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.

Musings On Worship Part 3: Worship and Excellence

Prologue
It is so hard to worship beyond the music when you're used to performance. Worship is more about total surrender than it is about perfection; because after total surrender comes perfection, God's perfection, and not an individual's. God's way of wanting us perfect is almost always very different from ours. 

*******

Sometimes I gaze at the team I have been leading worship with every Sunday for the past so many years and I just smile.

I smile because I understand our imperfections: they are too many...

We are not that musical: any musician would give us a 4 out of 10 if they were to look at how "musical" we all are.

We are not so refined vocally. Yes we try, but we ain't "there" yet: we almost always blunder with our vocals, we stutter, we struggle with breath control, we "ahem" between gasping and singing. Our voices stabilize today and miss the mark sometime later, we are threatened by high notes, there are less ornamentations in there, we smile less. Yes we try, but we are always failing. We miss tempos, flip keys, skip lines... 

We have had great times when we feel "we nailed it today", but we judge ourselves so low mostly. We have every reason in the "singing book" to conclude that we are imperfect. 

Our imperfections are too many.

So if I were to judge us as a worship team according to our imperfections, I would say that for the past many years we've been leading people in singing as a form of worship, we have failed at least seven times out of ten. That's imperfect, right?

But, again, I've been asking God if we are doing well, and He smiles. Every time. He says that He's looking deep within. He searches deeper and knows our hearts, and at most, our hearts (at least most of us) are in the right place. And that's a good thing.

Psalms 139:1-4 (ESV) O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

If the Lord understands that we are imperfect and that we try to improve in areas we aren't so good at, He says it's okay. We don't need to worry about being "all-round perfect". Not so much. 

You see, according to this article (10 Tests of a Good Worship Leader) even as imperfect as we are, if as a worship team we manage to...

1. Make the congregation to effectively sing along,
2. Inspire the congregation to worship God with us,
3. Help the congregation grow in their worship of God,
4. Adequately prepare the worship band,
5. Ensure that the worship band is growing and improving,
6. Continuously worship as a band (stay deeply instilled in the Lord during singing),
7. Train up new worship leaders,
8. Inspire the pastoral staff to worship with us,
9. Manage to spend regular time with God in Bible reading and prayer (even with the busyness that is accumulating),
10. Worship God both in private and on stage,

We're doing well. We should keep going.

And I'm encouraging you too: if your hearts are in the right place and that your chase after God is sincere, God will use the imperfect you's to do His will in your congregation. 

You may not be perfect in your musicianship but that should not be an excuse for not pursuing excellence in the things above (most of which are spiritual).

Now, I'm not saying that performance is a bad thing but that dipping your heart into Jesus' blood and soaking your soul in the Holy Spirit as you minister are far greater ways to seek excellence than struggling to become a better vocalist or instrumentalist. Once your spirituality and worship has been perfected, I assure you that everything else will fall into place.

When we totally surrender to God, our voices and artistry may lack polishing but our hearts will be strumming the kind of music He desires: music done from the heart to the King of kings and Lord of lords. This kind of music - done by weak vessels to an Almighty God - is what He wants. 

We may remain imperfect in our own eyes and to others but in His eyes, we will be just as perfect as He wants us to be. 

********

Epilogue
Seek excellence in worship, especially the undivided devotion of your heart, body, mind and soul to God. This is better than any other kind of excellence you can ever desire. 

Note: Read Parts One and Two in this series of blogs here: Musings On Worship Pt. 1: What Is It All About? and here: Musings On Worship Part 2: Resilience. 

God bless. 

Bonface Morris.

Album Downloads: Hillsong UNITED - Wonder (2017), Tasha Cobbs - Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (2017), Hillsong Worship - The Peace Project (2017) and Casting Crowns - It's Finally Christmas EP (2017)

I know you guys have missed me on these streets (happy winks), and yes, I'm back! And I hope that I'll be as active as I can be, God willing.

