Icy Clear, Foggy Dusk

I am loving the seasonal weather change!

Yes, I live in Southern California, yes, I am a beach bum surfer girl, yes Summer is my favorite season, ad i absolutey ADORE the summer weather we get here, but Autumn is my second favorite season! And I love the feeling of bundling up in the nippy weather and sipping hot cocoa at the kitchen table with my Advanced Mathematics book.
And I can't wait for the imminent thunderstorms! Then i get to sit in the Garage with my Hot cocoa, (hopefully complete with mini marshmallows and a candy cane) and watch the lightning flash and feel the thunder rumble while the Rain falls two feet away from me, safely diverted by the eaves of the roof.

in the meantime, I'm gonna go grab another pair of socks... my feet are very cold!

Music: Genres, Lyrics, and all that Jazz. (no pun intended)

So I am on a Christan Forum, and we were having a discussion about music. The subject turned to Christain Music, and Several of the members there stated that they didn't approve of Rap, Metal, or Secular music in General. They stated that they don't listen to that kind of music, and they thought it was just horrible that some Christian artists even "tarnished" the Christain message, and "perverted the sweet message of the gospel" by even associating themselves with that style of music. Now, I am not a big fam or Rap music myself, or most Heavy Metal for that matter, but here was my reply to the thread:

Just because a certain Genre was originally filled with nothing but secular junk and songs with evil messages does not mean that Christians can't use it to reach out and influence the listeners of that Genre for good. and for God!

Skillet, Hawk Nelson, Relient K, TobyMac, and even some of Jeremy Camp's more Recent stuff fall under this Category.

The Christian Rap group MOD even came to my Church and performed. Those guys are so on fire for God, and they are talented Rappers, too. I used to be against Rap music, because all it ever talked about was getting high, getting drunk, partying, killing people, and all that stuff. But guess what, there are unsaved people who listen to nothing but rap music, and if putting the Christian Message into that form is a way to spark people's curiosity, and eventually win souls to Christ, I would say that we are blatently disobeying the Great Commission (Go and make Followers of ALL THE NATIONS ...not the exact wording, and again I don;t remember the Refrence. I think it's at the end of either the book of Mattehw or John) if we refuse to do so. Now I'm not saying that we all have to go out and listen to Rap or Heavy Metal all day. If that's not your thing, I'm cool with that. But I am saying that there is no need to be talking smack about people whe really love God, and are really making a difference, even if it's in a different way than you or I would do it. (you in the plural, referring to no-one in particular)

So, readers, my question for you is this: What is your take on this? Even if you are not a Christian. For example, suppose with me that you had a message that you believed in, and you wanted to get as many people as you could to hear about your message. If, your message lent itself to being presented musically, would you branch out into every genre of music, (wheather or not you particuarlly are into that type of music or not) for the purpose of getting your message out to the world? Heck, even of you aren't the actual person writing/singing/performing/publishing the actual songs, would you stil approve of it?

My answer is yes, of course I would!

What's yours?

I'm Back! =)

Hello Folowers and random viewers of my bloggity-blog blog!



Yes, The Blog has suffered some neglect lately, but I am here now to make ammends, and post at least once a week. Here are some things that have been happening recently in my little life.



Summer! has come and gone.

--I went on vacation to Yosemite National park in May, and Climbed up Halfdome! yay!
--I participated in the Huntington State Beach Jr. Lifeguards program for the first time in my life, and aboslutely fell IN LOVE with it! So now, my goal is to be an actual lifeguard next summer, and I am spending my morings training with lots of swimming, runninig, paddling, and the like.
--I attended the Rebelution's Do Hard Things Confrence! It was so inspirational, and changed my life. Kudos to Alex and Brett for modivating so many Christian and non-Christian Teens to live up to their potential, stand up against the low expectations that todays societey places on us, and Do Hard Things!
--I surfed! Yes, I am evolving into quite the surfer girl, and spent many many hours at my favorite place in the world (the beach) this summer. Not that I have much skill; I still fall off the board on practicly every other wave, but it's getting out there, having fun, and spending time in the ocean that counts, right? yeah!



School has started up again. (note the lack of an exclamation point)

--I am a junior in High School now. Say what?
--I finished Algebra 2 last year, and am moving on to "Advanced Mathematics" which is Geometrey, Triginometrey, and Pre-Calculus. Not that I like Math, by any stretch of the imagination, but i am so darned good at it, if I do say so myself. teehee!



I have started seriously thinking about what I want to do with my life.

--I have always wanted to join the military, and give back to this country that has given me so much. I am considering the Air Force; I have always wanted to be a pilot! Or maybe I'll just become a pilot for some airline instead of for the military. I guess it all depends on world events.
--I have decided to attend Orange Coast College. Did you know that they have an absolutely Stellar, Amazing, Awesome Crew Team? Well, they do, and I intend to join it. Plus Orance Coast College has a fabulous Music Department... =)



Hum dum dee dum dum... I guess I just ran out of things to say, so God Bless you all!

~J