November 26th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
50 Cent, of his real name Curtis Jackson, is an American rapper born in the Queens of New York, July 6 1978.
The origin of his pseudonym, 50 Cent, comes from a New York gangster. When rapper 50 Cent was 8 years old, his mother dies, his father abandons him and rapper 50 Cent begins to sell cocaine to survive, while rapper 50 Cent was brought up by his grand mother. Despite this difficult childhood, rapper 50 Cent hopes to one day have the money and the glory that he has always dream as a rapper.
After a few forth and back in jail, it is 1996 that rapper 50 Cent meets Jam Master Jay of group Run DMC which label is JMJ Records. But the association with Jam Master Jay didn’t last, what is more rapper 50 Cent agreed with another label Trackmasters, already known in New York as a powerful label and having already worked with artists such as NAS or Jay-Z. Label Trackmasters signs rapper 50 Cent, who prepares his first album Power Of The $, with Columbia Records in 1999.
There are some rapper 50 Cent singles with success such as: « Your Life’s on the Line » and « How to Rob». Because of this last single, rapper 50 Cent was almost dead in front of the house of his grand parents in Mai 2000, people shot at him 9 times, and 3 bullets hit him, one in his hand, one in his back and the last one in his face, without physical damages but would have given rapper 50 Cent his style of voice. rapper 50 Cent still keeps sequels of this attack. However, a number of rappers hardly believe him.
Columbia Records, who was about to release rapper 50 Cent album, gives up. The two following years, rapper 50 Cent sets up his own group G-Unit with Tony Yayo as well as Lloyd Banks, two artists with whom rapper 50 Cent will perform in freestyle and mixtapes and afterwards, when Tony Yayo goes in jail, Young Buck joins the group.
In 2002, rapper 50 Cent meets Eminem, who, after listening to some mixtapes of the artist, immediately signs him at Shady/Aftermath (Label of Eminem and Dr. Dre). His first success is the single “Wanksta” which was on the original soundtrack of film 8 Mile.
In 2003, rapper 50 Cent releases his first LP with label Shady/Aftermath, with songs such as “P.I.M.P”, “In Da Club” or “21 Questions”. The success is instant: 800 000 sales the first week. It is also the biggest success of 2003 with nearly 12 million copies sold. The same year, rapper 50 Cent releases his first LP with his group G-Unit, the album Beg For Mercy. Once again the success is there. In 2005, rapper 50 Cent follows with his second LP with Shady/Aftermath, The Massacre, 1,14 million albums are sold in 4 days. It is the sixth best performance of sales ever. Rapper 50 Cent also establishes another record (like the Beatles) with 4 singles in the top 10 sales. The rapper 50 Cent albums are sold at more than 8 million copies.
Rapper 50 Cent then creates his own clothing line named like his group: G-Unit Clothing, signs contracts with Reebok and other brands and set up his own production label, G-Unit Records. In 2006, is released the film about his own life and of same name as his first album with Shady/Aftermath, “Get Rich Or Die Tryin’”. Despite a certain success with the public, this film has been found several weeks in the top 50 of the worse films noted by site IMDB.
Rapper 50 Cent has had a child before becoming famous between two stays in jail, which gives him the wish to stop dealing cocaine and to invest himself in rap music. Rapper 50 Cent has had a relationship with actress Vivica A. Fox. But she was so jealous of the other girls that were around rapper 50 Cent, especially in his video clips, that she leaves rapper 50 Cent.
Rapper 50 Cent counts today as many fans that as many enemies. Indeed, his rap is the object of numerous critics. The real hip hop fans found rapper 50 Cent too commercial, because most of his sounds are made for the clubs, and his rhymes are more and more easy. What is more, rapper 50 Cent put some rappers back, especially New Yorkers: Jadakiss, Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Nas, Sheek Louch and Styles P. Rapper 50 Cent doesn’t hesitate to provoke and criticize them in his titles such as “Piggy Bank” from album “The Massacre” (2005). His power and his notoriety allowed rapper 50 Cent to compromise the career of rapper Ja Rule, with whom rapper 50 Cent was in serious conflict.
Since a few months, rapper 50 Cent is in conflict with rapper The Game (Los Angeles), protected by Dr. Dre.
The situation is therefore very complicated, it is one of the very few times that two artists from the same labels are in open conflict. The 2 rappers have collaborated together in the past and they have even sold quite a bit of their singles « How We Do » and « Hate It Or Love It ». The Game has denied on the radio that 50 Cent has contributed to the success of its album “The Documentary” (2005) while according to rapper 50 Cent, it is thanks to him that the album did sales.
Despite all these problems, rapper 50 Cent can still count on a good number of producers such as Dr. Dre, Cool & Dre, Scott Storch, Eminem, and Havoc, with whom rapper 50 Cent entertains good relationships. The rapper from the Queens has also many friends in the rap since he kept signing talents like on his label G-Unit records, which has in no time become very big. As a result, rapper 50 Cent has already signed and collaborated with Mobb Deep, M.O.P., Ma$e, Spider Loc, R&B singer Olivia… Finally rapper 50 Cent still entertains good, not to say very good relations with Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo and Young Buck (the 3 initial members of G-Unit), as well as with Jay-Z and Missy Elliott. Rapper 50 Cent belongs to the Crips, a street gang present in Los Angeles, and a little bit everywhere in North America.
