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Questions and answers...

A recent song lyric... I What is truth? Where does it start and where does it end, my friend? What is life to you? Is it who you are or just the things you do? What is wisdom? Does it come from inside or up above? Most importantly, how do you define love? B1 Is love a person, is love a thing? Will we ever really understand, until we stand before the King. Is it a feeling, is it of God, and why is it so hard? To love? Is truth a concrete thing, is love a feeling? Does it change with circumstances, like leaves in the wind? Why do we struggle, why should we care? How much pain should we have to bear, to Love? II Father Yahweh, why do I fit into your plan? What do I mean to you? Wretched sinful man that I am? Lord Yahshuah, you could have stayed on your throne above. But what you did for me, truly you define Love. B2 So love’s a person, and love’s a thing? And this I’ll never really understand, until I stand before you my King. More than a feeling, for Love is Yah! The Great I AM, the Almi

The Clubdate Singer Speaks: Chapter 8

Disclaimer: The following story is an actual event, as all of the vignettes in the 'Clubdate Singer Speaks' series are. For 8 years, I was a member of one of the top Orchestras in the nation. Though it was an enjoyable time, it was also at times, quite painful. I took to writing initially to assuage my distress, and this is one of those times when the pen (or keyboard) proved to be a healing tool. I have considered publishing this series, and would appreciate your thoughts... "The Conflict” - Early 2004 (Please note the date of this writing. Much has changed since, but it reflects the state of mind I was in at that time) Though this series of essays is autobiographical, I and my situation are by no means unique... Saturday night : I stand behind the microphone, in the crowded, dimly lit club, singing songs that make your body move. I am the lead singer. Sunday Morning : I stand behind the microphone in the crowded, brightly lit church, singing songs tha

The Clubdate Singer Speaks: Chapter 10

Disclaimer: The following story is an actual event, as all of the vignettes in the 'Clubdate Singer Speaks' series are. For 8 years, I was a member of one of the top Orchestras in the nation. Though it was an enjoyable time, it was also at times, quite painful. I took to writing initially to assuage my distress, and this is one of those times when the pen (or keyboard) proved to be a healing tool. I have considered publishing this series, and would appreciate your thoughts... Pleasant reverie The Soho Penthouse*, April 2004 (* Not the real name of the venue) I heard her before I saw her. I was around the wall, in the shadows by the elevator. I had just come through the freight entrance into the lobby, and she was coming into the lobby through the main entrance. From the sound, I knew what I would see before I laid eyes on her. I was not far off. Hard walking, unaccustomed to high-heeled shoes, fairly unattractive bottle blond in a black dress that should have stayed on

The Clubdate Singer Speaks: Chapter 9

Disclaimer: The following story is an actual event, as all of the vignettes in the 'Clubdate Singer Speaks' series are. For 8 years, I was a member of one of the top Orchestras in the nation. Though it was an enjoyable time, it was also at times, quite painful. I took to writing initially to assuage my distress, and this is one of those times when the pen (or keyboard) proved to be a healing tool. I have considered publishing this series, and would appreciate your thoughts... "Oseh Shalom" -New York City Subway - November 2005 So, I was on my way to rehearsal one night, riding the L train. I took the train going in the opposite direction, and got off at 6th avenue to catch the train going my way (easier to board when you get on earlier). As I'm standing on the platform, I see/hear musicians. Two Elderly Jewish men playing traditional Jewish songs (on violin and accordion). As they were finishing ‘Oseh Shalom’ (He who makes peace), I put a dollar

Timeline of the Eddie Long 8 am statement...

6:45 am - I log on into the Stream of New Birth Missionary Baptist, to hear what Bishop Long is going to say. Yes service starts at 8, but in case the stream runs out of bandwidth, I want to be in… 8:05 - The stream begins a little late, and opens into a fiery passionate song of Praise. There is passion, and power in the song. There is a lot of hope, and a lot of worry in the room. It is tangible.. The Worship Leader is defiant, pumped up 8:14 - “You are the everlasting God, you’re the defender of the weak. Nothing is impossible for you, you hold my world in your hands. “The focus has turned to God, and the people pour out their hearts, and their hopes. But then the focus shifts from God, back to man, as they declare “Our god is this… Our God is that… and if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us, and if our God is with us, that what can stand against us” 8:18 – My Wife says… I wonder if anyone is considering the possibility that this is of God. (the situation). We recal

