus said, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men," that means that He will teach us how to fish.  You can do it when you realize that the mission is why we're here.  The people in our lives are there for that very reason.  It is our mission!

Easter Then and Now 

     The details of the crucifixion are recorded in all four of the gospels.  There is so much to be learned from what's written from the accounts during the last couple of days before Jesus would die and ultimately rise again.  One of the most powerful accounts of failure and love is what happened to Peter.  Peter had just told Jesus that He would follow Him wherever He goes, even if it means death.  Then later in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asks Peter and the other disciples to watch and pray while He pleads with God the Father for there to be another way.  Jesus is praying, agonizing over what is about to happen, and when He goes back to Peter and the disciples, He finds them sleeping.  Then later after Jesus is arrested, Peter denies knowing Jesus, not once, not twice, but three times just as Jesus had told him he would do.  This would be known as one of Peter's greatest failures.  What is worse, is from what we know, Peter disappears and has no more contact with Jesus before his death on the cross.  What would happen to Peter?  Surely denouncing his relationship with Jesus would cost him his salvation.  After all, to our knowledge, Peter was fearful for his life and went into hiding.  We have no record of him being at Calvary when Jesus was crucified.  Peter reminds me so much of myself.  He had those moments of great faith, but they were overshadowed by his moments of failure.  Big faith, but bigger failure.  Unfortunately, Jesus had predicted that Peter would deny even knowing Him when push came to shove, and sure enough, Peter did exactly as Jesus had said.  Can you imagine how Peter must have felt?  He must have felt like Jesus was so disappointed in him, that he would never see Him again. (Mark 14:29-72)

     It makes sense, because even though Jesus had told the disciples several times that He would be crucified and rise on the third day, not one of the disciples was first on the scene to witness the empty tomb.  Given the events of the past 72 hours, Peter must have felt like he had blown it.  After all, Peter had denied ever knowing Jesus.  What's worse, was Jesus knew it. 

     But here is the beautiful part.  When the women came to the tomb, an angel tells them that Jesus had risen, and then he tells them to "Tell His disciples, and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you."   He made sure to call Peter by name!  I believe Jesus wanted Peter to know that God's love far outweighs our failure! (Mark 16:7)

     Do you feel like you have just blown it with God?  Do you feel like you've done something that has caused Him to give up on you and cast you aside?  When you pray, you feel like no one is listening because at some point, you've crossed the line and now God has better things to do than to hear your problems, let alone do anything to help you     .  Here is something you may not even realize; He knew you would mess up or in your own way, deny Him before you ever did it.  But God spoke to someone and instructed them to invite you to come to church, much like the angel instructed the women to tell Peter to get to Galilee so he could see Jesus.  You went.  You heard the good news.  Now you know that hope is not lost and that Christ arose for you.  Don't go back into hiding!  Pursue the One who is pursuing you everyday!  Don't disconnect from the other disciples and followers of Christ!  Make a difference for Him!


 

World Mission Presents, David Staton - The Great Commission Tour 2015 

World Mission will present The Great Commission Tour 2015, featuring David Staton.  The tour will serve a much greater purpose than simply promoting an artist or event.  With a strong focus on evangelism, these events will focus and work with local churches strategically on engaging the community around them, and facilitating each church in getting the public to attend the event.  "When a local church is serious about reaching the people around them, planning shifts from promoting an artist to promoting an event that appeals to people who have no church affiliation.  World Mission is serious about reaching people and so am I.  I am so honored to be partnering with them to fulfill the great commission locally and around the world," says Staton.  If we are serious about reaching people who are outside of the church, we have to look beyond the celebrity status of a Christian artist.  After all, people outside of the church don't know who the most famous Christian artist is anyway.  The fact that David has worked with Wynonna Judd and others that people outside of the church will recognize, gives any church leverage to attract people who would normally never come to a Christian event.  Once they attehd, the music will not disappoint and the message will always change lives.

