I have been using a software program called Audacity to record some songs. Just posted a couple of those songs on purevolume.com. If you are interested in hearing me sing, click the link.
PUREVOLUME
Monday, November 23, 2009
Judging Art
Now that I have decided writing will be my profession, I need to set some guidelines. Today’s entertainment culture is drenched in immorality and satanic influences. I am struggling to define what is acceptable and what is irreverent.
Recently, a friend rebuked me for reading and watching the Twilight series. Before Twilight, I encountered numerous Christian who disapproved of the Harry Potter series. I love both of these series, and I respect these writers for their creativity and talent. These books and movies are poetic and powerful pieces of fiction.
I am also moved by art that may show nudity. I realize some of the art is simply pornographic and detestable. However, there are artists who use nudity effectively and create masterpieces.
I realize I must show proper restraint. There is no need to use profanity and overtly sexual imagery in my writing. But, I think for any book to be effective, it must have a dash of reality. The days of the Beavers and Lassie are over. Some of the most powerful art is the art that accurately portrays the human condition.
I personally don’t think the Harry Potter series or the Twilight series are demonic. I think they are make-believe. I know many people who refuse to watch Harry Potter, and yet they have no problem watching shows with murder and theft. Ocean’s Eleven is a perfect example. It is a popular show with Christians, yet it is main premise is theft.
I am not here to judge anyone. If you believe something is immoral, don't watch it! You know when you are being tempted. You know what leads you astray. There is NOTHING wrong with guarding your heart!.
I simply want people to recognize that God is an artist and an author. In His own holy word, the Bible, He shares the stories of sin and failure. There are graphic stories in the Bible, but no one would accuse God of writing smut. Why? The motivation behind sharing those stories is the motivation of love. God shares those stories to protect others from making the same mistakes. Reality is an effective tool against sin.
As an artist I want to hit people where they live. I don’t want a “moral” movie that fails to minister to anyone. People are hurting, sinful, and lost. As an artist, I don’t want to ignore that fact. I love this scripture. Titus 1:15-16
“To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.”
If my heart is pure, I will be able to approach everything with a proper guard. If I am corrupt, I will find pleasure in immorality and sin. Feel free to comment.
Recently, a friend rebuked me for reading and watching the Twilight series. Before Twilight, I encountered numerous Christian who disapproved of the Harry Potter series. I love both of these series, and I respect these writers for their creativity and talent. These books and movies are poetic and powerful pieces of fiction.
I am also moved by art that may show nudity. I realize some of the art is simply pornographic and detestable. However, there are artists who use nudity effectively and create masterpieces.
I realize I must show proper restraint. There is no need to use profanity and overtly sexual imagery in my writing. But, I think for any book to be effective, it must have a dash of reality. The days of the Beavers and Lassie are over. Some of the most powerful art is the art that accurately portrays the human condition.
I personally don’t think the Harry Potter series or the Twilight series are demonic. I think they are make-believe. I know many people who refuse to watch Harry Potter, and yet they have no problem watching shows with murder and theft. Ocean’s Eleven is a perfect example. It is a popular show with Christians, yet it is main premise is theft.
I am not here to judge anyone. If you believe something is immoral, don't watch it! You know when you are being tempted. You know what leads you astray. There is NOTHING wrong with guarding your heart!.
I simply want people to recognize that God is an artist and an author. In His own holy word, the Bible, He shares the stories of sin and failure. There are graphic stories in the Bible, but no one would accuse God of writing smut. Why? The motivation behind sharing those stories is the motivation of love. God shares those stories to protect others from making the same mistakes. Reality is an effective tool against sin.
As an artist I want to hit people where they live. I don’t want a “moral” movie that fails to minister to anyone. People are hurting, sinful, and lost. As an artist, I don’t want to ignore that fact. I love this scripture. Titus 1:15-16
“To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.”
If my heart is pure, I will be able to approach everything with a proper guard. If I am corrupt, I will find pleasure in immorality and sin. Feel free to comment.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
The Day or the Hour
I am not a scholar when it comes to the end times. However, I have always had a desire to be found watching and waiting. I am listening to sermons about the end times and I am studying the end time scriptures for myself.
