I have been sending out some links to friends, letting them know of the rise in quality and popularity of Christian rap music. So I decided to just publish a post with my top 5 free albums I have downloaded this past year, along with another 12 free albums that are available. Feel free to chime in, letting me know of your favorites – if you have them. Enjoy!

TOP 5 FREE CHRISTIAN RAP ALBUMS:

1. Joint Heirs and Andale (Hypocrite) = DOWNLOAD
2. Young Noah (Mixtape Vol. 2) = DOWNLOAD
3. Dre Murray (Stranger) = DOWNLOAD
4. Reconcile (Abandoned Hope) = DOWNLOAD
5. DJ Official (I Didn’t Invent The Remix) = DOWNLOAD

OTHER FREE CHRISTIAN RAP ALBUMS:

1. HumbleBeast artists (Propaganda, Odd Thomas, Braille, Theory Hazit) = DOWNLOAD
2. Wit & Dre Murray (Hell’s Paradise II) = DOWNLOAD
3. Andy Mineo (Saturday Morning Car Tunez) = DOWNLOAD
4. Andy Mineo (Formerly Known) = DOWNLOAD
5. Young Noah (Mixtape Vol. 1) = DOWNLOAD
6. Christon Gray (Body Art) = DOWNLOAD
7. Canon (Blind World) = DOWNLOAD
8. Derek Minor / PRO (PSA Vol. 2 – Reach Records) = DOWNLOAD
9. Derek Minor / PRO (PSA Vol. 3 – Reach Records) = DOWNLOAD
10. Social Club (Misfits) = DOWNLOAD
11. MC Jin (Crazy Love, Ridiculous Faith) = DOWNLOAD
12. B. Reith (How The Story Continues – Vol. 1) = DOWNLOAD

Freedom. A very strong word that many have died and are dying for.

What do I know about it? I’ve visited southeast Asia twice in the past three years, holding children who are or have been enslaved to human trafficking in my arms. Last month I visited the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati with a group from our church, and last night I finished watching Lincoln (a great film that shares just how hard it was for our government to grant freedom to African Americans). I have moved my family to attend an intentionally multi-ethnic church plant these past two years. There are many other things I have done to educate myself on the different forms of slavery / hatred.

My view of this country is what has shifted the most. Men and women have fought for it, and refugees have fled their country to find it. But WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?

There is no such thing as a “Christian” country. That’s a lie that we’ve believed for far too long. Somehow Christians have fallen for the lie that God is more interested in the freedom we are providing, or that He has blessed us because we’ve embraced it more than others have.

It might shock you, but if this country wants one type of freedom it had better be ready to give all of the other types of freedom away as well. That’s where I stand at the moment in my view on the equality of marriage for homosexuals. Is it a sin – I strongly believe it is. Do they deserve the same freedom to choose and the respect from our government – I believe so. Unlike Rob Bell (listen to the 42:40 mark of this recent speech) – I don’t believe that I need to affirm their actions. In this land of freedom, I have a choice to believe what I believe as much as they do. And unlike Rob, I can stand against something without falling for it.

If my faith is as strong as it is, and judging each other is something I want nothing to do with, I will accept their freedom to choose just as much as I will accept the freedom for women to vote and equality throughout the different races in our country.

That to me is the new civil war in this country. Some in the church want to hate, they want to judge. But they don’t realize they are being completely hypocritical. How can we enjoy the freedom of speech or of religion and be at war with homosexuals who want freedom? That’s a situation where I am glad I am not the President! Both righteousness and sin have existed in all countries from the first man and woman until now.

There is another civil war that I believe deserves just as much (I believe MORE) attention than the marriage equality war. Unborn children deserve freedom just as much as I do. For some it is a past that is hard to deal with when it’s a choice that has been made, but we have the chance to change the course of history for these children just like President Lincoln had for African Americans. How is that freedom any less important?

Heaven is our home, not America. During this holy week, remember that Jesus didn’t die for the freedom of this country. He died for the freedom from this world. That is something worth fighting for.

Thanks for reading – respond however you’d like

Sanctuary Columbus Church was launched as an intentionally multi-ethnic church plant in the Northland area of Columbus, Ohio. Our pastor (Rich Johnson) and Chad Brennan (director of Renew Partnerships – an organization he started to assist universities and other organizations in how they handle and pursue diversity) joined together yesterday for some co-teaching at our church (you may listen to the sermon audio here). Here are a few notes I took that I thought you might want to review, especially if you agree that the diversity of heaven should not be put off on earth. Enjoy!