Now, to motivate y'all and as a welcome-back gift, here are 4 major downloads for your listening pleasure this festive season: 

Note that all the 4 albums I'm sharing are zip folders that either need a file manager like Solid Explorer File Manger (on Android) or Bandizip (on Windows) to open. Please click on the highlighted links to download the app or program if you don't have an alternative.
 

1. Hillsong Worship - The Peace Project (2017) 

Summary info on the album:
The Peace Project is an album done with collaboration members the Hillsong band (Y&F, UNITED and Worship). It is an interesting project which features seven new, original songs including “Prince of Heaven,” “Seasons,” and “Peace Upon The Earth” along with new arrangements of five of the most beloved Christmas classics like “Hark,” “O Holy Night” and “Joy To The World.”

Artist: Hillsong Worship.

Album: The Peace Project.

Number of tracks: 12.

Album length: 57 minutes, 20 seconds.

Date of release: October 20, 2017.

Record label: Hillsong Music.

Music genre: Christmas.

Download link: Hillsong Worship - The Peace Project (2017) (55MB).

Hillsong Worship - The Peace Project (2017) official album cover art

2. Casting Crowns - It's Finally Christmas EP (2017)

Summary info on the album:
Grammy-award winning and Multi-platinum selling Christian band Casting Crowns have just unleashed their 2017 Christmas EP with the typical Casting Crowns sound we all love.
It’s Finally Christmas is all about the little details that make Christmas. From twinkling lights, to ‘the smell of cookies baking’, to singing Nat King Cole classics - family traditions are at the heart of the song. Christmas is a time for coming together, and looking forward to warmth of family and friends, wherever you are. Even die-hard Christmas fans may find earnest lines like ‘If you’ve got love, you’ve got it all’ a little cloying, but the song rounds off with a return to the heart of it all - remembering the Christmas story together. - Eden Magazine

Artist: Casting Crowns.

Album: It's Finally Christmas EP.

Number of tracks: 6.

Album length: 25 minutes, 38 seconds.

Date of release: October 20, 2017.

Producer: Mark A. Miller

Music genre: Christmas.

Download link: Casting Crowns - It's Finally Christmas EP (2017) (24MB).

Casting Crowns - It's Finally Christmas EP (2017) official album cover art

3. Hillsong UNITED - Wonder (2017) 

Summary info on the album:
Hillsong UNITED (the band) had several recording sessions for Wonder at The Record Plant in Los Angeles. Lead vocalist Joel Houston felt that the album's title and themes reflected returning wonder to both faith and worship, saying, "This is the challenge, and this is what worship - if worship can be summed up as an expression of art and music and story - is ultimately designed to do. To elevate the conversation, re-awaken the soul to something other, and lift our eyes to the wonder of a superlative truth." "Splinters and Stones" was described as having "striking vocal modification and pulsing bass samplings" while containing personal lyrics. - Wikipedia
Note: "So Will I (100 Billion X)" is my favorite song on the album. (That's why I have attached an acoustic bonus of the track done live at the Worship Together studios, which is not on the original album.)

Artist: Hillsong UNITED.

Album: Wonder.

Number of tracks: 13.

Album length: 71 minutes.

Date of release: June 9, 2017.

Record label: Hillsong, Sparrow and Capital CMG.

Music genre: Contemporary worship/Christian music.

