Answered Prayer (and me not recognizing it).

What’s good people? This blog will be a lil different partly because it’ll be in two parts. The second will be released next week and we will touch on a few different things in it, so let’s dive into it!

Last week my discipler went out into the hood with me to share Christ. This was his first real experience with the ghetto and it was one that we will never forget! Now, this was a profound thing on a number of levels, 1.) my disciple is white! And he’s not just a regular white person he’s as white as it gets! Suburban, proper, man he’s just white! 2.) I have been praying that people (specifically whites as I am in a predominantly white church) would be given the heart and desire to want to understand the hood and to share the love of Christ in the hood.

Well, we hit the block for about 2 1/2 or 3 hours by foot in one of the worst neighborhoods in the city. And my discipler was astounded by the condition of the houses, the cars, the people just loitering and doing nothing. And he asked me if the way things were, (in disarray) were normal. And I answered him yes, in the hood this is normal. For one who lives in a wealthy neighborhood this was humbling and a shocker.

During our time out we had numerous conversations with people that showed him a world he never saw before. One dude we were talking to looked at my discipler as I was talking to him and said to him, “what you smiling at? You happy or something? Is something funny?” And honestly ya’ll I thought he was going to pop off on him, I told him that he was cool he wasn’t the police or anything he was my peoples. Real quick my discipler got to see the hate and tension in the hood towards whites.

Another convo we had with this character was something that’s normal for me, but not for my discipler. The guy kept telling me how I was brain washed by the white man and how Jesus wasn’t my God but the white man’s god. And that we were lost and how sorry he felt for us. And he went into further detail smashing the “white man” in front of my discipler who didn’t take offense. He was cursing him and saying all kinds of racist remarks towards him and my discipler did something that blessed me. He asked the character to help him understand why he felt that way. That was humbling and it was a sign that he cared. Something that is not common from whites in the hood.

Now, I wasn’t glad that he got cursed out or was the target of racist comments but I was glad that he got to experience all of these things. He got to get a better understanding of the hood and this has changed him. You see there is a underlying racism in my city (and America), blacks feel as if the “white man” is out to get them and he owes them something for 400 years of slavery. Whereas whites feel as if blacks are inferior to them and they are lazy and need to get up off of their lazy butts and work and get off the system. I have heard more than one (white) Christian (even a leader!) makes statements about people with food stamps or ones who are on welfare or receive medicaid.

Some remarks were made right in front of me and me feeling ashamed of my circumstance (I do receive food stamps and am no longer ashamed of it!) I didn’t say anything but it offended me. That was nothing but arrogance for one to speak of others in such a way, not having ever walked in their shoes. The thing is this there is pride and arrogance on both sides. But who will be the bigger person and make the first move to humble themselves and reach out.

Certainly not the unbeliever. God forbid! God has given us that responsibility as Christians. We are to go to them with the love and gospel of Jesus Christ. Which is what my discipler was seeking to do, this alone brought a measure of healing to me because all too often I feel as if no one (whites in particular) cares about the hood. They just judge the hood and look down upon the hood.

Well, my discipler told me that God has changed him since then, that when he drives down the road and sees kids from the hood he sees them in a totally different way. And that God has broken his heart for the city. This has been only one of the answers of prayers that I have been praying to God for.

And it has been a sign of hope, that Greater things are yet to come and still to be done in my city!

Stay tuned for part 2 next week.

God is Dope,
Israel

Perservance Pays Off!

What's goody my peoples?

Ain't nothing over here just chilling, walking through these trials, waiting on the Lords redemption! Yezzirr! Anyway, I wanted to tell ya'll about a great God story that really blessed and encouraged me.

A few months ago my discipler suggested that I start blogging on blogger.com and I took his counsel and jumped right on it. But the hang up was everyone who reads my blogs are on Facebook and why would one go to blogger to read my blogs when they could just read on FB. Right. So for months I've been writing on blogger and I have had some traffic (a very little bit) slide through my page but nothing substantial. In fact I only have 5 followers! Wowsers!!!!!!

About a month and a half ago I was at the point of shutting my blogger down and solely blogging on FB. Well, I'm glad to say that I didn't! I persevered and continued to post blogs even though no one was reading them and God rewarded that faithfulness! One day I went on and guess what I had a comment on there (my very first!) and the guy who commented got right to the point he asked me if I would be willing to write for his website www.holyculture.net. That was very humbling to me for one, that one would like my writing enough to have me write on their site. 2, it was very encouraging that I wrote on blogger for 5 or 6 months without any feedback and then God blesses me in that way!

