I read today that Marvin, Carvin and Bebe Winans have formed a group and are in the process of recording an album. On the one hand, I am greatly anticipating this album. Marvin Winans is one of my favorite singers, and both he and Bebe are AMAZING song writers. I’m interested to see what they come up with when they put their heads together. On the other hand however, I am concerned because this shines the light on an alarming trend that is happening in Gospel music. Why are artists who have been in the industry for 20+ years still signed to labels and making albums? Questions could be raised as to why after 20+ years you would still NEED to be signed to a label in the first place, but I’ll deal with that another time. The larger concern for me is the fact that there is still a need for artists who have been making albums since before I knew how to spell “album” to nationally release music. Why are the Clark Sisters and the Vanessa Bell Armstrong’s of the Gospel world still making records? Why did Bebe and CeCe deem it necessary to do a reunion album? Why is John P. Kee still doing national tours? Kirk Franklin just released a new album last year that has done very well (going Gold is a huge deal in Gospel music), and yet I’m sure that as I type this he is already prepping or even recording songs for a new record. Why is that? Why are the ones who have given us so much great music still under the gun to give us more great music? Why is it that the same artists who were able to headline successful national tours 20 years ago (Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, Donnie Mcclurkin, and anyone with the last name Winans) are the only ones who can do it today? There’s a huge problem in Gospel music that everyone has accepted, but no one seems to want to talk about. So here we go…
The very industry machine that was created and expanded to globalize and prosper Gospel music years ago is the same system that is killing Gospel music today. That’s right ladies and gentlemen. I don’t know if you realize it, but “Black” Gospel music is on life support and fading fast. In my opinion, one of the main reasons why is because it has grown stale. The reason it has gone stale is because there seems to be absolutely no system in place for pushing new, upcoming artists to the fore front. Compare “Black” Gospel music to our CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) counterparts. CCM is flourishing folks!!!! Artists like Casting Crowns, David Crowder Band, and Third Day (just to name 3) are doing national tours filling up stadiums. Stadiums!!!! Mandisa went to CCM and has done extremely well for herself, while George Huff (who is an amazing vocalist) came to Black Gospel and got lost in the shuffle. Not only that, but if you notice it seems like there are always new artists coming out nationally in CCM. Because of this, the sound stays fresh and the audience stays interested. I’ll give you an example.
A few years ago I went to see Casting Crowns when their tour stopped in NJ. They brought 2 artists along with them that were not nationally known to open up for them (when have you EVER seen that in Black Gospel!?). One of those groups was a group called Leeland. I had never heard of them before, but I got a chance to that night because Casting Crowns was gracious enough to share their platform with them. They did a full half hour set right before Crowns came to the stage. I was moved by their music and in turn, bought 2 of their cds. Last year, I went to see David Crowder Band in NY for their farewell tour. They brought 3 artists with them that were not nationally known well. That night I was introduced to Gungor (who I had never heard before), and Chris August (who I had heard but didn’t know much about) and bought 2 of Gungor’s cds and 1 of Chris August’s. This year, Casting Crowns is on tour again and once again they have an up and coming group “Royal Tailor” with them. I’m sure that many people will be introduced to their music for the first time and buy their music as well. Consider that the GMAs (Gospel Music Awards) not only has a new artist award, but they also give each new artist in the category a small window to perform! They flourish because they have created a machine that allows veteran artists like Michael W. Smith to still out cds every few years, while constantly pushing new artists to the fore front. Are they all super successful, of course not. But at least they get a chance.
