Friday, December 16, 2011

Sermon on the Mount rap

This rap is dedicated to my sophomore S.O.T.M. class at IHOPU. You guys were seriously the bomb.org! I loved being in that class with all of you wonderful nightwatch-ers while we were tought this incredible piece of the Word on a weekly basis by our great teacher and awesome TA. Miss you guys tons!!

ps—thanks so much to Juliana, Ben, Nathan, and teacher Brandon for being in my "band"! You guys are so talented and I'm so blessed having gotten to perform with you. You certainly made me sound so much better when I made my rap performance debut in class!

Sermon on the Mount rap ("Living Low")
by: D-Train

Prayer Leader: And upon seeing the crowds, Yeshua walked up the hill. After he sat down, his disciples came to him, and began to speak. This is what he taught them:

Beatitudes
The Kingdom belongs to those who admit they need Me
And how blessed are those who mourn for I’ll comfort them surely
The earth is the inheritance of those who are meek
And I will fill those who for righteousness, they seek
So happy are the merciful, for they’ll be shown mercy
And those who are pure in heart will be sure to see Me
How joyful are those who make peace for they’ll be called God’s sons
And the Kingdom goes to the persecuted: the righteous ones
So rejoice when they insult and hate you cause you go My way
Your reward in heaven is great and it ain’t too far away

Salt & Light
How blessed are you for you’re the salt for the land
But if it’s tasteless, throw it out! It’s just useless and bland
Just like a town on a hill can’t hide, you’re to be My light
You don’t cover a lamp with a bowl, you just let it shine bright
In that same way, stand up and let your light so shine
So that they may see your deeds and praise your Father divine

Law
Don’t think I’ve come to abolish the Prophets or the Law
Rather I’ve come to complete it and bring it to pass without a flaw
Disregard these words and you’ll be less than just some
But heed and teach them and you’ll be greatest in the Kingdom
For unless your righteousness is greater than the Pharisees
You won’t enter the Kingdom, not even on your knees

Murder (Toxin #1)
You’ve heard, "don’t murder" or you’ll feel the judgement sting
But nursin’ anger ‘gainst your brother is the very same thing
It begins in your heart and grows even when you speak
So when you say, "you fool!" hell is just around the creek
And when you have issues with your brother, lots or just one
Come to terms with him quickly, lest you go to prison

Adultery (Toxin #2)
You’ve said, "don’t commit adultery," never take part
But even the smallest lustful look is like adultery in the heart
If your eye or hand make you sin, get em’ off your personnel
Better to lose part of you than for all to go to hell

Divorce (Toxin #3)
You say to divorce you need a certificate from the state
But I say what God has joined together, let no man separate
The only grounds for divorce are unfaithfulness in covenant
Yet despite Israel’s unfaithfulness, I won’t relent

Oaths (Toxin #4)
You’ve heard, "don’t break your oath" and "keep your vows great and small"
But I say you shouldn’t swear at all
Not by heaven or by earth or Jerusalem
These vague words mean nothing nor have might in them
Just let your "yes" be "yes" don’t add no extra fluff
Cause your character should prove as promise enough

Eye for an Eye (Toxin #5)
You’ve said, "an eye for an eye" and "revenge go and seek"
But don’t fight fire with fire, instead turn the other cheek
And if someone want’s your shirt, you should give your coat too
Go the extra mile and give to him who asks you

Enemies (Toxin #6)
You say, "love your neighbors—and hate your enemies"
But I tell you, love and pray for them down on your knees
Cause then you’ll be children of your Father divine
For on the good and the bad He makes the sun so shine
If you just love those who love you, what reward awaits you?
Or just friendly to your friends, don’t the wicked do that too?
But when you love those who hate you, your heart will change slowly
So be perfect, just as your Father in heaven be

CHORUS:
In eternity wanna be in the presence of the King?
Wanna stand with no regrets at the judgement seat?
Well if it’s higher and higher that you want to go,
Then all you’ve gotta do is start living low

Charitable Deeds (Secret Place #1)
Don’t parade your acts of giving with trumpets to win praise
For hypocrites give much but stay empty-hearted in their ways
But when you give of your money, make sure your heart is set
You could give a cardboard check, and it still be in secret

Prayer (Secret Place #2)
And don’t pray loudly on street corners just to be seen
Our God detects the softest prayer cause His hearing is keen
But when you pray, go to your room, close the door, and say His name
For it’s in the secret you’re transformed, and you’ll never be the same
When you hear pagans babble on and on don’t be like them
Cause He knows just what you need way before you ask Him

Lord’s Prayer
Prayer Leader: You, therefore, pray like this:
Our Father in heaven! May Your name be kept holy
Your name’s above every name—uncharted in majesty
May Your Kingdom come, may Your will be done
Bring Your government to earth and make our two world’s one
God we ask, give us the food that we need today
The kisses of Your word, O how sweet are they
Forgive us our sins and what we have done wrong
Just as we forgive they who wrong us all day long
Don’t lead us to testing; but guard us from the devil and then
Kingship, power, and glory are yours forever. Amen.

