Some Christian Hip Hop: "When the Rains Fall"

Here's some music I created and wrote lyrics to over the weekend (it is nice to be able to work on some music again!!!). The title of the song is "When the Rains Fall" and features JJWeekz on the hook. Check it out and when you're done, head over to InscriptedProject.com to hear more and pick up some of my previous work

An Open Letter to the Church: A Modern-Day Epistle

Here's a an open letter, or better yet, an "open rhyme" I wrote yesterday (also made the beat) to the church, which is titled "A Modern-Day Epistle." Check it out & share the link.

The Advent King: A Christmas Rap

Yesterday at church, someone asked me if I'd lead our class in some Christmas carols in the coming weeks. So, today, I practiced a little by breaking out my guitar (and voice) for the first time in months (years actually). After singing a few Christmas carols, I got in a musical mood; I got an itch to write a song. So, I whipped up a hip hop beat, wrote out some lyrics, put them together and below is the recorded, finished product. It is an Advent rap, which of course, is meant to kick off the Advent season. If you're feeling generous this holiday season, you can pick up the app format by scanning the QR Code just to the left or by clicking HERE for the Android Market. Click HERE for my other Android apps.  Feel free to share it (but do not modify it without my consent). Check it out below. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Christians Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burnin'

I love this...simply phenomenal!!! The depth of faith and passion in this song/video are incredibly moving!

SBL Annual Meeting Paper Accepted

So, I just did a whirlwind tour to Cleveland and back today for a regional SBL meeting, leaving at 5am, presenting at 1:30pm and 3pm, and then, driving all the way back and getting home around 10pm. Long day for SBL stuff to say the least!!! However, I just checked my email and got some more good, SBL news, here's what one email said: "Dear Michael, Congratulations, your paper, 'Decoded: Exploring Rap's Use of Biblical-Apocalyptic Rhetoric,' was accepted for the 2011 Annual Meeting program unity Bible and American Popular Culture." So, in addition to creating and hosting the session titled "Tipping Points" that has a list of stellar scholars, I now have confirmation that I'll be presenting some of my research. I'm super excited because this paper is a bit different from the types of things I usually do; I think it's going to be quite fun!!!