Now consider how things have gone in Gospel music over the past decade or more. When have you EVER seen a major Gospel artist bring an artist with them that was not nationally known and allow them to open up for them in every city!? Oh they’ll let them sing background vocals for them, but I’m talking about allowing them to do a half hour set of their material. Bebe & CeCe and Mary Mary having Vashawn Mitchell on their tour last year is not the same because he was already known for his song “Nobody Greater” which was a #1 national hit. Neither does Kirk Franklin having Ike, Deon Kipping, Jason Nelson, and Amber Bullock. That was more of a label mate situation (in my opinion), and Amber was already nationally known for winning Sunday’s Mess I mean Best. I’m talking about a major artist sharing their national stage with an artist that does not have a national presence yet via radio or television. Consider the fact that Mali Music is nationally known, has been featured on just about every new album that has come out, and has even performed on the BET Awards. Yet he gets NO national radio play, no Stellar Awards love, and has yet to tour with any major artist. Consider that Myron Butler & Levi have put out 3 very good albums, yet get little to no national radio play, no national tour spots, and are only called upon during the Stellars when it’s time to do a medley of Kirk Franklin songs. Consider that Deion Kipping has been writing Gospel #1 hits for years (Incredible God, Incredible Praise came out in 2005)! He’s been performing those same songs with his group since even before then. Yet he JUST got signed to a major label last year, and still is getting no real national push. Consider that Tye Tribbett & GA did their thing for years and were recognized and asked to tour within the secular arena (Faith Hill) before Gospel music finally decided to take notice. The list goes on and on. Talented, creative, and anointed new Gospel artists are left to fend for themselves, (unless you win an American Idol knock off competition that is). Mid-level artists clutter the music shelves until they flounder and disappear (or go do secular). Meanwhile the few Gospel artists who do have a catalog of hits and a national platform seem unwilling (or aren’t allowed) to share their stages and spotlights to help push someone else to the forefront.
To that end, let me answer my original question. Why are veteran artists still grinding and cranking out new albums every other year? Because both we, and their labels need them to! The labels are folding fast and need to make money to stay afloat, therefore they’re choosing to go with what they see as the “sure thing” instead of taking the risk of throwing any real money behind an unproven artist. New artists know this. Because of that, many are sacrificing creativity and artistry, and are instead choosing to regurgitate the same ole industry sound to be “marketable” in hopes of getting noticed and signed. The lyrics are weak and predictable, and the production is “business as usual”. Because of this, we need the veteran artists to keep giving us classic music because nobody else is taking the time to do it. I mean think about it. Out of all the albums that have come out in the past 5 years, how many songs from those albums will we be singing 20 years from now that were not written by Kirk Franklin!? I think we’d be hard pressed to find 5. Why is it that whenever we need a song with yoke breaking power our only resource is to sing an old hymn? Why is it that when we need a song to really move us and touch our hearts, we have to dig in the crates and pull out Fred’s Spirit of David or Pages of Life (just to name 2), or go back even further and pull out some old Hawkins or Winans material!? Something is terribly wrong here.
So how do we fix it? I’ll tell you how. We fix it by supporting GOOD, QUALITY music. If we would stop buying this regurgitated, no thought put into, carbon copy drivel that the labels are force-feeding us, (they pay for radio spins by the way), just because it’s in the Gospel section; maybe it would send a clear message to these labels that we need better! There are quite a few PHENOMENAL Gospel artists out there who just don’t have a national stage. Support Independent artists! Buy (yes….as in pay money for) their music. Bring them into your churches to do full concerts. Call your radio stations and requests songs that they are not playing. It’s high time we as consumers take back our beloved Gospel industry and push the artists to the forefront that we want to hear! I promise you this. If a change doesn’t take place and soon, the Gospel industry as we know it will be dead within the next 5 years. Then again, maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Abandoned Buildings
I was taking the train ride into Newark to teach a class this morning, and while looking out of the window I noticed that there are quite a few abandoned buildings along the train route. I looked at them for a while and it saddened me. I wasn’t sad for the buildings themselves, (“awwww look at the poor buildings…”), but because of what the buildings represented. The buildings stand as monuments to unrealized dreams, poorly conceived plans, and/or things that once served a purpose but are no longer needed. I’m sure that none of the architects, engineers, or workers who designed and built those buildings did so with the intent of them sitting years later abandoned, unused and falling apart. I’m positive that they carefully planned every aspect of each building, worked hard to construct them, and celebrated when the job was completed. I guess it’s as they say, “The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry.”
I wonder what the abandoned buildings are in our lives; eye sores that remind us of past mistakes, disappointments, failures, or unrealized dreams. Failed romantic pursuits. Relationships or friendships that went south. Tanked businesses. Those, “what the HECK was I thinking!?!?” moments. Dreams that have been on the shelf so long that they’ve turned into fairy tales. We all have them. The million dollar question is what do we do about them?
We can handle our figurative abandoned buildings 1 of 3 ways.
1…Tear them down.
Sometimes it’s just time to move on. It happened. It’s over. There’s no recovering it. Let it go! It is very important that we pray and discern what things in our lives fall under this category. A lot of us are living 5, 10 and 20 years in the past. We are still trying to live down the consequences of our mistakes. We are still pining after “the one that got away.” The problem with this is it stops us from moving forward and keeps us living beneath our privilege. What sense does it make to keep living in a burnt out, boarded up, abandoned building when there is a mansion waiting for you right down the street? Have an implosion ceremony, knock that thing to the ground, burn the remains and move on!
