Temptations and Addictions.. Enough said!

So as it is 1:31 in the morning, I am trying to go to bed. Ahh yes, I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my cousin's and might I say, it was a fun time!

Now that we got out of the way, I need to talk about some things that not a lot of people like to talk about, because they might feel uncomfortable in these situations: Temptations and addictions. Lots of questions like: "How can I get away from temptation?", "I need help with this addiction, what do I do?" or even "Is temptation something that can lead to an addiction?" Well first, let's cover on temptation. Even since the beginning of creation, man (and woman) has been tempted by the one and only Satan.

“For God knows that when you eat from it (the fruit) your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." - Genesis 3:5-6

Even Jesus was tempted!
"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." - Matthew 4:1

Temptations come from Satan, and the only way Satan can bring temptations in by:

• A. Knowing where your weak points are (Mentally and even physically!)
• B. Knowing that every human has a sinful nature.

      and last, but not least

• C. You letting Satan get a foothold.

It is very hard, even nowadays with how the world is, to give in to temptation. Playboy magazines are in pretty much all the gas stations, including Sheetz! (I love Sheetz a lot for their food, and their coffee, yumm)

It is very difficult for your eyes to not look at it, they might as well have a big bright arrow that points to that section and say "Stuff that is going to ruin your life, your walk with God, and your relationships is right here!"

I know it sounds corny, but it's kind of true! I mean, the devil will use anything that you know that is wrong, and get to you. It is your choice to listen to him or not, that's what it all comes down to! If you continue to let Satan have control in your life, and you can't stop this sin, then it becomes (wait for it!...) an addiction!

Addictions come in different varieties (more than even Heinz's 57 varieties!), whether it be from drugs, pornography, alcohol, or even video games, when it's stuck, it's stuck! Whenever you have these addictions (not saying all, but if you even have one), it's hard to get out of it. When you have an addiction, you might feel as if you are letting God down, and you feel convicted. Well that is good! (not the addiction or letting God down, the conviction part haha) If you are addicted to drugs, or even smoking (which I have never done, for the record!) you might say to yourself, and to God "I'm going to quit right now, I'm going to quit right now" and then the next minute, hour, or day, you find yourself doing it again, and you feel like crap! (literally too!)

When you have addictions too, you might be afraid to admit it or tell your friends, because they might think about it and be different around you. Well if they are your true, real friends, I'm sure they would understand, and they would help you out any way possible and still love you, and adore you for who you are!

It's also depressing when you are addicted, because you might feel as if you can never get out, well let me tell you something: With God, ALL things are possible. Pray for God to guide you out of that addiction, and it might not take a day and then it stops (I'm not saying that it can't happen, it totally could!), but God can help you through every step of the way. 

So, as I conclude, I want you to know that no matter if you are tempted or have an addiction, God loves you, and still cares for you, as do I, and if you ever need to talk about anything (doesn't have to be temptations or addictions, even just to talk!), let me know! I would be glad to talk with you :)

Until next time,

Canaan 

P.S. (I noticed that I used a lot of parenthesis in this blog post, what's with that?! haha)

Secular Music (duh duh... DUH!!!!!!)

Okay, so I have been asking around a lot about this one subject in particular, and I have gotten many different answers. I have been agreeing with people because they are right. This subject? You guessed it: Secular music. What's wrong with it? What's right with it? Should Christians listen to secular music? Lots of people have given their opinions, and from what I have gathered. I have come to this conclusion: If it has meaningful lyrics, and it is uplifting, and it doesn't use profane words, then it is okay. There is a "line" that needs to be drawn between good secular music and bad secular music. Where is this "line" stop though? I agree with that facct, but you see, I have a dilemma. I used to listen to secular music all the time (good and bad) for the longest time about two years ago. Well two years ago, I committed my life to Christ. Ever since that day, I have avoided the whole secular music industry.

Well then about a month ago, my one sister Harmony let me listen to this song called "The Criminal" by the After Midnight Project. Now I usually don't listen to any of my sister's music, because I know what they listen to, and it's not good. Harmony listens to a lot of screamo music (I can handle some screamo, but not the kind that has pigs being embarrassed because they can't squeal as good.) and Karamie listens to pop, and rap, and whatever genre out there. Nonetheless, I heard this song, and it was really interesting, I liked the music, but not the lyrics, but I still felt weird listening to it. I liked it, but I didn't want my sister to know, because then she would convict me because I'm a Christian and I am listening to her kind of music.

The thing is, I want to be a leader to people. I want people to look up to me, and the ones who know that I'm a Christian, who live by the world, watch my every move. If I am listening to that kind of music, I know that they will convict me for it. For example, there is this song I heard called "Bowlin'" and Chris Tomlin is featured in it and it is hilarious! It is about these guys who get picked on all the time and they get pranked and then they get a bowl cut, and then they become popular, and then Chris Tomlin sings the chorus's and it is so funny. Then today Karamie came home and then I played that song for mom, and she laughed. Karamie listened from her room, and it was quiet. Well later on, Karamie wanted me to listen to this Kesha song (sp?) and it was called "My First Kiss"" I didn't even want to bother to listen to it, because I don't listen to that kind of music. Well I told Karamie that I didn't want to. She questioned me about why, and I answered "Well I just don't want to listen to it, because it really isn't what I listen to" She then told me that "Well, I listen to your music all of the time, and I have to put up with it" I told her that my music was good though, and it has meaningful lyrics, and it glorifies God. She then said something that hurt inside. She said "So that song you played earlier about the bowl cuts, was that meaningful? Does that have a glorifying message?" and I was just appauled. I didn't know what to say..

I mean, I want to be a good leader for my family, but secular music, or things of the world, I can't even parttake in, because I will be convicted and they will say that I'm not really a Christian. I think that secular music is okay, I mean with meaningful lyrics, but I don't want it to draw me away from Christ. I think it is different in people's lives, because they live in different environments, different families (who probably were raised Christians) I am glad for the people who were raised in a Christian home. I wish that I had that growing up. My sisters live way differently than me, and I think that I need to be a Godly influence to them, and I just think that secular music doesn't help me at all.
So in conclusion:
Secular music is okay, if it is uplifting. Bad secular is not okay, because it doesn't glorify God. 
I'll listen to some, but not a lot, because of conviction, and I would just feel weird listening to a lot of it.