If your church is serious about reaching people, we want to help.  Bring the Great Commission Tour to your area or church this spring or summer in 2015.  Email all scheduling inquiries to, davidstatonmusic@gmail.com


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Changing The World! 

I love songs about heaven!  "What A Day That Will Be", "When We All Get To Heaven" and "How Beautiful Heaven Must Be" are three of my favorite hymns.  I used to be able to get with other artists and sing these great old songs and I loved how they made me feel.  I am so grateful that I am a Christian and that God's grace has been extended to me, but now when I sing those songs, I can no longer just look at myself.  Every time I sing these songs now, I'm reminded of how many people in my own life will not make it to heaven.  This burden for reaching those folks has led me to write a song and a book by the same title which is, "This Time Tomorrow."  Both ask the question; If you knew that Christ would return by this time tomorrow, how would you live the last 24 hours on planet earth?  Would we just sit around and sing those old songs and be happy that we heard the gospel, or would we pick up the phone or go see the folks in our lives who we have never shared the gospel with?  

I have always done one night concert events. but many of my concert events are turning into a three night event.  The first two nights I speak to the church about those people in their lives that they have never witnessed to.  We pray for those folks and invite them to the last night  of the event which is a concert.  By the end of the event, we have a church full of our friends and family ready to hear some great music.  By the end of the night, I have shared the gospel and given them a chance to respond.  What an incredible opportunity this is!  I believe the saddest day in heaven will be when we realize that many of the folks who were a part of our lives are not with us.  As a matter of fact, the bible says that we'll grieve so bad that it will take the hand of God to make us stop crying.  What these events do is equip us with what it takes to share the gospel with those closest to us.  Whether those folks say "yes" to Christ or not, you can at least know that you did all you could to get them to hear and respond to the gospel.  I believe we will all be shocked at how many WILL decide to follow Christ!  Contact my office today and let's plan an event today!  

Fathers Day - Thank You Dad (The story behind the song) 

A Father’s Day Tribute – Thank You Dad

I have been blessed through the years to write songs for just about every well-known southern gospel artist in our field.  Not long ago, I was being interviewed and the interviewer asked me if I had a favorite song that I had written.  I didn’t even hesitate when I told him which one was my favorite.  I told him that it was a song that most folks have never heard.  Since then, I have added it to my live concerts because the reaction is always the same.  I was so fortunate to be raised by Godly parents.  I am one of five kids and we have always been very close.  We grew up singing together and had parents that not only poured the word of God into us, but showed us through their lives how God loves us unconditionally. 
 
In 2004, I received a phone call from my mom that stopped me in my tracks.  She told me that my dad had been showing signs of being confused and disoriented and they were going to the hospital to have a brain scan done.  Well, we all began to pray and a few hours later, my mom called again.  She told me that the scan had shown a tumor.  They said it was operable, but my dad was 71 years old and at his age, the chances of it being a late stage of cancer was likely.  They scheduled surgery for a few days later.  I remember telling Mike LeFevre and the guys that I needed some time off.  I went to Ohio for dad’s surgery.  The day before the surgery, my mom told all of us kids that dad wanted to write each of us a letter telling us how proud he was of us and how much he loved us.  I suggested that rather than dad writing a letter to all of us, that we should write a letter to him telling him how much we love him and how thankful we are that God placed us in his care and allowed us to be raised by such Godly parents.  My dad made it through the surgery and we were told that the tumor was stage four (the most advanced) and more than likely, another tumor would come back and be very aggressive.  I watched my dad who had always been so strong, become incredibly weak as he fought so hard to beat the odds.  My dad lived almost one year to the day of his surgery and passed away on September 10, 2005.  During that last year, I went to visit my mom and dad as much as I possibly could.  I remember sitting in the living room where us kids were raised, next to my dad’s hospital bed and talking to him and my mom.  I would ask questions that most kids never ask their parents.  How did you meet?  Who introduced you?  What did you like to do before five kids came into your life and messed everything up?  At night, I would write down everything I had learned about my parents and began working on this song.  I guess the reason this song is so special to me is because from an emotional stand point, it is the life story of my dad.  From a writer’s perspective, the song is both chronologically and structurally sound.  There is a story about each one of the lines in the song, so I’m going to share the lyric first and then, I will tell you a little bit about each line that made me include it and why it’s so special.  I’d like to wish every dad a Happy Father’s Day and I hope you enjoy the stories that inspired this song.  To hear the song, go to www.davidstaton.com
 