2…Rebuild them.
A dream doesn’t have to remain a fairy tale. A lot of times we allow other people’s doubts, fears or jealousies to dampen our ambitions. It’s not too late. Start your business. Record your album. Go back to school. Change schools. Change majors at the school you’re in right now. Go to marriage counseling. Go on a second honeymoon and get the fire back. Save money for that house or car. Get back into ministry. Whatever your dream is, write the vision, make it plain, and get to runnin’!!!
3…Leave them standing as they are, and just try not to look.
Unfortunately, this is what many of us choose to do. We LOVE to “go on in Jesus name” without ever taking the time to deal with the abandoned things that cause us secret pain. The sad reality though is, as long as those abandoned buildings stand they are doing nothing but taking up space where something useful could be. How much more could you love right now if your heart was clear of the clutter? How much tighter could you hold onto your wife or husband if your hands weren’t reaching out to hug or punch a past lover? How much more could you focus on your present and your future if your mind were clear of the debris of the past? How much more could God give us if we cleaned out our storages and made room to receive?
My prayer is that after you read this blog, God will show you what the abandoned buildings are in your life, and give you the will and the strength to take the appropriate action(s). Abandoned buildings benefit no one. As a matter of fact, they usually become the breeding ground for unhealthy and illegal activities. Don’t sit and watch as the abandoned buildings in your life become breeding grounds for sin and shame. Don’t accept your personal eyesores as a way of life. Don’t hide behind the “thorn in the flesh” scripture and use it as an excuse for laziness. The thorn had a purpose and it made Paul better. Those buildings aren’t making you better. It’s time to make a move. Let either the demolition or the construction begin….NOW!
I wonder what the abandoned buildings are in our lives; eye sores that remind us of past mistakes, disappointments, failures, or unrealized dreams. Failed romantic pursuits. Relationships or friendships that went south. Tanked businesses. Those, “what the HECK was I thinking!?!?” moments. Dreams that have been on the shelf so long that they’ve turned into fairy tales. We all have them. The million dollar question is what do we do about them?
We can handle our figurative abandoned buildings 1 of 3 ways.
1…Tear them down.
Sometimes it’s just time to move on. It happened. It’s over. There’s no recovering it. Let it go! It is very important that we pray and discern what things in our lives fall under this category. A lot of us are living 5, 10 and 20 years in the past. We are still trying to live down the consequences of our mistakes. We are still pining after “the one that got away.” The problem with this is it stops us from moving forward and keeps us living beneath our privilege. What sense does it make to keep living in a burnt out, boarded up, abandoned building when there is a mansion waiting for you right down the street? Have an implosion ceremony, knock that thing to the ground, burn the remains and move on!
2…Rebuild them.
A dream doesn’t have to remain a fairy tale. A lot of times we allow other people’s doubts, fears or jealousies to dampen our ambitions. It’s not too late. Start your business. Record your album. Go back to school. Change schools. Change majors at the school you’re in right now. Go to marriage counseling. Go on a second honeymoon and get the fire back. Save money for that house or car. Get back into ministry. Whatever your dream is, write the vision, make it plain, and get to runnin’!!!
3…Leave them standing as they are, and just try not to look.
Unfortunately, this is what many of us choose to do. We LOVE to “go on in Jesus name” without ever taking the time to deal with the abandoned things that cause us secret pain. The sad reality though is, as long as those abandoned buildings stand they are doing nothing but taking up space where something useful could be. How much more could you love right now if your heart was clear of the clutter? How much tighter could you hold onto your wife or husband if your hands weren’t reaching out to hug or punch a past lover? How much more could you focus on your present and your future if your mind were clear of the debris of the past? How much more could God give us if we cleaned out our storages and made room to receive?
My prayer is that after you read this blog, God will show you what the abandoned buildings are in your life, and give you the will and the strength to take the appropriate action(s). Abandoned buildings benefit no one. As a matter of fact, they usually become the breeding ground for unhealthy and illegal activities. Don’t sit and watch as the abandoned buildings in your life become breeding grounds for sin and shame. Don’t accept your personal eyesores as a way of life. Don’t hide behind the “thorn in the flesh” scripture and use it as an excuse for laziness. The thorn had a purpose and it made Paul better. Those buildings aren’t making you better. It’s time to make a move. Let either the demolition or the construction begin….NOW!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Thought I knew, but...
