Preaching to the Choir - my Men's Day experience

For nearly thirty years I have been blessed with longevity in the urban radio and music arena and I have enjoyed a pretty good reputation. I truly love the essence of music, particularly where it comes through the black american perspective. Yes, the method to all this madness is all about the music. I am a promoter of black arts and culture - globally.

That said, here's a random musical contemplation. This past Sunday It was men's day at my church. As I do each year, I sang in the Men's day choir (I have been so busy and swamped that I almost missed it this year, but at the insistence of one of my brethren I went in, one rehearsal and done). I love to do so because I spend year after year promoting and producing awesome music shows and festivals - indeed some of the biggest in our community.

SInging in the Men's Day Choir is sort of therapeutic for me. From my seat at the radio station, I hear some if not all of the best choirs, bands, singers and groups. I love discovering new talent in our community and giving them a shot on our many music stages throughout the course of the year. I love watching the crowds react to good musicianship and exceptional artistry. I love to work with some of the hottest professional bands, groups and singers in the nation as they share their latest hits live to our audiences in the community. I love it. My men's day is my opportunity to actually be in the choir, sitting next to the band, hearing what they hear and lending my voice to the awesome music that emanates from us. I cannot stop laughing as we sing those holy ghost gospel songs!!! It is like a thrill ride for me!!!

So this Men's Day, as I sang those inspiring gospel songs, those sweet songs of praise, those Pentecostal anthems, it dawned on me that I was in the company of some of the greatest musicians in the nation if not the world:

• The great @freddiefluwellen on bass - I been knowing him a LOOOOOOOOOOONG time and he has always been and is the truth!!! ,
• The incredible EricWalls on guitar - got to watch him work up close and wow - this dude right here;
• The brotha Dana Hammond on drums - he is always incredible - keepin it on the one...
• The ultra talented David Daughtry led and directed us - he has one of the top gospel albums out right now
• The awesome psalmist @duwarddavis led praise and worship.
• Didn't I see Judith Christie McAllister tending to stuff in the background?

Whew!! I'm beginning to wonder if I should submit our performance for grammy consideration lol!!!!! What an incredible musical experience!!!!

Preaching to the Choir - my Men's Day experience

For nearly thirty years I have been blessed with longevity in the urban radio and music arena and I have enjoyed a pretty good reputation. I truly love the essence of music, particularly where it comes through the black american perspective. Yes, the method to all this madness is all about the music. I am a promoter of black arts and culture - globally.

That said, here's a random musical contemplation. This past Sunday It was men's day at my church. As I do each year, I sang in the Men's day choir (I have been so busy and swamped that I almost missed it this year, but at the insistence of one of my brethren I went in, one rehearsal and done). I love to do so because I spend year after year promoting and producing awesome music shows and festivals - indeed some of the biggest in our community.

SInging in the Men's Day Choir is sort of therapeutic for me. From my seat at the radio station, I hear some if not all of the best choirs, bands, singers and groups. I love discovering new talent in our community and giving them a shot on our many music stages throughout the course of the year. I love watching the crowds react to good musicianship and exceptional artistry. I love to work with some of the hottest professional bands, groups and singers in the nation as they share their latest hits live to our audiences in the community. I love it. My men's day is my opportunity to actually be in the choir, sitting next to the band, hearing what they hear and lending my voice to the awesome music that emanates from us. I cannot stop laughing as we sing those holy ghost gospel songs!!! It is like a thrill ride for me!!!

So this Men's Day, as I sang those inspiring gospel songs, those sweet songs of praise, those Pentecostal anthems, it dawned on me that I was in the company of some of the greatest musicians in the nation if not the world:

• The great @freddiefluwellen on bass - I been knowing him a LOOOOOOOOOOONG time and he has always been and is the truth!!! ,
• The incredible EricWalls on guitar - got to watch him work up close and wow - this dude right here;
• The brotha Dana Hammond on drums - he is always incredible - keepin it on the one...
• The ultra talented David Daughtry led and directed us - he has one of the top gospel albums out right now
• The awesome psalmist @duwarddavis led praise and worship.
• Didn't I see Judith Christie McAllister tending to stuff in the background?

Whew!! I'm beginning to wonder if I should submit our performance for grammy consideration lol!!!!! What an incredible musical experience!!!!

Is Church Relevant?

My friend Pastor Mark Whitlock posted a question on his facebook which asked if Christian Sermons were relevant to the issues today's communities. I found this to be an interesting question and posted an opinion on his site and decided to repost here as a blog... I do this because even as I go to church regularly, I too have contemplated this question especially as I watch so many television ministers.... so much show business inside of church... I watch the gospel music scene as it presents a contradicting message especially to young people..... I watch the issues of our community such as housing, employment, drug abuse and recovery, domestic violence, education and see that these are all issues that need the church's input, guidance and participation.

Some sermons and ministries are not relevant. And it's because that sometimes, we are so heavenly bound, we're no earthly good.... Sometimes we get so caught up in the ceremony of church, we forget that the purpose of our coming together as Christians is to save souls and love one another. how can we show love in today's world if we are caught up in spiritual cliche's and catchy rhetoric.

Some church's are relevant. Their leadership is progressive and aware of what the believers are faced with in today's world.

I like a church of action. Action in the community. One with footsoldiers out there fighting the maladies of the city with holistic and socially empowering information. The church that says Yes, we want to save you and share the Good News, but we are also a resource with real and palatable information on what you can do to lift yourself up. Come my brother! Come my sister! the church stands as a "beacon of hope" to improve our communities and serve where the underserved can be found. The church should promote self determination and education. The church organization should have a passion for community development.

The Church must be a center of consciousness for the believer in a world of confusion, strife and corruption. The lifestyle of the righteous man or woman is rooted in the church experience. The fellowship with other believers, the activities and ministries within the church, the access to study of the Word of God. so with this close relationship, the believer should be able to hear wisdom and gain spiritual insight to today's problems.

I like the preacher who can relate a message about today's life's experiences with spiritual guidance in the Word. The church that can help me align my social folkways and mores to what God would have them be. A church that helps me find the abundant life in my soul...A holistic experience that heals me, encourages me, informs me, and keeps me centered.

I like a church that can feel me like I feel it....