Time to Excel

Excel: be exceptionally good at or proficient in a activity or subject.

You've heard that many are called but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14), right?

Well, I would also say that many do good but few EXCEL.

Did you know that there is a HUGE difference between good and excellent?

If you opt to choose the latter than join the YPG on this challenge throughout June and find out what the EXCEL event is all about.

We are aiming to EXCEL and not to be just good, because our God has always EXCELLED. 

"Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him." 

Dn 6:3

Pr Luke Castro

YPG National Coordinator 

Whose Glory?

As we learned last week, every song, regardless the genre, conveys either a positive or negative message. 

Right. Now, who is that message talking about? What's the singer trying to achieve through that song, personal interests, promote or glorify himself? Or is he trying to glorify God? 

WHOSE GLORY?

God created music. The angels praise Him. That's how God intended things to be, that is how it was supposed to be from the beginning, until Adam and Eve's naiveté. 

The devil, as we already know, has always envied God. He wants to destroy everything God created. Why should he overlook music, knowing that it has a huge effect on human beings? 

Well, he didn't. He realized that music is a powerful weapon to influence the soul (EMOTIONS). Hence, he indulges himself in the lyrics of a song that promotes promiscuity, rebellion, lust and in messages of love, hatred and passion. What a mess???

Now think, can God be glorified by such music? No. Then who gets the glory? You know.

The singer and the devil himself.

If I tell you how many youths have told me they want to get into the music industry, you won't believe. Youths who come to church. I've always asked them why. I've always made them think whether that is an inspiration coming from God or a personal objective.

Most of the times it's personal. 

So, next time you listen to a particular song remember: WHOSE GLORY?

Pr Luke Castro

Let's Talk About Music - Soul or Spirit?

It's the most influential forces today; it can make you happy or sad. It can bring you closer to God but similarly can lead you into the devil's hand. Of course, we are talking about music.

Considering that both Christian and secular music use instrumentals, convey a message and influence the hearer one way or the other, what is it exactly that makes one different from the other?

For the next five weeks we will be exploring this subject by answering the following questions:

• Soul or Spirit?
• Whose Glory?
• Leading to where?
• Moral or Immoral?
• What Effect?

Let's take a closer look at the subject of this week by concentrating on the first on the five questions: Souls or Spirit? Both secular and Christian music touch you in a particular way, communicating something to you while you are listening. But what's the message of that music is doing to you? Is it feeding your soul (emotions) or your spirit (faith)?

                       

                               SECULAR MUSIC                             

Soul: Secular music taps into your emotions and causes you to feel happy, sad, angry, aggressive, etc. A sad love song will make you feel sorrowful, while the upbeat song that follows will make you feel happy and lively.

Effect: The effects are temporary simply because what you feel is an emotion. A song allows you to escape from reality for a few moments, but as soon as the song is over, it's back to reality. There is no doubt that music influences the mood of a person, but imagine making choices based on the feelings of the moment?

                              CHRISTIAN MUSIC 

Spirit: Unlike worldly music, this is directed at your mind, which is connected to the spirit. As you are led by the spirit, it often helps you express what you cannot put into words and leads you closer to God. It causes your mind to focus on the things of God rather than on your feelings.

Effect: It helps you think, ponder about your life, faith, etc. It inspires you to act on your faith and brings you closer to God. It strengthens and encourages your faith. For example, when you sing a song of faith - directed at your problem - the words cause you to think, which in turn inspires you to take action based on faith, not emotions.

Next week we'll talk about the second point: Whose Glory?

Pr Luke Castro

Ex-Gang Member Reveals All!

They just don’t mix! Part II

Paul talked to the people of Corinth, as if they were children because the communication between the Church and the apostles was unbearable. They would teach the people, but would insist on mixing with things and people who were not of God, consequently contaminating both their faith and that of others.

Righteousness is to be good, to be straight, to do things properly right before God, while lawlessness is the complete opposite. Lawlessness is to have no thought for the things of God and to just do things as you want.

The same goes for darkness and light, Christ and Belial (the devil) - they are opposites, they just do not mix! There is no link, no communion, no sympathy, no attachment, no bridge - understand this once and for all.

If you are of God, you are of God - if you are not, you are not. There are no shared values between the two. But be careful, an “unbeliever” isn’t necessarily someone who does not go to church. You may be attending the youth group faithfully, bringing your tithes, praying and may even be baptised in water. But if you do not fear God and choose to live life in a way that shows little or no thought for Him, how can you call yourself light?

There are youths who come to the youth group only to flirt and cause trouble; they take advantage of the good heart of those in the YPG and manifest their fleshly desires.

When this is true of someone, he is like cancer. He has a stubborn frame of mind and does not understand that youths in particular, are the pillars of the work of God, and that they have a unique power to bring people to the kingdom of God.

Consider your ways. What you receive from God goes far beyond anything you will receive anywhere else. Cleanse yourself from any filthiness before you get more contaminated. There is so much darkness in the world and you are the light of the world, the hope - but you kill it when you choose to tolerate darkness.

Remember, when light sees darkness, there is a conflict there… which side are you on?

Pr Luke Castro

SHOCKING!

What type of music do you listen to?

Pr Luke Castro.