Owl City has only recently come into the spotlight with its hit "Fireflies."  Owl City is known for its unique synthpop sound and naive, lighthearted lyrics.  For the sake of time and space, I will not be reviewing Owl City's two independent albums.  I will only review the album that was produced under the label Universal Republic called "Ocean Eyes." 

Quick Bio-
Owl City isn't an actual band with several members.  The "band" actually consists of one guy named Adam Young who started out making music in his basement.  Adam's unique sound was influenced by European electronic music.  Adam Young first started making and recording music as a result of his insomnia.  His songs soon became viral on MySpace.  Adam released two indie albums of his own until he was signed to the label Universal Republic.  Soon after, Adam released the album "Ocean Eyes" in June of 2009.  His single "Fireflies" became widely popular and is the most-downloaded song on iTunes. 

"Fireflies", by far Owl City's most popular song, is about Adam Young's imaginative dream of being hugged by thousands of fireflies.  The song in itself is innocent and whimsical, and it contains many childish lyrics, such as, "I'd like to make myself believe that planet earth turns slowly," and "I'd get a thousand hugs from ten thousand lightning bugs as they tried to teach me how to dance."  The music video is somewhat mysterious, containing clips of Adam Young tinkering with instruments and toys inside of a child's bedroom, presumably his own. 

"Cave In" is a song about running away.  Its lyrics are innocent, if not vague and confusing.  Adam Young's style of writing is both descriptive and imaginative.  This style is found in the chorus of "Umbrella Beach."  "Home will always be here, unseen, outta sight where I disappear and hide.  I think dreamy things as I'm waving goodbye, so I'll spread out my wings and fly."  "Saltwater Room" and "On the Wing" are dreamy-toned love songs.  "Hello Seattle" is a metaphoric song that most people seem to believe is talking about Adam's relationship with a girl instead of a city.  However, Adam has a different perspective of the song. 

"I have this thing for ocean towns. Growing up in a small farm town in the middle of nowhere, and because I am an only child, daydreaming about faraway places took up a lot of my time and energy as a kid. I also like the way Seattle sounds when you say it. It has a ring to it."   

If you're looking for a comedic song, "Dental Care" is about Adam's visits to his dentist and relating fears.  On the "iffy" side, Adam sings about potential accidents involving alcohol and a golf club.  "Golf and alcohol don't mix and that's why I don't drink and drive, because good grief, I'd knock out my teeth and have to kiss my smile goodbye." 

"Meteor Shower" is sparing on lyrics, but it appears to be a sweet love song as well.  "Tidal Wave" is a song about overcoming insecurities and fears in a relationship, while "Vanilla Twilight" is a song about missing a beloved girl that has gone away.  You can envision the cold touch of winter and imagine all that lies between the lines when you hear "The Tip of the Iceberg," a poetic, wintery song.  

The most "iffy" lyrics in the album come from "If My Heart Was A House" and "The Bird and the Worm."  In "If My Heart Was A House," Adam sings, "Chills run down my spine as our fingers entwine and your sides harmonize with mine.  Unmistakably, I can still feel your heart beat fast when you dance with me."  The song does not specifically talk about a sexual encounter, but it can easily be perceived as a song about an intimate romance.  You can find a similar meaning in "The Bird and the Worm."  "If you're my girl, swirl me around your room with feeling and as we twirl, the glow in the dark stars on your ceiling will shine for us as love sweeps over the room, 'cause we tend to make each other blush."  Again, nothing sexually explicit, but one can easily imagine what Adam may or may not be singing about.  I will leave these two songs up to you to decide whether or not you choose to add them to your playlist.   

Adam Young of Owl City professes himself to be a Christian, although he prefers to put his music into the mainstream industry rather than into the Christian media.

"I don't write Christian songs but I am a Christian musician so I suppose the classification of the band is up to the listener.  My faith is very important to me and is a very big part of who I am as an individual.  It's kind of up to you."

Overall, Owl City's songs refrain from cussing and inappropriate lyrics.  Adam Young tends to sing about nature, life and love with naive, innocent words that uplift his fans rather than bring them down.  If you are already a fan or considering becoming a fan of Owl City, then I have nothing to say against his music.

Owl City has recently toured with Relient K, a Christian rock band.  Adam Young appears to be enjoying his success- and even his insomnia- at this point in his career.  I'll end with a quote from the odd musician.

"I'd rather be happy than sad. I'd rather eat donuts than rocks. Those are my thoughts."   

Any input or critiques?  Would you like me to review a music artist or band, secular or Christian?  Leave your comments below.

Credit for the pictures used in this review goes here and here.  
 

I have been an avid fan of American Idol since the beginning, and while I haven't been hugely thrilled with this season so far, I have decided to review the top six each week until the season finale.  I'll post my guess about who will be in the final three and who deserves to go home based on each night's performance.

Lee Dewyze- "You're Still the One"
The night started out with a somewhat shaky performance.  The first few phrases of the first verse were horribly pitchy and reminiscent of Lee's first few performances towards the beginning of the season.  Lee still managed to remain almost completely expressionless throughout the song, although he cracked a smile at one point... or was that a muscle spasm?  Randy said that Lee did a "pretty good job."  Ellen thought he did "better than a pretty good job."  Kara enthusiastically commented on how Lee smiled a few times, but Simon disagreed about whether or not he was smiling and said that he was "pulling some kinda weird faces." Overall, I wasn't a huge fan of this performance.

Michael Lynche- "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing"
As this week's mentor, Shania Twain was "very moved" by Michael's song choice.  Big Mike's song was smooth and powerful.  His voice will always be easy on the ears.  The performance was slightly boring, but it grew better as the song went on, even bringing Shania to tears.  I thought that the falsetto at the end was a nice touch.  Ellen said that she was nervous at first, but she thought the song was beautiful.  Simon disagreed with everyone and said that the performance was "wet," as if Michael was in a musical acting out the words.  When probed on what "wet" was supposed to mean, Simon added that wet was better than dry, but the song was a little girly for Big Mike.  I can see where he was coming from, but seriously... it's Shania Twain week.  How could you not sound a little girly?

Casey James- "Don't"
Shania offered some great advice when she told Casey that he needed to show more of his inner confidence.  Casey claimed from the start of this week that he wanted to give something a little different, and I think he managed to do that.  The song was soft and gentle, but it was also a powerful choice.  I thought that it was a beautiful vocal, which is a big compliment coming from someone who isn't usually a big fan of Goldilocks.  Randy said that it was "one of the best Casey James performances ever!"  Simon suggested that Casey give Shania a big "kiss on the lips."  At the end of last week, I thought that it was finally Casey's time to go, but I think this last performance has saved him for one more week. 

Crystal Bowersox- "No One Needs To"
Everyone who has kept an eye on American Idol this season has seen Crystal's trademark stoic appearance.  Only recently has she opened up enough to even crack a smile.  However, Crystal chose a lighthearted song this week, and Shania strongly encouraged her to "be a bit happier... It's a cheerful song."  I thought the performance was a little corny.  Randy said, "It wasn't my favorite performance, but I love you."  He also remarked how he was glad that someone was doing a country performance, instead of focusing solely on pop.  Ellen agreed with Randy but added, "There's nothing you can't do."  Kara remarked, "It's kind of impossible for you not to be good."  Simon was truthful enough to say what everyone was thinking, as usual.  "Shocker- we don't like Crystal this week."  He said that the performance was limp, like a coffee shop band hired to sing to you when you don't really want to hear them.  Sadly, I agree.  I don't think she's in danger of going home, but Crystal may be in the bottom three as a result of her weak performance.

Aaron Kelly- "You Got A Way"
Aaron is just too cute not to like.  He reminds me somewhat of Billy Gilman after his voice changed.  Aaron's performance was a little boring and a tad pitchy, but it grew stronger towards the end of the song and finished with a powerful note.  He said later on that he was singing the song to his mother and even grew emotional.  How can you not say "AWWW!" to that?  Ellen couldn't get over the fact that he was sixteen... wait, seventeen.  Simon said, "Tonight you were like a different artist."  Aaron is not my favorite contestant, but his performance was solid.   

