Mixtape Title: Blood Bought
1. Blood In 01:26
2. So Amazing 04:40
3. Str8 Up 04:05
4. The Storm 04:13
5. U take it all away ft. Mel Alston 04:38
6. Covered 02:08
7. A note 4The Hopeless 05:41
8. Blood Brothers ft D-Maub & K-Drama 03:18
9. Blood Out 01:05
Created: 12/12/2009 06:14:37 AM PST
RANCHO CUCAMONGA - A family claims they're in the crosshairs of city officials for hosting Christian gatherings in their home.
Joe and Diana Johnson say the city has been harassing them for hosting Bible studies in their rented house on
"We're not going anywhere," Diana Johnson said. "The Bible says (Christians) will suffer persecution for Christ. We realize they are not angry with us. They are angry with God."
The situation illustrates the struggle city and county code enforcement officials face in striking a balance between the freedoms and wishes of differing neighbors.
"We want to help people co-exist while not infringing on other people's rights," said David Wert, spokesman for
The Johnsons said the problem started when a neighbor snapped photographs of them in their home.
"We were sitting in the family room having Bible study," Diana Johnson said. "I see flashes of light. He's hanging over the fence and taking pictures."
The Johnsons said the incident was followed by a visit in September from a code enforcement officer who told them they were operating a church in violation of city code and would need permits that cost thousands of dollars.
They claim the officer threatened to report them to the District Attorney's office.
Word of the trouble spread up and down the block.
Neighbors attributed excessive cars on the street to the family's meetings, they said. The Johnsons received a phone call from their landlord telling them the city wanted them to remove advertisements for their meetings from a Web site designed for their counseling ministry, and from another online page.
The city also told the family to remove a banner from their front yard advertising their Sunday morning gatherings. The Johnsons said the banner was a holdover from when they attempted to start a church at a community center before Joe Johnson became ill in March.
The Johnsons, who have been hosting family Bible studies and prayer meetings for more than 16 years in their current and former homes, said they wanted to use the banner as a marker for relatives coming from outside the region to worship and pray for their sick father.
Holding church in a residential zone is unlawful without a condional use permit, said James L. Markman, an attorney for the city.
"I don't believe that sign was there because their relatives couldn't find a house," he said. "That Web site didn't say only family members admitted."
Markman said the activities conducted by the Johnsons could constitute church meetings.
"Bible study is a typical thing you do with a church activity," he said. "You might notice other things start happening, (such as) taking donations."
The Johnsons said the code enforcement officer told them he had received reports they were singing gospel songs, reading the Bible and taking offerings.
Trang Huynh, the director of building and safety for
"I think when people saw the banner in the front yard, the neighbors got nervous about it," he said.
Officials said they want to prevent potential nuisance problems, such as parking and noise if such groups grow unwieldy.
"Can you imagine if everybody turned their house into a church?" Markman asked.
But an attorney for the Johnsons said the city's position is nothing more than religious discrimination.
"The legal principle is that the government may not treat a religious gathering any differently than a non-religious gathering," said Dean Broyles, president of the Escondido-based
Broyles earlier this year represented a pastor who was issued a warning from a
Broyles said he was surprised to see a similar issue pop up so soon.
"I would definitely say the city was unnecessarily aggressive and didn't really understand what was happening at the home," he said.
He commended
But he is concerned the city may unfairly target the family in the future, because the letter also stated:
"Pleased be advised that the City will continue to monitor the situation. If at any time your clients are again operating a church on their property, the City will have no choice but to require them to obtain a (conditional use permit)."
Markman said the city isn't trying to tamper with the family's First Amendment rights.
"If they are reaching out to a general public and it comes to light they are conducting church activities without a permit, we'll come to odds," he said.
The Johnsons said they won't raise their banner again, but the gatherings will continue.
The retired California Department of Corrections officers say they don't fear the city - or much else.
"We're not going to stop doing what we're doing and they're just going to have to do what they have to do," Diana Johnson said.
They do however worry for the safety of their loved ones who live with them and those who visit. They said some of the neighbors have changed from friendly to hostile since the episode with the city, and the Johnsons fear there may be underlying racial issues.
