How Is His Death A Bigger Deal?

I turned on my iMac this morning, opened up Safari, and was "welcomed" to this picture of former CEO and Chairman of Apple, Steve Jobs. I had heard last night about his death and eerily enough, I was talking about to a friend of mine just a few hours before about how he was going to become an "Apple believer" from his Blackberry.

So, as the researcher I am, I wanted to know what REALLY made Steve Jobs tick. What did he bring to the world that made it a better place to live? I went to CNN and read the article. I then went to Fortune to read the 10 ways in which he changed the world and I stopped.  Immediately I said to myself, "Wow, Steve Jobs is heralded at changing the world with a device that doesn't bring anyone closer to knowing God than the invention of sliced bread."

Okay, let me say this. For the record, please understand that I'm not intending to desecrate, demean, desensitize, or downplay what Steve Jobs did or who he was and is as a man.  I agree with the general consensus that he created the greatest product of our time - hands down.

Lemme paint this picture: Suppose three men were in plane that was going to crash into a mountain and there was only two parachutes. One of the men (we'll call him "Bill") was a brilliant scientist - a doctor - on the verge of discovering a cure for cancer. The other man (we'll call him "Ed") was a construction worker with a wife and three children.  The last man (we'll call him "Phil") was retired.  All three men know that there is only two parachutes. Bill says, "I really need to get off this plane. I'm so close in my research to saving the world. I should get a chute." Ed says, "I have a family at home waiting for me. I know my wife wouldn't want me to die. I love my children dearly. My oldest is going to graduate high school and got accepted to an ivy league school on full scholarship. I need to get home to them." Both Bill and Ed look at Phil and Phil says, "You know what? I'm going to give you two the chutes because I lived my life like I should've and I see that you two have much to live for and I want the best for the both of you. So you two take the chutes."

And so the Bill and Ed jump off the plane with the parachutes and watch the plane smash into the sea. They're rescued and true to form, Bill finds the cure to cancer and Ed grows old with his family.

However, the question remains, who was the greatest of the three men? The one who found the cure for cancer? The one who grew old with his family? Or the man who sacrificed himself for both of them to accomplish what they believed they were called to?

That's what Jesus did for Steve Jobs. However, we are focused on the man who was the creator of the innovation rather than on the Creator who created the man with the innovation that He intended for the world in the first place.

My condolences go out to the Jobs family at this time. Death isn't an easy thing and mourning is a part of life. I am praying for them during this time and I do hope that everyone else is.

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories: change , Christian , death , innovation , inspiration

Edits..Who Needs 'Em?

Wow, it's been a lil bit since I've actually posted anything here, but today I felt like I wanted and needed to.  There's been a lot going on lately both professionally and personally, but needless to say, I've come to really admire my blog as my own "private" space even though it's open to the world...

...if that makes any sense...lol

Last night I was talking to a friend of mine who is a songwriter who brought me into his creative process for songwriting. While he wasn't writing a song, he was formulating a business idea.  He told me that he gets his whole idea down first and then edits it.  He made me realize that that's the way I write these blogs, except I don't edit these. I simply sit and type what's on my heart - straight, no chaser.

I have come to realize that when we edit, we can oftentimes slowly chip away the essence of what it is we're trying and believe we want to say. Perhaps the best creative work comes from unedited, unadulterated, genuine, and pure feelings and thoughts.  Maybe it's us again downgrading them to a point where they fit into a box that becomes exclusive and not inclusive.

Perhaps that's why Jesus was such a profound individual. He took what I call "pure information" (i.e inspired by what he saw God do) and delivered it. Again, straight no chaser.  He didn't try to figure it out, process it, analyze it, rehearse it, get together with a committee and vote - he just took the information and went. 

Wow, what would happen if we did that...?

Categories: inspiration , life , motivation

Put It Down

So, I'm in the gym at 6am today (yeah, a brother is going in with it fa real nowadays), and there is something that I've been thinking about for a few days already since I've been coming.  It had to deal with weights.

