Question: "What is the true meaning of Christmas?"
Answer: The true meaning of Christmas is love. John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." The true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of this incredible act of love.
The real Christmas story is the story of God's becoming a human being in the Person of Jesus Christ. Why did God do such a thing? Because He loves us! Why was Christmas necessary? Because we needed a Savior! Why does God love us so much? Because He is love itself (1 John 4:8). Why do we celebrate Christmas each year? Out of gratitude for what God did for us, we remember His birth by giving each other gifts, worshiping Him, and being especially conscious of the poor and less fortunate.
The true meaning of Christmas is love. God loved His own and provided a way—the only Way—for us to spend eternity with Him. He gave His only Son to take our punishment for our sins. He paid the price in full, and we are free from condemnation when we accept that free gift of love. "But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Question: "Was Jesus born on December 25?"
Answer: Speculation as to the time of Jesus’ birth dates back to the 3rd century, when Hyppolytus (ca. 170-236) claimed that Jesus was born on December 25. The earliest mention of some sort of observance on that date is in the Philoclian Calendar, representing Roman practice, of the year 336. Later, John Chrysostom favored the same date of birth. Cyril of Jerusalem (348-386) had access to the original Roman birth census, which also documented that Jesus was born on the 25th of December. The date eventually became the officially recognized date for Christmas in part because it coincided with the pagan festivals celebrating Saturnalia and the winter solstice. The church thereby offered people a Christian alternative to the pagan festivities and eventually reinterpreted many of their symbols and actions in ways acceptable to Christian faith and practice.
December 25 has become more and more acceptable as the birth date of Jesus. However, some argue that the birth occurred in some other season, such as in the fall. Followers of this theory claim that the Judean winters were too cold for shepherds to be watching their flocks by night. History proves otherwise, however, and we have historical evidence that unblemished lambs for the Temple sacrifice were in fact kept in the fields near Bethlehem during the winter months.
The truth is we simply don’t know the exact date of our Savior’s birth. In fact, we don’t even know for sure the year in which He was born. Scholars believe it was somewhere between 6 B.C. and 4 B.C. One thing is clear: if God felt it was important for us to know the exact date of the Savior’s birth, He certainly would have told us in His Word. The Gospel of Luke gives very specific details about the event, even down to what the baby was wearing – “swaddling clothes”—and where he slept—“in a manger” (Luke 2:12). These details are important because they speak of His nature and character, meek and lowly. But the exact date of His birth has no significance whatsoever, which may be why God chose not to mention it.
The fact is that He was born, that He came into the world to atone for our sins, that He was resurrected to eternal life, and that He’s alive today. This is what we should celebrate, as we are told in the Old Testament in such passages as Zechariah 2:10: “'Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,' declares the LORD.” Further, the angel that announced the birth to the shepherds brought “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). Surely here is the cause for celebration every day, not just once a year.
Friday, December 25, 2009
A quick Timeline on Chris Treborn
Born and raised in the SF Bay Area I grew up in diversity. After moving away from the gang violence I found new friends and found new ways to express myself. I became an artist (from tagging to drawing up comic books), as well as a story teller, and then a poet.
Me and my friend from across the street wrote our first rap song called Rocket Rap to the beat with the same title from a Sega Genesis game Toe-Jam & Earl.
I created 2 comic books on my own when I was 10. I forget the name but my Dad still has them. When I was 12 I wrote a short story called The Knight of Darkness.
Me and my neighborhood friends used to re-write songs and record our versions on a Karaoke Machine that I had. We were mainly inspired by groups in the early 90s like Kris Kross, Boyz II Men, etc.
When my baby sister died in 1996 (at 87 days old) I was inspired to write songs with morals. After I got saved in 1998 we formed a Christian Rap Group featuring my friends U-Niq and DJ Craz, as well as me; T.E.A.R.Z. which stands for The Endless And Relentless Zephyr.
In 2000 - I preached diversity once I moved to The Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I wrote a 500 word essay based on the Dr. Suess story about The Sneetches and won first place. My essay was exactly 500 words and was all in poetry format. It was published in the Mining Journal - a local newspaper on Dr Suess’ birthday.
From 1999-2001 I recorded a 17 track demo on CD using a 4-track. I recorded my first Studio Song in 2002 called The Zephyr’s Endeavor which is based on my essay. At this time, I was still known as T.E.A.R.Z.
In 2003 I performed for the first time in front of an audience. I met a Bishop of a Southern Baptist Church in Sacramento, and he invited me to rap for his congregation. At the time I didn’t know what I was really doing. I was overwhelmed by the 100 people watching me on stage in front of the Choir. It was filmed and broadcast on Local TV. My song was called; My Love, My Faith, My Trust - a love poem about God and inspired by Revelation 3:20.
In 2004 I wrote an anthem inspired by my then job - In-N-Out Burger. A co-worker and I spend 3 hours creating the music for it. It became super popular with my store and I made copies for other stores. I gave the song to corporate and they asked me to perform it at their company picnic. The performance was filmed and they created a music video out of it.
In 2005 I met a lot of Christian Rappers that wanted to connect and make music with me. A group of us formed a ministry/fellowship and called ourselves T.K.O. - which stands for The Kingdom’s Ours! (Matthew 5:10). We toured the central valley of California as well as the Tri-Valley/East Bay.
In 2006 my life changed and I prepared for a new start. Inspired by 2 Corinthians 5:17 - I became a new creature and moved to Salem after a failed attempt to move to Portland. Since then I’ve had more time to focus on my music.