THANK YOU DAD
 
Verse 1:
He was born in 1932
Where the coal was black and the grass was blue
That Kentucky home’s still standing there today
The way they grew up was hard to believe
They were lucky to have shoes on their feet
The only thing they did harder than work was pray
 
Verse 2:
Then on a sunny day in fifty five
He met the lady that changed his life
They vowed to share a life and his last name
Not much hope for a family
The doctor said kids just couldn’t be
But I’m one of five that sure would like to say
 
Chorus:
Thank you dad
For giving us all more than we needed
For teaching us all to trust in Jesus
When others tried to make us fall, you taught us how to stand
Thank you dad
For bustin’ our butts when we were bad
For holding us close when we were sad
And when we got older for being the best friend that we’ve ever had
So for all the times we never told you when we had the chance
Thank you dad
 
Bridge:
Now when it comes to wisdom, no one has any more than you
I just hope my kids look at me the way I look at you
 
Thank you dad
For teaching us all how to live our lives
For showing us boys how to love our wives
There’s nothing we could say or do to ever pay you back
So for all the times we never told you when we had the chance
Thank you dad
 
 
Here is the breakdown and story behind the lyric:
 
THANK YOU DAD
 
Verse 1:
He was born in 1932
Where the coal was black and the grass was blue
That Kentucky home’s still standing there today
(My dad was born during the depression in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky.  The government declared that it was the poorest area of the country.  When we were young, my dad would tell us stories about how poor they were and things they had to do to live.  They were so extreme that we always thought he was exaggerating, but when we got older, he took us to the old house where he and 8 siblings were raised and we saw for ourselves just how poor they were.)
The way they grew up was hard to believe
They were lucky to have shoes on their feet
(This line is especially personal.  Each one of the kids got two pair of shoes a year.  One pair was to work in the fields and the other was to wear to school and church.  When my dad was very young, he had a younger brother named Tracy Wallace Staton.  While he was still an infant, he became very ill and died.  My dad had outgrown his shoes and they were too poor to buy him another pair, so he had to wear a pair of his sister’s shoes to the funeral.  My dad did not cry very often, but every time he ever shared that story with anyone, he would cry.)
The only thing they did harder than work was pray
(My dad’s parents were Christians and raised all of their kids in church, so prayer was not just a casual thing they did before a meal, it was a means of survival.  I saw how far they had to carry buckets of water from the stream to their house just to take a bath and how far they had to walk to school every day in the blazing heat or in snow.  It is hard to imagine how they ever survived.)
 
Verse 2:
Then on a sunny day in fifty five
He met the lady that changed his life
They vowed to share a life and his last name
(My dad and much of his family moved north to try to find work and escape their surroundings in order to eventually have a better life.  Shortly after moving to Hamilton, OH, one of my dad’s brothers and his wife introduced him to my mom.  After I finished the song, my mom said to me, “You know, it may have been 1956 when we met.”  I told her it was too late because 1955 was a rhyming line in the song and we had already recorded it.  They married in 1958.)
Not much hope for a family
The doctor said kids just couldn’t be
But I’m one of five that sure would like to say
(When my mom was a young girl, she had rheumatic fever, and the doctors told her that she would never be able to have kids.  Well God had other plans because they ended up having five kids.  I’m the middle child and I have two older brothers and a younger sister and brother.  My parents took us to gospel concerts and we grew up singing together.)
 
