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Hello Friends,
I pray this letter finds you walking in the light as He is in the light. I know some of you probably thought I forgot to send you a newsletter, but to be perfectly honest, I'm not exactly sure how to do one. So please bare with me on this first one. Newsletters are about news so let's get on with it.
As of January 2004 the Red River Band has been dispersed into the mission field. No, there was no contention or divisions between us. It was a mutual agreement, as others are doing their own music now. All of us are still serving the Lord with our gifts, just in different areas. We had eight glorious years together and saw close to a thousand people profess Christ. We were a good band focused on evangelism and we grew into a family and we still remain close.
I was a little worried when I struck out on my own, thinking I could not maintain the same level of entertainment and excitement a band brings to a performance, but so far I haven't missed a beat. People seem to enjoy my Christian Country music and the spirit of God is still moving greatly in my concerts. Around sixty people have been saved so far this year and that many rededications. The greatest movement came at a church where before the concert the preacher pulled me aside and said, "I've been preaching here for five years now and these people can not be moved." Well I knew I was in the right place that morning for it is the sick that needs a doctor and I had a dose of medicine just for heart conditions. At the end of the service ten people were saved and ten more rededicated their lives. Glory to God. The preacher came up to me afterwards and said, "I preach the Word of God but not as boldly as you do." I said, "Brother I ain't on the pay roll. I just preach the Word unconditionally." I have found out in the last eight years of ministry that people are hungry for solid, toe stomping preaching. In a world full of fakes, they're looking for a hero, someone to carry the banner. Sadly a lot of our preachers try to soft soap sin instead of putting the axe to the root.
A lot of folks wanted me to let them know when the new record was out. Well I finally got it done after a year and four months. As of now I am saving for a new project. I have written ten new songs and hopefully can go and record sometime in October. Most of you know I have never charged a church for any of my performances and never intend to. Every tape or CD I sell goes back into a recording and promotional fund. When I have sold enough product, I go and record. Which reminds me, PLEASE do not burn CD's and copy tapes for other people, or each other. I have so many people come up to the product table with a friend and say, "you get that one and I'll get this one and we'll burn one for each other." So many times I hear people say "yeah, a friend of mine burned your CD for me." Do these people realize this is the Lord's money they are stealing. Ever since Michelle and I decided she would be a stay home mom and raise our son Titus, money can get tight. One time we were having to pay bills on credit and get groceries from other folks. Never once did I dip into the ministry funds. That's how serious I am about it. That's God's money for the work of the Lord.
It has been brought to my attention that some folks would like to help my ministry with a financial contribution, so we put together a deal for ya'll that might help us both. Part of my goal is to put out high quality sounding records that are comparable to the main stream big guys. This only comes with a very high price tag of around $15,000. Right now I have about half of that in sales. Our offer to ya'll is: For a $50.00 donation you will receive two CD's or three tapes of your choice, and have your name listed on the new record on the inside cover as a sponsor. Just fill out the order form indicating which records you want, and a check for $50.00 . I also will be selling sound tracks if anyone is interested. This would help tremendously. I know God will provide no matter what. Haggai 2:8 - The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.
Each newsletter I will take one of my songs and bring to light the message behind the music. Too often we get so caught up in the beat of a song we miss the message. This one is on "Not for the Mansions".
NOT FOR THE MANSIONS
A man was fishing in his boat one day when he heard a cry for help. Looking back toward the shore he noticed a young boy struggling for his life in the water. Immediately the man started his boat and went over and pulled the boy safely into the boat. He recognized the boy as the mean little neighbor kid who would often throw rocks at his house. The boy wet, crying and trembling with fear, looked up into the mans face and said, "Sir thank you for saving my life. What can I do to repay you?" The man said, "Son just live a life worth saving."
Folks there is none of us that deserves the saving grace of Jesus Christ, but we can sure show our appreciation by living a life worth saving. Psalms 116:12-14 What shall I render (or how can I repay) unto the Lord for all His benefits (His blessings or His grace) toward me. I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay (fulfill) my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all His people.
Folks do you remember how excited you were when you first got saved, and you vowed unto the Lord to live for Him, to serve Him. Are you fulfilling those vows? You know if we could roll back the curtains of hell today and have a peak at what we truly deserve, I believe we would find it easy to serve God faithfully. Could you imagine what kind of great man of God, the rich man would be if he was turned loose from his torment today. Why? Because he would hold a vision of grace. I don't believe he would ever miss a church service, or be ashamed to tell someone about Jesus. I don't believe he would ever complain about the church service being too long or that he always has to do the work around the church while others do nothing. Why? Because he knows to be a servant of God is far better than to be a rich man in hell. He can now see how rich the poor begger Lazarus that lay at his gate really was. Rich in grace and mercy.
There was a time in my life as a young christian, that I was content to let others serve Christ while I pursued my dreams of being a country star. But after my brother's death and my rededication to God I wanted to write and sing for the Lord. I had joined a small church that had a Southern Gospel group and I was asked to play lead guitar for them. Some of the members had written some really good songs, but whenever I tried, nothing would come to me. As I began to pray about it and try to listen to God's still small voice, I felt in my heart Him saying, "Son you can't write songs for Me like you did for the world, because it ain't about you being a star, but a servant, content to hide in the shadows of the cross." I had to ask myself why I wanted to write and sing for the Lord. Was it for me or for Him. When I humbled myself to serve only Him whether big or small, rich or poor, wherever He opened the door, I got the message of my first song, "Not for the Mansions." You see I hold a vision of grace. If all God promised me at the end of this journey of service was a small shack on a dirt road, I would still serve Him faithfully. So it's not for the mansions that I serve Him or the fact that I'll walk on pure golden streets. It's because I owe Him my life for rescuing me from an eternity in the lake of fire. That's the greatest gift we can receive, pardoned from our sin debt, we who were enemies of the cross. No the words I want to hear are not here's your crown, or here's your mansion, or this reward or that, but the words, "Well done thou good and faithful servant..." You want to thank the Lord for saving you, then live a life worth saving. Luke 17:12-19 (read these verses now). Only one out of ten men that were healed, returned to give glory and thanks to Jesus. And Jesus asked in verse 17 "...where are the other nine?" I believe Jesus is still asking that question today, "Where are you?" Are you living a life worth saving? Have you lost your vision of grace? I'll pray for you. I would love to hear from any of you.
Please keep me in your prayers, and thank you for your support.
In Jesus,
Bro. John Steed
2 Cor. 2:14-17
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