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November 9th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
One of the most popular young stars in Hollywood today is Miley Cyrus. As most people know she is the star of the wildly popular Disney Channel television series ‘Hannah Montana’, as well as the daughter of country singer and actor Billy Ray Cyrus. She burst on the scene in 2006 and her fame soared like a rocket along with the popularity of her TV show. Though she comes from a showbiz family of sorts, the amount of fame and popularity she has achieved in just her first couple of years in the public eye is astounding.
Her Name
Many people wonder where she got the name Miley from and some are surprised to find out that it wasn’t her birth name. She has legally changed her name to Miley Ray Cyrus now, but she was born Destiny Hope Cyrus. Her parents called her Miley as a nickname because she was such a “smiley” baby.
Her Career
She has stated that she had wished to be an actress from the time she was about nine years old. She got her start in acting when she appeared in her Dad’s television show “Doc”, sometime later she made her film debut in the movie “Big Fish”. She auditioned for the role of Hannah Montana and also the role of her best friend and at first was turned down because she was so young. She eventually won the role with her personality and her stage presence. On the show she also sings many songs, some of which she has written herself. She went on to put out a couple of albums based mainly on her television persona, but has gone on to release material under her own name now. Her initial concert tour and movie made about the concert tour were huge hits as well.
Her Personal Life
She has an incredibly close relationship with her family and for that reason as well as her young age is with them a great deal. She has made many friends with co-stars of her show, stars of other Disney Channel shows, and also people associated with her live performances. Like any young star in Hollywood, she has had to deal with her share of scandals too, but none so bad that they have wrecked her squeaky clean image as Disney’s teen star of the moment.
With her incredible personality and huge popularity, there is nothing that can keep her from achieving all the career accomplishments she wishes for herself. She has shown the talent and drive that is guaranteed to serve her well long after she finishes her run as a teen pop culture icon.
Mark Allen writes about a number of subjects, some of which are even interesting. You can find out interesting stuff that you don’t know about a number of subjects by visiting 7Things! Including 7 things you don’t know about: Miley Cyrus
October 21st, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
The Kilt has been the target of many quotes joke and ribald comment for more years than it can probably remember!
But is it fair for it to be the butt of so many jokes?
After all, not only is the Kilt a recognised fashion item in quotes own right, it’s quotes more importantly a world recognised symbol of a country and the fierce national pride contained within!
Many a soldier has shuddered and shaken in fear in centuries gone when faced with a Scottish Warrior, kilt swirling in steadfast defiance of normality, broadsword or other razor sharp lethal weapon cutting huges scythes in the air as he charged.
Indeed, many fields of war were won purely by the arrival of Scotsmen dressed in their tradional tartan kilts. To many, the knowledge that the wearer wore nothing underneath was cause enough to panic! Add to this the ferocity of such a warrior and not many would stand up in front of them.
But ever since those heady days of hand to hand combat and battles fought face to face, some of the mystery and folklore of the Kilt remains. Ideas that you can only wear a Tartan Kilt if you are a member of that clan still abide today, wrongly in many cases.
Maybe this stops some people wearing a kilt?
Or does the fear of society’s view of a man effectively wearing what many still describe as a skirt also play a strong part?
But then what of those men among us who are recognised as being the manliest of men? Does wearing a kilt reduce their appearance and reputation at all? Famous celebrities such as Sean Connery, Billy Connely, Ewan McGregor or Mel Gibson?
How many women did – and still would – swoon clean away to see Mel Gibson walking towards them, kilt swaying in time to his steps? I strongly suspect – most! It would not be a swoon induced by dislike or scorn neither, more of one where they’re opinion has been enhanced as to the character and strength of the man involved.
I had the great pleasure of wearing a kilt many, many years ago when I was 6. The occassion was as a Page Boy for my Uncle and Aunts wedding. White ruffled shirt, red and blue tartan kilt with sporran and shoes. the only thing missing was the Dirk. For some reason never suitably explained by my parents, they seemed very nervous of letting their 6 year old offspring walk around with a small dagger shoved into the top of his sock! Spoilsports!
Even now, looking back at the old black and white photos – yes, it WAS that long ago – I get a thrill of seeing myself dressed like that.
Why?
Because it was different, unique and – dare I say it – I looked damn good! (I seem to remember it made a huge impression on my fellow official for the occasion, the bridesmaid called Candy, a curly blonde haired girl a year older than me. I have a misty memory of her asking her mom why i was wearing a skirt!)
A kilt nowadays plays a much larger part. Beyond the more well known kilts of Scotland with their heritage of history behind each unique Tartan design, comes the Kilts of Ireland and Wales in family crests or solid colors.
With society relaxing it’s own strict and nonsensical ideas of what is right and what is wrong, more men are coming to wear kilts, enjoying the uniqueness and freedom such a garment gives.
It is now more common to attend company dinners, awards and opening nights and spot one or two men dressed in kilted splendour.
Indeed, a whole new industry is beginning to grow – assisted by the internet with it’s ease of ordering and choosing – where new styles, designs and ideas of the traditional kilt are being tested and reworked.
For example, you can now buy kilts in camo pattern or kilts with pockets either side as opposed to the standard requirement for a sporran.
