DJLIVSTRONG - Life in Music Ministry

Sunday, November 1, 2009

DJLIVSTRONG NOVEMBER 2009 MIXTAPE

Download Link: November 2009 Mixtape

Minimum requirements:

A open mind

An open heart

An open ear

Winzip or Winrar (or whatever you unzip folders with)

Sunday, October 25, 2009

HE SWEAT BLOOD

Luk 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

He sweat blood.

Can you imagine sweating blood? Can you imagine being in such emotional pain and stress that your physical body starts to suffer not from external affliction but internal affliction?

The clinical term is "hematohidrosis." "Around the sweat glands,

there are multiple blood vessels in a net-like form." Under the

pressure of great stress the vessels constrict. Then as the anxiety

passes "the blood vessels dilate to the point of rupture. The blood

goes into the sweat glands." As the sweat glands are producing a lot

of sweat, it pushes the blood to the surface - coming out as droplets

of blood mixed with sweat.

Why did Jesus sweat blood? was it because he knew he was going to be totally mutilated in the next few hours? was it because he knew that he was going to be physically afflicted beyond recognition?

Physically Jesus had enough reason to sweat blood. Here is a short description of what crucifixion entailed.

The number of nails used seems to have been indeterminate. A tablet, on which the feet rested or on which the body was partly supported, seems to have been a part of the cross to keep the wounds from tearing through the transfixed members (Iren., Adv. haer., ii.42). The suffering of death by crucifixion was intense, especially in hot climates. Severe local inflammation, coupled with an insignificant bleeding of the jagged wounds, produced traumatic fever, which was aggravated the exposure to the heat of the sun, the strained of the body and insufferable thirst. The swelled about the rough nails and the torn lacerated tendons and nerves caused excruciating agony. The arteries of the head and stomach were surcharged with blood and a terrific throbbing headache ensued. The mind was confused and filled with anxiety and dread foreboding. The victim of crucifixion literally died a thousand deaths. Tetanus not rarely supervened and the rigors of the attending convulsions would tear at the wounds and add to the burden of pain, till at last the bodily forces were exhausted and the victim sank to unconsciousness and death.

That was more than enough for him to sweat blood. But really did he sweat blood for that? Many people went through the physical pain of the crucifixion. Romans used to do it all the time. Physical pain can only last so long. We all know that emotional pain lasts MUCH longer than physical pain and has much more longer lasting reprocussoins in our life.

Does a woman remember the licks that her father gave her or the horiffic experience of the man that raped her?

Does a man remember being beat up by the gang of men or the loss of his single mother that he was so close too?

The emotional feeling that we go through when things happen to us with respect to another tends to do so much more than we can see at the point in time.

The pain that Jesus suffered emotionally was farrr greater than the pain he would have felt physically. Keep in mind here that Jesus KNEW what he was going into, both PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.

He would not sweat blood for the physical pain. He sweat blood becasue he was going to wilfully allow himself to be cursed and be DISCONNECTED from his father.

PICTURE THIS

You are the model student. You go to class everyday, you do all your homework, you hand in all your assignment and you do well in all your exams. You deserve the best right. You deserve your A+ or your 100% in your final examination.

Or picture, you are the model worker, you do your work on time, you work overtime with a smile and you are a excellent team player.

For the student, awards day comes around and you know you deserve nothing less than the highest award because you have met all the requirements. Instead of getting an award you get expelled from school and you are treated as if you were the worst student on the face of the earth. No school will take you and you are forced to become a vagrant. You deserved it all ... but you got nothing.

For the worker, the day of you appraisal comes up. You know you deserve to be given a promotion and a large bonus and the boss hands you a letter saying you are fired and they also told everybody else that may be willing to hire you that you were the worst worker in the world and you don't deserve to be hired.

In ALLLLLLL aspects of his life JESUS WAS PERFECT. He did is all right. He was the perfect Jew. He was the model human being. He was everything Abraham wanted to be, Everything David wanted to be, everything Ezekiel wanted to be, everything Samuel wanted to be!!! He was the only one to do it right.