I was listening to a sermon dealing with the end times recently and I gained revelation. The speaker was addressing the scripture that many people misinterpret. Mark 13 warns of the coming tribulation. Jesus talks about the signs of the times and asks his hearers to be on their guard and watchful. Most people misinterpret Mark 13:32.
"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
Most people state that if "no one knows the day or the hour", we can't know when the end will be.
The speaker had a different outlook. He said that the scripture doesn't say no one WILL or CAN know the day or the hour. It only states that no one knew at the time of Jesus's earthly ministry. Jesus never suggests that no one would ever know. I don't know what I think about this, but it intrigued me.
As I was meditating on this scripture, I also uncovered something. Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour, but what about the year. Jesus never said we couldn't know the year. Just something to think about.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Sin and Sin and More Sin
Well known preachers are proclaiming there is a difference between “willful sin” and “struggling with sin.” For those who don’t understand my Christian jargon, I will explain further.
Willful sin happens when a person lives in sin and denies his or her action is a sin. For example, a homosexual man who admits to being homosexual, lives that lifestyle, and believes his homosexuality is NOT a sin. In contrast a man “struggling with sin” would be a man struggling with homosexuality who admits he is a sinner and wants to stop that sin.
There is a growing thought that states a willful sinner is worse than a struggling sinner. People proclaim that “God sees the willing heart” and therefore He sympathizes with the struggle. This implies that God sympathizes with the sin as well. I want to firmly state that all humanity is under the curse and YOUR desire to be good will never save you or excuse your sin.
Paul writes in Romans 7:14-25 about his own struggle with sin. He admits he has a desire to be righteous, but he often fails. Paul acknowledges that he is constantly battling his flesh. Does Paul excuse his bad behavior? NO! Not at all! He calls himself a wretched man. Paul is a man struggling with sin; he is not a willful sinner. But, Paul would never say his desire to be righteous excuses his sin.
What does Jesus say? In Matthew 5:27-30 Jesus reveals that our sinful heart condition is just as punishable as our actions. He states that knowing and following the law “Thou shall not commit adultery” doesn’t excuse our sinful desire. These scriptures prove that the willful sinner and the one struggling with sin both deserve hell.
It isn’t correct to assume struggling with sin is less vile than willfully sinning. This may seem like bad news, but it is actually good news. Every person on this earth is a sinner. We can’t put our hope in anything but Christ redeeming grace. Our effort to stay righteous will produce some results, but we will eventually fail. Jesus and his forgiveness is our unshakable foundation.
When we realize our sinful desires and our sinful actions are both punishable, we also realize we have no ability to judge our fellow man.
Willful sin happens when a person lives in sin and denies his or her action is a sin. For example, a homosexual man who admits to being homosexual, lives that lifestyle, and believes his homosexuality is NOT a sin. In contrast a man “struggling with sin” would be a man struggling with homosexuality who admits he is a sinner and wants to stop that sin.
There is a growing thought that states a willful sinner is worse than a struggling sinner. People proclaim that “God sees the willing heart” and therefore He sympathizes with the struggle. This implies that God sympathizes with the sin as well. I want to firmly state that all humanity is under the curse and YOUR desire to be good will never save you or excuse your sin.
Paul writes in Romans 7:14-25 about his own struggle with sin. He admits he has a desire to be righteous, but he often fails. Paul acknowledges that he is constantly battling his flesh. Does Paul excuse his bad behavior? NO! Not at all! He calls himself a wretched man. Paul is a man struggling with sin; he is not a willful sinner. But, Paul would never say his desire to be righteous excuses his sin.
What does Jesus say? In Matthew 5:27-30 Jesus reveals that our sinful heart condition is just as punishable as our actions. He states that knowing and following the law “Thou shall not commit adultery” doesn’t excuse our sinful desire. These scriptures prove that the willful sinner and the one struggling with sin both deserve hell.
It isn’t correct to assume struggling with sin is less vile than willfully sinning. This may seem like bad news, but it is actually good news. Every person on this earth is a sinner. We can’t put our hope in anything but Christ redeeming grace. Our effort to stay righteous will produce some results, but we will eventually fail. Jesus and his forgiveness is our unshakable foundation.
When we realize our sinful desires and our sinful actions are both punishable, we also realize we have no ability to judge our fellow man.
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