Me and my friend from across the street wrote our first rap song called Rocket Rap to the beat with the same title from a Sega Genesis game Toe-Jam & Earl.
I created 2 comic books on my own when I was 10. I forget the name but my Dad still has them. When I was 12 I wrote a short story called The Knight of Darkness.
Me and my neighborhood friends used to re-write songs and record our versions on a Karaoke Machine that I had. We were mainly inspired by groups in the early 90s like Kris Kross, Boyz II Men, etc.
When my baby sister died in 1996 (at 87 days old) I was inspired to write songs with morals. After I got saved in 1998 we formed a Christian Rap Group featuring my friends U-Niq and DJ Craz, as well as me; T.E.A.R.Z. which stands for The Endless And Relentless Zephyr.
In 2000 - I preached diversity once I moved to The Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I wrote a 500 word essay based on the Dr. Suess story about The Sneetches and won first place. My essay was exactly 500 words and was all in poetry format. It was published in the Mining Journal - a local newspaper on Dr Suess’ birthday.
From 1999-2001 I recorded a 17 track demo on CD using a 4-track. I recorded my first Studio Song in 2002 called The Zephyr’s Endeavor which is based on my essay. At this time, I was still known as T.E.A.R.Z.
In 2003 I performed for the first time in front of an audience. I met a Bishop of a Southern Baptist Church in Sacramento, and he invited me to rap for his congregation. At the time I didn’t know what I was really doing. I was overwhelmed by the 100 people watching me on stage in front of the Choir. It was filmed and broadcast on Local TV. My song was called; My Love, My Faith, My Trust - a love poem about God and inspired by Revelation 3:20.
In 2004 I wrote an anthem inspired by my then job - In-N-Out Burger. A co-worker and I spend 3 hours creating the music for it. It became super popular with my store and I made copies for other stores. I gave the song to corporate and they asked me to perform it at their company picnic. The performance was filmed and they created a music video out of it.
In 2005 I met a lot of Christian Rappers that wanted to connect and make music with me. A group of us formed a ministry/fellowship and called ourselves T.K.O. - which stands for The Kingdom’s Ours! (Matthew 5:10). We toured the central valley of California as well as the Tri-Valley/East Bay.
In 2006 my life changed and I prepared for a new start. Inspired by 2 Corinthians 5:17 - I became a new creature and moved to Salem after a failed attempt to move to Portland. Since then I’ve had more time to focus on my music.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Why does God bless the Rich & Famous?
I said earlier; "There is a difference between being Tested by God & being Punished by God. Can you tell the difference between the two?" Well, as most Christians know by now, if you walk with Jesus you will be crucified like Jesus. The gift of salvation might be free, but it will cost you your life. That's the call a disciple gets daily. To live for Christ, you must die to yourself. You can no longer be a slave to sin, instead you have to be a slave to righteousness.
With that being said, I'd like to reflect upon the opposite side of things... the LOST. You can call them what you want; non-believers, heathens, atheists, agnostics, hedonists, self-righteous, etc. Either way, Christ-followers have a calling to reach-out to the lost. We are in the world but not of it. Therefore, we can be in it, we just can be of it. Make sense?
Moving on...
We often ask why the Sinners are so blessed in the flesh. Well, that can be a long discussion. But I will explain how I feel on the topic.
First off, God has given all of us Free Will to do as we please. This means he lovingly allows us to sin, disobey, and disappoint him as a parent would a child. Sad! People live their whole life meeting the standards of the world. Shame! So, by pursuing the American Dream, to achieve fame and riches, we achieve as much as our heart desires. Why would God allow us to become so distant from him?
Does a parent keep you from accomplishing your goals in life? From College to Career to Family. As we journey to college we leave the nest. Do we celebrate our freedom from our parents? How often does the average student call their mother or father? As they succeed, they obtain a career. This means full time work, including countless hours. If all you do is work, when do you have time for family, friends, fun? Its a crazy endless and relentless cycle.
After you become an individual, you meet someone else that is self-efficient, and you create a family. The entire cycle recycles and repeats its cycle. Is that the purpose of life? Of course all of our lives take different paths. But look at the people that succeed and make a name for themselves. They not only get the fame and attention each human desires deep down inside, but they often get hand-outs left and right.
Where is the joy in having everything handed to you? You no longer earn a thing. Now, that is the blessed life, right? Ask anyone that has been 'blessed' with success, fame, and riches... and they will tell you how lonely and unfulfilled they are. They can buy anything they want. But can they buy friendship, or a true relationship? Probably not. They can buy FAKE friends. People that will use them and leave them. WOW. I wonder if they realize that is how God feels more than often.
No to be in a place where they feel like God, that is a divine blessing. If only we weren't blinded by the illusion of this world. It's straight Matrix status. Blue pill, red pill. The world will consider you crazy to leave this endless dream, and go further down the rabbit hole to chase what? Something not of this world. No, not a religion, it is a relationship.
Who feels empty? Do you have a lot of stuff? Nothing keeps your attention. Nothing keeps you happy. Where do you find your delight? Is less truly more? Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Perhaps you have to experience both extremes - Everything + Nothing to truly appreciate that concept.
If a person is to experience one of those two extremes (or both) I pray they can feel God's presence. God gets glory. We will all bow to down to Christ the King. All praise is due. Once we stop worshiping false idols, fake gods and creation, we can finally pay attention to our Creator & worship only HIM. Because it's all or nothing. Don't be lukewarm and serve two masters, otherwise you will be chewed up and spit out, then devoured by the fiery pits of hell.
