For King and Country: Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong

Artist: For King and Country
Album: Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong.
Genre: Rock, Indie, Chilled
Rating: 4/5

For Kind and Country are a band that originated in Nashville, Tennessee. For some reason I read “Nashville, Tennessee” in a very thick Tennessee accent.

For King and Country have an amazing history of releasing great albums. Their latest is no exception. From beginning to end this album brings across an amazing sound. The album starts us off with “Run Wild”, a song about feeling trapped by yourself or your circumstances, encouraging everyone to “Run Wild”. This is a great way to start the a;bum, and we really get a sense that this album was created in order to encourage the audience.

This album has many slower songs, as they create ballads and powerful songs with this slower tune. However, even the more upbeat songs have deep and relatable lyrics. Whilst many of them don’t speak about religion in any way, all of them have many Christian undertones.

My personal favourite song is “Without you”. The featuring artist, Courtney, accompanies the style so beautifully. Her voice compliments the brothers of Joel and Luke Smallbone. The song is about not wanting to live without someone. A person can take this and understand it as a man and woman singing to one another, telling the other that they want to remain together forever. However, this is one of the many songs that has a Christian undertone, as two people cry out never wanting to live without God by their side.

The whole album is composed beautifully, with every song complimenting the previous song, and the songs to come. I would recommend this album to anyone looking for some exciting new songs to add to their playlist.

Stay Awesome Everyone.
M

HalloWHAT!

Halloween. Taboo for some and the raucous party of October for others… I grew up knowing little to nothing about Halloween. My family don’t celebrate it, in fact my granny warned us against having anything to do with it – no celebratory carved pumpkins, no dressing up and no accepting sweets from strangers. And to be honest, I never really cared. Which is weird, because SWEETS!

Only until about a week ago, I still knew nothing of the history or meaning behind Halloween.  Most people say that, like Christmas or Easter, Halloween no longer has any meaning and has become just another fun, commercial festival where you get to dress up like Spiderman or Katy Perry and eat sweets for days... The reason we celebrate things is something worthwhile checking out and contemplating instead of blindly celebrating something you’re not exactly sure of.

Here is a link if you’re interested in the history of Halloween – Wikipedia works just as well. So clearly the evolution of Halloween is a bit not Christian and dodgy, and we immediately think, 2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? Truth. Be aware of what you’re celebrating and whether you agree with it and if it is good for yo soul.

In the same breath, I don’t think it is wise for Christians to seclude themselves from the greater community at all times, because what impact can we then have on others? How can we bring salt when we sit on our butts at home?

But what got me started on researching Halloween was a common thread I noticed among all of my friends and fellow Christians throughout this last month…

Physical, emotional and overall spiritual attacks have been going all over the place this last month. Myself, my family and nearly all of my close friends and their families have been sick, facing very difficult problems at home, at work or in their relationships. It is strange that I have only noticed it this year, but I hardly think it is any coincidence that this has been happening, all at once, in such high concentration, in only one month.

My friend chatted to me about October being the month of High Times, referring to the occult ritual of ‘time-released curses’ that take place throughout the year, but in a high concentration throughout the month of October.  A time-released curse is a period that has been set aside to release demonic activity and to entrap souls to a large extent. Grrreeeaaat… Obviously it is not only in October that these things happen, but I’m sure if you think back on this month, many of you will realise that you and people around you have also been under spiritual attack in one form or another. Makes sense, right? A friend of mine shared this post on an Ex-Satanist’s views on Halloween, which also places some things into context – there is a link to her testimony at the bottom of the page.

My post is not to instill fear or guilt about whatever your feelings are towards the celebration of Halloween. I’m not saying Christians shouldn’t go to Halloween parties, because heck! it is clear that the community around us needs the love of Jesus, especially in this season. It is rather to inform you, and encourage you to have a more intentional approach to this season, and above all, to pray and ask God for protection, wisdom and discernment.

Ephesians 6:10-18 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Totally comment on this post if you can relate to anything that’s been said. Or if you have any questions or alternative viewpoints.

So much love,

Sammy