Tonight on Mill Ave I was sincerely asked if it's a sin to listen to rap music. Absolutely not... at least in and of itself. He said his parents didn't want him listening to Rap music... I advised that it's a sin not to honor your father and mother. More than likely they weren't apposed to the beat or rhythm but rather the disgusting themes and lyrics of the music. I advised him that there's several Christian artists that produce rap music that is more theological than most churches.

In short, the answer to the question "Is Rap Music a Sin?" is NO. Here's one example of a great Christian artist Lecrae who sings a very good song about salvation:

Lyrics to Take Me As I Am:
Its 5:46 in the morning; tossin and turnin; chest burnin; sermons in my head keep reoccurring; havin visions in my head of a kid cryin at the feet of the father for all the wrong things that he did; now im sweatin in my sheets, cant sleep; my mind keeps tellin me im 6 feet deep; dont remind me; even though im still alive i cant tell; the way im livin my life i feel im goin to hell; god, they tellin me i should except you; that you had to leave the world cause the world left you; reason i cant change; like a mystery to me; so i make-believe there really is a heaven for a g; even though they say you loved the world so much you shed your blood; god, i feel im too messed up for love; they tell me come as i am; but i smell like smoke; my whole life is full of sin cause its all i know; the bible told me you died for my sins; if i believe in Christ to save me from the end; but im scared to ask you to save me; my heart so weable; ive got thoughts just full of hatred; hurt from people; i thought that first i had to clean up my light; now im here and i just gotta clean to the light; im ready to do it but, i pray you understand; my life is a mess, will you take me as i am 

Will you take me as i am; i know the way im livin is wrong, but i cant change on my own tryin to make it alone; i wonder, how could u love me with my life so ugly; when you came down and died for me.Will you take me as i am; i know the way im livin is wrong, but i cant change on my own tryin to make it alone; i wonder, how could u love me with my life so ugly; when you came down and died for me. 

im still tryin to be the man my daddy ever taught me to be; im grown up now, life aint what i thought it would be; i made many mistakes in my past i cant fix; now im starin at this crucifix, tainted on my wrist; is it true what they tellin me am i just crazy; did you bleed on the cross for my sins to save me; but why would you die for me; my whole life ive been workin for Satan while he fed lies to me; and now im hearin too much; tryin to get in true touch; about a love that can change me; im all screwed up; figured hell is what i deserve; but ur word says we all fall shook; so i guess we all owe a bird; teach me i want to learn; how you can save a wretch like me before death sends its last turn; i think i finally understand; no matter my past you'll still take me as i am. 

Will you take me as i am; i know the way im livin is wrong, but i cant change on my own tryin to make it alone; i wonder, how could u love me with my life so ugly; when you came down and died for me.Will you take me as i am; i know the way im livin is wrong, but i cant change on my own tryin to make it alone; i wonder, how could u love me with my life so ugly; when you came down and died for me. Will you take me as i am. 

i had a few last words to give; ive been tellin people the reason to live, the reason to die; united with the king of the sky; this life is passin us by, ive got no reason to lie; you'll never give the world enough; they'll hunger for more; there fixin there ways of nothin to settle the score; more security than the man who left you; or more love than the mommas who kept you; he'll always except you; be everything your supposed to; let christ rule your heart mind body and soul because he chose you; and if the world dont know you; it dont matter, your god's child and he'll never disown you; your purpose on earth is far from worthless; thats why you glorify like your lifes been purchased; and it dont matter if the world dont see us; we still mean the world to jesus. 

Will you take me as i am; i know the way im livin is wrong, but i cant change on my own tryin to make it alone; i wonder, how could u love me with my life so ugly; when you came down and died for me.Will you take me as i am; i know the way im livin is wrong, but i cant change on my own tryin to make it alone; i wonder, how could u love me with my life so ugly; when you came down and died for me. Will you take me as i am

• The average life expectancy for men was 47 years.
  
• Fuel for this car was sold in drug stores only.
  
• Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.
  
• Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
  
• There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads.
  
• The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
  
• The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
  
• The average US wage in 1910 was 22 cents per hour.
  
• The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year.
  
• A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, A dentist $2,500 per year, 
a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about 
$5,000 per year.
  
• More than 95 percent of all births took place at home.

Ninety percent of all Doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press 
AND the government as 'substandard.'
  
• Sugar cost four cents a pound.
  
• Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
  
• Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
  
• Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
  
• Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.
  
• The American flag had 45 stars. But in 1907 there were 46 states !!!???
  
• The population of Las Vegas , Nevada  was only 30!

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented yet.
  
• There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
  
• Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write and only 6 percent of all Americans had 
graduated from high school.
  
• There were about 230 reported murders in the entire United States!
  
