Things like that remind of THE MATRIX: RELOADED. You know. Where Neo finally enters the door and discovers that he actually carries the program for the very system he was supposed to end.
Seriously…rockin’ it for Jesus is where it’s at. You could hear the resolve in his voice. He is GONNA reach people who don’t know Christ w/ that rhyme.
Mandy, I’m sorry. I too woke up a bit after 8 and thought I was going to die. Yesterday I was up at 6 but didn’t go to bed until 2 this morning. eesh. Dang internet.
I’m an old school hip hop lover myself. I like it when it’s raw and gritty. I tend to not enjoy it to much if it’s ripped samples from other bands, but this is kind of a cool application in a live setting.
Message: Spot on.
Rhymes: Creative.
Presentation: Heartfelt and Real.
I love how God coorelates His plan through so many different things…when something ” NEEDS” to happen, just yesterday something HE said to my heart;
we are becoming a people that have an excess of beliefs, and not an excess of actual faith.
I love when He splurts things out don’t you;)
One of the things about missions for me was I wanted to go when I was 19 yrs old, because they had a thing saying, ” Who will go in their place” talking about Rachel Scott and Cassie Bernall…and I was already to go, and then my parents shot the idea down. With good reason, I mean they were afraid something would happen.
But the next chance I get, I am SO going to go!
Because I have already been sent. If that makes sense:)
Great song, I even like the beat. With Rap I prefer to read the lyrics, which often have a very moving message, rather than listen to the “Rap” it’s self.
Whenever I see a comment you’ve left on someone else’s blog (especially when they don’t allow gravatars) I say to myself “I didn’t say that, wish I would have, but I didn’t” Then it dawns on me. I blame it on pregnancy brain even though I haven’t been pregnant in 3 years.
Hey Mandy, I came to your blog from another Mandy whom I only visited because her name was Mandy and my name is Mandy. Did I say Mandy enough?
And although now you probably think I am a total spaz, I posted this same video a few weeks ago on my blog. I get chills everytime I see it too. So awesome!
I’m gonna hang out a while and check out your blog. Nice to “meet” you.
OK OMG! I totally got chills and teared up!! who is that? It sounds like a rapper named Lecrae…who I have heard but never seen. I would be very interested in this guys music.
LOVE IT!
Okay. I’m going to work soon, but I just wanted to stop in and check up on the responses to the video–and my comment. I’m coming here because I started here; so for those of you wondering about the comments you’ve left on my site, I’ll get to them another time.
[Heavy Sigh.]
You know…when you’ve lived as much as I have, and you’ve paid for it as dearly as I have, the last thing you want to do is entertain people by composing a song or writing a rap about all the problems in the world and what you think the church should be doing. When you have seen, firsthand, the great darkness of this fallen and deluded world, you realize that you don’t need to bombard people with that very same darkness.
Is it a “cool” song? Sure. Unfortunately, it can also lead to unhealthy convictions about our very own faith because we are presented, in the space of about three minutes, with more problems than we can address. That’s overwhelming. And maybe it’s just me, and I’ll certainly concede that is probably is just me, but as I’ve said, when you have lived deliberately you have certainly seen the depth of the darkness with your own eyes…believe me, you are overwhelmed enough.
And, of course, here we go again with the “christian bubble.” But I think I can pretty much guarantee that no atheist nor any agnostic–nevermind a homeless man starving to death–will ever put that song on their playlist. So, as is so often the case, the ones who are so quick to denounce the “christian bubble” live, quite comfortably, inside of it. Without the “christian bubble,” christian artists would have no audience, no readers, and, of course, no marketing and no money. So the more somebody sings about the “christian bubble” the less likely the “church” is to get out of it and do what Jesus told us to do 2,000 years ago: “GO!” That is a command, not a suggestion or an idea.
A command. From The Almighty God Himself. In The Flesh.
Now, I know it’s not my turn to tell you what I DO, but my comment would be useless if I couldn’t prove that my words match my actions. So I’ll give you an example of what I DO.
When you work nights like I do, you meet all kinds. All kinds. Somebody almost always wants a ride or a coffee or a something. If they ask for change, they want booze. If they ask for cash, they want drugs. But, discretion being the better part of valor, more often than not, I know what to do because I know who wants what and why.
