01/23/2008 Entry: "janis joplin my revolution"

I just finished reading Janis Joplin's Biography, and I've learned so much...so much about faith and freedom, though it's not about faith at all. Back in the hippie days people embraced "freedom". Sure, much of it was drug induced and was accompanied by a sexual revolution of sorts. i'm sure many would argue whether it was "good or bad" freedom, but my point here is there was a desire to be free from society's pressures and expectations. So, there was this passionate pursuit of freedom, community, and love. Music and art was their life. They weren't afraid to feel, which I think is so cool! Sometimes i think as Christians that we are somehow taught it's bad to feel. If we have a doubt about anything we've been taught, we are supposed to bury it, or when we fall, we are supposed to hide it to save face.

I remember sitting in a label meeting about two years ago. I had written a lyric that said, " Open up the window, tell me what you see? Are you happy on the inside or are you scared like me?" I was then told I should change my lyrics to be more "positive"! I think it's this mentality that causes so many "Christians" to live imprisoned and die inside. Sure, our faith gives light and hope, but that doesn't mean we don't feel afraid, face temptation, or even question God at times. We are human. We are all rigged the same way. We feel, the good and bad, and are on a quest for God. Still, we are learning so much as a human. Yes, the flesh and spirit conflict but I think we have yet to experience the depth of freedom we are meant to find in our own faith. It's not a burden. It is the ultimate liberation.

On the closing note from my soap box, I conclude with this. I'm just personally learning more about freedom and what this whole Christianity thing was really intended to give humanity. It's exciting. There is so much we have yet to discover.

Replies: 8 comments

ok like i have NO IDEA where you are playing and WHEN you are playing b/c your website wont post it! and your myspace doesnt have it there either! and its frusterating me! ugh! i havent heard from you in ages...oh well ttyl

AK

Posted by AK @ 01/26/2008 07:01 AM CST

wow! thanks for all your replies. i enjoy reading all of your thoughts...so when i put all these things in a book i hope u all get one :)

tamara-yeah, guilt can weigh you down in life like nothing else...its a weight we were not ever meant to carry...that's the reason why jesus died in the first place to carry that for us...and thank god he did...man, i love that about him...

Posted by sara delight @ 01/25/2008 01:07 PM CST

it's true. im just now learning how to feel, because it's crazy, like our society teaches us not to feel, as well as it teaches us not to trust people. not like anyone really can be trusted anyways... but its a consuming thought. it never ends and can go on forever. you're so smart sara. how do you come up with these things?

Posted by leanna @ 01/24/2008 10:38 PM CST

i totally agree i think ya should go with those lyrics in a song somtime!! i once did something that my parents would have killed me over, i was so scared they were gonna find out i could hardly show my face but i went to god and he took care of it and now it's ok!!

Posted by tamara @ 01/24/2008 09:45 PM CST

this shows how incredibly real you truly are! wow inspiring and awesome! i think you should go with that lyric thats awesome it def shows that you feel too as do the rest of us...like Christian rock stars can feel too! :) i like that lyric... yepperz my dad used to go to school with Janis Joplin and his sisters (my aunts) used to hang out with her too! :)

Posted by AK @ 01/24/2008 06:00 PM CST

amen. so good. thank you.

Posted by tara @ 01/23/2008 10:22 PM CST

What an amazing entry to make us think and challenge us. Rock on girl and keep discovering :)

Posted by Heather @ 01/23/2008 10:45 AM CST

this was absolutely profound. love it. xoxo

Posted by lindz @ 01/23/2008 09:54 AM CST