Half

Man, this place is dusty. . . looks like it hasn't been used in a minute. 

I want half. Right now there are just too many of them, duplicating and re-duplicating the work of others. A lot of times, they're doing it right across the street from each other.

Of course, I'm talking about churches.

I love (read: hate) when you come to an intersection in a town and as you sit there, there are 4 churches in eyesight. Probably 3 right there at that corner! How did we get so many churches crammed into such a small area?

Yes, yes, I know. It's because of disputes of theology, doctrine, blah blah blah. Look, I don't care. Get over it. Is the filoque really what's keeping you apart? Salvation at baptism or before it (or after)? If so, get over yourself. Sheese.

Here's why I want half the number of churches.

1. Unity. Showing the world that we're not a bunch of children arguing about where a comma should be placed, but a body of Christ followers devoted to loving and serving the world just like Jesus taught us and prayed for before he was hung on a cross. Are you a Methodist or a Christian? Are you a Catholic or a Christian? Are you stupid or are you a Christian? Get it?

2. Money. It makes the world go round (and some say the mo you have, the mo problems). What if two churches decided to join up and close the other facility. Bango bongo. You just got double the funds. That youth pastor you wanted to hire, congrats! You now have the money for it. Or maybe you wanted a small groups leader, or an outreach pastor, or any number of staff positions. You got it! But as it is now, you got First Church of the Lame trying to "win" more townsfolk than Second Church of the Lame. All the while they're destroying themselves from the inside.

3. Love. Love, baby. Lovey dovey. How will the world know we follow Christ, if we love each other. The Man said it himself. So why don't we do it?

So, I know I'm being sort of curt (not Russel). And I know I'm being way too naive about how much some doctrine matters. But a boy can dream, can't he? Maybe it won't ever happen. But as someone smarter than me once said, the journey is the destination.

Rev.

SFC - Phase III

Wow. I'm only on CD number 2 and man, have I found a good one. A special shout out to Naterob for getting me hip to these guys.

If you know me, you know I like my rap underground and old school. None of this ring tone rap that they have out now (definition: ring tone rap - rap who's music quality is equal to what you would find defaulted on your cell phone). The first hip hop that I can remember truly liking was A Tribe Called Quest. Smooth lyrics, jazzy beats, all mixed together to form something that you could jam to while cruising the boulevard.

Would you, in your lifetime, think that you would find something Christian that is on par with Public Enemy or Eric B & Rakim? Probably not. I most certainly didn't.

Bring on SFC's album, Phase III.

SFC stands for "Soldiers for Christ" apparently (finding any information about these guys is tough). This piece of awesome came out in 1993 and as far as I could find, this is their only record. What happened to them after this is a mystery to me. So the only thing I have go off of is the record itself.

Have a listen:



If you recall, I was looking for some Christian music that I could jam to in my car and not feel weird or chumpy. Also, I want good music. Not music that is "good for being Christian music".

I think SFC fits the bill and then some.

Some people might flinch at the following song because it uses the N word. And rightly so. It's a word that is degrading and inherently wrong. When white racists use it, they're telling black people that they're lesser people. When black people use it, it's promulgating the ghetto mentality that being ignorant and "gangsta" is something to be proud of. Both are demeaning and bring people down.



Oh, and not to mention, it's a great song. Beat is awesome. I love how they switch beats when they switch subjects.

So that's a taste of SFC. If you like, I highly recommend seeking out the whole album. There's an instrumental track with their DJ, DJ Dove, breaking it down proper old school style. I love it.

Kickin' it old school,

Rev.