February 19, 2013

Lecrae Grammy 2013

Mark Driscoll’s Interview with Grammy Winner Lecrae

by Carlotta Morrow — Categories: Music — Tags: , , , , — Leave a comment

At the time of this interview around August of 2012, Lecrae’s Grammy winning album GRAVITY hadn’t been released yet. This interview by Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington was a one on one casual discussion with Lecrae about topics such as his family upbringing, his wife and three kids, his goals of preaching the gospel through rap/hip hop, how he manages to stay faithful to his wife while on tour, folks collaborating with him on his album and much more.

Very intriguing and down to earth interview, sometimes humorous and sometimes serious. I am one who can barely make it through five minute interviews but this was was nearly 30 minutes and kept me listening through every second of it. Even if one is not a fan of rap and/or hip hop, you can’t but help to be a fan of Lecrae and support what he’s doing as a missionary of modern culture.

Now here it is a few months later and Lecrae’s Gravity album has been the first by a hip hop/rap artist to get best gospel album at the 2013 Grammys! Congratulations to Lecrae!

Listen below …

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January 21, 2013

Obama on Gay marriage in Inaugural Speech: the sad state of Christianity in America

by Carlotta Morrow — Categories: Homosexuality, Obama, same-sex marriage — Tags: , , , , , , , — Leave a comment

If you aren’t a Christian then ignore this post. This is for anyone who calls themselves a follower of Christ and believes that the bible is their guide for life. Discussion about gay marriage only makes sense if you believe in God and trust his Word the Bible as a book of wisdom for direction, correction and spiritual supplication.  This is Christian family to Christian family and regarding our Christian president.

During this inaugural celebration, President Obama had laid his hands on three bibles (one family bible at a private ceremony and a bible that Lincoln took an oath on and one that was the Rev. Dr Martin Luther King used later at the public swearing in).  After reviewing his speech, I had to only shake my head at the oath he made on those three bibles while he pumped up support for Gay “love” while ignoring the words from those very bibles.  There were a slew of other things that bothered me but the most important to me that directly affects my freedom as a Christian to believe, speak and teach God’s word is Obama’s stance on gay marriage.  To throw his support fully behind it (no wonder Pastor Louie Giglio had to be excused from the inauguration) is sending the message to Christians who are against gay marriage to “LOOK OUT!” (See “Tolerance Tyrants Strike Again” – on Pastor Giglio)

Here is Obama’s part of his speech where he shows his support for homosexual love:

“Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law – for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.” (14:51 minutes into video)

We are all created equal but aren’t there any boundaries to what’s considered sexually immoral? Who are we to change what God has deemed as sin? I do believe that it is very important to treat each gay person as any human being should be treated but redefining marriage and the family is treading dangerously upon God’s territory. We are steadily growing as a nation of folks who call themselves Christian but have rendered the Bible unnecessary and outdated.

But for those of us who take the Bible seriously, most are quite aware of the scriptures that teach against homosexuality – passages known as “clobber” verses by homosexual supporters (Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, 1 Corinthians 6:9, and Romans 1:26-27 and Jesus on marriage at Matthew 19:3-6). But there are strong warnings from the apostle Paul for those of us who even SUPPORT those who practice homosexuality and other sinful lifestyles shown in verse 32 below:

 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1:28-32

Thankful to God’s grace and mercy that although we are deserving of death for the practice of those sins, He has spared most of us from it – for now.  Obama did show that he’s that type of supporter, a Christian who approves of a lifestyle contrary to God’s purpose.

I do believe in prayer and praying for our president is what I have been doing and will continue to do.  My prayer is that President Obama starts caring more about what God thinks and not what people think and to take God’s word very seriously.  To call one’s self “Christian” is telling the world you are a follower of Christ, one who has been saved from sin by the shedding of His blood and will show love for Christ by obeying Him! There are many many people in this country of spiritual compromise that are too fearful of man to take a stand on what God says about how we should live.

Obama may be the President of the United States and president to all who live in this country, but he should be most importantly a child of God through Jesus Christ and never, never compromise God’s word!  Is Obama a friend of Christ? Who are the true friends of Christ? Who really loves Him? Those of us who trust and obey Him!