Of course I told him yes I would love it and I jumped on board, writing and submitting my first article recently. So slide through www.holyculture.net every so often and check to see if I have something new up or not! Other than that praise God with me!

As for you, continue to be faithful and diligent even if no one sees you or are responding to what you are doing. For we know that God rewards faithfulness and if you didn't now you know now! So don't stop doing what you doing.

"And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

God is dope,
Israel

Great Examples in Action

What it do my G-d is Dopers! (That was corny right?) lol :)

A week or so ago I was studying Obadiah, yes Obadiah (it's a dope book by the way you should go check it out!) I got ALOT out of that joker but I'm gonna talk about one of the principles I grasped out of it. Chapter 1:15 says,

" For the day of the LORD draws near on all the nations 

         As you have done, it will be done to you 

         Your dealings will return on your own head."

The Lord was rebuking and basically condemning Edom in this book for the way they treated the children of Israel. He told them as they had done it would be done unto them. Even though we know God was speaking to the Edomites this is a powerful principle that is applicable to our lives and it's VERY weighty!

As you have done it'll be done unto you. Your dealings will return onto your head.

I immediately saw places in my life where I could apply this and did! The only thing is I did it with wrong motives. You see I blog (as if you didn't know) and record music and I want others to read my posts and listen to my tracks but I didn't give other 'bloggers' and 'musicians' the time of day (unless I really liked them!). So I started reading blogs and listening to music immediately! I was on a roll! And every blog I read or song I listened to I left a comment, letting it be known I was there, even when I didn't have anything to say!

It was in hopes that they or someone else would one day click my page or my link and God showed me this wickedness of my heart not too long afterwards and said thats not what it's about! And I then repented and resolved to exercise this principle with a pure heart, not so that they can come check out my stuff, but to really read or listen to their stuff.

But it doesn't end there, because this post is not about me. No way, no how. You see God has been showing me individuals who have been exhibiting this principle in their life selflessly and effortlessly (so it appears to me!). People like my uncle Q who gets my tracks and mixes them cheerfully and doesn't ask or expect anything in return. Or my homie John Tatulli who has done a great amount of artwork for me in a short amount of time all for free, and get this I just met him a month or so ago! Or my peoples Joshua Minso who hit me up out of no where and told me he wanted to take some pics of me free of charge. He has a photography business that he's starting and wants to take photos of me expecting nothing in return.

These are a few of the great men who are showing me this principle in action and it's a honor to know these men of God. Join me if you will in praying that God will honor these men because of their hearts to serve selflessly. And I'm confident that He will!

So, to John, Josh and Q Bang thank you for being such great examples to me and now to everyone else who reads this blog!

And grab a hold of that promise, as you have done it'll be done unto you.

Now, to the rest of you I hope and pray that you will also grab a hold of this principle and put it into action!

You Already Know!

G-d is Dope,

Israel 

Vanguard: G-d is Dope The Movement

Vanguard- 1) The foremost position in an army or fleet advancing into battle ; 2) The foremost or leading position in a trend or movement.

Recently I've been noticing a dis connect between the church/ holy hip hop and the streets/ hip hop culture. But this article will focus specifically on Christian rap. Phanatik once said in an interview with DJ Wade -O that we needed christians who would seek to hold down their cities instead of trying to be the next big thing. And that is exactly what you don't see enough of. I am constantly seeing up and coming christian rappers trying to get on, and do it big. But what's being done locally?

Furthermore a huge breakdown I've noticed in HHH is that ALL our music is Christ centered. GREAT! But try getting a unbeliever to embrace music that has a foreign world view isn't cutting it. I've tried for years  to have the local gangbangers and d boys to listen to my Favorite HHH artist only to be shot down every time. That's like taking a fish out of water and expecting it to embrace a different enviornment without having any heart change. Honestly, we are not meeting them where they are, we preach at them and their lifestyle more than talk to them.  We seem to forget how it is to be blind, or we don't realize that their pain is real and us shoving scripture down there throat isn't the best way to go about it.