As for me and the kilt – as I get older and less worried about what other people think of me, the thoughts do stray to when I was 6 years old and how proud I felt dressed in such regal splendour. With the hot weather getting hotter each day a cooling breeze would certainly be more welcome as well!
Now then, where did I put that sporran and dirk?
Rufus Steele is a long time write-a-holic who now adds to his fun by writing for various websites.
You can read more of his kilts based articles on Good-Kilt.com
September 16th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
It is so easy to be caught up in the moment and overwhelmed with what we deal with on a daily basis. Many in society have made self-absorption its own art form. Yet we are lucky enough to have a few selfless, future-minded individuals who have their eyes on the ball. They realize that we aren’t nurturing the most important resource for when we are finally ready to throw in the towel and leave the daily grind of the workforce behind. Our future lies in the hands of today’s youth. These people understand that youth entrepreneurship can change the future for many who wouldn’t have considered success an option without that chance.
Years ago, there used to be kids on the side of the road running their own lemonade stand. Sure, they got their supplies from mom, but they put the stand together, waited for and served their customers. They had a natural drive to earn their own money. The natural drive didn’t always end there, either. Teens used to be able to earn a decent amount of spending money simply by knocking on their neighbor’s doors and offering to mow the lawn for a modest fee. The desire and drive to earn and succeed is born into every child.
The lemonade stand on the side of the road is much more difficult to find these days and teens don’t have either the drive or the opportunity to earn extra cash from some good old fashioned yard work. Most families have two working parents and aren’t at home, mom and dad find it easier to just give kids what they need or the opportunity just isn’t present. Our young people are in desperate need of youth entrepreneurships in order to be able to become well-rounded individuals prepared to succeed and appreciate success as adults.
Existing youth entrepreneurship programs already recognize the values offered by such a program including being able to understand taking the initiative, being an individual and the importance of community. With good mentors and programs, every child can learn how to find their own way to success and prosperity.
Any individual or business that opens up their workplace to young people in order to provide education and guidance is making a positive impact on the young people of their community and an investment in the future. Young people are able to understand and develop their own interest in business, learn new skills, develop ideas and how to become a leader. The benefits of a youth entrepreneurship program can be beneficial for both the business owner and participants in the program.
Our communities need to recognize that a link between education, the community and the workplace exists and it is a valuable one. Mentors are the key to showing young people how everything works together in order to successfully reach a single common goal. Youth entrepreneurship programs are able to show young people this link and the positive impact it can have on not just today, but the future as well.
Justin Sachs, author of Your Mailbox Is Full- Motivating Today’s Teens works with youth to develop a positive outlook on life, create a life plan, develop motivating goals, living a healthy lifestyle and more. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, California State Superintendent Jack O’Connell, and many others have recognized him for his success in motivating and inspiring today’s youth and for developing the next generation of leaders. His book and youth empowerment coaching services are available on his website at http://www.motivatingtodaysteens.com
Justin Sachs is the author of Your Mailbox Is Full~ Motivating Today’s Teens. A youth development book focused on transforming today’s teens into tomorrow’s leaders.
Justin has been recognized by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Senator Bill Morrow, California State Superintendant Jack O’Connell, and many more for his outstanding level of service and contribution to the community.
His Company, Justin Sachs International was formed with the mission of empowering teens to take their lives to the next level through instilling life-skills and leadership development principles within today’s youth. JSI believes with the right motivation, inspiration and determination, every youth can accomplish anything they desire, and JSI is here to guide them through that process, and to hold them accountable along the way.
July 20th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
The movie The Great Debaters debates universal topics and themes which all human beings can relate to and understand. In regard to what is morally right or wrong, which is to be preeminent? The law or one’s own conscience?
This is but one of the many outstanding topics debated and argued throughout the film, which deals with racial inequality, injustice, and human rights abuses. For centuries the legislature had written unjust laws to enslave, disenfranchise, and oppress blacks in America.
Thankfully because of some noble and intellectually astute men who wisely framed and articulated their arguments peacefully, justice did come and anglo-saxon hearts were won over to freedom. This progressively and eventually brought about an emancipation for blacks across the nation. Yet those in power did not turn over their control and remove their domination easily. They had to be confronted, exposed, and battled endlessly.
Hence the beauty and burden of democracy is a wayward people can rule by majority and thereby legally enact immorality. As Ghandi stated civil disobedience at times is just when the laws of men are unjust.
Though those in power among the ruling class would say civil disobedience is nothing more than the true face of anarchy, nothing can be further from the truth when you look closer at America’s historical atrocities inflicted upon the African race.
Honestly no people is more positioned or poised to show true love and forgiveness to America and its people than the Africans who were oppressed by this nation.
A march of civil disobedience done peacefully as instructed by Ghandi maintained human dignity and respect for one’s opponent, even to the extent of humbly accepting the legal consequences for your actions. Such acceptance of the repercussions for defying the law (even if the be unjust) can by no means be anarchy.
Another topic of debate in the film is welfare, which some say discourages hard work. Survival, that is eating and drinking, having a roof over one’s head, undoubtedly is the greatest motivation for one to go to work daily. It is arguable therefore that welfare weakens the poor further making them lazy and unwilling to work and be self-sufficient.
Yet the innocent children of parents without jobs who are both willing and able to work should not be made to suffer and go without, while a nation so prosperous as ours thrives. The government should provide jobs before condemning the poor.
