"Sharing" The Gospel

I accidentally stumbled upon a Christian TV channel one evening where I was introduced to a seemingly sincere and humble group of singers called "The Crabb Family". I was blown away by the emotion and soul that comes across in their voices, but only caught the very end of their last song performed. Not being much of Christian music fan, I decided to do a little research on the group to see what their bigger hits were in order to download them to listen to the complete songs. I found that some of their earlier music is a little too hard-core bluegrass and wasn't really up my alley. However, some of their newer stuff was really appealing. I downloaded some tunes, burned a CD, and listened to it in my car, at work, and at home. I was slowly turning into a huge Crabb Family fanatic!

Last night, I was checking out their website www.thecrabbfamily.com, and I somehow stumbled onto an older article with a quote from Jason Crabb regarding a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the unlawfulness of piracy and downloading/sharing music files. Jason says "I commend the Supreme Court on their stand to protect individuals who draw their income from the music and film industry with today's ruling. I pray the world takes time to educate themselves on the subject of 'file sharing' and the depth of its effect on the world of music. Most people think when they 'file share' it only takes the standard $15 out of the Crabb Family's pocket, but they don't think about my father, who mainly writes our songs, our mother, our wives, our husbands, our children, the dedicated friends who run our office, our bus driver, and so on. This is our life, as well as our livelihood." (Article can be found at http://christianmusic.about.com/od/musicnews/a/aagmasupreme.htm)

At first, I was really ashamed of downloading their music based on his "sob story", but then as I got to thinking, my mindset changed. First, I admit to downloading their music, however, this sin resulted in several album sales for them by me. The year I discovered The Crabb Family, I went out and bought three of their CDs, and gave them to my mother and grandmother for Christmas. I wanted to turn more people onto this group, and increase their fan base. (Yes, I know I am the greatest fan anyone could have.)

Secondly, I can't believe that folks like Jason Crabb and Steven Curtis Chapman are throwing their two cents worth in on supporting piracy laws. The institution of God has created an ultra comfortable lifestyle for many artists and evangelists. I would presume that if an individual feels a calling from the Lord to enter the ministry full-time, they aren't exactly seeing dollar signs. I know alot of full time preachers that make ends meet, but don't have the financial luxury to live extravagantly. Money doesn't always accompany a life dedicated to "sharing the gospel". That's the way it goes. It's not fair, but it's life. And like I love to say, "Sometimes life just isn't fair."

If the goal of people in the ministry is to share the gospel, then they should do just that. "Share" the gospel. If file sharing software like LimeWire and Napster are helping you reach people that you wouldn't normally reach from inside of a church, I would think this would be a good thing. Actually, it's a great thing. If a non-Christian isn't watching TBN or shopping at the Christian bookstore, maybe downloading a Christian song is just the thing to aid someone in turning their heart toward the Lord.

My last point is that most non-believers aren't going to spend their precious spread-thin money on a CD of Christian music when they aren't sure what they are getting. I would think that people that dedicate their lives to the ministry of doing God's work would want to openly spread the good news, not charge admission to hear it. Mark 16:15 (KJV) says: "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." If music is a way to minister to every creature, why do the artists care if they get paid to do so. Wouldn't it make more sense to follow the Lord's command for your life, and trust in Him fully that he will provide what you need? Sometimes what we need isn't always what we want.

Perfect example is that I (the bad, despicable Christian music pirate) found a concert that the Crabb Family is doing in Louisville on March 16th, and in turn, told all of my friends, family, and coworkers about. So far, we've got around 10 people going, and by the time March rolls around, we will have many, many more. Chances are that the folks that attend the concert (based on me "sharing" the news of the performance) will be compelled to donate in a "love offering" to the Crabb Family, and will more than likely give much more than that $15 CD would yield in profits.

You never know, I might even buy a CD after the March 16th concert. Or I might just continue rocking my pirated CD, knowing that in my heart, I did not download the music with an intent to hurt any member of the Crabb Family, nor their father, mother, wives, husbands, friends, and tour bus driver.

Is this lawsuit really simply a ruling that this country will penalize someone for wanting to hear a song for free? Is today's file sharing any different than taping a song off of the radio on an 80s boom box? Don't Christians complain that the government is taking God out of our country by removing the 10 Commandments from courthouses and outlawing prayer in schools? In my opinion, Christians that don't want people downloading their music are aiding this country in silencing the believers. People, wake up. Sharing the gospel shouldn't come with a cost associated.

