listening?

I sent the message below and posed three discussion questions. The responses I've received are varied (almost as varied as the responses on worldstarhiphop). I'm gathering the responses and will share the viewpoints and include my response to the questions soon.

Subject: apathetic to the Jay-Z debate? . . . listen to this.

Please listen to this track carefully -- twice if you have to -- (and look at the images). If inclined, please let me know what you think about it and/or the questions below.

Also a few questions to think about–

1. How do you feel about changing the words to a secular song and attempting to make it a gospel song?
2. How do you feel about a gospel song/dance over a secular instrumental?
3. How do you feel about an apparently gospel-influenced song by a mainstream secular artist?

"Study the lie, they can make new lies up, study the truth and you'll know when the lie comes."

Where are we?

We left home early, so that just in case we hit traffic, we would still get there on time.

We were prepared.

Many of us were eager to enter on time. We, of course, also got the good parking spots.

While others are fashionably (or tactlessly -- whichever your perspective) late.

But better late than never, right? At least they made it!

Alas, everyone is here.

We see some familiar faces, some new.

Beautiful People, smelling good, looking good, brought their best foot forward.

Some dressed to impress.

Some came just for/as eye candy . . . (oftentimes referred to as spectators).

Some just came as they were, didn’t put much effort into their appearance.

Music is playing and it’s good music.

We like the music; the rhythm, the melody, the words.

We even sing along because we know all the words (or almost).

We’re dancing to the music, some people even break a sweat!

At times we start dancing with or near other people around us.

We are just so happy to be here, having a good old time.

People’s hands are lifted, stomping our feet, stepping to the music, clapping.

To be frank, we are glorifying the songs subject . . . because we can relate to it . . . or just because.

Smiling, Laughing, Merry, and Jolly.

We might consume something, we might not.

We might leave in the same way or state we came, we may not.

Lastly, we know we will probably drop some dollars when it’s all said and done. It's expected here, so we're okay with that. We're following the code of conduct, the rules.

Hours have passed but it’s like we don’t want it to end, ever.

A little saddened when it inevitably comes to an end, but we already know the next time we will be back.

We had a good time.

Where are we?

When this life ends, where were we and what were we doing?

To be continued…

teach me how to (agape) love

“Teach me how to love, show me the way to surrender my heart.” – Musiq

Recently, every now and then, that song, mainly that hook, found its way on my heart, and in my mind. It became more frequent over the last few days. I don’t know where it came from, I have not knowingly listened to that song in months, years possibly. This weekend I understood why.

Every message I received this past week centered on agape love. A very timely and relevant message I needed to receive.

God is Love and I was made for love. In order for me to progress and grow, to know the power and the anointing, and the promised ability to do all things, I need to be rooted and grounded in love. Without roots completely in the love of God “everything is just a religious display.” – Dr. Creflo Dollar

I need to attend to my roots. True story.

Earlier this summer, I almost missed an opportunity for development; developing unconditional love. I didn’t realize I was actually running away from it. Loving what is already lovely was easy, everyone likes good people; I do. When it came to the unlovely, I was being conditional.

“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” – Carl Gustav Jung

Mistakenly, I believed I was consciously avoiding negativity and I was content with the status quo of this situation. These were basically conditional justifications, no less, of why I felt I did not have to love in this instance. Consequently, these conditions were placing hindrances on my development.

Walking in conditional love is not an option. I need to walk in unconditional, supernatural, agape love, All. The. Time; it’s mandated. I cannot choose when I will walk in love; it has to be everybody and anybody, whoever He places before me. I need to love what (who) is not as lovely, unconditionally. To love people in their weakness, because He unconditionally loves me, the way I am, undeserving and in my weakness.

“You get the richest measure of His Divine Presence on your life when you’re rooted and grounded in Love. And you become a body holy filled and flooded with God, Himself. Because when you’re rooted and grounded in love and you’re developing that love, you’re rooted and grounded in God and you’re developing in God.

And the more of that love you walk in, the more the Presence of God is going to be there. Because you can’t separate this love from God, because God is love. So Grow in Love. Grow in God. Grow in His Presence. Grow in His Anointing. Grow in His Blessings. Everything is going to start with the roots!” – Dr. Creflo Dollar

If I was made for love, I need my roots to be grounded in love, in order to make this love.

Please teach me how to love, like You do, Abba Father. Show me the way to surrender my love, unconditionally.

. . . two highlights from today

The church I went to today celebrates the couple when either spouse has a birthday. The couple comes up together and then they dance to the middle, for a minute. (interesting) Then the birthday celebrant stands while their spouse gives a testimony-type toast on their behalf.

So today the husband says some sweet things like “from now on your new nickname is Iya Beiji (mother of twins) because I know God is going to give us the twins that he promised us.” “I’m so glad we’re on this journey together.” Etc. etc. Aww. Okay but the real awww was the ending.

“If you live to be 100 years, I pray that I live to be 100 minus 1 because I don’t want to be without you.”

This statement works if they are the same age, (and besides the fact that this would make her a widow to mourn his home going while he is enjoying in Heaven, (just saying)) but we get the point.. . . awwwwww. *brownie points.* Maybe the twins will come sooner than we think.  On a side note, they looked so young!

Another side note:

You know a Nigerian woman is giving a testimony when she uses the phrase “dirty slap.”

During her testimony she says “I sent my son to Wal-mart and this white boy came out of nowhere and gave my son a dirty slap *** And so I want to thank God for safety.” End quote. I love it!