Meaning, A Poem

After a brief break from my poem-writing streak mostly due to homework, I have a new poem to share with you all. This one is entitled "Meaning", and it certainly is something that we all search for in life. Considering the convulsion in the world as we find our countries, homes, and even our very lives under fire of trial and tragedy; it is imperative that we seek the Lord for wisdom and understanding. Fear will always try its hardest to control our lives and blind us from the truth, and no matter what, we cannot give into it. 

Every day we live and breathe on this earth,

We must strive to make the most of our time.

In the great struggle to find our own self-worth,

We ask, "Will I find what stirs this heart of mine?"

We long to know that we matter,

In a jaded civil war of ideals.

We hear the echo of laughter,

When we need words that heal.

Unnoticed in the empty crowd of humanity,

We are cast aside as too far gone to save.

We beg for someone to recognize our depravity,

And reach down to lift us from our graves.

But no one turns from the highway of progress,

To lend a helping hand to the downtrodden.

In a cruel world of hurried incompetence,

The wounded are left behind, forgotten. 

I was lost in the darkness and felt my life leaving,

I tried to grasp it with ragged fingers, failing.

I cried out in terror as I felt so alone, believing,

That I was abandoned forever, unraveling.

Then someone took my bruised hand,

And spoke words of life despite my fears.

He took me away from this diseased land,

And tenderly wiped away all my tears. 

He set me aside for something greater then myself,

And stood like a beacon for those the world had denied.

In his presence, a knowledge so deep I never could delve,

And despite my condemning sins, for me He selflessly died...

Now we can walk in freedom if we so choose,

In our bitter world, there is a brilliant guiding light.

It breaks my heart when terribly blinded, people refuse,

To see the truth that their wrongs can be made right.

Now in a land divided by hatred and confusion,

I march with a purpose sent down from on High.

A banner held in healed hands, I stand against the delusion,

That hopelessness cannot lose in this fight for our lives. 

Terror and Uncertainty; and a Reflection on the Fragility of Life

First and foremost, I must admit that this article's writing is purposefully delayed, considering the subject matter. God lay the horrific events of Las Vegas heavy on my heart over the past week, as well as many of the other heartbreaking tragedies occurring around the world. Before I posted my thoughts on these situations, Las Vegas in particular, I wanted to be certain that it was written with the utmost respect. 

The loss of life should never be taken lightly, regardless of the situation or circumstance, and in this particular case, my heart still hurts just to think of the mindless horror that occurred. In that vein, I found myself reminded of my own humanity, as well as the all-too-real reality of the evil that dwells in our world. 

In times of great darkness, we are presented a tremendous choice that has no easy answer. When we battle with such intense fear and anger after we are thrown in situations that remind us of our fragility, those feelings often turn into hate. We want to hate the one who slaughtered innocents. We want him to die, and we wish for him to pay the price for his grievous actions. 

However, if that the right action to take? Are we to hate the man, or should we look far deeper then the surface? In order to answer such questions, I will firstly turn to the Bible, which talks in depth on such things. I have been pondering on Romans 8 for many days now, and the truths found in that chapter are quite eye-opening. For starters, we will begin with Romans 8:1-2, which says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."

While that verse is certainly comforting for those of faith, we still see a tremendous amount of sin and death in our world, it surrounds us and fills hearts with dread. The situation in Las Vegas is a very stark reminder of the enemy's tactics, as well as the saddening reality of living in a sinful world.  And that particular situation is not isolated; it does not take one long to look at the world and see the widespread effects of fear and violence. Evil is merciless and will not hesitate to claim lives and wreak havoc, as well as instill fear in our hearts and minds.

Fear is a powerful foe, but even it cannot claim victory over the cross. And in continuation of that thought, neither can the darkness of evil conquer the light. When we see the terrible effects of evil in our world, we quickly can grow cold, fearful, and distant; choosing to view the situation merely through human eyes. The truth is, when we fall from love, and fall from God's Word and give into fear, we lose more then we ever would hope to gain.

We are in danger of mediocrity when we let our perception of our reality cloud our futures. Through expectations, we set for ourselves lofty heights that can never be met, and when they come crashing down, we are faced with the very fear we tried to run from in the beginning. Such is the irony of life, we run from what we cannot escape, and try without success to convince ourselves that we will never face what is inevitable.