As it turns out, last winter or fall or whatever it was, I went to get my coffee before work–just about this time of night, in fact–and there was a young girl at the coffee shop whose car had broken down and she had accidently left the keys to her apartment in the car, which had been towed and locked up in a garage somewhere. Her roommate was away for the weekend. So, believe it or not, I told her that I had a spare room with a bed and that she could spend the night there, even though I was living alone at the time and I still had to go to work.
Well, she accepted. She feel asleep at about 1:30am and I had to wake her up the next day at 11:45am because she had said that she had to go to work. We played Connect Four and Yahtzee over coffee and talked about Jesus. She had never really heard the Gospel before, but I didn’t “convert” her–let’s face it, only God can do that–but I accepted that I was just one element in her life that would eventually lead her to Him. And considering what I did, I think I was pretty good example. I even warned her that just because someone says they are a Christian, doesn’t mean it’s safe to spend the night at their apartment. I told her that there are a lot of Christians who would probably take advantage of a beautiful young girl. Now, there are many sins for which I shall account for, but taking advantage of that girl is certainly not one of them. It was never my intention; I just wanted to give her a safe place to sleep and THEN I told her a few things about Jesus. When it was time for her to go to work, I gave her a ride.
And I never saw her again.
You might like what I have to say or you might not.
Nor: I understand you saying that hitting Christians with a barrage of problems can sometimes paralyze rather than mobilize, but I’d say that some would hear this song and WAKE UP to the reality of a world in need. Some would feel motivation and urgency in the overwhelming nature of this song. Your story of “DOing” is a fitting example of what this song is urging Christians to do. This song was presented in a church setting, encouraging those in the bubble to get OUT of the bubble and do something… Of course it wouldn’t be presented to non-believers – it wasn’t written for non-believers. It was written for lazy self-serving Christians who have shut their eyes to the plight of the world and the Great Commission.
TheNor: yes. to a point… I think taping Christians eyelids open so they are FORCED to see the needs of the world – I think THAT’S the way to go…
Theresa: that list cracked me up!
Beth: yay! go for it!
Lisa: I was sitting here thinking: dang. I haven’t even gotten through all the posts I was planning on writing for this month… I think this fall they will be interspersed through other fun stuff. Thank you for the encouragement.
I agree. To a point. But keep in mind I am writing from the perspective of one so overwhelmed, now, that any tape on my eyelids would risk a detrimental corrosion in my soul.
Hmm…Maybe that Sleeping Bear was on to something after all…? Do you think he, or she, is ready to wake up…?
Wow. You know, what I thought was most powerful … was the people in the band. Lead singer most of all. He sang that with his spirit blazing through every pore on his body. It wasn’t a ‘nice’ song to make people cheer. It was his cry, and his part to impact where he could with what he could. Powerful.
okay – i wasn’t going to wait for the video to load from the other side of the atlantic, but with all these comments, how can i not? it’s loading as i type. i may have to come back tomorrow morning to watch it and comment for real…
I just have to say that if Christians didn’t write to other Christians encouraging them, challenging them, exhorting them, rebuking them, training them, equipping them, etc…
…we wouldn’t have the New Testament.
There’s a place for the “bubble” as long as it’s not the only place.
LOL….Not sure what part cracked you up but I admit….I am a 40 year old that loves music. In fact took Hope last night to see Barlow Girl. Got VIP Meet and Greet.
I think every preteen girl should be required to see Barlow Girl. They talk about modesty, purity, eating disorders, being yourself. Hope is 13 and it makes a difference to her when an artist she likes talks about their relationship with Jesus. How they struggled with friends not understanding their beliefs. They really are a blessing to a parent.
I have taken the kids to alot of concerts and I love the fact that these Christian artist open their Bibles right there on stage and talk about their life, struggles, blessing. It is amazing to watch TobyMac rapping and boggeying and then stop and read you a verse and talk about Jesus’ role in his life. Now I am just rambling.
Worship leaders make or break a church service. We had Rich Kirkpatrick and then he was offered the job in Temecula. Recently we aquired Jon Lepinski (formerly of Broken Yoke). He is a totally different type of leader then Rich was.
One last tidbit of trivia from this old lady…..
I saw Take 6 in concert in 1989. It was their first “Big” tour they were the opening act for Al Jarreau. They were amazing.
