Music and Lyrics

For those of you that don't know me, I love music. Well, I had an interesting experience today with music and why listening -- I mean REALLY listening -- to lyrics is extremely IMPORTANT!

I really like the band The Script. I think they have a cool sound and the songs I've heard on the radio seem morally neutral. I decided to buy their CD so that I could enjoy them all the time in my car...

I unwrap the disc an slide it into my CD player and begin bouncing to some fun music when *BAM* the lead singer almost yells an atrocious curse word. I was shocked but continued to listen to the music because I really, REALLY liked it. After playing it a couple times, the swear word started getting to me; so, I decided to re-burn the disc without the curse (I have an editing program). Thinking my problem is now solved I keep having fun with the music.

*Today* I was walking with my Dad and started singing one of the songs from the CD. "So if you see Kay, will you tell her that I love her / And if you see Kay, let her know that I want her back". He looks at me funny and asks, "Who are you singing?" I explain to him about the CD I bought and that this was one of my favorite songs.

"Sing that part again," he asked; which I did. "Are you so naive that you don't even hear what you're saying?" he asked. Evidently I was when to my utter amazement and sheer horror, he told me that "if you see Kay" was a not-so-creative way of spelling out "the F-word".

Talk about a rain on my little party of innocence day. I nearly cried when I found out (not to mention being crushed that the band I liked was being deceptive.) Here I am, thinking I'm singing about a girl named "Kay" when I get hit with a bullet the size of a book of lyrics.

Let this be both a lesson and a warning to music lovers. Be careful what you listen to, and if there is even a hint of "inappropriateness" in an artist, there is probably WAY more (in unexpected places to say the least.)

*Sad Face* :(

A Moment's Notice

If you had only a few minutes to decide what you were going to do with your life, what would your first instinct be? Would you ask God? Would you panic? Would you continue doing what you've always done? Would you pick something radically different?

Sometimes we have only a few seconds to make a decision that could impact someone. God is always there to ask any question at a moment's notice. What's even better is that you can ask Him anything in a fraction of a second! That's the beauty of having a God that can read minds and hearts.

Mermaids

I love art, and today I thought that I would share some of my favorite pieces -- mermaid pieces that is.


This Picture makes me think of a sculpture carefully chiseling our his master piece when before he knows it, the carving begins taking on a life of its own.

This image has always intrigued me by its nearly seamless transition from a lady into water and sky. How the folds of her sleeves morph into clouds astounds me.

This picture makes me think of endless caverns and mysterious places long forgotten in the deep.

I love her tail in this parchment sketch. The touching scene of the human and the mermaid reminds me of The Little Mermaid but something is a little different. Perhaps it is that determined look in here eye.

A lonely mermaid, resting against a purple sky. Perhaps someone will sneak up on her when she is not looking...

Manu by Sarah B. Seiter makes me think of an attendant of the Lady of the Lake, or perhaps a mermaid that has raided a sunken ship or two (by that gold hoop in her "ear").

A Quiet Moment

There comes a time when we all need to sit down an be quiet. Humanity is always wondering where God is, when all we really need to do is close our mouths and listen.

"Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent." Proverbs 17:28

Earth is full of so many people that just endlessly babble! Through Twitter, Facebook and MySpace. Even in person, there are those people that could talk to a wall for hours without ever running out of things to say. Why is it so hard for us to be silent?

It is because humans need to feel as though they are something. The louder a noise we make, the more attention we get, and the more of a "someone" we feel. If we really have a grounding in Jesus Christ, that He died for us, has given us new life, identity and purpose, we have no need to draw attention to ourselves to make us "feel like someone". We are SOMEONE in Jesus Christ.

So I encourage you, enjoy the quiet moments. It is in these moments that we hear God the loudest.

Crunch Time

Just a random thought today... School is about to start. Work is going (crazy) ;) The times I teach are going well. I have little time -- almost none. But the things I love... I mean really love to do always seem to make it into the schedule. Drawing. Reading. I really should do more of writing for my faithful readers. But I just thought
how interesting it was that the things that I really love make it in -- no matter how BUSY I am. Sometimes I skip a meal. Others, I loose a couple hours of sleep. Once in a while I'll even skip a shower (something I do not recommended!) But I always make time to do what I love.

What if we treated God that way? What would our lives look like then? How concerned would we be about the world, the lost, and God's will for us? What would we give up just to make a little more time for Him?

Thoughts are nothing without deeds. What should we do? Make Jesus Christ someone you LOVE. Not just in word, but in deed. Make Jesus Christ your pastime, your hobby, your joy! Make Jesus Christ something you love.