Christian Music Trying to Break through the darkness...

I love music, almost all genres. Music is something that in many people has the capability to really affect and move the heart and mind. Music has more power in it than we often realize. I am not someone who would say that Christians should not listen to any secular music, because even now as I am writing this I am listening to secular music and enjoying it. But I do think that it is very important to be discerning in the kind of music and lyrics that we allow to enter into our ears and mind. We may think that we just listen to the music, but ultimately the words do affect us. As Christian music has continually been in a growing period over the last ten years. Currently there are many more Christian music options than people realizing. Here is just a small list at comparisons and alternatives of Christian music that is a similar sound to some secular music. This was taken from http://christianmusic.about.com/library/blcomparea.htm.

If you like ...	You should try ...
2 Unlimited	Lisa Bevill
A*Teens	Jump5
Aaron Carter	Jump5
Avril Lavigne	Jennifer Knapp
Babyface	Tonex
Bad Religion	MxPx
Billy Joel	The Swift
Black Eyed Peas	tobyMac or Group 1 Crew
Celine Dion	Lisa Bevill
Coldplay	Tree63
Creed	Kutless or 12 Stones
Dave Matthews Band	Caedmon's Call
Depeche Mode	Joy Electric or Newsboys
Destiny's Child	ZOEgirl or Mary Mary
Dixie Chicks	Watermark
Eminem	tobyMac
Erasure	The Echoing Green
Evanescence	BarlowGirl
Fiona Apple	Nichole Nordeman
Gavin DeGraw	The Swift or John David Webster
Geto Boys	Nuwine
Good Charlotte	MxPx
Goo Goo Dolls	Jars of Clay
Jewel	Rebecca St. James
Limp Bizkit	P.O.D. or Project 86
Linkin Park	Kutless
Master P	Nuwine
Notorious B.I.G.	B.B.Jay
Outkast	tobyMac
Pet Shop Boys	The Echoing Green
Rage Against The Machine	Pillar or Spoken
Scarface	Nuwine
Simple Plan	Stellar Kart
Slayer	Living Sacrifice
Stone Temple Pilots	Big Dismal
Sugar Ray	Audio Adrenaline
Tori Amos	Michelle Tumes
Tyrese	Lamar Campbell

The call to service

As Christians, we are called to go out into the world and make a difference. Some are not called to literally go out into the world, as into other countries, but everyone is called to service in some way. I believe that people have the greatest potential to grow when they are out of their comfort zone, and serving Christ in the midst of that. There are so many opportunities to serve with mission agencies and go across the world, and there are countless ways to serve in our own country and in our own communities. There are far too many Christians just sitting around in their comfortable life. We all are called by Christ to go and make a difference in his name. I challenge my readers to think about how right now in your life are you being called to make a difference. Maybe it is giving a week for spring break to a service project or mission trip. Maybe it is volunteering at a local food shelf. Maybe it is babysitting for free for your neighbor. Whatever it is, get out there and serve the world! Get out and serve those who do and do not know Christ because that is how Christ's love becomes known! Here is a website with some great opportunities for youth to take this call to serve seriously. Check it out here.

How much are we affected by the media?

I have in the last few months really been convicted about the things that I watch in terms of movies and TV shows and how much of it is really affecting me. We generally tend to assume that nothing gets to us, that we can listen to or watch whatever we want while maintaining our same values and morals. I submit that as Christian young people we should be careful about what we let into our eyes, ears, and mind. If we are in fact letting much of these secular shows in that we enjoy, then are we constantly counteracting it with more time in the Bible to help us to stay pure in our mind and heart. I think that that is rarely the case, and I know not often enough the case in my own life. I want to challenge those around me to stop the watching of some things that really are not adding to our faith in any way shape or form, but then also to combat that things of the world that we are watching or listening to, to take the responsibility to balance it out with the Bible and prayer seriously. Otherwise how do we expect to grow?

There are however, good shows and move out there that can entertain us and help us to grow in our faith. One that is currently showing in theaters is the movie Fireproof. You can learn more about it here!

Jesus Paid it All!

This song is one that is often in my head, and I think it is one that holds an important message for todays youth.  That Jesus did pay it all, we owe him everything, our sin is gone, and now we obey him because he paid it all!  It doesn't matter what we have done, he paid for it with his life.  How often do we really think about the songs that we sing?  Many, like this one, hold such a powerful message we need to constantly remember!

I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Refrain

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim,
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

Refrain

And now complete in Him
My robe His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest.

Refrain

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.

Refrain

When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.

Refrain

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down
All down at Jesus’ feet.

Refrain

Reaching Global Youth Culture

A man named David Pierce came and spoke in Bethel's chapel service this week and he is the director of Steiger International.  The best way to describe what they do is by their mission statement which says, "Secularized global youth make up the largest un-reached people group in the world, held together by common values, symbols, and legends. These are formed by the shallow entertainment industry, pop culture, and economic strategies that prey on a whole generation. This, combined with a break down in family structure and values, sets the stage for anger, despair, hopelessness, and apathy.
We share God's broken heart for these young people. global youth make up the largest un-reached people group in the world, held together by common values, symbols, and legends. These are formed by the shallow entertainment industry, pop culture, and economic strategies that prey on a whole generation. This, combined with a break down in family structure and values, sets the stage for anger, despair, hopelessness, and apathy.

We share God's broken heart for these young people."

I think this is an awesome organization making a difference in a powerful way!  Check out more at their website!