Is there purpose to life if we never take chances? For me, life is about risk. Without risk, there would be no life (and no insurance companies for that matter). Every person takes chances in his or her life on a daily basis whether we are consciously aware of those chances or not. We might take the chance to move outside of our comfort zone and talk to the person who is always sitting by himself in the lunch room. We might take the chance to go out on a date with someone, and that date might lead to a long, happy relationship. We might take the chance to reconnect with a family member after many years of a distant relationship. Life is about taking risks. When we take risks, we are unsure about what is going to happen, but we trust God that He will provide for us now and in the future. When we take a chance in a certain situation, we are taking a leap of faith to reach out to others, to inspire, to encourage, to improve ourselves and relationship with God, and to climb up the mountaintop.
What does it mean to climb up the mountaintop? I hear this phrase as a metaphor in many songs. This phrase especially reminds me of the song by Miley Cyrus called The Climb. What is this phrase a metaphor for? In my opinion, it is a metaphor for life. It is a metaphor for the tough climb each individual has in this world. We will all face challenges, hardships, difficulties, pain, and sorrow, but eventually, we will all find the top of the mountain. The top of the mountain is what comes after hard work, perseverance, and endurance. The top of the mountain is the hard fought battle that we win after finishing the race and following God's light until the very end. Just like the climb up a mountain, life can be a risky, dangerous terrain. There is so much uncertainty out in the world right now, and one small slip can cause us to fall.
To get to the top of the mountain, we must take risks because even though we might fall every once in awhile, we know we have God who will always be by our side ready to hold us and pick us up off our feet when we fall into trouble and sorrow. Taking chances is about having faith in God among the difficulties, imperfections, and the uncertainties of this world. When we have faith in God, we lose doubt and gain an understanding that all things are possible. We understand that all things are possible, and we can conquer the impossible, take a leap of faith, and take risks to lead others to Christ.
The biggest risk that anyone on this Earth can take is to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This is the biggest risk because it has the biggest reward. Having a relationship with God is an amazing thing. Personally, it has changed my life drastically. My relationship with God has given me new hope, a better attitude and outlook on life, it has given me a deeper thirst for spiritual knowledge, it has made me a better writer, and this special relationship has given me a chance to follow in Jesus's footsteps as a disciple of Christ in order to shine His light. Getting to know God is a life-changing experience on a daily basis. Taking the chance to follow in Christ's footsteps is a difficult challenge filled with imperfections and troubles, but it is an amazing opportunity because in the end, the only thing that will matter is your relationship with Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The Impact Alcohol Advertising on Television has on a Youth’s Decisions to Drink
Here is an old paper I wrote back in 12th grade for my media literacy and research class. I love to go back and see how I progress as a writer.
When a teenager reaches the age of fifteen, they will have viewed about 75,000 alcohol advertisements (CQ Researcher, 1992). Furthermore, out of all the high school students in America, about 80% of them drink some alcohol (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009). In addition, they are viewing approximately 2,000 commercials for alcohol per year (American Academy of Pediatrics, 1995). Is there a connection between alcohol advertising on television and a youth’s decisions to drink? Is there a problem in the alcohol industry? Do parents need to do a better job of monitoring what their kids watch? How can parents play a role in their child’s media intake? Alcohol advertising has had a huge influence on underage drinkers. Alcohol advertising on television attracts and impacts a youth’s decisions to drink because the advertisements connect alcohol with attributes that a typical youth finds significant, the advertisements use specific techniques that attract youth to alcohol, and the advertisements teach the youth of today that a part of everyday life involves alcohol.
Alcohol advertising on television attracts and impacts a youth’s decisions to drink because the advertisements connect alcohol with friendship. Friendship is a typical attribute that a typical youth finds significant. A lot of the television advertisements on television will have this value. Youth value friendship greatly. They are always doing what their friends are doing. This is called peer pressure. This means youth are influencing other youth. If a person’s friends are drinking, they are going to want to drink too, so they do not feel left out. This is being taught to youth on the alcohol commercials and programs. Friends have to do everything together, even drink. An example that shows alcohol consumption in association with friendship is That 70s Show. Youth not only value friendship, they value excitement.
Alcohol advertising on television attracts and impacts a youth’s decisions to drink because the advertisements connect alcohol with sex and fun. Some of television alcohol advertisements show pictures of attractive women. These types of advertisements give the message that if men drink a certain brand of beer or alcohol, they will have attractive women in their lives to make them happy. These types of alcohol commercials are most frequently attracted by male youth. Almost all male youth want sex. To add to that, these are shown on programs that male teenagers usually like to watch which sports programs are. Examples of these programs include Monday Night Football and the Super Bowl. Plus, a teenager values fun and excitement. Most of the alcohol advertising a teen sees on television involves some sort of fun and excitement. Fun and excitement is what a youth wants to see because they are generally big risk takers. These values are also common on programs that male youth tend to watch. Examples of these shows include That 70s Show, The Simpsons, and Family Guy. Fun and excitement is also common on many of the Budweiser commercials. To clarify, male youth are more impacted by today’s alcohol advertising on television than female youth are impacted. Alcohol advertising can even impact a child who is only six years old.
