Who would have ever thought you would go to a Poison concert and hear Amazing Grace. that is great.

Brad.. that is a awesome idea. I’m up for it.

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that’s great! very exciting!

previously lost (As well)
eblack

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Hi! Long time lurker, first time poster. Not even sure how I came across your blog, but I’ve been reading it for weeks! Go figure that the first post I comment on is one about 80s hair metal.. what can I say? I love me some hair metal.

What a powerful moment that must have been.. at first I was disappointed that he didn’t say anything before he played the song (at least, from what I could tell on the video), but then I realized how much more intense it was because he DIDN’T say anything. A conversation-starter, maybe!

This is long! Side note: you have a BEAUTIFUL family!

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That saved a wretch like me………..

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Very cool. And what a simple way for him to share with fans that his life is changing because of God’s amazing grace.

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I had chills with my coffee this morning.

I bet you are proud to be his pastor this morning!!!

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totally AWESOME!!!

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Very cool!

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This is so awesome!!! (Amazing Grace is my favorite hymn too)

One of the groups when in high school that I liked that I shouldn’t like , rejoicing that CC gave his life to Christ!!! Looking forward to what the Lord does in and through him!

Thanks for sharing!

btw, I recently began following you on Flicker and followed on to your blog…am enjoying reading your blog!

God bless you and your family!

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OOPS… not “Flicker”, I meant “Twitter” LOL!

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Nothin like an old standard done up geetar style! Love it!

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That gave me chills. Seriously, that rarely happens ever and guess what THAT JUST HAPPENED! Truly awesome.

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So often we forget that, we in our perfect little Christian families, were once the blind. How refreshing to see the transforming power of Jesus in a man who now unashamidly shares what set him free.
Although I am a crier by nature, watching that was definately the ugly cry, no question.

Praise Him who has set me free, my chains are gone by the power of the cross, now if I will just release them form my own selfish grip.

Thank Pete

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Incredible!!!

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His grace is amazing, that is awesome.

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i teared up. at work. nothing like crying in your cube

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i’ve never heard it better or from a greater example of what it means! this is just so cool to see.

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That is amazing! I can’t wait to see what all God does through this man. How awesome!

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this is killer, Pete! I got chills the second he started playing it. Wow!

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I will have to check the video out when I have a chance later today. I did read your earlier posts about CC and I have to admit that I am torn on this subject. I haven’t been to one of his concerts so I don’t know how he ‘performs’ or what songs he is singing so I am regretfully ignorant on information that would help me better relate to this post.

How does one mix secular and holy and make a clear distinction between the two for those who are witnessing our lives? How do we draw the conclusion of what being in the world but not of the world looks like?

I guess I would have to know the nature of the rest of the performance to answer those questions. I would struggle with celebrating sin as a means to share the gospel. The end does not always justify the means especially if it would lead to an easy believism mentality that is no belief at all.

I understand Christ ate with the sinners and publicans but I have to wonder if He would have “UnSkinny Bopped” with them. There is a struggle to be relative in a world that is becoming more and more wicked and I fear we, as Christians, take the extremes too often – so relative that there is no distinguishable difference or, on the other hand, completely shut off and separate. I believe there is a balance between the two that must be worked at.

I did read the post where C.C. asked you to watch his performance so that you could let him know if he was doing anything to dishonor God. That was encouraging.

Sign me as someone who is still working through these thoughts.

God Bless you and God Bless C.C. as he continues to seek Him.

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Amazing Grace is always beautiful when played by anyone, anywhere, on any instrument — and especially here, by someone who, like me, understands just how infinitely far God’s grace can reach!

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@tonyyork: it’s o.k. to say what you think. You did say you are working through these thoughts.
I am thankful that c.c. has someone like Pete in his life at this time.
When I rededicated my life to God, I thankfully had people in my life who allowed God to work in me; instead of telling me what to do. I would have run away again. And God has changed me dramatically and His grace is amazing!
Sometimes it’s a really fine line.
Now my whole life is dedicated to working with the skeptics, the lost, the disenfranchised. Wherever they are and God is doing some imcredible things, not me.
Keep thinking it through…

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Jody,

You are correct on many things in what you have replied. I do not know your heart or for that matter any other person’s heart. That is why the bible teaches us to be fruit pickers – to know someone by their actions and to be a witness of the Holy Spirit’s work in their life. Galations gives us a good example of what fruit to look for. Christ also gave us instructions that the world would know that we were his disciples by the love that existed in our lives. And He also mentioned that greater love hath no man than he lay down his life for his friend. The laying of your life down can be two fold – a physical death or that of self-denial – to love others above ourselves. I think Paul displayed this type of love when he said that he would deny himself those things that he felt he had freedom in so that he would not be a stumbling block to his brother. He even instructed Timothy to be circumcised even though it wasn’t necessary in order that it would not prevent his ability to work with the Jews.

