Gimme that “Ole Time Religion”… and a helping of ignorance.

So recently i has this convo with a man who was bashing a national youth convention due to the choice of worship leader….From top to bottom he spoke negatively about the Assemblies of God… and you know me… I had to call him out. The convo started with him saying that a certain worship band was “not of God”, so i responded…(of course) and thanked him for being an authority on the musical preferences of The Creator, and urged him to make himself known so that in the future all can consult him for the appropriate musical selection. …And that’s where the convo picks up below.

I have removed his pictures and Facebook user name to protect him from all of you..hahaha …but seriously…

I have renamed him “Ole time religion“…take a peek at what is causing the youth to push away from accepting what “old” people are telling them. .. let me know what you think.

Hey

Between You and  “Old Time Religion”

“Old Time Religion” August 3 at 10:00pm Report

Rory. I am not an authority but I grant you I could find better examples ! I know one that is on that platform tonite all to well and O well its a very long difficult story ! yet its everything but Godly !! Pastor “Old Time Religion”

Rory Mac August 3 at 10:16pm

Pastor “Old Time Religion”,
I am just very careful about what I Lift up or cast down in the name of God… where your story may be long and difficult.. I am sure that we will be surprised by what God finds pleasing or displeasing. Speaking in full confidence as a Pastor on staff at an A/G church, I will say condemning the National Youth Convention on an international forum is probably a poor decision. All in all you are entitled to your opinion I suppose and one day in the near future we will see how God defines music in heaven as it is blasted throughout eternity.
God Bless,
Pastor Rory

“Old Time Religion” August 3 at 10:21pm Report

I am sure our worship here is pretty vain compared to what we witness it heaven ! I do believe we must take a stand otherwise we will fall for everything !! Thanks for your comment. God Bless !! PT

Rory Mac August 3 at 10:28pm

Well i do trust that God has put in place men and woman of upstanding character and resolve in leadership in the Assemblies of God.. I trust Him in their leadership.
God Bless,
Pastor Rory

“Old Time Religion” August 4 at 9:08am Report

Rory,
I think it is a poor decision to air what I seen on national TV or by internet. Its alright for them but not guys like me. Jesus called them out openly, So did John the baptist, Paul , John in 1 john 3, Paul turned 2 over to Satan publicly i st Timect. The list goes on. Its time to call it out !! There ‘s a term all need to become acquainted with called “depraved Indifference” depraved meaning, “its as low as you can get” and indifference meaning “one could care less.” something that pretty much describes this age and no doubt those in leadership of last nights production in Detroit.
What ever we applaud we encourage. These bands are loaded with piercings and religious tatoo’s. yet when one applauds them, it is supporting and advocating what they do !!
The Mormons are the fastest growing religion in the US yet their young men and women have not put on the world to win them. they came to my house not long ago and they with their false message looked more appealing than what we place in front of our kids.
One of the band members of “CENSORED BAND NAME” called someone very dear to me An ignorant “not a very nice word but not a four letter one” very recently and said he was full of Holy crap !! Seems to be the language of this very spiritual generation,  great words coming out of the mouth of kids trying to lead the youth in “worship.” A very sad day Rory ! If you had seen the former house , you better understand where I’m coming from. We are told to come out and be separate, yet instead we’ve joined them ! Time to take a stand and contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. God Bless !!

Rory Mac August 4 at 10:54am

“Old Time Religion”,
Thank you for defining depraved indifference… but as i am an educated man i find it insulting.
Secondly if you truly feel that the leadership of last nights service fall under that category than i believe you to be ignorant beyond measure. Ignorant meaning
1. Lacking knowledge or awareness in general; uneducated or unsophisticated.
2. Lacking knowledge, information, or awareness about something in particular.
I have had the pleasure of serving alongside of some these people you speak so lowly about… and know for a fact that you have no idea what you’re talking about.
May the Lord give you insight,
Pastor Rory

A revolution… A life.

I hoped to light the streets, like a firefighter fights the heat,
Been searchin my whole life but never turned to Jesus Christ for peace.
Even if you had a slice a beef, I’d slice and dice for the right to be
admired by my people, my equals held up in high esteem.
Timbaland boots, baggy jeans , Marc ecko tee…
Fresh fade, Stunna shades, stereotype of what I’m supposed to be..
MTV, BET, propaganda fillin me. Young enough to know the truth, not old enough to spill the beans..
Still it seems these Philistines had giants placed in front of me,
And I’m just me at seventeen, no sword and shield, just man and sling.