Forgiveness
So as you get your prayer life, others you can forgive
So that God can then forgive you and you can truly live

Fasting (Secret Place #3)
And when you fast, don’t look depressed like the hypocrites show
Who make sour faces when they fast just so people know
But when you fast, go groom yourself and wash your face
So that God can then reward you for your secret place

Treasures in Heaven (Money #1)
Don’t store up wealth in this age where moths and rust destroy
And burglars’ break in and steal all that brought you false joy
Instead, store up wealth in heaven and keep eternity in sight
For where your treasure is, there your heart will surely delight

Evil Eyes (Money #2)
The eye’s the lamp of the body, so don’t covet with your sight
You have a ‘good eye’ and you’re generous, then it’s full of light
But if you got ‘evil eyes’ and stingy in givin’ money out
Then how great is the darkness within and without

Two Masters (Money #3)
None can serve two masters; their homage will be reversed
In time they’ll scorn the second and be loyal to the first
For the love of money is the root of all evil and that is why
Before the rich could live a camel could pass through a needle’s eye
It’s for this reason that idol worship ain’t funny
You can't be a slave to both God and money

Worry
And don’t go worrying about tomorrow cause it won’t earn you a thing
Ain’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?
If He clothes the grass and feeds the birds, He can provide for you too
Throw your anxieties on Him, cause He cares for you
He knows your needs so seek the Kingdom and His righteousness
Chill out! He’s Jehovah Jireh and His burden is less

(CHORUS)

Judging
Don’t judge your brother or you’ll be judged just the same
And to the measure that you judge him, it’ll come back like fair game
How can you see a speck in his eye and not know the log in your eye?
You take care of you first, then go help that guy

Pearls to Pigs
Don’t throw your pearls to pigs or give to dogs what is holy
Cause they may trample them and then attack you completely

Ask, Seek, Knock
Keep askin’, seekin’, knockin’; in persistence go and plead
Just pound your knuckles on the door of heaven until they bleed
Don’t you evil ones give bread to your sons who ask for more?
Even so, the Father gives good gifts and He’ll open the door

Always treat others as you would like them to treat you
For how can you expect them to do that out of the blue?

Narrow Gate
Go in through the narrow gate and it’s sure to be tough
In fact, not many choose it voluntarily because it’s so rough
For the other gate is broad and death awaits all who go through
Hard’s the road to life, yet those who find it are few

False Prophets
Beware of false prophets; they come as wolves in sheep’s clothing
They preach a false Christ and deny the real one as King
But if you look at their fruit then you’ll be able to see
For a good fruit can never come from an evil tree

Foolish Virgins
Not everyone who names My name will enter eternity
Only those who know My Father and do His will accordingly
For on that day, many will come to Me and cry,
"Did we not do miracles, expel demons, and prophesy?"
Then I will tell them to their faces though it will hurt me to,
"Away from Me, you lawless ones, I never knew you"

House on Rock
Whoever hears My words and acts on them has a treasury stock
He’s like a sensible man who built his house on bedrock
The rain fell, the rivers rushed, the winds blew in frustration
But they couldn’t budge that house with its strong foundation
Yet he who hears My words but doesn’t heed My commands
He is like a stupid man who built his house on just sand
Then a great storm arose and turned his smile to a frown
And he watched as his house came crashing down

Prayer Leader: And when Yeshua had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at the way he taught, for he was not instructing them like their teachers of the law but as one who had authority himself.

