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At the Christian bookstore, I saw a lot of CDs with a cool look. I figured they probably sounded cool, too, so I bought one, even though I wasn't familiar with the band.

I popped it into my CD player. I thought, This sounds cool, but what are they saying? I started reading the lyrics, and I realized they said little about Jesus—or anything to show it was a Christian CD.

I wondered, What's the difference between this band and a secular band?

Some people say this kind of "crossover" music—with a "Christian" label and not much else—is a witness to those who wouldn't normally listen to "real" Christian music. But if there isn't much of a difference, how can it help a non-believer?

Matthew 5:14-16 says, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Secular music has established an image that certain Christian bands follow. Sometimes Christian bands get caught up in the image and forget about who they're supposed to serve.

Like the the rest of us, bands have a choice to make. They can either go with the flow and be like the world, or they can take a stand and be a true witness for Jesus.

Jeff Lanfranchi
New Life Christian School
Virginia, Minnesota

I have no idea what I want to do with my life. Some nights I stay up late wondering about my future. I picture myself in different careers. I worry about supporting a family financially. A thousand questions run through my head. Most of them remain unanswered as I drift off to sleep …

When my worries about the future become so overwhelming, I must remember something God says: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" (Jeremiah 29:11).

Reading this gives me confidence. If God knows my future, I don't have to worry. Instead of worrying, I need to concentrate on walking with God each day.

I need to focus on how I can live in a way that pleases him.

I still don't know what I want to do with my life. But I do know that I want to walk alongside Jesus. And if I continue to do this, I should be confident that I will have a great future, because he is in control.

Elaine Gee
Univ. of California-Davis
Davis, California

Editorials should be stated responsibly and from a Christian perspective. Opinions in "Speak Up!" do not necessarily reflect the views of Campus Life magazine. Send your opinions, in 200-400 words, to "Campus Life Editorials" 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188. E-mail: clmag@CampusLife.net FAX:(620)260-0114 Please include your full name, address, school, telephone number and—if you're sending via mail—a recent photograph of yourself. If we print your editorial, we will send you $25.

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