I realize that no one in the gym PLACES weights on me.  I make the conscious decision to PICK THEM UP...

...sometimes I think that the very weight - issues, challenges, situations, and circumstances - are weights that we put on ourselves and/or allow ourselves to deal with because we haven't made the decision not to pick them up.  I know for me, with the weights that I have picked up that I then made myself to believe were put on me, there was a point sometime in the process where I could have decided that I didn't, wouldn't, and can't accept the weight.  I just didn't make the decision, so therefore the weight that I chose not to deal with became a burden.  It left me resentful, confused, hurt, perplexed, angry, ashamed, and disgusted with me - all ingredients that lead to, at least for me, a dark depression.

Funny thing is, I know that I'm not the only one...

...so I decided that I'm not picking up the weight anymore. Don't get it twisted: Weight is not the same as "responsibility".  Weight is clearly that thing you dealing with that you allow to "rent space" in your mind.  The very thing that you struggle with all because you won't say "NO!" to it.  The very thing that leaves you feeling alone, miserable, and angry at God because you feel like He Himself has put it on you...

...I'm done with that...

...and you can be too...

...just as you made the decision to pick up the weight, now you need to make another decision which can be challenging and difficult, but can be done...

...put it down... 

Categories: change , Christian , encourage , inspiration , life

ABC...easy as 123

 

I woke up with this song in my head this morning.  I dunno if it was a combination on hearing it on DJ Hero (by the way, shout out to my nephew Adrian for beating my tail real good last night in 6 rounds of DJ Hero 2...don't matter, I'm still nice...lol) or because I normally wake up every morning with a song on my heart and in my head.

In any event, as I kept replaying the song in my head, I recited the lyrics. Now I know we've all heard the song before, but sometimes, we're so caught up in a song that we forget what makes it - the lyrics.  Check out the hook to the song:

ABC/It's easy as 123/As simple as "Do Re Mi"/ABC/123, baby you and me girl

"ABC" to me is like life: A pattern of events that at some point get us to a destination.  Like all patterns, they are not hard, but require organization, discipline, and most of all, obedience to the pattern.  Life gets real difficult when we don't follow the pattern.  The pattern is there for us to make our lives simpler.

These boys obviously knew what they were singing, but perhaps may not have known the depth of truth in which they were singing it.

ABC is easy as 123, as simple as "Do Re Mi", ABC, 123... 

Categories: change , inspiration , life , motivation

It Takes Time

Well, HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! i would be wrong if I didn't say that.  For some of us, it's like the clouds are separating and revealing the rays of sunshine. Yep, the new year is upon us and now it's time to get it the way we've been talking like we were going to the last two days of 2010.

Yeah, I know, some folk won't find that statement to be cool, but, as always, I said it.  I make no apologies for it.

Why would I say something like that? Well, it's simple. While the new year is upon us, it's very important that we look at this for what it is: TRULY a new beginning. One of the things I've learned about new beginnings is that they take time to plan, but don't get it twisted: Planning doesn't take a long period of time, but it does take time.

So check this out: Even if you DIDN'T talk like you were going to do great things the last two days of 2010, you can plan to do great things TODAY, RIGHT NOW! The beautiful thing about planning is that as long as it's done and can be executed, it can happen at any time.  Just because you weren't quick to make the plan before the clock struck 12 last night doesn't mean that you're disqualified or can't win the race.

The difference between a quitter and a winner is that the quitter can never win and the winner never quits...

So I encourage you today, on this first day of the new year, that if you haven't already had your "great planning session" the last two days of 2010 for 2011, get it in and plan right now.  It's never too late.

Categories: beginning , change , inspiration , life , new

Just Can't Let Go...

I think the title of this blog is quite fitting, seeing that we're mere hours away from the end of 2010.  I must admit that I'm leaving this year with many mixed emotions: happy, excited, a bit of sorrow, feeling like I'm missing something, peace, resentment - yeah, many mixed emotions.