Siobhan Magnus- "Any Man of Mine"
I just want to get this out there ahead of time.  Siobhan is probably my favorite contestant of this season.  However, I didn't love her performance tonight... although the judges seemed to adore it.  Country is just not Siobhan's style.  She had a shaky beginning and her famous scream was a little pitchy at one point and somewhat unnecessary this week.  At least the judges seemed to LOVE her.  Randy said he loved Siobhan's punk-country look.  "Guess who's back?" Kara shouted.  Simon also "really, really" liked the song, although he mentioned that the scream at the end sounded a bit like Siobhan was giving birth.

Out of tonight's performance, the contestants who deserve to be in the bottom three would probably have to be Lee Dewyze, Siobhan Magnus, and Crystal Bowersox, and the loser should probably be Lee.  However, this is a popularity contest in many ways, so I predict (and I'm actually not as sure about this week- it's getting harder and harder) that Lee, Siobhan, and Big Mike will be in the bottom three... possibly Crystal because of her horrible performance.  I think it's Lee's time to go this week.

What did you think about last night's performance?  Do you think I'll be right or wrong?  Leave your opinions in the comment box below.    

Clean water is necessary for proper sanitation and survival.  How would you like to drink and bathe in muddy water that has been infected with parasites and diseases?  If I handed you a glass filled with muck and asked you to drink it, how would you respond?  "That's gross and humane.  I would never even touch that water," you might say, offended that anyone would offer you such a disgusting drink.

The truth is that water like this is the only thing that many people have.

Imagine having to bathe in water that cattle have defecated in and mosquitoes and vermin have infested.  Imagine if your parents (or if you're a parent, YOU) provided water brown with filth for your family to drink.  No parent should be forced dangerously unclean water to their children, but many have no choice. 

The 2006 United Nations Development Report states that 1.1 billion people in the world have inadequate access to water and 2.6 billion people lack basic sanitation.  Nearly 2 billion people die each year from water related diseases and 90% are under the age of five.  Clean water is such a critical need that it seems almost incomprehensible that people are going without it.  Two in three people who lack access to clean water live on less than two dollars a day, and one in three people who lack access to clean water lives on less than one dollar a day.  This may seem obvious, but this means that the main reason that people do not have water is because they live in extreme poverty.  Poverty is no excuse for people to be forced to live without clean water and sanitation. 

The next time you take a thirty minute shower- the next time you flush a toilet or wash your hands- remember that one in face children has no access to clean water at all.

What do you plan on doing about it?  Are you unsure?  Let me give you some suggestions.

• Donate to organizations that are focused on providing clean water to those who have none.  I'm about to give you a ton of different nonprofits to choose from.  Check out Blood:Water Mission, Global Water, charity:water, Clean Water Action, Healing Waters International, Water Aid, Water for People, Global Water Challenge, Water 1st, Thirst Relief, WSUP (Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor), water.org, Water Advocates, and Water for the Ages.  These amazing people have researched and are currently working hard to solve the water crisis around the world. 
  
• When you purchase water bottles, think about choosing Ethos Water.  This water manufacturer (created by Starbucks) donates five cents to the Ethos Water Foundation.  So far, through this program, Starbucks has been able to grant 6.2 million dollars to the Ethos Water Foundation, providing water and sanitation to approximately 420,000 people in the last five years.
  
• This is a ways away, but celebrate World Water Day on March 22, 2011.  The World Water Day was designated by the United Nations in 1992 to help raise awareness to the water crisis around the world. 
  
• Start a group with your church, school, friends, or family to create a fundraiser to donate to some of these organizations.
  
• Post on your Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, etc. about the need of water.  Post stats, links to some of these websites... help raise awareness amongst your friends and colleagues about the water crisis. 
  
• Raise awareness and education about the international water crisis in daily conversation.
  
• Write letters to elected officials encouraging them to fight to help end the water crisis.
  
• Don't waste your water.  Don't drag out your showers or baths.  Don't leave on your garden hose or sprinklers for too long.  Shut off the sink faucet when you're brushing your teeth.  Water is such a valuable resource.  Don't let yourself waste it. 
  

I take credit for the pictures used in today's article.  Leave your comments... I'd like to know what you think about this subject.

You will probably best recognize Brandon Heath for his singles "Give Me Your Eyes", and "I'm Not Who I Was."  Brandon performs Christian music that ranges in the acoustic, gospel, and contemporary genres. 

Quick Bio-
Brandon Heath grew up in Nashville, Tennessee.  His parents divorced when he was three and he was raised by his single mom.  Brandon didn't grow up in a religious household.  In fact, he says that he heard about Jesus for the first time when he attended a Christian youth camp when he was sixteen.  He was given his first guitar for Christmas when he was thirteen years old and ever since then, music became a passion in Brandon's life.  Brandon went ahead to college after high school and got a BA in English, but he ended up pursuing music as his career.  Brandon released a few indie albums until he was discovered by Reunion records.  Since then, Brandon has released two albums and has received numerous dove awards and even Grammy nominations. 

Brandon Heath's songs are not only uplifting, inspiring, and moving, but so are his own convictions to reach out to the world.  Brandon works with Young Life, Blood:Water Mission, and Restore International.  Brandon seems to firmly believe in the importance of helping out in your community and around the world.

"One of the things that bothers me about this world is that we're all in this for ourselves.  We're looking out for number one.  I don't want to be alone, I want to live life with other people.  God even says it's better to join together in service to Him."

"Give Me Your Eyes" is a compelling song that betrays Brandon Heath's passion to see the world how God sees it.  "Give me Your eyes for just one second. Give me Your eyes so I can see everything that I keep missing. Give me Your love for humanity. Give me Your arms for the brokenhearted, the ones that are far beyond my reach. Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten. Give me Your eyes so I can see..."  In the same way, "Follow Me," a song that Brandon recorded with Leeland, speaks of the same passion to help the needy.  "I'll follow You into the homes of the broken, follow You into the world, meet the needs for the poor and the needy, God..." 

"Wait and See" and "I'm Not Who I Was" are both autobiographical songs where Brandon sings about his testimony, about his past, and about what God has done to change his life.  "When I'm Alone" shares the similar feelings that so many people share.  "Sometimes I get scared that somehow I'll cease to belong anywhere, so I need You when it all starts to show when I'm alone..."  "Trust You" is a beautiful song about letting go of your fears and insecurities and trusting God with your future.  

Brandon Heath has a beautiful voice and an honest passion to serve the Lord.  He is also a fantastic songwriter.  His words can bring you closer to the Lord.  I definitely recommend that you add this Christian artist to your playlist!

If you have an artist/band (Christian or secular) that you would like me to review on my blog, then leave me a comment.  I give credit for the pictures used in today's article here.    

 

As we learned last Tuesday, poverty and hunger are both huge issues in the world right now.  An unfortunate result of poverty is the lack of a decent education in third world countries.  Education is extremely important.  What decent job can you get without at least a high school education?  You can't become a doctor, a political figure, a lawyer, a dentist, a teacher, or a scientist without a college degree.  Many people believe that you can't go far in life at all without a college degree.  It can be difficult as a student in a wealthy country to make it through twelfth grade and get your diploma.  Imagine trying to get a good education as a child in a third world country. 

Your text books are old and worn or nonexistent.  You often have to skip school for weeks at a time to help your family earn money or to care for a sick family member.  In order to attend class, you must have a proper uniform and school shoes and these things cost money that you don't have.  When you can manage to go to school, you have to get up early and walk for blocks through dangerous streets in order to make it on time, and then you have to walk all the way back home, often after dark.  Your empty stomach makes it hard to concentrate on your schoolwork.  You're often sick because the water you drink at home is unsanitary and filled with parasites.  You sit on hard wooden benches each day and write on wrinkled, brown paper.  Sometimes your hands become too swollen to write because chiggers, mosquitoes, and horseflies won't stop biting your fingers.  It's hard to achieve good scores on the important tests that allow you to graduate to the next grade level because your teacher didn't even make it to eighth grade.  In the early morning, late evening, and rainy days, class has to come to a pause because your school room doesn't have electricity and nobody can see well enough to write or read in the dark room.  You hear stories about rich Americans and Europeans who hate going to school and you wonder why they think they have it so bad.