(CHORUS)

Friday, October 21, 2011

1 Peter 4:7-11 rap

D-Train's latest rap: (each paragraph is a verse)

So as we draw near to the end of the age
Don’t think you can just sit back and disengage
He’s comin’ back soon, cause the end’s close at hand
So hey! Don’t go buildin’ your house down on the sand
Stay sober and alert; keep your wits about you
Even when you’re scorned, whipped, mocked, beaten, and lied to
It’s either black or white; there ain’t no gray
So keep your eyes wide open—better watch and pray

But above all things, even greater than before
Let your love abound, still more and more
Keep on lovin’ your neighbors, your fam, and your friends
Perfect love casts out fear, and hides a multitude of sins

Then in the midst of the comin’ disaster reality
Be kind to one another and offer hospitality
But do it out of love, don’t grumble or groan
He sees the small things you do, and He’ll make um’ known

Now all have gifts and talents that are different from each other
Yet you only have them so you can serve one another
Give out of your freedom with a smile on your face
So that you may be good stewards of His many-sided grace

Now when speakin’, let him speak the very words of the Lord
And let him serve with the strength not earned by a sword
So that God would get the glory through Yeshua and then
To Him be the glory and the power. Amen.

Please leave critiques and/or more creative title suggestions now.
Also—if you are a graphic designer/artist/good with pics, I need a logo with my rapper name (D-Train) if you feel so inclined and/or up to the challenge.


Friday, April 15, 2011

“I Just Can’t Wait To Meet The King!”

This is a parody of "I Just Can't Wait to Meet the King" from The Lion King. Except this time it's about forerunners preparing the earth for Jesus' second coming! You might want to listen to the real version first or while you read these lyrics, just to make sure the tune makes sense with the words.
Cause I mean, after all, He is a lion... and Simba did leave for a time and then come back...



KEY:
Simba's lines : John the Baptist—or just a forerunner student
Zazu's lines : Teacher
Chorus : Forerunner students & teachers


I'm gonna be a messenger, so Enemy beware!
I've never seen a generation quite like this before.
I'm gonna be a forerunner and hasten back the Lord.
I’m fasting now, I pray in tongues, I'm a warrior in prayer!
In this season to the Lord you must cling.
Oh, I just can't wait to meet the King!

When we sing the Word,
Inside my heart is stirred,
Lord use me, I cry,
Teach me to prophesy!
Gaze upon His beauty all day,
Go fourth and prepare the way!

As the river starts to run, your Bible is not a toy.
As His fire consumes my soul, no man can steal my joy!
If this is where the Spirit is, then this is where we’ll stay,
So eat the scroll and know His Word; you’ve got to watch and pray!
In just a little while the bells will ring,
Oh, I just can't wait to meet the King!

Everybody look left
Everybody look right
Everywhere you look His glory’s shining bright!
Now go!
Let every student see what is in store,
Don’t be content now, but contend for MORE!
Holy Spirit is not a one-time thing,
Oh, I just can't wait to meet the King!
Oh, we just can't wait to meet the King!
Oh, I just can't wait...
Just can't wait…
To meet the King!







Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Spiritual Violence rap (Matthew 11:12)

My first fully completed rap! Yay!

Verse 1:
So what’d you come out to see? And does it make sense?
A reed shaken by the wind or a man in soft garments?
A prophet? Yes, I say more than a prophet,
Behold, I send my messenger, and Satan can’t stop it.
For of those born of women there’s none greater you see,
But the least in the Kingdom is greater than he.
For all of the prophets prophesied until this man, John,
And if you’re willing to receive it, (he’s) the Elijah to come.
For as forerunners we have a mighty weapon,
It’s called gettin’ on our knees and makin’ intercession.
Together we cry out to the great I AM,
And in one voice we’re a corporate battering ram.
We the violent don’t rest, give the demons no peace,
We keep on runnin’ while we pray and don’t cease.
Puttin’ on the armor of God, we’re makin’ war on sin,
We be shutin’ doors that no man can open.

Chorus:
From the days of John the Baptist until now,
The Kingdom suffers violence and this is how:
Take the sword of the Spirit into battle and cry,
We be makin’ intercession ‘til He splits the sky.

Verse 2:
Being filled with Holy Spirit even from birth,
John was one of the happiest men walkin’ the earth.
After much prayer and fasting one can assume,
The only title he wanted was "Friend of the Bridegroom."
Comin’ out from the desert, he had a message to preach,
And sayin’ he was radical ain't a figure of speech.
While preparin’ the way, he called all men to rejoice,
John wasn’t just an echo, he was a voice.
While sent to bear witness to the light within,
He ate all the locusts and wore camel skin.
So different from all others livin’ in that day,
John’s source of joy came another way.
He came cryin’ out from the desert place,
"Prepare the way of the Lord" and seek His face.
Throughout his ministry, God’s drum he came drummin’,
People get ready, Jesus is comin’!

