CD'S

Alright, I've discovered a way to motivate myself to never again copy music off borrowed CD's. Sure the fact that it is wrong and illegal is good motivation but a little more always helps.

I hear that the music industry is getting harder all the time. Why is this? I think it's not because the demand for music is getting less and less but because the demand for quality music is get higher and higher. We want to hear uniquely distinct sounds and perfectly equalized bass and treble and all that good stuff plus we want to hear a wide veriaty of instruments. But while our demand for music is infinite the money in our pockets is finite and sadly we have to put our music crave on hold... unless... yes, why not?! Lets just borrow that music that we want and rip it or copy it! Whala! Free music! Pretty nice, huh? So nice that we begin to get most of our music this way instead of supporting the music groups. This, I think, is a big reason the music industry is getting hard--people aren't buying the CD's because they don't need to.

Here's my proclamation: we can't expect the unbeliever to have much of a reason to reject free music but that's the beautiy of my vision. Let's say that Christians all of a sudden started to support Christian music all the way and the rest of the world doesn't change at all. Little by little Christian music will get better and better quality while worldly music begins fall behind. Wouldn't that be cool? We've got more to sing about anyway! We should be at the very top produceing music that no one else can even come close too!

Now, let us call on all Christians to come together and quit getting their music the illegal way. Support your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ as they produce awesome worship and unbeatable melodys, beats, and lyrics! May we smite the meaningless worldly music! May we make our God proud!

Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered and that my life is fleeting away.
~Psalm 39:4

Is it okay to copy CD's?

Its so easy. Just pop the disc in. Click the big red button. Wait as the machine hums and buzzes at you. And then it pops right out ready to be used -- an almost exact copy of the original. Hallelujah!
For years we have inflicted unnecessary expenses. As the world watched in horror, dollar after dollar disappeared in an attempt to cure the crave for music. But not today, ladies and gentlemen. Now the power held by those greedy producers of music has been penetrated! No longer do we have to by the music at full price. Just find someone who has the CD that you want and borrow it for two minutes and ta-da! You have your own copy for free!

About the third time I used this method I began to feel guilty. So I looked for excuses:

1. Everybody’s doing it.
2. We’re supporting the blank CD company.
3. Why else would they put CD burners on computers?
4. They charge way too much for new CD’s and I can’t wait for a sale!

But these excuses didn’t help much. I still felt guilty because:

1. Everybody sins.
2. We’re stealing (be it ever so little) from the producers.
3. There are many other uses for the CD burner.
4. Well… you have to admit that excuse #4 is a good one.

For the past few months, this issue has bothered me. Its such a conveniently simple thing to do. The authorities will never have the time to enforce laws concerning this issue. Yet, as Christians I think we should seriously ask ourselves, “Does God want me copying CD’s?” Share with me your thoughts…

A season of suffering is a small price to pay for a clear view of God.
~Max Lucado

SUNDAY

Ah, Sunday! What a great way to end a hectic week full of exams and projects! What a great way to spark another busy week for the glory of Christ! Sunday is the day I get to see all of my favorite people all in one place. Then we sing the greatest songs ever written. Then we study the greatest book ever written. Then we leave, determined to live the greatest life ever lived. Not to mention the traditional greatest meal of the week usually takes place on Sunday. For these resons, Sunday has been my favorite day of the week for many, many years. Last Sunday, however, turned out to be quite unique.

Its funny how seemingly small mistakes can lead to seemingly big consequences. The day before yesterday, Saturday, I went to play wallyball with a bunch of other fellow PBFers late that night. We had an absolute ball of a time and didn't leave until just as the co-rec was closing down at midnight. It wasn't until we were pulling into my neighborehood when I realized I had left my wallet behind. Allen and I called the co-rec and left a message but it didn't make me feel any better and this is why:

Earlier that night I had given my grandfather a hundred dollar bill that I had gotten for Christmas and he gave me sixty dollars back because I had borrowed about forty dollars from him. Allen was headed out the door and so I stuck my sixty dollars in my wallet. I had never carried that much money with me and that night was the night I forgot my wallet in a small compartment in the wallyball room.

I slept fairly restlessly that night and went to church pretty dog tired and still nervous about my wallet. Finally, after church and after lunch, I went to the co-rec and got my wallet back. On my way there, I gripped the wheal with my sweaty palms and told God that it was up to Him... but I really wanted that money back. When I got there, the girl behind the welcome desk handed me my wallet. My license, my debit card, and a couple gift cards were still there. All my money was gone.

I stood there for a few moments, staring at my empty wallet, shocked. The girl at the welcome center asked, "Is everything there?" I shook my head and stormed out of the building. On my way to the car I felt a hot rush of blood flow through my body.

Some of the thoughts going through my head were, "How could someone do this to me? Did they not look at my picture and see how cute I am? God, you are so cruel! I know I told you to do what ever you wanted with that money but surely I could have used it for better purposes! That theif is probably going to use it to get drunk next weekend!"

I'm so thankful that this happened to me on a Sunday. Becuase last night we had Moldova night and I realized (once again) that life is not about me. Moldova is one of the poorest countries in the world where men and women get by with extremely low wages. Who cares about my sixty dollars? There are much bigger things in this world that we should be upset about and can do something about it. We can't afford to get attached to our own abundant supply of money because people like Moldova can't afford us to keep it all to ourselves.

Already I'm looking at yesterday and shaking my head for my stupidity and yet thanking God for His inteligence. I have so much to learn... and He has so much to teach me.

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
~Psalms 103:12

Locked Closets

This song was written for those of us who need to give the key of our locked closets to God. Life is horrible with seceret sin continually bugging us (unfortunately, I learned this the hard way). I also know that it takes a ton of gut to open up to God and say, "I've sinned against You and I want You to do all that it takes to get me back on the right track."

In the dark closet of my mind
Were I would never let anyone go
Some evil things you would find
Giving birth to a monster that would grow

And so I tried to lock it up
Although it hates staying couped up inside
I knew my closet would soon erupt
Spredding that darkness thoughout my mind

This cannot go on
Lord, I hand you the key
That is were it belongs
Now I come so humbly

I thought I'd keep it conceiled
No one around and no one aware
Consequences just didn't seem real
Stuffing more inside wouldn't hurt a hair

But with the guilt daily stabbing my soul
I watched my filth affect those around me
Realizing that my heart had gone cold
I cried a loud, "Oh please forgive me!"

This cannot go on
Lord, I hand you the key
That is where it belongs
Now I come so humbly

This cannot go on
Lord, I hand you the key
Now I sing a new song
Because now I'm finally free

Free of the guilt
Free of the filth
God has stopped this monster of mine
Free of the pain
Free of the shame
God has made my face to shine

Na na na na-na, la la
Na na na na-na, la la