The United States literacy rate is currently at 99% for people over the age of fifteen.  In third world countries, a vast majority of people are illiterate.  Take Burkina Faso, for example.  The literacy rate for this African country is currently at an astonishingly low 23.6%.  We could be doing so much more to prevent this.  According to the Millennium Development Goals Report, more than seventy-two million children of primary school age did not attend school in 2005.  The Millennium Development Goals Report considered these numbers to be a huge improvement, but I take it to mean that there are still seventy-two million children around the world who are not getting any education whatsoever. 

These children have the potential to become significant leaders of their country.  They could become great doctors who find cures for cancer and AIDS.  They could become teachers who help to bring up the literacy rates in their countries.  They could become powerful individuals who help make the world a better place.  Unfortunately, these children will never be given the chance to develop and use these abilities. 

If it is true that it is nearly impossible to be truly successful without an education, then this is exactly what our next generation is going to have... which means that this will become a cycle, and hunger, illiteracy, and extreme poverty will hit these third world countries just as hard as before. 

What can you do to improve these devastating statistics? 

• Sponsor a child.  Your sponsorship will go to provide an education- even through college or vocational school- for these poverty-stricken kids.  Your thirty dollars a month can help to change the world, simply by improving the life of a forgotten child with so much potential.  Try World Vision or Christian Relief Fund. 
  
• Recycle your old books and textbooks.  Many organizations can use your books to give to kids and schools in third world countries that can't afford to purchase their own.  This means that those old, trashy books that you were going to throw away can help teach someone to read.  Invisible Children has a program called Schools for Schools where you can donate your school's text books to give to poor schools in Uganda, Africa. 
  
• Write letters to your local senators and congressmen.  Write letters to the president, for that matter.  Education is so important.  Your country could be doing so much more to improve the standards of education throughout the world.  Your letters can help make a difference.  
• Pray.  Ask God to provide new opportunities for these children to get a much-needed education.  Ask Him to give you a heart for the needy and a will to fight against poverty.

Whatever you do, please remember to appreciate your education.  I'm a high school student.  I realize that working hard and getting up early for school every single day can seem monotonous, tiring, and even pointless at times, but when you start to feel frustrated with your school, remember how much kids who don't have an education long to be in your shoes... figuratively and literally.  Use your education to help make a difference in the world.  Don't take your blessings for granted.

Do you have any opinions about this subject?  Comment below.  I take the credit for the pictures used in today's article. 

When I chose Justin Bieber for my weekly secular artist review, all I knew about his music was that he is an extremely popular tween heartthrob with a high voice.  Seriously, that's all I knew about him.  I have a fourteen year old sister who happens to be a fan of Justin's music, just like millions of other Christian and non-Christian teens and preteens around the world.  Because of this, I chose to review Bieber's music so that my sister and girls like her could have a Christian viewpoint on this popular new artist. 

Quick Bio-
Sixteen year old Justin Bieber grew up in Ontario, Canada with his single mom.  He started posting videos on his YouTube channel when he was twelve.  He taught himself how to play piano, guitar, drums, and trumpet.  Soon after his widespread YouTube fame, he was discovered by Scooter Braun of So So Def, sang for Usher, and was signed to Island Records in October of 2008.  Justin's first single, "One Time," went platinum in Canada and the United States.  "Baby", another single of Justin's that features Ludacris, has charted at number five in the United States and made the top ten in six other countries.  There was an incident at Roosevelt Field Mall in Long Island, where Bieber was supposed to perform but had to cancel last minute, and three thousand crazed fans mobbed the area, leaving several with minor injuries.  There is no doubt that Bieber is an international fad right now.  He has become the youngest male solo artist to top the chart since Stevie Wonder. 

"My World," Justin's first album, contains mostly lighthearted lyrics with a few "iffy" points that I would like to highlight.  In "Favorite Girl," Justin describes his devotion to a potential girl friend.  It's a lighthearted, happy song.  My only critique is that he mentions frequently that the girl is his "prized possession," which can potentially make young girls feel that they belong to their boy friends as possessions and not as dignified human beings who are allowed to say no to sex.  "One Time" is a love song where Justin describes his undying love for a girl friend.  A little strange, considering that Justin was only fifteen when this song came out. 

In "Love Me," Justin repeats over and over, "Love me, love me, say that you love me.  Fool me, Fool me, oh how you do me.  Kiss me, kiss me, say that you miss me.  Tell me what I wanna hear..."  These lyrics are a little intense for a fifteen year old singer, but they aren't bad enough for me to spurn altogether.  In "Bigger," Justin asks a girl to give him another chance.  He claims that he's "bigger" and he's learned from his mistakes he made as a child.  He sings, "We ain't on the playground no more.  We're big enough to stand in the picture.  We're big enough to stand next to love."  These words actually made me chuckle.  Although Justin is definitely out of the playground, he's not old enough for love, and neither are most of his fans.
     
The most controversial song in Bieber's first album is "First Dance," a song where Justin sings about taking a young girl to prom and asking her for her "first dance."  The lyrics, however, are suggestive that Justin is singing about something more than a simple dance.  The lyrics almost seem like Justin is asking a girl for her virginity.  I'll let you decide for yourself.  "If you give, give the first dance to me, girl, I promise I'll be gentle.  I know we gotta do it slowly if you give, give your first dance to me. I'm gonna cherish every moment, 'cause it only happens once, once in a life time..."

While Justin Bieber sings almost exclusively about love and girls, his song "Down to Earth" is inspirational and uplifting.  It's about Justin's recovery from his parents' difficult break up, and can be a great encouragement to other young people who have gone through similar experiences.

In My World 2.0, Justin's second album, he mentions love almost constantly.  "Eenie Meenie," a song about a girl who can't make up her mind, contains somewhat questionable lyrics.  "Eenie meenie miney mo, catch a bad chick by her toe.  If she holla, let her go... 'cause Shorty is a eenie meenie miney mo lover."  When an unmarried teen boy (and Sean Kingston) sings about a "bad chick" and a "lover" in the same song, you can't help but question the intentions behind the lyrics.  Justin's huge hit "Baby" is fairly lighthearted and simple.  "Runaway Love" talks about a girl who won't stop leaving Justin for other guys.  In "Stuck in the Moment," Justin mentions the relationship between Adam and Eve, along with several other examples of legendary couples. 

In my opinion, Justin sings too much about intense, serious love instead of the casual, lighthearted crushes that young teens (his fans) should be looking for right now.  However, Justin's lyrics aren't inappropriate.  He doesn't cuss and he doesn't explicitly sing about sex.  If you plan to add (or already have) Justin's music on your play list and you are under the age of eighteen, then I would recommend you to remind yourself that you don't need to be looking for true love yet.  You don't need a serious boy friend.  Live life as a kid while you can.

Justin Bieber seems to have a kind heart and good intentions with his music, and I'm not going to say that his songs are wrong to put into your head.  Just be careful about how much of his lyrics you take seriously.  Look at the positive aspects about Justin instead, such as the way he overcame a bad situation at home and gained success. 

"I'm looking forward to influencing others in a positive way.  My message is you can do anything if you just put your mind to it. I grew up below the poverty line; I didn't have as much as other people did.  I think it made me stronger as a person.  It built my character.  Now I have a 4.0 grade point average and I want to go to college and just become a better person."
 

What do you think?  Do you listen to Justin Bieber?  Does Justin's music make you wish you had a serious relationship or do you think it's all lighthearted fun?  Do you disagree with what I have to say?  Comment below.
 
 

What did you eat today?  I can remember if I think hard enough.  Can you remember what you ate yesterday?  What about the day before that?  Can you remember what you ate last week?  Sometimes when I try to look back and recall what I ate a few hours before, the answer completely eludes me.  Have you ever done this?

There are currently millions of people around the world who also can't remember what they last had to eat, but it isn't because they didn't take their meal into enough account to record it within their short term memories.  Many people cannot remember the last thing they ate because they last ate so long ago. 