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15

“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” John 15:14

January 3, 2013

Senator Grothman was right about Kwanzaa – well almost!

by Carlotta Morrow — Categories: Kwanzaa — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Leave a comment

I’ve been listening and reading about the anger directed at Senator Glenn Grothman for his press release asking “Why must we still hear about Kwanzaa?” (pdf) He was right on point when he said that Kwanzaa was created by “a racist who didn’t like the idea that Christ died for all of our sins, so he felt blacks should have their own holiday – hence Kwanzaa.” Now I do disagree with him when he said almost “no black people today care about Kwanzaa.” There are many, many black people who do care about Kwanzaa. I’m not one of them – at all. In fact I despise Kwanzaa and that I’ll explain why later.

I don’t know what started Senator Grothman’s questioning of Kwanzaa, but the two links in his press release do provide a clue. The first one is a video about two schools that are incorporating Kwanzaa principles in their African-centered education. They  often talk about the need for the black child to feel like they are a part of the school to enhance their education.  They speak of teaching culture and virtues through the learning and practicing of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. It made me wonder if any biblical principles and virtues are allowed to be taught at all – especially during Christmas and/or Easter! How many schools aren’t even allowed to do a Charlie Brown Christmas play because bible verses are dared recited by the Peanuts character Linus! And how insulting to think that black children raised in Christian homes don’t find that Christ is sufficient for feeling good about whom they are in this world!

The second link which was an article (only accessible for 30 days free) that made some glaring mistakes about Kwanzaa. University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Professor Dr. James Coates says of Kwanzaa, “the holiday is often misunderstood as a replacement for Christmas.” This is not a misunderstanding, this was clearly the creator of Kwanzaa’s intent as the following excerpts from his own books will reveal:

“It [Kwanzaa] was chosen to give a Black alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society.” Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture. Los
Angeles, CA: University of Sankore Press, 1997. p 21

“. . . it gives them a spiritual alternative to the commercialization of Christmas and the resultant move away from its original spiritual values and message.” p 118

“Kwanzaa is not an imitation, but an alternative, in fact, and oppositional alternative to the spookism, mysticism and non-earth based practices which plague us as a people.” Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa: origin, concepts, practice. Inglewood, California: Kawaida Publications, 1977, p 14

Professor Coates also says, “Kwanzaa is intended as a cultural, not religious, holiday.” This is one of the biggest lies/misunderstandings about Kwanzaa. A school will allow the reciting of Kwanzaa principles and to teach it as “virtues” and yet not consider it religious? The creator of Kwanzaa tried to create it as a religion but that didn’t take off exactly as he planned. He even listed the seven principles of Kwanzaa (the Nguzo Saba) as a religion in his list of religions in one of his first books on Kwanzaa! (Kawaida Theory page 25).  For a celebration not intended to be a religion, it is full of religious imagery as in the lighting of candles similar to the Jewish Hanukkah, the reciting of libations found in African religions, the practicing of principles similar to the practice of the 10 Commandments in Judeo-Christian belief system just to name a few examples. Yet schools can’t dare mention Jesus’ name during the very holiday that was named after Him!

That is why I despise Kwanzaa.  It is being taught by mostly white establishments that black people somehow need something other than a strong Christian foundation to make them successful in life. Sadly, many black Christians are buying this not realizing that they are just showing their idol worship of a practice that is subtly telling them, that believing in Christ isn’t enough.

As for CNN’s heated discussion with Senator Grothman and Christian Roland Martin, hosted by CNN’s Ashleigh Banfield, it was a shame seeing Roland’s defense of Kwanzaa place the holiday of Easter as a “pagan” holiday. Martin’s public vitriol attack of Senator Grothman who is a Christian also, showed that his love for the color of his skin is more important than the love for another Christian.  A true test of one being in Christ is his love for the brethren. (1 John 3:14)

Now I do want to correct Senator Grothman on Karenga as he is no longer a violent nut, but an ex-con who turned to education rather than violence (as far as anyone knows). He has two PhDs and earned them honestly.  We have to give him that much credit even though we don’t agree with him. And although many will try to separate Karenga from Kwanzaa, the holiday alone is enough for any Christian to take a stand and demand that it be taken out of the schools because of its religious nature or bring Jesus Christ into them! Folks can celebrate Kwanzaa all they want but when they begin to indoctrinate our children in this subtle brainwash of culture worship, then we must take a stand!

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Read more about how Karenga played a part in my family’s life, thus resulting in me meeting with him, learning about him and exposing Kwanzaa as an anti-Christian, cultic and racially divisive holiday. Download my ebook at $3.95 here: Kwanzaa, Cultural or Cultic?