Now that's intelligent design!
With that being said, I'd like to reflect upon the opposite side of things... the LOST. You can call them what you want; non-believers, heathens, atheists, agnostics, hedonists, self-righteous, etc. Either way, Christ-followers have a calling to reach-out to the lost. We are in the world but not of it. Therefore, we can be in it, we just can be of it. Make sense?
Moving on...
We often ask why the Sinners are so blessed in the flesh. Well, that can be a long discussion. But I will explain how I feel on the topic.
First off, God has given all of us Free Will to do as we please. This means he lovingly allows us to sin, disobey, and disappoint him as a parent would a child. Sad! People live their whole life meeting the standards of the world. Shame! So, by pursuing the American Dream, to achieve fame and riches, we achieve as much as our heart desires. Why would God allow us to become so distant from him?
Does a parent keep you from accomplishing your goals in life? From College to Career to Family. As we journey to college we leave the nest. Do we celebrate our freedom from our parents? How often does the average student call their mother or father? As they succeed, they obtain a career. This means full time work, including countless hours. If all you do is work, when do you have time for family, friends, fun? Its a crazy endless and relentless cycle.
After you become an individual, you meet someone else that is self-efficient, and you create a family. The entire cycle recycles and repeats its cycle. Is that the purpose of life? Of course all of our lives take different paths. But look at the people that succeed and make a name for themselves. They not only get the fame and attention each human desires deep down inside, but they often get hand-outs left and right.
Where is the joy in having everything handed to you? You no longer earn a thing. Now, that is the blessed life, right? Ask anyone that has been 'blessed' with success, fame, and riches... and they will tell you how lonely and unfulfilled they are. They can buy anything they want. But can they buy friendship, or a true relationship? Probably not. They can buy FAKE friends. People that will use them and leave them. WOW. I wonder if they realize that is how God feels more than often.
No to be in a place where they feel like God, that is a divine blessing. If only we weren't blinded by the illusion of this world. It's straight Matrix status. Blue pill, red pill. The world will consider you crazy to leave this endless dream, and go further down the rabbit hole to chase what? Something not of this world. No, not a religion, it is a relationship.
Who feels empty? Do you have a lot of stuff? Nothing keeps your attention. Nothing keeps you happy. Where do you find your delight? Is less truly more? Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Perhaps you have to experience both extremes - Everything + Nothing to truly appreciate that concept.
If a person is to experience one of those two extremes (or both) I pray they can feel God's presence. God gets glory. We will all bow to down to Christ the King. All praise is due. Once we stop worshiping false idols, fake gods and creation, we can finally pay attention to our Creator & worship only HIM. Because it's all or nothing. Don't be lukewarm and serve two masters, otherwise you will be chewed up and spit out, then devoured by the fiery pits of hell.
Now that's intelligent design!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Behind The Music - [Memory Box]
CT
The introduction was the track that changed the most conceptually. The intro originally ended with a Christian Music Reborn WARNING and 8 bars of punch lines, but that version was used for the Radio Edit/Sampler instead.
This final version is a Reprise of the Outro from OPEN your HEART to His SURGERY and blends into a suitable verse from the original Praise Your Creator lyrics.
WRK
Also known as The Zephyr’s Endeavor: This song is about diversity. The first verse took a whole new meaning after 9/11. It was also the first song I ever recorded in a professional studio and was the last song on my first album. WRK is based on a 500 word essay about the Sneeches. The local newspaper held a contest for Dr. Seuss’ birthday. I ended up winning first place and got my rhyming essay published in the paper. I love this song because its message of Diversity is endless and eternal. When I decided to bring out some of the old beats, this beat definitely had to be used again; in fact I re-composed it by ear before I recorded it this time around.
PM
The instrumental for this track was called Dear Father / Forgive Me, and was initially intended to be track 4 on Landscape of time. Instead, I used the song for the Lot EP.
The lyrics were intended for a beat composed by Fresh Mann. The purpose was to walk you through my journey of life and share the things I went through, call it a mini-testimony. It takes the view point of the fence and choosing which side to hope over to. But as you can see, it shows how I went from Culture, to Christianity since the world could only cure me on the outside and not the inside.
DR
The instrumental was composed for my first album; Prelude 2 Tearz, but I cannot recall if I had any lyrics for it. I wrote a Rap/Worship song, which is similar to Pre Med with the Testimony versus Question culture scenario. This time I question how a musician should display the gospel in this world. Do we want to make music that the world loves, and just change the words, so it is Good News? Or do we want to make music that is lyrically insightful and appealing and bless them with Gospel Music too!? We don’t want our message falling on deaf ears.
SFC
This instrumental was originally composed for a Family Reunion track. It has a family feel to it. The lyrics were written @ 3am one night, when I couldn’t sleep. I intended on using these lyrics for a song composed by INNATE, but I failed to get the beat from him, therefore I didn’t put the song on OPEN HEART SURGERY. When I went back and looked through all my older beats, this one I found worked perfectly. I knew I could bring out the fun and sarcastic side of the music and lyrics. This song is reminiscent of The Burning Building.
HD
Originally this beat was composed for Owe My God. I didn’t like how it turned out back then, so I never recorded it. I decided this time around I would through on some of my Rap/Worship lyrics. Obviously I wrote the chorus to the beat. I knew I wanted to have Rap and Worship on this track, so I asked Phil Zahn when he was at the studio and he blessed the part that wasn’t suitable for me to sing myself. I love it.