(Chorus)

Verse 3:

Jesus said we should pray and not lose heart,
Fightin’ distraction and fatigue, now that’s the hard part.
So we keep prayin’ in tongues, callin’ on that reservoir,
It’s speakin’ mysteries, but it’s not that bizarre.
So as we draw near to the end of the age,
God’s raisin’ up His prayer rooms, He’s settin’ the stage.
He’s got the whole thing planned, so have no fear,
He who has ears, let him hear!
As burning and shinning lamps in our generation,
We keep on contendin’ for revival in our nation.
We try to flee all sin, keep our bodies full of light,
In other words, livin’ now is truly a fight.
Though others might consider how we live an obscurity,
We’re called to pursue lives of holiness and purity.
While radically confrontin’ all that this world can scream,
We forerunners might as well be swimmin’ upstream.

(Chorus—2x)

Whattya think??

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Flooding Waters

O how I love the sound of rain… to sit in a house with thin walls and listen to beads of water beat up against the windowpanes and walls of wood that separate me from the world. United with raging wind and pounding thunder, the sound of rain makes heart untroubled in peace. An oxymoron? By no means. Somewhere in the midst of the virulent storm I take a deep breath and everything troubling my mind seems to fade away.

What did Noah think of rain? As he sat in the ark and heard crashing waves for the first time, did he enjoy the thudding waters and claps of thunder although he had no language for it? Did he meditate on the peace of God? Did he watch in awe as rips of lighting raced across the sky? Did he feel his heart beating in his throat as the turbulent rapids struck against the boat, knowing all former life was now being stripped away? Did it make him forget the scoffing voices that were by then drowning in oceans which never before existed?

Rain breaks up the trepidation which once separated one from God. It consumes the insecurity that crept in unnoticed, leaving a vacant lot in your heart that only He can fill. It shatters the façade of deception which the soul has built since the last time the clouds burst. It causes one to let go.

Rain causes one to hope. I believe it’s the only act in nature that truly reflects the emotions and power of God. He weeps over the oppression of His people, so He sends healing rain. He changes the atmosphere. And oh what a day it will be when rain falls upon America again…


Then after the downpour has ceased and the morning rises, it’s suddenly spring. The ground is moist with dew and I take what will probably be the deepest breath for a long time. Silence meets serenity and for a moment I can breathe. I listen again. Birds. O how I love the sound of birds singing in the morning…
 


Monday, January 24, 2011

Type A Disgusting Splatter

I cleaned my microwave today. Eww. Grunge work of the third degree.

As I was scrubbing I began pondering all the gore and atrocity involved in cleaning the kitchen and decided to voice my indispensable opinions concerning the three levels of what I like to call "Kitchgrimes," commonly known as kitchen cleaning jobs. In this post I hope to clarify myths and truths of kitchen grunge work and de-mystify the practice of Kitchgrimes to which we all are subject to in our daily lives.

First, if I may, I will bring to light the three degrees of Kitchgrimes. Both obscene and distasteful in nature, yet inevitably true. In order to fully conquer your kitchen, you must first gain knowledge of the three areas in which you are most likely to lose your sanity while making spotless your area for food preparation. They come in waves, or as stated more easily, types. Which can be recognized with numbers or letters. We shall illustrate using the latter.

Type C: The Floor. Aside of sweeping and moping the revolting tiles, one must also remember to cleanse the zone just below the cabinets. Inhabiting the area are scraps of raw noodles and ice cubes fallen from the fridge mixed with wads of dust and whatever bugs the Raid didn’t kill by the sink. Ugh. The boredom involved in watching paint dry would be more bearable than even this.


Type B: The Dishes. The heart of this Kitchgrime lies in the purging of all leftover food particles and condiments off of the family’s favorite mugs and dishware. Smudges of mustard and half-eaten fries fuse in a swirl as they are sucked down the garbage disposal never to be seen (or heard of) again. That is, of course, unless a spoon gets in the mix and later calls on your talents as a plumber to retrieve the long lost and nearly departed silverware. Grotesque, to say the least.

Type A: The Microwave. At last we reach my original task. As I gaze at the spots made by exploded spaghetti sauce, gobs of melted cheese, and egg batter slime, my stomach begins doing pirouettes. Yuck. I would rather eat Spam.
I wish there were some other nasty noise I could portray with words that I haven’t already used to paint a picture of the emotions one feels while cleaning the kitchen and experiencing these things which I have described. But alas, other than mimicking the sound of throwing up, (which I am not going to even attempt with letters) I have none. I suppose I’ll leave that to you. If you have anything to add to the gore involved in the cleaning of one’s kitchen, please let me know.

Happy Kitchgrimeing!