Heart Breaker // Heart Broken

Simple Question :: Are // Were you the one to Break Up or to be Broken Up With?

Me :: Every relationship but the last one…I was Broken Up With.
I never saw it coming. I mean, why would she want break up with me after I made out with her friend…

As you think about that…you can watch this…

Bonus Points for the WORST Break Up Story.

I’ll start :: The only Break Up I did…I did…on her Birthday!

dude.

Word Up to My Urban Bible

Last week I came across the newest version of an Urban Bible.

The concept is simple :: Biblical Truth in Contemporary Language.  I love and support the desire to get the Bible into as many hands as possible.

In fact, I’ve been honored to be a part of shaping and speaking into several different versions of the TNIV Bible.  Just this last week, Jeanne was a part of a Round Table Forum around how to help people engage with the Bible more.

All Good (as they say)…I just wonder if we haven’t swung the pendulum too far.

There’s currently 3,456,334,075 versions of the Bible. 40 years ago there were 3…

• The kind in church // hotels
• The kind they made people swear by in court
• The kind your parents hit you over the head with

Now, there’s a Bible for every Age, Stage, and Walk of Life.  Whatever you’re into…we’ve got a Bible for that.  While I can appreciate Jesus calling his disciples by asking “Yo, you down with my posse, or what?”,  or when he ascended to Heaven, saying, “Peace Out!”

I wonder if the millions and millions of dollars spent in research, and design and marketing couldn’t be redirected to get “basic // boring“ Bibles

• Into the hands of the MILLIONS of Christians that are a part of the Underground Church in China (a job easier said than done).
• Or into the hands of Pastors in the overflowing churches of Latin America.
• Or into the hands of young mothers to read to their sick children in the forgotten villages of Zambia.

I think, I might be “down” to “floss” a plain old boring bible knowing that the money NOT spent on me was being spent on them…the ones who really need another A Bible.

Peace Out, Homies (Luke 24:50-51 NUV)

Artificial Deadline…Real Consequence

Right now I am in the process of finishing my Second Book “Four Small Words“.  It’s the entire story of God in just Four Small Words.

I’m really excited about what the book is becoming.  Over the next few months I’ll be sharing segments of it with you to get feedback and input.

But before all that happens…I have to finish it!

So.  Here’s what I’ve done.  I’ve created an ARTIFICIAL DEADLINE for myself with a very REAL CONSEQUENCE.

I have till this Friday at Midnight to turn in the next Four Chapters.  If I don’t…this Blog goes dead till I do.

I am really loving what’s happening here.  I love how it’s forcing me to be creative.  I love how it’s fostering nu conversations, and nu voices…that’s why it has to be what I Wager.  As a Artist // Creative Type, I have to have a REAL CONSEQUENCE, or it will continue to float around in the ether never materializing on it’s own.

I’ll keep posting this week and will keep you updated as to my progress.  I’m excited by the challenge and am throwing up in my mouth thinking about what it will take to get it all done!

YOUR TURN :: What is something you’re working on that needs an Artificial Deadline // Real Consequence

The Melody of Words // The Happiness Project

We already know that there are more to our WORDS than just what we say.  There are multiple meanings, there is body language, there is what we say when we choose not to say anything.

AND, according to Charles Spearin (of Broken Social Scene) there is Melody.

Over the course of a few months, Spearin invited his neighbors over to his house to talk about “Happiness“.

He then took their words and found the most beautiful and surprising melodies.  He matched those melodies to music and created some of the most Unique, Layered, Intriguing, and Inspiring Music you have ever heard.

It’s called the Happiness Project.  And it’s amazing.

Even the Video that explains it all is amazing.  Be Inspired.

Charles Spearin – The Happiness Project

It’s Sabbath Saturday & Wayne Muller says it best…

It’s Sabbath Saturday.   ((this was written on Friday))

I am not here.

I am not Blogging.

I am not Twittering.

I am not Texting.

I am not on Email.

I am resting.

You probably should too.

See you on Sunday.