Likewise, we try to ignore the sovereignty of God, for humanity would rather dodge accountability in any way possible then be held responsible for our actions. Despite our efforts to evade such things, they are in vain. God is not some distant deity who holds no regard or concern for His creation. He is personal, and He has invested His shed blood into every single one of us. He died so we can live free, and yet many die never knowing this truth. What a travesty indeed when we fail to focus on the importance of this fact. Where have we gone wrong?

We believe that we are invincible, and that we never will face difficulty and hardship, even when it stares us down and makes us realize our grievous mistake. We turn the truth away in favor of a comfortable lie, and yet we fail to see that the truth is what we so desperately need. As clearly stated in Proverbs 12:1, “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid.”

‭‭I pray we seek the truth, have a hunger for knowledge unveiled through God’s Word, and refuse to fall into mediocrity. As Christians, when a great crisis draws us to our knees, we are called to rise. For who else will stand against the darkness, when evil rears its ugly head? What can we do but stand and fight against the monstrosity of sin through prayer and action? We are called by God to reach out to the hurting, aid the broken, and stand against the evil, as is clearly stated in Isaiah 58:6-8, which reads, "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am. ’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday. The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.”

We must not give into fear. Even when it swallows our hearts and drowns our minds with the melancholy of hopelessness and the numb terror of helplessness. Regardless, we must not give in. For the day we do, we will lose ourselves in the madness that is humanity lost without a savior. With fear, there is no hope. And with no hope, there is nothing worth living for. 

Inerrancy of Scripture and the Question of Hell: A Millenial's Perspective

When a society forgets that which is true, it will fall into rapid decline, especially when matters of faith are concerned. Regardless of the attempts to stem the tide of such ignorance, if one does not understand the root cause, they will fail to see the extent of the effects that a situation like that will create. Such a topic is the matter of the reality of hell, as well as the rising lack of disbelief in its literal existence. The dangers of ignorance and blatant disregard of such a critically important place cannot be ignored. This issue will be discussed in depth in the following article, as well as the implications of the lack of belief in a literal hell will cause.

Before any other statement can be made about the subject mentioned above, it is imperative that one understands the importance of the Word of God as a whole. Without it, the backbone of an entire belief system would crumble, and the world along with it. In order to validate the previous statement, research must be presented that argue for and prove the inerrancy of the Bible. 

To begin, we must understand what inerrancy even is. According to Ericson, the author of “Introducing Christian Doctrine”, “The inerrancy of Scripture is the doctrine that the Bible is fully truthful in all of its teachings.” [1] For many, the topic of the Bible’s inerrancy is a critical point of differences in belief, and great argumentation, but why is this the case? Why is the inerrancy of the Bible so important that it causes the spinning of theories and the clash of differences in thought? Simply put, the whole of our faith, as well as the understanding of God and His word, depend on whether or not the Bible is true. How can we determine whether or not it is factual in its entirety? First off, we will explore the pages of the Bible itself. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 states that “ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” To say that all scripture is God-breathed is to say that the Bible, as a whole, is true. For if God were not true in all He says and does, this would mean that His Word cannot be regarded as inerrant truth, and thus, we would be prompted to call God a liar. 

However, this is simply not the case. There are many more sources that point to the Bible’s inerrancy then the scriptures themselves. The whole of creation, as well as humanity’s own history, attests to the realities of the truthfulness of God’s Word. Ericson states that, “The church has historically held to the inerrancy of the Bible. While there has not been a fully enunciated theory until modern times, nonetheless there was, down through the years of church history, a general belief in the complete dependability of the Bible.”[2] Many figures of notability in history also championed an inerrant view of the scriptures, including Clement of Rome, who stated, “Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit. Observe that nothing of an unjust or counterfeit character is written in them.”[3]

Why is this important to the Christian, and why should we care about the inerrancy of the Bible as a whole? Without it, we would be lost in disbelief and confusion. If the entirety of the Bible is not true, then who is to define was is true, as opposed to what is false? Such questions can quickly send the topic spiraling out of control with no recovery. 

Now that we understand why it is critical for the Christian to believe that the Bible is the fully inerrant word of God, that leads us to the titular topic. Why is it important for Christians to believe in a literal hell, and why does it matter to the world as a whole? It is far more imperative then we might think. According to the Pew Research Center, 74% of Americans believe in heaven, but only 59% believe in a literal hell.[4] In another study conducted by Barna Research, it has been revealed that 28% of Christians believe that good works alone will get them into heaven.[5] Even though those numbers might not seem to drastic, when it is broken down even further, the implications of such data is concerning. 