I forget which movie or tv show it’s from but I believe the quote goes, “You think you know, but you have no idea.” It’s funny how art often imitates life. For years I thought I knew what romantic love was, but I had no idea. It took 31 years, a divorce, and some major spiritual opened heart surgery to open my eyes to the fact that events during my teenage years had misshapen my idea of love and what it felt like. Let me explain.
As I stated in an earlier post, I have always been quite the nerd. Though I was proud of my nerdiness, girls did not exactly share my sentiments. I’ve also always been a one woman man in that I would always fall for one girl and be interested only in them. Bad combination (lol). Needless to say, from about 13 on up I kept finding myself in situations where I had fallen for someone who was not interested in me in that way. A Ms. Impossible if you will (for those who have listened to my Feelings ’11 project). A by-product of this was a strong feeling of longing that I would feel as physical pain. For lack of a better way to describe it; it was as if there was a hand in my chest that was tugging on my heart, or like there was a whole in my chest. I equated that feeling to love. I felt like when you loved someone you should long for them until it hurt. That the void I felt was there because it could only be filled by that special someone.
When I was 18 I thought I had found that special someone. It was a girl from my church that I had been pining for since I was 14, and for whatever reason we finally got together. I had a Seinfeld moment. “This is it! This is what I’ve been looking for!” Then before I knew it she had cheated on me and it was over. I was devastated. I felt like I had no reason to live. I (briefly) considered suicide. I mean it was really bad. But then, over time, I did what we church folk LOVE to do….I went on in Jesus name (eeekabobo…). I declared “I’m healed!” and moved on my way. What I did not realize though, was that although I had gotten over her, I still had never taken the time to understand that it was my misshapen view of what love was that had gotten me into that situation in the first place. It was my addiction to that longing and that “whole in the chest” feeling that kept me chasing after someone for 3 years who obviously was not that interested in me. It was the Steve Urkel & Laura “I’m wearing you doooowwwwn baby” syndrome. I also did not realize that I didn’t recognize my own worth as a catch for the opposite sex. I guess that’s why that relationship ending devastated me the way it did. I felt like having that special someone gave me my worth, so when it was over I felt worthless.
It was on the heels of this that I entered into NJIT. This presented a new challenge. See I went to an all boy’s High School (Essex Catholic baby!!!) so I did not have to deal with girls on a daily basis. Only at church and Eagle Flight. Now I was thrust into an environment where not only did I see girls everyday but I lived with them on a college campus. Oh my. Not only did the longing intensify, but I think I actually started liking it. I wanted to feel it. The pain became a part of who I was. I thought that what I felt was love, but now I see I had no idea.
It was with this false idea of love and lack of self-worth that I entered into 3 different serious relationships between 20 and 25, the last of which turned into marriage. At this point I had masked my sense of romantic worthlessness with a thick layer of super spirituality concerning relationships. I completely removed myself from the decision making process when it came to who I was to be with and who I was to marry. Whoever I was with at the time was THE ONE. I realize now that because I didn’t see myself as a catch, I felt like anyone who was interested in me HAD to be from God. I mean why else would they be interested in someone like me? I think that the main reason the last of the 3 relationships turned into marriage was time. I had the EXACT same mentality in all 3 relationships. It’s just that the 3rd one is the only one that actually lasted long enough to turn into a marriage.
*And now a word from our sponsor*
“So for those of you who know the details of our divorce and have put the blame on her, please don’t. BOTH of our mentalities were warped.”
*Now back to our regularly scheduled blog*
When the marriage ended after 5 ½ years, I was still blind to the fact that my idea of love was poorly conceived. I began to realize it though, when I saw myself starting to repeat the same pattern again. I fell hard for someone else who did not share my feelings (Ms. Something Beautiful for you Feelings ’11 listeners), but this time something different happened. In the midst of the whole situation it was like God caused me to step back and take a panoramic view of my romantic timeline. I saw that I was feeling the exact same thing that I felt when I was 14. I saw that even though I was in my 30s I still felt like a teenager inside. The same longing, the same whole in the chest feeling. I don’t know if it was because it was mixed up with the feelings of shame and disappointment concerning the divorce, but this time the pain was not pleasure. It hurt! I remember laying on the same couch that I’m sitting on typing this right now with tears in my eyes thinking…”This CAN’T be what love is supposed to feel like!” And it hit me like a ton of bricks. All those years I thought that I knew…but I had no idea.