Joe Johnson said he is taking steps to protect his family.
"And I'll let God deal with the rest of it," he said.
This Saturday, December 12th, San Francisco Bay Area purveyors TRUE will be dropping the Cali Collection, an assortment of apparel and New Era caps paying tribute to the Golden State. Pictured below are the Cali 2 and Cali revisited caps, the anchors of the collection. The Cali 2 cap also happens to be the final design in the 12 Days of Christmas collection. Aside from head wear, a lineup of apparel looks to debut later in the week. All items will be available at both TRUE San Francisco, TRUE East, and TrueClothing.net. (via Hypebeast.com)The 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on Sunday Jan. 31, 2010, at
Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on CBS from 8 p.m
Eastern.
The two children chosen to front Richard Dawkins's latest assault on God could not look more free of the misery he associates with religious baggage. With the slogan "Please don't label me. Let me grow up and choose for myself", the youngsters with broad grins seem to be the perfect advertisement for the new atheism being promoted by Professor Dawkins and
the British Humanist Association.
Except that they are about as far from atheism as it is possible to be. The Times can reveal that Charlotte, 8, and Ollie, 7, are from one of the country's most devout Christian families.
Their father, Brad Mason, is something of a celebrity within evangelical circles as the drummer for the popular Christian musician Noel Richards. Now a web designer and photographer, Mr Mason has been supplementing his income for years by providing photographs to agencies who sell them on to newspapers and advertising campaigns.
He said: "It is quite funny, because obviously they were searching for images of children that looked happy and free. They happened to choose children who are Christian. It is ironic. The humanists obviously did not know the background of these children."
He said that the children's Christianity had shone through. "Obviously there is something in their faces which is different. So they judged that they were happy and free without knowing that they are Christians. That is quite a compliment. I reckon it shows we have brought up our children in a good way and that they are happy."
Gerald Coates, the leader of the Pioneer network of churches, which Mr Mason and his family used to attend before they moved to Dorset, said: "I think it is hilarious that the happy and liberated children on the atheist poster are in fact Christian."
The British Humanist Association said that it did not matter whether the children were Christians. "That's one of the points of our campaign," said Andrew Copson, the association's education director. "People who criticise us for saying that children raised in religious families won't be happy, or that no child should have any contact with religion, should take the time to read the adverts.
"The message is that the labelling of children by their parents' religion fails to respect the rights of the child and their autonomy. We are saying that religions and philosophies - and 'humanist' is one of the labels we use on our poster - should not be foisted on or assumed of young children."
The images of the children were sourced from istockphoto.com, on which photographers upload images for sale to designers, in return receiving a portion of each download fee.
Those who have welcomed the campaign include the magician and illusionist Derren Brown and the author Philip Pullman, who said: "It is absolutely right that we shouldn't label children until they are old enough to decide for themselves."
Artist Name: Knine
Mixtape Title: Robots Have Feelings Too
Brief Summary: I really wasn't sure what to think when I first heard of this mixtape. I honestly wasn't too optimistic when I saw the title or the artwork. Don’t get me wrong, the artwork is impressive but it just isn’t what I’m accustomed to see for a mixtape. I expected a backpacker/abstract type of album with random references to Jesus if any. Think Kanye West meets MF Doom. I downloaded it anyway and ignored my pessimism. My boy Yung Lion had mentioned Knine to me so I thought I would give him a chance just on strength. I downloaded the free mixtape and dropped it into my phone (I am the only person in the world without an iPod) and clicked random. I was unenthused to hear the first track that played which was “Boom Boom Pow.” I was just about to write off Knine but decided to give him another chance even though I had already convinced myself of the inevitable. I was amazed, impressed, shocked and in awe that this dude (Knine) had the audacity to spit over Biggie. First off this took me back to the days when I was an avid hip hop fan and second, not just anyone can spit over a Biggie beat. I mean B.I. is considered one of the greatest and has set the bar when it comes to lyricism. However Knine held his own and spit an impressive rendition of “The Ten Commandments.” I was convinced of Knine’s skills after that. All the songs on the mixtape (except for “Boom”) were bangers. I was impressed with K’s selection of beats and his ability to display his lyrical skills without compromising doctrine. My personal favorite was Everyday featuring Kameron. This is one of the illest freestyles I have heard in a long time. Robots have Feelings Too is a solid mixtape and definitely a must have for all hip hop fans! This just might be the best mixtape of the year.
