"They Sold Their Souls for Rock n Roll"

Recently Brandon and I watched a "rockumentary" called "They Sold Their Souls for Rock n Roll". It's about the power Satan has over the lives of people in rock music and people world wide who are influenced by rock n' roll. It's a very powerful and very poignantly truthful account of the rock n' roll industry. It's extremely haunting and really makes you think and question everything. It's a lot for me to blog about but if you would like to know more visit www.goodfight.org. I encourage all Christians to watch it and take a glance into there own lives. Here is a bit of my own reflection.

After watching the DVD I was curious about my own musical influences. Since I do like several types of music, not only Christian but secular music as well, I was curious to find out how many of the people I listen to might have also fallen short and sold their "souls to Satan" at the price of fame and fortune. Here is what I discovered.

These are artists that I have in my iTunes that I believe have denounced God's teachings and have followed a different path. I don't want to proclaim that they "sold their souls", but through their lyrics and lifestyle choices one can observe that they do not proclaim biblical truths in their music.

Amy Winehouse: She gave into the temptations of drug abuse and will probably die from it. She had fame but could never quite get grip on reality.
Ashley Simpson: She was in the shadow of her older sibling for years and when she finally broke out of her shell she was praised for breaking all the rules and following a new path. This path was not God's path.
Ben Harper: His album cover for Fight For Your Mind is a depiction of himself in agony engulfed in what appears to be the fires of hell.
Panic! At The Disco in their song I write Sins Not Tragedies undermines the sanctity of marriage and also uses God's name in vain. Are we so jaded as a society that we don't even notice theses details and skip over the lies told in songs like these all for the sake of listening to a catchy tune? I think I'm somewhat guilty of falling into this trap. When your are constantly bombarded by the same lies told to you over and over again you become comfortable in hearing those lies even if you know they are lies. The reality is this: Society is way to comfortable with lying.
Taking Back Sunday: Sunday is suppose to be a day for God. To honor and worship Him. Are we really willing to say it's right to take back Sunday. The very name of this band acknowledges that it's not our day in the first place. So why is this band promoting the idea to take back something that was not given to us to do as they or we will. Do we deserve it? The world says we deserve it. The world proclaims if you earn it's yours, but the bible states what's yours comes from God. Satan has power over this if we let him. He can destroy you if you let him. He can make you believe that it is by your own power that you make you who are, but I think it is by God's grace that you are who you are. I might have stretched a little on this one to come to that conclusion, but after watching that documentary, it has really forced me to look at reality and society and what I stand for in a whole new way.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Watch out for false prophets. They come
to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." –Matthew 7:13-15

These are only a handful of artists I decided to take a second look at. I can't testify that they did in fact "sell their souls" to the Devil, but what their lyrics and music suggest appears to to do just that. I like the saying, "If it looks like a dog, and acts like a dog it must be a dog" even it's not. I think this applies to those artists who think that even if they don't believe in the crap they are selling they still have to own up to the power it has over their fans who buy into it.

I liked this music for it's popularity and catchy tunes, but I believe I too have been a pawn in Satan's attempt to destroy and persuade people not follow God but rather follow our own rules. Forget right and wrong, you create your own destiny. This is a powerful statement that a lot of people have come to accept and use in their own lives. However, if you follow your own paths and give yourself up to this world, you will die, but God gives us hope. Jesus did not come to save the righteous. He came to save the sinners. Turn your life and eyes upon God and He will truly deliver you from Satan's grips and give you eternal life.

“Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:13-16)

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” –Philippians 2:9-11

Wedding Planning... It's so much fun!!!

Do you sense the sarcasm because it's totally there. I feel like I'm more creative than most people so I always thought I would be natural at wedding planning. Not!!!!!!! I'm so not organized. I blame it on the artist in me. I truly believe you would have to really love weddings to make a career out of planning them. I just don't think it's for me. Nonetheless, I'm still on this wild ride until March 21st. That's right people only 5 months and 20 days until I'm Mrs. Hughes. I can't believe it. Well here are the things I've done thus far and what I plan to accomplish this month. Any advise from you married women out there would be much appreciated.

Completed
Booked Church: First Baptist Lubbock
Booked Reception: Underwood Center (so cool)
Bought Wedding Dress, Undergarments, Jewelry, and Shoes
First Fitting Oct 10th
Chose Wedding Party
Ordered Bridesmaids Dresses
Booked Officiant: Brandon's oldest brother Gary Hughes
Booked Photographers: Captivated Images
Had Engagement Photos Taken, Love them :)
Started Invitation and Save-the-Date Design
Ordered and Received Paper Samples (they're perfect)
Started Guest List
Launched website: mywedding.com/jenniferholmesandbrandonhughes

Things to Do in October
Book Florist
Book DJ for Reception
Book Rentals for Ceremony
Finish the Guest List!!!!!!!
Print/mail Save-the-Date Cards
Order Paper for Invitations
Get Room Block at Hotel
We are going to be using a trolley to transport the bridal party from the church to the reception so I need to book that
Register (I'm pretty excited about this one)

Things to Do in November
Book Rehearsal Dinner (I'm about 90% positive we are going to have it out at Cagle's
Get with Brandon's brother Mark to discus our cakes mmmmmmm!!!!! (He's the bakery manager at Markestreet and has agreed to do our cakes for us)
Schedule Hair Consult
Choose and Book Men's Attire
Start selection of music for Ceremony and Reception
Book Ceremony Musicians
Purchase Ceremony Decor and Bride's Book

How's that for organization. Well it's a start. Wish me luck, I'm going to need it :0

My blog got a facelift...