(This blog is copyrighted and protected under the blog piracy ruling. Copying or sharing of this post will result in fines and/or prison time.) Just kidding...I had to throw that in there. Live and love, friends!

That's Just Jessie

Since Jessie is on me all of the time to update my blog, I'm going to dedicate this entire post to her. That's what you get for being so pushy ;)

My sweet cousin, Jessica Shay Smith, is a good girl. We've been close since the minute that she was born. She's always been full of energy and has been very strong. We used to fight all the time, in a loving way of course. However, it was so bad at one point, my Grandma Dee refused to take us anywhere together. My mom wrecked her car into the basketball pole in the Main Cross Church parking lot one time because she was turned around reaching into the backseat trying to break me and my girl up from an especially brutal scrap session. I ran her head into the wall when she wouldn't clean. She nearly broke my thumb slamming the phone on it, and I tried to shove her into the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.

Ahhhh, such good times. She moved away for college. I moved in with Robbie. I had a kid and I got married (in that order). She moved back to Indiana. She got married and had a kid (in that order). She got divorced. She started dating. I got divorced. I'm still waiting for that first date. ;)

We're probably closer now that we've ever been, which is hard to imagine since I've always considered her to be my sister more than cousin. Even with our special bond and similar upbringing, we couldn't be more opposite if we tried. I've put together a little comparison below, and I hope she embraces and celebrates our differences.

1.) She wants to get married and live the fairy tale life with picket fences, butterflies, and puppy dogs. Probably a farm with lots of flowers and plants that she can tend to when she passes time. She wants to make sun tea and fried chicken and deliver it in a perfectly coordinated picnic basket to her hard-working man on a tractor in a field, while her kids are perfectly content cross-stiching their monogram into their pillowcases, just like she taught them.

I don't want to get married again, and love being single. This is the best time of my life. I wouldn't change anything at this point, and I'm not looking to be tied down by another man, ever. (Keep in mind that this single difference between Jessie and I cause the most drama in our relationship.)

2.) She wants lots of additional kids, whether she gives birth or marries her dream man whose wife died and left him with 6 young'ns to raise. She is excellent with kids and sets up special "Cookie Baking Day" parties, she buys the coolest snacks, and all of the kids in the family want to always go to Jessie's house.

I love my two kids, but don't want anymore to raise. My tubes are tied and cut, and that will never change. My dream man doesn't want kids of his own or has kids in their twenties. I would prefer to end up with someone without little kids.

3.) Jessie is very domesticated. She loves to make things. She sews, paints, makes crafts, cooks, cleans, and makes a mean gingerbread house.

I'm not very crafty, but I can cook when I have to. I would prefer to pull pre-made food from the freezer and throw it in the oven for every meal.

4.) She is a homebody that enjoys hanging out at her house watching movies and making homemade popcorn and sweet tea. It doesn't bother her to never go out on the town. She is perfectly content never having a babysitter on the weekends. She likes to go to bed early (before 10), and readily offers to watch my kids when I want to go out.

I only stay home when I have my kids, and once Landon has some age on him, I'll probably be dragging them out all of the time, too. I love staying out late on my "no kids" weekends, and dragging myself home around 5 a.m. I can have parties at my house, but I usually convince everyone to go out when they assemble at my place. I love mixing and mingling, and could be on my death bed, and still go out. (FYI - Jessie reluctantly agreed to go out with my on New Year's Eve, but then made me take her home at 11 p.m. Of course, I headed back out after grabbing my karaoke player and some CDs.)

5.) Jessie is 5'2" and blonde.

I'm 5'10" and usually a brunette. (People say we look so much alike, and we find that so amusing. I call her my twin.)

Obviously, we have lots of differences, but we both love to laugh, tell stories, and sing. I always have a great time when I hang out with her, even when we don't go out. And if even if she won't admit it, I think she has a good time when I drag her out with me.

I would like her to be more willing to kiss random boys, and not always think about whether or not they would make a good mate prior to doing so. I would like her to show off her assets a little more since she is very buxom and built like a brickhouse. I would like her to throw away every furry and/or fleece vest that she owns. I would like her to not forget about herself as she takes care of everyone else around her. I would like her to live a little before she looks up and realizes that her life has passes her by.

I really just want her to always be happy and to always be my best friend.

I love you, Jessica! You complete me.