Here Are the Books I Read In 2017 (Plus Download Links)

It is not a secret anymore: I read "weird" books.

Find proof here, here and here.

But again...

C.S. Lewis says that "It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another two new ones till you have read an old one in between", which means as far as I am weird, I still consider the books below as "new" great books which I don't have to read with haste. A few are enough in a year, I guess.

NB: If you don't have a good ebook reader, I recommend this free one; PocketBook for Android devices. It's perfect. Throw anything at it and it works just fine. Click on link to download.


1. The Senior Pastor's Guide to Breaking Barriers by Paul Carrasco (www.churchfuel.com)

Genre: Leadership and Church Growth
Download the 24-page PDF e-book here.

I know you're asking: what is Morris doing reading a senior pastors' book?
Well, it should be my curiosity... and there is no rule that says I shouldn't read pastors' books. So my curiosity led me to reading it; which after doing it, I realized that the book can actually be very helpful to anyone in church leadership.
The book seeks to dig into three main growth barriers;
(a) Spiritual growth barriers.
(b) Cultural growth barriers.
(c) Structural growth barriers.
It's only 24 pages, so please read it.



2. 101 Questions to Ask Before You Get Engaged by H. Norman Wright

Genre: Relationships and Marriage
Download the 48-page e-book (epub) here.
(I'm still reading and evaluating myself through it by the way. No hurry with this one.)

The key point in this book is this: don't fear to ask a potential spouse the hard questions because it may just save you from a botched marriage.
The books addresses the following issues:
(a) Never marry or get engaged to a stranger.
(b) 101 questions to ask before you get engaged.
(c) What to do and questions to answer if you've been married before.



3. The Author of Sin by Vincent Cheung

Genre: Christian Apologetics and Christian Doctrine
Download this book here.

This book may (yeah, it depends with how you'll look at it) help you understand man's free will, God's will, sin, their origin, limits and the causative aftermath. The unique thing abot thing - apart from it being very complex to understand - is that Cheung directly opposes various views posed by Calvinists concerning compatilism and determinism. Not that this really matters, but just that he could do it sounds intriguing. You don't have to agree with everything Cheung says in this book, but he gives quite a batch of relevant Biblical support for each of his claims; including the most outrageous one like "man has no free will, God controls everything."

Tolerating him enough to understand his point of view can shed some real light on what you already know. Look at another statement he makes: "evil is not good... but God's decree and causation of evil are good." Think about that for a moment.
Cheung also argues that it is useless for a non-Christian to use non-Christian worldviews to describe, criticize or oppose the Christian worldview. They should not even talk about evil and its origin when they have no idea of what it is, where it came from or why it exists.


4. Fifty Crucial Questions About Manhood And Womanhood by John Piper & Wayne Grudem

Genre: Christian Doctrine, Relationships, Marriage and Christian Living
Download this book here.

First of all, this is more of an excerpt overview from a 500-page-plus book (Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood) written by a league of church leaders in the US in the 1980s (The Council On Biblical Manhood and Womanhood) on the same topic.

The writers encourage laypeople to tackle the issue of manhood and womanhood by considering arguments available to them, thinking for themselves, saturating themselves with Scripture and to pray earnestly for what the apostle Paul promised in Philippians 3:15: "If in anything you think otherwise, God will revel that also to you."



5. Expository Apologetics 101: Steps In Debating Well (from Expository Apologetics videos by Voddie Baucham, DMin)

This is not an ebook but a stream of videos on the above subject. 
You can watch the videos from here.

Lessons you can learn from these videos are that while practising apologetics;

A. Listen Carefully
1. Don't assume you know what they're going to say.
2. Don't fill in the blacks > they said what they said and meant what they said.
3. Follow the logic in their argument.
4. Ask clarifying questions.

B. Summarize Generously
1. Repeat what you heard them say.
2. Be careful with sarcasm.

C. Oppose Gently
1. Show them the inconsistency in their worldview.
2. Show them where they are counterfeiting the Biblical worldview.
3. Show them what the real thing looks like. Apologetics is not a formula. It depends on grace to get people to believe the Biblical worldview.



Bonface Morris

The Good, the Bad, the Weird: Things that Impressed Me and Some that Didn't in the Gospel Music Scene in 2017

Let's Start with the Good...
1. More albums from African gospel music artists indicates growth.
Is the culture of unleashing singles going to end soon? No. Do I love singles? Yes. Is releasing singles before an album the "IN" thing? Yes.
But what pleased me more is that although most artists are releasing singles, they are but projects towards an album.

NB: There is a threefold advantage when an artist releases an album instead of endless singles: (a) Some people will only buy albums. Period. So in order to reach and sell them music, make an album. (b) An album gives you selling power: not for the money but for people to understand that you're here to stay. (c) Albums also help people/reviewers (like myself) to analyse your music style and conclude where to classify you as a whole under genre placement.

