Music From the Wilderness

The Book of Ecclesiastes, written by Solomon, has significance purpose in the world today. It is packed with sayings and proverbs. It deals with the life of Solomon, specifically the mistakes that he made in his life. His search for worldly possessions and power and happiness in meaningless things brought him a lot of grief and a lot of trouble in his life. He would like us to not make the same mistakes that he made in his past also gives us insight of how to come over the trouble in his life. Hos story is very similar to Nebuchadnezzar who cared about power. God had to show also that all that he had was due to the grace and love of God and it meant nothing and that he would have nothing without God.

Donnie McClurkin is known for his countless songs that inspire and bring worship into the lives and homes of many people. His music has been played on secular radio programs and religious radio programs. His life today is not what it was years ago when he had to deal with many issues, such as rape, sexual abuse, leukemia, drug addiction and alcoholism. At the age of 8 he was being molested by male relatives. To suppress these things, it leads him into alcoholism and drugs. People also questioned his sexuality. This was an issue as he began to sing. It was through singing that he was able to find Jesus and lead a Christian life. An extraordinary thing about his signing is that his vocal chords only work when sings but sound horrible when speaking. He is a modern day example that many know of who struggled with drugs and homosexuality but now preaches the message of Christ.

Another example is Curtis James Jackson III. His struggles in life include drugs and violence but on the opposite end of where Donnie McClurkin struggled. Curtis, also known as 50 cent, a now A list celebrity, rapper, and actor is known for his days as a “gangsta”. His life included a lot of violence, stealing, and selling of drugs. His love of money and fame lead him through this life style. It wasn’t until years after he started rapping that he began to build some credibility in the rap world. He is most known for the life changing experience when he was shot 9 times in NY. Soon after his album, “Get rich or die trying”, he became more famous.

The similarities between these two stories are that Donnie’s issues came to him of no fault of his own. Only his decisions to suppress them are his at his consent. Curtis in the same way group in a society with not to many options and routs and the only way of life that made since was selling drugs, like his mother did. Both are artist that inspire the world today with their music. There are though obvious differences. It is in my opinion that Donnie’s music works for the glory of God while 50 cents music works against it. Both of their music teaches completely different messages. Also, 50 cent put himself in situations to run into trouble, he sold the drugs, and committed the crime and made the enemies that he made. I would only suggest to finding Jesus, like Donnie did but I would never suggest a path through drugs first and violence. They both tell their stories for two different reasons also. Curtis tells his story to show others that hard work and sacrifice through crime can pay off because he made it. Donnie tell his story to show others that the decisions made in our lives that we control and not control can ultimately be flipped when Christ is introduced into one’s life.