Lord We Need You

When I heard this song in 2005, it spoke truth to me on so many levels. Flame has always been one of my favorite artist due to his lyrical style, but the most impressive trait is how biblically sound he is. For this reason, I believe Rewind, the album from which this song came, is one of the greatest Christian Hip Hop records ever. When I think of this song, I think of Acts 17:28a which says "In Him we live and move and have our being" (ESV). Flame does a good job in this song describing the human condition and life in a Godless world. He uses it to drive home the point that we need the Lord. Maybe if you are reading this you can relate to some of these situations and hopefully you will realize you need the Lord. Even when things are good, we still need him.

Psalm 42:1-5 says: As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God,for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember,as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul,and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation. (ESV)

No matter how bad it gets, if we trust in the Lord, He can turn it around. We all need Him, the key is admitting it and accepting His love and grace. Enjoy the video.




"We Need You"


[Verse 1:]
I watch cats go from playin' kickball to carryin' clips and slugs
and girls who played hopscotch to now strippin' in clubs
man it all started just sippin' some bud man
until she got tricked and then she tripped with the drug man
see you remember old girl she was so pretty
I guess smokin' that dope makes you look old quickly
dude was so smart in school now he's gettin' high
he had plans for the league now he's just gettin' by
I guess the older you get
it's like the more you forget
that Jesus Christ that granny molded you with
yeah that must be the thing before you see the King
Jesus must awaken you from your street dream
Lord my prayer is this
thank you that prayer exist so you can take us away the worst terrorist
which is ourselves our sin in which I must admit
there was peace in the garden Lord and now there is this

[Hook:]
We need [3x] oh yes we do
We need you [3x] Lord everyday

[Verse 2:]
Young dood only thirteen
but he think like he thirty cause the stuff he seen
ain't no food in the house plus the mustards green
and mom nem pound they things man they must be fiends
she was lying that TV ain't have no busted screen man
sometimes I cry sometimes I scream man
It's our sin that we living in dying in
we need Him just to live again we blind men
how real is that God wanna save us from wrath
but don't know equals like equations from maththat equals restoration reconciliation
new heart new start peace and plus some patients basically man the fruit of the Spirit
happy to plant seeds ain't gotta see the fruit of my lyrics
let the seeds see the increase that God has made
I'm just pleased knowing Jesus is the God that saves
and that's why

[Hook]

[Verse 3:]
I never seen a tree live dawg out of the ground
that's like man with out God tell me how does it sound
like a Gomorrah and Sodom men sound
He still owns you even if you out of town man
He's tracking you now like music with sound scan
especially you doods that be usually down playing Him
and never realizing it's Him that's keeping us breathing
recognize that we heathens
recognize that we need Him
yeah He know we suffer but His son suffered worse
imagine Him coming to earth and becoming a curse
well it happed don't waist your time rapping about
wakness that really deserve a smack in the mouth
especially taken on flesh is an immaculate rout
lived perfect died rose said that I'll be back and I'm out
plus the bible says blessed is the poor in spirit
so he who has an ear let him hear it
I' out fam

[Hook]

Tim Tebow's NFL Career A Success?

No I am not being sarcastic with this question. It's a legitimate question in that his career can be measured by something other than what happened on the football field. His influence is matchless among any other athlete. After two preseason games with the New England Patriots, he has looked awful so far. He was held out of the third preseason game. His roster spot appears to be very much in jeopardy unless he contributes at some other position. If he doesn't make the roster, his NFL career will be in jeopardy as well as it is not likely that he will be given another shot. Stranger things have happened with Tebow so I could be wrong. Despite his recent lack of success as an NFL QB, I still say his overall football career has been a success thus far and here is why:

1) His college career was outstanding. He is considered one of the greatest college football players of all time. He has a Heisman trophy and 2 national championships and numerous records. Unfortunately his game has not translated to the NFL besides the one great run he had in Denver.
2) He was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft. Despite the fact that most QBs with his playing style have struggled to even get drafted as a QB (see Eric Crouch), Tebow getting drafted in the first round was a miracle. What it did was force Denver to play him.
3) His awesome 2011 run with the Denver Broncos was one for the ages. Despite his critics and lack of traditional QB skills, he led the Broncos to a playoff spot and a first round victory against the Steelers. Who could forget the fact that in that game he passed for 316 yards averaging 31.6 yards per completion. Also the Neilson ratings for the game was 31.6. This of course invoked references to John 3:16. Also the receiver that caught the winning touchdown, Demarius Thomas, was born on Christmas Day.

