Letter from the Editor: June 1, 2015

Renewal | Maybe it’s more common to think about this subject around New Year’s. I don’t know. For me, my mind frames have never been cyclical. I am more likely to begin working out again on a Wednesday or Thursday as opposed to a Monday. For you other Christmas-in-July or dessert-before-dinner types, then maybe the thought of renewal isn’t bound to the changing of a season or a major notch on your timeline.

To add yet another cliché, renewal is usually tied to notions of greener grass always being on the other side. Of course. Something new should be bright and shiny—better.

Inside this edition of CCM Magazine, we read several examples of unplanned, yet timely renewal. For Kevin Burgess, known as the rapper KB, life was pretty much a mess. But after a chance meeting on an ordinary day, Christ used the medium of hip hop to speak to and eventually restore Kevin (you’ll have to read the interview and find out who KB met!).

It took an unfortunate and tragic event that led him to his lowest point before Dan Bremnes finally surrendered everything to God. The result? Revival—and finding true freedom and joy. (Read the touching song devotional and stream “Beautiful” on CCMMagazine.com.) Fireflight reached a complicated crossroads in their career after successful from the release of Now in 2012. Tons of prayer, resting on their spiritual foundation, and stepping out on faith proved to be the recharge they needed to live into God’s plans for them as a band.

Although things might have seemed random at the time, they didn’t just move from one field to another—KB, Dan, and Fireflight have experienced a real and lasting renewal. Green grass eventually turns and withers, only Christ offers an everlasting life. Be rejuvenated and run to Him now, don’t just wait around for bigger and better—leap, trust, and experience rebirth.

“Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is GONE; a new life burgeons!” [2 Corinthians 5:17 (MSG)]

Blessings,