This is a section from Pia Desideria, by Philip Jacob Spener, most of which is a actually a quote of Martin Luther.

"What did our sainted Luther seek more ardently than to induce the people to a diligent reading of the Scripture? He even had some misgivings about allowing his books to be published, lest the people be made more slothful thereby in the reading of the Scriptures. His words in Volume I of the Altenburg edition of his works read:

'I should gladly have seen all my books forgotten and destroyed, if only for the reason that I am afraid of the example I may give. For I see what benefit it has brought to the church that men have begun to collect many books and great libraries outside and alongside of the Holy Scriptures, and especially have begun to scramble together without and distinction, all sorts of “fathers,” “councils,” and “doctors.” Not only had good time been wasted and study of the Scriptures neglected, but the pure understanding of God’s Word is lost… It was out intention and hope when we began to put the Bible into German that there would be less writing and more studying and reading of the Scriptures. For all other writings should point to the Scriptures… Neither fathers nor councils nor we ourselves will do so well, even when our very best is done, as the Holy Scriptures have done- that is to say, as God himself has done. …I only ask in all kindness that the man who at this time wishes to have my books will by no means let them be a hindrance to his own study of the Scriptures, etc.'"

I go to Christian college, I get at least 8 hours of reading a week.... how much is actually the Scripture. Take a guess. This is my complaint.

I see that no one seems to have any answers for my regarding music, but it just so happens that I stumbled upon a site myself. While it doesn't solve the bigger issue of a lack of Christian music, I found a site which is probably familiar to a lot of people, which I had never been to. The site is called rcrdlbl.com, (recordlabel.com - vowels= rcrdlbl.com) which hosts pages for bands that are actually good. Think myspace music or purevolume, but only containing bands that actually have fans. Apparently the site must actually have a relationship of some sort with the band on its pages, because they are all bands that apparently have followings, of a variety of styles, most with downloadable tracks. This is the place to go if your looking for new bands that people haven't heard of. Just don't be like the millions of fans who claim that their bands have "sold out" when they become popular and everyone you know likes them too.

You know who you are.

Act like you have great musical taste, and then get mad at the fact that everyone likes that band.

You didn't discover them.

I am sad to say I cannot claim ownership of this beautiful piece..

Oh the ineffable emotion concieved by the rose of the field,
It is provokation through beauty by which it begins to yield,
But nay it is not even that, but so much more even still,
It breaks the hardest hearts at times and bends the strongest will,
How is it that such a small thing should so fixate the mind?
And so to some men's hearts and souls', deep philosophy bind,
The crimpson flare which graces its petals is anything but solemn,
And speckles of the morning dew reveal where angel's lips have befallen,
Yet even still there is something that alludes my mind with stealth,
Behind philosophy and image lingers yet something else...

This is really great, to understand that the sheer beauty of God in all things He has come in contact with, here personified in the rose, is enough to break the most hardened of heart, even those unwilling to accept the truth of His Word or the love of the Saint. In God's beauty, we can see something on a deeper level, we can see that this beauty which blankets all physical and emotional reality is reliant upon His love, and in place were we see the greatest beauty, His love abounds twentyfold...

Wow, I really need to be more consistent about posting on here. I have been informed that I do actually now have people who read this, which is encouraging in creating consistency in writing. But anyway....

Today I have a simple question for ya.

I like music a lot. It is a major part of who I am, both in creating and listening to it. However, if you asked me who I like, I always struggle to answer that. There is very little music I despise.... but as far as music I truly like goes, I am all over the place with mostly bands people don't really know much about. These days, I have really been moving more toward music that sounds good but doesn't sound so heavily produced, more live sounding....

A Formula Describing My Dilemma

Premises

1. I prefer the sounds of bands such as The Cold War Kids, The Arcade Fire, Modest Mouse, TV On The Radio, Radiohead, etc...

2. Christian music is relatively not good. Aka- Most of the stuff on Christian radio isn't really worthwhile. I mean, you have 5% that is worth listening to (personal opinion) and 20% the is spiritually encouraging in lyric, and they barely overlap. Friends agree with me.

Therefore

I really want to listen to more Christian music, but it seems the industry in Christian realms has been so forceful in destroying an appearance of Christian incompetence in music as to disallow any genre resembling these more homegrown sounds.

Maybe too many Christian just hate this music.

Maybe Christians cannot physically play this music.

Maybe this music has evil beats and rhythms.

Maybe it's a conspiracy. (Always a possibility)

Or Maybe I just don't know about any of the bands that are out there.

I hope this is the case, I mean, I am not a music industry guru, so I am probably missing most of the music I would like the best.

If you are one of the blessed who recognize some of those names above, please let me know of any bands you could suggest. Preferably Christian. But whatever. This needs solving.

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Francis Schaeffer writes, in Escape from Reason,

"We thus know something wonderful about man. Among other things, we know his origin and who he is-- he is made in the image of God. Man is not only wonderful when he is 'born again' as a Christian, he is also wonderful as God made him in His image. Man has value because of who he was originally before the Fall.
I was recently lecturing in Santa Barbara, and was introduced to a boy who had been on drugs. He had a good-looking, sensitive face, long curly hair, sandals on his feet and was wearing blue jeans. He came to hear me lecture and said, 'This is brand new, I've never heard anything like this." So he was brought along the next afternoon, and I greeted him. He looked me in the eyes and said, 'Sir, that was a beautiful greeting. Why did you greet me like that?' I said, 'Because I know who you are-- I know you are made in the image of God.' We then had a tremendous conversation. We cannot deal with people like human beings, we cannot deal with the on the high level of true humanity, unless we really know their origin-- who they are. God tells man who he is. God tells us that He created man in his image. So man is something beautiful."

I copy all of this a a precursor to discuss what God has been subtly pointing out to me in a way I don't think I have ever really been ready to receive until now. I see this in friends lives as a definitive hindrance to their everyday relationships. I see this most greatly in my own life. The issue of truly loving others is one which is mentioned but never truly given the focus and attention it needs. Jesus called this the second greatest commandment, but any shallow inquiry into most lives reveals that we do not take this calling seriously enough. We need make consistent choices to serve Christ first with our lives. This takes things like being committed to God's word, living with it in our lives and as our thinking point. It also takes a commitment to higher integrity and standards than we currently have. They should always be growing. But, our second greatest focus in life should be on treating people right. It is strange that we can go to a Christan school and hear about reaching the world and the church, but have issues we have no intention of correcting with one another.
My life has been continually plagued by issues in relation to others. And here's the thing, I (along with so many others) have a heart for people. I love missions, my heart cries for the lost I meet. But I think harsh thought toward people I find incompetent. I think down on the people to whom I am closest. I haven't been willing to accept it for along time. I didn't know the extent of the problem, but I knew it was there and it honestly seemed so big to tackle that I figured the effort was a worthless waste of time. But it has to change to live a life honoring God. We all struggle with this in some capacity. The ex-boyfriend who we mock with our friends. The neo-conservatives or liberal theologians we joke about in class. The fallen pastors, politicians, and celebrities we whisper about and use as conversation starts with strangers. All of this is a destruction of the beauty of God within humanity. We are still in his image, and we cannot hope to be continually pulling in closer to Him with our lives if we are making constant effort to defame humanity. Regardless of my situation, I need to learn to consider others about my self, not to simply put it on my list of things to do, pray on it, and watch for the 'beautiful transformation' that will never occur, but to be making conscious, concerted efforts to think of all others more highly than myself, and value them in the way I treat them.