Friday's Weekly Rap Up February 6, 2015 - "New Dreams"- Trip Lee

"New Dreams" - Trip Lee (Featuring J.R. and Sho Baraka) (Lyrics)

We all want to live life to the fullest. We want to The "good life" is one that we envision, whether that be financial security, professional decisions and status, or simply just acceptance. You might say "if only I had _______. That's your idea of the good life. It's that thing you just "have to have" to make everything right.

Friday's Weekly Rap-Up - November 7, 2014 - "Kobe Bryant On 'Em" - Sho Baraka

"Kobe Bryant On 'Em" - Sho Baraka - Lyrics

Kobe Bryant

Every Friday morning I get together with a group of guys to play basketball at 6:00 AM. It's an early start, but I look forward to Friday morning every week. It's a competitive outlet, a way to get some exercise, and a chance to still show that we've still got some game. Some of the guys who play are from our church, so that helps build community between us. Others are coworkers or neighbors, or random guys we invite to play who become friends. We've got different levels of skill too. Some of the guys have played at a college-level. Some played in high school, and some have never played organized basketball. It doesn't matter though.

Sometimes our frustration shows when we miss shots (and we miss many) or our teammates don't meet our expectations. We get mad when we miss layups or allow people to score on us. Some of us get angry at times. I'll admit, I can get upset when teammates don't play defense or switch which man we're defending, or don't call out screens; things I'd have expected to hear from college players I played with or coached over the years.

Sho Baraka's song "Kobe Bryant on 'Em" is actually a mixtape response to another song, "Air Jordan on 'Em" from rapper K-Drama. At first blush it may seem that these songs are simply about two of the best basketball players to have ever played the game. That'd be partially true. K-Drama thinks Michael Jordan is the best. Sho Baraka, thinking Kobe is the best, playfully responds with "Kobe Bryant on 'Em", noting that he's "a Cali man through and through." But, there's more here than two rappers creatively communicating their favorite basketball players. You may think, "what does it mean to 'Air Jordan on 'em?', or 'what does it mean to Kobe Bryant on 'em?'" Well, it has less to do with basketball, and more to do with biblical history and a Christian's steadfast witness of the Gospel in light of opposition and trial.

This K-Drama response is most helpful. K-Drama derives the term mostly from the scriptural account found in the book of Numbers, when God commanded Moses and the Israelites to possess the land of Canaan. After a survey, many of the men did not want to enter into the land, as they found the inhabitants to be much stronger than themselves. Joshua and Caleb did not see it that way and were undeterred, comforted by the strength of the Lord. Sho Baraka expands on this idea with lines like:

Friday's Weekly Rap-Up - September 26, 2014 - "ITWNOI" - Sho Baraka

"ITWNOI" (In This World, Not Of It) - Sho Baraka (lyrics)



This past week I started to think about the name of my blog and how its name was formulated. I intended to keep my blog only to update friends and family of my experiences, as well as what I was learning in my faith. I originally started the blog back in 2009 while preparing for a mission trip to Colombia with an Athletes in Action basketball team. It was a while ago, and I've never felt like changing it, even as I began to write more of my thoughts. It's probably a good thing in the end. It's a good reminder of my standing in this world.

As time has gone on, I've included thoughts about athletics, rap music, the Christian faith, and mostly urban planning in Houston. Within the last couple of months I have had many blog posts linked to a variety of planning and development websites, and circulated on social media. It's been a great reminder about the call that Christians have as being on this earth.

Friday's Weekly Rap-Up - April 26, 2013

"Famous" - Sho Baraka

The Lions and Liars album from Sho Baraka has been one of my favorites since it was released back in 2010, specifically for tracks "Lion's Anthem" and "Shut Us Down", but today I highlight "Famous" in response to my recent reading of Embracing Obscurity - Becoming Nothing in Light of God's Everything. I have prepared a review and summary of that book, along with how the book is challenging me, and I will post that later today or sometime tomorrow.

Admittedly, I normally skip over this song when I listen to this album, but after looking for a song that spoke to the issue of obscurity, this seemed to be one of the only songs I could find. (I am sure there are others out there; another close example is Background by Lecrae and Andy Mineo). But, I suppose it is difficult to compose and perform a song that calls for the embrace of obscurity, when our sinful tendency tempts us to declare our own name, something all to noticeable in the music scene.

