i have little problem with the idea of being positive or
inspirational or uplifting. IMO the best music does that. i just
dont see why belief in god is the way to do it. its possible to do
those kinds of things without having any motive come from outside
yourself. i see belief in god in this manner to be a crutch to
someone who otherwise can't think positively for themselves.
tom
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Maarten Baute" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: "Maarten Baute" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2002 17:39:06 +0200
>another interesting TP post:
>
>"Hello Everyone, and peace be with you!
>
>Music is a very important part of praising the LORD. I am not
against all
>secular music. Like you, I agree that one should not completely
close one's
>ear to secular music, for GOD is present everywhere! One might
miss out on
>some beautiful messages of love, hope, and inspiration if they
completely
>turn their back on the world.
>
>Before I got saved, I use to feel like people in the church were
judging me,
>and looking down on me because of my DJing. Now that I'm saved, I
know that
>people are human first, and everyone (including people in church)
are going
>to have an opinion about you no matter what you do. The key for
me is
>knowing that whatever I do is right with GOD first. This is all
that matters
>to me. So I don't want anyone to think that someone TOLD me to
stop DJing in
>clubs and raves. I prayed about this to the LORD. I asked him to
lead and
>guide me, so that my ways will be pleasing to him. This is what
GOD laid
>upon my heart. HE is going to continue my path in music, but on a
much
>higher lever. Far beyond my own expectations (one important thing
about GOD
>is that in his word, there is no "glass ceiling").
>
>All of these years, I have ministered to people through music.
GOD wants me
>to continue in this. But he has a higher calling for me now. So I
cannot
>continue in the ways of my yesterdays. Instead, I must trust in
the LORD to
>see me through today, and my tomorrows. I know he doesn't want me
to
>completely abandon secular music. But I must be mindful of what I
play, what
>I produce, and how I deliver it to the flock.
>
>For example, this past Wednesday (September 11th) at Club TONIC,
I played
>"Aint No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead. This is a
disco classic
>originally released on Philadelphia International Records in
1979. The song
>"LOVE" by R&B artist Musiq is one of my more recent favorites.
However, it's
>hard to see how one can get positive inspiration from
Nelly's "It's Hot In
>Here". So there has to be a proper balance, and a fine, carefully
drawn
>line.
>
>I am not giving up music or DJing completely. Although I am
really moved by
>Gospel Music, I really enjoy listening to all forms of music that
is
>uplifting and positive.
>I currently see myself as an INSPIRATIONAL DJ. I am one who enjoys
>INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC. This doesn't mean that one can only find GOD
in Gospel
>music. After all, you can't put GOD in a box. I'm just saying
that I will
>not be DJing, or producing music in the same manner that most
people have
>come to know me for.
>
>Now if someone asks me to spin at a Christian Rave, Christian
Night Club
>(yes, there are such things), or other events which promote
INSPIRATION or
>POSITIVITY, I will most likely say YES! But if a promoter wants
me to come
>spin just because I've got skills, and wants me to "blow up the
spot" to get
>the crowd hype, then my answer will be no. Those days are over. I
will only
>"blow up the spot" for Jesus!
>
>Back in the early days of HOUSE Music, if the music felt good to
a person
>and they began to shout, we would say they caught the House
Ghost. Now, if I
>DJ at an event, I want people to catch the HOLY GHOST!
>
>I am still MAKING & PRODUCING MUSIC. In fact, I recently finished
a Gospel
>House remix of Karen Clark Sheard's "I Wont Let Go" which is from
her new CD
>entitled "2nd Chance" (Elektra Records). Karen was part of the
>internationally famous Detroit Gospel group, The Clark Sisters.
>
>I will continue to make music, and do remixes for anything I feel
is
>INSPIRATIONAL. In other words, you won't hear me doing a remix
for Ludacris'
>"Move [EMAIL PROTECTED]". However, before I was saved, I did remixes for
Eminem's
>"Without Me". Although people at Universal Music (Eminem's MAIN
distributor)
>told me they loved the remixes, the staff at
Shady/Aftermath/Interscope
>Records decided not to use them.
>I thank GOD for that. Obviously, that was not the path GOD wanted
me on.
>
>Regarding touring as a DJ, spinning in clubs and raves, I just
don't feel
>the enthusiasm to be in that environment anymore. This is not to
put down
>anyone who does. In the middle of all the alcohol and drug use
that goes on
>in these venues, I was able to be a positive "light" in the midst
of
>"darkness". I tried my best to be someone people can look up to.
I've had my
>moments of FALLING DOWN. Two years ago at Shake's Benefit Party @
Motor here
>in Detroit, I got so drunk that I had to be carried out of the
club by
>DJ/Producer Mike Clark and driven home by DJ T.Linder and
Superstar Sally
>(his girlfriend at that time). I had an epiphany that following
morning
>(while feeling sick ALL DAY), and I decided not to drink ever
again.
>It's been two (2) years now, and I haven't had a drink since. The
deepest
>part of that experience is knowing that GOD was with me then even
though I
>still had not given my life to him. He kept his angels around me
in the form
>of Mike Clark, T.Linder, Superstar Sally, Al Oldham, and others.
I love each
>and every one of those people who helped me that night. GOD knew
my heart
>and spared me from harm that night. Now I am saved, sanctified,
and filled
>with the Holy Ghost!
>
>There are so many passages in throughout the Bible which speak
directly to
>the importance of music. GOD loves to hear us sing, and watch us
dance in
>praising him. I know that GOD put the love of music in my heart
so that I
>can do HIS will.
>
>Soon, I will begin to work with WDTR 90.9 FM here in Detroit. I
will produce
>a 15 to 20 minute INSPIRATION Mix which will be broadcast on
Monday
>mornings. In other words, something positive and uplifting to
start out the
>week. I am all about doing things like this.
>
>So when I say my DJing career is coming to a close, I'm saying
that GOD is
>leading me in a new direction. I hope this letter, and my
testimonies will
>give each of you a better understanding about my decision.
>
>I want to thank all of you who have responded to me with your
testimonies,
>and well wishes! Many of you say you've been inspired by me, when
actually
>it is I, who have been inspired by you. The greatest gift GOD has
given to
>me through DJing all over the world is learning and knowing that
people
>everywhere are the same! We all love, we all hurt and feel pain,
we all want
>the best for our families and friends. This was never more
evident than
>through the experience we all shared from the tragedies of
September 11th,
>2001.
>
>So I leave you for now with a quote from Romans 13:8 and 10, "Owe
no man any
>thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath
fulfilled
>the law. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is
the
>fulfilling of the law."
>
>May GOD's grace be upon you! "
>
>
>
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