WHY
This beat was used on my Demo – which landed me a deal with a professional studio. Its original lyrics were about losing a loved one. This time around I used lyrics I wrote about abuse. Originally I wrote a song called Two Way Street about domestic abuse. I re-wrote that song a few times because it just didn’t feel right. Finally, I combined the spousal abuse with the beating of Christ. I took on the perspective of the attacker. It seems as if I don’t realize the pain I am causing as I abuse the one I should love. Both examples are taken from real life situations.
PBJ
This song was originally written to be a worship song (called Powered By Jesus), somewhat repetitive but with a rap in there. It had a slower hip hop beat originally, then ended up on a mixtape with a pirate type instrumental, and recently resurfaced as a deep grimy hip-hop beat filled with angst. Although I can get these lyrics to fit many different styles of instrumentals, I figured it would sound best as a spoken word / a’cappella.
FTS
We need to reach this…. Obviously the fruit of the spirit is known from weddings and definitions of LOVE. Don’t they realized this is from the bible? Why can’t we apply this to our lives and live it daily?
LMO
Let Me Out was written to a VTZ beat with FilthyRagz and Rseven in 2006. It was deep and definitely a testimonial song. I’ve used this verse many times on different beats when I perform LIVE. Finally, I made an original beat to emphasize the lyrics and transition into OWE MY GOD / ALL MY LIFE. Of course the words changed here and there, but lyrics grow just like character.
OMG
OMG is a testimonial/hip-hop song, so I use these lyrics quite often when performing LIVE. I’ve had at least 5 beats (if not 10) under these lyrics. I decided to just create a beat around the words to help bring out the integrity of them. On a side note, I sampled John Piper’s sermon on Don’t Waste Your Life to end this song with a strong punctuation.
LSN
Listen to your heart. This song was originally written to a beat with a sample of Listen to your heart. Although I didn’t know that at the time, I just wrote what was on my heart and never really released the lyrics. The original recording of this song was released on a mixtape in 2008 – “Lazy Surgeon, Productive Summer” The poem at the end was written one day at work. It kind of came out of no where and I just loved it, so I through it on here. The beat was composed with nothing in mind, but after it was complete it reminded me of a Braille type of beat. Definitely worthy enough of being a performance track.
SSR
These lyrics were inspired by Sunday Church Service, contemplated the politics of church life & they feel about you being there.
PYC
Praise Your Creator was written as a crunk type song. Somewhere along the lines I changed the verses. The verses on here are from a song called Knowledge+Faith=Wisdom. I guess you can call this a hybrid song. I composed the music around the lyrics to bring out the depth of the verses and to help personify the chorus.
ECS
We still got the sickest! I’ve probably performed this song more than any other one. It’s the perfect dance/performance/live track. It is a track to vibe with and spirit filled. It’s always interesting to see if people respond to the lyrics or the beat more. Either way, I use this to move The Body and Souls! I think only FilthyRagz has heard the original, and we both know it’s too slow. But I did want to slow the beat down a little bit, so here you have a “slower” LIVE track.
UNA
I wrote this to an Eminem type beat. I listened to it a dozen times as I wrote out each part to fit perfectly with what was going on in the beat. That version is on the Mixtape.
I was inspired by commercializing Christ and making Jesus a Hollywood star.
TIM
This Is Me was originally Final Chapter - featured on the Burning Building Mixtape. I re-recorded and re-released it to a VTZ beat called Dying Inside - featured on the Open Heart Surgery Mixtape. I decided to re-compose the instrumental myself to fit the mood and feeling of these testimonial-angst-filled lyrics.
Originally, it was to be my last song, but I decided to re-create Committed (now known as Unashamed) and kept TIM as a bonus track... separate from the album as a whole piece. I think of it as more of an afterthought.
The introduction was the track that changed the most conceptually. The intro originally ended with a Christian Music Reborn WARNING and 8 bars of punch lines, but that version was used for the Radio Edit/Sampler instead.
This final version is a Reprise of the Outro from OPEN your HEART to His SURGERY and blends into a suitable verse from the original Praise Your Creator lyrics.
WRK
Also known as The Zephyr’s Endeavor: This song is about diversity. The first verse took a whole new meaning after 9/11. It was also the first song I ever recorded in a professional studio and was the last song on my first album. WRK is based on a 500 word essay about the Sneeches. The local newspaper held a contest for Dr. Seuss’ birthday. I ended up winning first place and got my rhyming essay published in the paper. I love this song because its message of Diversity is endless and eternal. When I decided to bring out some of the old beats, this beat definitely had to be used again; in fact I re-composed it by ear before I recorded it this time around.
PM
The instrumental for this track was called Dear Father / Forgive Me, and was initially intended to be track 4 on Landscape of time. Instead, I used the song for the Lot EP.
The lyrics were intended for a beat composed by Fresh Mann. The purpose was to walk you through my journey of life and share the things I went through, call it a mini-testimony. It takes the view point of the fence and choosing which side to hope over to. But as you can see, it shows how I went from Culture, to Christianity since the world could only cure me on the outside and not the inside.
DR
The instrumental was composed for my first album; Prelude 2 Tearz, but I cannot recall if I had any lyrics for it. I wrote a Rap/Worship song, which is similar to Pre Med with the Testimony versus Question culture scenario. This time I question how a musician should display the gospel in this world. Do we want to make music that the world loves, and just change the words, so it is Good News? Or do we want to make music that is lyrically insightful and appealing and bless them with Gospel Music too!? We don’t want our message falling on deaf ears.
