Now You Know (How I Feel About Icon For Hire)

What do you do when one of your favorite bands releases their first explicit song? If they were mainstream, you would probably think nothing of it. Now, what if they were Christian? Or at least pretending to be Christian just so they could be successful? I still didn't think anything of it, but most of Icon For Hire's fan-base was pissed. And rightfully so. Now I really was not mad about anything they have done. Up until the other day. Their drummer, Adam Kronshagen, recently started a blog. In that blog, he has just three posts. In his very first post, he referenced IFH not letting him be open about his faith in God because it doesn't fit in with their agenda which is another word for success. After reading this, I wasn't sure about anything. Then, the other day Adam announced his departure from the band. Although they said its to focus on his marriage more, I would put money on it that Shawn and REL telling him to "reserve his faith" is the reason. I don't know if any of what I just wrote is true, I'm just going off of a blog post. If I am wrong, I am sorry and please correct me. But until that happens from Adam himself, I have lost almost all my respect a band that has helped me through so much and that sucks.

If you wanna read any of Adam's 3 posts, click here: https://adamkronshagen.wordpress.com/

Monday Messages: Listen Up!! "Prions Pour Le Monde"

Whether or not you know what the title says, you might be able to tell what this week's message is going to be about. I actually have met a couple people that don't know what took place on Friday night, so I will recap it for everyone reading.

On Friday night, the biggest terrorist attack since 9/11 happened in Paris, France. There were several different places attacked, including one at an Eagles of Death Metal concert. All the attacks totaled to 129 people killed, including some of the attackers and another 352 injured. 

Today's message is going to be how to see God in hell like this, no matter how hard it is. I didn't know what I was doing the message about this week then I remembered Paris and how it would fit into the series I'm currently doing. We don't need to pray for Paris. We need to pray for ISIS. We need to pray for the world and trust God.

Today's passage comes from Revelation 21:1-8:

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

If you have ever read Revelation, you see everything that's predicted in it happening. Let me do a little recap in case you haven't. In Revelation, God says at the end of the world, there will be attacks, earthquakes, false prophets, etc. All of that is happening. Last week, America was arguing about some freakin' coffee cups and even after the attacks, some people still are. We don't need to pray for Starbucks. If this is truly the beginning of the end of the world, we need to pray for the world. EVERYONE in the world. Then just put our trust in God, as I have talked about in the first two messages before this. Soon enough, this world will be no more. No more pain. No more death. No more terrorists. More than likely, these terrorists will burn in hell. But, for the ones still alive, pray for their conviction. In a way, Paul was a terrorist. He killed Christians for the hell of it. God convicted him. He became one of the strongest Christians to this day. These days, its getting scarier and scarier to even step outside our houses. I'm scared, you're scared but why? God has a plan. If you die, He needs you in heaven. So here's the point: Prayer and Trusting in God does miracles and it all starts with YOU.

Until Next Time, Alex

Monday Messages: Listen Up!! "#blessed"

Who has seen the movie "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?" I personally love the movie and toward the end, there is a quote I love and even though not a Christ-centered movie it has really helped me stay positive about life. The quote is "We have to live through the bad days so we can appreciate the good ones." Really think about the truth of this. Everyone has bad days. Some people more than others. The answer isn't suicide. The answer is God because He will never put you through something you can't handle.

Today's bible reference comes from Isaiah 41:10-13: Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ “Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish. You shall seek them and not find them—Those who contended with you. Those who war against you shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing. For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’

Last week, I had no idea the week I was about to have. I just know I was going to my grandparents' house to work for them to have a little bit of cash on the side. Little did I know that on Tuesday, I get a job offer. Then on Wednesday, I get ANOTHER job offer and on top of that, two interview offers. I have accepted everything. Except I didn't get one of the jobs I interviewed for. No big deal. By God's grace, I have 2 confirmed jobs and 3 other potential ones. Remember the Disneyland story I told last week? I can guarantee if I ignored God, I would not be in this situation right now. I was at the point of tears when I got all these calls because I have been unemployed for about 8 and a half months. 

This message that I'm finishing up could technically be a sequel to last week's. Its a very similar subject to it. Recently, I decided to try and give it up to God again, as I told you last week. It has amazing results (obviously).

You're going to be attacked by the devil and will have hard times. It's just a fact of life. There are literally millions of ways he can attack you. It can be getting fired from a job, a break up or something else. But I believe that God has Satan do it so we can learn a lesson or if you aren't a Christian, bring you closer to God. But, as I said before, he won't put you through anything you can't handle. I know it seems crazy, but Job had literally everything taken away from him. His wife told him to curse God and he did just the opposite. He praised God through the storm. God knew Job could handle losing everything which, in my opinion, is why he is the greatest man ever to walk on this earth (besides Jesus of course).

Until Next Time, Alex!

Monday Messages: Listen Up!! "It's The Crazy That Counts"

Crazy can be both good and bad. In today's case, it will be good. VERY good in fact. Have you ever had God tell you something? If you haven't, I can vouch that is is a very amazing, confusing, and overwhelming feeling. Especially if it is something really insane and crazy. So crazy, you might just want to follow your heart and ignore God. You might say "This has been my dream for such a long time. Now re-read that. MY dream. Is it God's plan for your life? More than likely not. Which leads us right into today's Bible passage.