As you probably know already, food is necessary for survival.  If you go without eating for even a few days, your body will react with natural consequences.  When your body does not have enough nutrients, it begins to go into survival mode.  You start to consume fat cells stored in your body.  When your fat cells are gone, your body turns to muscle tissue and then to internal organs.  Your heart is a muscle, so many people who are malnourished die from heart failure.  Eventually, your body shuts down completely because there are no nutrients left and you die. 

You will die within three days with no water, but it can take more than three months to die from lack of food.  Starvation is a very slow, painful, and terrible process, one that no child should ever have to endure. 

Did you know that over 800 million people in third world countries are suffering from severe malnutrition?  However, starvation is not only limited to third world countries.  According to the US Department of Agriculture, 2002, thirty-three million Americans live in households that do not have an adequate food supply.  In 1998, Europe and the United States spend more than $17 billion on pet food, while only $13 billion was used to provide basic health care and nutrition for people lost in poverty.  When I see these statistics, it makes me wonder if we care more about our dogs and cats and hamsters than we care about little children who have absolutely nothing to eat. 

Obviously, hunger is an issue throughout the world.  According to the World Health Organization, out of the ten most common causes of death, starvation wins at 36%.  The second most common cause of death in the world is heart disease, at 7.2%.  There are so many starving people that are dying without knowing Jesus.  What do you plan to do about that?  If you're struggling to think of ways that you can help the hungry, keep reading for some ideas.

• In your neighborhood and surrounding community: There may be someone living close by- or even on your street- who is going hungry.  If you personally know of someone who is struggling with money, there are many things you can do to lend a hand.  You can invite them over to dinner or bring them meals and even leftovers.  Help them out in simple ways, such as offering to babysit for free (if there are kids in the family), mowing their lawn, or leaving anonymous gifts of clothes, gas cards, and blankets.  More than anything, invite your neighbor to go to church with you and frequently let them know that you're praying for them.  Everyone could use a prayer.
• In your city: If you knew how many people from your city were currently going hungry, you might think twice before throwing away your leftovers.  Consider donating canned food or money to your local food bank.  If you can't spare any of these things, then volunteer your time.  Serve meals at a homeless shelter one Saturday out of the month. 
  
• In your country: There are hungry people in every city.  Donate to organizations such as Red Cross, Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, or Angel Tree.  There are many different places where you can donate used food, clothes, and toys to children (and adults) around your country who need them.  Ask around at your church and see if you can plan a mission trip to a big city and volunteer your time to serve the needy in larger inner city communities. 
  
• In your world: There are many, many nonprofit organizations focused on providing food for the hungry.  Donate money.  Start a fundraiser to raise money that you can donate.  Sponsor a child with Christian Relief Fund or World Vision.  Go on a missions trip to a third world country and see poverty with your own eyes. 
  

There are so many ways to serve the hungry, but more than anything, you need to pray.  Pray for your needy neighbors.  Pray for the hungry in your community.  Pray for the starving people around the world.  While prayer does not substitute actions, it is still important.  God hears your prayers.

When you eat, don't take your meal for granted.  Thank God with a genuine heart for giving you plenty of food.  Try not to waste what you don't eat.  Appreciate what you are eating, even if it isn't your favorite.  There are so many people across the globe who would be extremely grateful to have your discarded food.

This may seem like a stretch, but one day, try fasting out of solidarity for the needy.  Donate the money that you would have spent on food to your local food bank or to a global relief program.  During meal time, instead of eating, pray for those who are hungry. 

More than 80% of all people survive on less than ten dollars a day.  How much have you spent today?  Even if you are struggling financially right now, remember that God has blessed you so much compared to the majority of the world.  Your something is better than their nothing.

You may be having an awful day right now.  You may be struggling with something difficult in your life, be it finances or something else.  When somebody asks you, "Hey, how are you doing today?" instead of miserably thinking, "Today was  horrible!" try to remember this:  You're doing better than you think you are. 

Have a great rest of your day.

How do you plan to help fight to end poverty?  Leave your comments below.
Credit for the pictures used in this article go here, here, and here.

The Christian artist that I will be featuring this week is B. Reith, pronounced B. RYE-th.  He is a Christian artist whose musical genre ranges from R&B to hip hop to soul to pop.  Reportedly, when Toby Mac first heard B. Reith's music, he was so amazed that he had to pull his car over to the side of the road.

Quick Bio-
B. Reith (Brian James Reith) grew up around music.  His father owned a recording studio, and helped B. Reith to pursue his music career, starting at age five when he first sang in a commercial.  Gotee Records, founded by artist Toby Mac, signed B. Reith in 2008, and he came out with his debut album "Now Is Not Forever" on September 22, 2009. 

One of the most well known songs by B. Reith is "Go On," a joking song about B. Reith's fight to get people to remember his music and the difficult pronunciation of his last name.  The chorus is catchy and a music video for the song has spread across YouTube.   "Go on, hey DJ, play that funky song that I like, but I can't recall the name.  I think it goes like la-da-da-la-da-da-da-da by some guy named B. Right, yeah, I think that was his name. Play that funky song..." 

Within B. Reith's debut album, "Now Is Not Forever", several of his songs are lighthearted rap pieces, filled with jokes and funny remarks about B. Reith's struggle as an artist, such as "The Comeback Kid" and "Old School."  "U Should Know" is a love song where B. Reith reflects briefly on staying pure before marriage.  "I'm so anxious, but true love's worth waiting for so I'm gonna stay patient.  I can't ignore this feeling inside, but I can control it, so let's take our time and slowly move forward..."  While "Wish That" is a song about B. Reith's hurt after a harsh break up, "Antidote" is an inspirational song encouraging young girls to find hope through heartbreak, self-injury, and drugs.  B. Reith even shares his testimony in the rap song, "My Story," and mentions that he would not be where he is now if it wasn't for God's grace.  "I Know" is a song about finding hope through a "desert" of hard times.  "Just for You" and "Rain Down" are both worship songs.  One of the catchiest songs on the album is "Mess," a song about messing up in your life and finally turning to God for help. 

I have greatly enjoyed this album because of its diversity and originality.  I don't know any artist like B. Reith and although he can be vaguely compared to Christian hip hop artists like Group 1 Crew or TobyMac, he is most definitely a genre of his own.  "Now Is Not Forever" satisfies nearly all of my music needs, ranging from silly to serious, slow to fast, rap to singing.  It's truly enjoyable.

You should definitely consider adding B. Reith's album to your playlist.  He is not solely a rap artist.  B. Reith has a beautiful voice that he uses in the majority of his songs, and Toby Mac seems to be almost overly-enthusiastic about the potential of this young artist's musical career. 

"It's amazing when God truly gives someone a gift.  Brian is just naturally gifted from God vocally and his lyrics, when they hit tape, they sort of just ease into your heart... Trust me, B.Reith is a man of character too.  He's a guy that truly walks what he talks."

The uniqueness of B. Reith's musical style is another attractive thing about his album.  His songs do not all sound the same.  His album changes from genre to genre, and each song is worth the listen.  And what does B. Reith have to say about his musical style? 

"God gave me an ear to pick up things.  My style is just an accumulation of what I've heard throughout my life, channeled through the unique talents that God has given me."

Do you have any critiques or opinions?  Are you a fan of B. Reith?  Has this review helped you?  Leave your comments below.
Credit for the pictures used in this article go here and here.   
 

Danny Gokey was the third place finalist on American Idol last season.  He was best known for his soulful voice and the tragedy that inspired him to audition for American Idol in the first place.  Gokey only recently (on March 2 of this year) came out with his debut album, and so I chose him for this week's secular artist review.

While Danny Gokey professes himself to be a Christian and was once the music director of a church, he still considers himself to be a mainstream artist instead of a contemporary Christian artist.  Many famous music artists today say that they are Christians, but their lifestyles and lyrics profess otherwise.  I decided to review Danny Gokey to help you decide whether or not his lyrics are appropriate to put into your head and into your heart.