You know what happens when you do things right for God.... YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE REWARDED.

Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Deu 4:1 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.

1Ki 2:3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:

1Ki 2:4 That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

God promises his reward to all those that keep his commandments. There is a blessing in obedience.

SO HOW WAS CHRIST SO OBEDIENT AND HE DID NOT GET THE BLESSING? How could he have fulilled the law and still be cursed?

Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

The keys is the substitution. The switching of roles BECAUSE OF LOVE.

We deserved the CURSE and he deserved THE BLESSING. But he switched it and gave us the opportunity to have his blessing........ while he took OUR CURSE.

so why did Jesus sweat blood? Because his father did not just send him to die, his father TURNED HIS BACK ON HIM.

Imagine the REJECTION, the HURT, the SCORN.

Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him;

God was happy to kill him. God was happy why? Because he saw the punishment of sin.

God likes to see 2 things... the things he likes, to be rewarded and the things he hates, to be punished.

BOTH THESE THINGS BRING HIM GLORY.

Because he delights in the praises of his people. He loves to recieve Glory.

Because he is just, evil must be punished because the evil if left unchecked takes away from his glory as the creator of man.

HE HAD TO SCORN HIM CUZ HE CHOSE TO TAKE ON THE FORM OF SIN. There was only one man who had that Choice..... only one man fit the criteria to make that choice. And even though he knew he what would happen if he made that choice he still made it.

How many of us think twice when we have to do something for someone and we would be inconvenienced. We might be the only people that meet the criteria that that particular person needs..... what do we do?

Jesus knew he would be pysically afflicted.

HE SWEAT BLOOD

Jesus knew he would be betrayed

HE SWEAT BLOOD

Jesus knew that his Father would hate him

HE SWEAT BLOOD

Jesus knew that he had the right to go to heaven and no one else

HE SWEAT BLOOD

Jesus knew that he would be giving up his right for A SINNER NAMED ANDRE

HE SWEAT BLOOD

A sinner like me has the opportunity to be right with God and go to heaven and live with him forever

HE SWEAT BLOOD

I understand the fact that I deserved to die but he died in my place

HE SWEAT BLOOD

When I think my world is caving in and everyone is against me and I want to sweat blood

HE SWEAT BLOOD.

don't waste the blood of Jesus.....

Saturday, October 3, 2009

NO PLATES IN YUH CRATE??

So you should know by now that I am a dj. I am going to delve into a topic that is touchy and tricky but the word of God will be the final WORD on the matter.

Dub Plates.

A dub plate is a specialized version of a song (most often a popular one) where a dj is 'bigged up' in the song by the performing artist. It is often used by dj's in sound clashes where dj's go head to head playing songs in a battle where the crowd response for the particular dj/sound system determines who wins.

This plate is requested by the dj and most often paid for so that the dj would have the upper hand in the clash. It is particularly used in the dancehall culture where dj's play a prominent role in how a party goes.

A Christian dj is definitely called to be set apart in his field which is the delivery and mixing of music. As is understood when evangelizing to any culture, you have to analyze it and what can and cannot be used for the Glory of God.... now the Glory of God is God's main purpose for existing.. for his glory.

Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Now the flow of music and the mixing and scratching and mic man and everything that comes with being a dj can allllll be used for the Glory and honor of God because it can ll be pointed back to him in some form or fashion.

A plate now by it's definition substitutes part of the song with the name of the dj in an effort to 'big up' the dj for the explicit purpose of glorifying the dj especially in a clash situation where another dj is competing for the crowd's response.

Issues:

1. SUBSTITUTION

A gospel song is generally a song that speaks about the saving work of Jesus and promotes the agenda of God by virtue of his son and in the power of his Spirit. If the name of a dj is substituted into that song I believe it takes away from the glory that God deserves to get from that song.