The Bible is very clear when it describes hell as a very real place. Revelation 21:8 is such a verse, states, “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” There are a plethora of verses in the Bible that speak of hell as a very real place, a place where those who did not serve God in their lives would spend an eternity of torment separate from Him. In 2 Thessalonians 1:9, a very chilling picture is painted. “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” 

Jesus himself spoke often about hell, and the realities that awaited those who turned away from salvation. The early church also upheld the belief in a literal hell, and as time passed, people began to grow skeptical of its existence, much like they did concerning the inerrancy of the Bible. Many ask the age-old question, “how can a loving God send people to hell?” While it is true that God loves us and doesn’t wish for us to spend eternity in hell, he also is a just God. He cannot let the sin of man go unpunished, and through Jesus’s sacrifice, He offers all salvation to rescue us from our self-crafted fate. If we do not believe that hell is every bit as real as heaven, we are setting ourselves up for a grievous mistake with terribly eternal consequences. Christians cannot ignore this issue, and it cannot be glossed over as unimportant when the state of people’s souls are at stake. 

I must be honest that when I wrote the main body of this article, I was struggling with my choice of topic. After hearing about the unimaginable horrors of the Las Vegas shooting, the concept that many of the concert-goers not experiencing Jesus’s salvation, and going to hell, was horrifying. Watching videos play memorials of all the victims, and seeing the life in their eyes, brought tears to my own. How could I write a topical piece on the reality of hell when many innocents had just lost their lives; their eternal destination unknown? However, the importance of believing that hell is a real place and cannot be seen as fiction still stands. Hell is not a simple fantasy horror, and whether we would like to believe that or not, it doesn’t change the fact that it exists. 

When we choose to ignore the ramifications of our actions, as well as erroneous beliefs, we are not only setting ourselves up for failure, but others as well. Our society is an obvious example of a people who are running from the truth. Topics such as heaven and hell are commercialized, but rarely believed. Because of this, Christianity is often ridiculed and taken lightly, as nothing other than a fairytale. Jesus’s message of salvation is regarded as fiction, while people continue to search for something to fill the hole in their hearts with all manners of things. We as a society run from the truth, deny Christ’s kingship, and all the while dig ourselves further into sin. We live in a time that desperately needs the inerrant truth found in God’s Word, and if we do not believe it as a whole, including the topic of hell, we find ourselves in grave error. 

Thankfully for humanity, God did not wish for us to suffer eternal separation from Him. Jesus shed his blood as the perfect sacrifice to save us from our ill fate, and if we so choose, we can one day spend eternity with Him, the horrors of sin a long forgotten memory. Jesus is the only one who can fill that hole in one’s heart, He is the saving grace that washes us clean of our impurities and makes as like new. Through His salvation, we discard the ugliness of sin and take on the light that pierces even the mightiest of darkness. To solidify this fact, Jesus Himself said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

_________________________________________________________________________________________

[1] Ericson, CH 6, “The Dependability of God’s Word”, Introducing Christian Doctrine (Ericson, 1992, 2001, 2015)

[2]  Ericson, CH 6, “The Dependability of God’s Word”, Introducing Christian Doctrine (Ericson, 1992, 2001, 2015)

[3] Clement of Rome, The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

[4] Pew Research Center, U.S. Religious Landscape Survey: Religious Beliefs and Practices

[5] Barna Research, “The State of the Church, 2016”

Masks, A Poem

I'm back with a new poem! I am quite sure that this will be one of the last poems I'm going to include in Dauntless, and honestly this poem is one of my new favorites. It focuses on the lies that we as humans often try to hide behind, and how, like a mask, such things cannot remain hidden forever. 

What a paradox we then find ourselves in,

That with great trepidation, and bated breath,

Parade about us falsities wrapped in human skin.

So far gone into darkness, so deep in lies,

Have masks melded with flesh and bone?

Despite our desperation, have we become what we despise?

Yet we continue to reject that which will bring salvation,

Choosing ignorance instead, a blind faulted trust,

Failing to bring the consequences of our actions into consideration.

We predictably exude that which we want others to believe,

We present our plethora of masks, display them for all to see,

Hiding the venom that eats us alive, prohibiting us from being free.