I'm being very transparent. Some folks will read that and bug out, but those that know me know how I am. I think A LOT and very few emotions actually plant themselves in me to the point where they actually have some significant weight.

So, here I sit, thinking of all the NUMEROUS and VARIOUS things that happened in my life and in the lives of my close friends and other loves ones this year. Yeah, I can honestly say that it's been a roller coaster ride, much of which is due to many of us wanting to go back on and ride again while a few of us were trying to desperately look for the STOP button!

Why does it seem like I just can't let go of 2010 yet? Is it because it's still technically here or because I still feel like there are some things that haven't been resolved or maybe still because it was such a pivotal time in my life spiritually, emotionally, physically, and mentally?  Perhaps it's all three and if it is, that's cool with me because at the end of the day (well, in this case, at the end of the year), it's all going to be defined in a mere three words...

...in the past...

Categories: 2011 , change , Christian , growth , inspiration , life

The 21 Day Twitterless Campaign [Video]

Okay, here's my first VIDEO BLOG using my Christmas gift - my Bloggie! Check out what we're doing over at FNFLive that we would love for YOU to be a part of. So watch the video and see how you can be down with us!

You can check out my partner's blog, Jblaze about The 21 Day Twitterless Campaign

Categories: Christian , inspiration , life , Twitter

The View Up Here

Wow, one more day until the end of the year is upon us.  Everything will change in 36 hours. A new month, a new day, and of course, a new year.

As I believe EVERYONE has been looking over this year, I also believe (well, I'd like to believe...I can only speak for me I guess) that there is a whole lot of self-evaluating and reflection of the year going on.  I know I've been looking at what happened, what didn't happen, what should've happened, what could've happened, what I'm GLAD DIDN'T HAPPEN.  There's a whole lot that I been looking at.

But then I realized something.  I realized where I was looking at all of this from and I realized that the view up here, on top, allows me to see everything below.  There's no way that I could truly see all of this from being in the midst of it. 

I also noticed that the view up here is definitely much more easier to see the direction in which I need to go in. The air is clearer, the light is brighter, and most of all, there is a peace that comes from knowing that I have the ability to move forward.

Yeah, the view up here is definitely that much more beautiful and I'm loving the fact that a new month, a new day, a new year just got that much more clearer.

Categories: Christian , inspiration , life

The Art of Irony

So today as I'm updating our site, FNFLive.com, I came across a tweet concerning JaRule being convicted and sentenced to 2 years in jail for a gun charge in 2007.  Most folks would have sat and thought, "Man, that's typical", but my first thought was like, "Man, this is just straight up terrible."

If you check out our site, you'll see that we posted a story on the new movie called I'm In Love With A Church Girl starring JaRule and Adrienne Bailon. The movie, considered what Hollywood calls "faith based" depicts JaRule as a man who was caught up on the wrong side of the law but now wants to live a changed life. His past tries to keep him locked down, but he meets someone who shows him that there is a better way as he comes to grips with his own soul salvation.

That's the funny thing about change: You can say you've changed. You can even fake that you've changed. However, the world will know if you've really changed on the inside.

Now if Ja could just grab the lesson of the very character he depicted and apply it to his own life, he may not have had to do 2 years for gun possession. Ah, the art of irony, indeed...

Categories: change , Christian , inspiration , life , music

"So Drebooge, What Is Your Take On The State of Holy Hip Hop?"

*getting on my soapbox, tapping the mic, and clearing my throat*

Okay, this blog is straight up HOT off the press. I really can't say what sparked it, but just know that it comes from seeing one of our own getting what I call played during an interview.

Look, I've been involved in the Christian music industry for close to 2 decades. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, but I think I have heard the question concerning the state of holy-hip-hop several HUNDRED times being posed to hundreds of Christian rappers.  The problem with this question is that it oftentimes puts the interviewee in the hot seat of trying to defend the whole genre when at the end of the day, the genre in and of itself is one that really lacks creativity, pure unity, and a sincere push to demonstrate who God really is.  