Quick Bio-
Danny Gokey actually grew up singing in church and was a music director at his church in Milwaukee for quite a few years.  In July of 2008, Gokey's wife, Sophia, underwent surgery for congenital heart disease and died from resulting complications.  Sophia was a huge fan of American Idol and often asked Gokey if he would audition.  A few weeks after Sophia's death, Gokey auditioned for American Idol in honor of his deceased wife.  Gokey made it to third place and came out with his debut country album last month called "My Best Days."  He will be opening for Sugarland's Incredible Machine tour starting this month. 

While on American Idol, Gokey's musical style ranged in the soul and blues genres, his album is expressly country.  The reason for this change? 

"When I sing, I want to sing something passionately, and I want to sing something that has a lot of meaning to me. I always found that in country. I want to be known as a country singer the rest of my life." 

Passionate and meaningful are two words that can easily describe Danny's music in "My Best Days."  The album's single, "My Best Days Are Ahead of Me" talks about the struggle Gokey faced while overcoming the tragedy of his wife's death and his discovery that life is only improving with time. "Be Somebody" is a song about the meaningless fight that many people undertake to become somebody important and successful.  "Crazy Not To" is a lighthearted love song, and "Like That's A Bad Thing" is another carefree song about pushing the limits and staying motivated through adversity.  Gokey reflects on the heartbreak following Sophia's loss in "I Still Believe" and "I Will Not Say Goodbye."  "Life On Ya" touches lightly on Gokey's background in the church in the first verse, and his belief in the importance of living and learning.

A couple of Danny's songs reflect his passion to serve the needy and a deeper relationship with God.  Gokey speaks about the insignificance of a life without love in "Tiny Life," and he reflects on the importance of appreciating the little things in life, such as "the love we make, the dreams we share, the friends we make in our short time here."  He even mentions his faith in the bridge of the song.

"It's knowing God's grace, the touch of a hand, holding a baby, calling mom and dad. It's making the most of the moments we have and getting to live long enough to look back on the years, the sweet tears of joy and laughter..."
 
"It's Only" is probably the most blatantly Christian song on the album.  It refers to Matthew 25, where Jesus says, "For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat.  I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in..."

"There's a homeless woman with a shopping cart living on the street.  Lord knows she can't come in here where the pretty people meet.  We're all dressed in our Sunday best and she smiles when she sees us.  Don't worry, it's only Jesus."
 
"It's Only" sounds similar lyrically to Brandon Heath's popular single, "Give Me Your Eyes."  "Lord, won't you open my eyes?  Won't you help me see? A hungry child needs more than a piece of bread, brother needs a job to get ahead, and the homeless need a place to lay their head..." 
 
There is one "iffy" lyric within the entire album, and you can find it in "Get Away," a song about Gokey's longing to escape a hectic lifestyle and take a much-needed vacation.  In the third verse, Danny lightly refers to drinking alcohol and spending time with a "sweet thing."  This "iffy" part is so small that I'm going to trust you to decide for yourself whether or not you're willing to add it to your playlist.  Check it out:  "Yeah, gonna find me a sunset and a cold drink on the beach somewhere. Get lost in a warm breeze with a sweet thing..."

I have studied Danny Gokey's new album, and I give an absolute okay for you to add his music to your playlist. While Gokey would rather put his music out into the mainstream industry rather than into the smaller Christian media, he has managed to touch on his faith in several of his songs and his lyrics are clean.  His goal is to inspire people through his music.  He knows the importance of meaningful lyrics. 

"We want to be entertained, but we also want to be inspired, and music is a universal language."

Do you have any critiques or input to add to this post?  Comment below.
 

If you do not recognize the person in the picture right below this paragraph, then you are severely out of the musical loop, because a Taylor Swift fad has swept through the nation over the last four years.  Teens and tweens, boys and girls, and even moms all seem to love (or hate) Taylor Swift's pop country style and bouncy love songs.  But the question that I am going to answer today is whether or not Taylor Swift's music is appropriate for a growing Christian to put into her heart and mind. 

Quick Bio-
Taylor Swift grew up singing at as many festivals and fairs that would accept her.  At the age of eleven, she went to Nashville and left a demo CD at every record label in the city.  When she turned fourteen, she became the youngest songwriter to be employed by the SONY/ATV Tree Publishing House, and at fifteen, she was finally signed to Big Machine Records.  Taylor's first single, "Tim McGraw," was an immediate success, and her debut album spent eight consecutive weeks on the top of the country music charts.  Her second album, "Fearless" is the top digitally purchased country album in history.  She recently won four CMA awards, and she is currently working on her third album. 

From Taylor's first, self-titled album, "Our Song" is a cheery song about a young couple who are looking for "their song," before they realize that they can find it through the simple things in their relationship. "Mary's Song (Oh My, My, My)" is a reflective, touching story about a couple who met as children and married later on in life.  "Should've Said No" is a popular song about Tayor's experience with a boy who cheated on her with another girl, and the struggle it took for her to finally end the relationship.  "A Place In This World" and "Tied Together With A Smile" are both inspirational songs that focus on changing and growing, rather than crushing on boys.   

Taylor's first album has no inappropriate topics or themes.  The first version of "Teardrops on My Guitar" contains the "d" word once, but Taylor came out with another edition of the song without the curse word.  In the same album, "Cold As You" also contains the same word once, without an edited version as far as I know.  I give you the go ahead to listen freely to this album, although I would recommend that you take "Cold As You" off of your playlist because of the curse word.   

In Taylor's second album, most of her songs are still targeted on high school-aged girls.  Her single "Fifteen" talks about Taylor's personal experience of going into high school for the very first time.  The song encourages young girls to hold back on giving themselves away to "love" too soon. 

"In your life you'll do things greater than dating the boy on the football team.  I didn't know it at fifteen... 'Cause when you're fifteen and someone tells you they love you, you're gonna believe them, and when you're fifteen, don't forget to look before you fall... I didn't know who I was supposed to be at fifteen."

"Love Story," "Hey Stephen," and "You Belong With Me" are all casual love songs, while "White Horse" and "Breathe" are songs written after (or right before) difficult break ups.  "Forever & Always" was a song written after a hurtful ending to Taylor's brief relationship with Joe Jonas.  Taylor wrote "The Best Day" as an autobiographical thank you for her mom.  I could not find any curse words or sexual themes in this album.  

In her Christmas album, the song "Christmas Must Be Something More" reflects a potential Christian message within Taylor's lyrics.

"You'd see that today holds something special, something holy, not superficial.  So here's to the Birthday Boy who saved our lives.  It's something we all try to ignore, and put a wreath up on your door.  So here's something you should know that is for sure: Christmas must be something more."

I would place most of Taylor Swift's songs are placed in the Neutral Song category.  They are not inappropriate- they're fun- and they do easily fit into what most teenage girls are feeling at each point in their lives.  However, most of Taylor's songs aren't going to be incredibly life-changing, which isn't something necessary when you are casually listening to music. 

Taylor Swift does seem to strive to stay a positive role model for young girls.  In her music videos, while there is the occasional moment when she wears a shirt a little too low, or shorts a little too high, she generally doesn't dress in the skimpy clothes that classify most young, female artists.  And Taylor does appear to realize that youngsters are watching her, and she reflects this with her lifestyle.

"In high school my values were all based upon not letting my parents down. And now that this has happened, it's more like not letting my parents down, not letting that cute 6-year-old that I met yesterday down, not letting her mom down, not letting the 20,000 people I just played a show for down. So that's what helps me to make better decisions."
 

When it comes to whether or not you should listen to Taylor Swift, you need to decide that for yourself.  Taylor's music isn't corrupting and dirty, but if you tend to long for a romantic relationship more than anything on earth right now, then Taylor's sweet love songs may not be the best subject for you to fill your mind with, as they might increase your desire even more.  Basically, if you can handle listening to love songs and keep your thoughts where they are supposed to be, and if you can remember that even though listening to Taylor Swift isn't bad, you should also fill your mind with music that solely praises Jesus, then I am going to give you the thumbs up. 