During the following weeks God did a major over haul on my heart. My studio sessions with my bro Selwyn turned into mini therapy/counseling sessions. God really spoke through him to help me to see how low my self-worth actually was. It absolutely shocked me because I always felt that I was a confident person, and in many ways I was, but when it came to romance I didn’t see myself as a catch. I felt like I had to do things to convince whoever I was interested in to love me. Even when I was composing “Something Beautiful” it was with an attitude of “This will do the trick. This will make it happen.” While ministering to the youth in my church about lust and the voids in our lives that we lust after things to fill, God opened up to me plain as day everything that I shared with you earlier about my teenage years. It rocked my world to see that yes I had gotten over all of those girls, but I had never gotten over or dealt with what rejection had created in me. Jesus healed me and closed up the whole in my heart. He showed me who I am and it’s a beautiful thing.
I’m learning love now. I’m seeing new facets of it everyday. God is using a beautiful creature named Nina to help me discover what love really is. We’re discovering together actually.
*And now a word from our sponsor*
“For those of you who are flabbergasted by the fact that I was divorced and am now in a romantic relationship….GET OVER IT. And stop calling my Pastor about it (EPIC FAIL). That is all.”
*Now back to our regularly scheduled blog*
I’m learning that real love doesn’t hurt. You don’t have to work for it, and nothing you do creates it. Real love just is. Real love is when someone loves YOU for who you are, EXACTLY how you are. It’s a beautiful thing, and I’m so privileged and grateful for God’s grace in allowing me to experience what I am experiencing now.
Maybe you’re a teenage boy or girl reading this. Maybe you’re a grown man or woman who’s struggling with singleness. Maybe you’re dating someone. Maybe you’re separated from your spouse or even divorced. Whoever you are, I want you to know that pain does not equal love. I want you to know that the person who you CHOOSE to be with should be someone who accepts you for who you are right now. You are too special to waste another second chasing after someone who isn’t showing you interest, or being with someone who is CLEARLY not interested in caring for you. Be healed and free from low self-esteem, bitterness, and painful love in Jesus name. Don’t walk in darkness and confusion any longer. Don’t profess knowledge but have no idea. Get an understanding. I did, and it feels great! Yaaaaay love!!!! lol
As I stated in an earlier post, I have always been quite the nerd. Though I was proud of my nerdiness, girls did not exactly share my sentiments. I’ve also always been a one woman man in that I would always fall for one girl and be interested only in them. Bad combination (lol). Needless to say, from about 13 on up I kept finding myself in situations where I had fallen for someone who was not interested in me in that way. A Ms. Impossible if you will (for those who have listened to my Feelings ’11 project). A by-product of this was a strong feeling of longing that I would feel as physical pain. For lack of a better way to describe it; it was as if there was a hand in my chest that was tugging on my heart, or like there was a whole in my chest. I equated that feeling to love. I felt like when you loved someone you should long for them until it hurt. That the void I felt was there because it could only be filled by that special someone.
When I was 18 I thought I had found that special someone. It was a girl from my church that I had been pining for since I was 14, and for whatever reason we finally got together. I had a Seinfeld moment. “This is it! This is what I’ve been looking for!” Then before I knew it she had cheated on me and it was over. I was devastated. I felt like I had no reason to live. I (briefly) considered suicide. I mean it was really bad. But then, over time, I did what we church folk LOVE to do….I went on in Jesus name (eeekabobo…). I declared “I’m healed!” and moved on my way. What I did not realize though, was that although I had gotten over her, I still had never taken the time to understand that it was my misshapen view of what love was that had gotten me into that situation in the first place. It was my addiction to that longing and that “whole in the chest” feeling that kept me chasing after someone for 3 years who obviously was not that interested in me. It was the Steve Urkel & Laura “I’m wearing you doooowwwwn baby” syndrome. I also did not realize that I didn’t recognize my own worth as a catch for the opposite sex. I guess that’s why that relationship ending devastated me the way it did. I felt like having that special someone gave me my worth, so when it was over I felt worthless.
It was on the heels of this that I entered into NJIT. This presented a new challenge. See I went to an all boy’s High School (Essex Catholic baby!!!) so I did not have to deal with girls on a daily basis. Only at church and Eagle Flight. Now I was thrust into an environment where not only did I see girls everyday but I lived with them on a college campus. Oh my. Not only did the longing intensify, but I think I actually started liking it. I wanted to feel it. The pain became a part of who I was. I thought that what I felt was love, but now I see I had no idea.
