christians

A Radio Moment Brings a Flood of Memories

Jamie Sue and I were on the road this morning, listening to oldies, and driving home in my favorite car after a Saturday night spent out of town.

Riders on the Storm by The Doors came on, and a flood of memories came in.

During my senior year of high school (1974) I managed our school’s radio station and most mornings hosted a radio show that was piped through the school’s speaker system in the hallways.

I always loved playing Riders on the Storm. The song’s introduction (minus the stormy sound effects) is 29 seconds. I mention this because as a DJ I had that exact amount of time to talk prior to the lyrics beginning. In the radio world we call this portion of a song “the walk-up.” So once the music began, I might say,

“Brian Sussman, WGBS, on a Friday morning.  Weather forecast today calls for more rain and a high of 63 degrees. Better weather this weekend with sunny skies and temperatures getting into the seventies. Don’t forget the baseball games tomorrow at home against Deerfield. Go Glenbrook South Titans. Right now, this is The Doors. Riders on the Storm.”

As we were driving and listening, I was thinking, what if God, or maybe an angel, were to do a guest walk up to that song back in 1974?

“Stormy day today, but the future looks bright for your DJ. In a few months he’ll meet his beautiful future bride. They’ll get married in four years, have an awesome daughter and three solid sons, and eventually seven grandchildren. Brian and his wife will hear this song in 2025 while driving and he’ll be hit with a flood of memories and teary eyes as he reaches over to hold her hand. Now, The Doors.”

The point of the story?

No matter what life has dealt you, scan your memory’s horizon to find those moments that have made a difference, and give thanks to God. Life is so short.

New Age beliefs held by “Christians? – Commentary

Without question, the growing popularity of “New Age” beliefs likely stems in part from fewer Americans following traditional religions.  One could argue it proves that we’re all looking to believe in something greater than ourselves.  Sadly, these beliefs–which are no more real than the tooth fairy–are held by many claiming to be Christians.

“The data suggests this is the fastest growing religious group in America, are people who don’t hold any firm religious beliefs,” says Ruy Teixeira, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, said Wednesday on Hill.TV’s “What America’s Thinking.”

“Perhaps these New Age beliefs are in a sense, at least partially, a reflection of more and more people not having an orthodox religious set of beliefs,” he added.

Teixeira was discussing a recent Pew Research Center poll that found 62 percent of Americans hold New Age beliefs, such as astrology, psychics, reincarnation, and the presence of spiritual energy in trees or mountains.

Seventy-eight percent of those who held at least one New Age belief said they did not affiliate with any particular religion.

The survey also found that those who identify as “Christian” were more likely than atheists and agnostics to hold at least one New Age core tenant.  Sixty-one percent of Christian respondents said they held at least one New Age belief, compared with 22 percent of atheists and 56 percent of agnostics who said the same.  Of the Christians, 67 percent of mainline Protestants, 47 percent of evangelicals and 70 percent of Catholics said they held a New Age belief.

For the Christian, or Jewish Messiah-follower, who places even a sliver of faith in these New Age pillars, I would highly recommend a spiritual reset beginning with repentance, prayer, and entering into a serious discipleship program so that, as we read in John 8:31-32,

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”