I would give Taylor Swift a PG-11 rating, meaning that I probably wouldn't recommend a child listening to Taylor Swift before they reach middle school, because what elementary-aged child needs to be listening to love songs?  For everybody else, I give you the go ahead. 

Do you have any opinions, arguments, or information about this artist?  Comment below.
    
 
 

Yesterday I reviewed the secular rap/pop artist, Ke$ha, and found her music to be inappropriate for Christian listeners.  Today, I will be searching for a possible Ke$ha replacement... a Christian artist with a similar sound, honorable lyrics, and a godly lifestyle.  The artist I chose for this week is Britt Nicole. 

While Britt's musical style is different than that of Ke$ha's, most of her songs are considered to be within the pop genre, and "Holiday" features her rapping in a similar style, but minus the explicit cussing and sexual innuendos.  Britt Nicole is focused on bringing people, especially young Christians, closer to God through her music.  Ke$ha has been quoted as saying that she is against pretension, and she wants people to learn how to take themselves less seriously and be unique.  Britt has a similar goal, only hers is pointed towards shining for God.

"It's about stepping out and being who God has called you to be and not being afraid of that.  I believe when we look different and carry something different, people are going to see that and want it too.  They are going to see the love of Christ in us and they'll desire that. I believe people will come to know God if we as Christians do just that."

Britt's lyrics have a similar approach to how she views life as a Christian striving to be an example to a lost and lonely world.  The chorus to one of her well-known singles, "The Lost Get Found", says,

"Don't let your lights go down.  Don't let your fire burn out.  Somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe.  Why don't you rise up now?  Don't be afraid to stand out.  That's how the lost get found."

"Say It", a song from Britt's first album of the same name, stresses that we don't have much time left to change the world, so we need to use what we have while we have it.

"Life is short and quickly passing by.  Father, will you help me make the most of what is mine?  With eyes open wide, I'm taking You in, making the time mean all that it can.  I don't need a sign.  I just need to begin..."

Britt has struggled with the pain of divorce in her personal life, and she has also felt the strong calling from God for her to reach out to young people across the world.  Britt has moved beyond her comfort zone, eager and prepared to share her faith to the ends of the earth.

"I don't want to be selfish anymore.  I don't want to be safe anymore.  When God tells me to step out and talk to somebody or believe for what seems impossible, I want to do it."   

I have to say that I have a bit of bias when it comes to this artist... I have all of Britt Nicole's songs on my own iPod, and I've met her personally and she seemed to be a remarkably sweet Christian girl with a fire for God.  Her concert was filled with fun music, and yet after the concert ended, I found myself feeling only admiration for the passionate, young artist.  I definitely recommend Britt Nicole's music to Christian listeners who are looking for a role model with fun, modern sounds and a heart for Christ.  

I would like to end this post with a final quote from Britt Nicole.

"My fans want a pop record.  I'm a pop artist and they love fun music.  When they come to my concerts, they want to have fun and I love that.  That's my personality to have fun, but the heart of who I am is to worship and see people's lives changed and to reach those who are hurting.  It's what I believe God has called me to do." 

If you have any comments or opinions, then feel free to comment below.  If you would like to recommend a secular or Christian artist for next week, then you may also comment below.  
 

Today's secular artist that I will be reviewing is Ke$ha.  The reason I chose this artist to be this week's review is because of her interesting performance on American Idol last St. Patrick's Day.  Singing her new hit, "Blah Blah Blah", Kesha paraded the stage wearing a bedazzled Indian headdress, accompanied by TV-wearing dancers. 

While I can admit that Kesha's pop/rap style is unique, I am not a big fan of her musical style.  I found some of her music on YouTube and Pandora, and then began to research the young artist.

After checking out Kesha's biography, I introduced myself to some of her music through her YouTube account.  I started with the video for "Tik Tok".  Before you check this out, I would like to warn you that the shorts and skirts that Kesha wears in her videos are short, practically nonexistent.  The music video begins with a hung-over Kesha waking up in a strange bathtub in an unfamiliar house.  She proceeds to dress and brush her teeth with a bottle of Jack Daniels, before heading downstairs to frighten the living daylights out of a family with young children, before shrugging carelessly and taking off on a bike.  The rest of the video consists of Kesha partying with random guys who enjoy drunk driving, she gets arrested (and apparently escapes) from the police, and then she falls asleep in yet another strange bath tub, surrounded by empty liquor bottles and an abandoned shoe.  Nice.

Obviously, Kesha's moral values don't quite meet the standards of model Christian behavior, but what about her lyrics?  I decided to look up the lyrics from Kesha's album "Animal."    "Tik Tok"'s lyrics pretty much consist of everything described in the music video.  When I read the lyrics to "Blah Blah Blah", I stopped reading at the first verse.  Take a look for yourself:

"Comin' out your mouth with a blah, blah, blah, Zip your lips with a padlock, And meet me in the back with a jack and a jukebox.Don't really care where you live at,Just turn around, boy, let me hit that.Don't be a little ***** with your chit chat.Just show me where your ****s at."

Some of Kesha's other songs talk about getting high in a friend's basement, getting hungover and miserable, and stripping down for sex in a "hole" with several other people.  There may be an "iffy" song somewhere amongst this garbage, but I couldn't even find one song that would meet even my Neutral criteria.

In other words, Kesha's music does not in any way follow the guidelines of Philippians 4:8.  If anything, her songs not only rebel against God's Word, but they run frantically the other way.  Kesha supports drinking, casual sex, and wild partying.  And what does she have to say about her party-girl image and the controversy behind that lyric in her "Tik Tok" song about brushing her teeth with a bottle of Jack?

"Everyone's really offended by that. But come on, brushing your teeth with Jack Daniel's: what girl does that? People are like, 'Do you really advocate brushing your teeth with bourbon?' I'm like, 'Yes, actually, I do, every day, for everybody. Especially eight year olds.' I mean, what are you talking about? Of course I don't. Come on."

Kesha claims that she wishes that people could "take themselves just a little less seriously."  From what I see, Kesha should care a little more about what her lyrics are saying.  If she doesn't want her fans to take her lyrics seriously, then why did she use them in the first place?

If you are considering adding Kesha's music to your playlist, or if you already have, then I would strongly, strongly recommend that you run away screaming from this girl's music.  Kesha's music is practically the opposite of anything Christian.  I have found nothing about her songs that is wholesome and honorable.

When I first decided that I would review Kesha's music this week, I assumed that there would be a few "iffy" songs and maybe one or two "Bad" ones, but I was appalled at the true quality of her music.  Sex, drinking, and cussing runs rampant through Kesha's lyrics.  Honestly, all I have to say about this artist is: RUN FOR THE HILLS.  Seriously.  This is not an artist that I recommend. 

If you have any opinions or critiques about this post, then post a comment below or send me an email.



 

If you are just starting the "Song Choice" series now, then I strongly advise you to check out Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday's posts before you continue reading this. 

The Bad Song is somewhat self-explanatory, in my opinion.  A song that fits into The Bad Song category is going to go against the guidelines of Philippians 4:8.  Before labeling a song as a Good Song or Bad Song or Neutral Song, then you may want to use this list that is based off of Philippians 4:8:

• Does the song have a deceitful message that contradicts something in God's Word?
• Is there anything in this song that does not honor God?  Is there anything that dishonors a gender, race, or Christianity?  Is there anything that is not honorable?
• Is there anything within this song that is flat out wrong or even questionable to your Christian morals and values?  Does the song go against something that you believe in as a follower of the Lord?  
• Does the song contain impure lyrics?
• Does the song have lyrics that aren't "lovely" and "excellent"?  For instance, are there any ugly or violent or angry lyrics?  
• Would you be ashamed to praise this song to a Christian leader who you admire and respect?  Would you be ashamed to praise this song to God?  Does this song praise anything that is not true, honorable, etc.?
  

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then your song probably needs to be put into the "Bad Song" category... no matter how much you hate to admit it.  There are many Bad Songs that are catchy.  You may be thinking in your head right now, "Oh no, I can list several 'Bad' songs that I like, and I don't know if I want to give them up." 