It was with this false idea of love and lack of self-worth that I entered into 3 different serious relationships between 20 and 25, the last of which turned into marriage. At this point I had masked my sense of romantic worthlessness with a thick layer of super spirituality concerning relationships. I completely removed myself from the decision making process when it came to who I was to be with and who I was to marry. Whoever I was with at the time was THE ONE. I realize now that because I didn’t see myself as a catch, I felt like anyone who was interested in me HAD to be from God. I mean why else would they be interested in someone like me? I think that the main reason the last of the 3 relationships turned into marriage was time. I had the EXACT same mentality in all 3 relationships. It’s just that the 3rd one is the only one that actually lasted long enough to turn into a marriage.
*And now a word from our sponsor*
“So for those of you who know the details of our divorce and have put the blame on her, please don’t. BOTH of our mentalities were warped.”
*Now back to our regularly scheduled blog*
When the marriage ended after 5 ½ years, I was still blind to the fact that my idea of love was poorly conceived. I began to realize it though, when I saw myself starting to repeat the same pattern again. I fell hard for someone else who did not share my feelings (Ms. Something Beautiful for you Feelings ’11 listeners), but this time something different happened. In the midst of the whole situation it was like God caused me to step back and take a panoramic view of my romantic timeline. I saw that I was feeling the exact same thing that I felt when I was 14. I saw that even though I was in my 30s I still felt like a teenager inside. The same longing, the same whole in the chest feeling. I don’t know if it was because it was mixed up with the feelings of shame and disappointment concerning the divorce, but this time the pain was not pleasure. It hurt! I remember laying on the same couch that I’m sitting on typing this right now with tears in my eyes thinking…”This CAN’T be what love is supposed to feel like!” And it hit me like a ton of bricks. All those years I thought that I knew…but I had no idea.
During the following weeks God did a major over haul on my heart. My studio sessions with my bro Selwyn turned into mini therapy/counseling sessions. God really spoke through him to help me to see how low my self-worth actually was. It absolutely shocked me because I always felt that I was a confident person, and in many ways I was, but when it came to romance I didn’t see myself as a catch. I felt like I had to do things to convince whoever I was interested in to love me. Even when I was composing “Something Beautiful” it was with an attitude of “This will do the trick. This will make it happen.” While ministering to the youth in my church about lust and the voids in our lives that we lust after things to fill, God opened up to me plain as day everything that I shared with you earlier about my teenage years. It rocked my world to see that yes I had gotten over all of those girls, but I had never gotten over or dealt with what rejection had created in me. Jesus healed me and closed up the whole in my heart. He showed me who I am and it’s a beautiful thing.
I’m learning love now. I’m seeing new facets of it everyday. God is using a beautiful creature named Nina to help me discover what love really is. We’re discovering together actually.
*And now a word from our sponsor*
“For those of you who are flabbergasted by the fact that I was divorced and am now in a romantic relationship….GET OVER IT. And stop calling my Pastor about it (EPIC FAIL). That is all.”
*Now back to our regularly scheduled blog*
I’m learning that real love doesn’t hurt. You don’t have to work for it, and nothing you do creates it. Real love just is. Real love is when someone loves YOU for who you are, EXACTLY how you are. It’s a beautiful thing, and I’m so privileged and grateful for God’s grace in allowing me to experience what I am experiencing now.
Maybe you’re a teenage boy or girl reading this. Maybe you’re a grown man or woman who’s struggling with singleness. Maybe you’re dating someone. Maybe you’re separated from your spouse or even divorced. Whoever you are, I want you to know that pain does not equal love. I want you to know that the person who you CHOOSE to be with should be someone who accepts you for who you are right now. You are too special to waste another second chasing after someone who isn’t showing you interest, or being with someone who is CLEARLY not interested in caring for you. Be healed and free from low self-esteem, bitterness, and painful love in Jesus name. Don’t walk in darkness and confusion any longer. Don’t profess knowledge but have no idea. Get an understanding. I did, and it feels great! Yaaaaay love!!!! lol
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
6 Guidelines for Faith based Discussions
A new episode of "Words of Wisdom" that gives 6 tips to help you be effective when engaging in faith based debates/discussions online or in person. It's a little lengthy (20 minutes), but I believe that there is alot of truth here that you will really benefit from! Check it out.
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