As blacks redeemed their dignity, got their births recognized, and obtained meaningful employment it was immediately evident that the color of one’s skin need not be the determining factor of one’s character.
Black poets such as Hughes, Bennet, and Hurst showed themselves intellectually strong and capable in their writings. Hatred is merely a game played by cool hands. Wise and timeless words!
Today we no longer demonize Indians, blacks, and communists. Instead we prefer to demonize Muslims and label them terrorists (often people who we know nothing about). Hence America’s oppression marches on – it has just be taken off our soil and moved to another “theater of war” afar where less public scrutiny will be given.
It is therefore faulty logic and presumptuous to call America godly and good when it poorly represents the heart of the Creator both historically and now.
Who are we to do nothing? Such was an unforgettable question asked in this marvelous film that calls us to account.
A law that violates my conscience is void of justice. So too are executive orders that send sons to war to kill innocent people of another color or creed just because they cannot comprehend the English language when a gun is put to their face.
Conscience precedes law and enables us to know right from wrong.
Blacks were hung, lynched, and killed without justice. Today history is again repeating itself.
Are we confused or convinced by our own media propaganda?
An unjust law is no law at all.
Your opponent is a mere dissenting voice to the truth, which we in our hearts ultimately already know. God is the judge of the living and the dead.
Intuitively Professor Tolson early on recognized in The Great Debaters the irony of Bethlehem Steel, a company that makes weapons of war and yet uses the name of the birthplace of the Prince of Peace Jesus Christ.
Whatever it takes to make us comfortable with imperialism and the military-industrial complex I suppose. The denigration of people continues, only afar.
Today blacks have freedoms they fought for and gloriously won! I encourage them and all people to continue the fight for freedom for others afar who are being brutalized by almighty America and abused under “the rule of law” which often is no law at all beyond that of our own making, while we simultaneously disdain international law and become a law unto ourselves.
Write your own dictionary! For America has skillfully mastered the manipulation of the English language and their actions speak louder than their words.
Contact Paul F. Davis to speak about or debate the issues of the day on your college campus, in your city, or in your country.
RevivingNations@gmail.com
http://www.PaulFDavis.com
407-284-1705
Paul builds dreams, transcends limitations, & reconciles nations. Paul worked at Ground Zero in NYC during 9/11; helped rebuild a home at the tsunami epicenter; comforted victims of genocide in Rwanda; spoke to leaders in East Timor during the war; inspired students & monks in Myanmar; addressed audiences throughout India, China, Pakistan, & parts of Africa where they’ve never seen a white man. He is a highly sought after worldwide professional speaker, prolific author, human rights activist, provocateur, and minister.
Filmmakers and producers interested in United States of Arrogance (Paul’s book) can contact Davis who owns the U.S. Trademark for movie rights. Davis, a worldwide professional speaker has touched over 50 countries & 6 continents empowering people throughout the earth to live their dreams!
Davis has written 12 books, 2 nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
February 16th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
If you go back through history, would it be possible to find a time when there has been such violence instigated by children in their teenage years and even younger, as there is being reported today? There has to be something that has gone terribly wrong in our society that is causing such violence from our youth.
The many incidents that have taken place since the first reports of the Columbine tragedy, seems to only be growing. They do seem to follow a similar pattern. A troubled youth or perhaps two, descend upon unsuspecting people at school, or most recently, a shopping mall, and begin to kill and injure anyone in their path.
It is really silly for us all to stand back and wonder how and why these acts of violence are taking place. With the hectic lives of many parents today and the pursuit of the American Dream for their families, the children in these families are too often left in the shadows alone to entertain themselves.
It does not matter what kind of entertainment it is, cable, satellite, video games, and even music, can be damaging for many young and impressionable kids who are too often left to their own choices. These situations are only compounded in those youth who are already experiencing emotional problems of some kind.
While it is true that many parents today are taking precautions necessary to shield their children from inappropriate material, whatever form it takes. There are still many others who are so busy or simply think that the horrendous violence that kids are exposed to is not harmful. What are they thinking?
Any child who is already troubled, maybe ignored a little too often, and wants more attention, can easily see in the things they watch, even the news, that violent acts gains you attention.
They may not be capable of fully comprehending the end results of violence, but they comprehend the attention factor, which might be most important and necessary to them at the moment.
We all do not need to be psychiatrist or child behavior specialist to understand that violence begets violence. Adults should have the right to watch and listen to what they want to, but in doing so our children must be protected at the same time.
It is ultimately a parents responsibility to see that these precautions are in place, not societies, although less violent surroundings would be good for us all. With the parental controls and ratings systems that are in place today, there is no excuse for us to not know what our children watching.
Dror Klar offers The Cheapest Montana Direct TV, Dish Network and Montana High Speed Satellite Internet on the web.
February 4th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
Spinning panda bonzaa death kick coming your way…Yeah, this movie does sound ridiculous – imagine karate kid but with an endangered species as the protagonist, and you’re half-way there.
Belief seems to be a common theme amongst animated moves; we have seen the green monster who learns to love and the rabbit who teaches himself to slam dunk, but a fighting panda has, until now, been left alone.