(check out when God kept a remnant of Israel and did not allow them to be destroyed)

Isa 48:11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.

2. PRIDE

If a gospel dj who's agenda is to glorify God specifically goes and asks an artist to sing a song bigging them up then they don't really have God's glory on their mind. The sheer thought about substituting MY name in a song that was designed for GOD......... i just got a headache.

(check out Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel)

Dan 5:20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:

HOW CAN A PLATE BE USED?

The only way I see a plate being possibly used for the glory of God is this way.

Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

If for some reason an artist comes and says,

"Aye, i LOVE YOUR MINISTRY.... and I decided to do a song dedicated to your ministry. I pray you accept it and love it so that others would know what you are doing and who you are"

They take one of their songs and remix it and pay tribute to you in the spirit of Philipians 2:3 ALONG WITH POINTING TO JESUS AS THE REASON FOR BROTHERLY LOVE, HUMILITY ALL THINGS THAT ARE GOOD.... FOR THE EXPRESSED GLORY OF GOD..." (which is what Phil 2 is about)

Then and only then would it be biblically sound in my estimation. I hope this makes biblical sense and we are challenged by it. I of course don't need to say that this is in no way intended malicious or 'call out anyone', it is simply applying the word of God to culture which is what we have to do.

I appreciate all comments and I don't condemn anyone... but let the Word of God do the speaking.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

DJLIVSTRONG OCTOBER 2009 MIXTAPE

DOWNLOAD HERE: October 2009 Mixtape

Minimum requirements:

A open mind

An open heart

An open ear

Winzip or Winrar (or whatever you unzip folders with)

Sunday, September 20, 2009

I DID NOT KNOW SHE WAS TRACKING ME

Gen 39:7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
Gen 39:8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
Gen 39:9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
Gen 39:10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
Gen 39:11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
Gen 39:12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

So this week I am targeting the fornication issue we all know what happens, but how does it happen? Often times we find ourselves after the action asking...... how??? when? where? why?...... and especially "God I did not mean to do it!!!"

Yes it affects us all. One of the key things to dealing with a problem is to find out where it arises from. If we can find the root and kill it, then we can eliminate the problem (ask a man who trying to maintain a lawn) lol.

So we look at Joseph.... yeah yeah yeah.... we know he ran.... but what happened before? I will focus on Potiphar's wife's actions.

ANALYSIS

1. Gen 39:7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

Potiphar's wife (we don't know her name ... but I would like to call her Jezila Jezebel/Delilah lol)... ok serious now.
Potiphar's wife dis something first that we should notice, She cast her eyes on Joseph. In verbal language she said Lie with me (have sex with me). The bible gives no indication of her non verbal communication but there is a strong possibility that the lady of the house would have been well adorned with the best clothes jewelry and hair style. So she sees what the wants and says "I am going to get it"...... Her intent is to have sex with Joseph, no if but or maybe.

2. Gen 39:10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

So day by day now she is contuiously asking him for "it". But Joesph does not hearken unto her...meaning he is not taking her on because he has decided that he will not sin against God. She continuously presses however. She would not make this public knowledge however so it would only be done when they interact. (Picture whispering and subtle hints going on). We don't know how long it was going on for but it was more than two days (day by day). But remember her mind was set.

3. Gen 39:11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

So finally the opportunity presents itself. Joseph was ALONE. None of the men were in the house. He was alone with the Woman that was stalking him. So now she could not touch him all this time, but now SHE HAD A CHANCE .... because they were ALONE. Of course she took the opportunity cuz this woman was desperate. She grabbed him and all he could think of doing was what RUNNING... why? Could he have not overpowered her and took back his clothes? If he stayed HE MAY HAVE SUCCOMBED..... It is very possible that Joesph would run if he felt he could not have held her off due to the natural inclination to have sex with someone. He WAS still a Human wassn't he?

APPLICATION

So how does it apply to me? Well we go through the same thing regularly and though the circumstances may not be the same, the principle is VERY SIMILAR.

