Music

Music is something that is a major part of my life. I love music. I love to sing, and I love to listen to songs. Nothing unusual there, right? Well, I do have one thing about music that's a little unusual. I like to study songs. I don't just mean listening to a song repeatedly and remembering the words. I like to actually get ahold of the lyrics, and study them in context.

Why? To know exactly what I'm putting into my mind. I know, I know, it sounds cheesy, and kinda uptight. Well, that's me, I guess. At least when it comes to my music. I pretty much reject anything that is offensive to me when I read it. I read the lyrics because they don't have the music with them. That's part of the key. Music initiates an emotional response. So if someone were to take an offensive song, but put music to it that initiates a happy response, or a mellow, soothing response, well, that limits our ability to judge it as wrong. Take, for example, the song Animals by Nickleback. That song has an awesome beat to it. I used to love to listen to the drums, with the double-kick, and the overall epicness of the music to it. But the words to the song are so far from my moral standards. The entire song is about a couple who sneak out to have sex, and how it's ok because they're just being animals. Anyone who knows me knows that that is not what I stand for. But I liked the song because of the beat. I feel sick when I just read the words.

I'll be honest, my fascination with the words of songs are a big part of why I don't listen to screamo. I like music where I can understand the lyrics. Sure, I think it sounds cool, but for all I know, they could be screaming about anything. Drug addiction, murder, rape, bunnies, anything. Bunnies I would be okay with. Admit it, you'd love a screamo bunny song!

I encourage you to do the same. You don't have to go crazy on it and tear through your entire music collection, looking at all the words to every song, but be cautious of what you listen to. What you put into your minds is what you will think about. Simple fact. Just be considerate of what you listen to.

I'm also not saying that every song has to be poignant, and make some big social point. Those songs are good, but only if it suits the artist, and comes at the right time. Songs can be just for entertainment. And that's cool, as long as they don't offend your moral code. If it's singing about something that you would cringe hearing about in conversation, then it's probably not what you should be listening to.

Crusader

Society Says

I was thinking earlier, not something too out of the ordinary for me, and I started to have some all-too-familiar doubts. Doubts about myself. Doubts about my looks. Doubts about my likelihood of finding a wife. That's one of my biggest desires in life, to have a family, and a loving wife. But sometimes I doubt that this is ever going to happen. I doubt that anyone would choose me when they know other guys, guys I think are better than me. (which happens to be most). I was once told that there were quite a few who thought my personality would be perfect in a boyfried/husband. Well, my personality in Tom Wellington's body. (For those of you who, like me, didn't know, that's Clark Kent from Smallville.) This simple thought, which should have been an amazing compliment, said to me that I am not good-looking enough to be that perfect guy for someone. I wondered to myself, "Why would I feel like this?" Why does anyone feel like this?

Well, a lot of it has to do with what society tells us. Society says we have to be in a relationship to be happy. Look at any tv show, any movie, anything. It all implies that happiness is found in a relationship.

Society also says that in order to be desirable, you must be "perfect." If there is anything in you that doesn't fit into this cookie-cutter image society wants us to have, then it's something wrong. This view in and of itself is wrong. So what if you don't have flawless skin? So what if you don't have what society calls the perfect figure? Let me tell you, you could spend years, and thousands of dollars on your image, and still not be "perfect."

It's a paradox. If you spend the money on surgeries, dieting, etc, society will look on you as 'fake.' If you don't, you won't be 'perfect.' How messed up is that?

Well, I'd like to tell you that you don't need to worry about it. You are beautiful. You know what? Go find a mirror. Look at yourself, and tell yourself ten times that you're beautiful, or handsome, or whatever. Do it! Now! I'll still be here when you get back. GO!

Do you believe me? Do you believe yourself? You should.

God made you who you are. Your looks are yours. So the only person whose opinion should truly matter is yours. It's not about what society thinks, it's about what you and God think. God knows you're beautiful.

It's this simple: Society says we need to fit into some mold that the world has for us, some ridiculous standards that we really can't even keep. God says we should be ourselves. We should actually be the wonderful people He made us to be.

In short, society says too much! It doesn't matter what society thinks of you. You are who God made you. So just go ahead and BE that person. That's who I'm going to be.

Crusader

Never Alone

Hey there.

For a long time now, God has been laying on my heart a vision for a youth counseling and support centre. Well, I have decided that now is a great time to move towards that.

My name is Richard Gunning, but on this blog I'm known as Crusader. That is what I am. I am Crusading, giving my life, to God, in the hope and faith that He will use me to help guide the youth of this nation, in big ways or small, to help them get through life, and make it through their teen years, knowing that they have support. That is my Crusade, and I know God is faithful to strengthen and support that.

I'm planning on this blog being the start for my youth movement. Check back here whenever you need a touch of encouragement, and please, tell your friends about it. I'll be posting things (No guarantees on how often. I am a college student, after all.) as often as possible, Scripture verses to encourage, writings from myself and my friends, and testimonies, because I strongly believe our testimonies are ways that God can work, so strongly, in the lives of others.

God Bless, and see you back here soon!