I have finally discovered an artist who thinks that we as Christians should be the most creative people on the planet and use that to change the music industry...and maybe even the nation? Not by preaching through music or different art forms, but by simply doing well and being creative.





"I believe Christian Musicians should be the ones who write the most creative music in the world. I believe God intends to see an industry changed, so He can in turn, turn a nation towards Himself. I often hear people praying for God to change a nation in a day, and I wonder what would happen if He did. If God showed up to every person in the world in a vision and everyone was miraculously changed, I wonder if everyone would still be in the same place the next week. The truth is, there is a stronghold and a willing submission to immorality rooted in the music industry. I am pushing to make the coolest and best music end up being Christian. God has called us to be the head and not the tail. (Deut 28). I believe when we as Christians, who know the most creative being who ever existed, step up and challenge themselves and write the most creative music ever, that we’ll be in a place where we can disciple an industry back to playing moral music. This is my heart. To see a nation changed. I just have a heart for the music industry." - Ian McIntosh

The answers to all life's questions right here. Haha...not even! But I hope you get something out of my ramblings......


As Christians, we say we want to give our all to God…for God. And maybe we do. At least I do. But it's hard to know what that looks like in this country. The Bible says to be ready to suffer, and to be honest, I don't think I really suffer at all. I look at Christians in some countries who go through hunger, beatings, prison, and horrific situations, and I wonder why my faith doesn't cost me as much as it does them.

Anyhow, I read a little booklet tonight from Watchman Nee called, "Have a Mind To Suffer." All 4 chapters are based on 1 Peter 4:1, which says, "Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind…." All who serve God must have a mind to suffer.

The biggest revelation I got from this book (and maybe you have already had this revelation) is that, "it is not about how much you suffer but how much you are willing to suffer." I have to ask myself, "When I am in the most favourable position, do I still possess the mind to suffer?
And then there's the opposite. Isn't it true that there are people who suffer greatly yet don't have the mind to suffer? I think I have been guilty of both of these situations. When I go through something tough sometimes all I do is complain and wine about it. And when life is good, I don't have a mind or heart prepared to suffer.
"Having the mind to suffer speaks of my readiness before God to suffer. I am willing to go through trials, and I choose the path of hardship. It is up to the Lord whether or not to put suffering in my path, but on my part I am always prepared to suffer. Thus when His providential changes comes and trials fall upon me, I will not be surprised but rather feel that this is what I should go through in the first place."

And what I find so awesome is that the devil has NO HOLD on us if we have this mindset. If you have a mind to suffer and you stand up and declare to the devil that you will keep serving no matter what trial comes your way, then when Satan threatens you with suffering, you stand firm and the devil flees. Check it out! Revelation 12:11 says, "They overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." To that Watchman Nee asks, "What can the Enemy do if your conscience is void of offence, you have the word of the testimony of Christ's victory, and you love not your life even unto death? The Enemy has NO WAY in the slightest to deal with those who love not their lives." Wow!!
When this attitude is lacking (willing to suffer even to death) I find I am tempted with the very things of which I am afraid. Without a mind to suffer we are subject to Satan's attacks at the very point of our fears. And I think it can be true what Watchman Nee says here. "The failure of God's workmen can be plainly perceived right here - that they love their lives too much. "

I think it's important to state that God does not desire to see His people suffer, but still, that is not to say that He does not test His children. He gives grace to teach and discipline us through trails.
I don't think we should go searching for suffering. God likes to bless His children and we shouldn't say no to these blessings just because we think we need to put ourselves through more suffering. Does that makes sense? Does any of this make sense?

Closing quote: "According to God's providence, we may not have to suffer many pains; yet because we desire to serve Him, we gladly choose a path which differs from the common one. And this is what is meant by having a mind to suffer.'

I've been home for a week and I never did write much about BC and my trip there. So I thought I would do that now, although I did put some photos up, and they say that a picture is worth a thousand words. But photos sometimes just don't do justice. Like, how at home I felt with Bronwyn Gray and her family. It's like I had known them forever. Her mom is the sweetest thing ever. She does alot of daycare and even has clubs on Thursdays that about 40 kids from the neighbourhood come to do crafts and hear Bible stories. I got to meet a few of them because I was there on a Thursday. There were so many kids! It was exciting to see. The Grays have a heart for their neighbourhoods and it seemed like everywhere we went Bronwyn saw someone she knew. She has a paper route and I helped her out with that one day and met an older man named Vic. Bronwyn visits with him when she does her paper route and they have become good friends. I can tell that she is a tremendous encouragement to him. Even an example as she witnesses to him as well.

I met a lot of nifty people! The first night a few girls came over and we played our guitars and sang the night away. It was sensational. :) And then another day Amanda (photo in post below) came over and showed us her photos from Bolivia and Peru. I showed her some of India. It was great to swap stories!
There was another elderly man that I met, whose name is Arthur, and I enjoyed his company immensely. Bronwyn and I walked home from church with him and had a grand time talking about random things. He knows so much about the world! Also, he is from England, so he has a sweet accent.
I did so many active things there! I haven't been that active in a long time. We walked nearly everywhere or biked. We went to the gym and worked on our muscles. :) Spontaneity would kick in and we would do random things that weren't planned...like go swimming. Or go hang out with some girls down the street and watch a movie with them. That was fun!
We had time to talk about anything and everything and pray and talk and walk and talk and go to Timmies and talk. It was quite enjoyable.

Anyway, that's my time in a fairly small nutshell. It was a refreshing and pleasurable first experience of BC. But, it was mostly because of the people, not necessarily the mountains or anything. Of course, they were nice, too. Good for picture taking.

All that to say, I hope that I can go back sometime!


Side note: (Cool quote about spontaneity.... )

“Spontaneity is the quality of being able to do something just because you feel like it at the moment, of trusting your instincts, of taking yourself by surprise and snatching from the clutches of your well-organized routine, a bit of unscheduled plea” - Unknown