Chorus:
Thank you dad
For giving us all more than we needed
(My dad never made a lot of money.  He worked so hard and there was a period of time that he was unemployed.  I can remember him doing work and different jobs and I couldn’t believe how hard he would work. Looking back, I’m amazed at how God provided for us and exceeded our basic needs.)
For teaching us all to trust in Jesus
(Mom and dad raised us in church and we were all saved at a very young age.  My dad was a Sunday school teacher in our church and he would study the Bible every night before he went to bed.  My mom told us that when my dad was first saved, he got a bible and he and my mom would stay up reading and studying until they would fall asleep.  They pursued knowledge and wisdom through the scriptures and then they poured it into us kids.)
When others tried to make us fall, you taught us how to stand
(I could tell you countless stories of how mom and dad taught us to stand up for ourselves and for each other when we were kids.  If we didn’t defend ourselves and each other when we were in school, we would be in trouble when we got home.)
Thank you dad
For bustin’ our butts when we were bad
(This line is self-explanatory. We all knew that dad’s belt had another purpose than just holding his pants up.  We all still have signs of how those spankings affected us.  Respect for others, self-control, thankfulness, kindness and other crazy, unheard of things are still side effects from those spankings.)
For holding us close when we were sad
(Right alongside of the discipline was unconditional love.  When we were sad, hurting or discouraged, it was mom and dad who made us feel loved and who gave us the self-confidence to reach for our dreams.)
And when we got older for being the best friend that we’ve ever had
(I can’t tell you the times after we were grown that each one of us kids would call my dad for advice.  There isn’t a day goes by when we all wish we could pick up the phone or go see him.)
So for all the times we never told you when we had the chance
Thank you dad
 
Bridge:
Now when it comes to wisdom, no one has any more than you
I just hope my kids look at me the way I look at you
(With kids of my own, I can’t tell you how many times I stop and think about how my dad would have handled a certain situation.  I really try to follow his example of being a dad.  I sure hope my kids look back and think of me like I think of my dad.)
 
Thank you dad
For teaching us all how to live our lives
For showing us boys how to love our wives
(I’ve heard it said that the best thing a dad can do for their kids is to love their mom.  My dad really loved my mom and it showed in what he did for her and how he treated her.  That’s one of those behaviors that you don’t realize who is teaching you or how they’re teaching you until much later in life.)
There’s nothing we could say or do to ever pay you back
So for all the times we never told you when we had the chance
Thank you dad
(We always knew that mom and dad loved us.  They told us and more importantly, they showed us.  We told our mom and dad that we loved them over and over again, but after my dad went to be with the Lord, I thought of so many times I should have told him when I didn’t.  If you have a mom and dad that are still with you, go hug them and thank them for loving you.)
 
 
This was the last song we played at my dad’s funeral.  After moving to Hamilton, OH, my dad worked for one company and retired after 35 years.  At my dad’s visitation, over 1500 people filed through the funeral home to pay their last respects.  I heard a great preacher say once that you will know the people who you have really made a mark on because they will cry at your funeral.  Well that day, there were a lot of tears shed because so many would miss my dad.   But through the tears, there was also celebrating because we know where my dad is today!
 

David Staton & Glass Temple - Just Released  

Hey everyone, I am excited to share a brand new recording with you.  As many of you know, me and a couple of the guys that I sang with during my time with Palmetto State have continued to do select dates as GLASS TEMPLE.  I expect to have audio clips for you to hear right here in the next week or so.  I have been in Christian music all of my life and I have never heard or been a part of a recording of this quality or this innovative.  If you love the Gaither Vocal Band and Philips, Craig & Dean, then this recording will be a must have addition to your musical library!  This is a recording that you can be proud to play for your friends who aren't familiar with Christian music.  Get your copy today right here on my store page.

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