Do you know a common excuse that people use to justify what they listen to?  You may have used this excuse many times.  "Well, I like this song, but all I really listen to the beat, not the lyrics."  Don't lie to yourself.  When you say this, you are not only lying to your own heart, but you are lying to God.  It is impossible to only listen to the music.  Impossible.  The words are pouring into your head each time you play that song, no matter what you try to focus your attention on. 

I was attending a high school chapel session one day when a speaker came and starting talking about some of the inappropriate music that we listen to (we being young Christians), and he asked us why we listen to some of the bad songs that we do.  One student used the exact same excuse: "I just listen to the beat and tune and stuff.  I don't listen to the words."  The speaker announced soon after that we were going to play a game.  He would play a short clip of a popular song from the secular media, and we were supposed to finish the verse.  Fun, right?  He played probably four or five songs, and we were able to finish all of them, singing out the words with pride at our vast music knowledge.  But towards the end of this exercise, my friends and I looked at each other with a sudden shame.  Why were we grinning, proud of our accomplishments?  The words that we were singing were not good at all.  They talked about sex, alcohol, and even suicide.  So much for only listening to the music part.   

See, the deal is, you can say that you're going to ignore the words to the song and only listen to the instrumental side, but the words are entering your head either way.  They're there.  And you know them.  Think about your favorite song with not-so-great lyrics.  You know the words to that song.  When you hear the song on the radio, you know when the bad parts come on.  You can probably even sing most of the song without the music.  Don't kid yourself.  Don't justify it to yourself.   

When you are purposely listening to a song that flat out disrespects God's Word and Philippians 4:8, then that means you are disrespecting what God has asked you to keep out of your mind.  There are some songs that are going to be up to you to decide for yourself whether or not they are "Bad," but then there are some songs- many, actually- that just are Bad, no doubt about it.  You can't change it.  They're not good.  They're not iffy.  They're not neutral.  They go against God, and so they're Bad.  

"Okay, I get it.  I've been listening to bad music.  But I really do like some of it, and I don't know how to summon the will it takes to stop listening to this kind of music.  I don't know if I can stop... I don't even really like most plain Christian music!" you might be thinking.  And that's tough.  It's hard to change the music that you like, and it's even harder to delete a song that you've listened to a million times and that you still enjoy after all this time. 

But you know what?  You can do it.  Don't say you can't, because you can.  You have God on your side, and He can always help you.  No temptation goes beyond what you can bear. 

If you have the problem of feeling like you can't stop listening to Bad Songs, then please keep reading over the next few weeks.  On Saturdays, I'll be reviewing some of these secular artists... but on Sundays, I'm going to be finding some possible replacement Christian artists who have good music and similar sounds to artist featured the Saturday before.  Contrary to what you might think, not all Christian music sounds the same... and not all Christian music contains a simple, boring, four-chord progression.   

As unified brothers and sisters in Christ, we can work together to be set apart from the world.  We can help each other to stay away from music that turns our thoughts and our hearts from God.  Believe it or not, worldly music is hindering to your relationship with Christ. 

It's always a struggle to overcome temptation, but you can do it.  If you need a prayer, some advice, or if you have an opinion or Bible verse to contradict or support today's post, then submit your comment below or send me an email.  I would love to hear from you.

And this ends this week's "Song Choice" series.  I hope this has opened your eyes to some of the things that you're putting into your head.  Researching this has sure opened my eyes to this issue, and I am absolutely glad that I have begun this topic.  There are some songs that I am going to have to delete from my playlist, and there are some songs that I am going to have to pray about.  All I know is that I'm striving to glorify God, and I am willing to make any sacrifice to reach the place where He wants me to be.  Nothing is worth disappointing my Savior and my Father, not even music.

Today's photos came from here, here, and here.    

Please check out the posts from Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to catch up, if you're starting here.

Today's topic has actually had me struggling to write what God wants me to write.  I actually wrote out a survey, passed it out to a couple of kids at school, and even posted it on a forum at SusieMag.com.  I got some great responses from other young, Christian teens that helped spur me on to go ahead and write this post, a day late. 

What I mean by "The Almost Good With A Little Bit Of Bad Mixed In Song" is pretty self explanatory.  This kind of song- to save screen space- will also be known as "The Iffy Song."  Have you ever liked a song because of its catchy tune, and then stopped to listen to the lyrics and thought, "Whoa... I didn't know that was in there!"  There have been so many instances like this in my life.  One of my favorite songs is "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz... but it has the "d-word" in the lyrics.  Another song that I enjoy is "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas, but it takes God's Name in vain at least twice.  There are so many other cool songs like these two that are so fun, so likable, so catchy... but then there's that teeny-tiny little thing that makes them iffy. 

So are they okay to listen to?

This is a tough one for me because I do like some of these "iffy" songs, and I am almost afraid that if I say that it is a sin to listen to them, then I will not only be a hypocrite... but I'll have to stop listening to these songs.  And I love these songs!

This week, I have been praying constantly to God that He will show me the truth about the music that I put into my ears, and what I have decided to do today is put up a short series of questions below and let you decide for yourself. 

1.  Does the "iffy" part in this song turn you away from God at all?  I mean, has this song put a naughty phrase or word or idea in your head more than you would think about it than usual?  Have you found yourself singing along with the lyrics, even the "iffy" ones? 

2.  On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the worst, how bad is the worst part of your song?  Is the word "hell" used inappropriately once or is there a raunchy paragraph about a sexual encounter?   Think about it... some words and some lyrics are worse than others. 

3.  How do you feel about the fact that you, as a follower of Christ, are listening to a song with an "iffy" part that does not glorify God while there are people who are being tortured and killed right now around the world because they are standing up for God as outspoken Christians?  Does this song set you apart from the world or make you blend in more than you should?

4.  Can you get a clean, radio-edit version of this song?  For example, "Teardrops on My Guitar" by Taylor Swift can be purchased without the one cuss word.  In my small opinion, the edited version of that song is automatically moved to the "Neutral Song" list. 

5.  What do your parents think about this song?  Do they disapprove of what you're listening to, or do they say, "I think this song is okay for you."  Their opinion does matter.

I think that for the most part, the "iffy" songs do need to go.  Jesus wants us to serve Him with our lives, and that may involve sacrificing the fun things that are a part of blending in with the world.  The Lord has called us to be Set Apart.  Jesus made the sacrifice of being beaten, mocked, and murdered on a cross for you and for me.  The least we could do is sacrifice a few awesome songs that don't glorify Him.  Think about it. 

I'm not going to sit here and say, "Every single "iffy" song out there is bait from the devil, and if you listen to these songs, then you're a horrible Christian!"  Ultimately, your song choice depends on your heart.  My song choice depends on my heart.

However, I do strongly encourage you to sit down and talk to God.  Get His opinion.  Let Him speak to you and help you to decide how to clean up your playlist.  After all, He does know best.

Do you have anything to add to what I've said above?  Comment your opinions, questions, and verses in the comment box below or send me an email.  I'd love to hear your input on this topic.

The pictures from today's post came from here and here.      

If you start reading now, then you will be very confused.  Please check out the posts from Monday and Tuesday to catch up. 

What I consider to be a "Neutral Song" is a song that doesn't have anything bad in it... it pretty much follows the guidelines set in place by Philippians 4:8... but it doesn't really have anything that good in it either.  Its message isn't phenomenal, but it isn't bad.  It's just a nice song.  It's okay.  Basically, you aren't corrupting your mind, but you aren't really improving your thoughts either. 

In my opinion, there is no right or wrong when it comes to listening to Neutral Songs.  It is up to you.  You probably won't get anything out of it, but that doesn't have to be an issue.  Sometimes, it's okay to just lean back with a pointless song and stop thinking about the message.  It also may have a lot of talent in the instrumental and musical area, but not so much meat in the actual lyric area.  And that's okay. 

There are going to be times when we need to be fed by song lyrics, but Good Songs aren't always necessary.  Music doesn't have to be some intense process where you feel like you're constantly having to gain something out of the content.  It doesn't always have to be that way.  Adding Neutral Songs to the mix isn't going to hurt a thing. 