2. There were more visiting artists and more live concerts.
Nairobi has been aflame with visiting worship leaders and teams: Israel Houghton,  Don Moen, Lenny LeBlanc, Donnie McClurkin, Pastor Marvin Winans, Hillsong UNITED, Sinach (was there at the end of 2016)... This list is endless.

3. More refined and well-thought covers and acoustics.
I loved the acoustic covers and covers of various popular songs done by the likes of Alice Kimanzi and Kanjii. (I'll talk about the negative impact of this on upcoming artists though, down below.)
Also, check out people like Zoe Grace, Tommee Profitt and Brooke Griffith e.t.c. and prove me right.

NB: Tanzanians seemed to make covers upon covers of Paul Clement's AMENIFANYIA AMANI. It's such a great song by the way.

4. Secular artists turning to the Gospel.
Wahu and CeCe Sagini converting to Christianity was impressive, wasn't it?

5. Collabos with other local and international artists.
Notice the following collaborations:
Mercy Masika with Angel Bernard.
Christina Shusho with with Mireille Bariswa.
Evelyn Wanjiru with Tembalami.
The controversial Willy Pozzee with Alaine.

6. Lots of creativity.
Did you guys watch the Joyous Celebration 21: Heal Our Land (2017) and ZimPraise's Pentecost Season 9 live DVDs? Meehn, I love what they did to the venues for their live recordings.
Then, there has been lots of positive influence from songs and dance moves: Bazokizo (although old), Zigwembe and Odi are all amazing creations from talented people.
I can't even begin to talk on how song after song was unique in its own way last year.

7. Christian rap is coming of age now (not that it wasn't but because we are noticing an increasing general acceptance in mainstream media, and we are grateful).
Big up to the likes of Lecrae and NF for making this real. We bless the Lord for them. And, guys, is Chance the Rapper Christian? Alright, hands down!

8. 2017 can be marked as the year when gospel music legends made a come-back...
Everyone in this list made a come-back either with their own album or were featured in an album: Darlene Zschech, Don Moen, Jaci Velasquez, KJ-52, CeCe Winans, Amy Grant, Henri Mutuku...

9. There were moments in 2017 too...
(a) Like when Travis Greene and R&B belle
Chrisette Michele took the stage for President Trump’s Inaugural Ball in January 2017.
(b) Kambua Mathu Manundu was named Darling’s hair brand ambassador.
(c) Teddy and Tina Campbell (of Mary Mary) opened a YouTube channel by the name "10 Minutes With Teddy And Tina", where they share their perspective on Life Love, Faith, and Family.
(d) Hillsong opened a church in Israel... And The Hillsong Channel is now live by the way.
(e) Hezekiah Walker, landed a $80 million project with New York City, to put low income housing and senior living on property he owns.
(f) J Moss and his wife Melanie Moss opened a church! Wee!
(g) Jacky B got engaged, Mr. T got married and Joe Praize got hitched too.
(h) Tasha Cobbs and Kenneth Leonard tied the knot in a private ceremony.
(i) Nathaniel Bassey did something very impressive around May and June 2017 with that hashtag #Olowogboboro. Great stuff.
(j) Chris Tomlin and Nashville's Church of the City Senior Pastor Darren Whitehead celebrated the release of their new book, "Holy Roar: 7 Words That Will Change the Way You Worship"; a book on worship that
offers a fresh perspective on the worship practices of the ancient world.

Then the Bad...
1. We regret the bad image painted by...
(a) Rose Muhando who Tanzanian media says is a con. Yes, she was even arrested by Tanzanian police. Smoke identifies fire, no? Nilisikia anahamia huku Kenya.
(b) Kambua was caught up in a stupid gaffe over a microphone (sic!) the other day with her RMS colleague. Not so good.
(c) Bahati (mtoto wa mama) seems to have embraced the carnal lifestyle quite much (no judging, but it's true) with that girlfriend of his; and his fallout with Weezdom was a nasty nasty affair. Y'all love him, but hapa alivuka mipaka.
Also, there had been so much dush-nyauring over the prayer partner thing before they got married.
(d) Willy Paul keeps embarrassing us in many ways and we sometimes don't know where to categorize his music.
(e) Eunice Njeri skipping a wedding and a marriage wasn't so good either. (We prayed with her though, because relationships are never easy). We hope all is well. 
(f) Nicah the Queen and Dr. Ofweneke called it quits. Not so good. Divorce is always unpleasant, people. Keep praying for these two. 
(g) Didiero, founder of Mwafaka Awards was accused of soliciting for sex in exchange for awards.

2. Copycats.
Music covers may be good, but covers hinder creativity. The regrettable thing is that there are people out there that are really into doing covers and sprouting into fame without the artistry to hold them up there. Good renditions, less raw talent. 

3. Mixing politics with ministry.
Christina Shusho learnt a lesson in 2017 and the lesson is this: leave politics to politicians and fanatics, be nonpartisan.

