Nothing beats the Classics

You know, a lot of music nowadays is filled with "hype"... What I mean is fast paced, drum beats, synthesizers, horns blaring, voice effects calling out who-knows-what... and sometimes you'll find it in gospel music, more than likely on the radio. In fact gospel music has become so "hyped-up" that there's different flavours of the music...

Reggae Gospel, which is gospel lyrics with a Reggae Vibe
Dancehall Gospel, which is gospel lyrics with a Dancehall Vibe

There's also numerous amounts of other types, and if you look far enough, you might even find the one called "Christian Death Metal" but Jamaica isn't a hard rock country...

There are times that I think that the music in this country is surely destroying us, if we look at the people, especially the children to the young adults of today, the way they dress and walk, their lewd sense of style and even the foolishness that they listen to on their mobile devices and as of late, they've been turning it up on everyone else, rather than using earphones, they bring speakers and guess what, I've yet to see someone open a mouth against it. I've spoken to a bunch of young high schoolers once, and I had to be talking to them about it multiple times. Manners seems far gone. Every member has a part to play, especially, those who are in the Public Transportation Business, simply put, don't play any sin evoking music on the taxis and buses. It does affect the people and the country in bad ways.

We've thrown away hanging for criminals who deserve it, and corporal punishment for unruly children is illegal, bus preaching was once tried to be done away with, and a number of other things... Money doesn't matter in this sense.

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Micah 6:8

Its like everybody is complaining and hardly anyone doing anything about it. If we look in the law books a lot of things not being done, example, police can actually arrest these lewd dressers enuh! Bet you didn't know? What about public disorderly conduct? Oh yes! And some of those things that annoyed the heck out of you that people do... Ever heard the cry, "We want justice!!" All too familiar, according the law, anyone found playing music with indecent language to the disturbance of any can be prosecuted by Law!

Back to the matter at hand... Music... Despite all the flavours they have for gospel, nothing beats the classics and by classics, I mean the traditional gospel, you know, the kind that allows you to just reflect on the goodness of God and the sacrifice Christ had for us. You don't hear it so much on the radio except on a single day of the week, depending on the channel you listen to. So the next time you are annoyed by music played in a bus or taxi, or even at the action of someone, who you are able to talk to, don't be afraid to leave your comfort zone and ask them kindly to stop. Better to live without regrets on your part. Don't take my word for it about the music, do your research, okay?

That Kind of Message

You know I haven't written in a while but I must say that God is good. Regardless as to whether we may come to that realization or not. We have heard it said that it truly isn't anything good that we have done, but it is because of the goodness of the Lord. This my friends is true. 

You know a question I have been trying to wrap my head around since earlier today. When we ask ourselves the question, "Am I a good person?" Most of the time we would say, "Yes, I'm an okay person... yeah, I'm good!" Now, if we match ourselves up to others, then of course we would think we are good. I mean, I don't go around stealing from people (that's another discussion) or killing, or screaming my head off all the time when I get upset at something.

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 2 Corinthians 10:12

Scripture tells the Christian that look, don't compare yourself to other people, what it does say is this: 

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?  2 Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourself!
Hold on, examine myself? You mean like a doctor? What is that supposed to mean?

It simply means my dear Christian, that you must compare yourself to someone else, but that person is Jesus Christ. Sometimes we might find ourselves running back to bondage, like the Israelites in the desert. I'm seeing Christian men running back to their earrings without explanation, they just don't know why... Listen no man! Why are you running backwards? You might trip over something! Stop looking like the world!

There is a difference! Let us ask ourselves this question.

"Am I holy?"

We'll soon realize that although God calls his people to be holy, there may hardly be a time when we can say that we are supporting holiness!

WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT and no scripture never tell me that we get it at baptism yet, someone find me one.

If everyone got filled the day they were baptised, then where on earth are the miracles, why are so much running in and out of church and running in any which way they feel like dressing, not in the fear, simplicity and modesty that we are supposed to be dressed in, but rather, we dress as  though we are coming to a dance party, with the nicest bling and tightest skirt and diamond studs in the ears and cane/corn rows for the men. Now I can understand if you are just coming to church, but Christians, what is going on? Why are so many messages so focused on getting out of poverty and that God wants to bless and give us house and car and land and riches beyond your wildest dream. (none of which I dare say God is against the prospering of his people who trust in him) but should not the focus be trusting God and relying on Him, even in the deepest darkest of times in our lives? To trust Him and wait till our change comes, like Job.