Things like that remind of THE MATRIX: RELOADED. You know. Where Neo finally enters the door and discovers that he actually carries the program for the very system he was supposed to end.
Huh?
Can you translate that into slightly more girlie language? I’m missing the analogy today… Maybe I’m just not awake yet. are you awake?
Girl I thought you were sleeping in today?
I’m glad they had the words at the bottom!
I kept saying “oh wow, oh oh wow” while reading it.
Have you ever done any rap Mandy?
Solid message. Good.
B: LOL!!! 8:15 IS sleeping in for me! And it wasn’t NEARLY enough…
@ng: um. no. not at all.
THAT. WAS. THE JAM.
Seriously…rockin’ it for Jesus is where it’s at. You could hear the resolve in his voice. He is GONNA reach people who don’t know Christ w/ that rhyme.
Seriously…that was rad. Thank you for some new music to start my day. I loved it. My favorite part? Your mom on bass.
Dig the Telecaster with the P90 pickup rockin When the Levee Breaks by Led Zeppelin.
Not a fan of rap but I agree with the message.
Mandy, I’m sorry.
I too woke up a bit after 8 and thought I was going to die. Yesterday I was up at 6 but didn’t go to bed until 2 this morning. eesh. Dang internet. 
Mandy! WASN’T IT???
Kristi: thought you’d like it.
Jay: You could TOTALLY rock out on that kind of stuff, too! I could see you doing this!
Brandy: um. GOOD morning??? naaahhhh… BAD morning………
Ps: Mandy – Everytime I comment to you here, I feel like I’m talking to myself. Does that make me crazy? what?
I love this song! I even have it on my Ipod. I play it for my kids at church on Wednesday nights and they love it too!
I loved that!!!! The message sent chills up and down my arms! Thanks Mandy! I loved that and will be passing it on!
Yes.
I’m an old school hip hop lover myself. I like it when it’s raw and gritty. I tend to not enjoy it to much if it’s ripped samples from other bands, but this is kind of a cool application in a live setting.
Message: Spot on.
Rhymes: Creative.
Presentation: Heartfelt and Real.
I did a post a few weeks back about hip hop in worship with links to some video and audio of me doing it check it out.
Ramsey: ME TOO!! Well, not about the iPod or the kids, but I DO love the song!
Jenn: I think it’s a message worth spreading! Go for it!
Russ: That was quite an impressive link drop there!
Surriously…that was cool…fer reals…
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
that makes me happy & sad all at the same time.
That ROCKS!
Well produced, well presented…to a target rich environment!
Right on.
Hey.
I love how God coorelates His plan through so many different things…when something ” NEEDS” to happen, just yesterday something HE said to my heart;
we are becoming a people that have an excess of beliefs, and not an excess of actual faith.
I love when He splurts things out don’t you;)
One of the things about missions for me was I wanted to go when I was 19 yrs old, because they had a thing saying, ” Who will go in their place” talking about Rachel Scott and Cassie Bernall…and I was already to go, and then my parents shot the idea down. With good reason, I mean they were afraid something would happen.
But the next chance I get, I am SO going to go!
Because I have already been sent. If that makes sense:)
Murphy: thanks for stopping by!
LSOF: love that – “excess of beliefs & not excess of faith.”
Great song, I even like the beat. With Rap I prefer to read the lyrics, which often have a very moving message, rather than listen to the “Rap” it’s self.
Mandy – I talk to myself all the time…it’s cool.
Whenever I see a comment you’ve left on someone else’s blog (especially when they don’t allow gravatars) I say to myself “I didn’t say that, wish I would have, but I didn’t” Then it dawns on me. I blame it on pregnancy brain even though I haven’t been pregnant in 3 years.
Hey Mandy, I came to your blog from another Mandy whom I only visited because her name was Mandy and my name is Mandy. Did I say Mandy enough?
And although now you probably think I am a total spaz, I posted this same video a few weeks ago on my blog. I get chills everytime I see it too. So awesome!
I’m gonna hang out a while and check out your blog. Nice to “meet” you.
Ed! Aren’t you too old for rap?
sorry. I’m picking on you again. come back… no wait… come back.
MANDY’S!!! Ladies. It’s time to initiate Last Names here. Ok. I’m so totally confused.