Jonah 1:1-16

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.” Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. 8So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?” He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.) The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.

So a couple weeks ago, I got offered a position at none other than Disneyland. Everybody since they were a child have dreamed about working there, and I was no exception. In fact, I have been applying there for 3 years and I finally I get offered a position. I accepted the position right away. There's three parts to the Disneyland position acceptance process. You have a week to do all three parts. I accepted the position but I still had 2 other steps in order to officially be a cast member. That gave me a full week to pray about it. So I did just that! I had till the next Wednesday to decide and sure enough, on Monday night, I just felt God telling me no. Let me tell you something even crazier. The position at Disneyland was a paid internship with housing and I had another potential internship that was not gonna pay, and that was at my church.We all have decisions to make in our lives, especially when you come of adult age. I had one to make, and you may have one to make soon. I and you have two choices: follow God's plan or do what Jonah did. I could have gone to Disneyland and might have had a miserable time and might have had to quit or follow God's plan and follow my other dream of being a Youth Pastor. I did just that and I can tell you one thing, I'm just about the happiest I have ever been in my entire life.
God's plan isn't bad so just follow it! Listen Up to what He is telling you!
Until Next Time, Alex

I'm 21 (and 2 Months) Why am I Not Looking for Someone to Date?

I have noticed lately that a lot of my friends (many younger than me) are either getting married, having babies or dating. So wouldn't that make me want to date too? Actually, not really. Some nights, I will go to bed wondering "Will I ever get married, be kissed, or even go on another date?" Oh yeah, I have only been on one date in my entire life and to be honest, it wasn't that great. Plus, I have been rejected 4 or 5 times since. One of my fears is rejection and God forbid that ever happens again. Fact is, I will be probably a number of times more.

I think I do know why I am always rejected, though. I'm a pretty vulnerable guy when it comes to liking someone. I reveal my feelings through a text or a message on Facebook. I have also asked a girl to Homecoming through a freaking tweet lol. I just find it so hard to ask a girl in person. It really is hard. I COULD take them to coffee but then they might even reject my chance really to just hang out. But that isn't really the reason that I don't want to date anyone right now. There's a big reason that I don't want to.

I DON'T HAVE A JOB

Now you may be saying "Not all girls want a guy with money." Now I'm saying "I know that." Then why don't I want to date? Because I'm a romantic guy and wanna surprise my girl with chocolate or flowers or HOW ABOUT CHIPOTLE? Everyone loves Chipotle so its a win/win. Not that if a girl came along, I would say "no." If it was God's plan, I would be all for it. Honestly. But right now having quite a few female friends and Taylor Swift being my wife (in my mind I guess? She hasn't responded to the wedding invitation to our own wedding yet) I am learning what girls do and don't like. It will teach me how to be the best boyfriend ever.

Now let me tell you, I wanna be kissed. I want someone to love. I'm a human, its our instinct. One day "Mrs. Vanderspek" is going to come along. She's gonna have a similar past with relationships as me. She's gonna be beautiful. Shes gonna be the best thing ever, next to God. Babe, whether you're reading this now or whenever, I can't wait to be your husband. Just understand at this point in life I'm not ready to date and/or meet you. Hell, maybe I have met you haha. Thanks i advance for dealing with me.

Until Next Time, Alex

Top 5 Albums of the Third Quarter of 2015 (July - September)

5.) Beauty Behind The Madness by The Weeknd

4.) Copacetic by Knuckle Puck

3.) BADLANDS by Halsey

2.) We Came As Romans by We Came As Romans

1.) Uncomfortable by Andy Mineo

Talking Dreams (Echosmith) 2 Years Later

When the LA-based Indie Rock band Echosmith first came out with their debut album Talking Dreams two years ago today (October 8th 2013 was the official street date), almost no one knew who they were. I mean, you would think after being on Warped Tour, touring with the likes of Owl City, Twenty One Pilots and Tonight Alive, they would be big by then. Unfortunately not. It was not until early 2014 when they started becoming a household name. You started hearing "Cool Kids" everywhere and somehow everyone loved it. Then they jumped on their second year in a row on Warped tour and that sealed the deal. I was at their hometown Pomona date and there was easily 200+ people in their crowd. Compared to the year before where they were lucky to get 50 people watching them. I've known the band since 2011, almost on a personal level. I was friends with all 4 members of Facebook, that is until they deleted their personals. I talked to them on twitter and even got a handwritten letter from them back in April 2014. I waited so long for them to make it and was so proud of them when they finally did. Believe me when I saw when you need to check out their debut EP (Under Ready Set Go!). You can still find it on last.fm, too which is pretty cool because its not like their Echosmith material.

As you can see, I got off track lol. The album came at the perfect time in my life. I was just starting college, trying to find who I was and what I wanted to do in life. It came when I went to a public school for the first time. Where I knew no one. It was a perfect album for everything that was going on in life. I have made friends fans of the band. I have met fans via the internet that are now friends. Thanks, Echosmith and WBR for everything this album has done. When I am sad, I just put this album on my ipod or play it on my record player and it is literally a mood changer. Now what about album 2? All I know is they are starting working on it starting in January 2016. Its also gonna be different than Talking Dreams. But it'll will be filled with catchy songs about love and life and we all cannot wait.

Until Next Time,
Alex Vanderspek

PS if you want to read my original review of Talking Dreams, click here.