http://500px.com/oktayatli

I often wonder who the next celebrity godess will be. Back in the day it was Miss Spears, now Rihanna.  But, as of late, I keep hearing a new name. A different name – Siri.

This post has nothing to do with Church but everything to do with your opinion, especially if you own an iPhone.

The story went like this. Last week I pre-ordered a Verizon iPhone 4s at Best Buy in Homewood. Insider tips told me this location is a perfect place to buy as they have limited “tech traffic.” My pre-order was great. My pickup was tragic.

Long story short, Best Buy did not receive any Verizon phones which made my pre-order worthless. So, this is my post to all of you who have the new iPhone 4s. How is it? What is your favorite feature? How amazing is Siri?

photo by @JohnEdits

At first  listen I wasn’t too interested in Ye and Jay’s latest collaboration, Watch The Throne. But now, it has taken on a whole new meaning. No apologies, head tall and daring yourself to do the impossible. Who Gon Stop Me, huh?

http://500px.com/photo/2236854

A new revelation can be compared to gas: you need it to move forward but it costs a little of your comfort to “buy” it. Embrace revelation from Almighty God as you allow me to influence your thoughts on the things of this world. You’ll get something great, and may I give a shout-out to my brother @ThompsonWrites for the wonderful series “Heart for the House.”

Yours truly returned from a 19-day European excursion organized by People to People Ambassador Programs. It was by far the epoch of all epic epochs. My group of 27 high school students traveled France, Italy, Switzerland, and Austria, in which I had the opportunity to also live with an Austrian family for a few days.

My highlights: gondola ride through the curious canals of Venice; Michelangelo’s David in Florence, Italy; going to Austrian high school and playing football (not throwball) every day; and standing over Peter’s tomb in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. AMAZING! We also heard good speakers such as ambassadors, a holocaust survivor, excellent tour guides, angry Italians, etc.

Upon returning home and unpacking my baggage, I crossed some change in Euros and Swiss Francs, and for whatever reason, I had the strange urge to spend them. Sadly, I couldn’t spend them because I was in Highland, Indiana. It hit me a day later when I couldn’t sleep late that night, or early that morning: Those coins (almost seven Euros and almost three Swiss Francs) are worthless in Chicagoland just like things on this earth are useless for Heaven!

Personally, this revelation became really good practical knowledge for me. Why chase stuff when it’s only equivalent to a souvenir in heavenly reality like my European currency? Now, you material people shouldn’t lose your shirts. In fact, fully clad reading is encouraged in most social circles. I still like stuff, but hopefully it’s not a motive for me to live. God likes to give me stuff too, so it must be good. Think about how He tricked out Solomon! I don’t want to steal from @BlackBradPitt, but chew on this for clarification:

Jeremiah 9:23-24 The Lord says, “Let not the…rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me.“

Mark 8:36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

Job 31:24-28 (Job said) If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’ if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained…so that my heart was secretly enticed…then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.

Revelation 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich, with everything I want; I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that spiritually you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked (Jesus talking to the early church of Laodicea, the Lukewarm Church).

1 Timothy 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

Principle #1: The poorest man in the world is the man who has nothing but money.

Principle #2: The payoff for meekness and fear of the Lord is plenty and honor and a satisfying life. Proverbs 22:4

Principle #3: Human Life Value is everything you are when all of your material resources are stripped away…My most important asset is ME. – Garrett Gunderson

Final truth: The desire for “more” can be a destructive force to your life and faith. – Dr. Robb Thompson, senior pastor @FHClife

You can follow me, @PagingDrVictor, on Twitter for delicious insight.

—
Victor Adeleke

“You want to close your eyes for the last time and know the world is a better place because you were there.” Dr. Robb Thompson

http://500px.com/devottam

By @AdelekeCreates

Be sure to check out Bright Season and there new release Walk on Water. Big ups to them.

BrightSeasonWes: I think I’m giving up Christianity for now.

