watching TV

www.thevinners.com

new favorite song

So i've been going through some stuff lately. Its usually music that makes me feel better. This time it was an amazing new band that I discovered when I went to The Bamboozle in New Jersey that really has lifted my spirits. This new band is called "My Favorite Highway", i'm usually that friend that has a new band every 3 months and plays the snot out of them so that all around me know who to check out! lol. It was Family Force 5 for almost 2 years but i think i'm moving on... Sorry guys.. but this new band is amazing.. here are the lyrics i'm talking bout..


Entertain The Pain :
Its been a long year without you
And I can't seem to go one day without thinking about you
It's not that I doubt you, if I found you
Would I put my arms around you
Wish I could let you know how much I miss you
Entertain the pain, if I could I would kiss you
I wanna be with you
I've tried letting go, I don't know how to quit you

No, baby, you can't change me
But maybe you'll find that you're

Better off, better off
That's what you get for, that's what you get for
Moving on, moving on
Try and forget you, try and forget like
Every tear you ever cried
Pack them up and say goodbye
Moving on, and that's what you get for

I spent a long time without you
I'm still doing everything I can just to not think about you
Not that I doubt you, if I found you
Would I let my thoughts surround you
I feel just a little bit stronger
I'll wait just a little bit longer
But I'm doing just fine without you, babe

Spend the night alone again
Waste the air you're breathing in
Close the curtains and lock the door
Hide from what you're waiting for
Could've wasted time on me, given up so easily
But I think you're better moving on


their other songs are amazing also..
www.myspace.com/myfavoritehighway

Hearing From God

Hey ya'llSo.. have you ever heard Gods' voice? Either by a preminition, vision, word from someone else? And after you recieve that Word from God do you doubt it? And should something have to be confirmed in order for us to believe it? like a doubting Thomas should we wait until we can actually SEE what God has promised us?Well... I know I've come to you guys before about God and trusting in Him.. but sometimes I can't trust myself. There is a vision that I've been shown.. It was shown to me in 3 parts, 3 different times, 3 different years. I'm doubting that vision... Why? you ask.. because I don't think the people IN the vision know it. and if they do they don't act like they do.. it's so hard to believe in something that is unseen.. which is the absolute meaning of Faith.. So should I drop all seeing in the natural and truly just believe that the visions I've had are truth? It's so difficult. I have saught God on this for more then 3 years. I did walk away from God for a little.. thinking that since the vision wasn't coming true right away it wasn't truth at all and lost my focus on who God is and who I was in Christ. Doubt is from Satan right? but where does reality come from?most of you know who I am. Most of you have either met me in person or know me because of Family Force 5. So most of you would know that I take God very very seriously. I'm not one to make things up especially when I feel that God wants to speak to someone through me.... My personal conviction about that is.. If God wants to tell you something it's none of my business. HOWEVER it IS Gods' business and I'm not one to take that to someone else.. What i'm trying to say is.. When we hear Gods' Voice do we trust enough in God to know it's God and to go to that person with the word.. Yea it's not our business so don't dwell on it for yourself... it's not our "word" to dwell on. The only thing I worry about is if what I've told a certain couple people what I thought was from God but was it really from God? If you think to much about it you start to doubt it.. so.. HIT SEND before you doubt it...let the other person take care of how THEY feel about what they're reading... If it's from God it'll hit them when it's supposed to.. If it's not from God they should be smart enough to delete it and realize the other person is human. That word you sent someone.. may just be the key in a change of heart! A knowing that God truly loves them. It may show them that someone else cares for them, that God has set someone aside to care for them in a supernatural way. If you have a heart for someone. USE IT! If you have a passion to pray for someone DO IT!! It may be painful to pray all the time for one person (or 3) but in the long run... Gods' good and Gods' plan will be unfolded. Let yourself be the person that God wants you to be. Let yourself be a prayer warrior for those who don't see the importance of prayer in their lives. If you feel that God is calling you to pray for someone.. ACCEPT your calling....and If God has shown you something and YOU believe it to be God.. seek HIS face and hold onto that vision/belief!:)

Be Radiators,
Chris

Michael Tait.. A newsboy!?!!