4. Useless TV shows for cheap publicity.
I agree with Mr. T that Citizen Tv's 10 Over 10 Show is killing our generation. What else do you agree with him on? (I love T's bluntness by the way. We need more artists like him).

5. The news below are not pleasing because it's an underground trend that very few people in the Kenyan Gospel Music Industry address or talk about.
Here are the bad news...
Gospel cartels are tearing down the house of God. (ahem!)
There are two factions of artists: artists who have decided to go it alone and those who subscribe to various DJ camps and their attendant TV shows. Among the camps are four outfits: System Unit run by DJ Mo, Genius Republic under DJ Sadic, K-Crew lead by DJ Moz and ‘The Switch’ by DJ Soxxy. The four camps run their own cliques of artistes and once an artiste subscribes to a specific stable, their music is in turn placed on high rotation within their television and radio shows.
Not so good.

6. In April, artists went to the streets in Nairobi CBD and openly protested against the new MPAKE body that replaced MCSK. Good or bad? Judge it for yourself.

7.  There is news circulating that there is an increase in the number of unholy union of gospel dates (Gospel artists dating and living together with prayer partners). Help us dear Lord... Or, please Lord, maranatha!

8. Not being nominated for Groove Awards last year seemed to irk Willy Pozzee, Bahati and Papa Dennis so much that we all noticed their absence and open ranting on social media.
Hey! Gospel artists shall not live on awards alone, amen?

Then the Weird...
1. Kenyan female Gospel Artist Lady Nanaa proposed to her fiance. Hummhuh?
2. They say DK Kwenye Beat should hit the gym. But hapo sitasema sana juu pia huwa wananiambia hivyo, hehe.
3. There is a Christian student that graduated with honors from Harvard after submitting a rap album as Thesis.
4. Jimmy Gait wept on live TV and we loved it (because DJ Shiti amplified it, hehe).
5. Snoop Dogg announced that he's working on a Gospel album... (Eye roll, pleeeease).


That's all for now. 
For more of this, subscribe, like, bookmark or follow the blog. 

Bonface Morris.

Keep Moving

Keep moving, the sky shouldn't be your limit

Friend, I hope you are well today and before I forget... Happy New Year!

I'm fine, and I just want to share with you something for this new year...

Whatever you began last year or are planning to begin, keep doing it. Move forward. Keep moving, keep going.
No matter how small the difference is between where you were yesterday (or last year) and where you are right now, keep moving.
No matter the increase in the number of obstacles you face, keep moving. Keep going.
You can't afford to be a useless stone: one without breath, without use, without life and without progress.
You can't afford to be in the same place being pitied upon and being used as a mud scrapper. You gotta move.
But if you choose to be a stone, be that good stone, be the useful stone: the one they use to build upon the foundation that is Christ. Be that stone that grinds wheat into flour, that one that every ship anchor seeks for.
Be the useful good stone.

Friend, most of us will tell you that you haven't made quite a change, that you have two pairs of legs: one pair that that moves you forward and another that moves you backwards. 
Ignore us.
Most of us think we know who or what you are. We may remind you of your shortcomings, your upbringing and your limitations.
We may do so verbally or non-verbally, actively or passively. 
We may omit you in groups of "forward-seeing people" or group you together with "losers".
We may ridicule, heckle, yell and tell you that all you are doing is to no good.
But keep moving. Ignore us, don't listen to us, and keep moving. 
If you are convinced that what you are today isn't what you were yesterday, and that what you will be tomorrow is excellent, keep moving.
We ain't your God and we are not your goals. You shouldn't please all of us. We are not God, so keep moving. 
You should worry more about whether God is on your side or not; not us.

By the way, friend, you only need two people in your fan base: God and you.
If there be a third one, let it be; if not, keep moving. Ain't nobody got time for negative energy.
Please don't listen to us most of the time - we who pretend to support you yet disappear when you need us most or speak nonsense behind your back. Don't. 
Listen to your God, listen to your goals and vision, then maybe listen to us when we agree with these two. If not, stop listening to us.
We are bad influence. We are bad influence because we think we know who you are and where you are headed. We don't.
We think you're like us. You're not. Whenever you realize that we think you are like us, don't listen to us. You'll lose it.

Friend, lastly, let me tell you this... 
If you wanna go to the studio and record a song this year, go. Don't give a damn what we gotta say if God says it's a great idea. Go!
But do so with humility.
If you wanna write a book, start a mentorship program, open a blog, start a business, build a home, start a family, go back to school, move from where you are to another town, start a side hustle, reapply for a job, start a school, get into a relationship, drop a habit, drop a friend or friends, join ministry, start a project, propose to your girl and God says He's got your back, go!
You're unstoppable if God is on your side. 
The sky shouldn't be your limit, the sky is your lauchboard. So, go!
And, friend, if there'll come a time along the way when you doubt yourself, look to God, put your hope in Him, lean on His promises, scoff at the devil, look right ahead... and keep moving. 
You can do this. 

Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. (Psalm 105:4)

Bonface Morris.