@BrightSeasonWes Jesus is not done with you for now or ever I think you simply have been surrounded by hypocrites who make it seem it’s fake                                                                                                                                   @BrightSeasonWes check out http://bit.ly/vtLLq these guys are awesome and real they are practicing true Christianity                                                                                                                                                                                       @AdelekeCreates you don’t even know me how can you diagnose my faith? I’M the hypocrite not the others around me.                                                                                                                                                                                          @BrightSeasonWes im sorry man about that I shouldn’t have rushed to conclusions but I know that walking away isn’t your punishment

@AdelekeCreates what do you mean walking away isnt my punishment                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          @BrightSeasonWes we are saved by grace through faith so if you have been a hypocrite you have been a hypocrite but that’s not the end                                                                                                                                                          @AdelekeCreates ohh i see. but a hypocrite is a bad witness. i dont read, i dont pray, i doubt constantly, havent been to church in months                                                                                                                                                   @BrightSeasonWes man ive been a hypocrite but that’s doesn’t mean Im not a Christian anymore walking away only adds to the hurt                                                                                                                                                                 @AdelekeCreates but hypocrisy is only the start. ive been living the Christian life for other people. i just dont really care about it anymore.                                                                                                                                                 @BrightSeasonWes perfect then you now have a frsh start you can come to Gof for the “first time ” now                                                                                                                                                                                                                                @AdelekeCreates i believe in and have faith in God, but as i told a friend, if im supposed to be on that plane outta here, he’ll see to it.                                                                                                                                                                     @AdelekeCreates and if im not, im no ‘better off’ than i am now or at birth.

@BrightSeasonWes alright I understand I would only say that all this should go to God dont be so hard on yourself                                                                                                                                                                                                                    @BrightSeasonWes ur sounding like a Reformation guy beating himself for sin if u have this much conviction u should tell God                                                                                                                                                                                               @AdelekeCreates i see what you mean. im not beating myself up, i mean i was. now, i feel relieved. free. if god wants to come to me, he will.                                                                                                                                                    @BrightSeasonWes he obviously has something great inside of you if you feel like this Satan wants you because you are special PERIOD                                                                                                                                                                     @AdelekeCreates ive always been a Calvinist and that goes for this as well                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   @BrightSeasonWes hey man do your thing but dont forget that God wants you Ill keep my tweeting eyes on you but I can tell you’re on your way

@AdelekeCreates thanks. i really do appreciate that.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 @BrightSeasonWes Does Psalm 119 Teach Salvation Comes By Keeping the Law? http://bit.ly/kD1fP0 check it out and some other posts God Bless!

Ladies and gentlemen, we have just landed on the moon (or walked on water).

Have you ever stumbled upon greatness? Have you ever received an idea that will rip apart the fabric of society and human existence and push us forward into the next generation of thinking? I have.

You see, God is not just good; he is flat-out ridiculous – ridic, as the cool kids say it. All praise be to Him. All the events leading up to the moment (ruining the Outlaw Preacher timeline trying to promote Pornographic Preacher (by far my most popular post), being reported as spam, getting talked to by @pastornar, being taught Tweetdeck and Twitter etiquette (thanks @sleepthatkills) hashtags and keyword timelines, and seeing the life-changing tweet) seemed random at the time but turned out to be all part of God’s plan.

Twitter Evangelism is exactly that. You simply evangelize through Twitter. How? I’m glad you asked.

Getting Started

Essentially all you need is a Twitter account and, preferably, a Tweetdeck or something similar. Simply add columns on your Tweetdeck with keywords (Christianity, church, Jesus, religion, etc.). If you are using Twitter, just search these words and see what tweets pop up.

Look at the tweets and try to find people sounding discouraged about their faith, struggling with sin, or believing something contrary to the Word. Give them a no-string-attached reply to ignite a conversation. Then, allow them to decide to respond. Do not, under any circumstances, badger!

Implementation

From there, evangelize like you would at the mall or on the street. Be affable, yet stern and Biblically sound. Don’t give your opinion, give the Word in a way that is extremely basic and simple. An opinion is so subjective but a Scripture delivered effectively can make the difference of eternal life.

Every person has a confrontational side of them, especially when Christianity is involved. Don’t let that side get the best of you. If a conversation starts, set your foundation for the subject and then communicate to them how much God loves them and how much they mean to Him. Then, now that they have a softer heart, share the Truth in love. Also, make sure you have your Bible at hand as you want to be as accurate as possible. In addition, add personal stories and experiences to bring the message closer to home and meet them where they are.

