Thank Goodness There is Finally a Shift in Christian Music

There are a lot of things I find annoying about KLTY. A song talking about a teenage girl and the message that God loves her for what’s inside her heart and not her outward appearance, followed by a live-spot by one of the DJ’s about laser hair removal for women. I think the song has a great message but I also don’t fault women for wanting to be more beautiful. It’s just a weird vibe. The other day I heard a song that almost makes it on my top 5 list ‘Let the Waters Rise’ by Mikeschair (released fall 2009) and then followed it by ‘I Will Follow’ by Chris Tomlin (released fall 2010). Those two songs sound exactly the same from the chord structure to the lyrics of the chorus. Now I will say that is the fault of Tomlin’s producer to not be in touch with Christian music (the business he must specialize in) and not realize that another single released last year sounds almost exact to this. One, it’s the producers fault. Two, what in the world is a DJ playing these two songs back to back for? If a DJ plays two songs back to back because they have the same message and sound similar, he should be fired. And the worst part of KLTY is definitely “Safe for the Whole Family.” I guess its great that a Mom with a little 5 year old in the car can feel safe putting it on KLTY. But shouldn’t the parent be smart enough to already know that they can’t throw it on 106.1? Also, how about the message and testimonial that KLTY just makes me “feel good.” How about a station that challenges us to do more for HIM and really messes with our heart? With that said, it really feels like there is a shift in Christian music happening and I will try to periodically highlight the artists who can’t help who KLTY is or what their slogan is. Because as far as the one who has tuned out KLTY is and still has the same pre-conceived notions about the station, they are missing out on some amazing artists and amazing music. So here I will highlight five songs that you NEED to YouTube and take a listen to.

‘Something Beautiful’ by Needtobreathe
‘Lead Me’ by Sanctus Real
‘Hold Us Together’ by Matt Maher
‘Can Anybody Hear Me’ by Meredith Andrews
‘Light Up the Sky’ by The Afters

These songs are a must listen and there are many more out there that I will continue to suggest in my next list.

The Death of Twitter

Today will officially be the day that I soured on Twitter. At what I felt like was its highest peak, I was the biggest supporter of Twitter. It changed the way we live and, in my opinion, was a helper in building relationships. Even relationships that had been established for years (of course I’m speaking of platonic relationships). But I am saddened at what Twitter has become. Very cluttered. I was reading trending topics last night and someone would include a trending topic in their tweet that also included a web link that was selling their product. I kind of giggled at first but then sensed the shift of what Twitter is headed to. Twitter has also (naturally and unsurprisingly) a place to push religious and political beliefs. A place for ‘Christians’, like vultures, to take the high road at every opportunity. I had such high hopes for Twitter. A place to share pictures, build relationships and experience life together. Obviously, the things I complain about on Twitter are all a part of life. Unfortunately, it couldn’t become the escape from the madness. Is there any place to let your hair down and relax in the world of social networking? Don’t count on it. There will be the next big thing in social networking. A group of free-thinking, easy going people will start a revolution…then the vultures will gut it. My prediction? Twitter won’t see 2012. Oh, it’ll still be there much like MySpace. But it will be like a ghost town.

Back Again

Sometimes I forget about this blog but I really do like the format and the look of it. So I don't trash it. Saw a great blog by Tina Bailey using blogger and that's what brought me back here. I blog at a number of places:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=1535550060
www.experiencefaith.net
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/authors/author

BUT no Rangers blogging here haha. There's a reason this blog is called Deeper Meaning. Keep it serious here.

What's This Life For?