Hello old Mandy!
Hello new Mandy!
Y’all make me smile.
(me being the ORIGINAL Mandy around here. I’m just sayin’)
OK OMG! I totally got chills and teared up!! who is that? It sounds like a rapper named Lecrae…who I have heard but never seen. I would be very interested in this guys music.
LOVE IT!
Mandy, in the 1960′s I was subjected to listening to the hit song “Tip Toe Through The Tulips” by Tiny Tim on the radio.
I’ll take Rap any day.
Heather: HEY GIRL!!!! It’s from Mars Hill Church, I’m pretty sure… Don’t know if they are a group, or just thrown together for music on sunday!
Ed: TINY TIM?? sheesh…. yeah. I’d take rap too.
…”me being the ORIGINAL Mandy around here. I’m just sayin’)”
That’s hilarious!!!
I think Tam rubbed off on you.
OH YOU KNOW SHE DID!!!
HA! HA! HA!!
…proof enough why Mars Hill is the fastest growing church in WA.
Okay. I’m going to work soon, but I just wanted to stop in and check up on the responses to the video–and my comment. I’m coming here because I started here; so for those of you wondering about the comments you’ve left on my site, I’ll get to them another time.
[Heavy Sigh.]
You know…when you’ve lived as much as I have, and you’ve paid for it as dearly as I have, the last thing you want to do is entertain people by composing a song or writing a rap about all the problems in the world and what you think the church should be doing. When you have seen, firsthand, the great darkness of this fallen and deluded world, you realize that you don’t need to bombard people with that very same darkness.
Is it a “cool” song? Sure. Unfortunately, it can also lead to unhealthy convictions about our very own faith because we are presented, in the space of about three minutes, with more problems than we can address. That’s overwhelming. And maybe it’s just me, and I’ll certainly concede that is probably is just me, but as I’ve said, when you have lived deliberately you have certainly seen the depth of the darkness with your own eyes…believe me, you are overwhelmed enough.
And, of course, here we go again with the “christian bubble.” But I think I can pretty much guarantee that no atheist nor any agnostic–nevermind a homeless man starving to death–will ever put that song on their playlist. So, as is so often the case, the ones who are so quick to denounce the “christian bubble” live, quite comfortably, inside of it. Without the “christian bubble,” christian artists would have no audience, no readers, and, of course, no marketing and no money. So the more somebody sings about the “christian bubble” the less likely the “church” is to get out of it and do what Jesus told us to do 2,000 years ago: “GO!” That is a command, not a suggestion or an idea.
A command. From The Almighty God Himself. In The Flesh.
Now, I know it’s not my turn to tell you what I DO, but my comment would be useless if I couldn’t prove that my words match my actions. So I’ll give you an example of what I DO.
When you work nights like I do, you meet all kinds. All kinds. Somebody almost always wants a ride or a coffee or a something. If they ask for change, they want booze. If they ask for cash, they want drugs. But, discretion being the better part of valor, more often than not, I know what to do because I know who wants what and why.
As it turns out, last winter or fall or whatever it was, I went to get my coffee before work–just about this time of night, in fact–and there was a young girl at the coffee shop whose car had broken down and she had accidently left the keys to her apartment in the car, which had been towed and locked up in a garage somewhere. Her roommate was away for the weekend. So, believe it or not, I told her that I had a spare room with a bed and that she could spend the night there, even though I was living alone at the time and I still had to go to work.
Well, she accepted. She feel asleep at about 1:30am and I had to wake her up the next day at 11:45am because she had said that she had to go to work. We played Connect Four and Yahtzee over coffee and talked about Jesus. She had never really heard the Gospel before, but I didn’t “convert” her–let’s face it, only God can do that–but I accepted that I was just one element in her life that would eventually lead her to Him. And considering what I did, I think I was pretty good example. I even warned her that just because someone says they are a Christian, doesn’t mean it’s safe to spend the night at their apartment. I told her that there are a lot of Christians who would probably take advantage of a beautiful young girl. Now, there are many sins for which I shall account for, but taking advantage of that girl is certainly not one of them. It was never my intention; I just wanted to give her a safe place to sleep and THEN I told her a few things about Jesus. When it was time for her to go to work, I gave her a ride.
And I never saw her again.