1.
We as young ppl often times see things happening but don't do anything about it because, well deep down inside we really want it. We would know that a girl or guy is tracking us and play like we do not like it but honestly we love the attention and we love the chase. The constant day to day probing of Potiphar's wife was not allowed by Joseph but sometimes we allow that in our daily lives. In the sense of 'leading on' people because we love the attention. That is dangerous because you are giving them a chance to 'jump' you when you are alone and then you would end up doing something you don't want to do. Then you ask 'how dat happen?', but if you track back carefully you would see that you caused it yourself by allowing the person pursuing yo to have a way in.

2.
Another way is as a married man or woman (or even courting..with the intent to get married eh... cuz i doh promote 'dating for fun'), you don't be vigilant to the moves that people are making on your life. My wife once told me, when a woman wants something she gets it. I also know that pride amongst men can make them go after goals in some of the most extreme ways known to man. When we notice someone approaching us on a flirty friendship vibes we have to be diligent cuz we could easily be left with our clothes in their hand like Joesph. Notice to be left with the 'clothes in hand' it does not have to totally be the other person's fault (not saying that Joseph was at fault at all eh). You may try to think that you are fighting off the approaches and at the last moment play that you did not want it to happen but all the while you were doing the 'lead on' tactic.

3.
For courting couples this one is very pertinent cuz the urges that have to be battled are some of the STRONGEST IN THE WORLD..... is like WHEYYYY....WHY?
When you are courting and you know that this is 'the one' you start to feel a sense of 'ownership' of that person and you feel like, well, we goin and have sex when we married anyhow so why we fighting up so much to keep ourselves pure? Of course we know that sexual relations is meant for the covenant of marriage only and anything less is a sin against God. Those thoughts however sometimes overcome us and we make decisions that cause us to fall into sexual sin.
How do these decisions come about though?
Day by day we think about our husband or wife to be and we know that we want to have sex.... that's real talk..... you think about it and you dream about and you fantasize about it.... but you try not to do it. Even though you don't want to do it, you sometimes find yourself getting in positions where it's easy to do it.... how? Well because you may be getting yourselves ALONE.... notice when Potiphar's wife jumped Joesph she had to wait till they were ALONE. You doh have to tell me what happens when you are alone an in the dark...... I went through enough battles in the years before I got married to fight off urges and sometimes fail to fight them off.
The lead up is simple,

you know that if you go to see him or her tonight you will be ALONE....
and you know that if you are ALONE you would be tempted
and you know that if you are tempted you might FALL........
and for some reason unknown to man YOU STILL GO!!!!!!!!!

The point is that you yourself know the leadup that happens when you are going to reach to that point........ your resolve and decision should saying NO TO POTIPHAR'S WIFE... and going about your business in a pure Christly manner.

oh and doh even thinkkkkk that you hot enough to run at the 'right time' HA!!!!! Run as early as possible cuz you ain't that strong.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

SWINGING SOMEONE ELSES SWORD

Been a while since I wrote a blog. I am suffering from writers flood. lol. So many things running through my feeble mind I don't know which one to devote time to.

I chose this one cuz well it affects me alot and I can describe it easily.

Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

So straight away from that scripture we see that the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Now we often refer to our bibles as swords and some even have sword symbolism on them.

The trap that we often fall into (Myself Included) is thinking that WE own the sword. So we go swinging it from left to right at any whim and fancy! We don't own the word. The Spirit of God does... and only the SPIRIT OF GOD has the authourity to use it.

CONTEXT

Let's go into an example:

John Doe studies the Word of God a lot and makes conclusions based on what he has studies in reference to present day culture. So when John tries to apply the word to his life he is applying the word based upon HIS LIFE, CULTURE, UPBRINGING AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT. Therefore John would be swinging the sword how he want's it to be swung. What would happen is that John would either hurt someone badly or hurt himself badly (think of ninja now learning to use his weapon... the master gives him a stick first). So the end product is the word out of context and understanding. I would go into one of many examples I can choose from.