Since that playoff victory, Tebow's career on the field has been dismal at best. Some his doing the rest due to the incompetence of the NY Jets staff but that is another story. I'll admit that many Tebow supporters can be over the top which leads to a lot of resentment toward him from others. However his success on the football field has led to a much greater success.

Before it was banned by the NCAA, Tebow wore patches under his eyes with the verse John 3:16 during the 2009 National Championship game. The verse became the most highly searched term on google within the next 24 hours with over 90 million searches. He once wore the same patches with the verse Proverbs 3:5-6 which generated another 3.43 million searches. I already referenced the Steeler playoff game above and the references to John 3:16. That verse once again became the top google search term after that game. I remember watching his next playoff game against the Patriots and I saw John 3:16 commercials during the game. Tebow's games were always among the highest rated games drawing millions upon millions of viewers. It was clear that Tebow understood his influence and used it to promote Christ as Lord.

So why was he successful? Jesus tells us in Matthew 28: 19-20 to go and make disciples of all nations. Well Tebow definitely has tried to do his part in that area. However, there is greater significance in the platform he was given. With the advancement in technology, it has become much easier to reach people with the gospel in different parts of the world. The NFL is a global phenomenon, seen all over the world weekly. With Tebow's games drawing such high ratings more people were impacted with the gospel. Matthew 24:14 states that the gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. In other words the return of our Savior for His people will not occur until everyone has heard the gospel. God clearly intended to reach people who probably have not heard the gospel through Tebow's success despite his lack of traditional NFL QB skills. it is that trait that made his run so mesmerizing. In other words God chose the weak to put the strong to shame (1 Corinthians 1:27) in the NFL and in the process created a true underdog story which reached millions for the gospel. God also thrust into the spotlight around this time an NBA player by the name of Jeremy Lin whose story, although not as celebrated and scrutinized, was very similar. Lastly, I hope people will stop with the God doesn't care about sports thing. God can care about whatever He wants, He made everything anyway (John 1:3), so who are we to say what He can and cannot care about.

The success of Tebow's career was not all in what he did on the field, but in being obedient in God's call on his life. I am sure his work for The Lord will not be done once his playing days are over. Regardless of the outcome, he had been a success I believe in God's eyes. He may never see his name in the NFL Hall of Fame, but it may very well be in the Hall of Faith.

The perfect soundtrack to this story is Sho Baraka's "Famous." Click on the link and enjoy and God bless!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU2zdxRjKPA

Peace

At my new job, whenever I bring up internet explorer the home page is msn.com.  MSN always has article on the top of the page that interest me.  However, daily there is an article related to race, religion, and sexual orientation.  I am always compelled to read the the comments on the articles and what I quickly realize is how divided we are as a nation.  Many of those comments probably come from people we know personally but would never know they felt that way.  Some comments are thought provoking even if I don't agree others are hateful and mean (keyboard courage).  Reading them gives me a lot of mixed emotions and many times I feel compelled to comment.  However the internet filter here at the office won't allow me.  It's a good thing probably as it gives me time to really chew on what I read instead of making impulsive comments.  This article shares my thoughts on the articles in a broad sense after having time to chew on them. In relation to the topics of the articles, I am a Christian black male who is straight and married with two kids.  Based on that you (the reader) can probably surmise my opinions on the topics of race, religion and sexual orientation.  Your conclusions would probably be right as well.  Of those attributes that I have the most important to me is Christian and those that know me know that I am unashamed and always willing to share my faith.  The key word there is share, not force it, not point fingers, but discuss it in love.  To me the bible is absolute truth and anything that contradicts it is a lie.  Some would say that makes me dogmatic or brainwashed.  My belief in the bible doesn't mean I don't question it, but that I trust it as the inspired word of the living God.  So I draw my opinions on race and sexual orientation from the bible (others may have different interpretations of those subjects from the bible as well).  My prayer is that my thoughts always align with the bible and if I am wrong, I don't mind being corrected.

The issue I have with our nation now is that we cannot agree to disagree anymore.  If you don't believe what the other believes, it's a fight.  Some things are worth fighting for others are not.  I fear for our nation after reading these articles because people are being persecuted for their beliefs (Christian and non-Christian).  We as Christians are even participating in the persecutions in some instances.  As much as I would like to choose my side and fight, I decided to be the peace maker. Matthew 5:9 states blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.  I don't know what that looks like yet, but that's my stance.  Although emotionally I want to do differently, that's what I believe the spirit wants me to do.  How else can you be a peacemaker than to present the Prince of Peace?  So the same bible that I said I trust above, I will trust to help me be the peace maker.  This song by Da' Truth featuring Swoope I believe captures the spirit of what I am trying to say.  In the mean time pray for our nation.

