Musings

The arts is a very interesting field. In it we see the creativity of human kind. It is one field that differentiates us humans from other created beings. Animals cannot appreciate art as we do. Give a monkey a painting and it'll probably eat it, break it, play with the pieces, then forget it. Yet we can say so many things of art. The feelings and emotions exibited in art. The angles in photography, the brush strokes of a painting, the cinematography of videos, the dance moves in a dance routine. All this somehow intrigue and affect the human consciousness, triggering different feelings and emotions. Beauty and estatics of art are, on a whole, appreciated by all (though in varying degrees for different individuals, not to mention different styles and tastes as well).

But what is sad is how it has been corrupted somewhat. The arts should be something that is beautiful. Yet, in some cases, it has become grotesque and horrendous.

Let me state my case. Art is created by God, for God to be glorified, and man to be at awe with God's awesomeness and glorify God with. Don't believe me? Look around. Don't you see the wonderful master work of the Creator in everything? See the intricate design on a leaf. The ever varying designs of snowflakes (to those who can see them of course). The majesty of mountains. The colours of the ocean. The different lifeforms on earth. Then there is the ingenuity of design in the creations themselves when He made them. The complexity of organisms. Even so-called "simple" organisms are actually highly complex. That a bacterium for example. It's fully functional in one cell! And some even have microscopic motors for propulsion just micrometers wide! Then there's ability to make super strong shells from relatively brittle substances by properly structuring the layers by "lesser" organisms. Then the designs of various other organisms that are so efficient. Like the box fish's streamline body that sparked a car design in Mercedes-Benz. Then there's the human eye that can react way faster than any camera can. Too many to list here are the wonders.

Then there's the gift of music in humans. Because we are creations created by God in His image, we are able to appreciate music. Until now, scientist who believe in the theory of evolution, from primordial soup to "simple" organisms to full humans, still cannot comprehend how music came about and what is it's function. Why is it unique to homo sapiens? If the evolutionary theory is true, then why then has it not crop up in the other creatures? Then there's also appreciation for other art forms like fine art, photography, movies and video, and dancing. All this points to us being special, in the likeness of God.

The sad part though is how it has all gone off track. How things meant to glorify God is now twisted to glorify man and his indulgent desires on the softer side to glorifying Satan on the extremes. Take music for an example. The songs on romantic love, that's more often than not actually more of lust than real love, flooding (and sometimes boring) the radios, iPods and internet, though there are exceptions to this. The songs on violence, shot outs, take downs, i-am-a-bigger-badder-gangsta-than-you. Then there's songs on drugs, alcohol and sex. But then it makes sense when you actually know that Lucifer used to be the worship coordinator in heaven. Surely he will use what he is meant to do best to lead man astray.

Then there's dancing. One that particularly disturbs me is dirty dancing. Said once to be sex with clothes on. Like what? And also dancing to let loose. Let loose what I ask? All those energy that could be better off used elsewhere, like say a production perhaps? But then there's also weird and queer productions out there, whose themes may/are not really right. Or is it to express your emptiness inside?

So many more of the arts to discuss. It'll flood the whole page if I continue. But you see it don't you? I need not elaborate more. You can see for yourself if you take the time to ponder what you see, hear, "enjoy".

So what went wrong? I don't really know. Maybe it's Satan's hold on the world. How it is written that that whole world is under the control of Satan. (sorry I could not find the reference. Any help here?)

But what I do know is this. We need more people to stand up. We need more people to reclaim the arts for God. Thank God for people like Switchfoot, who are reclaiming mainstream music for God. Thank God for people like Planetshakers, Hillsong, and Joe Loy, who are lifting God's name with music. Thank God for the members of Paroimia, who are reclaiming the art of theater and dancing for God. I truly thank God for such people who are dedicated to changing the landscape of arts, and reclaiming what is rightfully God's. I pray that I will have the guts and the talents to stand up for God, against the pressures of the world around me, especially in the arts.

Now, what about you?

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Revolution(s). It's something that has been much talked about lately. And I agree, we do need a revolution, or revolutions, in our present time. We need dramatic changes in the way we view and do things. Many instances arise where we need to rethink what we do. An example would be our politics. Obama brought in a new change in the way he engages the would be voters, using new technologies and keeping himself updated with the way the younger voters are and in doing so, secured his win the the presidential polls. Governments need change. We cannot be complacent, thinking because things have been in our favour so far, it will continue to be so. Look what happened on March 8, 2008? We need an overhaul! No more can we rely on politic tactics of the past. It's time to put our differences and personal agendas aside and strive together for a better nation. And world on a larger scale.