Until then…This…

…I make a plea for renewed Sabbath-keeping. As a nation, we cannot live like this, endlessly rushing about in a desperate frenzy, never stopping to enjoy the blessings of family and friends, unable to taste the fruits of life. We can change society by beginning a quiet revolution of change in ourselves and our families. Let us take a collective breath, rest, pray, meditate, walk, sing, eat and take time to share the unhurried company of those we love. Let us, for just one day, cease our desperate striving for more, and instead taste the blessings we have already been given, and give thanks.

- Wayne Muller, “Sabbath: Remembering the Sacred Rhythm of Rest and Delight”

The Winner of Funky Friday is…

This week proved the Greatest Voter Turnout Rate for Funky Friday since it began (3 weeks ago)!

After much Deliberation and much Debate (amongst myself), this Week’s WINNER is…

DAVID OSBORNE with SELF DESTRUCTION

It captures ALL that’s the best of the Golden Era of Hip Hop

• Some of the Greatest East Coast Rappers of all time (KRS, Kool Moe Dee, Chuck D, and a Big Daddy Kane cameo)
• Plenty of Africa Medallions
• Dope Beat (plus a sample that J Lo would later steal)
• Obligatory Malcolm X Mural
• And some completely unnecessary Beat Boxing by the great one – Doug E. Fresh

Well Done David. You came out SWINGING!

AND – The Coaches Award this week goes to Kyle Jackson for….this….

…uhhh….top that….?

Happy Funky Friday Everyone!  Great Suggestions.

Next week….Best Michael Jackson Song EVER and WHY!

My Web 2.0 Rock and Roll Fantasy

Last night Tripp Crosby and I got to catch CUT // COPY live in the ATL.  It was an incredible show.  Never have a seen four skinny white dudes from Melbourne hold a room down that well for that long!

What’s even more incredible is how I ended up at that show!

I first heard of CUT // COPY through a Tweet that I got from RCRDLBL

I liked what I heard so I went to Pandora and built a Station of their music.

I liked their music so much I went to Amazon’s MP3 store to get it.

It just happened to be one of their Friday $5 deals that day.

If it’s possible to wear out MP3’s, – I did.  So I checked out their MySpace Page to learn more about them.

I saw that they were coming to the ATL.  So I called my friend Tripp and we decided to check out their show.

Here’s what’s amazing to me…

• Not once did I watch a Video on MTV (Video’s are the things they show from 2:00a – 3:00a, after Rock of Love)
• Not once did I hear them on the Radio
• Not once did a Friend tell me to check them out

This whole journey was prompted and facilitated entirely through the Web….my new best friend.

YOUR TURN :: What have you discovered STRICTLY through the Web?  What Band, Show, Blog has FOUND you?

Why is Honda’s Awesomeness so Awesome?

As a member of the Honda Nation since 1993 I am proud of my people and their vision for this ad.

It is both BRILLIANT and BEAUTIFUL, and done entirely with Honda Headlights in real time.

I’ve Rocked the Following Honda’s throughout the years

• 19984 Accord (silver with burgundy cloth interior)
• 1988 Prelude (made the drive from Chicago to Cali and back to the Chi)
• 1996 Accord aka The Old 96′er (with a 6 disc changer in the trunk yo!) BTW – still rockin’ it!

I have a feeling I’m not the only one.

YOUR TURN :: Who Else is Rockin’ // has Rocked a Honda.  Why are they so awesomeness so awesome?

Funky Friday :: Best Old School Rap

Funky Friday is coming…this time with NEW & IMPROVED FOCUS

Your Mission :: Find the BEST OLD SCHOOL RAP JAM

Old School is anything PRE – 1995. (pre-Diddy, pre-Chingy, pre-Suck)

Drop the LINK in the comments.  I’ll vote.  And announce the WINNER on Friday Afternoon.

Still Confused?

Funky

Not Funky

YOUR TURN :: Drop Your Favorite Old School Jammy Jam!

City or Suburbs…Where You At?

Just wondering where you live :: City or Burbs.

We live in Buckhead (a neighborhood in North ATL).  We love it.  Trough the trees in our backyard, we can see all the big buildings in our neighborhood.  We have a heart to get even deeper into the city and raise our kids in as Urban a context as possible.

How ’bout you?  Where you at?

What do you LOVE // What do you HATE about it?

YOUR TURN :: Rep your Hood, YO!