FMH Children’s Club International –– A Company Of Prophets –– P.O. Box 640109 El Paso, TX 79904

The following letter-form was brought about as a means of teaching my children the Word of God through the mail. And of course, quite naturally so, that’s the reason I begin these letters with "Dear Children" and end them with "Love Dad". So for the rest of you who participate in these weekly messages, please keep their original intended purpose in mind.

26 January, 2014

Dear Children,

It was shortly after having posted our most recent sermonet – “Frances Swaggart And Her Lesbian Lovers?” – that I was introduced to a country music singer by the name of Alan Jackson. And it’s only because of that very impromptu introduction that we have this message of today – “Alan Jackson: The Laodicean Hymn Singer!”

You see the way this all came about was through one of those “old time hymns” – “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” – that I was trying to record for “My Favorite Hymns Of Faith” page. I had sung it so many times before in church, but yet there was a certain part of the melody that I just couldn’t get right when reading from the sheet music. So, as the Lord would have it, I did one of those Google searches for a YouTube video to help me out. And what I found was none other than Alan Jackson’s rendering of that very same hymn:

- Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus -
(Download MP3)

So that was my “very impromptu introduction” to Alan Jackson. I mean, before that moment in time I had no idea Alan Jackson even existed. And I must say that his reverential “old time hymn” singing moved on me in a very special way. In fact as I looked to the related YouTube videos on the right I saw many more of my favorite hymns that Alan Jackson had recorded in that very same reverential spirit.

It all seemed too good to be true. Could it be that I had finally found a country singer who had totally dedicated his voice to praising the Lord God Almighty?

Well, it didn’t take me too awful long to get the answer to that one. Because as I continued playing through a half dozen or so of Alan Jackson’s “old time hymns” I came across a more recent song he recorded live at the Grand Ole Opry during the funeral service for George Jones. And the song Alan Jackson memorialized for all eternity during that “hallowed” service was one of George Jones’ 1980’s hits “He Stopped Loving Her Today”.

Now there’s two (2) things for certain about Alan Jackson singing “He Stopped Loving Her Today” at George Jones’ funeral: God Almighty didn’t get the glory through it, and it was certainly a bad omen for someone headed to a place of everlasting existence (Heaven or Hell) that’s determined solely by their unwavering commitment (or lack of it) to serve Jesus Christ with their life!

I mean, let’s get real! The Grand Ole Opry is a place where country music artist are worshiped for their talent, and the song was all about what helped make George Jones “the greatest country singer of his time”. In other words, the part of the funeral service conducted by Alan Jackson had everything to do with “the great” George Jones and nothing to do with “the Almighty” Lord God.

Well, things weren’t looking too good for my “Christian” country singer… and it only went downhill from there. Because what came up in my search shortly thereafter was Alan Jackson singing “honky tonk”… which Satan immediately used to try and re-ignite an old flame in me for that very same music.

Not good! A “Brother” in Christ is suppose to encourage other Believers in their walk of holiness with Jesus, but certainly not encourage them to return to the Hell-bound ways of their un-God-ly past!

So it was right about this point in my “Alan Jackson” search that I turned to Wikipedia and found the following very helpful information:

 

     Alan Jackson is an American country music artist. The first artist signed to Arista Nashville Records, he was with them from 1989 to 2011. He has released fourteen studio albums, two Christmas albums, seven compilations, and a tribute album for the label. His first two greatest hits albums (1995's The Greatest Hits Collection and 2003's Greatest Hits Volume II) as well as his 1992 studio album A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love) are all his highest-certified albums, each certified 6× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, with sales in the US of over six million. He has sold over 40 million albums in the US since 1991 when Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales for Billboard.
     In addition to releasing country albums, in 2006, he released Precious Memories, an album composed of christian music as well as gospel music. The album was a commercial success, charting to number one on the Top Country Albums and the Top Christian Albums music charts. It is one of several Platinum-selling albums for Jackson.