December 24, 2012

candles2

Kwanzaa and Christianity – Unequally Yoked!

by Carlotta Morrow — Categories: Kwanzaa, Special Topics — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — 3 Comments

December 26 marks the beginning of the seven day celebration of Kwanzaa every year. What is Kwanzaa? It’s a celebration designed to bring together families to share their African-American culture.  At least that’s the general opinion of most who celebrate it.  For many it’s also a way of life complete with its own set of seven principles called in Swahili the Nguzo Saba.

Kwanzaa is celebrated by countless numbers of people in differing religions, ethnicities and what have you, but the number of Christians who celebrate Kwanzaa becomes a bit more on the disturbing side. Why is that? For the most part, Kwanzaa’s creation by Maulana Karenga, a college professor and leader of a black activist organization,was primarily because of his intense hatred of religions, especially of the Christian and Jewish religions.

Jesus Psychotic?

So Christians celebrate a holiday that not only is created by a man who hates religions, but mocked our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ publicly when he was quoted from the following in his book, The Quotable Karenga, 1967:

“Jesus was psychotic. He said if you didn’t believe what he did you would burn forever.” (pg 25)
“If you realized how human Jesus was, you’d see he was no God.” (pg 26)

To think I bought Karenga’s book off of Ebay a few years ago for less than 5 dollars, after giving my copy of the book to a Los Angeles pastor in the 1980′s who did nothing about it.  You can’t find that book anywhere I don’t think for less than $35, and I’ve seen it as a collector’s item in the $200 dollar range! Yes, that invaluable book reveals Karenga’s true beliefs at that time on Christians, Jesus Christ, religions in general and of himself and other humans when he said:

“We are God ourselves, therefore it is not good to be atheistic or agnostic.  To be an atheist is to deny our existence and to be an agnostic is to doubt it.” (pg 26)

This book was printed in 1967, a year AFTER Kwanzaa’s creation.  Churches that bring Kwanzaa within their walls have just offered an invitation to the wiles of Satan himself!

Kwanzaa resembling a mixture of different religions

Now many will say that that was then and now is now and how they celebrate it is the difference. Many will claim not to believe the way Karenga believes but should Christians participate in it? What is the Kwanzaa celebration about? Here a few of the elements of the Kwanzaa ceremony:

  • Chanting of Libations (see Karenga’s example of one here)
  • Drinking of a Unity Cup
  • 7 candles – one for each day of the 7 principles
  • Roll calling of dead ancestors names
  • Celebration of 7 principles to make each man, woman and child a better human being
  • Kinara – (Candle holder, very similar to the Jewish candle holder, the Menorah)

Although not considered a religious event, the entire Kwanzaa ceremony is reminiscent of Ancient African religions with the roll calling of dead ancestors, the 7 principles similar to having 10 commandments in the Judeo-Christian religions, lighting the candles in a candle holder similar to the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah. Yet it is stressed that this is not a religious celebration.

Godly vs Satanic

It’s important that as Christian’s we recognized what belongs to Satan and what belongs to God. Karenga is not to be condemned himself, but his teachings and anything associated with it we should steer clear of as we are reminded in the scriptures to do so:

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?

For youare the temple of the living God.

As God has said:

“ I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “ Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 “ I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6: 14-18

Kwanzaa is a celebration like Halloween that I’ve separated myself from. Many today do not celebrate Halloween like it was intended, but it’s the purpose of Halloween and it’s satanic pagan roots that is bothersome and to be avoided like Kwanzaa. Sure, people will say that Christmas is pagan too but the early roots of Christmas aren’t satanic and still had the purpose of honoring God. (See “Is Christmas Pagan, by Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason).

Holidays are just a small sampling of what we as Christians need to be discerning.  Unequally yoked not only means our practices, but who we associate with, date and marry, business partners and etc. God didn’t mean we couldn’t have unsaved friends or be a part of pagan ceremonies, but when it comes to relationships and practices that could compromise our faith in God, THEN it’s time to become unyoked!

To borrow from the previous link I shared on Halloween, we as Christians are to be reminded of what this world is about.  We are to remember not to get sucked into deceptive “feel good and look good” false spiritual events like Kwanzaa when the scriptures say:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:12-13

 

(Reposted from 12/2010)

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More about Kwanzaa in my $3.95 ebooklet, “Kwanzaa, Cultural or Cultic?”

Download PDF sample pages including Forward, Preface, Table of Contents and one chapter titled “Is Kwanzaa A Religion?” Sample eBooklet – 10 pages

Full eBooklet – 44 pages

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