G'day. My name is Keygar and this is my website, "Rapture Notes".
I live in Australia, a land greatly blessed by God but that blessing overall, being taken for granted by most of my countrymen. I wouldn't have wanted to live anywhere else and I thank God for allowing me to be born here. Sadly however, as in many western countries, the noose in Australia is tightening around personal freedoms and Christian values.
I guess you could simply describe me as a Musician with a keen interest in Bible Prophecy, Christian matters in general, and Computers. It all began in about 2001 with a single web page and a few of my Gospel songs on it. I used to get real excited if I had a dozen or so visitors to the site each month. It was called "Keygar's Christian Music Page" back then. One day, after moving to the country, I fell out of a tree with a roaring chainsaw in one hand, and a gesture for help to the Lord in the other. Emerging from hospital some time later with a new appreciation of the fragility and shortness of our lives, I expanded the site, renamed it "Rapture Notes" and it now gets thousands of visits each month. I'm designing and making the website myself as I go along, so there's probably a few things not working properly. Please let me know if you come across any so I can fix them. Any suggestions will be seriously looked at. I'll take all the help I can get.
The site covers a wide range of subjects. Of particular interest is the Rapture of the church and there are quite a few articles on that topic. It ties in with bible prophecy and end time matters, an area that is sadly neglected in many churches these days. Most churches that I have come across in recent years seem more concerned with "experiences", "feelings", "faith fruits", "modern Christian music", "money raising", "charismatic celebrities", "acting weird in the spirit?", "taking the world for Christ, by any means", "dancing to freedom", "joining hands with other faiths, Christian or non-Christian", and on and on. Getting into the real word of God and applying Christ's teachings to how we live, conduct ourselves and relate to others has fled, chased out the stained glass doors by superficiality, insincerity, love of the world, love of money and power, mediocrity, and expensively dressed conmen.
Do I go to church? No, not at the moment. I live on the outskirts of a city and have commitments on weekends, so it's a bit difficult. The self righteous would of course jump at this and immediately label me a "backslider" not worth listening to. Well wait, there's more. I also have an occasional cold beer on a hot day. SILENCE. My old Sunday School teacher just went white. And, I sometimes buy a lotto ticket. THUMP. That old teacher just dropped dead. Ready for more? I used to play in rock 'n' roll and country bands, and even had my own. ALL IS QUIET. The noose is being prepared and the trapdoor oiled. I believe I'll fare better under God's judgement than man's.
I seem to have come across three types of Christians in my lifetime. Those that just live quietly day to day with a strong unshakeable faith in Jesus Christ in their hearts. They don't make a song and dance about their belief, but are prepared to expand on it if asked, and they set a good example with their life and standards. Then there are those that are continually saying things like "Praise the Lord", "The Lord told me...", "I have a word from the Lord for you" or "You know, you should do this or that, Jesus said.....". These may be the best Christians, but I can't relate to them much I must say. They either make me feel inferior, are just plain annoying, or come across as loud but empty drums. Finally there are those that are just plain boring and dull, and act as if even laughing may be a sin. They wear this coat of respectability and "rightness" that obviously doesn't fit them and looks uncomfortable, but they refuse to take it off. It makes me uncomfortable as well.
I sometimes think there will be more people in heaven who never set foot in a church than those who did. Most laughs I've had in life have been with non Christians. There are of course those Christians who I really regard as the "salt of the earth". I long to be like them. There are unfortunately many areas of my life I would hate to be exposed publicly. I would be acutely embarrassed. The lord knows about them. I know about them. They'll be the "chaff" that is burned off me in Glory. Stand back on that day, the smoke will be thick. For example, I detest bad language from people, my kids and in movies. I try not to swear myself and in general, I don't, BUT, after twenty pulls on the cord trying to get my lawn mower to start, or after I've just stripped the thread on the last bolt holding the alternator on in my car, it's best if the faint hearted and small children are kept away from me. Thankfully God regards me as a "work in progress". Like I say in one of my songs, "I'm doing the best I can with what I am".
Do I regard "Rapture Notes" as a ministry, a calling, a God anointed task specially for me, or my particular talent? No. It's really just an attempt to share information I think is important in these times we're living in. I enjoy tinkering with computers and learning new things. Designing a web page or raving on about a pet subject, I enjoy these things, and it keeps me off the streets. Of course, I am very interested in Bible prophecy and matters pertaining to the Christian faith, and hence my putting such articles on this web site in case someone else out there might also be interested. As well, I love a good belly laugh, so I have included some jokes and funny videos etc. that people have sent me. Hopefully they'll lighten up your day sometime.
I started learning the piano when I was five years old. I pestered my Mum and Dad to let me have lessons after I was inspired by the piano music that used to waft over the fence to our house from the musical lady next door. I did the usual classical piano exams (a nerve wracking affair), progressed to jazz and played professionally for many years both as a soloist and in bands of one sort or another. Most of the songs on this site are written and/or performed by myself. I was inspired to write them during a time in my life when I was unhappy, confused and stressed. I found much comfort in writing them and singing them. It was a release of my heart's problems and at the same time my heart's hope and appreciation, to Jesus Christ. Was He impressed? I don't know. But it did me good. The songs are sincere and from my heart. Quite a few folk claim they have been blessed by them, what ever that means exactly. It may be that some people can just detect or empathize with, the themes of the songs or a feeling I'm expressing. I don't know for sure, but I include some on the site for those who may be interested in listening to them, or who may be fellow musicians and just curious.
I became a Christian as a teenager in response to a scary sermon preached in our church. I've heard it said that it's wrong to become a Christian out of fear. BALONEY. If it takes fear to wake you up to your need of forgiveness through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, HERE!!!, hold this talking skull with the knife sticking out of it while I turn off the lights! The bible says the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. The fear of bulls may stop you being stomped on, a good thing no? And there's plenty of bull around. Of course, after fear comes respect, admiration and then love, with me anyway. God can get a person's attention many ways I'm sure.
What do I hope to get from operating this website? I'd like to feel that at least ONE person before I die, gets something encouraging, enlightening, or even better, life changing from it. The bible makes it clear that as well as having faith in Jesus to give us eternal life with Him, we need to put our faith into action and do something for Him in return. It seems to me the main thing he said He wanted us to do besides loving others etc. was to tell others about Him, or to be ready at least to tell others about our faith in Him should the opportunity arise. Well, the internet is one way to do that, especially for me who finds it difficult to approach people in a shopping centre car park and preach to them. The bible teaches that we should aim to have Jesus say to us upon our arrival in Heaven "well done, you good and faithful servant". Perhaps, as a result of this website, He might say to me "Hi there Keygar, I guess you tried". That's as good as I can hope for. While everyone else is led off to their mansion, an embarrassed angel will point out my tent. But I'll be happy. My tent will be your tent, as long as there's no snoring in heaven. Most importantly of all, I'll be where Jesus Christ is. That'll do me!
By the Grace of God through Jesus Christ, I hope to see you in Heaven one day.
If you find "Rapture Notes" a help in anyway, I'd love to hear from you.
