I couldn't leave this alone...

Really, I know I should probably back off from this subject but I can't help it. I love Gospel Rap, and I hate when ignorant people say that it can't be used. Here's my thing. You say it's demonic. You say it's no good. You figure since it's rap, they're automatically doing the same thing all the other "big named" rappers are doing. So when we dance in church, automatically, we're of the devil. Automatically we're in the clubs having an orgy with our clothes on because dancing is in the church. We sing in the church, so automatically we're talking about sex. Automatically we're cussing and drinking and having sex outside of marriages. That's what other singers do, so obviously singers that do it for God are doing the same thing. (Granted, some are, but that's not the point of this.)

The same people that say you don't have to stop dancing when you get saved, you just changed partners...say that you can't rap in church. It is written, "Use your gift to the glory of God." So what you saying is, when a person that raps gets saved and full with the holy ghost, they can't use they're gift of rap? But when somebody is a singer and they get saved, automatically, we want them to put out a Gospel album. I can't count how many times I've heard people say, "Jennifer Hudson needs to do Gospel." Automatically we want the best singers to do Gospel. I said in a past blog that salvation is an inside job. It's not the music that's bad people. It's the inside of the person that's doing the music. If the person is of the devil then the music is going to be...hello?

Ok, so you listen to rap when you weren't saved, now that you are saved, you say, "I can't listen to rap anymore." Well bless your heart. I'm not going to fault you for that. But let me say this, just because it didn't reach you, don't mean that it can't be reached to reach other people. (Preach Daniel!) When I was in high school, I had friends that listened to hip-hop that couldn't stand rock. I also had friends that listen to rock that couldn't stand hip-hop. So people are not going to like what you like. You may like the Canton Spirituals. I for one wouldn't pay a penny to hear them. But that's just me. The Canton Spirituals is obviously not meant to reach a person like me, but that doesn't mean they can't and haven't reached other people.

I heard somebody say that he doesn't like Tye Tribbett because he jumps around on stage like the secular artists do. So we can dance in the church because we "changed partners." We can sing in the church because we "changed partners." But how dare you have fun on church and get the crowd into it because the world does that. Uh...excuse me. The world dances and sings. Gotcha biscut as my little sister would say.

Come on people think. That's all I'm saying think. Wisdom is a heck of a thing if you use it. Every Gospel is not meant to reach you! Just because it's not reaching you doesn't mean it's of the devil!! I couldn't stand country in the world, so why would I listen to Gospel country? It's not meant to reach me. It's not for me, but that doesn't mean that somebody that's into country that's not saved, can't get saved by Gospel country. Y'all don't hear me...

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

Genius question of the year plus other randomness

So here I am about to go to sleep, to take a nap if you will, and I realized that I forgot to turn my cell phone on when I woke up earlier. I turned it off in the first place because I didn't want to be bothered with text messages and other stuff. Sure enough when I turned the cell phone on and was about to go to sleep, I heard the ring tone telling me a got a text message. Here's what it said, "Why do christian rappers sell albums? Why [do] they charge for the message God has given them? Churches dont charge the service. Why should christain rappers do so?" First of all, I think text messages need the value of a spell check. Second of all, what? "Why do Christians rappers sell albums?" To make money, genius, like all artist. It takes money to go to Africa to witness. It takes money to pay for this little thing called gas? Ever heard of it? It's used to fill cars. "Why [do] they charge for the message God has given them?" I don't think this is a fair question. Again, it takes money to do things. Bottom line. Yes God can make a way out of no way. Yes, God is all we need. But God didn't make us to be lazy. Look at it this way. Let's say God called me to be a playwright. It takes money to pay for actors, band, the set, etc. Even though there's a message in the play, it would be foolish and stupid for me to put on a play and not charge money to see it. If the actors don't get paid, they're not going to stay on tour. Bottom line sir. Music is a business. Gospel/Christian or secular. It's a business. If the music does not make money, the record company doesn't make money. And if the record company doesn't make money, do you think they're going to keep the artist on the label? Heck no. "Churches dont charge the service. Why should christain rappers do so?" Like I said, music is a business. Comparing hearing a message off music your bought and going to church to hear the message is non comparable in my opinion. You do go to church, or you should go to church to hear a Word from God. And I guess you do buy Christian music to hear a Word from God. Churches don't and in my opinion shouldn't charge for services. Remember church is not the building, church is the saints. We use the building to come together to praise and worship God. Ok. So why would you charge money to come together with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to fellowship? Just wouldn't make sense. Now, why do christian rappers do so? To make money. Now is that what it should be all about? No. It is about reaching souls. It is about leading people to Christ. But I think that buying music from Christian artists should be looked at as investing in ministry. I said before, it takes money to go to other countries and witness. It takes money to pay for gas to drive across the country to witness. It takes money to buy equipment used to record the music.

