No Church this Wednesday

There will be no church this Wednesday due to Thanksgiving.  We will continue our mini series on SEX, DRUGS and ROCK'N ROLL December 3rd at 7pm

Beyonce (I am.... Sasha Fierce)

Beyonce has once again topped the charts in both music and music videos.  Her recently released album that came out this past week pushed many other anticipated albums to the side to claim the coveted top 40 spotlight. 

Beyonce has 3 songs on the top 100 playlist, she also has 2 music videos in the top 10 purchased on itunes currently. 

Beyonce is not a new thing to the spotlight.  She may be the most popular, and best female vocalists right now.  Her extravagant voice range claims the ears of listeners no matter what your favorite music genre is. 

Her music does give me reservations however.  I was actually unable to put a picture of her newest album on this post due to the fact that she usually has no problem bearing quite a bit of skin on the album covers and this one is no exception.  You know, I used to have nightmares about going somewhere half naked (like all of you have) Beyonce has apparently conquered that fear and has moved on to something even more terrifying.  

Lets face it Beyonce sells sex just as much as music.  She has no problem playing on the minds of impressionable listeners/watchers.  She is classier (odd but true) than most of her competitors but that is a standard not coveted by most anyone who has a decent moral standard.

If you want to listen to her music and watch her videos I can't stop you.  But I can warn you about what you may be taking in as a result of your favorite artists attitude / lyrics/ suggestive behavior. 

If you think I'm way off with this suggestion, and have misjudged this particular artist please tell me about it.  We will talk it out. 

As for now, I would have to say this is one you probably shouldn't buy. 

The Best Christmas Song Ever

In my search for the best Christmas song of all time I came across some highly interesting composer's / covers for some very interesting songs.  I searched high and low until I knew I had found the ultimate Christmas song.

After listening to many different artist perform this song; the likes of Josh Groban (who made me throw up a little in my mouth when I listened to his operatic version) and Jessica and Ashley Simpson (who seemed to have a definite negative effect on my dog who tried to kill himself when he heard the song.  Luckily I was able to disarm him before he could pull the trigger). 

Until finally, I found the Perfect version of The Little Drummer Boy.  Bob Seger believe it or not performs the best version of the classic old tune.  Seger connects the years past with his intentional drum reverberations, all the while greeting the future with his soft electric guitar riffs. 

So now you know where I stand.  What about you? What is your favorite holiday tune?

I'm writing this right now in my office on a cold November day.  I can see little flakes of snow hit the ground and disappear before my eyes can blink.  And I'm thinking to myself what's the point? If our lives, in the big scope of things is just a blink of an eye, what am I doing here; sitting in this office chair in a office where the heat cannot be properly controlled? (sorry if you ever walk in while I'm sitting in my recently installed kiddy-pool, due the the heat issues) 

Why am I here? I feel like I don't matter, so how can I matter?  

After all, if all I am is a snow flake hitting the ground, how can I make a difference?

After all, how much of a difference does one snowflake make on a piece of ground that stretches for miles?  The answer is none really. This is how we feel most of the time, right? We are just one insignificant snowflake that has no superiority over anything.  We're here then we're gone. This is how we feel but why? Maybe it's because we are living for ourselves rather living for someone or something else.?  If we live for ourselves we will fizzle out just like a snowflake.  But if we choose to do something and change the course of who we are and how we act, how much of a difference could we make? 

You see when we start living outside of ourselves we allow ourselves to be used in ways that we never would have experienced otherwise.  

It's still hot.......wait, now cold in my office that may never change.  But one thing has, you see if you look out my window you can see a little bit more snow starting to fall on the ground and now its not melting.  The snow that had hit the ground before and apparently disappeared has now provided a blanket on the ground so that the snow which is now falling is sticking.  We may not see the impact we will have in this life.  But it will be seen by the ones who come after us.  If we decide to make a difference.  

Media Spotlight (Copeland)

Copeland is one of my all-time favorite bands.  There newest album, '"You are my Sunshine" is their best yet.

The smooth tone that they provide has become somewhat of a lost art in today's music.  They are able to bring a heavy hearted lyrical arrangement along with an apparently joyful instrumental tone and create a masterpiece.