Now, that little short article was exactly what I needed to bring this thing about “Christian” Alan Jackson into a proper perspective. I mean there’s no doubting the fact that Alan Jackson can sing. And whatever he sings seems to turn into a “commercial success”… whether it’s “honky tonk” music (“A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love)”), “Christian” music (“Precious Memories”), or anything in between. In fact it was in April of 2008 that his album sales crossed over the fifty (50) million mark.

So, nineteen (19) years of recording proved to be extremely lucrative ($$$) for Alan Jackson. And if fifty (50) million album sales weren’t enough already, it was in 2012, only four (4) years later, that he broke the sixty (60) million album sales mark. So just what was Alan Jackson doing with all this wealth?

Well, it was in much the same spirit of his very successful third album – “A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love)” – that Alan Jackson started “livin it up” through his album sales. In fact it was only a few days after his third album #1 song – “Chattahoochee” – won the Country Music Association's 1993 award for single of the year that Alan Jackson bought the 135-acre plot of land that would be used to create the “Sweetbriar” plantation estate of his dreams.

So with the land purchase in place, a lavish two-bedroom log cabin was constructed to keep Alan Jackson and family cozy for twenty-three (23) months until the 19,000-square-foot house (26,500 including the porches) with it’s three (3) story, six (6) bedrooms, seven (7) bathrooms, five (5) fire places, marble floors, game room with bar, and home theater room could be completed.

(Download WMV Video)

And to go along with all that, we must not forget to mention the twenty (20) car garage, in-ground swimming pool, tennis court, gymnasium, horse stables, three (3) ponds, a landing strip, and the lake that floats the boathouse along with it’s boats.

But then again we must not fail to mention Alan Jackson’s exotic car collection, along with his 1958 “Panhead” Harley Davidson pictured on the “A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love)” album cover, that likewise necessitated his twenty (20) car garage in the first place.

Well, it goes without saying that all this afore mentioned “stuff” is what makes life worth living for Alan Jackson. And, of course, it’s this same spirit that’s attached to his 1992 album – “A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love)” – that’s sold more than six (6) million copies and continues to influence the masses around the world day by day.

Now, without a doubt, Alan Jackson clearly worships the “god of this world” (materialism)… and he has consistently shown it through his music until the year 2006 when he produced his “Precious Memories” album that just recently moved on me to the point of having me believe he’s the “man of God” that he’s not. I mean, after all, the Scriptures are abundantly clear on this subject:

 

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [wealth/riches].” (Matthew 6:24 KJV)

So why do you think Alan Jackson decide to record his “Precious Memories” album of “old time hymns” after having focused on “honky tonk” for so many years?

Well, according to Wikipedia, Alan Jackson was raised in a Christian home, attended a Christian church, and likewise solely focused on singing the “old time hymns” until that point in time when he was introduced to the country music that would put him on the road to stardom. And it was many years later that his mother requested he record some of those “old time hymns” that were so much a part of his early life that would likewise became a part of his “Precious Memories” album.

Now with all that in mind, the following Scripture will help clear up any confusion as to the reason we gave this sermonet the title that we did – “Alan Jackson: The Laodicean Hymn Singer!”

 

“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Revelation 3:14-19 KJV)

You see “Christian” Alan Jackson is a member of “the church of the Laodiceans”. He is “rich, and increased with goods, and has need of nothing” but yet the Lord says he is “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”. And, of course, the reason that God says He’s about ready to spue (vomit) “Christian” Alan Jackson out of His Mouth is because “Christian” Alan Jackson has taken his God-given talents and used them first and foremost to glorify Satan. In fact B.H. Clendennen did a very nice job of describing the overall affects of “Christian” Alan Jackson’s “lukewarm-ness” on “the church” in his sermon message entitled “Soldier”:

 

- Soldier (short version) - (Download MP3)

- Soldier - (Download MP3)

 

“…That’s been our greatest curse! You see worldliness is not a look. Religion says it is, but worldliness is not a look. Worldliness is to be influenced by the wrong system! And most of the church is in that place today. Their problem was they grew up in a church that by its action made the world not an enemy but a friend. They never knew. They were cross-eyed. They didn’t know where the world stopped and the church started. It all failed! Nashville, Hollywood, Las Vegas have invaded the church. They sing in the church on Sunday and in Vegas on Monday. Is it any wonder that the young people fail? They don’t know the difference between walking for God and a mixed-up something with the world!” (B.H. Clendennen – “Soldier”)

Alan Jackson – the Laodicean hymn singer – is a seventeen (17) time Academy of Country Music winner, and two (2) time Grammy winner, who has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and inducted into both the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, for the “love of mammon” and the “glory of Satan”. It’s like he’s singing in the church on Sunday, and in Nashville, Hollywood, and Vegas the rest of the week.