There is another side to the issue. Some people believe that alcohol advertising does not impact and attract youth to alcohol because they are too young to understand the humor, values, cartoons, and slogans of the advertisements on television. They are not yet media literate, and they do not have any knowledge about the advertising techniques that the campaigns used unlike adults. The alcohol industry targets adults where only adult viewers receive the messages that the advertisements bring. Youth today are being impacted not by television, but by their heredity, beliefs, attitudes, and peers. Television advertisement has very little impact on a youth’s decisions to drink.
Alcohol advertising on television attracts and impacts a youth’s decisions to drink because the advertisements connect alcohol with the values of wealth and success. To continue, alcohol commercials associate their brands of alcohol with class. This is telling viewers that if they want to be rich and successful, they have to drink this beer or drink this wine. Teens value money and success because they never have enough money and always are left wanting more. This message is often found on situational comedies where a person needs alcohol to be successful, rich, and have sex. Sitcoms are mainly attracted by younger audiences. Alcohol advertisements have incorporated teen values into shows that teens find attractive. The impact of alcohol by youth can be explained by the advertising techniques of the commercials.
Alcohol advertising on television impacts youth decisions to drink because the cartoons, slogans, animal characters, and the other methods in the commercials attract youth to alcohol. The alcohol industry does not try to attract underage viewers, but youth have actually enjoyed and looked forward to the commercials. Alcohol advertisements have used animals such as dogs, lizards, and frogs (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009). In order to clarify, in 1996, there was a study done to see which television characters were most recognized by nine to eleven-year-olds. When the study was done, the Budweiser frogs overpowered the Power Rangers, Tony the Tiger, and Smokey the Bear (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009). The study was from Anheuser-Busch’s frog campaign. The Budweiser slogan was popular and well recognized by the youth as well compared to other slogans (Media awareness network, 2009). The $2 billion that the industry spent in 2002 went towards attracting customers not knowing the industry attracted youth as well (Strasburger1, 1999). Since alcohol advertisements attract teens, they have become educators of alcohol for youth. Truly, it is not shocking that youth know more brands of beer than presidents, and, to add to that, 25% of the alcohol is consumed by the youth today (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009). The messages of these advertisements are being developed into a child’s brain in as early as six years of age (Media awareness network, 2009). When youth enter third and fourth grade, they start to establish positive links with alcohol. So, this is the age where parents, teachers, and other educators need to be with their children when they watch television to clarify the meanings of the advertisements. This is the grade where media literacy should start. It is when youth enter their teenage years that becomes the most dangerous years because they are making the verdict on whether to use alcohol or not. They have no knowledge of alcohol consumption, and they have no understanding or approach to the advertising ideas alcohol brings. So, they are in the years of temptation and trial. Meanwhile, alcohol advertising does not have as a great effect on older teens because their brains are already developed (Media awareness network, 2009). The alcohol messages have already matured in their brains. Older teens are the role models to the younger children. For example, if a twelve-year-old boy sees an older celebrity he likes drinking, he is going to try alcohol to be like his role model. To summarize, alcohol advertising has a greater impact on younger children, so it is important to have children learn about the media at an early age from schools, parents, and responsible adults.
Alcohol advertising on television attracts and impacts youth decisions to drink because the advertisements teach a typical youth that a part of everyday life involves alcohol, and that it is a passage way to manhood or adulthood. The messages that alcohol advertisements tell have the most influence on children who do not know much about alcohol at all (Media awareness network, 2009). The ones who know the dangers of alcohol, and the ones that know all the bad side effects of alcohol are generally the ones who are the safest from the messaging that alcohol advertising tells (Media awareness network, 2009). They are safe from alcohol advertisements on television, but it does not mean they are safe from peer pressure, family influences, heredity, societal attitudes, and beliefs. Still, the alcohol advertisements on televisions are teaching children and emphasizing the thought that a part of life is alcohol consumption. It gives the message that alcohol consumption is something that relieves people’s problems, stress, and allows people to have fun in their life. The message is especially strong among youth because their brains are still developing. They have a lot of stress, problems, and concerns throughout the week with school and homework. The youth feel like they need to unwind, relax, and have some rebellious fun by drinking alcohol.
It is not surprising that alcohol is involved in so many of the injuries and deaths in the United States of America, especially among the young people today. There is a strong connection between alcohol advertising on television and a youth’s decisions to drink. There is a problem in the alcohol industry. Youth are obviously attracted to alcohol commercials and advertisements because the alcohol industry has incorporated teen values into their campaigns. These values are friendship, sex, humor, class, wealth, and success. In addition, there are many more, but these are just some of the major ones. In turn, these values reinforce a youth’s impressions about alcohol. Next to that, they are attracted to alcohol advertising on television because they use cartoons and animal characters like the Budweiser frogs. The alcohol industry says it does not target underage drinkers. Today’s alcohol advertisements have been educating and showing today’s youth that a part of everyday life involves alcohol consumption. They explain to the youth that they should drink to have a fun way to relax and hang out with friends. Parents can help the issue with alcohol advertising by monitoring what their children watch. Today, they have the opportunity to block certain channels in their homes to prevent youth from watching certain shows that display alcohol. Parents need to know what their kids watch. Parents should engage and spend time with their children explaining the things their children see on the television. Alcohol ads on television are major contributors to alcohol consumption by youth. There are many more places where youth get information about alcohol. These places include billboards, magazines, sporting events, and the internet. So, dealing with the issue of alcohol ads on television is only a small step to solving the overall underage drinking problem. Most important, America needs to do something about today’s alcohol industry if it wants to see smarter and healthier youth in the future.
