Devil's Music?!

The above photos are of the Cross Movement and Third Day, a Christian rap group and rock group, respectively. Now why am I posting on this? Well it's simple: there are a number of people who do not recognize groups like these as valid means for spreading the Gospel. Some go as far as calling rap and rock the "Devil's Music." Now I do agree there's some so-called Christian bands out there whose content is about as Christian as a bag of laundry. But that's not my point. There are a number of very good Christian groups out there, and the Cross Movement and Third Day are just a couple of them. They are two groups of guys who absolutely love God, and it shows in their music...and their music reaches many for God. So why do people hate so much on these groups? To be honest: I don't know. I think people are inherently afraid of that they don't know or don't like. People who dislike rap will not like Christian rap. Fine. But that doesn't mean that rappers who praise God in their music aren't worth anything in God's eyes. I'm fed up with people who will throw around scripture to try to tell me and others that this type of music is not of God, but worships the world. That's absolute nonsense. God calls us to be His light on this earth...and these guys are doing just that. And people who get saved through their message are just as saved as someone who does it in a church. We have to remember that we're brothers and sisters in Christ and we need to build each other up, not tear each other down and discourage testimonies. Anything that glorifies God in a good way is good in my book, even if it's not necessarily my favorite thing. People need to be reached, and you can't always reach people through conventional means. Sure rock and rap as it's commonly known worships womanizing, violence, drug use, and and overall crazy life....but there are Christian artists out there who have been changed by God and are using their talents to spread His good Word!

1 Corinthians 1:27-30:
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

A Spirit of Giving

First of all, I hope everyone had a truly blessed Christmas this year and I hope the blessing of Christ's birth resounds in us year-round.

This Christmas I felt led of the Lord to sponsor a needy family during the holidays, so I contacted my church and they gave me the information for a family that had no money for Christmas gifts. So my mother, girlfriend, and I got together and bought them a TON of gifts. What a joy it was to bring all those gifts to their home and see the excitement in the childrens' eyes.

I'm not writing this post for any form of notoriety at all. I'm writing it because that is what the essence of Christmas is all about! God sent His only Son as a sacrifice for us. The Magi traveled a long distance to bring gifts to the King. Sure, buying gifts for that family cost us money...but what is money when you do what God wants? If you read the Word, God commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves, so we really have to be sure to do that when and if we can. So I want to encourage all the readers to try to give a little to help out others. You may say, "I don't have the money," but think about what it's all about: sacrifice. You might think about giving up fast food for a couple weeks, or give up going out for that cup of coffee. There's a lot of things we spend money on that are not totally necessary. Instead, the money you'd normally spend on that thing, you can save up and give to a charity of your choice, or even buy groceries for a needy person or family. A little goes a long way....and what a great testimony it is! Through your giving, you show what it is to be a child of the Lord...and in turn, God will bless you! So that's my challenge: give! Sure, Christmas is over...but God doesn't say to give only during the Holidays...He commands us to help others year-round. I plan to help this family as much as I can whenever I can. Who will do the same? Who will give up a little to help a family a lot? I encourage you to give it a shot...it is well worth it!

Luke 10:25-37:
And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?" And he answered, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." And He said to him, "You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE." But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied and said, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. "And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. "Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. "But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. "On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, `Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.' "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?" And he said, "The one who showed mercy toward him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do the same."