2 Chronicles 7:14 - if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Unstoppable

I want to share an insight from Pastor Todd Rainwater concerning our decision making and God's purpose for our lives.  This is an incredible testimony of God's favor.  Reading it reminded me of a song by Viktory called "Unstoppable."  Song and lyrics are after the jump.

Pastor Todd Rainwater
Insight 12

Genesis

Theme         You Choose!

 

Text             “The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left” (Genesis 13:9, NLT).

         

Insight         Genesis chapter 13 is an interesting story in Abram’s life. It is a story that reveals how confident Abram was in God. In other words, Abram’s trust was in God and God alone. He understood that the blessings and provisions in his life were there because of Whose he was. Abram was so confident in Whom his provisions came from that he freely allowed Lot to choose because he could not loose.

           Here’s the story… Abram and Lot were both very wealthy with flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle and many tents. So much so, that the land could not support them both living so close together. Eventually, “Disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot ” (13:7).

          Abram didn’t want the herdsmen’s dispute to come between himself and Lot . So Abram said, “The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.” Abram’s offer reveals that he believed no matter what Lot choose he would still be blessed. How can this be?

          Abram knew he was blessed if he went to the right AND he was blessed if he went to the left. He was blessed because of Whose he was not what he choose. He was so confident in this reality, that he allowed Lot to make the decision. Are you that confident in the Source of your blessings?

          Unfortunately, many of us believe we are blessed primarily because of what we choose. Consequently, we get paralyzed in analyzing the choices and worried about choosing correctly. Abram didn’t see it that way. He was free! He determined that the Source of his blessings was God Himself.

          Look, you are blessed primarily because of Whose you are! Live with the confidence that you are blessed coming and going, lying down and getting up, over here and over there, in this job and in that one. Blessings are a benefit of knowing and walking with God.

 

Prayer          Father, thank You for blessing me. I acknowledge that You are my Source of blessing and provision. I will stop over analyzing and worrying. Bless me Father, for I am Your’s. In Jesus name, AMEN.

I'm In Love

I was listening to DJ Wade-O's radio show (www.wadeoradio.com) and he was playing some old school tracks.  One he played in particular is a song by Sho Baraka called "Higher Love."  This was the first single from his first solo album.  I remember loving this song because it was a real description of why I love the Lord and also where he took me from.  It reminded me of the pressure sometimes I felt to continue to follow the old crowd and the difficulty of trying to explain to them why I can't follow.  Sho does an excellent job of artiulating this.  When I heard it today, I thought of a few scriptures:

2 Cor 5:17-21 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Sho, to starts that song, mentions going back to Egypt.  He means this in a figurative way as he is making reference to Exodus, which begins the journey of the Israelites out of Egypt to the promised land.  Egypt represents the past, it represents sin.  Despite being free from slavery, the Israelites found their journey difficult and actually wanted to return to Egypt.  Why would anyone want to go back to slavery?  When we are outside of Christ we are slaves to sin, but in Him we can be slaves to obedience which leads to righteousness (Romans 6:16).  We can all leave our "Egypt" because in Christ we are a new creation:

Ephesians 2:1-10 - And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

So would you rather stay in slavery or accept God's free gift of grace.  The scriptures above clearly show that God's love is like no other.  Sho describes this love in the song.  Enjoy the track and lyrics after the jump.

Mr. Pretender

I bought KB's album, Weight and Glory, and I must say I am impressed with the album all the way around from theology, lyrical flow and production.  Definitely one of my favorites of the year.  One song in particular that gripped me is called Mr. Pretender (see link to song and lyrics below).  The song is about the devil. When I think about this song, I am reminded of two instances in the Bible where Satan attempted to deceive.

In Genesis 3, the Bible records that Satan, in the form of a serpent convinced Eve to eat of the tree of knowledge, the one tree in the garden that God told her and Adam not to eat.  Genesis 3:2-5 records, "He said to the woman, 'Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?, And the woman said to the serpent, 'We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.' But the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'"  So Satan is not only claiming to know something that God does not desire for Eve to know, he also claims God to be a liar when it is he that is a liar.  Eve believed Satan and ate of the tree, and then Adam ate.  As a result, we now have sin, death and disease in a fallen world.