Our financial situation now also need a revolution. We need to change the way we view money and how we spend it. Too long have we been over indulgent, bounding ourselves up in debt through over spending. Many, especially in higher income countries, have lived in a bubble of prosperity that we forget that things can go wrong. We forget that we can not fully depend on the future to cover what we spend now. And so we are now in the rut of one of the worst, if not the worst, economic crisis known to mankind. We need to change our ways, in other words, revolutionise our view of money.

Also, young people, me included, need to revolt against wrong standards in life that we see. Life's not just about earning money and living life in the fast lane. Life is the transit from being time bound into eternity. Besides that, there's also the low expectations on the abilities of young people at times. This has been talked about much and so I will not go into detail. But if you think about it, it also goes both ways where people has too high expectations and aspirations for young people. Actually more to the wrong expectations on the wrong people. Like asking them to excel in something that that particular person is not good at, but neglecting, or more accurately pushing aside and sometimes even berating the fields where they are truly gifted. And so we see that we really need revolutions now.

However, though there is much talk about revolutions, how many real revolutions do we actually see among us?  Are real revolutions really happening at all fronts? I don't think so. The old ways still somehow manifest themselves here and there. There is not paradigm shift from the norm. Yes, I acknowledge that there are select individuals now who are making a difference in their  selected field. But the more important revolutions, in the personal lives of people, don't seem to be happening as we have hoped. People still are conforming to the wrong ways of the world. Periodically, revolutions in that area do start and people make decisions to live differently. But those seem to die down with time, shoved into the back of our minds and priorities. We get inspired to live out our own revolutions but after some time (sometimes in just weeks or even days!) we forget about it all and return to our old ways.

Why is this so? What happened to all those decisions? Do we lack the will power? I think not. It is more because of the heart. To quote Chip Ingram and Tim Walker from their book, sex180 (Words on revolutions from a Christian book on sex? But then, it really is a revolution to live pure when you consider how the world has made sex to be...):

"Revolutions are about people who are passionate about something, so passionate that it affects the ways they think, feel and act. Then it affects those around them. Revolutions start in the heart, then move outward."

The key here is passion. Those who have been revolutional are passionate about the things they are revolutionising. Like Zack Hunter, who is really passionate about abolishing modern slavery. How many of us really are passionate about living life the right way? Do you really want it? So far, so called 'revolutions' have not been successful because it was more of hype than actual passion from those making those promises. This does not exclude me too. We've got t-shirts, mottos, bumper stickers, etc. about all this 'living the revolution' thing but is it really something in your heart? If it is, then we don't need all that hype. Hype will die down, but true passion grows, especially in the face of opposition. And it will affect every aspect of one's self. Actions, feelings, the way we view the world. And when change has come in the life of a person, it will spill over to those around him or her. Then from there, by passion in all, not hype, it will go on and on till it has changed families, communities, nations and even the world, by God's grace.

So the question is, are You passionate for revolution to take place?

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Good morning, afternoon, evening and night (select one depending on your time zone). This is the very first posting I am doing here. Fresh start one might say.

First of all, I would like to clarify what this blog is for. It is firstly, not for you to have updates of what my day was, events I went to, etc. That is not the main purpose of this blog. This blog is mainly a dumping site for my thoughts and ideas that float around in my head, hence the name of this blog. The postings may or may not be directly linked to experiences (past, present, ongoing) which may inspire me to post. If it be an event, or experience that has sparked my interest and caused me to think, I will try my best to include it, though of course, with care to not release my true identity. (In case u didn't know, Ele Musael is not my real name. Have fun investigating who I am, if that's your cup of tea =)

With that, I would say this blog may only be updated periodically and not several blog posts an hour, day or even week. It will all depend on inspiration and circumstance. And also if I feel led to write something then I will try my best to post something. Also it will depend on internet availability of course.

As for comments, all comments are welcomed, since I would like to have other's views on the issues or topics I write about. However, if I find the comments are inappropriate ie. inappropriate language, gestures (if possible to do so in comments), offensive, discriminatory, etc. I will exercise my right and ability to remove it.

So, if you have taken the time to read all that, I must say you are one attentive person. Kudos to you for reading instructions. Hahaha.

Without further ado, I now inaugurate this blog.

Welcome to Musings: The inner workings of my head. Don't get lost here though =)

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