Yeah, I said it...

Most don't want to hear something like that. But then again, this is my blog and I do have the right to express myself.

No disrespect to the brethren who are involved in it. However, I know that when I've spoken to quite a few CHH artists (and some of you may even have their records in your iPod), their major issue is that it's those factors that don't allow for the genre to move forward because it's so segmented and divided.

Please, all radio DJs, stop asking the question to CHH artists. You setting them up to be the spokesperson of a whole genre that they are only a PART of and that's not fair.  Please, all CHH artists who REALLY feel that the genre is full of issues, don't give a PC (politically correct) and make it seem like all is well when it really isn't.  As brethren, let's get together and deal with the issues and aughts so that we can move forward in the true power of God.

*getting off my soapbox and walking out*

Check out what my partner, Jblaze305 has to say on the subject...

Categories: Christian , inspiration , music

Putting It All Together

So, once again, here I am working late and once again, the ideas flow. I think that what I'm learning to do is really just be who I am in the moment and allow what's in me to come together and not force it.

Today, after a nice talk with one of the members on our team, I realized that the beauty of doing something great is actually the work involved in putting it together.  I was reminded of great painters like Leonardo Da Vinci, Monet, Manet, Picasso, etc. and how they put together paintings.  I'm sure that they were full of ideas and allowed those ideas to flourish to the point and place where they put them together to create the masterpieces that they are considered today. 

Putting it all together takes not only ideas, but the diligence to see those ideas in your head come to life.  At some point, we cannot simply continue to let things be as they were and are, but we must give them space outside of our minds to flourish and allow others to experience.  It's a mandate. It's our purpose. And above all, it's what truly keeps us alive.

Categories: inspiration , organization , truth , work

A SoapBox Moment...

*getting on my soapbox and tapping the mic*

Ok, today I have a slight peeve. I get music all the time and today I received music from a notable musician.  While I WAS expecting to hear something different and unique, I was totally shocked at what I heard.  While this musician isn't the greatest singer, I have heard him sing before.  On the album I received, it sounded like he was hurt. The music was SO out there that I felt like a stranger to it and just wasn't able to really enjoy it at all.

Again, this is from a musician that I truly esteem for his talent and ability to think out the box.  What I heard was straight sloppy. Why you gotta be like that though? I've heard what you've done in the past and it has been nothing short of excellent.  This sounds so much like "leftovers". I'm feeling somewhat violated.

Yeah, I know. Harsh words, but I don't know how else to describe it.  I think I'm doing the musician a better service because I'm not mentioning who they are.

I say all this to bring out a principle: Sometimes we strive to be so different that we look weird. Quite honestly, there's nothing more aggravating for any of us to feel like what we're seeing, hearing, feeling, and/or thinking doesn't relate to us in any way.  We consider something weird for that reason - it doesn't relate to us in particular.

Music in my opinion is a preference but I do know when someone is doing something so different that it's not them.  Please don't use me (or my money) as your guinea pig to see if I like your "new sound". You're moving out of your lane and it becomes evident when you lose people.


Thank you.

*getting off the soapbox and walking out*

Categories: inspiration , music , work

Late Night Working

Wow. It's 12:30am and I'm still working.  Let me tell you, some of my best work comes out at this hour and some of my best work comes with just the quietness of my house, save my music that I'm plugged into. Honestly, I find that being plugged into a source of inspiration is what produces excellence.  Look at that principle: When we are plugged into the right source, THE source, we find that what we produce totally looks like the source we are plugged into. The Source reproduces after itself with such precision that what it produces looks EXACTLY like it. There's no denying that it. I think that's what makes the work worthwhile because you know you're producing something so special when your inspiration is just, if not more, special.

Wow, I love working late...

Categories: excellence , inspiration , work