A view from an apartment window

I’m in love with the city bricks, the city kids/
Ghetto bikes grow up turning into gangsta whips/
Daddys missin, empty kitchen, but hey that’s the way it is/
Soup kitchen, fiends skitchen beggin just to gett a fix/
At night I listen to the city wishing I could show the rich/
Alleyways, bodega shops, mom and pops not makin rent/
Adversity grows charachter, it makes these kids grow up quick/
Wisdom from a babies lips, they ain’t even outta crips/
Boys in blue will take your cake, that’s how hot the oven is.

Hip hop ya dont stop

Well as of late things have been crazy! Tons of work, tons of writing and music. I’m sorry my blog has suffered. Even with all this I’ve felt revived musically. Like a breath of fresh air.

A lot of you know that I am a hip hop artist. Rap/hip hop and all the elements of the culture are one of my biggest passions… But for the past year I’ve really had some issues with the direction of the whole scene.

However because of one album and also because of one record.

The album I am referring to is Jay-Z’s “the blueprint three” . What a pleasure to listen to.. Great steps BACK to what hip hop once represents. With that bring said my next statement might confuse some.

The one track that has refreshed hip hop in my heart is Beanie Sigel’s “diss” to Jay-Z (check it out here at http://tinyurl.com/yg4xkwb ) now this is an unedited track so if you are upset by adult language then I recommend you skip listening.. But if you have a love for hip hop that may need a recharging then by all means. Listen up.

Both jay’s album and Sigels single represent so much to me what hip hop is all about. Lyrical stature, creative production and most important of all… Authentic feeling and message.
Hip hop has come a long way from what it was. This poetic art form has fallen away from the skillful lyricist of yesteryear. Hip hop was meant to be an outlet of the street… Not a corparate enterprise.. I refuse to believe the founding fathers of hip hop are proud of what our culture has become..

This so called beef between Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel just might be the catalyst needed to bring hip hop back to the common man.. Instead of rap being this empire of corparate gain. Maybe it’s just me but hip hop used to be more authentic.. When you heard an emcee rap you knew that this dude was spilling his soul on a beat… Nowadays we have no idea who our artists even are. I want my old love back…it’s a portrait of hip hop Check out Beanies song heres the link again—-> http://tinyurl.com/yg4xkwb
Until next time… Keep your eyes to the sky, and your ears to the street…
Rock on,
R.Mac

Actions vs. Words

This is not edgy.

This is not an attempt to attack a certain controversial social issue.

This is not a divine moment of artistic inspiration.

This is not a place of mass instantanious understanding, stemming from an individuals late night epiphany.

This is not crucial.

This will not raise the hairs on the back of your neck.

This will not make it past the thirty or so people who read it.

This never had a chance.

This is not the note that inspires you to pray more.

This is not where problems are solved.

This is not the land where fingers can speak louder than your voice.

This is not the softer side of sears.

This is not where people are dying of starvation.

This is not where wars are fought.

This is not where people hear the truth and believe.

This is not the end of fear.

This is not where ignorance is evaporated.

This is not where cloudy skies turn blue.

This is just a blog…this will be read and discarded as the ramblings of someone who wanted to be heard… and all the worlds problems will still be in existance. whether you read this or not.

The real change happens when we shut our mouths… And put in work.

The real change happens when we go and do..

My blog is microscopic in comparison to the need of some lives.

Let’s step out. Let’s create relationships.

Let’s not be sidelined by our technology , but use it as a secondary attack.

Save a life…

feed the hungry…

love the abandoned…

value the discarded…

Then blog about it.
Until next time.. keep your eyes to the sky and your ears to the street.. Rock on.
-R.Mac

Not deep, just honest

So it’s been a lil stretch since I blobbed… Sry life gotta hold of me.. But it’s been a huge month… Not because of anything humongous.. Just because.
I guess this is where we get honest. There are things in life you know that your meant to do. These things stand out in your head above anything else. These things are the foundation of our passion. These things define me.. I know this to be truth.
Have you ever found it hard to pursue these passions/foundations? Not because of avoidance, but more on the level of life getting in the way. I had an epiphany the other day.. We allow life to control our flow.. When it should be us that flow in control.
There are things we base our life around and form our life around. I’ve decided that my passions will form this foundation. God-Wife&Family-Music.. That’s my foundation. Find yours. Build on it.
Until next time… Keep your eyes to the sky, and your ears to the street.
Rock on,
Rory Mac

The singer, the rapping puppet, and the mad scientist.