When a teenager reaches the age of fifteen, they will have viewed about 75,000 alcohol advertisements (CQ Researcher, 1992). Furthermore, out of all the high school students in America, about 80% of them drink some alcohol (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009). In addition, they are viewing approximately 2,000 commercials for alcohol per year (American Academy of Pediatrics, 1995). Is there a connection between alcohol advertising on television and a youth’s decisions to drink? Is there a problem in the alcohol industry? Do parents need to do a better job of monitoring what their kids watch? How can parents play a role in their child’s media intake? Alcohol advertising has had a huge influence on underage drinkers. Alcohol advertising on television attracts and impacts a youth’s decisions to drink because the advertisements connect alcohol with attributes that a typical youth finds significant, the advertisements use specific techniques that attract youth to alcohol, and the advertisements teach the youth of today that a part of everyday life involves alcohol.
Alcohol advertising on television attracts and impacts a youth’s decisions to drink because the advertisements connect alcohol with friendship. Friendship is a typical attribute that a typical youth finds significant. A lot of the television advertisements on television will have this value. Youth value friendship greatly. They are always doing what their friends are doing. This is called peer pressure. This means youth are influencing other youth. If a person’s friends are drinking, they are going to want to drink too, so they do not feel left out. This is being taught to youth on the alcohol commercials and programs. Friends have to do everything together, even drink. An example that shows alcohol consumption in association with friendship is That 70s Show. Youth not only value friendship, they value excitement.
Alcohol advertising on television attracts and impacts a youth’s decisions to drink because the advertisements connect alcohol with sex and fun. Some of television alcohol advertisements show pictures of attractive women. These types of advertisements give the message that if men drink a certain brand of beer or alcohol, they will have attractive women in their lives to make them happy. These types of alcohol commercials are most frequently attracted by male youth. Almost all male youth want sex. To add to that, these are shown on programs that male teenagers usually like to watch which sports programs are. Examples of these programs include Monday Night Football and the Super Bowl. Plus, a teenager values fun and excitement. Most of the alcohol advertising a teen sees on television involves some sort of fun and excitement. Fun and excitement is what a youth wants to see because they are generally big risk takers. These values are also common on programs that male youth tend to watch. Examples of these shows include That 70s Show, The Simpsons, and Family Guy. Fun and excitement is also common on many of the Budweiser commercials. To clarify, male youth are more impacted by today’s alcohol advertising on television than female youth are impacted. Alcohol advertising can even impact a child who is only six years old.
There is another side to the issue. Some people believe that alcohol advertising does not impact and attract youth to alcohol because they are too young to understand the humor, values, cartoons, and slogans of the advertisements on television. They are not yet media literate, and they do not have any knowledge about the advertising techniques that the campaigns used unlike adults. The alcohol industry targets adults where only adult viewers receive the messages that the advertisements bring. Youth today are being impacted not by television, but by their heredity, beliefs, attitudes, and peers. Television advertisement has very little impact on a youth’s decisions to drink.
Alcohol advertising on television attracts and impacts a youth’s decisions to drink because the advertisements connect alcohol with the values of wealth and success. To continue, alcohol commercials associate their brands of alcohol with class. This is telling viewers that if they want to be rich and successful, they have to drink this beer or drink this wine. Teens value money and success because they never have enough money and always are left wanting more. This message is often found on situational comedies where a person needs alcohol to be successful, rich, and have sex. Sitcoms are mainly attracted by younger audiences. Alcohol advertisements have incorporated teen values into shows that teens find attractive. The impact of alcohol by youth can be explained by the advertising techniques of the commercials.