Here we have your average everyday panda (aptly named Po), slightly podgy around the edges but loveable all the same. Jack Black does the voiceover for the movie and whilst perfectly executing a few quotes that will be reeled off in kid’s playgrounds up and down the country, he doesn’t really take full advantage of his wild side that we have seen in his previous appearances.
Po is a noodler (is that a word? He works in his father’s noodle shop, anyway!) and when he isn’t slaving behind a hot stove, he dreams of becoming a rather ’scaled-up’ Bruce Lee Kung Fu hero! Unfortunately for Po, his kung fu moves leave a lot to be desired; imagine a cross between a black and white dancing elephant and bambi in a head band. An unfortunate occurrence results in Po being entered into the toughest Kung Fu competition in the world, where he will be fighting against the most feared contenders known to Pandas and other species alike: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Crane (David Cross), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Viper (Lucy Liu), and the most feared of them all, the Mantis (Seth Rogen); just the sound of them strikes me with fear.
So Po heads up into the mountains to be transformed into a lean mean fighting machine by kung fu guru, master Shifu.
This is a good family movie, although probably a cut under the cream of the crop (films such as Finding Nemo still hold that accolade in my opinion) and teaches kids a great lesson about believing in yourself even when the odds are stacked against you. As you would expect, there is ample punching, kicking and other moves that have never been attempted before but it is all very mild, as is the language content, so parents you should have no worries about letting your kids watch this film from about the age of 5.
I’m pretty far outside of the target audience, being 23, and this film still kept me entertained and chuckling here and there. I almost get the impression that every now and then an ‘adult’ line is purposely chucked in for our entertainment, flying miles high above the heads of our juniors.
SpittinFlicks.com is a new Film Forum and Film Reviews site that is trying to bring together a community of film lovers.
February 2nd, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
Dating back to the time of the Ancient Greeks musicals started when the Greeks included music and dance in their stage comedies. From the 5th century B.C Musicals have developed into amazing acts and performances not even close to what they were in the past. Some include: Cats, The Phantom of The Opera, Broadway and newer ones like Hairspray and The Producers.
I have not watched very many musicals as they only come out every once in a while but one of the more recent ones is Hairspray. It is about a girl named Tracy Turnbland who manages to show everyone the stupidity in segregation and that ‘coolness’ is on the inside.
Tracy is a severely overweight high school student in Baltimore, Maryland whose favourite TV program is The Corny Collins Show that is broadcasted by Baltimore’s WYZT station every weekday afternoon. The show involves young teens dancing and singing up a storm. The manager of the station, Velma Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer) goes out of her way to ensure her daughter Amber is prominently featured and that the show remains segregated. All of the kids on the show are white. Black kids are only allowed on the show on Negro Day, the last Tuesday of the each month, hosted by local R&B radio DJ Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Latifah).
One day, Corny Collins (James Marsden) announces that one of the dancers is going on a leave of absence and auditions are going to be held for a replacement the following morning – during school hours. Even though their parents are far from supportive, Tracy and her best friend Penny go to audition. Velma turns Tracy away for being overweight and supportive of integration.
Unfortunately for Tracy, she gets caught and sent to detention for skipping school, but lo-and-behold, detention is where all the black kids hang out and dance. Tracy befriends hot detention dancer Seaweed (Elijah Kelley), who as it turns out, is Motormouth Maybelle’s son. Seaweed teaches Tracy some R&B moves that later get her a spot on The Corny Collins Show.
Tracy quickly becomes a big star on the show thanks to her great moves and bubbly personality but Velma does not see it that way. All she sees is how Tracy is a threat to Amber’s position in the “Miss Teenage Hairspray” pageant and Amber’s courtship with Link, the lead performer for The Corny Collins Show.
Out of anger, Velma cancels Negro Day from The Corny Collins Show and the black kids and their leader Maybelle have nowhere to express their talent.
Without giving too much away, Tracy shows everyone the importance of not giving up, of standing up for what you believe in and for the people you are friends with. While racism against blacks and segregation has stopped being the main focus in everyone’s lives, it is still surprisingly popular today among the less accepting of society. This movie shows us that it is important to be proud of who you are and the people you are associated with, whether they are fat, gangly, black or even purple.
Tsoof and Eden love to download full movies from the Internet.
December 2nd, 2007 -- Posted in Story |
Introduction
Many people have assumed leadership positions in the Church based on the claims that they had a “call”. This ‘call’ has been generally understood to come from God, which made it quite easy for them to be accepted as leaders. But Oswald Sanders said, in his book ‘Spiritual Leadership’, that, “in many cultures today where Christian leadership carries prestige and privileges, people aspire to leadership for reasons quite unworthy and self-seeking.”1 Such people hide their true motive under the guise of ‘call’.
It can be proved from scripture that God has been calling people to be leaders, but the way the Church understood and acknowledge the call has given rise to misinterpretation and misunderstanding. Merrill F. Unger, in the New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, classified the biblical concept of call under the following three headings: a) To call for help, b) Divine call, C) Call to salvation. With respect to the subject matter of this article, the ‘Divine call’ should be the area of concern. Unger further divided the divine call under three sub-headings: a) In the sense of ‘to name’ or to designate (Gen: 16:11) and in the sense of ‘to be’ (Isa. 9:6);b) In the designation of individuals to some special office or work, as the call of Bezalel (Exod. 31 : 2)), of Judges, prophets, apostles etc. and c) A condition of life (1 Cor. 7 1 Cor. 7:20)2
N.R.W, Farrer, in his article in the New Bible Dictionary, further commented on the divine call. He pointed out that when God called an individual to serve in some capacity and for some particular purpose, that call both described and indicated a relationship between God and that individual or group, e.g. as in the case of the nation of Israel.3
With this background idea of the concept of divine call, in both the contemporary Church and the Bible, the call to leadership, is divided into three main sections: a) The call of leaders in Bible times, b) The call of leaders in the contemporary African Church, c) Conclusion.
