Band T-shirts with "statements"

[Shell]

That was a good one, Enosh, that was the sort of thing I was trying to say, except you explained it a little better.

Brent knows what he's talking about, I agree with him a lot of the time. He's a little blunter than some of us may be, there's nothing intrinsically wrong with that. There is a place to point out where someone is wrong, but it shouldn't be done just to make them look bad or attack them personally. Maybe if more people had spoken up about what is wrong with the Christian music industry when it started becoming about the almighty dollar, it wouldn't be in the state it is now. It didn't get the way it is now overnight, the seeds of being about money were planted many years ago. Offering another alternative is the key though. You shouldn't complain if you can't offer a better way.

[calicowriter]

Excellent post Enosh!

BTW, your new avatar doesn't load on my computer.

I hear you may be coming to the Ft. Wayne show...that's Super!

[brent]

Jesus said "Behold I give you power to bind demons, tread on serpents lay hands on the sick, raise the dead ect...

Which brings me back to the whole Christian radio sucks thing. I don't listen to it anymore. While I might agree with the statement at some level it really doesn't move to change anything. It just says something derogative that is then dismissed or agreed upon by the reader. If we really feel strongly about radio or anything else we see happening, we cannot just curse the darkness, we must light a candle and turn on the light. Do like Mexican spud and Musica did. Start your own web station and play what you like. Write and produce quality music that people want to hear. Preach the gospel.

BTW I'm not trying to single you out Brent. I know that some of the things I touched on are about comments you made. Let's make some real change. Love you man.

How many of us have raised someone from the dead? That benediction was given to the Disciples/Aplostles. There are no more Apostles on the planet. We are not healing anyone as a sign. People are healed by God's grace, faith in God and medicine/health care. If I had these gifts, I would drive down the streets with a megaphone and empty the cemetaries, then go to the hospitals and empty them out. Shoot, I could create some spam that all would receive automatically and heal all who read it.

Internet radio is not reaching the masses. MP3s and CDs have taken the market share away from radio. One still has to have internet access to get an internet station. So, until wireless access is free, fast and glitch free, it will never have the same effect. I am glad that people express themselves with innovation, etc. More power to them.

There are too many choices in music and internet sites now. Specifically, in internet radio, in podcasts, etc. Too many choices means that fewer people can have a mega hit, or effect masses like that of 10 years ago. Fewer people will be able to cover expenses and/or make a living at it, if that is their intention.

Everyone has an opinion, and I certainly voice mine. I may be wrong. I am often. But I learn (most of the time). So, no harm, no fowl.

[Enosh]

I agree that it is difficult to make a big change in our invironment nowadays. I don't believe it is entirely impossible. I am a glass half full kind of guy.

Call me crazy but I also believe those words Jesus spoke were as much for us today as they were for the Disciples back then. I consider myself a disciple of Christs'. I would also say that I believe there are still Apostles going out and beginning churches and touching lives all over the world. I do believe the reason we don't see more people (Actually) moving in those gifts... "Not the guy who thinks everybody's on e leg is longer than the other" kind of "healers"... is because there are few that move in a deep relationship and commitment to God to have those gifts working through them. People are still healed by the laying on of hands and there is too much reality in the midst of every "Preacher scandal" to dismiss healing.

I also know that Jesus had the power to heal, raise the dead ect. and he didn't go about emptying cemetaries and never taught the disciples to flaunt the power of the Holy Spirit in their ministries. Faith is what honors someone being healed. Even Jesus told the woman with the issue of blood that her faith had made her whole. Jesus said, "These signs shall follow them that beileve..." I believe, and God is no respector of persons. If I have faith to say to this mountain be removed it has to go.

The problem most including myself have is that we live in a physical world. Therefore we try to box God and what he can do in our carnal thinking. Not because we don't merely believe but by default because we think in the flesh and not of the spirit. We must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. You literally have to go beyond what you consider possible and see the glorious power of God that is alive in our world today. There are people in third world nations that are having eyeballs regrow in their sockets! The deaf hear, the lame walk, and there have been cases of the dead being raised. Why? Maybe because we here in the western society have gotten so focused on programs and junk to have untampered faith.

I have really learned this over the last few months with my brain tumor. If we don't have money we try to get a job. We may pray about it, but we try to work it out ourselves. (God helps those who help themselves.) That's not biblical. God helps those who can't help themselves and cast their cares upon Christ.

My tumor is inoperable. therfore if it changes at any point in time there is no sugery that can be done. This has truly put me in a position I have never been in before in my life. I have always trusted God for everything in my life, but I realized this is the first time in my life that I have truly (TRUSTED HIM) fully. There is nothing I can do about the situation so it's jst in God's hands.

We are sceptical of what we don't understand or can't comprehend. Does that mean we should believe or follow after tele-evanglelists who claim to be able to heal. No, absolutley not!!! Is it possible that God has annointed men and women of God that are dedicated to him to bring the good news and minister healing to His people. Yep. The difference is in the words Jesus used.

"These signs shall follow them that believe"

not

"Those that believe shall follow these signs." No megaphones... haha

Many today follow the people who are anointed to do God's work. It was no diferent in Jesus' day. The thing is that we shouldn't follow the signs, if we are doing the work of Christ and fulfilling the Great Commision; the signs will follow us. In the end, we could never empty out the hospitals and cemetaries for it is by faith we are healed. Even if someone is used of God to dispence that power, you still have to believe to recieve it.

As to radio and the state of christian music today. I agree with Shell's comments. It's like many different media outlets. Christians stand back and let the world control the situation. I seldom run into anyone who is pleased with music today. Yet it continues on a downward spiral. I will say that not everything is bad and there are good Christian bands out there who are taking the "Gospel" to the masses. It's harder to pinpoint them in the sea of junk but they are there.

My question is this. We know that the Christian labels are now owned by secular companies. Where were the Christians protesting or standing up to the companies being sold off in the first place? there are so many choices today, all the more reason to be the light that shines against the darkness. Broad is the way to destruction, narrow the way to life. Smaller is better in my experience and opinion. Things tend to out of control the bigger something gets. Churches, bands, ministries, heads...

[Shell]

Part of the problem could be that money does talk. When you have a company with enough bucks, they usually get to call the shots. Part of it could be people would rather let someone else deal with it than deal with it themselves.

Part of it very probably (and I'm not thinking of anyone in particular, so don't take it personally, I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes) is that the Christian community tends to be shocked at the idea their Christian artist or evangelist sweethearts have to deal with the same issues any of the rest of us do and that they should be above any wrongdoing. These folks have to decide to go God's way or their way like the rest of us, and so long as money is an issue and the public tends to think they can do no wrong, there's bound to be corruption. That's why I jump in sometimes and tell everyone to be careful about putting these people on pedestals, or something to that effect. I have to be careful about that sort of thing the same as anyone. The Lord sends me reminders now and then these folks are people like anyone else. Until there's a majority decision not to sit back and tolerate corruption, it probably won't change any time soon.

[LexingtonPethead]

I don't know very much about the politics that go on in the Christian music arena, nor do I when it comes to Christian radio. But I do know is there is an abundance of GREAT Christian music IF you know where to find it.

Does Christian radio stink in general? Absolutely not. Especially if the stated opinion refers to the bands and talent of today's world. If you don't have a decent Christian radio station in your area... I have felt your pain in the past and know your frustation.

But this kind of blanket statement made to encompass all of Christian radio - that it stinks - is very inaccurate and shows a lack of exposure to some truly great Christian radio stations and networks.