Okay so I've been a fan of Dc Talk, and the members, Michael, Kevin, and Toby since well 1990 :) I was 10! lol.. Anyway.. I absolutely ADORE Michael Tait. I think (personally) that he is one of the best singers not only in Christian music but in any music. When he was in Tait, They were so under rated as a christian band. His lyrics are so deep and so meaningful. I know I know, I would probably say the same thing about Toby or Kev.... actually that's not totally true lol...I like Kevins' lyrics.. only sometimes' lol.. i think you have to be a certain person to totally GET Kevin' and Toby.. well...in my opinion Tait... i hope I say this right.. seems more "passionate" about the heart of God.. I don't know maybe i'm off. Toby is more about the acceptance of God I think... Anywho.. There is a video on YouTube (again) that is basically saying that Michael shouldn't be a newsboy... some of the comments are worse like the one that says "Not to be racist but.." yea you know where that one is going.. or that Micahel shouldn't be a newsboy because he's from Dc Talk... HELLO!!! people.. first of all.... Gods' will will be done no matter what YOUR opinion is about any situation. Here is a little fact for all of you who are "against" this because Tait isn't a Newsboy.. Dc Talk-Kevin, Michael, and Toby have known the Newsboys- Phil, John James(former singer), Duncan, Jody, Peter, Jeff(hottie! lol), and the other former members. for 20+ years... so to any of them.. Dc Talk are Newsboys, and The Newsboys are Dc Talk.. They see each other equally.. back in the day.. Dc Talk was bigger then the Newsboys. remember when Dc Talk "disbanned" they weren't supposed to... It was almost a sudden thing.. They were supposed to do their solo thing and come back together... They didn't...so they're still loved almost as much as the Newsboys.. Without them we wouldn't have some of the bands in Christian music we have today.. Dc Talk paved the way. A lot of Christian artists today look up to the band member of Dc Talk.. Anyway.. I just think it's RUDE to say that someone is ALL of a sudden making a decision to destroy their own band. Peter is a praying man. He is a man of God... Michael Tait is a praying man, and a man of God.. they're friends.. Peter didn't just go and put some names in a hat and chose Michael.. As for Michael "filling Peters' shoes" Mike will have no problem doing that.. Have you seen Tait in concert? He's an amazing performer, who knows this business...I have full faith that he'll be able to do.. as well or better then Peter did. and obviously Peter feels the same way...Besides the fact that at the end of the day.. This is not WHOLLY for us.. These Christian bands serve some one HIGHER then we are... They do not answer to us even if we are fans.. They answer solely to God. If you have a "beef" with them doing something that they feel is God.. you should take it up with God.. not spout off on YouTube.. or even on comments on the newsboys site. :( Sadly it seems that Christians attack each other more then the world attacks us and I hate to say this but That's totally Satan trying to destroy our trust in each other. and eventually will destroy how we think of God Himself. besides the fact that MAYBE.. JUST MAYBE..... Peter is losing his physical voice....like another Christian music artist we know.Here is some Chris logic about the situation. If Peter Furler is a godly man. he's a praying man. And we are Gods' people and we are supposed to blindly trust in God... Don't you think that Peter prayed about this situation... before he even phoned Mike? And since he prayed about it.. went to God about it.. And God gave him a peace about bringing Mike into the situation... Shouldn't we trust that GOD knows what He's doing? How Fickle Gods' people are to trust God in ALLLLLL situations.

