Thursday, April 24, 2008

April's Best Song:

I may catch some heat for this, but I think that the video after the Jump is the best song to come out this month and it's nestled in a very good album. If you liked the first CD but wished it sounded more like a 50's soul album then you're in luck! While it is a really enjoyable CD, with Cee-Lo dropping bits of spirituality, (About which I may look at more deeply. I said spirituality, not Christianity, don't flame me.)I don't think it has anything on the live show. I desperately want to see them live.



Or you might like to hear the album version via their spot on spoof of all things late 80's Soul Train.

WARNING! ! !

If you are prone to seizures, don't watch this.

WARNING! ! !

Justin Timberlake is in the video.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

"Gangsta Rap Didn't Exist":

Here's three options for who said the above quote.

Option 1 - Alicia Keys

Option 2 - Jesse Jackson

Option 3 - Calvin "Snoopy Double-D-O-G" Brodus

Take the leap to find out the answer.



Drum roll please. . .and the answer is. . .Alicia Keys. You can find The Huffington Post's article about the interview here. Here's a highlight. Remember that this is all second hand. I wasn't able to find the actual article online. I'll try to keep this as much about her quotes as possible.

Gangsta rap' was a ploy to convince black people to kill each other. Gangsta rap' didn't exist.
The article then touched on another of her beliefs.

Another of her theories: That the bi-coastal feud between slain rappers Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. was fueled "by the government and the media, to stop another great black leader from existing."

I read this article and was genuinely shocked on a few levels. On one level I was shocked that anyone was still taking their leadings from The Black Panthers, a group notorious for their hate. I always pegged Keys for being a bit of a Urban Hippie. Secondly, I'm surprised at how tame her fans have been about this whole thing. There's mostly a "Hey, be cool, she wouldn't say that" kind of vibe.

As far as the "Gangsta Rap" thing goes. As music is a reflector of society I have to say that the labels that paid them, Death Row for example, were in it for the money, not for political positioning. As far as the government taking away great black leaders, Barack Obama. I guess we need to better understand what she expects from a strong black leader. Something more violent, like a Black Panther?

What's it mean in the end?

She's a celebrity, she is a super talented musician, and she is just as flawed as the rest of us. Check the article out and let me know what it makes you think about. Is there a clear scripture link here?

Thursday, April 10, 2008

This man just caused a space time anomaly:

My name is Steve, I've been an active participatory member of my church now for about 6 years. I'm up for a deacon position. I guess you could say I'm a man of faith. Sure, I've got my fair share of sins. But, I'm really, really. . .really trying to get a handle on them.

I've decided that I shouldn't come out and share them with the pastor or my church. Some of them are sexual, you know, dirty sexual and that just wouldn't go well, what with me an up and coming deacon. I mean, what if word got around to my daughter what I do and how I think, she'd be mortified. Not to mention what it would do to her status in the CGFBBAC (Collegiate Grace Filled Bible Believers Awesome Club), of which she is secretary.

Nope, I can handle all this on my own. This is my cross to bear. I have accountability. I talk directly to God, He keeps me accountable. I see no reasons to confess my sins before other people when I can confess them before God. . .or on national television.

Oh, James 5:16, really, it says that?

Watch the video after

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

It's official:

I've decided I'm boycotting China's Olympic Games. I think I'll also be boycotting any games held in America as well. Heck, I can't think of any place that really should hold games centered on the ideals of good will towards men. Maybe Canada, except, it's full of Canadians. No offense Canadian readers!

And here is the rest of it.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Great Quote:

I was reading an article over at PastorHacks and read this awesome statement, which will most certainly be used/stolen by me. Take the Jump to check out a snippet from the article and a few of my thoughts.
It doesn't take mailers, banners, and Cirque Du Soleil every week. Just a bunch of loving, welcoming Christ followers. People who genuinely care. People who are seeking relationships with other people, and sharing life with them. A competent all-community gathering where things work well so as not to be a distraction from what God wants to do that morning, sure... but less of a focus on Sunday mornings as the center of community and more of a focus on the community and its revolving around Jesus Himself.

I remain convinced that what we win people with, we win them to.


Am I wrong in thinking there is a lot of truth to that? Isn't that the entire argument about seeker sensitive churches? What is the real focus? We can say it's Christ, but what is the lure for the unregenerate? If it's health, wealth and an more fulfilled life. Then we've more than likely reinforced those things as their god.

So, what is your church winning people with?