I also agree that Jesus was into relationships… but I also believe that He was a rule follower (He didn’t follow man’s rules but His father’s law). He said he came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it. Using your example concerning Christ’s message that the woman should go and sin no more, do you think He spoke empty words? God is unchanging and that means His expectations to live lives in accordance with His law (rules) has not diminished. Just because we know that we will fail does not justify us not to strive for Christ’s example in our lives.

I don’t mean for any of this to come across as argumentative – more as instructional to my understanding of God’s word.

I would point out one last thing about who I am. I study and God continues to work on me because He desires that I worship Him in Spirit and Truth. I can be sincere about something and still be sincerely wrong – so I will continue to analyze what I believe against God’s word in order to make sure my heart is in-line with His word. There is danger in either ditch – I can’t just have Christ’s love without His instruction and I can’t just have Christ’s instruction without His love. I need both and that is why He instructed His followers to go and make disciples…. not converts… but disciples. I have an obligation to my brothers and sisters in Christ to help them grow and they have that same obligation to me. And that obligation goes beyond prayer.

Peace.

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Hooray for CC. Let’s rejoice for him and his family. We don’t need to be judgmental of how he matures in his faith. It is not our place. Who has the right to throw stones? Besides, think of the opportunities that exist to win others to Christ. I am 48 years old and a big Poison fan. I was thrilled when CC cleaned up his chemical dependency a few years ago and even more happy for him now. I recently attended the Columbus, Ohio show with my 16 year old son and enjoyed a bonding experience that only such an event could provide. So what if a few of their lyrics are a little suggestive; they didn’t influence my life when I was younger and don’t believe they will influence my son either. I’m serious in my faith and not a convient Christian, I just believe there are much larger battles to fight and am certain that God has the entire situation under control. Others are entitled to their opinions, I just want to wish CC encouragement for his new-found journey.

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Prespilot,

These types of discussions are difficult. My hopes are that C.C. has experienced a true regeneration. I don’t know his heart, but God does. I am encouraged that he called a local pastor seeking advice and I understand that Pete could not share everything they spoke about that night. The questions that I posed earlier were not about C.C. – I understand that he is a new babe in Christ and not mature in his faith, my questions were directed more at the mature Christians that seem to celebrate C.C.’s old lifestyle and find it acceptable now that he is a Christian.

For example, my father was an alcoholic and a smoker before Christ entered his life. God delivered my father from his thirst for alcohol right away but the smoking continued to be a temptation in his life for some time after his regeneration. He was eventually delivered of that vice as well. I don’t want to discuss whether smoking is a sin or not… I know some will have different views on this… just know that my father felt convicted of it but it wasn’t an overnight victory in his life.

My father felt the Spirit’s leading to quit…now what would have happened if more mature Christians decided to celebrate his coming to Christ by passing out cigars? That would have been detrimental to his ability to grow and be obedient.

So now lets bring this example full circle… what if C.C. is feeling God’s leading to change aspects of his life that may not be God honoring but all of a sudden here are all these Christians who want to celebrate his conversion by hyping those very things he is feeling convicted of? I am not saying this is the case – just giving an example.

As a Christian, I do celebrate the news when someone has made a life commitment to follow Christ. And where I am able, I will try to help them in their walk to develop to be more like Christ. Some aspects of the posts here and elsewhere about C.C. appeared to glamorize C.C.’s old lifestyle and that caused me to begin an exercise of self-evaluation. Maybe I acted in poor judgment by posting my questions here in this blog… but maybe there was a hope that others would understand my questions and begin a self-evaluation of their own.

I will probably live my whole christian life analyzing what it means to be holy as God is holy and how those beliefs are projected on fellow believers. I think Paul understood that… I think pastors understand that. Otherwise, they wouldn’t work so hard to provide guidance. The hard part is doing it in love without removing the aspect of awe that belongs to a righteous God. I think about how John was the beloved disciple but when he was called to heaven (as recorded in Revelations) and saw Christ in His glory he said he fell down as if dead.

