My Biblical Art

This will be a simple post, a little gallery of my Biblical art that I've done over the years, and some commentary.

I was imagining Noah sitting alone with his tools and blueprints. I bet he was lonely at times, being the only righteous human on earth. No wonder he got drunk after he saw the world die...

Here are Adam and Eve in the Garden. The circles show the days of creation. Yes, it's crooked.

I call this "War" , for obvious reasons. I did this in 2000 but I still like it. I know angels don't have wings in the Bible, but no one would know that it's an angel unless he has wings.

Here is an extra-biblical piece representing Enoch preaching to a nephilim. Enoch was one of only two people who did not die but were taken to Heaven by God. He, like Noah, was a righteous man. He 'walked' with God, meaning he had a relationship with Him.

That's just four pieces; I have more on my Deviantart page. Thanks for looking.

Some People Should Die

The death penalty is a touchy subject. It deals with DEATH, after all. There are some who believe it is right, that it is necessary, and some who believe the opposite, that it is not just and not the mark of a modern, civilized society. 'Eye for an eye is dead, we can rehabilitate. We don't have to kill the killer.'

But is it the government's job to rehabilitate? No. It's role is to protect it's citizens from threats both inside and out. It is the vehicle of God's justice. If people want to write laws that include rehabilitation of criminals, that's fine. But where is the justice in letting a murderer not pay with his life?

When Noah got off the ark, God told him that "if any man sheds another man's blood, so by man must his blood be shed." In another words, God instituted the death penalty. Before the Flood, violence was the prime characteristic of society. What they were known for. It was so out of control that God was sorry that He had even made Man, and destroyed the world. Once He started over with Noah's family, He had to put a check on the violence that was sure to start again, so He instituted capital punishment. Any newly-formed government had the responsibility to administer consequences to murderers. Their right to life was over because of their crime.

Their are a few arguments against the death penalty, one of which is: "Is it right to kill the killer?" No, it isn't right to seek revenge, but that's not what capital punishment is about! It's about the government administering justice, and if it's doing that, individuals won't have to seek revenge.

The death penalty has it's flaws, no doubt about that. It's been used to get rid of political opponents and other undesirables, and worst of all, been used to kill innocent men. Putting the wrong person to death is a tragedy. But with DNA testing it's much easier to prove a person's guilt or innocence. Don't throw out the baby with the bath water.

Remember that quote from Perry Farrell? "Some people should die, that's just unconscious knowledge..." That one has always stuck with me. There really are people who should die for their crimes. It's called 'execution', which is not the same as 'murder'. Execution is a judgment, murder is a crime. Don't confuse the two! Should a man like John Evander Cooey be allowed to live? If you think so, why? He kidnapped, raped, and murdered a little girl. Why shouldn't he be executed?
(By the way, he died of cancer in prison.)

Here is another argument: If you oppose abortion, you should be consistent and oppose the death penalty, too.
Huh?
This is an asinine argument. Abortion is the murder of unborn children who committed no crimes, while the death penalty is the punishment for murder. In one group, innocents die. In the other, guilty die. Killing unborn babies is not justice, executing murders is.

Sometimes, I think people get so caught up in a 'feel-good' moment they can't tell their ass from their elbow.

What did Jesus say about the death penalty? Nothing. Did He overturn it in Israel? No. He didn't talk about it, much like He didn't talk about homosexuality. He didn't need to. He talked about self-righteousness, repenting from sin, and following Him. Remember, It was He who gave the government the sword back in Genesis chapter 9. It is allowed and expected to use it under the right conditions.

Personally, allowing a murderer to live off our taxes for decades because someone is too weak to execute them or because the prison system likes the money is stupid. There is no justice in that! Flip the switch! Sometimes that is what's needed. If lethal injection is inhumane, then go back to the firing squad. It's quicker and cheaper. Remember the victim! The murderer is human, too, but he lost his privilege to live when he planned and then killed someone.

Some people should die, that's just conscious knowledge.

A Nazi general

 

90's Christian Rock!