Alcohol advertising on television impacts youth decisions to drink because the cartoons, slogans, animal characters, and the other methods in the commercials attract youth to alcohol. The alcohol industry does not try to attract underage viewers, but youth have actually enjoyed and looked forward to the commercials. Alcohol advertisements have used animals such as dogs, lizards, and frogs (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009). In order to clarify, in 1996, there was a study done to see which television characters were most recognized by nine to eleven-year-olds. When the study was done, the Budweiser frogs overpowered the Power Rangers, Tony the Tiger, and Smokey the Bear (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009). The study was from Anheuser-Busch’s frog campaign. The Budweiser slogan was popular and well recognized by the youth as well compared to other slogans (Media awareness network, 2009). The $2 billion that the industry spent in 2002 went towards attracting customers not knowing the industry attracted youth as well (Strasburger1, 1999). Since alcohol advertisements attract teens, they have become educators of alcohol for youth. Truly, it is not shocking that youth know more brands of beer than presidents, and, to add to that, 25% of the alcohol is consumed by the youth today (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009). The messages of these advertisements are being developed into a child’s brain in as early as six years of age (Media awareness network, 2009). When youth enter third and fourth grade, they start to establish positive links with alcohol. So, this is the age where parents, teachers, and other educators need to be with their children when they watch television to clarify the meanings of the advertisements. This is the grade where media literacy should start. It is when youth enter their teenage years that becomes the most dangerous years because they are making the verdict on whether to use alcohol or not. They have no knowledge of alcohol consumption, and they have no understanding or approach to the advertising ideas alcohol brings. So, they are in the years of temptation and trial. Meanwhile, alcohol advertising does not have as a great effect on older teens because their brains are already developed (Media awareness network, 2009). The alcohol messages have already matured in their brains. Older teens are the role models to the younger children. For example, if a twelve-year-old boy sees an older celebrity he likes drinking, he is going to try alcohol to be like his role model. To summarize, alcohol advertising has a greater impact on younger children, so it is important to have children learn about the media at an early age from schools, parents, and responsible adults.
Alcohol advertising on television attracts and impacts youth decisions to drink because the advertisements teach a typical youth that a part of everyday life involves alcohol, and that it is a passage way to manhood or adulthood. The messages that alcohol advertisements tell have the most influence on children who do not know much about alcohol at all (Media awareness network, 2009). The ones who know the dangers of alcohol, and the ones that know all the bad side effects of alcohol are generally the ones who are the safest from the messaging that alcohol advertising tells (Media awareness network, 2009). They are safe from alcohol advertisements on television, but it does not mean they are safe from peer pressure, family influences, heredity, societal attitudes, and beliefs. Still, the alcohol advertisements on televisions are teaching children and emphasizing the thought that a part of life is alcohol consumption. It gives the message that alcohol consumption is something that relieves people’s problems, stress, and allows people to have fun in their life. The message is especially strong among youth because their brains are still developing. They have a lot of stress, problems, and concerns throughout the week with school and homework. The youth feel like they need to unwind, relax, and have some rebellious fun by drinking alcohol.
It is not surprising that alcohol is involved in so many of the injuries and deaths in the United States of America, especially among the young people today. There is a strong connection between alcohol advertising on television and a youth’s decisions to drink. There is a problem in the alcohol industry. Youth are obviously attracted to alcohol commercials and advertisements because the alcohol industry has incorporated teen values into their campaigns. These values are friendship, sex, humor, class, wealth, and success. In addition, there are many more, but these are just some of the major ones. In turn, these values reinforce a youth’s impressions about alcohol. Next to that, they are attracted to alcohol advertising on television because they use cartoons and animal characters like the Budweiser frogs. The alcohol industry says it does not target underage drinkers. Today’s alcohol advertisements have been educating and showing today’s youth that a part of everyday life involves alcohol consumption. They explain to the youth that they should drink to have a fun way to relax and hang out with friends. Parents can help the issue with alcohol advertising by monitoring what their children watch. Today, they have the opportunity to block certain channels in their homes to prevent youth from watching certain shows that display alcohol. Parents need to know what their kids watch. Parents should engage and spend time with their children explaining the things their children see on the television. Alcohol ads on television are major contributors to alcohol consumption by youth. There are many more places where youth get information about alcohol. These places include billboards, magazines, sporting events, and the internet. So, dealing with the issue of alcohol ads on television is only a small step to solving the overall underage drinking problem. Most important, America needs to do something about today’s alcohol industry if it wants to see smarter and healthier youth in the future.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Inadequacy
Have you ever felt you are not good enough to do something? I know I have had that feeling many, many times. In fact, I have that inadequate feeling right now as I write. I feel somewhat depressed because I feel like I am useless. I feel like my social/talking anxiety is what is making me feel this way. My shyness is a weakness I must overcome in order to meet new people, evangelize to non-Christians, and find a job with a potential employer someday. I feel like I have a long way to go in order to overcome this mighty obstacle. Because of my shyness, constant stuttering, and poor talking ability, I lack the number one skill that employers look for in employees: communication. This skill is a huge challenge in my life right now, but I know God has a purpose for putting this obstacle right in front of me. I know God will get me through anything no matter how difficult. My communication with other people is going to slowly develop as I grow older, but probably not develop as fast as I would like it to be.
However, this inadequacy has not slowed me down one bit. Even though it is difficult for me to do, I still enjoy helping and talking to different people. I still like to do what I do best: write. I still like to play and write music for the joy of others. I still enjoy going to Church. I am still passionate about worshiping God with all my heart. I still have a thirst for knowledge, academic growth, and spiritual development. Overall, despite my communication inadequacy, I am living a good life because I know I always have Jesus Christ right by my side holding me tightly no matter how hard the rain falls and no matter how big a challenge the storms of my life become.
I am thankful for my inadequacy because it has showed me my true calling on this Earth. It has revealed the purpose God has for me. I was put on this earth to inspire people through my writing, music, and my passion for sports. I was not put on this earth to be a vocal leader, but God has a place for me as a leader by example. I thank God for my inadequacies because they have taught me that I have imperfections, and I can use these imperfections to serve Christ. My inadequacies have strengthened my faith immensely, and they have taught me to trust and rely on God for everything. Inadequacies are the challenges in my life, and these inadequacies are preparing me for the plan God has for me to serve other people.