Just can't stop I guess

Aren't we supposed to?I can't believe what I've started.. but at this point i'm more upset about the fact that the Bible has been twisted by the guy that posted a horrible videoBut I will not say that I condone everything that people are commenting on that video(the one bashing FF5). I don't think it was right for some of you to swear, i understand we're upset but stooping to a level we're supposed to be above isn't right either.Let me clear some things up!There is so many people that I'm finding out are like MAJORLY Against Christian Rock Music which completely baffles me. God has given us skills and talents right? (Matthew 25:14-30) If someone is given the talent of Music. What kind of music should they do to serve the Lord? A Christian band is actually defined by the fact that they are on a Christian record Label... There are bands that are "Mainstream" (which is what the name of the Market where their cd's are sold is called) There are bands that are on secular(non-christian based) labels that have Christians in the actual band. When a band is a band and they are making a career out of it it's is their job They get PAID to go on tour, play shows, make cds', and be in the band. A lot of them are under contract and if they break that contract they owe A LOT of money to A LOT Of people. If you don't have the mind to understand any part of the industry even a little. There is no way you'd understand why bands like Relient K, Thrice, Skillet, and Family Force 5 go through what they go through in the industry. It's sort of like two worlds are colliding when they deal with the business side of it all and then the Christian side (their faith or walk with Christ) Some decisions will look totally wrong on the outside because you have no idea what went on in the business meeting that their managers or they went to. There is also points where managers will do something that a band is not totally for because it's good for the BUSINESS part of the INDUSTRY!!! It's good for exposure of the band.. good for MONEY for the people around the band.You're basing someones faith in Christ fully on what you THINK you see on the outside. Say, for arguements sake a Christian is working out in the world in the car industry. They are told by their car company to mis represent themselves but to represent the car company in some sort of campaign. Does that make the car person less of a Christian because he's doing his job? NO it shows that he wants to keep his job. People in Advertising compromise themselves all the time to do well in their jobs'. And if you don't understand that point, then you've never had a job. What about if you're a Christian and you work in a Movie Rental place that rents Porns'?? What are you supposed to do?! Well you sell the video that's what you do because it's YOUR JOB! Being in the World not of it means, YOU DON'T RENT THE MOVIE YOURSELF!!Yes bands are more noticable in the world and live in a looking glass. And we can see things that they are doing but we can not see the heart behind it all. Like you're own motive to do something could be right but people see it totally differently because they do not know who you are. You could write a note to someone out of pure LOVE and they do not know your heart and they see it as pure insanity.A true godly witness is a real person who lives in the real world but doesn't act like it. (the world is in reference to the Devil not the physical world btw) People screw up that verse too. "Judging lest ye be judged.." means.. If you are going to judge someone.. they have every right to judge you back. It is saying don't judge someone unless you want to be judged right back!Christian bands are doing what they are called by God to do. Another truth of the Holy Spirit is if you are using His name around what you do, and He doesn't agree with what you are doing or you're not doing it by the Holy Spirit.. Well you won't be doing it for much longer, He's not going to continue blessing something that is NOT OF HIM! If you are going to use "truths" of the Bible you need to use them all or explain yourself better instead of popping off in comments. And they should be used in the right context. Right context means you use it in context of the rest of the scripture and what the verse was actually talking about, take into consideration the times we're reading from, who was talking to who, why they said it, and what they said it about. When the person that posted this video said something about Paul being sarcastic to the Corinthians.. He was correcting them he wasn't being sarcastic. and he wasn't being arrogant about it either. The verse that guy uses says something about " "Do you not judge the members of the Church?" So WE ARE TO JUDGE in that sence. ???? First of all.. way to give a verse so we can reference it, check it out, and repent ourselves. I'm not sure where that verse was.. But It may not mean what he is saying it means. We're not called to judge people We're already condemened to death because of our sin, there is no other judging involved. Which we can't judge someone else if they're saved or not, Only God can do that, I'm not sure but I think there is a verse that tells us it's actually a sin to say that someone is not a christian (I could be talking out my butt about that one lol) . The Bible does however tell us, "16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit." The verse in Matthew isn't talking about the Fruits of the Spirit. It's talking about what kind of fruit is produced by the things you do(because of the Spirit inside you). The things we do should be a "manifestation" of the truth of the Bible in our hearts.Have people come to Christ through someones' music? Do those guys truly and geniunely love their fans/people? If you've read their lyrics is is Christianly moral- line those up with the fruits of the Spirit. Have people been delievered from something? That shows that the Holy Spirit is working, the Holy Spirit is bearing fruit! Not the person themselvesThe fruits of the Spirit are from the Holy Spirit. It's things that should be integrated into our personality and eventually become a part of who we are. Galations 5, Is the characteristics of the contrarys' the Devil and The Holy Spirit of God----It's telling us about Freedom in Christ. It's also the same verse that Paul says "through faith by Grace we are saved" it doesn't say anything about through The LAW we are saved.When you talk to someone in a christian band if they're not showing you
Love
Joy
Peace
Longsuffering
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control Then you have every right to question them, in private, in love about why they're not showing at least a couple of those. But again.. don't jump down someones throat.. You're human too. and should be looking at yourself before them.by they way.. if they're not... again.. you have to follow:
Matthew 18:15-22....
"If your brother sins (against you) go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.....
But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. if refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as Gentile and a tax collector."Which is supposed to be used only if a fellow brother does something against you personally! Do we realize that people are brought to Christ in different ways? Sometimes I think people can't see past themselves and think that everyone is going to realize God the same exact way they did.If you really truly think that some Christian bands are in some sort of wrong, maybe you're right. but go to them. Go to God.. don't come online and blast them. Especially if you don't know them at all. that's what people mean by "You don't know what you're talking about."The Bible also talks about forgiveness, love, mercy, hope.There is also no way that we as humans convict other people. We're not called to do that either. That actually is Gods' Job again just like judging someones' heart. and It's not judging like the harsh judging it's a judging to see if they love God or not. Like I said before we're all condemned to Hell because we are Sinners. Which isn't the Gospel.Jesus didn't "scorn" the Pharisees he tried to correct them even though He knew they wouldn't listen, that's when he started being what we call "sarcastic." He was probably just annoyed and knew that He knew what He was talking about and they didn't. Remember he was made human when he came to earth. He got His patience from the Holy Spirit not from himself. He loved people enough to try and show them the Kingdom of God, which actually is in all of us (If You're a Christian.)Christian Music is made as an "alternative" to the other music that is out there. Some Christians just can not listen to secular music. It's a spiritual fact. If you're basing a bands' "attitudes" or "faith" on who their fans "seem" to be. that would be a wrong assumption too. Man I could go ON AND ON! lol.But I wont' let me just say thatthe next Revival.. is going to happen because of Music. It's going to happen because of.. Family Force 5 following Gods' calling on their lives..And Satan is scared and he's trying to put fear in the hearts of people around FF5.So he brings ANY ONE he can to attack and confuse people. Even Christians against Christians.. that should give people hope that FF5 is going the direction they're supposed to go. I almost forgot to say that if we're not 100% always godly and we go through regular things in life like break ups, families, fun silly times with friends.... Why can't bands do the same thing in their songs? (and make the lyrics Christ-like or just regular fun silly things?) Like Dancing... which.. is ALSO a form of Worshiping .And if you're not "down for the ride!" I suggest you back away from the big red bus ;).
Be Radiators,Chris
P.S. Just because you get angry... and you're a Christian.. doesn't necassarily mean you are righteously angry