The vile lies of humanity will always be revealed,

Masks fade, darkness flees in the presence of the light,

Never does evil, in all its influence, remain concealed.

For what can stop the power of noble ideas?

Truth writ with blood and ink, lived for, died for...

For all of humanity, God yearns to show us who He is.

For a mask does not hide intentions forever,

It will often reflect the user's dubious intent,

How clever we think we are, fighting a worthless endeavor,

Truth is a mirror, it shows us our flaws,

But, if we uphold the light with courage,

We shall see we stand for a mighty cause.

The Battle for Hope in a Hopeless World

Hope.

For some, this word is considered to be synonymous with ignorance. Others regard it with shining eyes and poetic praise, and yet, there are those who view it as a four letter word among the circles of the 'intellectually minded'. While these categories are indeed generalizations, for I wouldn't be so bold as to state that there are not any variances in opinions and beliefs. However, we often fail to recognize the power such a small word can hold, as well as the influence it holds over many.

You might be wondering why I chose to write on this topic. After all, I am a very busy college student who often writes more for academic purposes then recreational. Such facts do indeed dictate my writing to a degree, but I also believe in writing about things that matter to me, and this topic is one that I believe needs to be expounded upon.

Hope is powerful, and can be used as a mighty weapon for good. Through hope, nations have risen, and corrupt governments have toppled. Through hope, ideas have spread, and false philosophies have been disregarded as such. Through hope, Jesus walked the earth and showed our fallen race salvation through His sacrifice. These are just a few examples of how hope has forever impacted our world, and how it continues to do so.

Yet, hope does not exist without opposition. As much as we'd like to believe our world is good, we are all too aware of the darkness that fills our existence with trials and tribulations. This darkness is overwhelming, and has an insatiable appetite for destruction. Every human being struggles in an invisible fight with this darkness, for surely it's goal is to eat us alive from the inside out.

Have you ever felt empty inside? Has that emptiness been so damaging that you've sought to fill that void with anything and everything? And yet, even after all our attempts to heal ourselves and bandage our wounds, we still are left with the dull ache that never leaves. I'm sure you've been told, as have I, to "have faith, hope, etc" by well-meaning friends and family. I'm not saying that we shouldn't seek those things, but if we are not going to the true source of real hope, we will never achieve the goal we so desperately long for.

Even though many would argue and disagree with me, I am confident in the fact that true hope is found only through Jesus Christ. Hope found through Him is the hope that topples evil regimes, destroys false beliefs, and raises one's confidence so they can make it through the darkest of days. I know that personally, if I didn't have hope through Jesus, I would have fallen in despair many years ago. The world is a vile place, and the enemy is vicious in his attacks on God's children. Whether you realize it or not, we are immersed in a battle that far surpasses that of any human battle past, present, or future. We can't see it with our natural eyes, but we can see the effects of this war in very physical ways.

We feel it, we see it, and we live it. We feel the dread and hopelessness of a fallen world, we see the wars, terror, and divisions of human nature, and we live in a torn society ripe with sin. Even one of these things is enough to bring one's spirits down and sow seeds of anger, fear, and even depression, in some cases.

Simply put, without Jesus, there would be no true, lasting hope. If we have no hope, then we have no drive to live meaningful lives. Hope is the spark that sets our hearts ablaze, and without it, it would be nothing but dead, cold ashes. Even if you feel like you've lost hope, remember that with Christ, the fire is never extinguished, and it will always burn brighter after adversity. Through darkness, the light shines even brighter, and thank God that hope never dies!

Detoxing the Poison: A Q&A with Christian Solo Artist Sarah K. Thorne

For the past ten years, my closest and dearest friend Sarah has stood beside me through the trials and tribulations of life. A true friend and sister in every aspect of the word, she has played such a pivotal role in the creation of my book series that I am confident it would not exist without her. 

When she is not geeking out with me over my novels, Sarah is a talented musician, and has long desired to release her unique, raw, and pulse-pounding music to the world. Finally, at long last, that time has come. Entering the scene with a true explosive bang, Sarah recently revealed her first masterpiece to the world, a single entitled "The Poison in Me". 

Beginning with a haunting instrumental intro that is entirely unique for a song of it's genre, The Poison in Me quickly transfers to a heavy melody, where Sarah displays her incredible skills with the guitar, as well as production. The lyrics are incredibly deep, and even though they are sparse, they leave one thinking...and that is exactly the effect she intended for it to carry.