In conclusion, we all fall short of perfection. We all have inadequacies that we may not like, but the important thing is not to worry because God has a unique purpose for each person in the world. No matter how big or small we may be, we always have God who will help us through the good times and the difficult times. You just got to have faith and trust in God that he will provide for you. All you have to do is ask. For example, if you have a fear of public speaking like I do, ask God to give you the words that you want to say in front of other people. God will help you through any circumstance. God wants to see us succeed and overcome our challenges. So, if you are struggling with a challenge today, do not give up hope. Place your hope in God, and you will never be hopeless again. Through God, we can overcome inadequacies, challenges, hopelessness, and failure. Nothing is impossible.
Any time you are feeling low, put on your headphones. Keep your head up high and dust off your shoulders. It's all right. No, it's not over. Love is here. It came to dry up all your tears. Love, love is coming through your headphones. This ain't the first time you felt like this. This ain't the last time you feel like this, but it will be fine if you can just smile.
:)
However, this inadequacy has not slowed me down one bit. Even though it is difficult for me to do, I still enjoy helping and talking to different people. I still like to do what I do best: write. I still like to play and write music for the joy of others. I still enjoy going to Church. I am still passionate about worshiping God with all my heart. I still have a thirst for knowledge, academic growth, and spiritual development. Overall, despite my communication inadequacy, I am living a good life because I know I always have Jesus Christ right by my side holding me tightly no matter how hard the rain falls and no matter how big a challenge the storms of my life become.
I am thankful for my inadequacy because it has showed me my true calling on this Earth. It has revealed the purpose God has for me. I was put on this earth to inspire people through my writing, music, and my passion for sports. I was not put on this earth to be a vocal leader, but God has a place for me as a leader by example. I thank God for my inadequacies because they have taught me that I have imperfections, and I can use these imperfections to serve Christ. My inadequacies have strengthened my faith immensely, and they have taught me to trust and rely on God for everything. Inadequacies are the challenges in my life, and these inadequacies are preparing me for the plan God has for me to serve other people.
In conclusion, we all fall short of perfection. We all have inadequacies that we may not like, but the important thing is not to worry because God has a unique purpose for each person in the world. No matter how big or small we may be, we always have God who will help us through the good times and the difficult times. You just got to have faith and trust in God that he will provide for you. All you have to do is ask. For example, if you have a fear of public speaking like I do, ask God to give you the words that you want to say in front of other people. God will help you through any circumstance. God wants to see us succeed and overcome our challenges. So, if you are struggling with a challenge today, do not give up hope. Place your hope in God, and you will never be hopeless again. Through God, we can overcome inadequacies, challenges, hopelessness, and failure. Nothing is impossible.
Any time you are feeling low, put on your headphones. Keep your head up high and dust off your shoulders. It's all right. No, it's not over. Love is here. It came to dry up all your tears. Love, love is coming through your headphones. This ain't the first time you felt like this. This ain't the last time you feel like this, but it will be fine if you can just smile.
:)
Christian (Contemporary) Music
Here is a sampling of one of Remedy Drive's newer songs: Light Makes a Way.
What do Carrie Underwood, Remedy Drive, Casting Crowns, Natalie Grant, Chris Sligh, Justin Bieber, and Sixteen Cities all have in common? All of them are Christian artists/groups. Also, they are all contemporary musicians, but they represent a wide variety of styles in the music industry like country, rock, and pop. Even with this diversity, they are all making and performing songs for the glory of God. Each one of them has a gift from God, and each one is using that gift to fulfill God's purpose, touch many lives, and be faithful examples of Christ through their music. I love contemporary, Christian music, and I do support many of the artists and the bands that enjoy what they do because they have a passion for Jesus Christ.
The one thing I like about this type of music is that the lyrics to many of the songs are clean. They have positive messages, and they can really speak to my heart when I listen to them. Through contemporary, Christian music, I can really feel the Holy Spirit moving through me. There was one experience I had that really changed my life and really brought me closer to the Lord. This experience happened a couple years back in 2009 at a youth conference in Duluth. The worship band playing at this conference was Remedy Drive. It was the very first time I heard their music, and it was a marvelous, significant moment for me. I felt the Holy Spirit move me and change my heart, but I also felt the Holy Spirit stir the hearts of the entire auditorium. This powerful example in my life just shows that God can use music to bring Christians and non-Christians together into fellowship. God uses music and musicians to spread his word and his message throughout the world. Music is a powerful art form in this world. Ever since that youth conference in 2009, Remedy Drive has been one of my favorite bands to listen to. The music of Remedy Drive reached out and touched my life with inspiring messages and powerful words.
However, I am not saying there is not good music out there besides Christian, contemporary music. Besides Christian music and artists, I do like Country music, Jazz, Classical music, and various other styles and musicians.
