MMM - Your Favorite Music, Movies, and Videos

Alright so I know its not Monday but yesterday was a holiday and I decided to take the day off from pretty much everything. I was also quite tired from a retreat I was at this past weekend (I learned to ski but that's a different story.)

So today's MMM post is a little different then most. In fact this may be the only post like this in this series but I have no actual video or song or book picked out. In fact, there isn't even a particular form of media I have in mind. See recently there have been several videos about what a true Christian is, numerous discussions about what is right, and countless thoughts about media choices and it has gotten me thinking about the Christian walk. Do we really walk as Jesus would with our media choices or do we watch what we feel like? I've heard the excuses (used them myself even):

"I need to be able to understand what a non christian is talking about" 

"As long as it doesn't influence my behavior then its ok" 

"I mix in Christian media so no worries" 

"Its just a song...I like the music and don't really listen to the lyrics"

 "I close my eyes during the bad parts..."

"Christian media choices just aren't as good (or are really cheesy)"

Do any of us really believe that it makes it right? We are called to be different than this world but when it comes to media choices how different are you? Have you ever spoken out against a particular movie or song  because of the content? Did you stand your ground? I've been there and know I haven't before... After you see the movie, hear the music, or read the story do you feel ok or is there that twinge of guilt? Do you do something about it or just sweep it aside with and excuse? 

Now you're probably thinking..."Ok Jeremy so should we only listen to Christian music and watch movies about Jesus?" That isn't what I want or think. I just think that we should be more careful about what media we take in. So where is the line? I really don't know. I wish I could give a firm answer but there isn't one and honestly I think its somewhat different for every person. Here are some ideas to use as guidelines for your choices.

1. Determine if there is anything out right sinful about your media choices - Most of us do fairly well with this one but none the less it is important to think about. 

2. Figure out what message or messages the media is trying to get across - Media often has hidden messages in it. For example a song such as Katy Perry's Last Friday Night would seem to be all about partying but one line lets you know it has a message of not caring about consequences. She says "pictures of last night ended up online oh well" Watch for those hidden messages.

3. Am I sure that I won't be influenced or am being influenced by my media choices - Often we think that we can't be swayed and that we stand our ground quite well but usually it isn't near that simple. Over the course of time we can easily be swayed and not even realize it. So check yourself occasionally.

4. Set boundaries the fit with what you know about yourself and what the Bible says - Each of us has certain temptations. So are drawn to drugs, others to giving into peer pressure, others to sex...the list could go on. Set boundaries that keep you away from the things that cause you problems and STICK TO THEM. Don't give in to the need to find excuses.

5. Don't use excuses to make things right - Eliminate excuses from your thoughts when it comes to media and you should have no problem determining if the media is ok or you just want it to be ok. We find so much hard to determine but often its cause we are trying to convince ourselves of its rightness or that it will be ok.

God Bless and may your week be filled with Godly media choices

More Than A Religion

Alright so you may have already seen this as it has been quite popular on facebook but there was no way I would risk the chance that you hadn't. This guy wrote the poem in the video. Its an amazing work of art. Watch the video before you continue reading.

He spoke more truth than many of us would like to admit. Often we lock ourselves into a specific way of living and call it a Christian lifestyle but really all it is only a religion that holds on to us with rules and stipulations. Things have to be done a certain way (he uses the example voting republic). Its because the family has always been (blank). I have always done (blank) with (blank) because of (blank) and it makes me a Christian. Sorry folks there is only one thing that makes you a Christian and that is following the example of Christ. That's where the name came from. Acts tells us that the followers of Jesus were first called Christians in Antioch. Catch that they were called the followers of Jesus.

No matter what we call ourselves my prayer is that you'll stop and think about your decisions. Are you doing this because you feel you need to or because its what Jesus would do?

God Bless and may you find something more than a religion

MMM - You Know Better Than I from Dreamworks' Joseph: King of Dreams

This time of year we spend a lot of time looking at the year past; more so during the upcoming New Year's celebrations, but even at Christmas we look back. I mean we all have received the family newsletters in our credit cards telling us all the things we wanted to know (and some that we didn't) about the people in our lives. Hopefully when you look back good things come to mind. I hope that 2011 was a year filled with wonderful things, but for some I know it wasn't. So many things have happened over the past year to friends and family that I couldn't even name half probably. For some the good still out weighs the bad but there are those who could not say that. While today's MMM is for everyone, those who feel like 2011 was one of the worst years (or perhaps the worst year) ever, please take the time to think deeply about this blog.

Last night I watched a movie from the year 2000 (man it sounds really long ago when I say it that way). Joseph King of Dreams was a Dreamworks animated film that followed the blockbuster hit Prince of Egypt. The movie is a musical portrayal of the story of Joseph from the book of Genesis. Now it isn't biblically accurate but it is still a good movie and gets the message of the story of Joseph across to the audience. In the middle of the movie, when Joseph is in jail for a crime he didn't commit, there is a great song that is the focus of today's MMM. Check it out below or by clicking here.

Often when things go bad or things just plain go with neither an up nor down, we can feel abandoned by God wondering where he is. Like Joseph in the clip, we find ourselves challenging God that we don't belong where we are, that the things that have happened to us should have happened to someone else, or even that He doesn't really care. Yet if we take time to realize God is in control we also realize that He knows what he is doing better than we do. The chorus has a line in it that goes "I've let go the need to know why" that's what we have to do. Maybe 2011 wasn't great for you and you question God but if you let go the need to know why it happened you will have and easier time finding peace.

My favorite line from the song is the start of the second verse which goes "If this has been a test I cannot see the reason But maybe knowing I don't know is part of getting through." When things go bad or don't go anywhere we feel like God is testing us but like a kid in school, if we don't understand the reason for the test we get upset at the person giving us the test and look for meaning everywhere else. Sometimes though a test is just a test and the reason wouldn't even make sense if we knew why. This isn't to say that we should make light of anyone's tests, they deserve support but to push deeper than just through the test is to question God. The second part of that verse looks at that "I tried to do what's best But faith has made it easy To see the best thing i can do Is to put my trust in You." We try to do what we think is best based on what we think the test is for but if we would just put our faith in God, he would get us through. First Corinthians 10:13 tells us that no temptation (or trial) is too hard for us cause God has given us a way to get through it.

As we look back at the year and forward to the next, I hope you will remember that no matter what has happened or what you think the next year looks like; God will be with us. He know what lies in front of us and the best way around it. Trust Him to lead you where you need to go, knowing that where you've been is only part of the journey. Whether you trusted Him then or not, look to Him for way to get through whatever is to come.

God Bless and Happy Holidays

This One Is For All My Bible College Friends

Check this out. 

Not much more to say than what you can already see. (No debates please lol)