A few weeks ago I had some good Christian friends over for the weekend. Among other things, we talked about world events and prayed for some of them. They, like me, are greatly concerned about what is happening in both the world and in the church. And like me, they can feel discouraged and overwhelmed at all the evil, ungodliness, lies and deceit that is all around us.
So while we came together for the 3 Fs (food, fun and fellowship!), we also talk much about what is going on in both Christian and secular circles, and prayed about some of this as well. And it is interesting what happened that weekend. Mark had wanted to stream the new film Nuremberg about the Nazi trials that has just come out featuring Russell Crowe.
It would have been a good movie to watch, given that all three of us are very concerned about all the Jew-hatred and antisemitism that is happening on both the left and the right. But he could not make it happen. So I thought I would check out my under-utilised Foxtel subscription to find an equally good movie.
After scrolling though some 100 titles, I came upon a superb film: Reagan, the 2024 film starring Dennis Quaid. While I had seen it a few times, my two friends had not. After it was finished they were both as excited about it and blessed by it as I had been.
We prayed together afterwards, and I said that it was providential that God brought this along at this time to help all three of us take heart, renew our faith, and gain some much-needed optimism and perspective in these very dark days.
And here are three more new and surprising things that God seems to be involved in. The first two involve nations while the third involves an individual.
Venezuela and Iran
When this couple were with me the uprising for freedom and liberation from the Islamists had just started in Iran. And a day or so after they left, Trump took quick and decisive action against the cartel leader Maduro in Venezuela. Both these nations are in a state of flux right now. It is too early to tell how either one will end up. But both are very interesting developments, and we need to pray for both.
The situation in Iran is still up in the air, with massive freedom marches going on for some two weeks now. The regime may do a Tiananmen Square-type crackdown, killing, imprisoning and torturing so many, or Ali Khamenei might flee to Russia and the son of the late Shah, Reza Pahlavi might return and rule instead. Time will tell.
Both situations urgently need our prayers. But both are surprising new developments. Every day I pray for a number of evil and godless world leaders and politicians that they are improved or removed. Mainly that means I pray they get saved and/or turn from their wicked ways, or that one way or another God takes them out of their positions of power and influence.
And one biblical text in support of such prayers is found in Psalm 109:8: “Let his days be few and brief; and let others step forward to replace him.” Another passage offers a more hardcore approach to this. Psalm 79:6 and 10 says the following:
Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that do not call on your name… Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants.
Rock stars
I also pray daily for various rock stars. They include old rockers like Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton. They all had a big impact on my life back in my pagan days – as they have had on millions of others. I hope they can come to Christ in their old age. And it looks like I need to add another one to my list.
Just moments ago a social media friend alerted me to one of them. Let me say that I am not a real fan of Contemporary Christian Music, nor have I followed it very closely over the years, although I did early on with groups like Love Song, Phil Keaggy, Randy Stonehill, the Second Chapter of Acts, Larry Norman and so on.
And I was never really a fan of Queen either. But I was just alerted to a video in which guitarist Brian May plays on a Christian worship song. I do not know if he is now a believer, or on the way, but we can pray for him at least. Thank you Steve for alerting me to it. The song is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aouh6iYxVy0
I was recently invited to join a social media page devoted to rock music. The convener of the group is a Christian, but I am not sure about its members. I told him when I first joined that I knew all about rock music from mid-1971 and earlier, but then I became a Christian and followed it much less since then.
Nonetheless, I love music, and I have followed some secular music over the years. Anyway, I posted this song on that site with these words: “Does it count if one of rock’s great guitarists from one of rock’s great groups does a worship song? Just askin’. Not sure if Brian May is a Christian but for any believers on this site at least, it is interesting to see this.”
One fellow there replied this way:
If I was an evangelical American Christian I would be reposting this with huge hallelujahs. But I’m not, so I’ll just do some research instead:
Talia Dean says ’I returned to my faith, New Years Eve 2023, when I had a clear message from God,’ and she is now openly sharing what Jesus means to her on her social media. Dean is the former lead singer of the band, King’s Daughter who reached number 12 in the charts in 2020 with a track called Get Up, produced by Queen guitarist, Brian May.
Brian May is adding to his Christmas collection with the release of a new track ‘Praise Your Name’, recorded with longtime collaborator Talia Dean and the award-winning St Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls Gospel Choir. “Only the most EPIC Christmas track EVER!!! It’s a tour de force — a beautifully simple yet powerful and joyous song of praise for Christmas, written by Talia herself,” Brian said. “Yes, I DID have a hand in its production — we’ve been secretly working on this since before LAST Christmas! It’s been worth the wait. May has worked with Talia several times in the past and last year appeared in her memorable music video for ‘You Made Your Bed’.
I just looked that up – those quotes seem to come from these sites:
So for Queen fans, or Brian May fans, or Christian music fans, this might all be good news indeed. As I say, we can at least pray for him that he does in fact come to Christ if he has not already.
So there we have three new and surprising turns of events. They greatly help me at least, given how melancholic, discouraged and concerned I can be about what is happening all around me. God is still at work. God is still on the move. God is still a God of surprises. God is still working out his purposes.
We must keep praying, hoping, trusting and persevering. Please join with me especially in lifting up in prayer these and other developments.
Yes Bill, always an encouragement to see folks like Brian May appearing in a Christian music video, whatever his beliefs may be.
Re Eric, seems like he’s been hovering around belief for years, hasn’t yet taken the plunge…still time.
A good word.
Thanks Paul.
Yes Bill, always an encouragement to see folks like Brian May appearing in a Christian music video, whatever his beliefs may be.
Re Eric, seems like he’s been hovering around belief for years, hasn’t yet taken the plunge…still time.
We can keep praying Steve.