Anyway, Happy Memorial Day!! Once again got the iPod going ready to go. As I'm typing Dad got the ribs in the oven because it's wet outside. Later I'm going to making the baked macaroni-n-cheese. To keep it healthy, we'll having a salad along with everything else. Dad and my little sister are having deviled eggs. I'm not because I don't eat eggs from hell. Also, I don't like boiled eggs at all.

The NBA Playoffs are still going strong. Personally I think the games would be so much better if the games were officiated more consistently. The referees have been "straight garbage" to quote Stephen A. Smith. It has to make it hard for the players to play like they want to because it seems like the refs don't know what a flagrant is or isn't. Either way, as I'm typing this, Orlando is up 2-1 in their series, and Lakers are up 2-1 in their series. My opinion, the Nuggets need to keep Kenyon away from any offensive play. He's a jinx on offense. He's a great defensive player, and that's a given. But on offense, he's a screw up, and if the Nuggets lose the series, I'll put most of the blame on him. On to the other team, Kobe is overrated. Yes I said it. Now as far as the other series. Lebron is doing his thing, but his teammates need to step it up. James can't do it by himself. Magic is taking advantage of that. That's why Magic is up 2-1 right now in my opinion.

Illinois, Big Dusty is coming!! That's right! My sister and I are heading to Illinois for a couple of weeks to visit moms up there. This will be my first time on a plane since I was little. Am I scared? Pshhh...you better believe it, but my sister says it will be ok. Now I'm a little skeptical also because I'm on the plus side of things when it comes to weight. BTW, if you hate fat people, you hate America. Right now, fat is as Americana as bad Will Ferrel movies. But anyway, yeah I'm worried that my weight will be an issue, but my sister assures me that it won't. Mom says it won't be an issue either. I'm definitely going to need some prayer and supplements.

Those ribs are smelling good right now, I'm not going to lie. I'm going to tear them up!!

I've been more consistent on working on my the story I'm writing. I still don't have a title for it, but I believe it'll come to me sooner or later.

So, y'all have a good day today. Hope y'all eat good and well. I know I will. Y'all be good now, ya hear.

Stay saved,

Daniel aka Big d

Lecrae: Rebel...thumbs up, thumbs down?

2 thumbs way way......UP! This CD is one of the most increbible Rap CD's I've heard in a good while. From song 1 to song 15, just straight up crazy. Is it a must buy, in my humble opinion, yes. Musically, I loved it. Originality is something I look for, especially in Christian music. A lot of Christian rappers think they have to use secular beats to get sales and to get people to listen. I disagree sir. I've always said and always believed that Christian rappers can and should use oringinal beats. If you need a producer, http://www.myspace.com/speedygunz11. Great producer, and he's Christian. Speedy if you're reading, you're welcome. Anyway, back to Rebel, what a CD this was. I already talked about it muscially, now message wise, it was great also. The song Idenity comes to mind. All in all it was a great listen and the messages were inspiring. If you're a Gospel rap fan, heck if you're a rap fan in general, I highly recommend this CD.

This is just my opinion, so if you buy this CD and disagree with all I said...to each his own. Look foward to your comments. If you already have the CD, please share your opinion. Until next time, have a good one.

~Daniel aka Big d