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.