Through the magnificent, awesome work of Christian artists and bands, Christ can become revealed to the world. Through worship, lives and hearts can change like mine did at the youth conference in 2009. It is amazing what God can do through music. Through music and worship, God can change us, mold us, and watch us grow and develop spiritually in our faith and trust in Him. God can challenge us, lift us up from the valleys of life, and He can give us hope.
Most important, worship is about praising and thanking God for all that He has done in our lives. Music gives us one way of expressing worship and thanks to God. The Christian artists/bands that I listed at the beginning are just a few of the many hard working musicians in this world trying to make a difference. However, you do not need to be a professional musician or an amateur musician for that matter to worship, make a difference, and leave a significant impact on the world. You just need to have a heart for Jesus Christ, and most important, you just need to come to Jesus Christ just as you are.
What do Carrie Underwood, Remedy Drive, Casting Crowns, Natalie Grant, Chris Sligh, Justin Bieber, and Sixteen Cities all have in common? All of them are Christian artists/groups. Also, they are all contemporary musicians, but they represent a wide variety of styles in the music industry like country, rock, and pop. Even with this diversity, they are all making and performing songs for the glory of God. Each one of them has a gift from God, and each one is using that gift to fulfill God's purpose, touch many lives, and be faithful examples of Christ through their music. I love contemporary, Christian music, and I do support many of the artists and the bands that enjoy what they do because they have a passion for Jesus Christ.
The one thing I like about this type of music is that the lyrics to many of the songs are clean. They have positive messages, and they can really speak to my heart when I listen to them. Through contemporary, Christian music, I can really feel the Holy Spirit moving through me. There was one experience I had that really changed my life and really brought me closer to the Lord. This experience happened a couple years back in 2009 at a youth conference in Duluth. The worship band playing at this conference was Remedy Drive. It was the very first time I heard their music, and it was a marvelous, significant moment for me. I felt the Holy Spirit move me and change my heart, but I also felt the Holy Spirit stir the hearts of the entire auditorium. This powerful example in my life just shows that God can use music to bring Christians and non-Christians together into fellowship. God uses music and musicians to spread his word and his message throughout the world. Music is a powerful art form in this world. Ever since that youth conference in 2009, Remedy Drive has been one of my favorite bands to listen to. The music of Remedy Drive reached out and touched my life with inspiring messages and powerful words.
However, I am not saying there is not good music out there besides Christian, contemporary music. Besides Christian music and artists, I do like Country music, Jazz, Classical music, and various other styles and musicians.
Through the magnificent, awesome work of Christian artists and bands, Christ can become revealed to the world. Through worship, lives and hearts can change like mine did at the youth conference in 2009. It is amazing what God can do through music. Through music and worship, God can change us, mold us, and watch us grow and develop spiritually in our faith and trust in Him. God can challenge us, lift us up from the valleys of life, and He can give us hope.
Most important, worship is about praising and thanking God for all that He has done in our lives. Music gives us one way of expressing worship and thanks to God. The Christian artists/bands that I listed at the beginning are just a few of the many hard working musicians in this world trying to make a difference. However, you do not need to be a professional musician or an amateur musician for that matter to worship, make a difference, and leave a significant impact on the world. You just need to have a heart for Jesus Christ, and most important, you just need to come to Jesus Christ just as you are.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Raging Fire
How many of us have been angry with someone before or have let a temper flare up with someone you love? If you are human, you can probably answer yes to this question. It is hard to hold back a temper sometimes, especially if it is with someone close to you. We all get frustrated, have devastating days, and have had many days where we just lose our cool. It can really tear up the people around us when we display rage. Believe me, anger can destroy relationships. It can lead us farther away from the ones we love, and most important, it can lead us away from our love and relationship with God. Anger is just an emotion. However, anger is not an emotion that should be expressed outwardly with anger. It is an emotion that should be expressed with love, kindness, and compassion.
First, since anger is an emotion, I should probably distinguish between controlled and uncontrolled anger. Anger is not something that is bad to express as long as it is controlled. Uncontrolled anger is what can hurt ourselves, our relationships with friends and family, and our relationships with God. Some people might not agree with me that there is a difference between controlled and uncontrolled anger, but that is okay. There is no right or wrong answer to topics as subjective as this one. Uncontrolled anger is like a raging fire. It just grows and grows. Once it starts, it is hard to stop from spreading. One little instance of anger can spread to more instances. Personally, anger is not an easy thing to control. I know it is a challenge and a struggle that must be overcome. Anger is like a fire because it gets hotter and hotter. It can kill, destroy, and tear down relationships. There is no easy fix to uncontrolled anger, but to get rid of that anger on the inside, one must let God take control.
The best place to find advice about life is the Bible. There is one passage that speaks pretty clearly about how to handle anger in life situations. From Ephesians 4:29-32:
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
According to this passage, God wants us to get rid of all forms of anger. He wants us to cleanse ourselves and turn that anger over to Him. Instead of unwrapping a temper, we should respond to one another with kindness and compassion. We should forgive one another because Christ forgave each one of us when He laid down his life to save this world from sin. Just as Christ forgave, we should forgive and follow in His footsteps. When we follow in his footsteps, we will see our relationship with Jesus grow, and in turn, we will develop good, healthy relationships with the people around us.