I've been humbled by God opening my eyes up to the pain of the world more and more and the fact that we need to treat people like human beings with respect and love, seeking to understand them. I have also wondered how are we suppose to reach the streets by selling ALL OF OUR MATERIAL. Being that your common unbeliever wouldn't willingly purchase a HHH album. I've come to realize that HHH is primarily for me, HHH has discipled me, rebuked me, encouraged me, challenged me and helped shape my worldview and identity in Christ. But if I wasn't saved it would have done none of that because first off I would not have even given it a chance. I remember before I met Christ during the time He was softening my heart a christian rapper came up to me and started talking to me about christian rap and I laughed in his face and mocked him, and wouldn't even give it a chance.

Welcome to the new era of repping Christ through Hip Hop. I truly believe the biggest competition for the church is the culture and I believe we haven't done the best job as a whole impacting the culture as far as the "hood" is concerned. I'm not talking about the kids who come to church events, I'm referring to the ones on the block hustling, robbing, shooting up herion and catching bodies.

What we are doing at G-d is dope is aiming towards them and all who will follow them. We will be releasing ALL OF OUR MUSIC- EVERYTHING WE DO FOR FREE! It is all evangelistic material and our hope and prayer is that you will download it and burn it as much as possible and give it out all around your city or give people the link to download it themselves.

The heart, prayer and goal of this movement is to first and foremost impact this city (Lynchburg VA) with the gospel. We pray that God will turn this city upside down for His glory. That children, youth and adults alike will be transformed. We want all to know that G-d is dope!

Also, we pray that you will look to do the same in your city with the resources that we provide for you. Some of those resources will be Free mixtapes for evangelizing and blogs and discussion boards for you to communicate with us ( that we can all grow together and sharpen each other.) Also, we pray that you will encourage others to check us out, partake of the blogs and discussion boards and give out the music!

Our first release will be available January 19, 2011 for download. It's entitled "Certified", you can stay up to date on where to download it from by following us on twitter or facebook.

twitter.com/doochakahb

facebook.com/godisdope

Thanks for your time and attention!

G-d is dope,

Israel aka Dooch,

To know Jesus more in 2011

Grace and Peace,

First off I would like to say that this is a word for 2011. Straight from God! :)

Psalm 23:1;4

1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

   I fear no evil, for You are with me;

   Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Acts 27:27-44 read it!

Ok brothers and sisters, I believe God's desire is for us to know Him more, waaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy more than we can fathom and I believe this is what He will be accomplishing in our lives during this next year. He is our Shepherd, He will lead and guide us as He wills where He wills. In Acts 27 Paul as a prisoner was being led by a centurion with soldiers and other prisoners to Rome. The problem was, they were traveling after the fast was over, this was not a good time of the year to be traveling mind you. And Paul warned them of this, but to no avail. They got caught up in a horrible storm.

Anyway they ended up losing everything except their lives. The ship was lost, food, clothes, everything! All was lost except them. I believe this is something we have a issue with, suffering loss. We don't want to lose or suffer any set backs, failures, disappointments or any other form of loss. But this is what God is calling us to! 

Philippians 3:7-8

7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom  I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,

And He is calling us to these things so that we may know Him more intimately. And you can be confident in this, the value of knowing Christ surpasses EVERYTHING!!!!

To know Jesus more surpasses the value of me desiring a new job, of me being hungry, of me having electricity!

Jesus is calling some of you to stay at that job this year!

He's calling others to fast!

He's calling others to go without "neccessities"!

But listen, if I  can know Jesus more because of it I'll willingly stay at my job, turn down the plate and go without! #ToknowJesusmore# I will forego every and anything and count it as loss!

He wants to take us to new depths and heights in Him! It will be extremely hard but extremely worth it and His grace is sufficient!

There will be storms ahead but as you are tossed to and fro being beat up by the waves remember that God is with you, don't fear any evil or harm. You may lose everything but you will make it out alive Lord willing knowing Jesus more!

There is a temptation for us to run from these but Jesus is urging you to lean into it, and I am too!

Let Him teach you how to trust Him, obey Him, pray without ceasing, to live by faith, love your neighbor, honor Him or your spouse or parents or employer, how to be faithful how to love Him.

LEAN INTO IT

God is dope,

Israel

God's Faithfulness

What it do family?

Psalm 119:90 states, " Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands."

The author is referring to God in saying that His faithfulness continues (to) or throughout all generations. And that's what we're gonna focus on this time around. As I read this scripture I had to stop because it rocked me! God's faithfulness continues to ALL generations........Ponder that for a bit............THAT'S HUGE!!!!! THERE IS NO END TO GOD'S FAITHFULNESS (that's my quote by the way. lol :) His faithfulness is never ending. That's incredible!!!!