Warning

Simple, I know, but unbelievably powerful. Yet, this undertaking is not for the spiritually weak. Only mature, on-fire Christians spending considerable time in the Word and prayer should take this up. I for one will be doing this sparingly if at all. The reason: giving must be done out of your abundance to be truly effective (1 Corinthians 9:27). Otherwise, you are a pounding gong or a clanging symbol from (1 Corinthians 13:1).

Go!

So get on it! Add this to your forms of evangelism; don’t use this as a replacement. Keep in mind this method is not fool proof and people can be up to there same tricks in no time. However, this is a way for leaders in the body of Christ to take back souls for the Kingdom in a way that is mutually amicable. People appreciate an outside voice and often them not knowing you makes them more open. Others close to them may have tried but good news from far away is sweet to the soul. You may be able to minister to someone in a way no one has ministered to them before. So stalk and prey lest they fall into condemnation.

Catch us in Twitosphere, Michael Adeleke, @AdelekeCreates and @tilltheground and the founder and editor of I Hate Church, Anthony Thompson, @Thompsonwrites and @iHatechurch. Also, like our I Hate Church and Till the Ground pages on Facebook.

Check out our videos on Vimeo for more info regarding what we are doing here, our future goals, vision, etc. Deuces!

http://onedayonearth.org

We live in a connected world with a connection built inside of us. This connection can be used positive or negative. Maybe there are ways in which we can amplify our connectivity for good. Check out this video of an extremely interesting project. A team of people gathered videos from all over the world on the same day.

By @AdelekeCreates

Have you ever wanted to redo the past? Have you ever thought you could rewind the years? It’s interesting, I tell myself that all the time, “If I could just have done this different – oh and this too – everything would’ve changed.”

Urbanites The Years

Now do I think that you will take things to the extent of closing your eyes without a fight? Probably not. But just in case, cheer up emo kid.

On a more serious note, what is the past? The past is a series of events that allegedly happened open to one’s interpretation that cannot be altered. You may say, “but you don’t what I’ve been through.” No I don’t! I really don’t.

Isn’t it funny that we reminisce about the past as we read a blog post on our laptop or cellular device, afterwards we turn on our 36 inch LED TV watching our cable programming with HBO and Cinemax and afterwards hop into our $15,000 car to go get ice cream as we drive to and fro from the burbs?

Haha. I think how horrible my past is and I look at myself right now and smile. For the most part, have everything I need and most of want I want and I’m not even rich bi- gotcha. You know after all the s— of my past, I’m still here! Everything was effed up but I’m still standing, breathing, eating, tweeting, and watching the premier league. Come on now I have friends who can stand me, a family who loves me but has funny way of showing it, and a darn good life worth living.

Just like passing from a run-down town into an affluent area, if we spend all our time squinting through the back mirror we would never see the sun shining, birds singing, and the cute little grandma driving 20 in a 45.

You got one life to live. Don’t spend it reminiscing and regretting. Suck every little drop of it. You can’t rewind the years. So live your life in fast forward.

The last month of my life I have devoted myself to taking Urbanites to the top so you better peep them at urbanitesmusic.com to get their cds, merchandise, documentary on our latest album The Years, as well as a free download of our latest album The Years on our Facebook page right now or I will cut you. And another thing, if you know what’s good for you check out their videos on Vimeo that I have personally edited now! I’m Nigerian, I might just pull out a spear or something.

In a future post we will go in depth on the next Coldplay from Chi-town but for now we will hold in you in deep, longing, captivating suspense.

Catch me in Twitosphere, Michael Adeleke, @AdelekeCreates if you’re into delicious insight, dry humor, and footy. If not, don’t bother.

http://500px.com/photo/200438

Well it’s that time of the year. No, not to go back to mind-numbing universities, long sleeve shirts, or THROWBALL. Yeah I know you didn’t like that last one.

This is the time of year to focus on the real football. The football played not with the hands but with the feet. The football that puts an entire city on the edge of their seat and makes grown men throw themselves around like little girls. The football that can excite a town, a nation, a world. My friends, FOOTBALL IS BACK!

Now you may say, “Soccer is so boring” in your typical, whiny, American accent. But as usual, YOU ARE WRONG!

You see, all your life some crackpot “friend” or “relative” told you that you should watch the MLS and the World Cup. Now don’t get me wrong, the MLS is improving and the World Cup has national pride. But that literally is the equivalent of watching Double A baseball and no-hitters all the time. Yeah, not very exciting.