I would not have the same discussion about a person who did not know Christ. I cannot ask a person that doesn’t believe to live by a set of standards from a God that they don’t know. Instead I can practice grace… a grace that comes from a knowledge of what Christ did for me. That is not to say that I don’t have grace for believers because I do. With believers there is grace and instruction. For the lost, there is grace. Those are two different kinds of relationships. Relationships that we can mirror from Christ’s own example in how he treated His disciples versus how he treated the lost.

My prayers will be that C.C. will continue to develop the new character that Christ has given him AND that God will surround him with mature Christians that will speak truth into his life.

My prayers will also be for those Christians that may have seen C.C.’s conversion as license to enjoy those aspects of C.C.’s life that are not God honoring.

Peace… and love.

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I know you are aware of C.C.’s whole story and journey, but I saw this and thought it was a well done media. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_eN22wVWXY&eurl=http://www.coreymann.blogspot.com/
Have a great weekend!

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tonyyork,

I never considered our conversation an argument, even if the latin or greek “argos” truly means debate. I love your heart and it seems as if you know the word. Thank you for your thoughts and opinions. I will take them with me and become a better person because of this experience. God bless you!

prespilot68,

Unfortunately, it seems as if you like to argue. You are a dangerous person to people who are new to their faith. To quote one of our local DJ’s here in Nashville about your blog comments, “this guy gives Christians a bad name.” Jesus had debates like this 2000 years ago in the synagogues. You remind me of an old Rabbi who is “lost in translation.” I pray that one day you will see God’s grace as I and many of the other bloggers here see it. Not a license to sin, but a permit to be human.

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I don’t know if I have ever seen my name so many times. Thank you. This must be some childish way of getting your point across. I die everyday, also my friend. I am borrowing this imperfect body only to give it back at death. I have been called worse names than a Pharisee, so I will let that slide. I believe since none of us are divine, we (as Christians) should agree to disagree more often than we do. This is probably why there are so many different denominations in this country. So, I am going to plead the “turn the other check” on this one. If I offended you, I apologize. We should be spreading the “Word” not arguing about it. Peace be with you my friend and may you love and accept EVERYONE as Christ does.

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to aarondewinter, Thanks for posting the link to the youtube videos of c.c. talking about his life. I watched them this morning and they were awesome. He may be a “new Christina”, but it’s clear he “gets it”. He understands what grace, forgiveness, and striving every day to be obedient is really about. For anyone who is questioning if c.c. is really changing i think you would be wise to watch those youtube videos and hear for yourself. I heard more wisdom come out of his mouth than i’ve heard from christians who have been following the Lord their whole life! God bless you c.c., and remember everyone, noone knows his heart but he and the Lord! Pray for him instead of doubting him. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_eN22wVWXY&eurl=http://www.coreymann.blogspot.com/ (here’s the link to those videos)

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I’ve been to see Poison EVERYTIME they’ve been in concert since they made it in the mid 80′s. I’ve been a Christian this entire time as well. I’m personal friends with another member of Poison and have spoken to C.C. because of this. He truly is an inspiration to the other members of Poison. As a result, they’re all doing their best to quit cursing and trying to “find God” as well. There’s one member that’s struggling a bit but just pray that he finds his way! All four of them are EXTREMELY nice, polite, and would literally “give you the shirt off their backs!” When C.C. played “Amazing Grace”, myself, my hubby and our 16 year old son were all literally sobbing. It was truly a spiritual experience. For those of you that didn’t get to see it (we were sitting on-stage to the right and was extremely loud but incredible!) it was truly a blessing from God. Please continue to pray for C.C. and the other members of the band.

Yours in Christ.

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I’m so happy he had come to be a brother. God is truly working in his life. I’m sure you’ve had this question already, but I thought I’d ask here. I know each Christian is at a different level in their walk with Christ, that is not why I ask this question. How can one be a Christian and still sing the words to the songs Poison sings? Certainly I understand the infancy of his salvation and don’t expect an overnight jump to “adulthood” chewing on the “meat of the Word,” but I would hope that one of the messages would be that when he became a new creature, old things have passed and all things are new. This is not to say no more talking or associating with the members from Poison, as he may be the only Godly witness they look to, but how will they come to Christ, if in his Christianity he continues to sing and participate in the Poison concerts? I really am truly grateful God has pulled this man from the pits of hell and eternal damnation and torment, from his videos he surely has grown much in the short span of his Christian life! God Bless C.C.!

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