Some examples of Neutral Songs are "Our Song" by Taylor Swift, "Bella Luna" by Jason Mraz, "The Little Things" by Colbie Caillat, "Love Bug" by the Jonas Brothers, and "L.O.V.E." by Nat King Cole. 

There can also be Neutral Songs in the Christian music industry.  Unless an artist is strictly worship or simply amazing, there are going to be fairly empty, neutral, fun songs in the album... and that is fine!  "Gibberish" by Relient K comes to mind, along with Veggie Tales' "Everybody's Got A Water Buffalo," and "Sore Eyes" by Brandon Heath. 

And always remember that you can get something from every song.  There is always a hidden meaning somewhere amongst the lyrics, and if you are out to search for something to impact you, then you will find it if you look hard enough.  Every one of the songs I mentioned above has a meaning... and just because they are not life-shattering, they are not completely empty.  You can find something.  Just know that you aren't required to search out a meaning with Neutral Songs.  They can always be just for fun. 

What are some Neutral Songs that you love or hate?  Do you agree that there are Neutral Songs at all, or do you think that they should be Good or Bad?  Leave your comment and opinion in the comment box below or send me an email.  I love to hear from you. 

Stay tuned tomorrow to read more about "The Almost Good With A Tiny Bit Of Bad Mixed In Song."  It should be interesting.

Today's pictures came from here and here.      

If you have not checked out yesterday's post, then please do so now, or you will have no idea what I am talking about, fair warning.

I thought I would start out with "The Good Song" because it is fairly easy to describe.  In fact, you probably know what kind of song that I am talking about. 

In the secular music industry, there are songs that carry great messages, no matter if they have a "Christian" label or not.  There are Good Songs in every genre of music.  No cussing or dishonorable topic, a good message, complete truth... they might even have lyrics, no matter how unintentionally, that will carry your thoughts to God. 

This may be an obvious example, but "Jesus Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood is a good country song with a great message.  "How to Save A Life" by the Fray is also a Good Song.  If you really want to go out on a limb, songs like "Dreams" by Van Halen have a good message, and the same with "In the Ghetto" by Elvis Presley, "Let It Be" by The Beatles, and "Man In the Mirror" by Michael Jackson. 

When you find a Good Song, even if it is by an artist that doesn't always produce the best music, then you can put that specific song on your playlist guilt-free.  However, you must be careful.  It is so easy to say, "Well, this is a Good Song..." because you like the song, and not necessarily because it is actually a Good Song.  Google the lyrics to your selected song choice... look up the meaning behind the words.  If the song is dishonorable, deceitful, untrue, or impure, then it doesn't make it into the list of Good Songs.  In fact, if it is "iffy" at all, then I wouldn't put it up there.  Instead, wait for Wednesday's post.   

Pretend that you are placing your song before God.  Is He going to turn away and close His ears, repulsed and ashamed, or is He going to enjoy the music?  If God would refuse to listen to your song, then you need to clear it off of your playlist.  As Christians, we are supposed to be "Little Christs," and listening to music that Christ disapproves of is not imitating Him.

I realize that it is difficult to only listen to pure and honorable songs... sometimes it seems like there aren't that many great Christian songs out there.  When you struggle with this, try to remember the sacrifices that Jesus made for you.  He suffered and died for you.  Don't you think that you can sacrifice the music that you listen to for Him? 

What are some Good Songs that you have found in the secular music industry?  What are your guidelines for a Good Song?  Leave a comment with your opinion.  

To begin my weekly posts about finding the right music that pleases God, I would like to talk about finding the right kind of songs, minus the artist.  What I am about to say may be somewhat controversial.  If you disagree and want to share your opinion, then leave a comment.  I don't mind at all.

Unless you have a personal conviction to stay away from secular music in general, then I believe that you can sort through secular music with an open mind, and find songs and artists within the secular media that do not turn away from the guidelines set into place by Philippians 4:8, which paraphrased says: Everything that you think about should be true, right, honorable, pure, lovely, excellent, and worthy of praise. 

In other words, there should not be a deceitful or wrong message in the lyrics of your selected song, and the message should be honorable (so random sex, drugs, and clubbing should be out of the picture).  The song should be pure- or innocent- so if it is going corrupt your thoughts, it needs to go.  Lovely and excellent: a song that goes like this (and I'm making this up as I go along), "I want to die, I want to scream, I always kill you in my dreams..." probably isn't a good choice.  And finally, the song needs to be worthy of praise.  This doesn't necessarily mean that it is has to be a praise song, but it should be a song that you can praise to others and say, "Hey, I like this," without feeling a twinge of shame at the truth behind the junk you're shoving into your ears. 

While I am talking about specific songs, without any regard to the music artist behind them, you may feel the conviction to judge the music you listen to by more than just the song itself.  You may not feel comfortable judging a song by only its lyrics without including the person or band who performs it, and that is okay too.  On Saturday, I will be including the artist in my search to find the "right" music, but during the next few days, I will be looking at each specific song's message, without any influence from its artist or the other songs in the album.

Now that we have our guidelines, I would like to divide the different types of secular songs into four different categories:
1. The Good Song
2. The Neutral Song
3. The Almost Good With A Tiny Bit of Bad Mixed In Song
4. The Bad Song

Every day for the next few days, I'm going to talk about each category of song, list a few examples, and then ask you to challenge yourself: do you believe that it is okay for you to put this into your mind and into your heart?  I'm going to try (and I emphasize on try) not to preach at you and tell you what is right and what is wrong.  It is ultimately up to you to decide what you will listen to when it comes to music.  Music is a huge passion of mine, and I want to give you the facts so that you can choose for yourself what you believe to fit the guidelines of Philippians 4:8. 

 Be sure to tune in tomorrow to read my opinion on "The Good Song."  If you have something you would like to say about today's post, then leave me a comment or send me an email here.  Your feedback encourages me!  I took today's picture from here.     
 

I am one of those people who loves music.  It doesn't matter what genre, what artist... so long as it sounds good, I will thrive in it.  This passion of mine can sometimes be my downfall.  It can be hard to not want to listen to the secular artists with amazing sounds, but terrible messages.  However, when I stop and listen to the actual words of a song, I suddenly realize the anti-Christian message that I have been pushing into my mind all along.  These song are pleasing to the ear... they make you want to jump up and dance.  But are they healthy to our spiritual walk with Jesus? 

Philippians 4:8, NLT, says, "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." 

There are times when I have to sit back and ask myself, "Is what I am listening to honorable?  Is this song pure and admirable?  Is there truth in these lyrics?"  If the answers to any of these questions are no, then it is definitely time to begin to clean out what has piled up on my Pandora channel and my iTunes. 

Every Saturday starting with next week, I am going to write a review on a popular secular artist.  I will give you my opinion on whether their songs follow the example of Philippians 4:8.  I will use examples of their song lyrics, their lifestyles, and their personal quotations.  I will also share Bible verses that contradict what this featured artist is promoting.  I hope that not every secular artist that I feature will fail my Bible litmus test.  However, I do fear that there are artists who will fail horribly... and some of these I probably listen to on a weekly basis. 

Then, on the following Sunday, I will write a review on an admirable Christian artist who has a similar style, good music, and shares lyrics that follow the guidelines of Philippians 4:8. 

What I am trying to do will help me improve my personal choice of songs, and it will hopefully give you a glimpse of the truth behind what you might be playing into your ears.  I hope to encourage you to strengthen your spiritual walk with the Lord by only putting admirable things into your head.  

To do this, however, I would like your help.  If you have an opinion- agreement or disagreement- on what I write about an artist, then tell me.  If you would like me to review an artist on this blog- secular or Christian- then ask me, and they will most likely come up in a future blog.  Feel free to comment on each blog post, or send me an email at emilytheperson@yahoo.com, and I will try to get back to you soon.

Try to prepare your hearts and minds to accept the fact that there is a chance that what you are putting into your thoughts may not be wholesome, and ask the Lord to give you the humility and the strength to realize the truth about what He wants you to hear.  Pray about the artists that you listen to, and stay tuned for next Saturday and Sunday.