Here I go again.. defending

A video was sent to me yesterday. I do not agree at all with what this guy says in the video. This is merrily to "expose" the untruth in the video. I don't mind if people have an opinion about a band. You don't like their music.. that's fine, you don't like their clothes, whatever... everyone has their opinion but when you take it into your OWN hands and fully bash someone as a person.. that's not at all even remotely right. this is the email I sent the showDear Wretched,This is in reference to the Family Force 5 "bashing" that was done on your TV show. I have been a fan of the brothers of the band for almost 14 years. Although i'm not Close friends with them God has given me a heart for them and a heart to pray for them. They are some of the nicest guys you will ever meet. To go on television and bash someone for what you think they believe in is number one not Christ like and number two. Very hurtful. As Christians we are called to be loving and kind, the words that were said in that episode were neither. We're supposed to uplift our brothers and sisters in Christ even if we don't believe what they are doing is right. When someone has a concern about a fellow Christian the Bible tells us in James that first of all we are to pray for our brothers.
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
The Bible also tells us that there is steps to take when "confronting" a Christian friend when you are questioning them..

Matthew 18:15-22
If your brother sins go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as Gentile and a tax collector.
Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.
For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” No where in there does it say BASH them in front of everyone else and mock what they do or who they are. Jesus wasn't one to hide when he didn't agree with someone for being "legalistic" or "religious." He got upset at people that were mocking those that were using their hearts for God, those who were passionately in Love With God. The Bible tells us in John 3:16 "For God So Loved the WORLD that He gave His only begotten son, that who so ever believes in Him will not perish." That tells me that even though you may not know God, God still loves you." The God that was spoken about in that episode is the angry God we learn about in the Old Testament. We have been forgiven through Christ, The gospel of Christ isn't the ten commandments. Gospel means "Good News" and derives from the Old English word for "God Spell". The Good news of Christ is in Romans 10:15, "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" It's not good news that we have and do not follow the ten commandments and therefore are damned to hell. That's the Bad news! The Good news is the fact that we can find peace in Christ because what He did on the cross for us. When Derek (Mr. Stique) said to the "fan" about Loving people That's what the Gospel is all about, that is the walking Gospel.. WE are to strive to show the Gospel in what we say and do. Knowing Jesus is how we become saved. James 4:11 "God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?" You can not know a persons' heart at all unless you are willing to understand them and pray for them(and even then God will only reveal certain things to you). The only person that knows each persons' heart is God. There is no way you can sit back and say "None of these guys know God." To call them out like that is judgemental, which by the way is also a sin. We are not called To judge people (even if they're not saved) We are called to LOVE them into the kingdom of God. Our first and second commandments from our Saviour is, "To Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself." Love can be a tricky thing if you don't understand it the way that Paul did, 1 Corinthians 13, The Love Chapter shows us that the only way to love is to be completely selfless (which is something that was knocked down on your show.) When you sit there and don't realize how the Holy Spirit is working you are blaspheming God. I have been around the guys of Family Force 5, although they are human the Holy Spirit is in fact there. Having a spirit of arrogance when speaking about a band that is out there showing Gods love and acceptance to these kids that do not get it is one of the best things a christian can do. We are called to go to all areas of the world (Acts 1:8) this doesn't mean that we only go to those that are christians. Jesus told us to go to the sick Jesus went to all people, he didn't discriminate by staying with His disciples, He didn't stay in Bethlehem or Nazareth. Remember that in the Bible, Pharisees tried to embarrass and call out Jesus in front of everyone for being "radical" and different. (he didn't take it and neither should FF5)They also confronted him about the woman prostitute, Jesus loved her and told the others that were ready to kill her that if they hadn't sinned (ever) they could cast the first stone at her. We have the same spirit that Christ did(“The same spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)..... The Holy Spirit is what works in people to bring them to Christ. There is no way that preaching damnation and just the law, that people will receive Christ. You have to give them a relief. You