Thoughts on God’s love and redemption through conscious and Christian hip-hop
In some ways 2020 is looking very patriotic. A group of people, feeling that their government has been exploiting and extracting wealth and value from them, seems to have had one too many lives taken by the ones they render taxes to to quietly continue on. Image source Texas Tribune Weeping and grief and frustration,... Continue Reading →
A policeman makes reverse 911 callsinstructing residents to take to the streets.A patriarch reports for duty.She is wearing an orange jumpsuit,and holding a picket sign.She is ashamed of her birthplace,but retreat is not an option.Flobots - "We Are Winning" She never thought things would ever change but,She always knew there was something wrong.Flobots - "Anne... Continue Reading →
Erica Garner’s birthday was May 29. She would have turned 30. In honor of her birthday, and her tireless striving for justice, I wanted to share this spoken word in its entirety, my thoughts on God’s heart as life ends. Weeping. Doubly so when life ends because of an abuse of power by those in authority. The word was originally written her father. Unfortunately, it can easily apply to George Floyd who died in police custody this week. The pre-existing condition that took Eric Garner, and Philando Castile, and George Floyd, and Erica Garner and the grossly overrepresented percentage of African Americans who have contracted and died of Covid-19 and who have become slaves of the carceral state, the same pre-existing condition that was weaponized by Amy Cooper to threaten the life of Christian Cooper, was, and is the condemnation of blackness in a society steeped in white supremacy, and the extreme vulnerability that belongs to poor and low wealth communities in America. I explore these pre-existing conditions and some of their outcomes.
As we continue longing for the Kingdom, and loving the King, we acknowledge living in the already and the not yet. We cry out for His Kingdom come and Will be done, even as Home feels far away. I wanted to take a moment to remember the stories of Calvin Munerlyn and Breonna Taylor, and lament. These are individuals considered heroes in this Covid-19 era. They were killed by those who they were trying to protect, and by those who should have been their allies. I take a look at Christian rapper Thi'sl's own encounter with violence and recognize that the same ones we might sacrifice for and long to minister to, might come to do us harm.
On February 23, 2020 I had an amazing worship experience. Heaven felt so close. I really felt like I was not far from my true Home. The experience brought tears to my eyes. About 3 miles from his home, Ahmaud Arbery was killed. On February 23 I felt like heaven was so close. Then I see what happened on February 23, and what didn't happen for two plus months, and heaven feels so far. But I realize, again, that God is not only found in our joyous moments. Looking at the Holy Place in the Tabernacle of Moses leads me to believe, again, that God also invites us to meet with Him in dark days of lament and mourning over violence. There is a space for us before the Lord in our pain.
The Lion of Judah, He cameThe Son set down in our world,and still He reignedOur infatuation with killingextended to HimHe was slain All that He made will get this redemption, it's finally reclaimed, we'll sing Somebody told me,I won't need a shoulder to weep on,no more tearsSomebody told me,I ain't gotta hold no heatain't no... Continue Reading →
Festival of Booths 