The Call of Leaders in the Bible Times
The Bible gives account of how most leaders came into leadership positions. Key leaders in the Bible are selected and grouped under four categories for this examination. The grouping is based on differences seen in the way they were called.
A. Group One
The first group comprises Leaders who had direct personal call from God. They include Abraham, Moses and Paul.
Abraham
Alan P. Ross, in his commentary on Genesis, cites Gen. 12:1-9 as the call of Abraham. He states that the passage recorded how God called Abraham out of a pagan world and made astounding promises to him, promises that later became part of the formal Abrahamic covenant.4 In addition to the text cited by Ross, Harrison and co-author, cites Acts 7:2-3 and Heb. 11:8 as additional passages from which Abraham’s call can be understood. The Acts passage reveals that God had a personal encounter with Abraham and told him to leave his country and people and go to a place he would show him. The Hebrew text reveals that Abraham obeyed. But as Harrison further pointed out, the call of Abraham was renewed in the Gen. 12 account.5 It was quite clear that obedience on the side of Abraham up to that point was partial. Ross pointed out two imperatives in the Gen. 12:1-3 account. The first was that Abraham was asked to leave his country and go to the land of Canaan, and the second was that he would be a blessing to others.6
Biblical records show how Abraham had been a leader particularly with respect to his faith and how the Jewish nations and later other nation of the world were blessed by imitating that same faith of Abraham.
Moses
K.A. Kitchen, in his article on Moses, introduced him as, “the great leader and law-giver through whom God brought the Hebrews out of Egypt, constituted them a nation for his service, and brought them within reach of the land promised to their forefathers.7 One can never dispute the fact that Moses had been a great leader. An important phrase of the quote above, ‘whom God used’, focuses on the relationship between Moses and God. The starting point of this working relationship was that it was God who called Moses whilst he was tending his father-in-Law’s flock at mount Horeb.8 Howard F. Vos, in describing this divine encounter of Moses said the angel of the lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire in a bush which would naturally have burned in a moment, but remained unconsumed. He continued by pointing to a two-fold revelation made to Moses. The first was the eternal self-existence of God, and the second was God’s mission to deliver his people.9 All that Moses did in his life as a leader had a direct bearing on this encounter.
Paul
The third and final person to be discussed in this group is the apostle Paul. In Act 9:1-9, the Bible describes a remarkable encounter that he had with God. F. Foulkes agreed with the biblical writer of Acts that Paul’s encounter was an experience of a healthy mind and can be adequately interpreted only as a miraculous act, which transforms Christ’s enemy into his apostle.10 It must be noted that commentators, like Stanley D. Toussaint, discussed the text above under Paul’s conversion. But Toussaint went further than just discussing conversion experience. He also mentioned Paul’s acknowledgment of the Lord Jesus Christ and the instructions the Lord gave him as to what he expected him to do.11 It was clear, from the point of Paul’s miraculous encounter onwards, that his role and mission as a leader was directly related to this experience.
Summary
The three leaders mentioned in the section above – Abraham, Moses and Paul, had personal divine encounter with God. In addition they were given specific instructions as to what they were supposed to do. It was upon the basis of these experiences that these men accepted God’s call. Finally, it must be noted that God has a specific mission in mind for each of these men when he called them.
B. Group Two
The second group comprises leaders God called through human mediators. In this group David and Joshua would be discussed.
David
In 1 Sam. 16:1-3, God instructed the prophet Samuel to go and anoint one of Jesse’s sons as king because he had rejected Saul. Later in that same chapter David was identified as the son and anointed. In his commentary on the text mentioned above, Eugene H. Merrill said that, “Samuel was commissioned to seek out the one who would succeed Saul on the throne of Israel. This one had already been identified as a man after God’s own heart”. David had been chosen from eternity past to be ruler of Israel.12 One could rightly say that David did not have a direct encounter with God but his call to fulfill a particular function in life came from God through Samuel.
Joshua
Four other people carried this name in scripture. The Joshua to be discussed was the one called Hoshea in Num. 13:16. He was the assistant and successor of Moses. From Deut. 31:14,23, God revealed to Moses that he would soon die and that he should appear with Joshua before him in the tabernacle. It was in the presence of God that Moses gave his faithful minister his commission. Joshua was told that he would lead Israel to the promise land, which he later did.13
God’s call to Joshua was mediated through Moses, and it also carried with it instructions for Joshua to take up a new position within Israel and a charge with the responsibility to take Israel to the promise land.
C. group Three
The third group comprises leaders who were called to leadership in response to a need. In this group James and Mathias would be discussed.