can't just tell people that they're going to hell and this is why! You have to tell them how they can avoid it. You have to give them the Promise, Jesus didn't keep it from people, why are you? As For FF5 music/videos being Soft core porn. First of all most of the girls in that video were Gf's/or close friends of the guys. It's a cheesy video from a very goofy band. Their nicknames are goofy, and aren't meant to mean anything to do with God. it's just a "persona" it's not who they really are It's not something to be taken so seriously that you're mocking them because it's not Christ like. Derek was right about saying that there is no 5 step process. There isn't. We all fall in love with Christ differently, and for different reasons. Rituals do not bring your heart to God. Rituals do not change who you are. Rituals don't help you to recieve the Holy Spirit. (that's what a 5 step process is or can/will turn into.) Falling in love with someone isn't something that can be done by teaching someone. If I don't like someone... I don't like them, i'm not going to fall in love with them because you want me to. You "can't teach someone to fall in love with someone." when someone comes to Christ it's a learning experience and it's a relationship that doesn't just happen. We can teach someone ABOUT Christ, teach them why He did what He did (on the Cross) but there is no way you can teach or make someone fall in love with Christ. He didn't do it that way when He walked this earth, and We shouldn't try to do that either. Since we're not the ones who change the heart in the first place. Knocking the FF5 guys down by saying that they don't show the fruits of the spirit is also not right. None of us, NONE of us show ALL the fruits of the spirit all the time. There is no way to do that. I have hung out with the guys more then I ever thought I would, I have seen them show all the fruits of the spirit even if it wasn't all at once. God looks at the heart of a person. If you didn't know, Satan is the one who tries to bring up someones past mistakes to shake them up and get them to go back to that, thinking that they are too "wretched" for God. Which... there is no doubt that we are wretched.. UNTIL we recieve Christ. When we accept Christ as our saviour we become a new creature in Him. There are promises all over the New Testament of the Bible that contradict what you are saying that we are. In Christ we are "free", we are Loved, We are His Children, we are "saints," we are complete in Him, (verses can be found here- ( http://battlecry.com/pages/who_am_i_in_christ.php ) They have talent, skills, and they could be using it for things that have nothing to do with God, yet they strive to show people that just because we're Christians does not mean that we can not have fun. The Bible tells us not to "Conform to this world." That doesn't mean that we're not IN it and that we shouldn't live in it. We are to do things differently. When the band goes on tour with non christians and the guys of this band pull out their Bibles (which they do) and have Bible Study... That is not conforming to this World, that is showing that they have a faith that they hold dearly onto. That is their witness They are in the land of wolves and when Christians also start coming against them what kind of Spiritual things do you think you're putting over them!? Words are powerful and no matter where you say them they will still hurt OR uplift a person no matter where they are. Angels and Demons alike run with your words. Demons were after all Angels once.. and they still have the "like" "power" that they had it's just twisted and warped and they use it in decieving ways. They weren't completely stripped of their ableness to be around us. If A word can build someone up from a far (Prayer, intercessing) then it can bring someone down at the same time (cursing, gossip.) Which bands would you rather our kids listen too? Those who are living a Christian life, Who know who Christ is or those who have no clue who God is and wouldn't if He showed up in front of them? Who else do teens have to listen too if it's not someone who is bold enough that after someone says to him "I don't believe in Jesus." and he answers back with "Well Jesus Believes in you." That's the kind of person, If I had kids, I would want them to look up to. Teenagers need something morally correct to look up too, Something that shows Christian morals, They don't want what older generations had, they don't like it, they're not into it. They want something that looks like them that they can relate too. And if they ask the guys of FF5 about God each guy is more then willing to pray with them, tell them about God, tell them their experience, and answer their questions as best as they can. None of those guys are perfect and I've never heard any of them claim to be. Each loves God as much as they've been given. Where they are in their walk with Christ is between them and their Heavenly Father. If you sit and question every little thing another Christian does you are going to make yourself crazy. And eventually you're going to lose your faith because of it. "Tell The World that Jesus is My Saviour... Everybody outta tell the world theres' a new a brighter day...."Be Radiators,************************ Chris