Well I have to admit it… Today I became excited about childrens ministry. There is just something infectious about seeing these kids go crazy during worship. Or the fact that they love a good game and puppet set. I have always looked at childrens ministry as kinda lame. I always have hated how we use the word “kidz” instead of plain old kids.. Or the typical weak attempts at making childrens church “cool”…
Today I watched as a close friend of mine rocked the face of a vacation bible school curriculum. It was AWESOME. It was cool, just because it was. No forcing it.. Nobody trying to hard.. Just a rocking church service designed for children to learn and grow closer to God.
Today I was a worship leader/rapping puppet/mad scientist… To me this is just awesome… Where else can you be all of the above in one service? On top of all that you dive into the heart and soul of a young person with each role you play. I real applaud the full time childrens pastors out there, the camp leaders out there.. It’s truly one of those jobs that I feel more people would live if they would just try… Just try.
I hope that God will continue to show me new ministries for me to Rock out. And if you feel like you are useless in your church. I dare you to start with the children of your church… See the atomic bomb that the honesty, the love, the excitement, and the fun that these kids will bring into your life…
Until next time party people… Keep your eyes to the sky.. And your ears to the street… Rock on
R.Mac

Doin it Bilbo Baggins style…

So you ever have one of those months where anything and everything just kicks you in the face??? Yeah me too. July 2009.
By far this has been the most stressful month period. Not to be totally transparent with you but the combination of a new job, unexpected responsibilities there, money being tight and the roles I have at the church, and maintaining a healthy marriage on top of it at all.. Retarded hard dude.

For me I know that pride is definetly a factor… If your like me you CAN’T fail.. I refuse to. I would die before I fail.A downside to this: I spread myself thin.

One of my favorite fictional characters is bilbo baggins.. (Yes I know Lord of The Rings (lotr) is nerdy but I was reading it way before it was “cool”).. Anyways Bilbo once said that he felt like “too little butter spread over too much bread”… I feel that little hobbit hardcore right now.

Even as I write this I am fighting myself to admit that I need help. How stuborn is that.. Well it’s true I need some help. Just keep me and my wife in your thoughts.. Hopefully next month rocks.

-R.Mac

Sitting in the auto shop…

So as I write this I’m waiting for my car to be worked on at the mechanic… This is probably the worst place to wait for results.. You know that no matter what the issue is your gonna end up paying more than you can afford. It’s very silmiliar to waiting in the ER. Well.. Without the whole death of a human aspect of it…
Ok so I’m being dramatic. But as a man this has got to be one of those “man duties” that I don’t like… Lol I mean seriously… I don’t know anymore about vehicles than the next guy. I mean it’s pretty bad. I’m car illiterate. So I’m going sit and wait here for my car, and deal with the funky oil smell…

Looking back on July…

Well folks this has been a huge month for me.. and i stress HUGE. We had people enter this world. People have left us. New challenges, goals, times of success and failure. For me this month held a few that I wasn’t prepared for.

On july 5th 1984 the one and only Rory Mac was born. And if you do the math you will see that i am now 25… puke. For y’all that dont know me, let me make one thing clear.. I am not a fickle person. never hae been. But something about this birthday FREAKED me out. It just felt like i crossed through the doorway into geezerdom. I cant explain it. I’m not proud of it.. but im officially ancient. Thanks to my amazing wife Krystal who made it easier to become ancient. To my Friends and family i love y’all.

Moving on..Being a musician this month really held oneof the saddest days music has seen in a long time. You all  know I’m referring to the death of Michael Jackson. I don’t have to  tell you how this man literally changed the entire music industry. Regardless of the issues that plagued Michael there is no question that he was one of/if not the most influential artist ever. He has influenced my music and I pray that his legacy will live on.

On a more personal note… some congratulations are in order! First off I want to congratulate Stacie and Dan!! This month they brought a lil girl into the world. We all love her and are so proud of her. Welcome to the world Ava West!!!

Secondly, a round of applause to Jeffrey Amendola…err I mean Oficer Amendola. This month Jeffrey graduated from the Police Academy in Raliegh N.C. Big ups Bro!!

Last but not least… Chris Jacobs.. AKA CJthe80sbaby..One of my best friends…BIG birthday this month..also turning 25 this month..im just truly glad that im not alone in old man land.

Well thats it folks. Until next time… Keep your eyes to the sky.. Your ears to the street..Rock On.

R.Mac