I quote Creed from their album 'My Own Prison'. It brings back memories of a great guy, Chris, who I used to go to church with at Macedonia. He was ridiculed pretty heavily at Winter Camp one year after a sermon that was brought on secular music. I remember us trying to convince him that their was some great Christian music alternatives (ha) and to this day I regret the whole situation. Chris who was in his 30's and was a great guy for us teenagers to hang out with. I remember some nights he would take us out to go out visit elderly from the church. Some nights we would just go play some basketball and he almost always came out to our activities. Eventually though Chris fell away from church. My thinking as a fundamental Baptist probably was "well he is turning his back on God". But in retrospect, maybe he was turning his back on religious persecution. Just using this one example, Chris did great things for us and the church but sometimes just wasn't good enough just cause he listened to some good hard rock like Creed and Metallica.

I have so many of these stories in my life that I've witnessed or even been a part of and pray that I have broken away from my Fundamental, close minded ways. I listen to secular music, sprinkle in a cuss word here or there and I crack up at inappropriate jokes. I'm human just like every one else. So why at certain times of my life did I hold people to standards I couldn't even live up to? I don't know. I guess I was a moron.

But those days are over.

LOVE is the keyword these days. Treat everyone exactly like you'd want to be treated. I want to keep that idea close to my heart.

Sometimes I Don't Know Where to Start

Focusing on ME

I guess at times I do feel a bit overwhelmed. I'm sure that is why God gave me this book to start digging in to. I get so concerned with decisions other members or even leaders are doing in the church. But luckily this book gave me a sigh of relief. I'm barely through one chapter but it's already making me feel better.

From the book: No Perfect people allowed: creating a COME AS YOU ARE culture in the CHURCH by John Burke

"If the the thought of reaching our post-Christian culture scares you, take heart! God can use anyone, because it's not ultimately up to us---it's up to him. But we do have a responsibility. Paul reminds church leaders in his letter to the Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 3:6-9 (English Standard Version)

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

As Christians in a post-Christian society, our job is to become cultural farmers. Church leaders, ministry leaders and small group leaders must come to trust the God who is already at work all around us, making things grow. Our responsibility is not to make people grow or change. Our task is to create the right soil, a rich healthy environment, in which people can grow up in faith until the invisible God is made visible through his Body, the church".

I realized through reading this that if I take care of myself, continue to strive for spiritual growth and follow through with the tasks God gives me pertaining to Church ministry, everything else will take care of itself.

I taught a class on unity in Sunday school. I really just wanted to share my heart and my vision for our church and how unity would take so much stress out of our lives if we all are there for each other, catching one another in times of failure or fatigue. But I like what Dean told me after that class when he told me that you can't make unity happen. Dean led me to this verse:

Romans 12:6-8

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, withthe one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, cheerfulness.


This helped me out because it was the seed plant that showed me if I use my talents (ones that not every person possesses) with zeal and is always generous and cheerful THEN it will begin to rub off on others in the church. That is how unity occurs...by example.

I Love Peter

Good ol Billy Bob

I found out Eric Church is going to be at Billy Bob's on August 14 and I'm pretty pumped about seeing him. I think he has a pretty sweet sound. Gary Allan is going to be in our general vicinity. He'll be in Athens on August 17 and Thackerville August 18. He'll be at Billy Bob's on September 2 but that's for a huge concert that cost $30 and the only other person I'd want to see with him is Stoney LaRue. We'll see what happens. All I listen to is country these days and I really need to go to a concert!

The Scriptures

I wanted to start doing some extra stuff with my blog. I spend time in the mornings doing a devotion and just write some notes and thoughts about what I read. This won't be "this is what God showed me so you need to be shown the same things" it's just what God showed me. Most likely God will speak to you differently through the scriptures.

My Devotions

1 Peter 1:1-12

We believe without seeing or ever having seen. Amazing faith. We shouldn't take for granted what the disciples and apostles did after the death of Christ. This has become so prevalent in my mind when I think about how badly Paul and Peter died. All for Christ. All so we would have the books and letters we have today that are still so powerful. They spent ever ounce of their being carefully searching out the things of God and pronouncing his glory.

