I began listening to Christian Music in Jr. High when my music teacher exposed us to a new "rap" group from Washington D.C. that claimed to have a solid message to a funky beat, donning the name, "Decent Christian Talk". The group, more commonly known as DC Talk, found their way onto my shelf in the form of a tape with the same name, and my journey into Christian music had begun.

I eventually began listening to such musicians as Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Petra, Striper, (Yes, I remember Striper), and other bands who were emerging as "Christian Bands" with "Christian Record Labels". I was caught, however, between the positive message of the music and the lack of musical quality when compared to the secular music that was played on the radio. It seemed that the Christian bands didn't have the money (or the talent?) to compete with the secular bands that were fighting for my attention. Eventually, the secular bands won out, and my Christian music began to gather dust on the shelf where they were first placed.

Several years later, as a freshmen in college, I realized the effect of the music that I had been listening to for the past three or four years. My thought life was consumed by the message of that music, and, though I was a follower of Christ, I felt the urge to believe many of the lies that are found at the root of most secular music. I realized the need for change, and dusted off the CD's and tapes that had once captured my attention with their "new" styles. The change in my thought life was amazing, I spent more time with the Savior, and the music was there as a reinforcement, rather than a hindrance. These CD's that I would play over and over got old quickly, and I began my search for newer, higher quality Christian Music, which I found with much surprise and excitement. In the few years that I had been away from the Christian Music scene, the selection and quality of the music had risen exponentially, and the market was booming.

In the past several years since then, the Christian Music industry has expanded to include nearly every genre of music. Though this rapid expansion is a blessing to many who are searching for a "reinforcement", so to speak, a music that will encourage, uplift, edify, and enhance their Christian walk rather than cause them to stumble. With this expansion, however, comes the possibility of confusion for those who are not able to discern "Christianity" from "Religion"; from thanking "God", to thanking "My Lord and Savior"; from speaking, to living. With Christian music coming more and more into the mainstream, the integration of "Christian" music with "Secular" music can cause a gray area that is impossible for most people to understand. If you'd like to read more about what my beliefs and speculations on this subject are, you can read this paper that I wrote.

The purpose of putting this particular page on my website is because of the implications this has for Youth Pastors, parents, and anyone who works with teenagers. Most teenagers do not know of the broad range of Christian music that exists, which leaves it to these people to tell them. We must be aware of popular media on two levels: First, though many disagree, I believe that we must be aware (not immersed, but aware) of what the secular media is throwing at and selling to those teenagers whom God has entrusted into our care. Second, we must be aware of alternatives that provide a quality and wholistic listening experience. A wholistic listening experience means that it must possess both a good message as well as quality musical aesthetics; without this second quality, it will be difficult to convince a teenager to listen too. This type of music does exist, and I believe that it is my duty as to know of this music, and be able to recommend it to those who are looking for something different.