As you know, I come from Sturgis which is a fairly small town.  I grew up there my whole life and would consider it very conervative and very Chirstian.  But, things are changing for the worse I'm sad to say.  A friend of my brother had an experience that will show you why.  When I was a junior and senior, I was in a band that competed in the school talent show.  We played "Never Alone" by Barlow Girl and "Stand in the Rain" by Superchick.  Both a very religious songs as many of you know.  Others sang "Amazing Grace" and the like.  Nothing was ever said about it...until this year.  My brother's friend wrote and played a song that started some serious controversy.  Here is what he said to me in his own words when I asked him about it on Facebook:

"Yeah, sure, no prob. I don't want to forget anything about being obedient to the will of God. I don't really know how the song came to me, just from the Holy Spirit, I suppose. I had just completed it maybe a month or two ago, so it's fresh off the grill and everything lol. I auditioned just like everyone else did for the talent show, and they let me in. I told them I had a presentation as well to accompany the song, and they said that would be fine. I had Allen Burch help me put it all together - basically it was just a lot of pictures of Jesus that went with what I was saying. I was kinda nervous about witnessing on such a large scale as I really hadn't done anything like that before. But witnessing to my girlfriend had given me the strength in knowing that I could do it with God's help.

So there I was, in the aux gym, singing my heart out and observing the faces of the crowd, most of which were fixed on the slide show I had behind me. Some were touched, I could tell. Some were happy about the song, and some, of course, were not. It caused an uproar with the student body. Most students were ok with me singing the song and congratulated me on having the guts do to so, while others bashed me down behind my back, and some even bashed me down on facebook. This of course opened up more opportunities to witness the love of God to the lost, so I was ok with that. Here are the lyrics, I will try to post the song online as quickly as possible, and I will send the link when it is completed..."
 

"My Child"

My child, you don't know Me
But you've seen Me, I'm the picture on your wall
My Child I know you're hurting
It must be hard for you to make it through it all

Through all that you've been through, I still am right here
I've always been beside you, so why all this fear?
I've reached out to touch you, but you wouldn't take My hand
You're so consumed with religion that you just don't understand

Here I am with outstretched arms, come and take the cup
Let Me hold you in My arms, let Me fill you up
You come to Me with broken bones, you're hopeless and alone
Let My spirit guide you now, let Me take you home

My child, don't you know
That I died for you as my word had forshown?
My child, I shed My blood for you
So you never would have to be alone

Through all that you've been through, I still am right here
I've always been beside you, so why are you full of fear?
I've told you that I loved you, but you don't seem to believe
My grace is FREE to everyone who is willing to receive

[Chorus]

Why can't you accept the truth?
I'm standing right in front of you
You can feel me tugging at your heart
We were never meant to be apart

When he mentions being bashed on Facebook, he isn't kiding.  I looked at what they were saying and it hurt me too.  Nothing like this has happened on as big of a stage as this in Sturgis.  If this trend continues, I worry about what will happen to the town as a whole.  Please pray for whatever comes out of this situation and let it be glorifying to God.

Until next time,

Trevor