The Winans
Review: Time to Make a Change
9/90
"Growing up in Detroit, we as brothers were taught the importance of family by our parents (who, by the way, were teenagers when they married). We were also taught the importance of God, good work ethics and education.
"Our parents having been thrust into the duties of adulthood at such an early age meant that sacrifices had to be made. As we look back over our shoulders in retrospect, we realize that we were poor, if you measure wealth by material acquisition, but rich if you measure it by LOVE.
"Staring coldly into the face of the present, we see many of the values that we held dear as children discarded and considered a philosophy whose time has come and gone. God has been snatched out of the conscience of our youth, family ties have been severed, good work habits exchanged for "get rich quick" schemes and our public school systems have been reduced to detention centers.
"As a psalmist once penned, 'Righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to a people.' The hope in this very bleak and dismal picture is that we can make a difference.
"If we return to what made us secure as individuals, return to what made us whole as families, if we return to what made us strong as a people and return to what made us great as a nation ... then we have reason to sing!
"We urge you to return with us. For it is time
to make a change."
- The Winans
Appearing recently on the "Arsenio Hall Show," one of the highest rated shows in the nation, host Arsenio Hall asked the Winans why their albums didn't include love songs or pure pop music.
Pastor and group leader Marvin Winans responded, "People say 'if you would change (to pop music) you would sell millions of albums,' and maybe we could, but our conviction is that the reason we're here is that we have a message to deliver ... that you can be young and enjoy Jesus and go to church and do the right thing."
"What you're saying," Hall summarized, "is that everything has to be lyrically sound in the Word?'
"Exactly!" replied the Winans.
Return is the Winans' new recording which focuses on the problems of modern society and our need to return to God. Musically, the recording combines elements of pop, jazz, rap, and classic Motown.
Return is a highly successful attempt at "crossover" music, an effort to appeal to secular radio listeners with a Christian message by using contemporary styles without compromising a clear gospel message.
"It's Time," the first single from Return reached No. 5 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles Chart, and the album soon became commercially successful selling over 300,000 units in the first two months after its release.
Stevie Wonder, who has told of his recent conversion, is featured in a solo vocal on "Everyday's the Same." The phenomenal radio success with both Christian and secular Urban Contemporary stations confirms the broad appeal of this recording.
Yet lyrically, the Winans keep far from compromise singing about the joy of being "free from a life of sin," and about the need of prayer, walking through the tough times and keeping strong in faith. This is a recording that is having a positive effect on the culture of our nation.
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The Real Jesus: Who is the Real Jesus? Ever since the dawn of modern rationalism, skeptics have sought to use textual criticism, archaeology and historical reconstructions to uncover the "historical Jesus" -- a wise teacher who said many wonderful things, but fulfilled no prophecies, performed no miracles and certainly did not rise from the dead in triumph over sin. Over the past 100 years, however, startling discoveries in biblical archaeology and scholarship have all but vanquished the faulty assumptions of these doubting modernists. Regretably, these discoveries have often been ignored by the skeptics as well as by the popular media. As a result, the liberal view still holds sway in universities and impacts the culture and even much of the church.
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This presentation explodes the myths of these critics and the movies, books and television programs that have popularized their views.
Presented in ten parts -- perfect for individual, family and classroom study -- viewers will be challenged to go deeper in their knowledge of Christ in order to be able to defend their faith and present the truth to a skeptical modern world – that the Jesus of the Gospels is the Jesus of history -- "the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). He is the real Jesus. Speakers include: George Grant, Ted Baehr, Stephen Mansfield, Raymond Ortlund, Phil Kayser, David Lutzweiler, Jay Grimstead, J.P. Holding, and Eric Holmberg. Ten parts, over two hours of instruction! Running Time: 130 minutes
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| The Beast of Revelation: IDENTIFIED
Who is the dreaded beast of Revelation? Now at last, a plausible candidate for this personification of evil incarnate has been identified (or re-identified). Ken Gentry's insightful analysis of scripture and history is likely to revolutionize your understanding of the book of Revelation -- and even more importantly -- amplify and energize your entire Christian worldview! Historical footage and other graphics are used to illustrate the lecture Dr. Gentry presented at the 1999 Ligonier Conference in Orlando, Florida. It is followed by a one-hour question and answer session addressing the key concerns and objections typically raised in response to his position. This presentation also features an introduction that touches on not only the confusion and controversy surrounding this issue -- but just why it may well be one of the most significant issues facing the Church today. Ideal for group meetings, personal Bible study -- for anyone who wants to understand the historical context of John's famous letter "... to the seven churches which are in Asia." (Revelation 1:4) |
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INCLUDES A FREE Sixteen Christian leaders and scholars answer some of the most common questions and misperceptions related to this volatile issue: Download the free |
Perfect for group instruction as well as personal
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| Amazing Grace: The History and Theology of Calvinism
Over four hours of instruction! Just what is “Calvinism?” Does this teaching make man a deterministic robot and God the author of sin? What about free will? If the church accepts Calvinism, won’t evangelism be stifled, perhaps even extinguished? How can we balance God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility? What are the differences between historic Calvinism and hyper-Calvinism? Why did men like Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, Whitefield, Edwards and a host of renowned Protestant evangelists embrace the teaching of predestination and election and deny free will theology? This is the first video documentary that answers these and other related questions. Hosted by Eric Holmberg, this fascinating three-part, four-hour presentation is detailed enough so as to not gloss over the controversy. At the same time, it is broken up into ten “Sunday-school-sized” sections to make the rich content manageable and accessible for the average viewer. |
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