The footy you should be watching resides in the heart of England. The Barclays Premier League – oh what a majestic name – is the most exciting, entertaining, enthralling league on the planet. Many a friend who had erroneously hated soccer now watch more Premier League footy than I do. I’m telling you, it’s contagious.

So on Saturday mornings, don’t sleep in or get your car washed. Turn your television to ESPN2 or Fox Soccer if you have it and watch the world’s most popular domestic league. Also there are many websites on line where you can stream the games for free. If interested, we can discuss in greater detail at an undisclosed location in the future (Twitter).

Let us not kid ourselves as Americans. If the ENTIRE world loves one game, maybe they are on to something. Eh?

So now me and my fellow I Hate Church writers will try to predict the future before your very eyes. Enjoy.

@AdelekeCreates (your humble correspondent)

Top 4: Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea FC, Liverpool

Favorite Team: Chelsea FC

Surprise Team: Stoke City

Player of the Year: Sergio “Kun” Aguero

Top Goal Scorer: Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez

Breakout Player: Romelu Lukaku

Bottom 3: QPR, Blackburn, Norwich City

@JPTroglio (the Italian Stallion)

Top 4: Manchester United, Chelsea FC, Manchester City, Liverpool

Favorite Team: Chelsea FC

Surprise Team: Tottenham Hotspur

Player of the Year: N/A

Top Goal Scorer: Wayne Rooney

Breakout Player: N/A

Bottom 3: Norwich City, Queens Park Rangers, Swansea City

@PagingDrVictor (supporter of THE DEVIL I mean uh Red Devils)

Top 4: Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea FC, Liverpool

Favorite Team: Manchester United

Surprise Team: Wigan

Player of the Year: Wayne Rooney

Top Goal Scorer: Sergio Aguero

Breakout Player: Daniel Strurridge

Bottom 3: Queens Park Rangers, Swansea City, Wolves

For football musings, in-game commentary, anecdotal fallacies, and football news on the hour follow @SirBadgeKisser. Really swell lad.

http://500px.com/artworx

Warning: Tune your sound to an appropriate volume. Sit back and agree or get angry with us.

Mood Rings by Relient K

You know those girls?

Catch us in Twitosphere, Michael Adeleke, @AdelekeCreates and @tilltheground and
the founder and editor of I Hate Church, Anthony Thompson, @Thompsonwrites.  Also, like our I Hate Church and Till the Ground pages on Facebook.

Check out our videos for more info regarding what we are doing here, our future goals,
vision, etc. Deuces!

Who would have thought a little place called Munster would attract thousands across America? Summer time is normally reserved for Icee’s, movies and makin’ out. [Insert] an alternative option, where the course of your future could be drastically altered.

The Two52 Conference literally shakes like no other. It does, I was there, I felt the subs in my stomach last year. When Kirk Franklin was singing, the fat in my face was shakin – THAT loud. This type of loudness means your attention will be grabbed.

A conference isn’t just about scoring a good seat. It’s about the revolution inside of you. It’s about gathering with friends and family to remember Christ. Get loud, shout and remember what He has done for you. These type of moments cannot be had in the driver seat of your Camry. They are carefully placed at strategic times in your life. This is what Two52 is about. This is the door knocking.

Pastor Steve and Kent Munsey have orchestrated a monster guest list. These names listed below are game changers. They are game changers because they have battled through spiritual jihad and still claim Christ. What they have, we need.

@SteveMunsey

@KentMunsey

@MarcusMecum

@RealJohnGray

@DavidCrank

@NickKhiroya

http://500px.com/DmitrievAnton

The past few weeks I have been studying worship and what it truly
means to be a worshiper.
I was frustrated because I was brought up in a church where the
worship was labeled as “amazing worship” in reference to their music.
So I found myself in a place where I was like- well why do I worship?

Is it because I have been brainwashed to do it? Is it just what I was
taught as a child or is it something that was birthed inside of me to
do?

So the study began and these are a few of my notes that I found in
the bible, and in the book “Extravagant Worship” By Darlene Zschech.

Worship is not a musical style or genre.
It’s not an acoustic guitar or a worship band that sounds (or thinks
they sound) like Hillsong.

Worship is a lifestyle.