In the end, God wants us to build each other up with words of encouragement and kindness. He does not want to see relationships get torn apart like a raging fire. The journey through life can and will be filled with challenges such as anger and rage, but when our hearts are on fire and set apart for God, our lives can see drastic change.
First, since anger is an emotion, I should probably distinguish between controlled and uncontrolled anger. Anger is not something that is bad to express as long as it is controlled. Uncontrolled anger is what can hurt ourselves, our relationships with friends and family, and our relationships with God. Some people might not agree with me that there is a difference between controlled and uncontrolled anger, but that is okay. There is no right or wrong answer to topics as subjective as this one. Uncontrolled anger is like a raging fire. It just grows and grows. Once it starts, it is hard to stop from spreading. One little instance of anger can spread to more instances. Personally, anger is not an easy thing to control. I know it is a challenge and a struggle that must be overcome. Anger is like a fire because it gets hotter and hotter. It can kill, destroy, and tear down relationships. There is no easy fix to uncontrolled anger, but to get rid of that anger on the inside, one must let God take control.
The best place to find advice about life is the Bible. There is one passage that speaks pretty clearly about how to handle anger in life situations. From Ephesians 4:29-32:
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
According to this passage, God wants us to get rid of all forms of anger. He wants us to cleanse ourselves and turn that anger over to Him. Instead of unwrapping a temper, we should respond to one another with kindness and compassion. We should forgive one another because Christ forgave each one of us when He laid down his life to save this world from sin. Just as Christ forgave, we should forgive and follow in His footsteps. When we follow in his footsteps, we will see our relationship with Jesus grow, and in turn, we will develop good, healthy relationships with the people around us.
In the end, God wants us to build each other up with words of encouragement and kindness. He does not want to see relationships get torn apart like a raging fire. The journey through life can and will be filled with challenges such as anger and rage, but when our hearts are on fire and set apart for God, our lives can see drastic change.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
I love the way you hold me
The journey through life can be difficult at times. There are struggles, there will be pain, and challenges are inevitable. We are all faced with challenges on a daily basis. We might feel depressed or lonely. We might have relationship problems with family, friends, or co-workers that are not resolved. We might even be persecuted for being too "weird" and feeling left out. We might have a deceased family member still in our hearts, or we might feel sad because a family member is serving overseas or is not home. Whatever the circumstances, no one has to feel alone as they go through something difficult. If you are facing a challenge, odds are someone else is going through the exact same trial. Through the challenges and difficulties of this world, it is easy to be discouraged, but it is important to hold on because God is holding on to you, and He will not let you go.
Personally, I like to be challenged. For one thing, challenge helps me grow as a person. It helps me see my unique identity in this world. Challenge is what makes me stand out, and it helps me see my unique purpose that God has for me on this Earth. Also, challenge is a test of my faith. It helps me to see God's vision from a whole new perspective. Challenge gives me a chance to develop a deeper relationship with God because if I had no challenges or difficulties, I would have no reason to rely on God for help. There would be no reason to grow in a relationship with Jesus. However, in reality, there is a reason to build a strong foundation in Jesus. With him, all things are possible. Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." God gives us everything we need on a daily basis to face our challenges at work, the difficulties at school and at home, and to face our enemies. God is always there for you. He wants to hold you and comfort you.
One thing in my life that I have a hard time dealing with is stress. Sometimes, I find it difficult to balance the different aspects of my life like school, job searching, writing, music, and personal time with God. I like to have everything in my life organized and all planned out, but sometimes not everything goes as planned. I know that the stress and busyness from work will sometimes distance my relationship with God. Whenever I start to feel distant from God, I just have to remind myself that I am living for him. My purpose on this Earth is to fulfill God's purpose. No matter how stressed or anxious I am, I know I can count on God to take care of me, turn my day around, and bring me hope for the future. No matter where I am in life or no matter how I am feeling on certain days, I am certain that I have an amazing God who has an amazing love for me. No matter how depressing a job search might be, God will provide for me now and in the future. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is from 1 Peter 5:7 which says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." This is probably one of my best life verses I can think of right now because it is what helps me get through challenging, difficult days. At the end of the day, the only thing that truly matters is God's love and my relationship with my Heavenly Father. No matter what I do or no matter what I may go through on a given day, I have a Father who will shine a light on my path and lead me through the mountains and the valleys.
Last Sunday, when I attended church, the pastor was talking about how we can be certain in Jesus Christ. That is so true. There are so many uncertainties in this world that can lead us into despair. There are risks that we do not know about. In a world filled with uncertainty, we can be certain in one thing: our relationship with Jesus Christ. We can be certain of his love and the way he holds us in these uncertain times.
Finally, I will leave you with a very cool song by Jamie Grace called, "Hold Me." I think it is a very touching, powerful song. The basic message is this: No matter what your journey through life brings you on a daily basis, God will be there to hold you.