"Render your heart and not your garments"

This is commonly used in arguements where someone comes to church in garments that may not be deemed "acceptable" the offending person would respond with the statement "The bible says render your heart and not your garments". Since it is logical and fits into the LIFE, CULTURE, UPBRINGING AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT that the involved parties are in it is accepted as "gospel".

In actuality the scripture that is being misquoted is from Joel.

Joe 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

In the context of this prophecy Joel was refering to the ppl of Israel to turn to God with your heart and not your external exhibitions of brokenness.

Brokenness

Now when the Israelites were in mourning for something of if they were fasting they often tore off their clothes and put on ashes and sackcloth as a form of penitence to themself to show that they were in mourning before the Lord and seeking his face for comfort.

Examples:

Mordecai

Est 4:1 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;

Mordecai was crying out before the Lord because he was the only person he could go to to vent his plea and ask for help because the king wanted to kill all the Jews.

Daniel

Dan 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

Daniel was a man of God who always sought the face of God and would not compromise and when hwe was fasting he use sackcloth and ashes as a form of penitence to show humility before God.

So what we see was rend(or rent) your heart would really mean surrender or tear your heart before the Lord and submit yourself to him instead of outward empty rituals.

So the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT as it is quoted in Ephesians is for the Spirit of God to use. Unless you properly research a scripture in it's context and understand what God was saying through it via prayer and meditation you are in grave danger of trying to swing the sword for yourself.

JUSTIFICATOIN

Another thing we have to be carefull about is the usage of scripture to justify things that we are already doing. The word of God can only mean what it was intended to mean to it's original readers and therefore can't mean something else cuz we read it in THIS DAY AND AGE. How we are supposed to apply it by understanding how God wanted the Israelites to and Early Chruch to do things based on their culture and ADAPT THE PRINCIPLE. The times and places may change, but the principle of the teachings will always stand.

The only the principle can be understood or applied is through the Spirit of God.

How do we allow the Spirit of God to do that?

Read the Bible to behold GOD... not just to gain knowledge and quote him. In a song from Trip Lee - "Eyes Open" (I think), a line goes:

I don't read God's word so that I can quote him// I read it so I can behold him.

Yes it is true that the bible is a historical book and many things can be learnt from it. The Bible is however more of a living book than it is historical. It is organic and provides revelations.... but only once the true owner of it uses it. That is the Spirit of God...... cuz he is the only one who has the right to swing the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.

This would entail reading and meditating on it and seeking God through ferverent prayer. The spirit of God will then reveal what YOU NEED TO BE REVEALED TO YOU.

Don't take what cliche's that go around for the "Word of God" at face value. As a believer, we are commanded... .yes commanded to seach out the Word of God and study it. Not just hear it from people.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

so we study it, but UNTO GOD. When you study the word of God, it is not unto man or to please or justify man... but is for God to approve and reveal as he pleases.

Now as I said I am guilty of this at times and I thought it fit to share this revelation about the sword of the Spirit so that we could see things in perspective.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

SEPTEMBER 09 MIXTAPE

DOWNLOAD HERE:September 09 Mixtape

Minimum requirements:

A open mind

An open heart

An open ear

Winzip or Winrar (or whatever you unzip folders with)

DJLIVSTRONG - Life in Music Ministry

Sunday, November 1, 2009

DJLIVSTRONG NOVEMBER 2009 MIXTAPE

Sunday, October 25, 2009

HE SWEAT BLOOD

Saturday, October 3, 2009

NO PLATES IN YUH CRATE??

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

DJLIVSTRONG OCTOBER 2009 MIXTAPE

Sunday, September 20, 2009

I DID NOT KNOW SHE WAS TRACKING ME

Saturday, September 12, 2009

SWINGING SOMEONE ELSES SWORD

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

SEPTEMBER 09 MIXTAPE

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