SFC
This instrumental was originally composed for a Family Reunion track. It has a family feel to it. The lyrics were written @ 3am one night, when I couldn’t sleep. I intended on using these lyrics for a song composed by INNATE, but I failed to get the beat from him, therefore I didn’t put the song on OPEN HEART SURGERY. When I went back and looked through all my older beats, this one I found worked perfectly. I knew I could bring out the fun and sarcastic side of the music and lyrics. This song is reminiscent of The Burning Building.
HD
Originally this beat was composed for Owe My God. I didn’t like how it turned out back then, so I never recorded it. I decided this time around I would through on some of my Rap/Worship lyrics. Obviously I wrote the chorus to the beat. I knew I wanted to have Rap and Worship on this track, so I asked Phil Zahn when he was at the studio and he blessed the part that wasn’t suitable for me to sing myself. I love it.
WHY
This beat was used on my Demo – which landed me a deal with a professional studio. Its original lyrics were about losing a loved one. This time around I used lyrics I wrote about abuse. Originally I wrote a song called Two Way Street about domestic abuse. I re-wrote that song a few times because it just didn’t feel right. Finally, I combined the spousal abuse with the beating of Christ. I took on the perspective of the attacker. It seems as if I don’t realize the pain I am causing as I abuse the one I should love. Both examples are taken from real life situations.
PBJ
This song was originally written to be a worship song (called Powered By Jesus), somewhat repetitive but with a rap in there. It had a slower hip hop beat originally, then ended up on a mixtape with a pirate type instrumental, and recently resurfaced as a deep grimy hip-hop beat filled with angst. Although I can get these lyrics to fit many different styles of instrumentals, I figured it would sound best as a spoken word / a’cappella.
FTS
We need to reach this…. Obviously the fruit of the spirit is known from weddings and definitions of LOVE. Don’t they realized this is from the bible? Why can’t we apply this to our lives and live it daily?
LMO
Let Me Out was written to a VTZ beat with FilthyRagz and Rseven in 2006. It was deep and definitely a testimonial song. I’ve used this verse many times on different beats when I perform LIVE. Finally, I made an original beat to emphasize the lyrics and transition into OWE MY GOD / ALL MY LIFE. Of course the words changed here and there, but lyrics grow just like character.
OMG
OMG is a testimonial/hip-hop song, so I use these lyrics quite often when performing LIVE. I’ve had at least 5 beats (if not 10) under these lyrics. I decided to just create a beat around the words to help bring out the integrity of them. On a side note, I sampled John Piper’s sermon on Don’t Waste Your Life to end this song with a strong punctuation.
LSN
Listen to your heart. This song was originally written to a beat with a sample of Listen to your heart. Although I didn’t know that at the time, I just wrote what was on my heart and never really released the lyrics. The original recording of this song was released on a mixtape in 2008 – “Lazy Surgeon, Productive Summer” The poem at the end was written one day at work. It kind of came out of no where and I just loved it, so I through it on here. The beat was composed with nothing in mind, but after it was complete it reminded me of a Braille type of beat. Definitely worthy enough of being a performance track.
SSR
These lyrics were inspired by Sunday Church Service, contemplated the politics of church life & they feel about you being there.
PYC
Praise Your Creator was written as a crunk type song. Somewhere along the lines I changed the verses. The verses on here are from a song called Knowledge+Faith=Wisdom. I guess you can call this a hybrid song. I composed the music around the lyrics to bring out the depth of the verses and to help personify the chorus.
ECS
We still got the sickest! I’ve probably performed this song more than any other one. It’s the perfect dance/performance/live track. It is a track to vibe with and spirit filled. It’s always interesting to see if people respond to the lyrics or the beat more. Either way, I use this to move The Body and Souls! I think only FilthyRagz has heard the original, and we both know it’s too slow. But I did want to slow the beat down a little bit, so here you have a “slower” LIVE track.
UNA
I wrote this to an Eminem type beat. I listened to it a dozen times as I wrote out each part to fit perfectly with what was going on in the beat. That version is on the Mixtape.
I was inspired by commercializing Christ and making Jesus a Hollywood star.
TIM
This Is Me was originally Final Chapter - featured on the Burning Building Mixtape. I re-recorded and re-released it to a VTZ beat called Dying Inside - featured on the Open Heart Surgery Mixtape. I decided to re-compose the instrumental myself to fit the mood and feeling of these testimonial-angst-filled lyrics.
Originally, it was to be my last song, but I decided to re-create Committed (now known as Unashamed) and kept TIM as a bonus track... separate from the album as a whole piece. I think of it as more of an afterthought.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
All the lonely people, where do they all come from?
Why is Man lonely, afraid to Die alone & Despises everybody
Why was Adam lonely?
Wasn't God enough? No. Apparently not.
He cried in loneliness, for what? A pet? A friend?
God created animals for man & Adam still wasn't happy.
He even had the responsibility to name each animal.
Only when he slept did God take his rib & create a mate for him. Let's call her the companion of his dreams.
God laid down the rules, and even though he was blessed with a mate he still wasn't happy. Because they were unhappy, they fell.
Why disobey your creator who gave you everything.
That's like a kid acting a fool to his mom & pop.
Why rebel against the one who raised you up & got you where you're at.
What is the point of making a lonely person?