Alan Jackson, the Laodicean hymn singer! What a wonderful “Christian” role model is he! Is it any wonder that the young people fail?

Alan Jackson – the Laodicean hymn singer – is in seriously critical condition! But it’s not too late for him to repent and fully recover… that is if he will only give it all up for Jesus!

 

“And when he [Jesus] had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:34-36 KJV)

 

“And when he [Jesus] was gone forth into the way, there came one [young ruler] running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:17-23 KJV)

Now in the truest sense of the Word, Alan Jackson – the Laodicean hymn singer – is a present-day “rich young ruler” who desires to hold on to his “riches” and still “inherit eternal life” in “the Kingdom of God”. But Jesus said that it just ain’t so: “Ye cannot serve God and mammon!”

So what’s Alan Jackson going to do? Will he forsake his very lucrative country music career and take up his cross and follow Jesus… or will he continue on his Hell-bound path of gaining more “stuff” for his very short-lived earthly pleasure?

God has called Alan Jackson to sell all he has, and give to the poor, in order to lose his life and become a “singing evangelist” for Jesus’ sake and the gospel. But the question is, will he do it?

A good example of someone who did take up the challenge of “saving his life by losing it” was the 18th century Anglican evangelist and founder of the Methodist Church, John Wesley. After he was born again through the power of the Holy Spirit, John Wesley became an itinerant preacher who traveled over 4,000 miles annually on horseback to preach some 40,000 sermons during his lifetime to sinners who were in need of a savior. And not only was John Wesley determined to reach a lost and dying world with the gospel of Jesus Christ, but he was also determined to die without “riches”… and he succeeded in doing both:

 

“Probably the most misquoted text in the whole Bible is 1 Tim. 6:10, which is often repeated as, ‘Money is the root of all evil’. The full text is, ‘The love of money is the root of all (i.e. all kinds) evil.’ In that respect John Wesley was clearly saved by grace from any love of money. In the half-century of his evangelistic ministry, he earned thousands of pounds from his publishing enterprises. With his brother Charles, he published no fewer than four hundred titles, including letters, journals, sermons, theological treatises, Christian apologetics, biblical commentaries, and much, much else. And he quite literally gave all the money away to poor people and good causes! Early in the revival he wrote: ‘If I leave behind me ten pounds, above my debts and my books, you and all mankind bear witness against me that I lived and died a thief and a robber.’ At his death in 1791, his executors found that his total treasury amounted to ten guineas (£10.5 pounds = 17.33 US dollars)! And his will directed that four of these guineas should pay four unemployed men to carry his coffin and the remainder to be distributed among his poorest preachers.” [http://www.wesley-fellowship.org.uk/Cameos.html]

And now for a final “case in point” concerning “Alan Jackson: The Laodicean Hymn Singer!”

As of the time of the writing of this sermonet, Alan Jackson will be appearing in concert in exactly three (3) months and one (1) day at the Don Haskin Center in El Paso, Texas. There will be approximately 21,000 people to shell out anywhere from $87 to $688 per ticket in order to worship this god of country music… and the Lord God Almighty is in no way pleased!

So there you have it! “Laodicean” Alan Jackson is in big time trouble with God… and he’s about ready to get “spewed”… but do you really think he’s going to change?

Life on this earth is but a very short existence… and then comes the place of everlasting reality called Heaven or Hell. “Worldly” Christians will not inherit “everlasting life” in “the Kingdom of God”.

Don’t get suckered into Satan’s “mammon worship”! “Keep on keeping the faith in Jesus!!!”

Love,

Dad (Bruce Hallman)

“ALL FOR THE LOVE OF JESUS”

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