thirdsaint

It's personal... with music... Category: Music Views: 147 A couple of guys from my youth group were over at my place late one night after church and as usual we got on the subject of music. That's one thing we definitely have in common (aside from acting like idiots and laughing so hard our sides hurt and someone nearly chokes on pizza), a passion for music. A couple of the guys are into the hardcore/metal scene in Christian music and a couple more are into hard rock but there's common ground all around. Anyhow, we were talking about who our favorite bands were or our 'top 5' in music. One of the guys said 'Underoath' though he couldn't find words to explain why. Another said 'Devil Wears Prada' was his favorite and he touched on the fact that he just connected with them on a personal level that he couldn't explain. The Underoath guy was like, 'Hey, that's pretty much how it is for me and Underoath. I just connect with the lyrics and also the type of things Aaron (drummer for UO) went through'. He's a drummer too so there was that connection. Even though I can't understand that personal connection they have with that music I can easily respect that there is something there they get strength from. Then I got to talking about how Jars of Clay was my favorite because I can connect so many of their songs (both lyrics and the mood) with so many things in my walk with Christ up to this point. That got me thinking (and the point of this blog) about how each of us connect with music on a personal level at some point and although there's a lot of bands we love; there are usually only a select few we can connect with on a personal level for whatever reason. We all know that Satan was the 'choir director', if you will, of Heaven before he was thrown out. I have to think he's very much jealous of how we create music and worship to feel God's presence because he used to be in that spot. I also believe he uses music (not all secular stuff mind you) in this world because he KNOWS our souls connect with it and it can be just as deceiving and depressing as it can be uplifting. If he can get someone who has just gone through a serious breakup with their girl/boyfriend to listen to some depressing, bleak music then he has a foot in the door to do what he does best. Steal, kill, and destroy. I know this because I've experienced it with the secular music I used to have until I realized what it was doing to my spirit when I was going through trials. Ok, I got way off track in that last paragraph but it's all good. For you who are reading this blog and didn't fall asleep yet, please give your thoughts on what music you connect to personally or if you think I'm just a blabbering idiot. Won't hurt my feelings. :-P

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j3sus_chik	August 17, 2008, 23:28PM  Well We already had a conversation about this topic but I wanted to say that I agree with you 100% and I couldnt have said it any better myself =]
NRTeamAdmin	August 05, 2008, 14:57PM  thirdsaint - A great post with some great conversation happening. Here's 10 points. I'll be highlighting this in this week's email newsletter.
thirdsaint	August 05, 2008, 11:17AM  Ah, well that one isn't much better IMO, heh. It's like you said though, obviously God has something else in mind and that's how I try and look at it. Sometimes that's easier said than done though. This last breakup wasn't that hard on me since the relationship was a stupid decision on my part and more of a reaction of the last breakup I had at the end of March. That one is the relationship that was strong and I've found I still haven't moved on 100%. One of those cases where I think things would've worked out if circumstances were different. I guess I've kind of gone off topic so I'll try to get back on. :-P Usually when something like that happens I feel the need to go out and get some new music that I don't have any emotional attachment to. It's great when it's something new I can connect to on a personal level that helps me move on. Cool Hand Luke and Switchfoot have done that for me recently.
carrtoondragon	August 05, 2008, 11:09AM  Good guess, but it was actually "The Older I Get". I'm sorry about you and your gf. My break-up was a little over 2 months ago. The annoying thing about the song though is it was stuck in my head so it wasn't like it was a one time thing. It popped in and out over a few days.
thirdsaint	August 05, 2008, 10:58AM  Was it that 'Say Goodbye' song by Skillet? I honestly can't stand that song because I feel a depressing spirit about it and I refused to listen to it. Especially when I broke up with my girlfriend recently. Perhaps God moved me to write that paragraph for a reason. I also recently broke up with my girlfriend last week. I think a lot of people on this site are at the age where something like that is huge and we have to be careful what music we listen to when it happens. I personally lay off any music that may remind me of that relationship since it brings back memories.
the_one_the_only	August 05, 2008, 10:56AM  Wow... You know, i didn't really understand what hit me so much about music til i read this :) I guess the band that does it most for me would be Kutless. They're song Promise Of A Lifetime ALWAYS gets me. I guess the lyrics discribe how my life used to be, and what changed. Also, their song Take Me In hit me as well. It reminds me of our need to be with God. They also have a ton of other songs that just.... do it for me, like from their newest album, the songs Complete and To Know That You're Alive. But ya... Awesome blog! Really got me thinking!
carrtoondragon	August 05, 2008, 10:52AM  I agree. Music is very personal. I just had to laugh at the part where you talked about the break-up thing because Satan hit me there just last week with a Skillet song. Although it was more for me to miss her than anything, but it still depressed me. I know God has different plans for me in my life than her though.
thirdsaint	August 05, 2008, 09:59AM  Yup, that's how it is for me and Jars of Clay as well as The Listening. I'm also getting the same vibe from Switchfoot and Cool Hand Luke but I only have one CD of each. The lyrics on Worlds Apart are easily the most poignant and powerful of any song I've heard for what I've been going through this year. Just for kicks I'm going to post the part I'm talking about below: I look beyond the empty cross Forgetting what my life has cost And wipe away the crimson stains And dull the nails that still remains More and more I need you now, I owe you more each passing hour The battle between grace and pride I gave up not so long ago So steal my heart and take the pain And wash the feet and cleanse my pride Take the selfish, take the weak, And all the things I cannot hide Take the beauty, take my tears The sin and soaked heart and make it yours Take my world all apart Take it now, take it now And serve the ones that I despise Speak the words I can't deny Watch the world I used to love Fall to dust and thrown away I look beyond the empty cross Forgetting what my life has cost So wipe away the crimson stains And dull the nails that still remain So steal my heart and take the pain Take the selfish, take the weak And all the things I cannot hide Take the beauty, take my tears Take my world apart, take my world apart I pray, I pray, I pray Take my world apart My God, I got chills just reading over that as the music played in my head. That's what connecting to music on a personal level is all about.
linds4lif	August 05, 2008, 09:53AM  hey, i difinitely didn't fall asleep! I sooooo understand what you are talking about with music; it is my 2nd passion...I pretty much live and breathe music!!! I know what you are saying, like some bands i listen to i just get chill bumps everytime i listen to their stuff or when i need something to lift me up when i'm down, i will go to my i-pod and play them. For me i have three bands i really extremely connect to: Relient K, Anberlin, and The Classic Crime!!! My family thinks i pretty insane when it comes to those bands...they asked me why I like them so much and i said "i dont know why, there is just something about their lyrics, music, and vocals that makes my little soul swoon and be happy! :) Lovely blog....
kevindavis	August 05, 2008, 09:50AM  I'm with you 100%. I love all types of music but personally connect with Jars of Clay, Shaun Groves, Derek Webb, Todd Agnew and Sara Groves most. They are all somewhat folk artists in that they write autobiographical songs about their Christian walk which is why I love them so much as they meet me where I am. Great post.