I Listen to Devil Music

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Posted by Matthew White | Labels: ,

Not really, well at least I don’t think so. I don’t hide the fact that I love music, let me rephrase that -- I love good music! My preferences range from Guns N’ Roses to Metallica to Lynyrd Skynyrd to more laid back styles like Pink Floyd and The Beatles. But recently one of my good friends and a mentor of mine who is a pastor at a church told me I shouldn’t listen to that music. His reasoning being that everything I do should glorify God. Which is a hard comment to argue against since it does say something about it in 1 Peter 4:11. So if music (or any form of entertainment for that matter) isn’t glorifying God should we avoid it? Maybe.


I think everyone has heard the phrase “be in the world, not of the world” (which isn’t scripture) and have determined that we should feel guilty when we enjoy anything “of the world”. Which contradicts what is said in 1 Timothy 4:4 that everything God created is good, which includes the world and everything in it excluding sin. This is where the issue lies...sin. Sin by definition is anything that separates us from God by disobedience. Is it a sin to listen to “secular” music? I don’t think so. Is it a sin to enjoy the world? Not in my opinion. But once the things “of the world” (in this case music) begin to influence you in a sinful way (which begins to separate us from God) then it becomes a problem. Just like movies, books, the Internet, Facebook...any of those things can cause you to sin or have sinful thoughts.


What in your life is causing you to sin and what do you need to do to prevent it from happening? Music doesn’t cause me to sin, but it does some people. Just like everything else in our lives, it’s not a music issue...it’s a heart issue.

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My Year of Spiritual Growth

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Posted by Matthew White | Labels:

2010 was by far the year which I grew spiritually more than any other year in my life.  2009 was a difficult year for me on many levels and entering 2010 I had no idea where God was leading me but it ended being an unbelievable year for me.  After thinking about it recently I can sum it up to one reason as to why...I began listening to God and followed His calling on my life. Hearing from God is difficult for a lot of people to do so I wanted to share the three ways in which I have began hearing from God.

  1. Reading His word CONSISTENTLY. If you asked anybody if they read their Bible I would bet everyone single one of them would say "yes".  But maybe the better question would be if they read their Bible consistently. I have read my Bible sporadically since I became a Christian 15 years ago, but it wasn't until last March that began reading it everyday. Also read it strengthen your spiritual walk not out of guilt and also I recommend have someone who will hold you accountable for it and also someone you discuss what you read. (You would be surprised how God can use the same passage to say two different things to two different people.)  I can't began to explain how much God will speak to you through His word daily.

  2. CONSTANTLY Surround yourself with other believers.  Outside of Sundays, how often do you discuss Jesus and what He is doing in your life? I unashamedly say that my friends are better than anybody else, seriously, I have been tremendously blessed with phenomenal friends, but in 2010 two people came into my life who without a doubt have strengthen my faith and made me a better person. First is Kristine Medlock, who I met in Kenya (well not actually IN Kenya but on the trip) and from our very first conversation to now we've talked about Jesus every single day and what He is teaching us.  The other is Tom Haren, who I have developed a great friendship and relationship with who prays for me regularly and who I know is there whenever I need him. Who in your life is making you a better person?

  3. Start looking for God in EVERYTHING. By nature I am a people person...I love people and I love talking to people. But in 2010 I have somehow seen Jesus teaching me something in almost every conversation I had. I believe this happened because I began looking for Him.  From things as small as where to serve at church or as big as whether or not to go to Africa. Simple concept I know but once you start seeing every encounter as an opportunity to hear from God, you will be amazed how much He will teach you.  
God will speak to you in multiple ways but these are the three ways he spoke to me the most in 2010.  Since I grew as much as I did in 2010, I can't began to explain how excited I am to see what he will be teach me in 2011.

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Speaking at CBC this Sunday

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Posted by Matthew White | Labels: ,

Well, this Sunday the Lord has bless me with an opportunity to share His word in His Church with His people and I am excited out of my mind! This will be my first time preaching/speaking and I can’t wait.  Numerous people have expressed interest in attending so here is the info:

It will be on August 15, 2010 at 6pm at Centerville Baptist Church - 1605 Gerrard Rd Anderson, SC 29625.

I will be reading from Matthew 7 and speaking about something that I am very passionate about and  I would love for you to attend, but if you can’t would you still pray for me and that Jesus uses me for His Glory.  

If you have any questions or comments please let me know at whitegatorz@gmail.com.

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5 People I Would Like to Meet

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Posted by Matthew White | Labels: , ,

Last week I was discussing with some friends who, if we had the opportunity, we would like to meet and hang out with and have a conversation with. I thought about it and I never realized how eclectic my tastes were until I assembled this list (which is in no order).

  1. Tim Tebow (University of Florida QB)
  2. Axl Rose (lead singer from Guns N’ Roses)
  3. The Rock (The People’s Champ)
  4. George W. Bush
  5. Clayton King (Evangelist/Pastor)
Even though each one of these people are completely different personalities, I think each conversation would be thought provoking (except maybe The Rock, but seriously who wouldn’t want to hang out with The Rock). So who would you like to meet and have a conversation with?

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Passion

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Posted by Matthew White | Labels: , , ,

Recently I read a statement made by Perry Noble (who is  the senior pastor at my church), “Do not apologize for your passion...ever”.  Which got me really thinking, what am I truly passionate about and what impact is it making on my life.  If you spend more than five minutes with me it becomes pretty clear what I am passionate about...Jesus Christ and the Florida Gators! I have always jokingly said it’s Jesus #1 and the Gators #1a, but in reality we all let our hobbies and families and jobs and relationships become our #1 passion. You can’t deny what you are passionate about, it just shows, whether you intend for it to or not.  If you were to ask someone to tell you what your passion is, what would they say?  Would it be the answer you want it to be? If not, what changes in your life need to be made? In the book of Matthew, Jesus says the most important commandment is to love the Lord with all your heart and mind.  It’s impossible to do that if your passion is anywhere else other than Him.

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© 2010 Matthew Alan White