You might like what I have to say or you might not.
But that’s part of what I DO.
Nor: I understand you saying that hitting Christians with a barrage of problems can sometimes paralyze rather than mobilize, but I’d say that some would hear this song and WAKE UP to the reality of a world in need. Some would feel motivation and urgency in the overwhelming nature of this song. Your story of “DOing” is a fitting example of what this song is urging Christians to do. This song was presented in a church setting, encouraging those in the bubble to get OUT of the bubble and do something… Of course it wouldn’t be presented to non-believers – it wasn’t written for non-believers. It was written for lazy self-serving Christians who have shut their eyes to the plight of the world and the Great Commission.
And that’s effective. To a point.
Which was my point.
Loved it…But I like all types and styles. Whatever style of music that is going to capture a person’s attention.
I buy Barlow Girl, AA, Mercy Me because that is what grabs my daughter.
I buy Manafest, Red, TobyMac because that is what grabs my son.
Nice excuse huh…. I actually buy it all because I love it!!!!
You could take my TV but leave my Music alone.
Whoa.
Yeah.
Gave you props and posted it on my blog for my church people. Very relevant for us this week.
thanks!
I saw this song on another blog recently and love it. Don’t you think sometimes Christians we can overthink things? It’s a simple message really.
I’m loving all these posts, Mandy. I hope you don’t stop in September.
TheNor: yes. to a point… I think taping Christians eyelids open so they are FORCED to see the needs of the world – I think THAT’S the way to go…
Theresa: that list cracked me up!
Beth: yay! go for it!
Lisa: I was sitting here thinking: dang. I haven’t even gotten through all the posts I was planning on writing for this month… I think this fall they will be interspersed through other fun stuff.
Thank you for the encouragement.
Mandy:
I agree. To a point. But keep in mind I am writing from the perspective of one so overwhelmed, now, that any tape on my eyelids would risk a detrimental corrosion in my soul.
Hmm…Maybe that Sleeping Bear was on to something after all…? Do you think he, or she, is ready to wake up…?
TheNor! FUNNY!!!! I don’t know… he might wake up on the wrong side of the bed!!!
Yeah. Definitely don’t want that.
Of course, some say he, or she, already has.
What to do…what to do…what to do…?
ok…so that IS lacrae… I researched for ever after I listened to this! I need to buy his cd!
Wow. You know, what I thought was most powerful … was the people in the band. Lead singer most of all. He sang that with his spirit blazing through every pore on his body. It wasn’t a ‘nice’ song to make people cheer. It was his cry, and his part to impact where he could with what he could. Powerful.
Great video quality, too. That was impressive.
okay – i wasn’t going to wait for the video to load from the other side of the atlantic, but with all these comments, how can i not? it’s loading as i type. i may have to come back tomorrow morning to watch it and comment for real…
“lemme go, lemme go”
powerful!
I just have to say that if Christians didn’t write to other Christians encouraging them, challenging them, exhorting them, rebuking them, training them, equipping them, etc…
…we wouldn’t have the New Testament.
There’s a place for the “bubble” as long as it’s not the only place.
“Theresa: that list cracked me up!”
LOL….Not sure what part cracked you up but I admit….I am a 40 year old that loves music. In fact took Hope last night to see Barlow Girl. Got VIP Meet and Greet.
I think every preteen girl should be required to see Barlow Girl. They talk about modesty, purity, eating disorders, being yourself. Hope is 13 and it makes a difference to her when an artist she likes talks about their relationship with Jesus. How they struggled with friends not understanding their beliefs. They really are a blessing to a parent.
I have taken the kids to alot of concerts and I love the fact that these Christian artist open their Bibles right there on stage and talk about their life, struggles, blessing. It is amazing to watch TobyMac rapping and boggeying and then stop and read you a verse and talk about Jesus’ role in his life. Now I am just rambling.
Worship leaders make or break a church service. We had Rich Kirkpatrick and then he was offered the job in Temecula. Recently we aquired Jon Lepinski (formerly of Broken Yoke). He is a totally different type of leader then Rich was.
One last tidbit of trivia from this old lady…..
I saw Take 6 in concert in 1989. It was their first “Big” tour they were the opening act for Al Jarreau. They were amazing.
PS) Welcome to teh 30s