For some, the song might come across as abrupt and dark. For it certainly wouldn't be categorized as a 'normal' contemporary Christian song. However, even though Sarah loves God and honors Him through her work, her intent was to reach the hurting, broken, and lost, not to entertain the found. Instead of rambling on and on about this amazing song, I am blessed to have been able to interview Sarah about her new single, which I have been graciously allowed to publish here. So, don't take my word for it, hear about The Poison in Me from the artist herself!

(Q&A session begins below)

Elizabeth: Sarah, can you tell me about about your project, and your heart behind it?

Sarah: "After All" is my solo music project, which basically means that I do everything from writing the lyrics and music, performing what I've written (playing all of the instruments and doing all of the vocals; arranging the song structure), to production (mixing, mastering, editing, and crying). I also listen to my own music until I either hear angels singing or I hate it. Ha. Anyway, I wanted to start a band growing up but never had the opportunity to do it... so I tried for years multiple times to launch my own music as an independent artist. 

Those attempts flopped several times over. I never felt like I really had a message or a purpose for connecting with people. Then, life happened. After graduating high school, I went through two of the worst years of my life, including a battle with clinical depression, crippling anxiety, and even being suicidal...honestly, I lost myself in that. But I was still writing songs. I wrote my first single, "The Poison in Me" in one night, and I knew I finally found my message: to help other people who were going through the same pain I was and level with them without the Christian cliches and "feel good" stuff. That's what "After All" is about: being real, owning your story, and having the courage to tell it.

Elizabeth: That truly is a powerful testimony, you certainly understand and relate to those who are hurting similarly. What is your goal with After All beyond the release of The Poison in Me? Where do you see it going in the future?

Sarah: Honestly, I'd love to be a professional touring artist for a few years before settling down and starting a music school and recording studio where I can help other young musicians live their dream.

Elizabeth: That's incredibly impressive! What I find remarkable is that you don't simply want to make it big and bask in that fame; you want to help others who are hurting like yourself. What do you want to do with his school/ministry, and how do you see the poison in me jump-starting that?

Sarah: "The Poison in Me" was incredibly well received, which actually astounded me, and I think with the right marketing and advertising, it could reach a lot of people. It's already receiving some attention in the Christian rock industry around the U.S. which blows my mind. The song is also showing people what my skill set is. Not many people seem to take a 21-year-old female guitarist seriously... if anything, they assume I'm the next Taylor Swift wannabe. This song shows that not only do I have the ability to write and play metalcore, I can also produce. Hopefully those are talents that will translate to running a successful business. 

Elizabeth: You certainly have a very audacious talent! Especially since I've been on this journey with you for many years, I can personally attest to how far you've come. God has definitely given you the strength He knew you would need for the battles ahead. With that being said, what is the message of your upcoming album, and what are your goals for it? Did anything in particular inspire you, and what are your plans for The Poison in Me now, after such a successful release?

Sarah: I'm in the process of writing my first album, I've pretty much written all of the lyrics for the songs I want to include, the hard part now is just putting them to music. That's what's gonna take the most time. The message for it is going to be about recovery and resetting. Just like re-breaking a bone that doesn't heal correctly, the first half of the album is going to be intense, angsty, and dark, as I delve into my own pain, and try to identify with others. The second half is going to be more therapeutic- there will be lighter and more optimistic themes throughout.

This song if the first chapter of  story, and my album is the book. The whole point of my music is to come to terms with the plot twists in my life, and music and literature were two big things that helped. What really helped me process my emotions beside listening to (probably) unhealthy amounts of metalcore, was your (Elizabeth's) book series, and a particular scene that features the struggled of a character I identify with. This character basically goes through hell, and what he goes through is pretty much the metaphoric mirror of what depression feels like. It really gave me a way to cope, because I could make depression into something more tangible.

As far as what's next for "The Poison in Me", I can't say. That's really up to the people who enjoy it, who buy the song, buy the merch, who tell their friends and raise public awareness. 

Elizabeth: I am truly humbled that my story has impacted you in such a deep way, my heart's desire has always been to reach people from all walks of life, and encourage them through my character's stories. What I think is most intriguing is the open, honesty you communicate in your music. As you well know, I focus on such themes often on my blog, and my books. Not only are you refraining from sugar-coating depression and other battles we face, you also show that there is hope. How has your faith in God helped you through this journey, and shape your music?