Did God expect him to find companionship in his creator?
Why wasn't God enough for Adam?
Where does that put us?
Why was Adam lonely?
Wasn't God enough? No. Apparently not.
He cried in loneliness, for what? A pet? A friend?
God created animals for man & Adam still wasn't happy.
He even had the responsibility to name each animal.
Only when he slept did God take his rib & create a mate for him. Let's call her the companion of his dreams.
God laid down the rules, and even though he was blessed with a mate he still wasn't happy. Because they were unhappy, they fell.
Why disobey your creator who gave you everything.
That's like a kid acting a fool to his mom & pop.
Why rebel against the one who raised you up & got you where you're at.
What is the point of making a lonely person?
Did God expect him to find companionship in his creator?
Why wasn't God enough for Adam?
Where does that put us?
Friday, November 20, 2009
Yes, I watched New Moon & I liked it... Well, more than Twilight!
Girl loves vampire
Vampire leaves girl
Girl loves boy
Boy becomes werewolf
Werewolf leaves girl
Bad Vampire hunts girl
Werewolfs hunt bad vampire
Vampire thinks girl is dead
Vampire wants to die
Girl saves vampire
Head vampires investigate girl
Head vampires let girl & vampire go
Werewolf & vampire fight over girl
Girl chooses vampire
Vampire asks girl to marry him
Fill in the blanks with unfulfilled romance. No action, just mild comedy to snicker your way through the first boring hour. Finally something happens. Things get better & movie ends about 3 times.
This vampire movie is 10 times better than the first even though there are only vampires in the biginning & the end. Better director & better DP & better screenwrite.
I give it 7/10 or an 8 if you like boys with 6-packs!
Vampire leaves girl
Girl loves boy
Boy becomes werewolf
Werewolf leaves girl
Bad Vampire hunts girl
Werewolfs hunt bad vampire
Vampire thinks girl is dead
Vampire wants to die
Girl saves vampire
Head vampires investigate girl
Head vampires let girl & vampire go
Werewolf & vampire fight over girl
Girl chooses vampire
Vampire asks girl to marry him
Fill in the blanks with unfulfilled romance. No action, just mild comedy to snicker your way through the first boring hour. Finally something happens. Things get better & movie ends about 3 times.
This vampire movie is 10 times better than the first even though there are only vampires in the biginning & the end. Better director & better DP & better screenwrite.
I give it 7/10 or an 8 if you like boys with 6-packs!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Poetic Notes: STUCK? in a Marriage. Sermon by @JohnFehlen
STUCK?
Stuck in a Marriage
November 14th 6pm + November 15th 9am & 11am
Pastor John Fehlen
West Salem Foursquare Church | http://www.wsfc.org
POEM by Christian Treborn:
Here we are today, talking about marriage
Some are not there, but have a baby in the carriage
Each relationship will deal with some conflict
If it's heaven sent - hearts heal - you can't stop it
If you stumble, you need to pray for a solution
It is inevitable, to embrace a resolution
Ken & Barbie got married, at the age of nineteen
Had a baby at twenty & said; 'Goodnight Dream'
Now it's a debate, on who sleeps in
This is common, on how a marriage begins
Next it's the 'BIG 3', in this circumstance
ONE: is MONEY, but we can call it finance
"Give to the Lord - He will take care of the rest"
Putting God first, will keep your life blessed
NEXT kids, you guessed it: not Sex but INTIMACY
"Give yourself to your spouse" Don't say 'gimme gimme'
Do you ever wonder how a Man might behave?
Well, he is similar to a microwave
& Women aren't fish - that got caught
Her mind is prepared, like a crock pot
If you need scripture, Take this picture
First Corinthians Seven Three, That makes it clear
In this day & age, we have a lost art of communication
So let's pray, every heart finds a common union
SIDE NOTES:
Six Good Marriage Sneakers:
from When Bad Things Happen to Good Marriages by Les & Leslie Parrot
1. BUSINESS: stressed & distracted [life is too fast]
2. IRRITABILITY: cranky & grouchy [nag or grunt]
3. BOREDOM: lifeless & routine [rarely communicate]
4. DRIFT: disconnected & disinterested
5. DEBT: strained & squeezed [focus on cash flow and spending habits]
6. SECRETS: wounds & scars [past comes back to haunt you, bite you]
Four Good Marriage Jolters:
1. ADDICTION
2. INFIDELITY
3. INFERTILITY
4. LOSS
Are You Fit To Be Tied? [Strain]
1. FINANCES (money)
Get Un-Stuck Principle #1 - Give to the Lord
2. INTIMACY (sex)
Get Un-Stuck Principle #2 - Give yourself to your spouse
3. TALKING (communication)
Get Un-Stuck Principle #3 - Give each other time
[those are the BIG 3]
If there is conflict:
Start small, but start right away
people communicate through email and text instead of on phone or in person
on average, a couple talks 8-12 minutes a day (out of 24 hours)
Keep short accounts
don't bring up things from the past that are current situations of conflict
Don't try to fix it
we all have two ears, two shoulders, and one mouth
close your mouth and allow your spouse to use your ears and even your shoulders
men want to fix it right away - women want to talk it out & work on it
SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 7:3
Hebrews 13:4
1 Chronicles 3
2 Corinthians 7:1
Malachi 2
Malachi 3
Proverbs 5:15-21
SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTS ON iTUNES:
[Click Here]
Pastor John Fehelen
@ West Salem Foursquare Church
West Salem, Oregon
Stuck in a Marriage
November 14th 6pm + November 15th 9am & 11am
Pastor John Fehlen
West Salem Foursquare Church | http://www.wsfc.org
POEM by Christian Treborn:
Some are not there, but have a baby in the carriage
Each relationship will deal with some conflict
If it's heaven sent - hearts heal - you can't stop it
If you stumble, you need to pray for a solution
It is inevitable, to embrace a resolution
Ken & Barbie got married, at the age of nineteen
Had a baby at twenty & said; 'Goodnight Dream'
Now it's a debate, on who sleeps in
This is common, on how a marriage begins
Next it's the 'BIG 3', in this circumstance
ONE: is MONEY, but we can call it finance
"Give to the Lord - He will take care of the rest"
Putting God first, will keep your life blessed
NEXT kids, you guessed it: not Sex but INTIMACY
"Give yourself to your spouse" Don't say 'gimme gimme'
Do you ever wonder how a Man might behave?
