Love On All

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Life As I'm Livin' It!

I figured that since my last blog was me just venting about how I am not motivated enough to get some things that I really want to accomplish done that I would one, give an update on some of those things and two, tell you about my current existence.

Since the last blog, I have been laser focused on the 1Way devotional book. Good news I have made some progress. I am working with a company for the cover art as well as going over each devo for editing and update purposes. We started writing this thing back in 2006. We did at one point have some interest from some ver interested parties but it never worked out. The good news is that having gone thru it devo by devo the material is still fresh, the messages are still relevant. This is very promising. My goals to have it published by end of this year. Since this is now my focus, the work on new music has come to a halt. I have accquired tracks and made some great relationships with writers but I am not currently recording right now until I know this book is finito! So unless someone hits me up to feature, no new music for a while.

So what exactly do I do when I am not doing music...... ministry! I work at Urban Youth Impact. It's a non-profit urban ministry here in Bomb Beach, Florida. Here I get to work with urban kids everyday showing them Christ. I guess I could if I wanted to call myself a musicianary/urban missionary. It is one of the greatest jobs I have ever had but probabaly the most challanging as well. Bad days seem to outweigh the good on most weeks but when the good weeks come, it is more than worth it! I also get to work with some really cool people from all different walks of life. Furthur stretching me as an individual. One of the cool things I get to do on a weekly basis is lead chapel. I am really enjoying that alot.
I have been told often by those that have heard me speak that God has gifted me and I can see and feel that when I allow myself to. Doing these weekly chapels is helping mehone my communication skills. I'm not sure what the future holds but I bet God has something in mind.

On the fam front, being a husband, and father has had it own rewards! It is so dope to watch my kids grow up knowing that we are doing the best we can to make Jesus a part of their childhood. Now before you get all weird, here is what I mean. We tend to share the things in life that are important to us with those we care about the most right? Well, Christ is a central part of our family and has been even before we had kids. It would only be right to share Him with our sons. Deuteronomy 4-9 says it like this: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
This is what we are doing. Well, not tying anything on there heads but you get the point.
We are passing life down. Spiritual, generational information that is going to enrich them as they grow to appreciate whose they are, where they come from and where they are headed. I asked my son Micah recently how I was doing as a dad. He said " Your doing a great job dad. You love us and you work hard." in his simple statement I find comfort and success even if I don't think I'm as successful as I should be.

There Are Still Good Musicians Out There

I was checking out a friend’s blog and over hearing another friend sing a couple weeks ago. Then those two random incidents collided when both those friends were across from my cubicle discussing an artist named Brooke Fraser. The song was Shadowfeet. I went on a quest to find Brooke’s music. I found two titles: What To Do with Daylight and Brooke Fraser Live at the Aoteo: Auckland New Zealand. What a breath of fresh air! I was just listening to the song C.S. Lewis. When I was hit in the face by the line:"If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy, I can only conclude that I was not made for here". Whoa!!!! This is music that will speak to your heart as well as your situation. Get some headphones, get alone and check out Brooke's stuff she is phenomenally dope!



C.S. Lewis Song lyrics

If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy,
I can only conclude that I was not made for here
If the flesh that I fight is at best only light and momentary,
then of course I'll feel nude when to where I'm destined I'm compared

[CHORUS]
Speak to me in the light of the dawn
Mercy comes with the morning
I will sigh and with all creation groan as I wait for hope to come for me

Am I lost or just less found? On the straight or on the roundabout of the wrong way?
Is this a soul that stirs in me, is it breaking free, wanting to come alive?
'Cause my comfort would prefer for me to be numb
And avoid the impending birth of who I was born to become

[CHORUS]

[BRIDGE]
For we, we are not long here
Our time is but a breath, so we better breathe it
And I, I was made to live, I was made to love, I was made to know you
Hope is coming for me
Hope, He's coming

"Proverb, I'm gonna need that pop tart". WHAT????

