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!!!!

Memoirs of a mega church member, part two

Wow... Bishop Eddie Long gets accused of sexual shenanigans with young men in his congregation.... Much has been written, reported, interviewed, said (or not), and otherwise presented throughout the international media... Only time and a fair justice system will reveal the truth as God already knows it....

He is not the first mega minister to be brought to shame before the world... and certainly he will not be the last. As much as we want our men of God to be blameless, we are reminded time and again that they are men, subject to character flaws, perversions and sin just like everybody else. This is not to make excuses for them, its just a fact. True, they are held to higher standards biblically because there is specific direction and criteria for those teaching, leading, and following men who stand before God's people representing HIM.
(Rom.14:16 ~ Rom.16:17-18 ~ 1Tim.~ 1:19-20 ~ 2 Tim. 2:17 ~

Phil 4:2 ~ Col. 4:17 ~ 3 Jn.9-10") "

Thus the result of the scandal cuts deep. Our trust in the institution of church is severely violated when the leader falls. And while the sensationalism that comes with the accusation is contagious, the instance of scandal makes one pause to contemplate one's membership, loyalty and history of following the mega church.... At some point one has to pragmatically look at stories like Long's and other similar episodes in order to balance their view of church folkways and mores.....

As a member of a mega church (NOT New Birth... I'm out west....), I love the many good works we are able to do.... we love the leader's international involvements.... we love the leader's local impact, we love and support his influence across social and political boundaries... we love the way the bible and a Christian lifestyle is articulated in our church. We have labored and built to become a force for good in the community, indeed the world...

Around the City, the vibe of folk who attend these mega-ministries have the same type of pride and love for the involvements of the leader...  Especially those who have attended the church for a long time - those who have witnessed the growth of the church and the pastor. The sense that you are part of something powerful, righteous and stands for good becomes an integral part of your lifestyle. We are an example of Jesus' love in the community and the world...

Plus the access to study the word of God is on a deep level. 

I would be deeply damaged to hear my spiritual leader caught up in some madness like Bishop Long, but yet, Long's issues remind me that no matter what, these guys are just men... subject to mess up... just like all of us... And while I really appreciate what the man of God has shown me and encouraged me to integrate into my life, the most important lesson that I can take away from his spiritual counsel is that God is....

God is more than the man in the pulpit.
God is more than this magnificent edifice we have saved and invested in through the building fund...
God is more than the denomination, if any, the ministry, the rules, traditions and processes of the work....
God is more than all of it....While we adore these men, they are,.... just that. Men.

Yet, across the Body of Christ, we have various visceral reactions to the news of possible misconduct from the man of God... from shock to awe..... a closer look will reveal that he is not the first.... and most probably will not be the last.... the result and effect hurts not only the victims of the deeds, but the masses of the people who have said yes.. I will follow and help you build...

The news of scandal causes members of other mega churches to consider "what if...?"

That's when we have to remember that your ultimate relationship is with God Almighty through Jesus Christ... That's it, that's all... He will be there for you just like he was before your fabulous 5000 - 10000 seat sanctuary.... He will be there after the sanctuary is gone... He will be there in the midst of scandal.... He will be there... He will be there as he protects your congregation or He will be there as he reveals the dark secrets of sin..... He will be there.....

The ultimate challenge of the mega-church member is to take a self-inventory and ask if we caught up in the ceremony of church? Are we caught up in the essence of our pastor, the mega church? Or do we take to heart our relationship with God....  Do we walk with humility or are we puffed up from some false superiority complex just because we belong to a large church....

In the end, we have to remember it's all about our relationship with the Almighty and not the religion of our mega church experience... We honor the men leading our various institutions, but at the end of the day it's all about Jesus.... that's it, that's all.

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....