As for me, I'd prefer a sobering message than an exciting one, because I'd rather to be convicted in spirit than excited in an emotional slurry.

Think about it... The messages that we hear in churches today, can we really imagine, Paul or Peter or Jesus preaching such a message. "Name it and claim it, or jump up for your blessing, sow X mount to get this blessing..." Just imagine.

Revival will only come when we take ourselves out of the way and let God reign supreme and not just say and sing it in the most excellent way.

God calls for quality, not quantity.

A Pair of Shoes

I realize that in blogging, one is supposed to talk about what they go through or about a certain matter, so here goes...

Today I decided to wear a new pair of boots I inherited from my late granduncle...

Now yesterday my brother and I needed to choose between a few pairs of shoes, they'd been at my place for about a week and it was now decision day, or D-day, (just saying, I was already eying a pair of boots in the set... getting ready to pick) I already knew my brother was gonna want that pair of boots too... we think alike, what can I say, they looked nice.

 The long and short of it, I ended up with those pairs of boots.

Today, I decided to "prove" those boots. All I can say in the end is, "Thank the Good Lord for how things played out today, the timing was impeccable."


I wanted to leave the house at 2pm (to get the bus) but decided to leave at 1:45pm.

1:45pm
I decided to prove the boots today, and at first they were a little different to walk in but... who am I kidding... it was different...

1:50pm
I reach the bus stop. I expect the bus to be there at 2 o'clock, like they usually

1:59pm
While waiting for the bus at the bus stop I decided to walk to look for the bus, and lo and behold, my left sole starts to fall off...

2:02pm
I'm passing the makeshift shoe repair stall and the guys call out, "Si di shoe shop 'ere". As soon as I pass them, the left foot sole falls off completely and the right footed sole starts falling off...

Longer story short, I to rip of the other sole, go barefooted and walk home and change my shoes...

Moral of the story

"Not everything that glitters is gold!"

Just to take this verse out of context.

"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain:" -Proverbs 31:30a

Now things could have been much worse as it is for character, without humility, a person would curse and complain and I've seen it happen a couple times at the bus stop in Half Way Tree, we dress in Sunday's best and because the buses don't come on time, argument ensues and complaints... Be a Christian!! Be patient and quiet and meek.

Apologies and a Lesson

Now, I don't know if anyone really looks at this little blog... I'm not even much of a blogger, but I'm see this method as something to help myself and others to keep focus on God and godliness through Jesus Christ. See when a person writes something down, it has more meaning than memorizing it and by writing this down, I know that as I had done aforetime except in a book, it help me to stay focused so I apologize to myself and you.



If you noticed, I kinda used an Old English Word found in the King James Version of the Bible, click on the link to see the meaning, it helps to look up the words because several studies were done to show that the KJV preserves the original meaning in its proper context.

Take for example, the words Ye and Thee, most modern versions simply write you for most if not all instances...

I'm gonna take an excerpt from this book that I got from a brother in Christ.

The King James Companion

Why do we need "Thee" and "Thou"?

In almost every language but modern English, people know whether the speaker is addressing one person or many. In Classical English, if the speaker is addressing one person, he uses "thee" or "thou." I he is talking to many people, he says "you" or "your." The King James preserves this. Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Marvel not that I said unto thee (Nicodemus), ye (all of you people) must be born again" (John 3:7). Jesus was telling all people of all time that they must be born again! A very important doctrine that is lost without the "thee" and "thou".

How to be a Christian in Jamaica

Now this post may, at first seem like something that should teach us how to be true Christians and how to walk righteously and godly in this perverse generation. I will eventually expound on that. trust me... But this is just to show just how much of a moral decline this country has. Now maybe it just my experience and I'm not saying its that all of Jamaica is far gone, but admittedly, it is so noticeable.