Website: http://kninemusic.com/
Cross Movement Records just released an official statement concerning Enock's untimely passing.
It's with great sorrow that we must inform you of the passing of our beloved brother Juan James aka "Enock" – one of the co-founders of Christian rap group The Cross Movement. His passing occurred Saturday morning, October 17, 2009 of an apparent but, yet still unconfirmed heart attack. It is impossible to express our sadness as words fail our emotions and sentiments. Our prayers and loving support go out to his entire family and the Cross Movement family as a whole. Our greatest joy in this time of mourning is that he knows his God intimately and is in His presence celebrating our Lord. As our Lord lives, so does "Nock." As details regarding his going home service are made available, we will keep you informed. Please pray with us, mourn with us, and celebrate with us. We've lost our brother presently, but the Lord is with his son Juan eternally. So you preceded us to the Lord Nock, we'll proceed with the representin'... see you soon bro.
Romans 8: 35-38 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers." (NIV)
Artist Name: The Street Pastor
Mixtape Title: "Prince Among Thieves Session 1"
Brief Summary: This project is banging from begining to end. It's no surprise that this been labeled by many as the Mixtape of the Year. The beats are knocking and the flows are sick. The Street Pastor’s mixtape Prince Among Thieves Ses. 1 features appearances from east coast artist
Website: www.streetpastor.com
Quiana just got into the Conservatory of Fine Arts at
The Conservatory of Fine Arts combines the instructional skills of district personnel and professionals. This program is for kids who are students of LAUSD and are identified to have talent in the visual arts. The program offers instruction to elementary, middle, and senior high school students who attend LAUSD schools. They have field trips to museums, student demos and even an art show at the end of the year.
This is gonna be bananas!!!!
A federal judge in Yom Kippur (Hebrew: יוֹם כִּפּוּר, IPA: [ˈjɔm kiˈpur]), also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for religious Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with an approximately 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days. Read the rest here
Two Christian women remain jailed in
FULL STORY
RICHMOND, Va. — A California rapper whose lyrics spoke about the thrill of murder and mutilation has been charged with killing a Virginia pastor, whose body was found along with three others inside the home of his estranged wife, authorities said Sunday.
Police on Saturday charged Richard Alden Samuel McCroskey III, 20, of
Wu, can I get a soo?
They are back. The yellow and black AF1’s paying homage “…The RZA, The Gza, The Old Dirty Bastard, Instecta Deck, U God, Raekwon the Chef, Ghostface Killa and METHOD MAN!!!!!”
Shout out to my peeps at West147.com
Former freestyle champ Jin better known for his battles on 106 and Park and Fight Klub is back on the scene as a Christian rapper. After winning 7 straight weeks on Bet’s 106 & Park he signed with Ruff Ryders who are known for producing artists such as DMX, The Lox and Eve. Jin now resides in
You probably thinking who the heck is Evangel and what nerve does he have going up against probably the GOAT? I found out about both songs while on a thread on the HolyCulture.net forum.
Rakim, a pioneer in the art of emceeing, originally recorded a track called “ Holy Are You“. Rakim used this song to boast about his lyrical skills and greatness as a rapper. Most listeners might would ask, okay what else is new… isn’t that every rap song?
As a fan of hip hop music and a card carrying member of The Peoples Coalition for the Preservation of Hip Hop (copyright pending) I found my self divided at first. Thanks to my Uncle Hank I was introduced to Eric B & Rakim at an early age. So I grew up listening to Ra’ and would memorize the lyrics to a lot of his songs. I even studied his rhyme scheme and incorporated it in my lyrics w hen I grew older and began to rhyme myself.
However as a Christian you begin to see (and hear) things differently. So I completely understand the need for Evangel’s response. Chalk one up for Evangel in the W column!!!!!