As I wind down my thoughts from my Summer musicianary trip to Cambodia, I have to tell this story. I was talking with my boy Aaron Monrok the other day and I forget what made me think of it but I had a flash back. We were in the van on our way to some remote village. We had stopped so some of us could revolutionize (ask me by email lol). A few of the teammates were walking around and engaging the natives. I took the time to go back to the van and have a snack. We were encouraged to bring stuff from home to help with being so far away from home, and nothing does that like...... a Pop Tart! So I got to the back seat of the van and was digging my pop tart out of my bag when team member Mike Kultun came to our van. He was saying how they just met and prayed with this woman. Meanwhile I was hearing but not really listening to Mike talking. I was all into how good my pop tart was gonna be. As Mike continued on, I found my Pop Tarts and got them out of my bag. No sooner than I had opened them and raised one to my waiting mouth when I hear the words " "Proverb, we're gonna need those pop tarts"! Surely Mike had no idea what he was saying. Surely he knew you don't try to separate a man and his pop tart, especially this man. Mike was buggin! My response was "What"!!?? He repeated his statement like was actually gonna give him my snack. Then it hit me. What a display of selfishness. How did I look to a van full of missionaries? It was just one pop tart, I had more. The sad part was I was encouraged by most teammates to hold on to it, as it was mine and I brought it from home for me. As conviction buckled me in the back seat of the van, I offered up my Pop Tart. I realized that was a small price to pay for being on such a great adventure with God. Then the greatest thing happened as I offered it up, some more food from another van was miraculously provided. I felt like Abraham when he saw the ram. My pop tart had been spared! Well, you get the picture. Anyways, the point is every day we will get tested. The question we have to ask our self is..... When asked to, will we give up our pop tart?

Proverb's Musicianary Trip: Banteay Chhmar, Day 11

This footage was from day 11 of my trip. The footage does not do the road justice, it was incredible bumpy! It was a long hot dusty rewarding day. Hopefully this clip will capture the feel of our days on the trip. Enjoy!

Proverb's Musicianary Trip: The Story of Preah Net Preah

John Clark of Musicianaries International tells the story of the Town and the Church of Preah Net Preah. Enjoy.

Proverb's Musicianary Trip: Jim McCandliss Talks About The Work Of Musicianaries International Inc.

I got a chance at one of our rice distro to talk with Jim McCandliss (president of Musicianaries International Inc.). We talked a bit about the purpose behind the Rice For Cambodia Tour 2009. Enjoy.

Proverb's Musicianary Trip: In The Van Day 2 Pt. 2 Phnom Penh, Cambodia

It took a while for me to get this one up but here is the follow up to Pt.1
We had just got back from the orphanage. Enjoy!

My Music!!!!!!!! Check out the Widget!

Cambodian Reflections #1: Beginning To Process

After being home for only 2 days now, the most often asked question is how was your trip? Well, before I even left Cambodia I had already determined not to answer it. There is no summary statement, one main theme or lesson learned. So my answer to the question will be spread out over a series on blogs here on this site. As I began in the next few days and weeks to process my trip, experiences, journal entries and video footage, I will post it all right here for you to read and chime in on. Hopefully you will.
I remember near the middle of the trip asking the Lord what it was He wanted to teach me by leading me half way across the globe. His answer was “Poverty looks the same the world over, only the language it speaks is different.” As I tried to process what that meant it was really clear that most of what I was seeing was not life changing or shocking it was just poverty in another country.
I have seen houses like theirs on my trips to rural Georgia as a kid. In a strange way I guess I could relate to their poorness. It was just interesting to see how they handled it, with gratefulness and joy. Thankfulness for the help lent to them.
Would Americans respond the same or would we respond with entitlement on our lips?
In addition to be a Hip-Hop musician, I work with urban kids who wear entitlement like a badge of honor. As we handed out toothbrushes at the clinics we did, the Cambodians would say thanks (AKun) and walk away happy someone cared enough to bring them a toothbrush and show them how to use it. The kids I work with would say: “I don't like the green toothbrush, I want a red one. Or I don't like Colgate toothpaste, I want Crest. No gratitude, no joy, nada! Just gimme on my terms or take it back. Or even worse, they take it, complain and toss it on the ground a few steps later.That is not a need getting met, that is I'm taking because I can get it.
Even in these rough economic times, instead of being grateful for what we have, we are making demands on how to get what we don't need. We could learn a lot from the Cambodians.