Woship is an issue of
the heart. It is to be a living sacrifice to God.
The human heart longs to worship God. And we all worship
SOMETHING- it just may not be God.
Lets just say this girl was coming to church, she loved it and was heavily
involved, always on time, sitting near the front. All of a sudden she gets
a boyfriend. Everything changes to “I cant come tonight, I haven’t
seen my boyfriend in a few days and we need time together.” Her worship
goes from worshipping Jesus to worshipping a person because her
sacrifice has shifted its focus.

Psalm 100
1-2 On your feet now—applaud GOD! Bring a gift of laughter,
sing yourselves into his presence.

3

Know this: GOD is God, and God, GOD.
He made us; we didn’t make him.
We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.

4

Enter with the password: “Thank you!”
Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
Thank him. Worship him.

5

For GOD is sheer beauty,
all-generous in love,
loyal always and ever.

I love this verse. To me this is the essence of the first 20-30 minutes
of a typical service. The part where we sometimes cringe and
think “not these same old songs again.” We often long to hear certain
songs played because we like to sing them. We think we have to sound
perfect but when we are focused on perfection we take our focus off what it
is supposed to be on- Jesus.
We are singing songs of praise, songs of thankfulness to God. Why? So
that we can enter into his gates, into his presence so we are ready to
hear what God wants to say.

Worship is when ones spirit adores and connects with the Spirit of
God.

When we are found loving him and lost in him. Its not about the
songs being sung or the size of the band. Although music is a beautiful
expression of worship its not the entirety of it.

The core of worship is
when our heart and soul and all that is within us adores and connects
with the Spirit of God. Regardless of how awesome the band is,
unless our heart is fully engaged in the expression of worship,
its only music. The song of a worshipper is that or a pure heart
yearning for more and God and less of themselves.

You can follow me @Cthompson9 for thoughts on food, worship and fun.

Here are a list of verses on worship:

Psalm 33:3
Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.
Psalm 40:3
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many
will see and fear and will trust in the LORD.
Psalm 96:1
Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Psalm 98:1
O sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done wonderful things, His
right hand and His holy arm have accomplished His salvation.
Psalm 144:9
I will sing a new song to you, O God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will
make music to you,
Psalm 149:1
Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the
assembly of the saints.
Isaiah 42:10
Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth,

you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all
who live in them.
Revelation 5:9-10
9And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the
book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for
God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and
nation.
10″You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our
God; and they will reign upon the earth.”
Revelation 14:3
They sang a new song before the throne and before the four living
creatures and the elders, but no one could learn the song except the
144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

We know that Christ literally sang in the congregation at the last
supper. (Mark 14:26) Psalm 7:17

Psalm 9:2
I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O
Most High.

Psalm 9:11
Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the
nations what he has done.

Psalm 18:49
Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing
praises to your name.

Psalm 21:13
Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength; we will sing and praise your
might.

Psalm 30:4
Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name.

Psalm 47:6
Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing
praises.

Psalm 47:7
For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.

Psalm 59:17
O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my
loving God.

Psalm 61:8
Then will I ever sing praise to your name and fulfill my vows day after
day.

Psalm 63:5
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips
my mouth will praise you.

Psalm 66:2
Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!
Psalm 66:4
All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing
praise to your name.” Selah

Psalm 68:4
Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the
clouds — his name is the LORD— and rejoice before him.

Psalm 68:32
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, Selah

Psalm 69:30
I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 71:22
I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will
sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 71:23
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I, whom you have
redeemed.
Psalm 75:9
As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of
Jacob.
Psalm 95:2

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a
joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!
Psalm 96:2
Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after
day.

Psalm 101:1
I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.

Psalm 104:33
I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long
as I live.

Psalm 105:2
Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
Psalm 106:12
Then they believed his promises and sang his praise.
Psalm 135:3
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for
that is pleasant.

Psalm 138:1
I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will
sing your praise.

Psalm 146:2
I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long
as I live.

Psalm 147:1
Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how
pleasant and fitting to praise him!

Romans 15:9
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to
your name.”

Romans 15:11
And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him,
all you peoples.”
Hebrews 2:12
He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of
the congregation I will sing your praises.”

James 5:13
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let
him sing songs of praise.

2 Chronicles 5:13
The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give
praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals
and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD
and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.” Then the temple of
the LORD was filled with a cloud,

Psalm 126:2
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things
for them.”