But you may ask what really is faithfulness? Websters defines it as:

1) steadfast in affection or allegiance : loyal

OR

2) firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty.

The Hebrew for faithful is the word Emunah (pronounced Em-oo-naw) it means firmness in it's literal sense but figuatively it means stability or steady. The greek word Pistos ( Pis-tos) means trustworthy, sure.

God is firm, stable, steady, trustworthy and sure!

What rocked me about this text is thinking about all the times God has bought judgement or discipline to His people and other nations and they would turn around and still call God faithful. Then I was reminded of something my professor said, "God is faithful across the board."  My question is, Do we really know that? If so, do we really live that way?

You see the tendency for us is to want God to be faithful in fulfilling His promises in our lives. We want Him to be faithful in the good stuff. But what about the bad? Are we brought to a place of awe and worship when God disciplines us for being disobedient because He is faithful? Hum...............

2 Timothy 2:13, " If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself."

As I look at my life I see the inconsistency and double standard of being faithful in the good but not the bad and wanting God to do the same. Quick example, there are times when my kids will be bugging out and I'll speak to them numerous times and say, "if you do that again I'm gonna whoop your butt!" And I ain't gonna say no names but NINA in particular will test the waters intentionally. And sad to say a lot of times I fail at being faithful in carrying out my word.

What is it that you are saying and not carrying out? Or is it that you are being faithful in what you love to do (ministry, etc.) but being unfaithful in the unpleasant things that you hate to do ( work , etc.) Or is it that you are expecting God to be faithful to you according to His blessing but you want Him to be unfaithful according to His chastisement?

Hummmm........ Double standards.............. double standards.......... double standards.........

Well, I don't know bout you but I'm repenting and asking God to strip away my self and my hypocrisy and empower me to embrace Him in all of His glory, majesty and splendor. I want to be able to worship Him when He is blessing me and when He chastises me, in the good and the bad, happy and the sad. I mean He's worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We shouldn't have to wait til God blesses us (physically, financially or mentally) to praise Him. He alone deserves it and is worthy of it!!!! We should praise and worship Him just because.................

Check out what the Psalmist of 119 said in verse 75

"I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me."

OR check out this passage from Nehemiah after God had Judah and Israel led into exile for turning away from Him.

9: 32 "Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and lovingkindness, Do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before You, Which has come upon us, our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers and on all Your people, From the days of the kings of Assyria to this day. 

33"However, You are just in all that has come upon us; For You have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly. 

 34"For our kings, our leaders, our priests and our fathers have not kept Your law

  Or paid attention to Your commandments and Your admonitions with which You have admonished them."

I've said enough, but I would encouraged you all to examine yourselves and pray for God to examine you because

 "All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit"  Proverbs 16:2

I know I want to hear well done good and FAITHFUL servant. What about you?

God is dope,

Israel

God's power to use whatever HE wishes!

God is dope!!!! 

Psalm 119:91

"They stand this day according to Your ordinances, For all things are Your servants."

All things are God's servants, this truth is crazy profound!! Anyway you look at it! All things are Gods servants.

To me that's saying EVERYTHING is Gods servant! He has the power and authority to use ANYTHING, situation, person, circumstance,struggle, hardship, test, trial, even satan for His purpose. Now that's top heavy!

I was talking to a brother today who was in the DMV picking up a copy of his driving record, he was pursuing a dream job and one of the qualifications was that he could have no more than 6 points on his driving record. Well, he was told by his insurance company that he had 22 points on his record. :( But he went to the DMV anyway in faith, praying and believing that that wasn't the case. I had the opportunity to pray for him and I prayed for peace and for the revelation that God was/is sovereign and in control and for him to rest in that.

He called back 15 minutes  later (give or take) excited, he only had 3 points on his record!

The point of the story is this, that situation pushed our brother to trust God, stepped out in faith and lean on Him (regardless of the outcome.) Thus, that situation was Gods servant.

When I opened up Gods word and prayed that He would open my eyes to behold wonderful things out of His law and he showed me this scripture (after the situation with the brother) I was floored and re captured by Gods beauty!

This is a liberating truth if we take it and apply it to our lives! What circumstance or situation, person or thing are you stressing over?

All things are Gods servants. Rest in that and do like James 1 say count it all joy when you fall into various trials because it produces what? You know, and if not go read it........

Man, God is dope and beautiful,

Israel