Controversy (in my Prince voice)

I'm going to kick off the year with a bit of controversy.

Recently, Pastor Kim Burrell has taken a lot of heat for preaching a sermon where she called out homosexuality as a "perverted spirit." Her sermon was spread via social media and as a result, Ellen DeGeneres cancelled her from appearing on her show where she was presumably going to talk about her role in the soundtrack for the movie Hidden Figures. Her radio show was also cancelled.

Homosexuality in the black church has long been a huge deal and I believe that churches that believe it to be a sin are struggling to find the right balance of addressing it. When you're in the limelight for your music ministry and begin to cross over, it becomes increasingly difficult to find that balance. I suppose this is why Tasha Cobbs and Kierra Sheard haven't crossed over. It's definitely not for lack of talent.

As a worship leader, we get in front of God's people and invite them to come with us to a special place. A place where our hearts are tender to God's call, God's word, and His presence. In this place we become transparent, see our shortcomings, and feel God's grace. It's something we wish everyone could experience. While there is a time for rebuking and reproving, we need to make sure that people feel like they belong in the house of God. It's hard to do that if we don't treat/address sins equally and if we condemn folks to smithereens. Each and every one of us (all sinners) should feel equally convicted for our sins and equally loved because we are God's children. I'm not saying that God wants you to be silent or permissive. I'm saying let's ask God for the right way to deliver His word to his people so that we can be the most effective vessels possible.

In the words of Otis Redding "try a little tenderness." Or for those wanting a scripture "A soft answer turneth away wrath." (Prov. 15:1)

Blessings

A song to lift your spirit during turbulent times

 

Today I am so saddened by all of the violence that's been going on. Not that I haven't been previously, but when a black men gets shot at point blank in his car with his loved ones inside (one of which was a child) and I see the video of the aftermath, my heart breaks. My God, are we (black people) not human? Do we not deserve a chance to take out our license like we've been asked to do without being shot? And now the police being killed in Dallas! Jesus take the wheel, like frfr!

What's worse is that people are so critical of each other at this time. We criticize the #blacklivesmatter movement. We criticize when someone paints a mural of the deceased. We criticize when celebrities speak out about social injustice. We criticize the NAACP for not doing enough. Tensions are high on every level.

If you are like me, your spirit is impacted by the loss of lives that seem senseless and is crying out to God for help. I know personally that music helps me get through things. So today I offer you the song that's been on repeat for me for about a week now, Baba Oh, from Jonathan Nelson's latest project.

"Open the floodgates in abundance and cause your rain to fall on me"

Trey McLaughlin "Let Praises Rise" (Cover)

Yo, this video is so dope. They sound amazing! Trey - you just got a new subbie.

Enjoy!

I Love This Place Tasha Cobbs

I purchased this album when it first came out and even though I thought it was nice, I wasn't exactly feeling it. Now, this song has been on repeat in my spirit. "Thank you for accepting me...." What a simple yet profound statement!
Enjoy!

Jessica Love ft. Todd Dulaney "I Draw Near"

I heard this song for the first time today and couldn't wait to share it. Enjoy!

I love me some hymns (in my Toni Braxton voice)

Don't you just love it when you go to church and the leader says, "turn to page 109 of your hymnal and let's sing I Come to the Garden Alone"? Man, I love me some hymns!

The funny thing is, the church I came from, didn't sing them as they were written. We remixed them until they sounded Pentecostal. And then when I went to a predominately white church down south and heard how they were really written, I was like "Oh, that's kinda lame."

You know what else is funny about hymns, everybody uses the lyrics. I've heard preachers preach hymns and singers ad lib using hymns. They're like the Christian version of Kyle Korver. You pull them off the bench and it's a score! (Go Bulls! I know KK is with the Hawks now.)