James
According to Gal. 1:9, James, the Lord’s brother was an apostle. When or how he got his apostleship was not recorded in scripture. However, he featured as a prominent leader in the early Church. Merrill F. Unger, in his article in the New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, acknowledge that James was indeed a prominent person in the Jerusalem Church (Gal. 2:2), was president of the council (Acts 15:13) and with the elders received Paul upon his return from his third missionary journey (Acts 21:8).14 Two things can be said about James: first, that his leadership role was recognized by the other elders and those he led; second, that he surface as a leader during a time of need or crisis.
Mathias
In Acts 1:15-26, Mathias was chosen as an apostle to replace Judas. As it is rightly pointed out Peter laid down the essential qualifications of the apostolic office. He continued by saying two men were qualified for the post, but the ultimate decision was referred to God himself by the casting of ‘lot’ and prayers. Unger further commented that nothing reliable was recorded of his (Mathias) life, nor was he mentioned again in the New Testament.15 No one can deny that Mathias held a leadership position, but again no one can truly account for what he did, nor point to his following.
D. Group Four
The fourth group of leaders God called through visions or dreams. Joseph, son of Jacob, and Samuel would be discussed in this group.
Joseph
R.K. Harrison rightly stated that Joseph was appointed ruler over Pharaoh’s house and over all the land and in actual fact was next to Pharaoh.16
According to Gen. 37:3-11, Joseph had two separate dreams, which his brothers and parents understood to mean that he would rule over them. It happened that indeed he became ruler. It should be observed that Joseph’s brothers and parents understood the interpretation of the dream and noted that God had that personal unique encounter with Joseph. So Joseph maintained a good spiritual relationship with God throughout his lifetime.
Samuel
In I Sam. 3:1-9, the Bible recorded a strange experience that Samuel had whilst serving Eli. He was asleep and he heard a voice calling him by name. He thought it was Eli. Later, after Samuel had gone to Eli twice, Eli realized that God was the one calling Samuel, so he instructed Samuel as to how he should respond. Merrill F. Unger, in his article on Samuel in the New Bible Dictionary, commented on this strange experience that Samuel had. He said, that at the time when Samuel served the lord before Eli, both as a boy and as a young man, word from the lord was rare and visions were infrequent.17 It seemed that the medium God used to speak to Samuel was very appropriate and necessary for that time.
The call of Leaders in the Contemporary African Church
Having looked at ‘call’ from the biblical perspective, it would now be appropriate to examine this same concept from the contemporary African Church’s perspective. In doing so one must take into consideration that the Church is also an institution. As an institution there are laid down procedures for recognizing and accepting leaders. With the exception of some of the independent Churches, all Churches seemed to have been structured like western Churches because they were actually established by western missionaries. Therefore, in recognizing leaders three major things had to be given consideration. These are:
The kind of leadership position
The kind of Church government that exists
The constitution and bye-law of that Church. The three factors listed above
would now be examined individually.
A. The Leaders
Since the Church is also an institution, leaders are considered in terms of offices or positions. Wilbur O’ Donovan, in his book, Biblical Christianity in African Perspective, observed that there are two types of leadership positions in the Church, with qualification given for each position. These are the positions of elders and deacons. But he also said that some Christians feel that there are four positions of leadership mentioned in the New Testament. The additional two are that of bishops (overseers) and pastors.18 In the contemporary African Church the list of leadership positions would be much longer, e.g.,. Sunday school superintendent, women’s leader, men’s leader etc. The approach of the Church with respect to these leadership positions have always been two fold:
a) To select or appoint the person qualified to fill a post;
b) To select or appoint the person highly favored to fill post.
At the point of deliberation to fill a particular post, an aspiring candidate may indicate that he or she had been called by God to fill that post.
B. The Church Government
The Church government is another thing that needs to be taken into account in recognizing leaders in the African Church. Again Wilbur O’ Donovan, cited three main types of Church governments. These are:
a) The Episcopal – This type of government is hierarchical in structure with an individual leader at the top. This leader may be referred to as Pope, bishop or archbishop. Sometimes distinction is made between clergy and laity. Roman Catholic, Anglican and Methodist Churches have this system;
b) The Congregational government – this form of Church government as O’ Donovan stated, has a strong association with the political idea of democracy. In this type of government, Church administrative business is carried out in congregational meeting in which everyone has an equal vote. The Baptist and most independent Churches have this system.
c) The Presbyterian government – This form of Church government relies on the
leadership of a group of elders in each local Church.
These elders are either elected or appointed and they represent the interest of the rest of the congregation in Church business meeting.19
No one can assume leadership position in the contemporary African Church by simply declaring that God has called him. Every aspiring candidate for leadership positions has to go through the filter of the Church government.
C. Constitution and Bye-Laws
These are Church drawn documents necessary for both administrative and legal purposes. These documents have been a major tool to enthrone or dispose of leaders. Church constitutions and bye-laws have been used in such a way that the Bible is left with little authority over who should govern the Church.
In summary a question can be asked, How does the Church understand the concept of Call, with respect to her leaders? It seems to be understood this way: there must be a vacant position in the Church and there must be people aspiring for that position. Depending upon the kind of Church government and constitution, someone will either be appointed or elected into that position. In the end it would be concluded that God has called that person to that particular leadership position. On the contrary, most independent Churches in Africa started when an individual said he had a personal call from God to start the Church. Most times they start, as a small ministry, which ends up, being a comparatively big Church.