After reading Embracing Obscurity and reflecting on the challenges it posed for me, I came to this admission; That I desire for others to know me and my name more than I desire to recognize that I am fully known by our Lord. And to that end, we as Christians must strive to make the Lord's name famous. Our right standing with the Lord does not hinge on how many people know our names, or how many people we are able to get to know His name; but rather that we call on His name as Lord.

http://www.esvbible.org/Psalm+105/

Friday's Weekly Rap-Up - March 15, 2013

Lion’s Anthem – Sho Baraka

As Christians, we are deceived by thinking that our lives will be measured by the influence we have on culture or those around us, or by the status we obtain. Being out of college for a few years now, I have noticed that the primary subtitle we use to define ourselves is our occupation and accompanying title. As college students, your subtitle was whatever your major was, or what year you were in school. You get the point.

I confess that I get caught up in this game, feeling that my influence in our community, and within our church, is directly correlated to my occupational standing. This couldn't be further from the truth, and reflects sinful doubt about Christ's declaration of his imputed righteousness in my life. As adults, we have come to define our success and influence, even in the context of the local church, through titles. When Christ returns, none of that is going to matter. This truth should excite those of us that have a limited platform for influence and have seemingly obscure jobs.

Most of us have seemingly normal occupations that allow us to “rep in the jungle” that exists outside the confines of the local church. Just as Paul was a tent maker, we are called into occupations that, on the surface, have seemingly little connection to our commission of making disciples, and teaching them to observe what Christ has commanded of us as Christians.

This should be of no surprise, as scripture is full of examples of normal, service oriented-occupations. There were bakers and cupbearers (Genesis 40:5, Nehemiah 1:11), grinders, cooks, hunters and fishermen (Matthew 24:41, Jeremiah 16:16, Matthew 4:18). While these folks aided in food preparation, farmers (Ruth 2:3) and shepherds (Luke 2:8) secured the food stock. There were judges (Judges 2:16), military leaders (Isaiah 55:4) and civic leaders (Genesis 42:6) that made sure things ran as smooth as possible. There were carpenters (2 Samuel 5:11), scribes (Matthew 5:20), goldsmiths (Nehemiah 3:8) and silversmiths (Acts 19:24), potters (Romans 9:21), bankers (Proverbs 22:7) that made things and provided services, as well as those that organized commerce. These people held seemingly normal positions, some playing extraordinary parts in God's plan of redemption. Others are forgotten, or are mere footnotes, much like Ananias in Acts 9.

So, whatever your occupation, keep "grindin' for the Lord", so to speak. I need to remind myself of this daily. In light of that, here is Sho Baraka's Lion's Anthem, from his 2010 Lions and Liars album, reminding us that our occupations play integral roles in the plan of God's redemption. As “Lions” of this world we reflect and share the life of Christ in whatever sphere of influence that we are placed in (2 Corinthians 10:13). This song is essentially a list of different types of people with different types of jobs or careers, faithfully ministering where they are at.

Lion's Anthem lyrics on the Reach Records website

My list of occupations can be attributed to: "Occupations and Professions in the Bible" - http://www.studylight.org/dic/hbd/view.cgi?number=T4677 

Friday's Weekly Rap-Up - February 15, 2013

As the City of Houston hosts the NBA All-Star Game this weekend, I figured I'd feature a few NBA-themed tracks this week. These analogies will fly better with the basketball crowd, but they're still edifying to anyone.

Kobe Bryant On 'Em from Sho Baraka addresses the difficulties and opposition that Christians face each day, as a result of the fallen state of this world, as we strive to give God glory and make him famous, even in settings as common as our workplaces. And, since we've been given the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:14-19), we are strengthened, allowing us to persevere through opposition. The power, strength and skill that Kobe Bryant possesses to make his defenders look silly is a loose parallel to the power that we have in Christ when being "defended" by those who do not see Christ as Savior. Sho explains it some more here.



You can get this song for free on Sho Baraka's Barakaology mixtape, from Reach Records. Download it; it's pretty good.

This was just some fun that Sho was having with K-Drama, another rapper, creating a little debate on whether Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant is the better player. This shows that Christians can use their gifts to glorify God, share Christ, and still have some fun at the same time. Jordan will probably always be the better player, but I think Sho's song features a better delivery. Either way, let us all Air Jordan or Kobe Bryant on 'em all the time.

And, just a fun video, the best NCAA Tournament Buzzer Beaters. My Spartans didn't make the cut for their buzzer beater in 2010 against Maryland, but there are some great clips here.



I will also be volunteering down at the NBA's Jam Session fan experience for the weekend. It'll be a great way to serve the City of Houston and our visitors coming to Houston to attend the game. I may post some thoughts about my experience within the next few days.

Interesting Articles from the Past Week:

In the theme of Valentine's Day; The Truth About Marital Compatibility by Phil Smidt and Fighting for Your Joy on Valentines Day by Chris Smith

Wednesday's Word from Paul Tripp, addressing our Identity Amnesia, and how worship is its cure.

And, just for fun; here's a look at what would happen if an asteroid hit Houston.