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"For teeangers, music is much more than mere entertainment or a diverson from the stress of homework, household chores and worries about the future. For millions of young people, music provides a life philosophy for them to consider and follow; cultural heros and role models to look up to and imitate; values and lifestyles to embrace; a common language to employ that sets them apart and provides a distinctive identity; and the opportunity to develop community related to a shared sense of common sound, ideas or artists."
-Alvin L. Reid
Man, that is GREAT stuff, let me tell ya. Music is very influential in teens lives today. Not very many teens realize that they, more and more, want to be their favorite rapper, or dancer, or actor. And the more and more we see in the news, the less and less of a positive role model these "stars" are becoming. Rappers shooting up neighborhoods and other rappers, doing drugs, getting arrested... since when did that become a lifestyle everyone wants? Is it fame, or money? Either way, neither one of those add up to doing jail time or taking the lives of others.. or at least the last time I checked. We need to, as teens, focus more on the positive music, like CCM (Contemporary Christian Music). Featuring artists such as Jeremy Camp and Rebecca St.James, or groups like Casting Crowns or Mercy Me. They are excellent role models, the people we should much rather want to grow up to be... but the most important person we should want to be just like, is Jesus. Jesus is the prime role model we should all want to be like. Sure, famous people are cool and have lots of money, but money won't get you into Heaven, salvation will. So just take a few moments out of your day to reflect on who your most role modeling as you stand in your life... Is it the Secular Rapper with drug and sex issues? Is it the CCM artist that is on fire for God? Or is it being more like Jesus everyday and following in his footsteps? Now, the question is... which do you want to become? If you'd like to talk, I'm here. But pray, and pray hard about where God's taking you, and pray for the people around you. I know there are some of your fellow Christians that are hurting.. and even for the people you don't know. Pray for your Church, for your Sunday School class and teachers, your Pastor (both SR. and Youth) and also for your families and even people you see in the streets. " We are not the church of tomorrow; We are the church of today! " - Alvin L. Reid. This is our time now, let's live it out.
-Alvin L. Reid
Man, that is GREAT stuff, let me tell ya. Music is very influential in teens lives today. Not very many teens realize that they, more and more, want to be their favorite rapper, or dancer, or actor. And the more and more we see in the news, the less and less of a positive role model these "stars" are becoming. Rappers shooting up neighborhoods and other rappers, doing drugs, getting arrested... since when did that become a lifestyle everyone wants? Is it fame, or money? Either way, neither one of those add up to doing jail time or taking the lives of others.. or at least the last time I checked. We need to, as teens, focus more on the positive music, like CCM (Contemporary Christian Music). Featuring artists such as Jeremy Camp and Rebecca St.James, or groups like Casting Crowns or Mercy Me. They are excellent role models, the people we should much rather want to grow up to be... but the most important person we should want to be just like, is Jesus. Jesus is the prime role model we should all want to be like. Sure, famous people are cool and have lots of money, but money won't get you into Heaven, salvation will. So just take a few moments out of your day to reflect on who your most role modeling as you stand in your life... Is it the Secular Rapper with drug and sex issues? Is it the CCM artist that is on fire for God? Or is it being more like Jesus everyday and following in his footsteps? Now, the question is... which do you want to become? If you'd like to talk, I'm here. But pray, and pray hard about where God's taking you, and pray for the people around you. I know there are some of your fellow Christians that are hurting.. and even for the people you don't know. Pray for your Church, for your Sunday School class and teachers, your Pastor (both SR. and Youth) and also for your families and even people you see in the streets. " We are not the church of tomorrow; We are the church of today! " - Alvin L. Reid. This is our time now, let's live it out.