1. The law isn't enforces as much as it should be.
2. The nation's "young people" have something I would term as "Fabric Deficiency Syndrome" which notably is a criminal offense, (which is not enforced...) see the comic below
3. You will definitely hear indecent cursing almost on every street corner. (Section 9c of the Town and Community Act)
4. One minute your neighbour could be playing the sweet gospel and the next minute the most indecent piece of crap to the ears and the soul. (Good Grief)

Take for example a piece from the Observer:

If whilst using a public thoroughfare you rip your pants and your rear end is exposed, or your garment is designed or has been adjusted to show that area you can be charged for indecent exposure. A fine of $1500 or 30 days in jail... Section 9 of The Act

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Know-the-law_10139488#ixzz2Lmg2VmQK

Moral decay has allowed us to be partial to the law... I've once heard that the officers don't arrest persons, especially women (for the male officers that is) because they like to see the lewd dressing of women. I don't know how true it is and I don't like to go by speculation...

So here is the step by step of... 

I don't know if you've ever experienced it before, but I have several times, on the buses that I've been on, it sometimes happens when I decide to open mouth to the person next to me. I say the very words that I had learned from my growing up saying to any stranger that I would pass, two simple words.

"Good morning"

That's what I mean. You can now become a Christian just by saying good morning to a stranger, or be recognised as one. Sometimes even saying the regular pleasantries will catch people off guard.

It's last days people! We know it... By the attitudes of those around us and even in ourselves we can see.

Lets look at 2 Timothy 3:

1. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
   
   
2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

I suppose each of us can look around us and in ourselves and see this list and even come up with some examples of where we see this happening... The 2nd is especially true around us and it saddens me.

I think I'm gonna look into the law and see where I haven't been a law abiding citizen, merely because of ignorance. I gave up a lot of stuff already, thanks to God, truly it was an overnight thing so I can't say it was me.

Lets pray for the nation and do something about it. God bless!

Hey!

Okay, I'm gonna keep this blog as anonymous as possible and as real as I can to me, I've tried my best to hide all personal information, anyway. I'm hoping this blog will kinda give a view of what its like to be a Christian in Jamaica, the country I was born and raised in. I will make comments on my comments, it may be humourous in terms of content, but salvation is no joking matter.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Jamaica boasts the most churches per square mile in the entire world. *To be honest, what's the point of boasting that if that's just a building count, I say the church is the people of God who are STRIVING to live HOLY for God through Christ in unbiased Biblical Truth*

Now in Jamaica we have... "Fried chicken back, roast chicken back, stew...", with so many denominations, its so hard to pick which one suits me! *Oh boy, let me get my checklist ready...*

Checklist

1. Loose and vibrant
2. I get to wear anything I want
3. Don't want to mess up my hairdo
4. Rigid and Boring
5. There has to be a drumset
6. Pastor preaches with an accent
7. I wanna blend in with the crowd
8. Look and dress like the world  and call miself Christian, heh heyah (lol).
9.  Messages shouldn't make me feel too guilty
10.  ...

Just stop for a moment and listen to yourself!!

The last time I checked... According to Scripture...

1 John 2:15-17 (KJV)

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 pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Just to highlight a little, you see, by choosing what you want, you allow yourself to become void of what God requires of you and rather than say, "Thy will be done." We actually are saying, "My will be done."

The first part is a warning, in other words, if we find ourselves loving the worldliness and how it looks, behaves, and reacts. Its time to get a "wash out". Because we can see that our focus has shifted from Christ, to the world. Don't fool yourself in thinking that the devil, Satan can't trick you because you're smarter than that... Look again, you're in the trap already, it is God's grace that keeps us, not we ourselves and Satan has been doing this for a few thousand years.

The second speaks about what you will find in the world, and in essence, truly reveals why we are motivated to actually go back the way of compromise, lust of the eyes, the flesh and pride, in other words, because of what we see everyone else doing, because of some sexual feelings or because we not humble, but want to be exalted some of the time... Please, brethren, don't fall for it. We need Christ to transform us, ever step of the way.

Last part, the world will pass away, all the glitz and the glamour and all that was not of God. DECIMATED!! BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF GOD ABIDETH FOREVER!! Amen.

One verse comes to mind.

Matthew 7:21 (KJV)
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

God bless you Jamaica, turn to the Lord Christ Jesus... You too rest of the world!!