“In the nineteenth century Charles Bradlaugh, a prominent atheist, challenged a Christian man to debate the validity of the claims of Christianity. The Christian, Hugh Price Hughes, was an active soul-winner who worked among the poor in the slums of London. Hughes told Bradlaugh he would agree to the debate on one condition. Hughes said, ’I propose to you that we bring some concrete evidences of the validity of our beliefs in the form of men and women who have been redeemed from the lives of sin and shame by the influence of our teaching. I will bring 100 such men and women, and I challenge you to do the same.’ Hughes then said that if Bradlaugh couldn’t bring 100, then he could bring 50; if he couldn’t bring 50, then he could bring 20. He finally whittled the number down to one. All Bradlaugh had to do was to find one person whose life was improved by atheism and Hughes – who would bring 100 people improved by Christ – would agree to debate him. Bradlaugh withdrew!” (from What If Jesus Had Never Been Born by Dr James Kennedy)
Who overcomes by force,
hath overcome but half his foe.
John Milton (Paradise Lost)
How, then, the other half?
I just deleted all the stolen music on my iPod. It hurt.
God tells us to submit to the authorities – to obey their laws. It took a while, but I finally saw that I love God more than I love my music collection. And some artists in that collection, I discovered when deleting them, I loved lots. Deleting them was hard.
There’s not much left. Only 1/8th remains. 9 Mike McCarthy songs I actually bought (support smaller artists!), a bunch of Mars Hill music I got for free, and a CD my mum owns. At least I no longer need a bigger iPod – 4Gb seems enormous now!
What now? Thankfully, I do have some legit CDs lying around to load on. And, Dave has a great list of free AND legal music sites:
- music recorded live at mars hill church (gold! i love the brothers of the empty tomb…)
- iTunes have 1 free track per week (this is a regular stop)
- triplejunearthed.com (too much to listen to – I’ve checked out lots of the Roots gear)
- other triple j free music (particularly during november – ausmusicmonth)
- music.download.com (haven’t been there for a while… but got lots!)
- artist’s myspace and personal websites (if can’t download – you can listen
- purevolume.com
But it looks like I’ll be paying for my music from now on. Jack Johnson’s new album comes out tomorrow. Better get saving.
Stealing music is wrong. Stop.
