Distaste for God

At the panel discussion the Ambassador hit on an interesting truth: Even though I know there is holy hip hop and alternatives to some of the crap that's out there is something in me that wants the garbage more. Is it a result of having a craving for garbage or just a distaste for God?

Galaxy West in the house

I am sitting here recuperating from a ghettofabuluous hip hop party and open mic that we had at Awakenings Coffeehouse. It was pretty cool to see my cousin's group Galaxy West performing. Honestly I didn't know the boy had it in him. I really liked the song LA to the Bay. Top quality stuff. Don't sleep. Check out the website Galaxy West

Hiphop day at Fuller

I was at Fuller pretty much all day this Thursday for Hiphop day. There was a breakfast and discussion about hiphop and the church. Why are the civil rights generation and the hiphop generation so estranged from each other? Why aren't churches putting a priority on serving missionally in this culture in which so many youth are involved in? Why is there a big push in interest and money towards the "emerging church" which is a predominantly white movement and not the same push towards reaching the hip hop generation?

The night was capped by a panel discussion at Lake Avenue Church and a performance by the Ambassador. If u haven't heard the Ambassador then u r definitely sleeping. The sickest metaphors and punchlines all "submitted to the glorious Lord". Also check out the Cross Movement These guys have been putting in work for years in terms of the art form and representing Christ faithfully.

Les Nubians

If u don't know about Les Nubians u have got to check them out. They are a french afropean hip hop r&b duo. I am currently listening to their r&b/hiphop/spoken word album "Echos". Check out their website Les Nubians

Chicken Run

Chickens longing to be free....longing to break out of their fences. That's us. That's me anyway. I'm a big chicken trying to break out of the coop.

I love Yvette

I love my wife. She just brought me some jamba juice to bring me back to life. What a nurturer. I remember when we first met who would have thought we would be married. Dating even. We were so far away geographically and maturity wise. But God has a plan. He moves in mysterious ways. Here is a picture of us at a restaurant overlooking the crater lake in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia. We will be there again this summer and I'm hoping that it will be just the beginning of our many adventures.

I love you Yvette

Sick as a dog

I am sick as a dog. I don't know where that expression came from but that describes it. Runny nose, sore throat, and sore bones. The only good thing is that I have time to read and write.

So I'm reading:

Genesis. I am reading this because I have not read the Old Testament in a long time and what better place to start than..in the beginning. Great story. Great narrative. Now I am reading it with new eyes since I discovered the main hero or protagonist is God

Luke. Luke's gospel is for the hurt, the downcast, the marginalized, the outsider. That's who I am and that's who I want to be in touch with. It is a well of compassion.

Spiritual Leadership by Oswald Sanders. I read this during the time I led a Campus Crusade/Impact summer project to Ethiopia. It was the first time I officially led anything. I was in charge of 15 people, the liason between 4 groups, and responsible for $20,000. So needless to say I was out of my league but this book gave me some footing and grounding in a very shaky time.

How to Read the Bible for all it's Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart. This book is something that I can pull out and read anytime. A true gem that gives you the mechanics of interpreting each genre of scripture. It also gives you a new respect for the Bible. The book of books.

Prayer for support

God I know u r in control of everything. I really want to go on this trip to Ethiopia. It just seems like every time I try to raise money there are so many obstacles. Lord I don't want to raise it anymore I want you to raise it. It is too big of a task for me but not too big for the owner of the world and the universe. My hands are wide open to receive from you. So Lord I pray that you would give us peace in the middle of this process. Amen.

A prophet or a profit?

I truly wonder about the state of our churches and that in turn gets me to wonder about the state of our leaders and that leads to an examination of self.

Recently I read these verses in Luke 7:16-17

They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people." This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea[a] and the surrounding country.

My question is when people talk about me do they say "a great prophet has appeared among us" or "He is trying to profit from us. After an interaction with our church do they say "God has come to help his people" or "People are helping themselves and using God".

Maybe they don't say anything at all and pass by us like day old roadkill.

Scary thought.

Dubai is out of control

Dubai is out of control and now ricaling NY and LA as a commercial center. There are plans to have a chess city where there will be 32 towers with 64 floors each shaped like chess pieces.

I say out of control in the sense of what new things will come out of Dubai. My heart is moved to pray for this city.

Our hidden gods

I am searching for something to get out of my funk. I keep reading but maybe reading is not the answer. Maybe reading is just a substitute for what I really need and want....relationship. A couple of years ago I discovered that idolatry is just a substitute for relationships with people and with God. No I dont have a taste for bowing down to statues but my life is filled with so many hidden gods.

Ungodly busyness

I need to get better at posting regularly. It's just a lot of work and I have been too busy. Ungodly busy. U know the kind of busy where u realize u haven't talked to God in a long time. The kind of busy that makes u sick. Spiritually sick.

Ungodly busyness

I need to get better at posting regularly. It's just a lot of work and I have been too busy. Ungodly busy. U know the kind of busy where u realize u haven't talked to God in a long time. The kind of busy that makes u sick. Spiritually sick.