Sarah: I was abused and hurt by members of the church, so if anyone had a reason to walk away from their faith, I did. I can empathize with people who have been mistreated by Christians. Thankfully I grew up understanding there was a difference between God and His followers...if I hadn't, I probably would have fallen headlong into carnality. For a while, I had a really hard time trusting God and won't lie that sometimes I still do. But overall my faith in Christ has carried me through.

Elizabeth: Faith is never an easy road, regardless of where you're from or what paths you have traversed in life. You had every reason and opportunity to turn away from the faith, and despite that, you didn't. I know you battled it...we all do. But God gives us the strength we need to fight our battles, no matter how great they may seem. We never are promised an easy road, but we are certainly promised victory, even if we can't see it right now. And speaking of that topic, if you were able to talk to a young fan, or even someone in our own age group who is hurting and questioning life; what would you say to them?

Sarah: If I were able to talk to a younger fan or a peer who was struggling, I wouldn't try to butter them up with platitudes about things "getting better" because if I were real, I'm still kind of a mess. But I would sit there with them and listen to them and help them find practical tools for living a life of purpose despite pain. Hurt destroyed my dream before it gave birth to it, and trials can bring out the worst and best in you. I want to be someone people can relate to, because I'm just like them, and I haven't arrived. We are all in this together.

Elizabeth: And because you've experienced this, and despite all the odds you are moving forward in your life, making music that is open, honest, and yet still shows a clear window to the saving grace of Christ, what would you say your underlying message is for your album? And in closing, how can people find your single, as well as where to learn more about you and your message? 

Sarah: My underlying message is it's never too late to recover, someone is never too far gone, and it's 100% okay as a Christian to be honest. I tried to take the approach of the Psalmists when crafting this album, which I'm hoping will be finished by early 2018. Those interested in purchasing "The Poison in Me" can find it on iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play. It is also on Spotify. You can find After All on Facebook and read more about the mission and ministry aspects of what I do. For anyone who would like to donate to After All, I recommend contacting me directly through my Facebook page for information on where donations go. After All seeks to not only be a music project, but a mental health movement, advocating awareness and treatment in the Christian community. Anyone can be an activist for change. 

Elizabeth: And that is just amazing, thank you so much for taking the time to share your heart, I pray continued success over you and your ministry!

(End interview)

As she so eloquently stated, Sarah has an amazing heart and vision; seeking out the hurt and helping them find healing through Christ. Her music is truly unique; I've often found inspiration for my own books through her lyrics and sweeping scores. I highly recommend her music, it is incredibly deep and insightful, as well as chocked full of raw talent.

Please check out this amazing single today, you won't regret it!

Here are links to purchase "The Poison in Me"!

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-poison-in-me-single/id1278153677

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/The-Poison-in-Me/dp/B07596RF4M/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1505275055&sr=8-8&keywords=the+poison+in+me

You can also check out After All's Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/sarahafterall/

New Beginnings: A Poem

Wow, I can't believe that I'm already in my second week of classes! Time really does fly by...and in honor of the excitement I've felt and the desire to pursue my dreams, I wrote this poem entitled "New Beginnings". It's a challenge to live out your dreams, and to refuse to bow to mediocrity.

Who ever had the audacity,

To say that joy is impossible?

Such a statement is an atrocity,

To a heart that is unstoppable.

I don't want to write,

Another little rhyme.

But why can't I fight?

Is that such a crime?

Who told you to silence your tongue?

Why has society said they've had enough?

When was it such an error to be young?

Now passion is met with a flaming rebuff.

Who said you didn't have a voice?

Are they too afraid you'll say something right?

We're treated as if we don't have a choice,

When we really have an advantage in this fight.

But who wants to hear my perspective,

When they've already drawn their lines?

The enemy well knows his vile objective,

Don't believe you were born for the sidelines.

Sometimes it takes fire to burn the old,

A forest needs the ashes in order to grow.

Oh, what would happen if we're actually bold?

Eyes filled with fire, and hearts aglow?

Don't dig up the seedling for it's lack of leaves,

Before you're so quick to accept your ending.

Faith isn't easy, but God is with one who believes,

That an empty slate signifies a new beginning.