Well, he is similar to a microwave
& Women aren't fish - that got caught
Her mind is prepared, like a crock pot
If you need scripture, Take this picture
First Corinthians Seven Three, That makes it clear
In this day & age, we have a lost art of communication
So let's pray, every heart finds a common union
SIDE NOTES:
Six Good Marriage Sneakers:
from When Bad Things Happen to Good Marriages by Les & Leslie Parrot
1. BUSINESS: stressed & distracted [life is too fast]
2. IRRITABILITY: cranky & grouchy [nag or grunt]
3. BOREDOM: lifeless & routine [rarely communicate]
4. DRIFT: disconnected & disinterested
5. DEBT: strained & squeezed [focus on cash flow and spending habits]
6. SECRETS: wounds & scars [past comes back to haunt you, bite you]
Four Good Marriage Jolters:
1. ADDICTION
2. INFIDELITY
3. INFERTILITY
4. LOSS
Are You Fit To Be Tied? [Strain]
1. FINANCES (money)
Get Un-Stuck Principle #1 - Give to the Lord
2. INTIMACY (sex)
Get Un-Stuck Principle #2 - Give yourself to your spouse
3. TALKING (communication)
Get Un-Stuck Principle #3 - Give each other time
[those are the BIG 3]
If there is conflict:
Start small, but start right away
people communicate through email and text instead of on phone or in person
on average, a couple talks 8-12 minutes a day (out of 24 hours)
Keep short accounts
don't bring up things from the past that are current situations of conflict
Don't try to fix it
we all have two ears, two shoulders, and one mouth
close your mouth and allow your spouse to use your ears and even your shoulders
men want to fix it right away - women want to talk it out & work on it
SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 7:3
Hebrews 13:4
1 Chronicles 3
2 Corinthians 7:1
Malachi 2
Malachi 3
Proverbs 5:15-21
SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTS ON iTUNES:
[Click Here]
Pastor John Fehelen
@ West Salem Foursquare Church
West Salem, Oregon
Friday, November 6, 2009
The Church Is Dead! May it Rest In Peace
The Dead Church
A new Pastor in a small Oklahoma town spent the first four days making personal visits to each of the members, inviting them to come to his first services.
The following Sunday the church was all but empty. Accordingly, the Pastor placed a notice in the local newspapers, stating that, because the church was dead, it was everyone's duty to give it a decent Christian burial. The funeral would be held the following Sunday afternoon, the notice said.
Morbidly curious, a large crowd turned out for the "funeral." In front of the pulpit, they saw a closed coffin, smothered in flowers. After the Pastor delivered the eulogy, he opened the coffin and invited his
congregation to come forward and pay their final respects to their dead church.
Filled with curiosity as to what would represent the corpse of a "dead church," all the people eagerly lined up to look in the coffin. Each "mourner" peeped into the coffin then quickly turned away with a guilty, sheepish look.
In the coffin, tilted at the correct angle, was a large mirror.
NOTE: I stole this from - http://www.Christian-Jokes.Org/jokes5.html
A new Pastor in a small Oklahoma town spent the first four days making personal visits to each of the members, inviting them to come to his first services.
The following Sunday the church was all but empty. Accordingly, the Pastor placed a notice in the local newspapers, stating that, because the church was dead, it was everyone's duty to give it a decent Christian burial. The funeral would be held the following Sunday afternoon, the notice said.
Morbidly curious, a large crowd turned out for the "funeral." In front of the pulpit, they saw a closed coffin, smothered in flowers. After the Pastor delivered the eulogy, he opened the coffin and invited his
congregation to come forward and pay their final respects to their dead church.
Filled with curiosity as to what would represent the corpse of a "dead church," all the people eagerly lined up to look in the coffin. Each "mourner" peeped into the coffin then quickly turned away with a guilty, sheepish look.
In the coffin, tilted at the correct angle, was a large mirror.
NOTE: I stole this from - http://www.Christian-Jokes.Org/jokes5.html
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Nobody Is Pefect
ANOTHER NOTE I FOUND THAT ID LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE BODY.
THIS WAS WRITTEN BEFORE I HEARD "THE WHAT IN THE HAM SANDWICH SHOW" WHERE THEY DISCUSSED THE CMR LETTER.
Nobody is perfect. Not even celebrities or heroes or artists.
This event I think is a big part of moving forward in the Kingdom. Look how a mistake has created a ripple effect throughout our family our community. Although bad things created this, it will be used to glorify GOD.