You may ask yourself, "If Copeland is so good how come I've never heard of them"? This is because the Russians have once again hacked into our music and only allow what is considered to be most popular to be played on the radio. (Just kidding and no offense to anyone from Russia or former Soviet Union)

This band is amazing and I'd hate for you to miss out because no one told you.  Check them out on itunes or @ thecopelandsite.com

I would recommend this new release as a definite buy.  

Sex, Drugs & Rockn Roll

This will be a 3 part series on "Sex, Drugs & Rockn Roll".  It will go from November 19th - December 3rd.

Bring a pocket full of questions along with your friends to this 3 part series.

If you want to find out the secretes behind these topics and how the church may unknowingly support them, come this Wednesday night at 7pm.

Media Spotlight (Taylor Swift)

So, there is another country female singer that is hugely popular right now beside Carrie Underwood.  Taylor Swift is her name writing country love songs is her game.  

Her lighthearted non twangy sound has made her instantly skyrocket in not only her music genre, but in the music industry overall.  

I've hard it said that she is the better version of Carrie Underwood. Are you kidding me, Carrie Underwood could beat Taylor Swift in a singing competition with both hands tied behind her back.  If you can't tell I'm a big Underwood fan, I'm not saying Swift doesn't have talent, it's just nowhere near the same level as Carrie Underwoods.  

Taylor Swift's music seems pretty harmless, but so did the tortoise to the hare.  Just kidding.  She seems more positive than much of the mainstream music today.  This does not mean that you don't have to think critically when listening to the album.  

Listen to this one with your parents before you buy it.  

Media Spotlight (Jon Foreman / Limbs and Branches)

Jon Foreman came on the scene about 10 years ago singing in a band called Switchfoot.  Since then he has only gotten more popular as a result of being dedicated to his talent. 

He recently released three EP records that are titled after the some of the seasons of the year; Spring, Fall and Winter.  His newest release, Limbs and Branches was released on October 28, 2008. 

His melodic and emotional genius is well on display as he takes you through some of his journeys in life.  This record is very comparable to John Mayer just recently released acoustic album.  However there is much more of a depth to Jon Foreman's C.D. than John Mayer's C.D.

I would recommend this album as a definite purchase.  If you like the acoustic sound of a guitar accompanied with smooth vocals this one is for you. 

Media Spotlight (Family Guy)

Family Guy is one of TV's hottest shows right now.  It's political incorrectness and willingness to make fun of everyone (everyone) has made the once canceled show flourish after its debut in 1999.  

I watched the Family Guy regularly when I was a junior and senior in high school.  It was the funniest show on TV.  However, I realized that it was a pretty bad show to watch.  I guess I could have figured that out by how I reacted when my parents would come home while I was watching-the newest episode.  I would immediately switch the channel to sportscenter, or if it was a really foul episode I would turn it to Dr. Robert Schuler, I guess that was a way of me trying to ease my conscience. 

I know that it's hard to not watch certain shows or listen to certain music especially when the only reason everyone is telling you not to is because it's bad.  That's not a very good answer to give.  Maybe a better answer would not be answer at all but a question; what are you benefiting from watching this show?  If your really honest with yourself you'll see that it is not at all helpful but pretty harmful.  But to get to that place you have to be honest.  Which is hard for most of us. 

If you have a difference of opinion let me know, lets talk about it.  

So, maybe your thinking, "I can't vote, so what can I do about this election or the outcome of the election? I'm just a teen"?

Just because you can or cannot vote does not make you more important than anyone else.  It doesn't mean that you are lesser of an American than someone who can vote.  

So we see what you can't do.  But what can you do?

For starters...... get off your "hiny" and stop complaining.  Most of the people who complain are the people who are not doing anything to change the very things that they are complaining about.

Don't be a complainer, be a changer!

If you want to you can change the world.  If you want to!? If you want something bad enough you'll do anything to get it.  So, if you really want change you'll go to extremes to get it.  Right?

You can change the world just by effecting your immediate surroundings (family, school, friends, etc). 

If you don't who will?  If you don't lead who will you follow?  If not now, when?