Christian music today tends to be bland. It's all "worship" music, meaning it's meant for Sunday morning services. There's nothing wrong with that, but where is all the storytelling in music these days? Aside from Christian metal, there is a vacuum of Christian rock and alternative bands. The older bands have morphed into worship, such as Audio Adrenaline and the Newsboys. So I was happy when I dug out some old CDs that I forgot I had, CDs that fall into the category of :

90's CHRISTIAN ROCK

Here are four bands that pretty much epitomize what I'm talkin' about.

1. The Waiting

https://youtu.be/qW8b_zxOa2A

There is a link above to their song 'Number 9'. It's a great track; go check it out.
These guys were popular twenty years ago, but have been on hiatus since 2003.They put out a few albums, all of them great. They are sort of like a Christian REM, but better in my opinion. I really dig this band, so much that I'm going to drop another link. This is for a song about Jesus (duh), called A Thousand Years is Not Enough. Enjoy it.
Anybody out there remember these guys? Speak, Hands in the Air, Never Dim, these were good songs...

2. DC Talk

https://youtu.be/Aomv5EtXA44

I know you know this trio. The mighty DC Talk! They were on top in the 90s, going platinum twice  and double platinum once for 'Jesus Freak'. You know, Jesus Freak: What will people think when they hear that I'm a Jesus freak, what will people do when they find out it's true...
Anyway, from left to right: Kevin Max, Tobymac, Michael Tait. In 2001 they split up and went solo, which was a good thing. Kevin went on to make some awesome alternative music , then as singer for Audio Adrenaline for an album; Toby is mega popular in and out of Christian music, beginning as rap/hard rock and doing more pop-hip hop-island type music, and Michael Tait had his own band, Tait. They made two albums, and the Mike became the singer for the Newsboys.
Above is a link to a live version of 'Dive', off the last album "Supernatural". Who remembers Colored People, My Friend, The Hardway, Mind's Eye?


3. Audio Adrenaline

https://youtu.be/9SVahsiPQx8

Ah, Audio A's big hit. Check out the link and listen to 'Never Gonna Be as Big as Jesus'. These guys had a sense of humor, and could rock, too. Listen to 'Secret' off of 'Bloom". Mark Stuart had that raspy, Rod Stewart-like voice. Sort of grungy. But he retired from AA because of vocal problems, which led to the band hiring Kevin Max as singer. He recorded one album and went on tour, and then went solo again. The band has  another new singer, and I don't think any of the original members are in the band anymore. Like Underoath or something...

4. Newsboys

https://youtu.be/fKe_VqqEAH8

The masterpiece of 90s Christian rock right here! If you click the link, you will be treated to 'Lights Out', a hard techno rocker. This album is fantastic, the whole way through. Christian or no, this will float your boat!
At this time, John James was singer. He sang on the next album, Take me To Your Leader, and then left due to 'pursuing ministry', aka drugs and women. You know, sin. A rocker's lifestyle.  He has since repented, and tours America talking about what God has done in his life. And throwing the Newsboys under the bus. But his time was the best time for the band. There was Not Ashamed , Going Public, and Take Me To Your Leader. All great albums. Peter Furler, the drummer, took over as singer and was there until 2009. They still make albums and tour, and might be bigger than they ever were, but in the 90s they were the best. Go listen. Strong Love, Elle G., Spirit Thing, Love Comes True; oh yeah! And listen to those bass lines!
Speaking of bass lines, I saw the Newsboys twice, but the first time I saw them blew me away. It was 1997 I think, right after Take Me To Your Leader came out. Maybe 1998. They were great, but around the sixth song Phil Joel's bass suddenly got louder and about knocked my pants off. No, seriously, my pants shook from the bass. It was awesome.

What these bands had that is lacking in today's Christian scene is talent. Or at least the desire to tell a story, to write a real rock song rather than an emotional tribute to one's self. They were clean, but they said it the way it was. They also had a sense of humor, such as in Newsboy's 'Breakfast', and The Waiting's 'Better off as Friends'. Gallows humor, but humor.

"When the toast has burned, and all the milk has churned
and Cap'n Crunch is waving farewell!
When the big one finds you, may this song remind you
that they don't serve breakfast in Hell!"