The other thing that's funny is that no one is really coming up with new hymns. I'm not sure why. Total Praise by Richard Smallwood made it in the New National Baptist Hymnal, but I can't think of very many other game changing, tried and true, new songs. And Total Praise is like 20 years old so I guess it's not new. Then again, I'm not a hymnal connoisseur. Maybe there are more.

So, why aren't we making new songs that fit in this genre? These are the songs we sing at funerals to comfort families, at Christmas to celebrate the true meaning of the holiday, and during worship services to reflect on the many aspects of God. I think it's time to dust off those books and bring them back en vogue.

I pitched long ago that we should have an "old school" Sunday where we give the hymns some play. After all, these oldies but goodies deserve their props, much like Kyle Korver.

Travis Greene - Living Water (starring Kel Mitchell)

Review of Tasha Cobb's One Place Live

I don't do a lot of reviews because it's rare that I purchase a full album. However, as a huge fan of Tasha Cobb's first album, I went ahead and purchased the sophomore project. Here's what I think of One Place Live:

1. Immediately- thumbs wayyy up!
2. Jesus Did It - eh
3. Fill Me Up - thumbs up
4. Overflow - thumbs up
5. Jesus Saves - eh
6. One Place - thumbs wayyyy up!
7. I love This Place - thumbs wayyy up!
8. This is Freedom - thumbs up
9. Sense It - thumbs wayyy up!
10. Sense It Reprise - thumbs wayyy up! This is battling for my favorite song on the album. "I am not the same, I've been changed in Your glory." Such simple and beautiful lyrics that anyone can sing.
11. Put a Praise on It - eh Shocked that I didn't like this song more. I like the concept of the song, but it's just Ok for me. I also can't differentiate between Tasha and Kierra. That's kinda strange too.
12. Christmas Praise - thumbs up
13. I'll Do It Again - thumbs wayyy up! This song reminds me of an old school Kirk Franklin and the Family type of song. I love hearing the individual voices even though they're all singing together.
14. Solid Rock - thumbs wayyy up! Love Jamie Grace's voice.
15. You Still Love Me - thumbs up
16. I Will Run - thumbs up This song has a rock vibe and Tasha pulls it off well

Bottom Line - I don't dislike any of the songs and I love 4 of them. Buy this album.

Blessings!

Review of self-titled albumTiff Joy

This is the last of the Tiff Joy takeover installation. The album dropped today so check out my review and then go cop it.

1. YOU are - thumbs up
2. Almighty God - thumbs up
3. The Promise -thumbs wayyy up! Love the words, the chorus sticks with you, and the music is perfect.
4. Oh How We Love YOU -thumbs wayyy up! I love this upbeat song. I think musicians will love it too.
5. All that YOU do - thumbs wayyy up! This song is beautiful and the music is reminiscent of a Stevie Wonder tune.
6. Holy -thumbs wayyy up! Another beautifully composed song.
7. Healer -thumbs wayyy up! Another beautifully composed song, yet again.
8. Hallelujah -thumbs wayyy up! Another beautifully composed song.
9. Altar Call - thumbs up
10. I'm All YOURS - thumbs wayyy up! You guessed it. Another beautifully composed song. It's crazy there are this many!
11. Amazing - thumbs wayyy up! But you already knew this one goes hard. She did rearrange it a little to keep it fresh. And whoever the drummer is snapped at the end, like frfr!
12. Hope - eh - I'm not crazy about this song, but after 10 great songs, there's not much else I can ask for.

Bottom Line - This album is a praise and worshiper's delight! Tiff Joy has a great tap on the sound of worship. You can hit play and worship through the entire album. It's kinda impossible to buy an album with so many good songs these days, but that's exactly what this is. Buy this project. Like now.

I'm gonna go ahead and project a nom for new artist of the year for the next Stellar Awards. You gotta speak those things that are not as though they are!

Leggo Chicago!

Blessings
 

TIFF JOY - THE PROMISE (Audio)

Byron Cage - Great & Mighty

I love this worship song. Enjoy!