Wow, its been 10 months since my last blog and I hope I can keep it up this time. You know the hardest part about about being consistent with writing down your thoughts is discipline. I can find at least 5 reasons, (clears throat) I mean excuses to why I don’t have the time to do it. So here’s to good old discipline and just making the effort to get reacquainted with journalism.

So, in the last 10 months a lot has happened. Ive celebrated 6 years of marriage, my 33rd birthday and released a mixtape (www.noisetrade.com/jrinstereo) and a collective album with High Society (www.thisishigh.com). I’ve also given more time to leading worship at my church and building the vision of Christians in the arts outside of Christendom.  I’ve been walking with young black males from my community for some time now and am very in-tune with the state of urban black culture, and how poverty, ignorance, low self esteem, lack of healthy mentors and faith effect it. This by far has been one of my toughest and frustrating challenges, believing that God can change them and me in the process. And…. in the midst of it all, being yet reacquainted with my mission to be my brothers keeper.

In light of this reality, I am devoted to changing the way the rest of America (and the world) see young and old black men. No I’m not an social activist (though I am a part of the NAACP), no I don’t do weekly marches and no, I don’t own a Boys Girl Club Of America. But what I do have is time, knowledge, experience and love for my fellow brother (which if you looked at yourself you would find these same qualities).  I start by just doing something!!! Tues is Small Group night, Wed nights I serve over 50 un-churched youth with a pastor friend of mine. And Friday’s I volunteer for Mission St Louis mentoring young men for 6-8 hours, all while working from home, touring and being a full time Husband and daddy. I did not mention these to boast but to show that if I can do it YOU CAN TOO!!!! God seldom uses the person with their arms folded and hands closed, he uses those who are in action, actively pursuing opportunities to serve! 

So as I rap up, know that I’m not saying that you have to follow my model or anyone else’s. I’m just saying look for something or someone that’s broken and needs a lil help and lend a helping hand to fix it. Maybe its not social and racial ills, maybe its the arts, medicine or law. But whatever is is just put your hand to the plow and God willing he uses your efforts. This is not me just talking, I speak from experience and could care less about trying to sell you anything! But if God can use a selfish, self centered, comfort Idolizing douche bag like me, he most definitely can use you too. Get reacquainted with that which needs your hand and start grinding today.

J.R.

I know what your thinking….and yeah, it is a mouth full.  But if you would humor me but for a moment, I think you will find in the grand scheme of this writing truth or at at least food for thought.

Let me begin by saying I am a man of faith.  My convictions on who God is and my world view as a Christian govern all that I think, say or do.  Each morning I arise with thankfulness on my lips, being reminded by the sunshine creeping through the window that I’m yet alive to see another day.  I spend about 45 mins each morning reading and praying for myself, family and others. And all throughout my day I am consciously aware that God is with me, being intricately involved in my everyday happenings. And I  in return respond in faith by choosing to try to make my actions mirror his goodness.  This is the normal life of a religious person OR is it? 

You see Webster’s dictionary  defines a religious person as “a man or woman having or showing belief in and reverence for a deity”,  and judging from this definition I fit the criteria. Except that this is not always a “Normal” practice for me.  The truth is, is that I often do the opposite of a religious person. I make choices and decisions on my own as if there is no God, as if I’m calling the shots and making things happen. I set my affections on things that are fleeing, temporary and deceivingly gratifying to the eye.  I make failing attempts to make myself happy by leaning on my gifts and talents as if they define me or my worth.  And I even go as far as to  to abandon evidence of God’s existence from my conscience when I want to do my own thing.  Now I’m not an expert on the subject of Atheism by any stretch, but I can probably guess that some of the actions I described above are similar to those who hold such a view. 

According to Webster’s dictionary, it defines atheism as “a disbelief in the existence of deity”….. and as much as I hate to admit it, I at time fit this criteria quite well, which would make me sort of a Christian Atheist!!!  So where does that leave me, am I an atheist or a religious person? Do I believe God exist or don’t I?  I am by all means a religious person and to be specific a Christian, and thanks be to God for his gospel that frees me live within such a war of the will!!!  Because of it, I am not afraid to admit my frailty as a human being juggling faith and doubt, doctrine and heart, good and evil, corruption and beauty. It promises me that though I am fatally flawed, I will live again, though I want to do wrong I am empowered to do right and when all else fails God never will.

So, if you find yourself living on both sides of the fence, take comfort and know that he who started a good work in you will perform it until that great day of redemption and to make every attempt to live out your faith in word and deed!  And if you  hold to atheism and happen to stumble onto this blog, I pray this wrting will spark even further discussion on the matter, online and with those whom you love and respect around you.

God Bless,

J.R.

Ever wonder what the everyday life of a entertainer/musician/ artist looked like?  If your like me you probably imagine them in $500,000 yachts drinking Moet, performing in sold out arenas or driving down the freeway in a drop top Lamborghini with something mean in the passenger seat.  And while some of them do live such lavish lifestyles the majority of them live a more scaled back version, scaled back as in waiting on the next gig or placement to keep the lights on.  But despite what media feeds us, both sides of the spectrum have some what of a personal life to manage aside from their careers.

So, while I can give you a couple examples of what this looks like, I will start by using myself as one. I am a Husband, father of two boys, a son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend to many.  In addition to this I am a accomplished artist/producer/songwriter and have produced and written for some of the biggest artist in the Christian music genre, along with a couple Grammy nods, GMA nods and 2 Stellar awards. I am CEO of So Hot Productions, part owner of True Martyr Campaign clothing and am currently recording two albums while touring.  And while you might think my life is similar to the one described earlier, let me assure you it is quite different. 

You see, while I would love to spend my hours living like a rock star, the truth is is that I don’t have enough money, time (or desire for that matter) to do so.  My days are spent juggling between creating and investing in the life of my family, friends and community, while living off a somewhat predictable income. And while my art pays the bills I am not willing to sacrifice what matters most to me for my 15 minutes of fame (or by trying to get it).  As you may know, a passion of any sort cannot be cut off or shelved, it must be managed in order to work with the rest of who we are and so it is with the artist who creates for a living. 

At the end of the day what matters most to me cannot be bought or earned.  God has giving me eyes to see that all I have is a gift from him and is to be managed by his standard.  No matter how much we want be successful in our careers we must find a way to do it while nourishing the families and communities of which we belong….. and that my friend is quite the balancing act.