photo by Ryan Gunn

Another Year Is Ova...... Goodbye 2008

Wow, it is hard to believe that 2008 is coming to end in a few hours. This is a good time to reflect for us intellects about what went well, how many goals we achieved, did we do all with a year that we could have etc. For me this year has been a good year personally. My family (Pam, Micah and I) is stable, our family is expanding by one (another son), and I finally got to hook up my back yard (CT & Wes B. That was a good look guys. You really blessed a brother). I turned 40 this year and I am happy to be 40. Age is just a number right? You know what I learned about myself this year? That I am really content just being me, not some radio personality, or that guy from that rap group, just Pam's husband and Micah's dad!
Professionally, this year was ok. 1Way finally release Midnight Run! That was such a major accomplishment in my eyes at least. It took a lot to get it out. A Common man's opus received a nomination from Rhythm of Gospel Awards, and I recorded 2 new songs. One with a brother I met thru myspace named Advoc8. The song is called Past the Distractions. The other one was for my friends over at RapFest called Let's Ride feat Big Raj. I got to work with one of my best friends Roger Moss (thanks for making it do what it do kid.)
I also got to help my homie Edge work on his forthcoming project While I'm Still Breathin'. The disappointing thing professionally about 08 is that I did not get to perform as much as I would have liked to, but God willing that will change in 09.
Things that I am looking forward to in 09..... The birth of our second son, blogging more, writing more in general, working on another solo project and another project that I have wanted to do for a long time. Of course there are the numerous goals and the great ideas of eating better and getting in shape, becoming more disciplined, being a better Christian blah, blah, blah. You know how that can go. In the words of Dan Fogelberg "Same Old Lang Syne"! We will see though.
I wish for you want for me a healthy, happy, blissed out New Year where you push your own boundaries and amaze yourself, and that you walk humbly with the LORD.
Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!

Yet Another Genesis!!!!!!!!!!!

Now in the home stretch of Summer, I look back since my last blog trying to figure out what I could share here.It seems that the more time goes by the older I start to feel. I'm really feeling old these days but in my aging process some very cool stuff is happening. Here are some highlights......
As many of you know I have been a part of a Holy Hip-Hop group called 1Way for the last 18 years. We are about to release our new CD Midnight Run on 7.24.08. This will be our 5th CD, and if I may say, by far our best to date! There is alot of life behind the music. I really believe people are going to be blessed by it. Above is a short CD Promo. Feel free to embed it into your own sites. We would love and appreciate the promo. Also keep an eye on www.stagestalker.com to be able to be among the first people to get your hands on Midnight Run. In case your wondering Stagestalker is a indie label own by the members of 1Way.
In other Stagestalker news, there are new solo CDs on the horizon from 1Way members
2Edge and from DJ Morph. They will be called "While I'm Still Breathin'" and "International" respectively. While I'm Still Breathin' will be 2Edge's first solo CD. International will be Morph's 5Th mixtape overall, his 2nd with Stagestalker.
As for me I am in the very, very, very early stages of my next solo project. I'll keep ya posted on that one.

A few months ago I entered a contest to be included on Holy Hip-Hop's next compilation called Street Gospel 101. I made it all the way to round 3. I will not find out if I'm on the disc until later this Summer. So when I find out yea or nay I'll post it up.

As far a Souljourn Ministries (1Way's Non Profit Organization) goes, we are gearing up to help our ministry partners Urban Youth Impact on their annual Back2School Blast. Click http://www.souljournministries.org/calendar_view.asp?scheduleid=107505
Souljourn is also working on publishing a 33 day devotional for youth and young adults. If you would like to give toward that just go to http://www.souljournministries.org/contributions.asp
and make your tax free donation. This is something that 1Way has wanted to do for a while. To make urban discipleship materials available. Please consider donating.

As for the fam, our son Micah is coming up on 22 months old. watching his development has been incredible. He is learning lots of new phrases as well as
learning to go potty and all that fun stuff. Pam is doing greats as well. She has been sick for the last couple of weeks but bounced back nicely. Let's just say pink eye sounds better than it is.
i hope this lil update has brought you up to speed with the Newsomes and all the life that surrounds us!!!!

Holla