Now look at Matthew 4:1-11:

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.'  But he answered, 'It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'' Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,’ and 'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'' Jesus said to him, 'Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'' Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, 'All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Be gone, Satan! For it is written,'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'' Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him."

  His strategy with Jesus was the same as with Eve; he even used scripture with Jesus. However, Jesus fasting and communing with God, also having scriptures in His heart was able to resist the devil and he fled (James 4:7).  That should be our response as well.

Satan is the ultimate deceiver.  He tries to convince us his way is better than God's way.  He is the ultimate pretender, a phony, a counterfeit of everything God stands for.  He pretends to give you better than what God gives by using anti-God tactics.  The great deceiver to come will be known as the anti-Christ (see the book of Revelation).  In the song below (listen to song and see lyrics after the jump) KB describes some of the lies Satan will use to convince us his way is better.  Enjoy and let me know your thoughts and comments here or on facebook and twitter.  You can also e-mail me at platinumlife7@yahoo.com.

Joy

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” – Jesus Christ (Matthew 13:44).

Per dictionary.com, joy is defined as the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying…..a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated.  The Message bible translates this scripture as:  "God's kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidentally found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic—what a find!—and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field.”

As I read through Ecclesiastes for the first time, I found a man conflicted.  Solomon was one of the richest, wisest men that ever lived.  Yet as he got older, he wrote Ecclesiastes as a warning to people like me, all is vanity.  He starts the book off in verse two of chapter one with that very statement.  Yet throughout the book he continues to say that there is nothing better than for a man to enjoy the fruit of his labor.

Ecclesiastes 9:9-10 - Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (or the grave), to which you are going.

So as you can see, God does want us to enjoy life.  Many Christians deny themselves pleasures in life because of the error in believing that we are to completely deny ourselves of our own happiness.  I have been reading John Piper’s book titled, Don’t Waste Your Life.  In the book, he notes that one way we glorify God is by being glad in Him and showing others how to do the same.  Our happiness is important to God, but what are we happy about?  Are we happy about God, or are we happy about the things He blesses us with?  Are we seeking the Creator or the created?  Are we seeking the provider or what is provided?  Matthew 6:33 says to seek Him first.  Dr. David Cooper at a Sunday service said we have to have a power within us greater than the pressure around us.   That power only comes when we seek him first. 

Andy Mineo in a song called “Pressure” said “You can take my joy, because the world didn’t give it to me.”  That’s the key, where does your joy come from.  We are free to enjoy the pleasures of this life, the fruit of our labor.  Galatians 5:22 states that one of the fruits of the spirit is joy.  If our joy comes from the Lord, our dependence on joy will be from Him and not from the world.  Whenever disappointment, shame, betrayal, hurt, sorrow, and even fear comes, you will still be able to have joy.  Also, you can enjoy the things of the world, whether it is food and drink, money, possessions, vacations, family and friends without guilt or shame.  And, if the things of the world are taken away from you, you will still have joy.

Another thing that may rob us of joy is sin.  Paul, in Galatians 5:18, states that if we are led by the spirit, we are not under the law.  In Nehemiah 8, after Ezra the priest and scribe read the Book of the Law of Moses to the people, they began to weep (see verse 9).  Why were they weeping?  Because they realized that they were not keeping the law.  The bible states in Romans 3:23 that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  Young Noah has a song out now called “I’m Ugly” in which he states that we are all ugly or that we all have sinned are truly unworthy of God’s grace.  However, he gave us grace as a gift; we have done nothing to earn it.  What was Nehemiah’s response to the people after they wept?  Nehemiah 8:10 says, “….Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  Not the joy of the worldly things but of the Lord is our strength.  The joy of the Lord not only allows us to enjoy the things of this world, but also to overcome the sorrows of the world.

I’ve been listening to a sermon by John Piper called “Quest for Joy.”  In the sermon Piper states that God does desire for us to have joy and be happy, however, what type of joy and happiness are we seeking after?  I would recommend John Piper’s Sermon; see following link to sermon notes:  http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/articles/quest-for-joy.  Also, I hope you enjoy the song below called “My Joy” by J’Son featuring Jai.  This song I think embodies the spirit of this article.  Also check out Andy Mineo’s “Pressure” and Young Noah’s “I’m Ugly” as both songs are on free album/mixtape releases.  Andy Mineo’s album can be found at http://reachrecords.com/releases/show/Formally-Known-Mixtape.  Young Noah’s mixtape can be found on http://clearsightmusic.com/home/.  Both are quality projects.