Jamin Rathbun & Superdink.com

Who is this Jamin guy anyway?
I am the husband of one and the father of nine. I was created to sing, to worship, to encourage, and to be steady. I am the Owner & Executive Director of Trinity Arts Center, a multi-disciplinary Arts Center in Eastern Tennessee, and the President of Trinity Arts Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization focused on funding arts education and performance. I've been involved with four music projects in my life -- Hot Pink Turtle, Spin Radio, Stand Like Stone, and of course, Jamin Rathbun.

In 2013, I added my Twitter feed to this site (below). To view the old content, just scroll down past the Twitter timeline. To keep in the loop on new posts, thoughts, and updates, just follow me on Twitter using the button below. Thanks!

Tweets by @jaminrathbun

bible

Psalms 119:44-45, 47
I will always obey your law, for ever and ever. I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts... I delight in your commands because I love them.

That passage really sets the tone for what Biblical freedom is about. Too many times, we define freedom as the "right" to choose our own path or indulge in some "borderline" activity. That isn't what David is saying here at all. It isn't about what he can get away with. It isn't about what God will allow him to do. It isn't about holding on to some pleasure, crutch, or habit from our old life. It's about freedom from sin. David walks in freedom because he is following God's precepts and because he delights in God's commands.

That's a far cry from how I hear most Christians toss around the idea of freedom. For most, it means that I'm still "free" to drink beer. I'm still "free" to tell dirty jokes. I'm still "free" to smoke cigarettes. I'm "free" to put my own "unique" spin on the generic commands that God communicates in Scripture. How ridiculous!

Luke 4:18-19
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

Jesus is quoting Isaiah about why he is here... Not to provide us the freedom to indulge in some physical desire or habit, but to bring freedom from sin, recovery for the broken, and victory for the oppressed. That is the freedom that God offers. Freedom from sin and from death. Freedom from the judgement of the Law. Freedom from the damnation we deserve.

This reminds me of a conversation I had a few years ago with another Christian musician. I didn't know him well but I'd been around him enough to know that he drank quite a bit, and told some dirty jokes, and cussed when he felt it added the "appropriate" impact. Here's what the Bible says about how our lives should (and should not) look...

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

That's the negative... Now here's the positive.

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

So how does alcohol fit into those descriptions. Does it encourage gentleness and self-control or does it take us down the path of drunkenness and debauchery? How about crude joking? Does that sound like kindness, goodness, and gentleness or -- more like immorality? How about cussing? There are actually a couple other passage that speak to that specifically. I've written about these a couple of times before, by the way.

Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Proverbs 4:24
Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

I'm getting way too long-winded here so I'm going to wrap this up for today. Sorry if I'm coming off a too harshly. Anyone who knows me, would know that I offer this post without the least bit of superiority, condemnation, or judgement. I just call them like I see them. = )

music

Good Monsters
I'm really becoming a fan of Jars of Clay. I didn't like their early stuff at all but their last couple albums are quirky, thoughtful, unique, and just plain old cool.

Anyway... the guys have a new album out called Good Monsters. I haven't listened to all of it yet but I'm expecting a few interesting tracks based on the bits and pieces that I've heard. By the way, Hear It First has a couple free videos and an mp3 of the title track available for free. Check it out.