This is a section from Pia Desideria, by Philip Jacob Spener, most of which is a actually a quote of Martin Luther.

"What did our sainted Luther seek more ardently than to induce the people to a diligent reading of the Scripture? He even had some misgivings about allowing his books to be published, lest the people be made more slothful thereby in the reading of the Scriptures. His words in Volume I of the Altenburg edition of his works read:

'I should gladly have seen all my books forgotten and destroyed, if only for the reason that I am afraid of the example I may give. For I see what benefit it has brought to the church that men have begun to collect many books and great libraries outside and alongside of the Holy Scriptures, and especially have begun to scramble together without and distinction, all sorts of “fathers,” “councils,” and “doctors.” Not only had good time been wasted and study of the Scriptures neglected, but the pure understanding of God’s Word is lost… It was out intention and hope when we began to put the Bible into German that there would be less writing and more studying and reading of the Scriptures. For all other writings should point to the Scriptures… Neither fathers nor councils nor we ourselves will do so well, even when our very best is done, as the Holy Scriptures have done- that is to say, as God himself has done. …I only ask in all kindness that the man who at this time wishes to have my books will by no means let them be a hindrance to his own study of the Scriptures, etc.'"

I go to Christian college, I get at least 8 hours of reading a week.... how much is actually the Scripture. Take a guess. This is my complaint.

I see that no one seems to have any answers for my regarding music, but it just so happens that I stumbled upon a site myself. While it doesn't solve the bigger issue of a lack of Christian music, I found a site which is probably familiar to a lot of people, which I had never been to. The site is called rcrdlbl.com, (recordlabel.com - vowels= rcrdlbl.com) which hosts pages for bands that are actually good. Think myspace music or purevolume, but only containing bands that actually have fans. Apparently the site must actually have a relationship of some sort with the band on its pages, because they are all bands that apparently have followings, of a variety of styles, most with downloadable tracks. This is the place to go if your looking for new bands that people haven't heard of. Just don't be like the millions of fans who claim that their bands have "sold out" when they become popular and everyone you know likes them too.

You know who you are.

Act like you have great musical taste, and then get mad at the fact that everyone likes that band.

You didn't discover them.

I am sad to say I cannot claim ownership of this beautiful piece..

Oh the ineffable emotion concieved by the rose of the field,
It is provokation through beauty by which it begins to yield,
But nay it is not even that, but so much more even still,
It breaks the hardest hearts at times and bends the strongest will,
How is it that such a small thing should so fixate the mind?
And so to some men's hearts and souls', deep philosophy bind,
The crimpson flare which graces its petals is anything but solemn,
And speckles of the morning dew reveal where angel's lips have befallen,
Yet even still there is something that alludes my mind with stealth,
Behind philosophy and image lingers yet something else...

This is really great, to understand that the sheer beauty of God in all things He has come in contact with, here personified in the rose, is enough to break the most hardened of heart, even those unwilling to accept the truth of His Word or the love of the Saint. In God's beauty, we can see something on a deeper level, we can see that this beauty which blankets all physical and emotional reality is reliant upon His love, and in place were we see the greatest beauty, His love abounds twentyfold...