1 Peter 1:13-25

We fade but the Word of the Lord remains forever. It seems as if we have the Word in our hearts we will remain forever (this is just me trying to think simply and logically on how simple things work). Paul also quotes Jesus "You shall be Holy, for I am Holy". That quote really makes me think and gives me an unsettling feeling. What does this mean in my life and what actions do I need to take to get going in that direction.

1 Peter 2:13-17

The integrity that we have in the work place will prove our faith to our co-workers more than anything. More than even carrying a Bible or wearing a Christian t-shirt (which most Christian t-shirts are pointless anyway).

1 Peter 3:8-22

It is better tosuffer doing good than doing evil. But is God's will sometimes that we suffer from doing evil. Do we need the bad to help us see the good? I think a problem I've had in the past is when I care about or love someone, I tend to hold their past over their head. But if I really was so in love or blown away I'd realize that the past is what made them the person they are.

1 Peter 4:1-11

There is not a lot here in this passage and I'm not positive how to interpret it all. I do know God says don't live for the flesh but for the will of God. I think God makes it clear that He wants our actions to be distinctly different from the unsaved. You can even say the cliché, in the world not of the world. God knows we're going to be around evil things but just don't act like a worldly person. Even different situation might constitute different actions depending on who is around. Have self-control and be sober-minded and you'll be cool. Then Peter throws out the ace of spades or the trump card. Keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. God has blessed us and shown us crazy unbelievable grace and we have to turn around and do the same.

1 Peter 4:12-19 and 5: 1-14

I get a feeling God doesn't want us to follow him out of compulsion or on a whim, decide we want to lead a ministry. We should be consistent and faithful in doing the little thing and God, as long as we're ready and willing, will put us into action when he's ready for us.

Sometimes the Bible can be pretty hard hitting. God straight up opposes the proud. It's scary to think about being an enemy of God. We already know, according to the Word God, wins in the end. So if you're the enemy…you're done. But He gives grace to the humble. All we have to do is be humble, go to Him with our struggles and in his time He will exalt us (exalt: acclaim or pay tribute to). Humbleness seems so important and we need his grace so badly.

Peter

Search up the Apostle Peter or Saint Peter on Wikepdia. Learn about his and life and even his death. A lot of his death is partly speculation but supposedly he was crucified upside down and that was his idea. He didn't want his martyrdom to be equated to that of Jesus'. Check it out.

When You Come Home...I'll Be Ready

Just like the title of my blog, there is deeper meaning to the title of this entry. If you think you know, you probably don't. I feel like i'm quoting a punk song. Hahahah.

A New Home?

If you haven't heard the news, Barry and Tina are getting married at the end of this month. The crazier side of it is they are moving to Georgia because Barry recently got a big job out there. Tina decided not to sell her house but rather to rent it out to B1, B2 and me. At first it sounded like we'd be moving in at the end of August (when B1 and B2's lease would be up) but apparently it is up at the end of this month. That's a little bit sooner than I really wanted to pack up and head out. I'm paying off a big credit card on August 1 so I need a little time to recover. Who knows...we'll see what happens.

A New Job?

By this September I could easily have a new job in the company. One job I applied for is a Meter Tech or Field Service Rep. I wouldn't have to walk nearly as much and I would have an F-150 to take home. Meaning a lot less miles on my truck. This job would put me at about 50K/yr. The other job is a Coordinator in Measurement Services. This is the job I really want and my supervisor thinks I'd be the frontrunner as long as I interview well and i'm very confident in my interview skills. I interviewed for this job earlier this year and was 1 out of 3 that they called in to interview but they gave it to a Supervisor who wanted to demote. This job would score me 55k-60k/yr. Maybe it will work out for me this time around.

A New School?

When my sister goes to enroll at Richland, I am going to go with her and talk to her advisor. I'm ready to get back in school. I'm hoping to take basics and horticulture classes at Richland and then finish up at DBU to have a major in Biblical Studies and a minor in Horticulture. Easier said than done of course. The thing is I have to get this done while I'm still young.