I’ve decided to go with a personal blog instead of just one for the youth group. The new blog is at http://thebattleforminds.wordpress.com!

So after church Sunday night i got home and turned the TV on. I saw that someones status on facebook said something about Brand and the VMA’s. I recognized what the VMA’s was talking about, but wasn’t sure about Brand. So I turned the television over to MTV and found out just who Russell Brand is.

Brand is a British comedian who is absolutely not funny. That’s who he is. Not only did Brand bash our President (and he’s not even a citizen) and push a liberal agenda in a completely inappropriate forum, but he also made fun of the boy band, Jonas Brothers, for promising to stay pure until marriage. Now I’m not a fan of the Jonas Brothers, but that less to do with them as people and more to do with their teen pop music that I don’t enjoy too much. I will say this, though. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the Jonas Brothers and any other person (famous or not) who will commit to stay pure for their future spouse. Brand’s comments were not only vulgar, but they were also just plain disrespectful. This shouldn’t really surprise anyone coming from MTV, though. Nearly every show and music video (what few they show) promotes sexuality as something that isn’t really a big deal. Whether you realize it or not, it can really effect your wordview over time.

I did see a glimmer of hope. The Jo Bros weren’t the only artists who had committed to not have sex before marriage. Jordin Spark, the winner of the sixth season of American Idol is also a Christian who has committed to save her self until marriage. When she got up to the mic she defended all who have promised to stay pure by saying that “not everyone, guy or girl, wants to be a slut.” And for that I applaud her.

My prayer is that if the youth of today must watch the junk that is on MTV that influences like the Jonas Brothers and Jordin Sparks will shine brighter that those of people like Russell Brand and Tila Tequila.

I was listening to John Mayer today and his song, No Such Thing, came on. There’s this line in there in which he sings that he “can’t wait for his 10 year reunion so that he can tare down these double doors.” Normally I wouldn’t think much of it, but this time it struck me. I’m halfway to my 10 year reunion. That means that in just another 5 years I will probably get to see most of the 84 or so students who make up the Hoxie High School graduating class of 2003.

That got me to thinking. I wondered what my classmates would be like. Many of them I know are now done with college, and like me are continuing their educations. Some will become doctors and some will work in factories. Some will be making a lot of money and others will be just skimming by. I’m sure some people will be so different from what they were 10 years ago that it will shock many of us. Then I began to wonder what I will be like in 5 years. I mean, I imagine I will be mostly the same person I am today. I wonder though will I be there bragging about how big the church is I work at or how many youth come to hear me teach? I hope not.

I’m sure some of the people there will be eager to show off how much money their job is getting them and some other will be bragging about how little work they have to do and how they get to spend a lot of their time playing video games and going to the lake on weekends. I hope this isn’t me, though. I want to come back to my reunion living a life that has purpose. I want to be able to talk about going to another country where I helped rebuild a community or feed people who haven’t eaten a decent meal in days, all in the name of Christ. I want to be able to show that I have hope that reaches beyond anything I can attain in this life. I want to be able to show my fellow alumni that my life has purpose, REAL purpose when I go to my 10 year reunion.

Think about the goals you have in your life. Where do you see yourself in about 10-15 years? What kind of person do you want to be? Is your goal to have a big house with all the latest technology? Or is it to do whatever it takes to make Him known and give Him the glory? You don’t have to be called into full time ministry to live a life of purpose. You also don’t have to wait until it gets closer to your 10 year reunion. Start living a life of Greater Purpose today.

I just discovered this new musical group. I really like them. I bought their CD after hearing just one song! They are Jenny & Tyler. Go check their MySpace out by click here. If you like them buy their CD off of iTunes or amazon.com!

Ok.. so the most I’ve said about music on this blog so far was to make a personal condemnation on pop rap. Basically stuff like that lollipop song (I really don’t know the name nor do I care to), or that song about making love in a club. Can you really tell me that you can glorify God and listen to that? Didn’t think so.

Well I thought I’d make some recommendations!

Hillsong United

I’ll start with some awesome praise and worship music. Hillsong Church in Australia is no stranger to contemporary Christian praise and worship. Most have heard that extremely famous song by Hillsong’s Darlene Zschech, Shout to the Lord. You know… the Christian song that somehow made it onto American Idol this year. Well Hillsong Church has a huge youth group called Hillsong United and their band has become pretty famous and writes many songs that college and high school students as well as contemporary band across the world are singing to. Their latest CD is called The I Heart Revolution: With Hearts as One. It’s kind of a greatest hits live album. It features their most popular songs to date. If you get it I recommend Mighty to Save, One Way, What the World Will Never Take, Take It All, Hosanna, and Salvation Is Here.

If you must listen to rap then I will recommend a few artists. First check out Flame’s new CD, Our World Redeemed. It’s pretty good. Also check out Trip Lee. His newest album is called 20/20. We may listen and preview some of this music on Wednesday night so come check it out.

You can find all of these albums on iTunes. I’m sure amazon.com has them as well.