CONCLUSION
It has been seen that in Bible times God used divers ways, such as personal miraculous encounter, vision, dreams and human mediators to call people into leadership. When he called an individual, he always gave clear instructions as to what he wants that particular individual to do. He does not look for qualified men but rather men who will be obedient to his will.
God still calls people to leadership today. But the administrative structure of the Church and polices make it very difficult to determine those who have been called. In fact documents like the constitution and bye-laws make it difficult for the Church to give considerations to individual’s personal call. The documents seem to have a higher authority than the Bible in choosing Church leaders. This may be one of the main reasons why the Church still suffers from lack of God called leaders today.
END NOTES
1 Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadership (Chicago: Moody Press, 1994), P 14.
2 Merrill F. Unger, Abraham: The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1988), P 119.
3 M.R.W. Ferrer, Abraham: New Bible Dictionary, second 00. (Leicester: Inter-varsity Press, 1982), p 199.
4 Alan P. Ross, Genesis: The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Colorado: Chariot Victor Publisher’s 1984), P 46.
5 R.K. Harrison, Abraham: The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Michigan: Moody Press, 1988), P 12.
6 Alan P. Ross, Genesis: The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Colorado: Chariot Victor Publisher’s 1988), P 47.
7 K.A. Kitchen, Moses: The New Bible Dictionary. Second, ed. (Leicester: Inter-varsity Press, 1982), P 794.
8 John D. Hannah, Exodus: The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Colorado: Chariot Victor Publisher’s 1984), P 111.
9 Howard F. Vos, Moses: The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Colorado: Chariot Victor Publisher’s 1984), p 887
10 F. Foulkes, Paul: The New Bible Dictionary (Leicester: Inter-varsity Press, 1982), P 890.
11 Stanley D,Toussaint, Acts: The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Colorado: Chariot Victor Publisher’s 1984), PP 375/7.
12 Eugene H. Merrill, I Samuel: The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Colorado: Chariot Victor Publishing, 1984), p 447.
13 Merrill F. Unger, Joshua: The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Leicester: Inter-varsity Press, 1982), P 714.
14 Merrill F. Unger, James: The New Unger’ Bible Dictionary (Leicester: Inter-varsity Press, 1982, p.
15 Merrill F. Unger, Matthias: The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Leicester: Inter-varsity Press, 1982), P 827.
16 R.K. Harrison, Joseph: The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1982), p 711.
17 Merrill F. Unger, Samuel: The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Leicester: Inter.Varsity Press, 1982), P 1121.
18 Wilbur O’ Donovan, Biblical Christianity in African Perspective (Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 1996), P 17o/1.
19 Ibid. P 168/70.
Dr. Leopold A. Foullah is currently Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, Mount Aureol, Freetown. He is also the General Superintendent of the Missionary Church of Africa, Sierra Leone Conference. He holds the following academic qualifications: Dip.Th., B.Th., M.Div., M.Th. and Ph.D (Leeds University, England). He is interested in Biblical Theology and Social Issues. He is External Examiner for both The Evangelical College of Theology (TECT), Jui and the Sierra Leone Theological College & Church Training Center in Freetown. He is married with three children.
October 21st, 2007 -- Posted in Story |
This article will explain the problems and solutions to deciding to download music online, free or not, legal or not. It will answer your questions about whether you want to spend $1000s. Or read the solution to your problem below…
The Big Problem
The biggest problem online today, especially with the younger audience that the Internet attracts is the use of illegal sites to download music, movies, games, and other things. So many people participate in this activity because they did not want to spend a fortune on their music collection. Some people want to download thousands of songs, and others only want to download a few. Whichever the case is, it is much better to find the site or program that offers lifetime subscriptions to access unlimited downloads.
Reasons To Not Go With The Free Music
— Many people think that if you download programs such as ares or limewire or kazaa to get your music, “there are to many people online to get busted.” Or “It has to be legal, so many people are doing it.” Well that is wrong, those are untrue assumptions, the real truth is that it is illegal. You really are cheating artists out of their work, and out of their pay. It is illegal, and no, I can not guarantee that you will get busted and you will have to go to jail, but there are many many true stories of kids and adults that have participated in these, and yes, they have faced the consequences.
— Parents and kids and really anyone who owns a computer, mostly knows of the hassle of getting some virus or spyware of some sort on your computer. Well the P2P (Pier to Pier) network is just the gate for those, really, when you download something off of illegal programs, you have no idea what your actually downloading. Yes, you could be getting what you hoped for, but what are the chances that you are downloading the very virus that you have tried to stay away from for so long, you just don’t know, and it’s just not safe.
— If you are to use free, illegal programs to download music, then you would face several problems…
- You don’t really know if what your downloading is what you really wanted at all
- There could be hidden Trojans and spyware ready to destroy your computer
- The download speed will cause you to wait when you don’t have to
- I can’t stress this enough, it’s illegal
You can be fined, persecuted, jailed, and sued for this
The Solution To The Problem
What you need to do is find a site that you can pay either a one time rate for or a monthly rate for that will allow you to download unlimited music, movies, games, anything really. Most of them say that they are safe and have no virus. But sometimes that’s not always true. There are only a few that are really worth paying for. And if you do, you will save a lot of money in the long run.
This site below, will show you the best program for the information that I have listed above.
http://mp3-download-net.blogspot.com
Thank you for reading,
Drew Dyer
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