Don’t talk about it, pray about it…

Um… in this case, NO We are in an army, but it is not the US military. In that army, they say don’t ask don’t tell. In this army, we are to cry aloud and spare not. (Isaiah 58:1) Make a loud cry, do not be quiet, let your voice be sounding like a horn, and make clear to my people their evil doings, and to the family of Jacob their sins. Though they make prayer to me every day, and take pleasure in the knowledge of my ways: like a nation which has done righteousness, and has not given up the rules of their God, they make requests to me for the right orders, it is their delight to come near to God. They say, Why have we kept ourselves from food, and you do not see it? why have we kept ourselves from pleasure, and you take no note of it? If, in the days when you keep from food, you take the chance to do your business, and get in your debts; If keeping from food makes you quickly angry, ready for fighting and giving blows with evil hands; your holy days are not such as to make your voice c

Can two walk together, except they be agreed? - (Amos 3:3)

I grew up United Methodist. A member of the United Methodist Church (UMC) In much the same way as I grew up a democrat. Meaning that I did what my parents did, and that seemed right to me. Growing up, it meant social justice, civil rights, a sense of community, a place to express my gift, and a bunch of other things. As I got older, I realized that there was something BIG missing: Repentance. There was NEVER a call to repent, personally. We read ritual prayers which said it, we heard constantly about being a good person, and loving the Lord. We sang hymns about God’s great Love, our sin, and Jesus' great sacrifice, and occasionally about the brokenness of repentance. The classic hymn ‘How Great thou art’ , has this amazing verse which says: ‘and when I think, that God his son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in. That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, he bled and died to take away my sin.' We would sing that every so often. ( Today, I can barely hold b

The Manhattan Rhythm Machine @ the 2004 RNC

Day 1 "Ain't no Stoppin us now" Yours truly, Lead vocal and Percussion... Good Times, featuring the Texas Delegates (the audio improves) Day 2: This will be (an everlasting love) - Lead Vocal, Kim Summerson September - Lead Vocal , Me missiongroove.blogspot.com

More music from The Manhattan Rhythm Machine @ the 2004 RNC

Day 3: 'Soul with a Capital S' Lead vocal: Me 'Soul Man' Lead Vocal: Bobby Lewis & yours truly More Day 3: Gimme Some Lovin'(Lead Vocal me) , I feel good (Lead Vocal Bobby Lewis and I) Get Down Tonight Day 4: Stevie Wonder's 'Another Star' Jump Jive and Wail (Bobby Lewis lead)

3 Deuces by Marcus Miller

2 words... Poogie Bell...

RIP Walter Hawkins, & Sugar Minott

July 11, 2010 marked the passing of two musical giants: Gospel Music Legend, Walter Hawkins, and Reggae Superstar Sugar Minott... What is this? - Walter Hawkins & Family (Featuring Lynette Hawkins, and Tremaine Hawkins) Rough Ole Life - Sugar Minott

Don Nori Sr. Says...

and I agree...

So what do we do with this one????

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The Clubdate Singer Speaks: Chapter 14

Disclaimer: The following story is an actual event, as all of the vignettes in the 'Clubdate Singer Speaks' series are. For 8 years, I was a member of one of the top Orchestras in the nation. Though it was an enjoyable time, it was also at times, quite painful. I took to writing initially to assuage my distress, and this is one of those times when the pen (or keyboard) proved to be a healing tool. I have considered publishing this series, and would appreciate your thoughts... ‘Inhalation’ -  (assimilation) 2002 The bride appears from an outer chamber. As she enters the ballroom, half of the guests gasp and watch in awe as she seems to glide across the room: a vision in brightly colored, ornately decorated silks. The other half of the room nods appreciatively, their approval more subdued, but infinitely more important to her, as this is her family, and she is about to perform the ’Paeback’ a portion of the traditional Korean marriage rite. It is the introduction c

A discussion with a dear sister.

Shortly after the death of Michael Jackson I got an email from a sister who was upset about some of the comments that I made on my Facebook page, and she decided to take me to task for them. The following is my response to her... I think that it pretty clearly elucidates my position on matters of faith, and the so called 'church' in America. ...The sister passed away suddenly shortly after, so we never got to finish this exchange... My dear Sister, I would like to address some of the things that you brought up in the thread, and want to do so outside of it, in the interest of time and space. Please indulge me. I am looking forward (with anticipation) already to your response, and I haven't even sent it yet... I was enjoying the thread, but couldn’t weigh-in as I would have liked, for reasons that you will soon see. As for being so 'deep’: I sincerely hope that you were referring to me. I take it as a compliment. Thank you, truly. All around me I see shallow ‘saints’, s