PRINCIPLES FOR A NEW COMMUNITY – Rich Johnson and Chad Brennan

Less than 7% of churches are multi-ethnic.

Ethnic unity doesn’t just happen. Division does.

Race isn’t rocket science. Race is harder than rocket science. – Christopher Edley

Multi-ethnic ministry is like going up a down escalator. If you stop you are going backwards. You have to pick up the pace.

PITFALLS OF PURSUING DIVERSITY

1. Let’s just let it happen naturally.
2. Ethnic unity isn’t an issue in our post-racial society.
3. Everyone should be treated equally.

Churches are 10 times less integrated than neighborhoods and 20 times less integrated than public schools.

Is color blindness the solution? 

• It’s a good motive (stop injustice, prejudice, stereotyping)
• It is ineffective (offensive, limits understanding, denies realities, why ignore something God created to enrich our lives?)

The world works by dividing power between insiders and outsiders.

The kingdom of God brings outsiders to the inside (foreigners, widows, orphans, hungry, imprisoned, naked, stranger, poor, crippled, lame, blind, slaves, women, children, religions, fatherless).

Jesus, in his final hours, prayed for unity.

Luke 14: 12-14

Thanks to you Facebook friends for jumping over here! While studying God’s Word this week, and dealing with another dose of fear/anxiety, I came across something that really spoke to me. I’m sure some of you have read this scripture before, and hopefully some of you can help me better understand it.

Most of you know I had a heart attack back on 10/29/11, 100% blocked left anterior descending artery (AKA “the widow maker”). 2012 was the worst year of my life. Went to the ER three times (once while on vacation) because I thought I was having another heart attack. Those are the thoughts of lots of people who suffer from anxiety or panic attacks. Chest pains that mimic heart attacks.

To make a long story short, I went to healing prayer and have had a much better past four months. I have only had less than a handful of smaller bouts with anxiety, compared to fighting it daily – leaving my job – not bringing in money for maybe a week at a time while working from home. Lots of people always tell me that God isn’t the bearer of trouble (but satan is). Same questions people ask when things like 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina hit and mess with the lives of every type of people.

I truly believe that God allows things to happen like that, how can you not. If He doesn’t have everything under control, He would not be God. I believe He had my heart attack under control, that it was part of His plan. Sure, like a parent, He didn’t enjoy handing it to me…..but there was a reason for it. I can actually sit here today and thank Him for letting it happen. He knows why.

So I come across 1 Samuel 16 this week, where it shares (starting in verses 14-16) that “Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. 16Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.”

God has control of harmful spirits? Even though I’ve been in the church for most of my life, this seriously knocked me over. One thing that has really helped me fight these physical pains and smaller attacks that I sometimes get is listening to instrumental music. Kind of ironic that Saul ended being put at ease by David playing the harp for him? I also believe that God has a plan through all of this, and part of me is not obeying or listening to more of what God is saying.

This week I have started to wonder if maybe that’s why I am in the position I am in. I know God wants my attention, but is He really hurting me until He gets all of it? Like Saul, I know God is using me at the moment. But I guess that doesn’t mean He won’t use both the good and the bad for His glory in my life.

Thanks for decided to come over and read this, I’d be glad to hear your thoughts in the comments below – and discuss it with you. My prayer is that we are all chasing after the plans God has for us, through the best and worst moments in life. Thanks!!!

This weekend a pretty interesting article came out, stating that Apple is “done” (according to teenagers). Stating that their parents get the best Apple products and dish the older and less attractive Apple products to their teens. So what do teenagers do? Resort to colorful Windows products or for an Android tablet. At least that’s what the research shows.

CNET apparently believes that what is cool actually matters. I know quite a few teenagers who own Apple products that are actually joining some of the adults and building the technology world, not just playing with it. The site lists teenagers as “future adults”, hinting that Apple’s future is at stake because these people will continue to play the way they are. I used a PC when I was a teenager too, LOL. I happen to be an adult now, and decided to upgrade over the years

All this article does for me is reassures me that it’s true, there are technology nurseries and sandboxes out there where people who aren’t mature enough to build something with more than legos are still sucking on their pacifiers and building castles in the sand.

Wake up, CNET (and Microsoft). When life actually happens, people rely on Apple to accomplish things that move us forward. That pay the bills. Just because something is cool, doesn’t mean it’s attractive. When you have clients, want to put your creativity to use, or decide to graduate out of elementary, I guarantee Apple will be there waiting for you. Have fun drooling all over your bib, LOL.

P.S. This coming from an avid MacBook Air user who happens to have switched from iPhone to the Android-based Samsung Galaxy S3. It’s just “as cool” as the iPhone, believe me.