Fans and fellow Artists need to pray for this man. Remember when TON3X released Naked Truth? Just imagine if everyone prayed for him instead of bashing him. We need to not make the same mistake. When I got the email from CMR I was glad to see how sound they were in following God's law. And although I was disappointed in Ambassador I know he is human. I forgave him in my heart immediately!
I still pray for him and we all need to. I rember going to a church service and the pastor preached about praying for our leaders and especially our mentors and pastors. They need to be protected. We need to understand we are under them and if they are weakened then we will be too.
We need them to be strong even when the enemy tries to bring them down. They can only be strengthen through prayer. We must unite in the Holy Spirit and be one giant prayer pleading to God that our brother will be restored in Christ! If one falls we all fall.
Divide and conquer.
Please body of Christ, don't be divided by the Ambassador. If we can come together for Change and vote for one person to lead us, then we can defintely come together in prayer and lift up our own sibling.
If you are on top of the world you will fall off. Not saying Amba was the top of HHH but he is a pioneer in the Christian Rap game. We must understand we are no one especially without Jesus. We can not survive in this world alone and without Him. Get it?
Let me ask you this. When R-Swift lost his son what did you do?
Did you pray for him? Did you drop him an email or comment on his myspace? Was it positive or negative? Did you see God glorified through this tragic event. It was a bad thing that affected him and his family. So what is the difference? I understand that the tragedy is different enough you shouldn't compare them, but we should nor be different on how we reply to him or interact with him.
I suggest you listen to the Wade-O Radio show episodes 29 Interview with Tonex & 113 Interview with Pastor Eric Mason. If you aren't touched by these episodes you need to check yourself like playing chess alone. Pray is a powerful tool. Use it. Wade-O shows this is true in epi.29
LOVE & RESPECT
Christian
THIS WAS WRITTEN BEFORE I HEARD "THE WHAT IN THE HAM SANDWICH SHOW" WHERE THEY DISCUSSED THE CMR LETTER.
Nobody is perfect. Not even celebrities or heroes or artists.
This event I think is a big part of moving forward in the Kingdom. Look how a mistake has created a ripple effect throughout our family our community. Although bad things created this, it will be used to glorify GOD.
Fans and fellow Artists need to pray for this man. Remember when TON3X released Naked Truth? Just imagine if everyone prayed for him instead of bashing him. We need to not make the same mistake. When I got the email from CMR I was glad to see how sound they were in following God's law. And although I was disappointed in Ambassador I know he is human. I forgave him in my heart immediately!
I still pray for him and we all need to. I rember going to a church service and the pastor preached about praying for our leaders and especially our mentors and pastors. They need to be protected. We need to understand we are under them and if they are weakened then we will be too.
We need them to be strong even when the enemy tries to bring them down. They can only be strengthen through prayer. We must unite in the Holy Spirit and be one giant prayer pleading to God that our brother will be restored in Christ! If one falls we all fall.
Divide and conquer.
Please body of Christ, don't be divided by the Ambassador. If we can come together for Change and vote for one person to lead us, then we can defintely come together in prayer and lift up our own sibling.
If you are on top of the world you will fall off. Not saying Amba was the top of HHH but he is a pioneer in the Christian Rap game. We must understand we are no one especially without Jesus. We can not survive in this world alone and without Him. Get it?
Let me ask you this. When R-Swift lost his son what did you do?
Did you pray for him? Did you drop him an email or comment on his myspace? Was it positive or negative? Did you see God glorified through this tragic event. It was a bad thing that affected him and his family. So what is the difference? I understand that the tragedy is different enough you shouldn't compare them, but we should nor be different on how we reply to him or interact with him.
I suggest you listen to the Wade-O Radio show episodes 29 Interview with Tonex & 113 Interview with Pastor Eric Mason. If you aren't touched by these episodes you need to check yourself like playing chess alone. Pray is a powerful tool. Use it. Wade-O shows this is true in epi.29
LOVE & RESPECT
Christian
Purpose: Why Was I Saved?
LOOKING THROUGH MY NOTES ON MY iPHONE, I CAME ACROSS THESE THOUGHTS...
Although I was saved to go to heaven when I was 16, I followed Jesus & boy did I stumble. I became fully submitted @ 23 & got baptized, since then I walked with Jesus.
If Jesus isn't there in heaven when I get there, I will know Jesus is with me. Even if it's just spiritually.
Therefore, I am not saved to go to heaven, I am saved by God's grace to be a tool used by Him. And Jesus isn't the question, He is the answer. I could never make it to heaven without Him being the way truth & life.
He is the key to the door, not the couch in the living room. I guess that means He is not our homeboy, He is our guide. Our flashlight as we go hiking. The gas in our vehicle.
Only when we understand the trinity can we understand Jesus' goal, purpose, & place in our lives & in heaven.
Although I was saved to go to heaven when I was 16, I followed Jesus & boy did I stumble. I became fully submitted @ 23 & got baptized, since then I walked with Jesus.
If Jesus isn't there in heaven when I get there, I will know Jesus is with me. Even if it's just spiritually.
Therefore, I am not saved to go to heaven, I am saved by God's grace to be a tool used by Him. And Jesus isn't the question, He is the answer. I could never make it to heaven without Him being the way truth & life.
He is the key to the door, not the couch in the living room. I guess that means He is not our homeboy, He is our guide. Our flashlight as we go hiking. The gas in our vehicle.
Only when we understand the trinity can we understand Jesus' goal, purpose, & place in our lives & in heaven.
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