• The Five leading causes of death were:
  

1. Pneumonia and influenza
   
2. Tuberculosis
   
3. Diarrhea
   
4. Heart disease
   
5. Stroke
   

Even though the causes of death are different now days, the statistics haven't changed: 10 out of 10 people die.  The Bible says that it's appointed once for man to die, and after this comes judgment. Do you think when you die you'll be innocent before God?  Well, let's take a look at the standard by which you'll be judged: the 10 Commandments.

The ninth commandment is you shall not bare false witness (tell a lie).  Have you ever lied?  The eighth commandment states "You shall not steal."  Have you ever taken anything that didn't belong to you, irrespective of it's value?  The seventh commandment is "You shall not commit adultery" and Jesus magnified that law by stating if you even look at someone with lust you've already committed adultery in your heart with that person.  So if you've broken those laws God sees you as a lying thief and adulterer at heart.  On Judgment day when you stand before God will you be innocent or guilty? If you're honest with yourself, you know you'll be guilty.  And should God therefore send you to heaven or hell?

The Bible says that God will punish all murderers, rapists, thieves, liars, adulterers, etc. He will even judge our words and thoughts. On Judgment Day, will you be found to be innocent or guilty of breaking His commandments?

Perhaps you think that God is good, and will therefore overlook your sins. But it is His goodness that will make sure that murderers, rapists, thieves, liars, etc. receive justice. He would be a corrupt Judge if He turned a blind eye to injustice.

You may say that you are still good, but God says you’re not (see Psalm 14:2-3). So one of you is lying, and the Scriptures tell us that it is impossible for God to lie. Remember that all liars will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 21:8). God’s Law demands justice, and the penalty for sinning against Him is death and Hell. Listen carefully, if you want to live.

God Himself made a way where His justice and His goodness could meet. We broke the Law, but He became a man to pay the fine. Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross to satisfy the Law. God can forgive us and grant us the gift of everlasting life!

But you may still think that you can (from now on) keep the Ten Commandments. But isn’t it true that the best of us have lied, stolen, lusted, hated, failed to love God above all else, and failed to love our neighbor as ourselves?

How can we then, live a “good” life if we have already sinned against God? At best we are reformed liars and thieves … but still Lawbreakers. The Bible says, “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” You cannot earn a gift.

When Jesus said to “believe” on Him, He was saying we should have faith in Him, in the same way you would trust a parachute to save you when you jump from a plane. You don’t merely believe in the parachute - you put it on.

Please don’t “jump” without Jesus. If you die in your sins there is no second chance. God will give you justice, and you will end up in Hell forever. Any troubles you have at present are dwarfed by the trouble you are in with your Creator. His wrath abides upon you (John 3:36).

God doesn’t want you to go to Hell. Neither do you want to go there, so confess your sins to God right now, put your trust in Jesus to save you, and you will pass from death to life. Then read the Bible daily and obey what you read. (See John 14:21). Your obedience to God is the proof of your love. Have faith in God, He will never fail you.

~ by God's Grace
   brandt dary

This year at Apple's WWDC Conference I had the opportunity to listen to Lost director J. J Abrams during a talk titled The Physics of Inspiration. During his talk Abrams discussed his childhood and some early stories of his film career. He mentioned that when he was a teenager he received a call from Steven Spielberg who asked him for some help editing some 8mm film that Steven had filmed when he was younger. I don't know quite why, but I find Hollywood and celebrity stories interesting.

At one point J.J. mentioned that his hair was the way it was because he was Jewish and frazzled.  When Abrams said he was Jewish I thought it was good that at least he wasn't a fool who believed there was no God (Atheists). However after listening to him talk and hearing the fowl language he used, including blasphemy, I doubted that he actually believed in the God of the Bible.

J.J. Abrams may be a good writer, a good director, but he's certainly not a good person. I pray that J.J. Abrams will take a close look at the 10 Commandments. I know God used them to show me my true nature. What do the 10 commandments have to do with being a good person? Well, think of it like this, you may think you're a good person until you look at the ten commandments. Let me show you:

The ninth commandment is out shall not lie (bear false witness). Have you ever told a lie? If you have, that makes you a liar. Have you ever stolen anything? That's the eight commandment. If you've stolen, regardless of it's value, that makes you a thief. So that's just two of the ten commandments... And if you've broken those, you're a lying thief. That doesn't sound like a very good person does it? And think of how many times you've done those things.

I mentioned blasphemy before, that's taking God's name in vein, using it irreverently. Abrams did this multiple times in his talk.

The Bible says it's appointed once for man to die, and after comes the judgement. That means if J.J. Abrams was to die today, he'd have to face God, and he'd be guilty. We only looked at three of the ten commandments, and that's enough to condemn Abrams, and me. What about you?