So I thought it was time to redo the look of my blog. I'm loving these colors lately. It's probably because they are my wedding colors. I will blog about wedding progress tomorrow.

Engagement Photos!!!!

So yesterday the very talented Dominique Harmon of Captivated Images called me to tell me they posted a "sneak peak" of our engagement photos we took last Saturday. We got up really early and stated off in a field of sunflowers as the sun was coming up. So cool. We also took several out at the South Plains Fair. It was so fun. Then we ended up at Maxey Park at this old abandoned pool. We had so much fun. Thanks Dominique and Barry for such a great day. Here are some of my faves from their post.

Lately...

So lately I have been concentrating less on my wedding planning, (which I'm still think about a lot just not doing anything about), and focusing on other things in my life. I realized I'm a little burned out and I need a break. I do have 6 months to go after all so I think I deserve a break.

My job just took an interesting twist. We just moved offices. I'm so excited!!! If you had seen or spent any time at all in my old location you would understand. So here are my top 10 reasons why I'm excited we moved:)

1. I get to decorate my new office and make it more my own style. I get to have green walls and get to hang actual art.



2. No more walking 7 minutes in the cold to the office door. I literally would park my car and walk seven minutes to my office. It sucked everyday especially if it was raining or cold outside. I can literally now can park at the front door.

3. It takes me 5 minutes to get to work instead of 20 minutes. No more 5 o'clock traffic down by Tech again. Woo Hoo!!!!!

4. No more freezing cold office. I would wear long sleeve shirts, a jacket and wrap a scarf around my neck everyday and I would still be cold at my old office. I got sick the other week just because it was so cold. Which brings me to my next reason...

5. No more sickness!!! I hope. Working in a hospital, especially a medical office like we did, you are more prone to getting sick. I think everyone in our office was sick at one point or another. Yay, no more germs :)

6. No more looking at generic Dr. Office walls. My old office was literally an old exam room. There was no creative stimulantion coming out from those wall. It's hard to keep a creative mind when the environment you work in has no personality.



7. No one can bother you out here. If I need to go the hospital I can, but if I don't then I really am free to actually work and get things done.

8. Some of the people we moved over here with are pretty cool.

9. I can go home at lunch and I don't spend my entire lunch break driving.

And my top 10 reason is...

I feel we won't have to move anymore!!! I hate moving anything and I think we will call this home for quite some time. After all, who's going to want an office with with a wall color called "Lafonda Jalapeno"

Where Did the Weekend Go?

This weekend went by too fast. I feel like I say that every weekend, but here it is Monday morning and I feel like I got nothing accomplished. I always say I'm going to clean my apartment. Every week I say that this will be the weekend I get it done, but this past weekend I really had every intention of getting that accomplished. When you are an on the go artist like I am cleaning isn't always a top priority, but I really would like for it to be clean. After all, in 6 months I'm going to be living with the "master of cleanliness" so I better change my ways fast. Well instead of cleaning I went out with my mom and Brandon on Friday night. We had so much fun. We went to Friday Night Art Trail. If you are a Lubbockite or a visitor of Lubbock you should really check it out one month. Every first Friday of the month artists from all over display there art in various galleries around the downtown area. You hop from gallery to gallery looking at all the art and tasting wine and eating cheese platters. It's so much fun. My dad is currently working part time at the Clay Studio and part of the perks of working there is that he has rekindled his passion for pottery. It's really more than just a passion, it's a talent. His work is amazing. Well anyway, he had some of his more recent pieces on display at one of the galleries and we decided to check it out. We then went out to Texas Roadhouse were I proceeded to order the most overpriced, under quality margarita ever!!! Overall it was a pretty fun night though. On Saturday Brandon left to go fishing and camping with some of his buddies and I began a two day shopping spree. I don't what I was thinking, but I went crazy this weekend. I always feel guilty after a huge weekend of shopping, but it's probably because I hardly ever spend money. I did however get some really cute clothes, a new book, some new sunglasses, and some really cute shoes :) Sunday went by too quick and here we go again. The start of a new week. Whether I'm ready or not, Monday always comes after Sunday and I guess it's about time I accept that.

Bridal Jewelry :)

So I picked my dress, my veil, I still need to choose my shoes but I went ahead and got my jewelry. I love it. It's exactly what I wanted. A couple of weeks ago I was browsing the net when I came across this website for a company called Redot Designs. It's a fabulous website for bridal jewelry and special occasion jewelry. I wanted something really stylish and classic but I didn't want to spend a fortune on jewelry I will only wear once. Luckily I probably won't have to. The pieces I chose are ones I probably will wear again. So much fun :)