Watch this video by Francis Chan…

Love. I’ve seen that word thrown around a lot lately. It seems like such a refreshing word in a world that seems to have forgot what love is. This seems especially true among us younger folk. Many my age feel that they’ve been handed a world that has lost it’s way and they have this sort of mission to bring love back into the world.
It’s not really a new thing though. This same thing happened back in the 60’s with the hippie movement. It’s happened throughout the ages and it will continue to happen until Jesus comes back. There’s nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for love. I’m all for being accepting. Jesus really did go to the outcasts and He sought out the sinners. Did they stay sinners, though?
It seems today that many people have gotten so wrapped up in this
word, “love”, that they’ve distorted it. To many people calling out sin is a message of hate. They say that we should just accept people as we are and allow them into the family of God. Jesus never told people they could just keep living the way they wanted to and still go to Heaven. No, he confronted people in their sin and the people had to make a clear choice. They could either follow Jesus and allow him the pour His grace on them or they could continue in their sin and go the opposite direction.
Confrontation can absolutely be done out of love. Just because you tell someone their sinful lifestyle will send them to hell doesn’t mean you want them to go there. On the contrary, we should tell them this because we want them to turn from their life of sin and follow Jesus. Jesus makes it clear that you cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24) and while he was specifically talking about money here, the principle can be applied to many things. For we have been rescued out of the kingdom of darkness and brought into the Kingdom of Light! (Colossians 1:13)
Do I think the Christians can live without sinning? No. There is certainly room for grace. But the Bible clearly teaches us that while we may slip up from time to time we should definitely be walking in light and not in darkness. (1 John 1:5-10) I don’t see this as having to live by a system of rules or laws either. It is simply loving Jesus and his ways. When you love, and I mean really love, Jesus you will want to be more like him. Then there is no need for laws.
Also, I absolutely believe love should be shown to everyone regardless of their belief in God. Love is supposed to be the way the World knows us, and yes many have carried the name of Jesus and have not done a good job of loving. I would question their allegiance and yes, scripture gives me the authority to judge them on that (1 John 4:8 ) just as it gives me the authority to pass judgment on those who would call themselves believers but are engaged in a lifestyle of sin (1 Corinthians 5).
I know this isn’t a popular thing to say and that it is somewhat harsh, but the truth often is. I’m not looking for a Church (global) where everyone is comfortable with the way they live their life (including me) or that makes scripture so weak that it is never offensive. We need people to stand up and confront and we need scripture to be offensive. If scripture and the Spirit of God never offended or confronted then the Bride of Christ (the Church) would never be able to be presented pure and blameless to Christ when He comes to get Her.
So by all means let us love one another. But in doing so let us not water down scripture and become so accepting of sin that it becomes rampant in the church. Love everyone! If they desire to come to God, let them! If they do not leave their life of sin, forbid!

Every day I see the effects of a fallen world. I have often stood up for what the Bible teaches is right. Sometimes people strike back with, “we should just love everybody.” In a sense they are right, but sometimes love is taken out of context. Recently I was tagged in a note on facebook that talked about sin just being sin and how they being a homosexual is no different than someone telling a lie. I wrote this person back. I wanted to share the what I said with you, as I see this persons attitude becoming more popular in todays society. Please take the time to look up the passages that I cite.

<Person’s name>,
I am writing you a note, because replying to posts these days gets me nothing back, but animosity. Please don’t take any of this as an attack on you, because it is not. I simply want to reply to the note you tagged me in.
I agree that we should love everyone. I hope you did not read any anger into anything I said on the Same-sex marriage thread. You can confront and give your opinion on sin without hating someone.
Please don’t get me wrong. I don’t think you will go to hell for messing up and sinning. If we have a repentant heart God is faithful to forgive us (1 John 1:9) . However, there is a difference in telling a lie and living in a homosexual lifestyle (just one example) or living a “lifestyle” of any other non-repentant sin. The latter, as stated, is a lifestyle. It’s as if the person were walking in darkness, whereas if you were to mess up and sin it’s like you stumbled in and back out. Get it? You can see more about this in 1 John 1:5-10.
Also, please don’t take any of my comments as shoving Jesus down someones throat. I was tagged in a note and gave my opinion about the note and when someone countered. I defended my opinion. I showed now hate and I think debate is healthy as long as it doesn’t turn into hate, which it never did on my part.
I think as a child of God (Christian) you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is what makes me different than Sally Sue. Am I better than Sally Sue? Only in that I have the light of Jesus inside of me. I can still earnestly desire for Sally Sue to have that light. I am different than her though and my fruits ought to show that (Matthew 7:15-23).
Next, I will say that sometimes love calls for confrontation. Jesus was all about love, but examining the scriptures will show that that love was not the kind of hippie love many attach to him today. Some people paint Jesus as this man who says just be the way you are and I will love you anyway. Jesus is very stern with people and often used scripture to correct or rebuke. When sinners came to him he forgave them, but would say, “go and sin no more.” Did they sin again? Surely. Did they live in the lifestyle of sin they had before? No. Jesus confronted. Paul tells us that we should do this too (2 Timothy 3:10-16).
Lastly, I will say that believing this way will not make you popular. Jesus say we should rejoice in that, though (Luke 6:22,23).
I hope you take all this in love as that is how I am typing it. I don’t mean to insinuate that you think differently. I guess I just more or less wanted to clarify my position on the subject at hand.

God Bless,
Aaron Abbott

As the band, The Fray, put it: “Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same.”