Personally, I like to be challenged. For one thing, challenge helps me grow as a person. It helps me see my unique identity in this world. Challenge is what makes me stand out, and it helps me see my unique purpose that God has for me on this Earth. Also, challenge is a test of my faith. It helps me to see God's vision from a whole new perspective. Challenge gives me a chance to develop a deeper relationship with God because if I had no challenges or difficulties, I would have no reason to rely on God for help. There would be no reason to grow in a relationship with Jesus. However, in reality, there is a reason to build a strong foundation in Jesus. With him, all things are possible. Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." God gives us everything we need on a daily basis to face our challenges at work, the difficulties at school and at home, and to face our enemies. God is always there for you. He wants to hold you and comfort you.
One thing in my life that I have a hard time dealing with is stress. Sometimes, I find it difficult to balance the different aspects of my life like school, job searching, writing, music, and personal time with God. I like to have everything in my life organized and all planned out, but sometimes not everything goes as planned. I know that the stress and busyness from work will sometimes distance my relationship with God. Whenever I start to feel distant from God, I just have to remind myself that I am living for him. My purpose on this Earth is to fulfill God's purpose. No matter how stressed or anxious I am, I know I can count on God to take care of me, turn my day around, and bring me hope for the future. No matter where I am in life or no matter how I am feeling on certain days, I am certain that I have an amazing God who has an amazing love for me. No matter how depressing a job search might be, God will provide for me now and in the future. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is from 1 Peter 5:7 which says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." This is probably one of my best life verses I can think of right now because it is what helps me get through challenging, difficult days. At the end of the day, the only thing that truly matters is God's love and my relationship with my Heavenly Father. No matter what I do or no matter what I may go through on a given day, I have a Father who will shine a light on my path and lead me through the mountains and the valleys.
Last Sunday, when I attended church, the pastor was talking about how we can be certain in Jesus Christ. That is so true. There are so many uncertainties in this world that can lead us into despair. There are risks that we do not know about. In a world filled with uncertainty, we can be certain in one thing: our relationship with Jesus Christ. We can be certain of his love and the way he holds us in these uncertain times.
Finally, I will leave you with a very cool song by Jamie Grace called, "Hold Me." I think it is a very touching, powerful song. The basic message is this: No matter what your journey through life brings you on a daily basis, God will be there to hold you.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Why do I like to write?
Why do I enjoy being a writer? That is a very good question because I know a lot of people who do not enjoy the art of writing, but I am not here to talk about that. I am hear to talk about why I personally enjoy writing. To give you an idea why, I am writing this post now to destress myself from a long day at school right before finals. That's right. I said it. I use writing to destress myself from situations. It is a relaxing technique to calm me down. I have not written in awhile, so maybe that is why I have been so tense and stressed lately. hmmm... Anyways, I love to write.
One reason I like to write is because I like to learn new things about the world, about new places, about fun ideas, about interesting opinions, and most important, I like to learn about myself. It is true that writing helps you learn, especially about yourself. Writing allows me to pour out all of my mixed up, jumbled thoughts in my brain onto a neat, organized piece of paper (or word document). It gives me a chance to express myself in new and interesting ways. It allows me to see how I am progressing and developing as a person, and it gives me a chance to see the world in a whole new perspective.
I have a passion for writing. Writing is my way to interconnect identities in an evolving world. I know God has given me a true gift in being a writer, and I strongly believe he will use my writing for his purpose in order to further the Kingdom. I do not know what that purpose might be yet, but I know God has a plan for me and my writing now and in the future.
Finally, I am going to share something from my heart. I do enjoy going to the University of Minnesota to get an education and a diploma. I understand that the whole point of going to college is to develop skills and abilities to apply in a career someday. However, my long-term goals have little to do with getting a job I like and the education I am getting. Maybe, that is why I have had a hard time choosing a major. Do not get me wrong. I do think school is strongly important and beneficial. Of course, I will need a job and an education, but my ultimate purpose on this Earth is to serve the Lord. My God given talent is writing, and I plan to utilize that talent to its full potential.
One reason I like to write is because I like to learn new things about the world, about new places, about fun ideas, about interesting opinions, and most important, I like to learn about myself. It is true that writing helps you learn, especially about yourself. Writing allows me to pour out all of my mixed up, jumbled thoughts in my brain onto a neat, organized piece of paper (or word document). It gives me a chance to express myself in new and interesting ways. It allows me to see how I am progressing and developing as a person, and it gives me a chance to see the world in a whole new perspective.
I have a passion for writing. Writing is my way to interconnect identities in an evolving world. I know God has given me a true gift in being a writer, and I strongly believe he will use my writing for his purpose in order to further the Kingdom. I do not know what that purpose might be yet, but I know God has a plan for me and my writing now and in the future.
Finally, I am going to share something from my heart. I do enjoy going to the University of Minnesota to get an education and a diploma. I understand that the whole point of going to college is to develop skills and abilities to apply in a career someday. However, my long-term goals have little to do with getting a job I like and the education I am getting. Maybe, that is why I have had a hard time choosing a major. Do not get me wrong. I do think school is strongly important and beneficial. Of course, I will need a job and an education, but my ultimate purpose on this Earth is to serve the Lord. My God given talent is writing, and I plan to utilize that talent to its full potential.
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