Reader's Pick

Okay. I'll give you what I have been learning about music lately.

Country music and rock and all that is definitely not for Christians. But...what about contemporary? There are many mixed discussions on it and I had made a decision. But then was told something else and was confused again. So far, until I happen to find something that says otherwise, contemporary Christian music is JUST as bad as secular music.

John 17:14 says, "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."

We as Christians are not to be of the world.

Romans 12:2 says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

So we are not to be conformed, which can mean to do the most accepted thing by everyone. But, we are to be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of our mind so we can do the will of God.

1 John 2:15-16 says, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the prid of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

So we see in this verse, which is one of my favorites, that if we love the things of the world, the love of God is not in us. Because the world is sinful and we should not follow sin.

So if the contemporary Christian music attracts the sinners of the world, it shows that it is still worldly.

In a Christian book store somewhere around the music section you are sure to find a chart with one side having secular bands on it, with a 'reference' to a Christian band that is similar that you would probably like. So right there is showing that it is worldly if it is compared to the world and that if you like this thing of the world you will like this thing...

So as far as I stand, I try and always listen to orchestral, and misc. stuff that I find that fits my standards.

Not everyone has this strong of standards, but there are others who do because I have talked to them about it.

I hope you all understand everything, and if not please comment with your questions...

~Emily

Merry Tossmas

This was a REALLY good video I just got in an email. It's about 2 minutes long.
http://www.citizenlink.org/Stoplight/A000005834.cfm

~Emily

The Golden Compass

Okay friends and family. I am posting this because I came upon another little 'review' about this movie. It really just makes me upset and partly sad that people are reading these books and watching the movie. Here is a review about "The Golden Compass" that I found very well written.
http://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2007/goldencompass2007.html

Well, I hope you have not seen the movie or read the books. I personally do not want to do either because of what it is about.

~Emily

The Christmas Season

I have been on a few blogs and I have found that a good many have at least one article on the whole Christmas season.

Why are we so worried about getting everyone the 'perfect' present? Why do we spend so much money on gifts that, 'they won't even enjoy in three months.' Why do we do all this running, worrying, 'I NEED to get' that kind of thing? It's not what matters during the Christmas season. Christmas is a time to remember Christ's birth. To remember WHY God sent Him in the first place. To later redeem us so that we could be saved and get to Heaven.

People stress themselves so much at Christmas time. Santa is not real. And my thoughts on telling your kids that he [or any other seasonal character] is real, is just teaching them a lie, and could put a small dent in their trust towards you. The world has gotten in to most all of our seasons. Christmas and Easter are the big ones. How about instead of buying them 'everything' on their wishlist, [that could get you in to debt] set a spending limit, or a present amount. Such as each child gets $50[or less] in gifts of their choice,[or your choice] or each child gets 3 gifts each. Don't get stressed over the holidays that will be gone in two days, spend time in the Word that you may remember why we even celebrate Christmas.

Yesterday I was looking through the Gospels. I have decided that Luke has 24 chapters in it, so I'm going to read a chapter a day [two one day because I'm a day behind] and be finished on Christmas Eve. What a great way to set a goal in order to remember Christ during this Christmas season.