Sounds like the self proclaimed Jewish director J. J. Abrams is in trouble. The Bible warns that if he dies in his sins (sin is breaking God's Laws) he'll not only end up in hell, but be there forever.  God is so just and good that he hates sin. He HATES SIN. So, in addition to hoping that J.J. Abrams doesn't die soon, I hope that he doesn't die in his sins.

You, or he, might wonder J.J. Abrams has already sinned, so how is it possible that he wouldn't die in his sins. Well, the same God that hates sin, also is rich in mercy. God made a way for sinful people like me and J.J. Abrams to get their sins forgiven, thus they won't die in their sins. What's the way?

Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. That's what Jesus said. Jesus Christ is God's Son who was sent to earth to be the Way that not only could our sins be forgiven but His righteousness was given to us. Whoa, I'll back up in case I lost you. Think about it like this. We broke God's Law and Jesus paid our fine. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless, life. Then he suffered and died on the cross as a payment for sin.

This means that J.J. Abrams and anyone else who hasn't needs to realize that they've sinned against God. Realize that he is not nearly good enough to go to heaven and very qualified to go to hell (like me) because of their sins. J.J. Abrams needs to then understand that Jesus Christ is the only way he can enter heaven and then trust that Jesus died on the cross for his sins.

I pray for J.J. Abrams and I hope that he will repent and trust in Jesus Christ. I don't put J.J. Abrams up on a pedestal and it's not like I want him to go to heaven anymore than anyone else. I just saw him today and I felt compelled to write this and attempt to share the gospel with him or anyone else that reads it.

Right now J.J. Abrams is truly LOST.  If you're a Christian reading this, please join me in praying that J.J. Abrams will repent of his sins and trust in the Way, Jesus Christ.

Saved by God's Grace
~ brandt dary

NOTE: To be very clear, I do not dislike J.J. Abrams in any way. I liked The show LOST (until the sixth season). And I am in no way upset at J.J. Abrams.

Very rarely would I ever point someone to the "Praise the Lord" program or the "TBN" network.  This is one of those rare occasions.  According to Eric Hovind, who appeared on the show, this program on TBN has become the most viewed video ever on TBN! If you've ever wondered how old the earth is, or if that issue even matters, this program will answer the question.  You'll find some who believe in an "Old Earth" and others that believe in a "Young Earth" and one who claims to be in the middle. This program is great for Christians and non-christians alike.  Grab some popcorn and your loved ones and check this out.

Matt Crouch hosts Ken Ham from Answers in Genesis/Creation Museum, Dr. Hugh Ross from Reasons to Believe, Ray Comfort from Living Waters, Dr. John A. Bloom from Science & Religion Program Biola University, Sean McDowell from Sean McDowell Worldview Ministries, Eric Hovind from Creation Today and music by Christian Ebner.

My thoughts on the subject / program.

First, I am not a "Young-Earther."  I for one believe that 6,000 years isn't young at all.  To be clear, that was a joke... I agree with Ken Ham that the authority of my believe, and truth, is God's Word (the Bible).  I don't believe there is anyone who would come to the conclusion of millions or billions of years after reading the Bible.  I never believed, as a result of reading God's Word, that the world was millions of years old.  I remember when I was an early Christian and the subject of Dinosaurs came up with me... Yes, I believed (because I was taught in schools and from a young age) that the world must have been millions of years old since I believed that dinosaurs lived on earth and I was told that they died about 65 million years ago.

I don't believe I could say it any more clearly than Ken Ham, Eric Hovind or Ray Comfort explained it within this program, so I won't try. I will say that I agree with them.  I will make sure to disregard anything I hear in the future from Hugh Ross, or at least pass it through a very strict filter. Regarding Sean Mcdowell, I think he needs to get off the fence and choose his position… I think that his position of sitting on the fence is like someone who is really sitting on a fence… it hurts, and it's not a good place to be.

I am a bit worried for Hugh Ross… because he said what brought him to a faith in Jesus Christ was some understanding he got about creation when he was younger… If that's all that 'brought' him to Christ, then I fear for him and his soul. That is not the right motive to come to a savior.  To learn more about that, watch any of Ray Comforts videos (for one, God's Wonderful Plan, found here on this site.)  As Ray Comfort explains towards the end of the program, there is one reason to come to Jesus Christ for salvation… and it deals with something that we need a savior for.

Honestly, if I was in a college course taught by John A. Bloom I would drop out immediately.  It's strange to me that someone who is a Doctor, and proclaimed to be so smart is sooo loosey-goosey.  He seems to be sitting on a fence just like Sean, which isn't a good place to be.

As for the music by Christian Ebner: I thought his voice was pleasant and I liked the second song he sang.  I didn't like the first song he sang as I thought it was too "warm and fuzzy" for me. I will say in closing, it's probably better to be ignorant like Bloom and McDowell, than wrong like Dr. Ross.

That's my thoughts...
~ brandt dary