Download link: Hillsong UNITED - Wonder (2017) (77MB)

Hillsong Worship - Wonder (2017) official album cover art

4. Tasha Cobbs-Leonard - Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (2017)

Summary info on the album:
When the Grammy-award winning Gospel artist Tasha Cobbs-Leonard announced that she was going to feature Nicki Minaj (yeaaaah, some of y'all yelled, "of all people!") on her album, her Instagram went ablaze...
"How could she?" "Why, Tasha, why?" "I can't believe this!"... Went the comments.
But during her interview with Essence, Tasha came out to defend the reason why she involved Nicki on her album by saying, 
"I've seen the Nicki that is off the stage and that Nicki has a great relationship with God. My assignment with this song was for a particular audience. Some [of the listeners] have never experienced God ever and she exposed that audience in her way, to the God that she loves."  
She also added by saying that this partnership with Nicki Minaj served as a healing process for those she’s come into contact with:  
The testimonies that have come because of this – I would absolutely do it again. I’ve had thousands of people say to me, ‘This is the first time I’ve ever bought a gospel album. This is the first time I’ve ever felt God. I didn’t believe in God until I heard this song.'”

Well, fellas, download the album, move over to track number 8 and be the judge...   

Artist: Tasha Cobbs.

Album: Heart. Passion. Pursuit.

Number of tracks: 16.

Album length: 89 minutes, 37 seconds.

Date of release: August 25, 2017.

Record label: EMI/Motown Gospel

Music genre: Urban contemporary Gospel/CCM.

Download link: Tasha Cobbs-Leonard - Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (2017) (85MB)

Tasha Cobbs-Leonard - Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (2017) official album cover art

***********************************

Well, I guess that is a full dose for today, guys.

See you next time!


Bonface Morris.

If Your Drawing Board and Your Strategy Are the Same Thing, You're Finished

Some of us know how to deal with failure: we put the bitter truth on a plate, stare at it, muse over it, eat it with haste and and move on. But most of us don't.

And this happens (not being able to deal with failure) mostly when we have all our eggs (hopes and dreams) in one basket (in one person, strategy or plan). It is when we cannot comfortably put that plate of failure on the table and eat it. We pretend to focus elsewhere, albeit to kill the urge to eat the failure-feed, but mostly, always falling short. Then we may either end up blaming the plate, the table or the chair instead of focusing on the failure-feed.

So, the question now is: when our present failed strategy is and was our only way out, what do we do?

I'm afraid to say that if your drawing board and your strategy were/are the same thing, then you're done. You're finished. You, are, finished.

I'll explain.

Let's imagine that you were invited to a song-writer's competition requiring participants to only sing their best original compositions. Also, participants may write as many good songs as they wish. But as for you, even after knowing these good rules, you came to the auditions with only one BEST song written by you.

Your strategy would be: "This is my best song, it will work, it will win me the award. The judges will listen to it and fall in love with it, and it will help me trump every other competitor. I have the BEST song, therefore there is no need to worry." Why do you feel overconfident? Because it is the best song! It is YOUR best song.

Unbeknownst to you, there is someone else thinking the same way as you are but they have their other three "BEST" songs.

What they are doing is this: they are imagining, "If the judges won't like this first BEST song of mine, I'll unleash my other BEST song; and if they won't think the second one is worth their ears, I'll still point them towards my other BEST song." If your competitor's BEST songs are in different genres and with different strengths in composition and lyricism, you're finished. They'll win, and you'll fail. Why will they win? Because they will be thinking about "BESTNESS" with regard to the judges, not themselves!

Back to the point though...

Now, imagine a situation where the judges listen to your one BEST song (which will actually happen if every other competitor was as well prepared as you were) and after they're undecided, they chose to ask you for a second song: "Hey! Do you have any other song you've written apart from this one?" Guess what you will tell them... Nonsense. You'll tell them nonsense.

You'll end up as the runners-up (or not, depending on the competition), not because you are a bad song writer but because you're a poor strategist. You thought your one song was enough, but your competitor came in with more tools to win. It was a do-or-die for them, it wasn't for you. So when they unleash their second song, you'll be wishing you had a "drawing board" to go back to. But you wouldn't be having any. Why? Because your drawing board was your strategy - you had already utilized its significance. Your one song was your do-or-die strategy.

This simply means this: whenever you have an opportunity to compete, don't EVER undermine your opponent. You'd be better be ruthless at wanting something than play around with wanting it then lose it in the end. You'd better be prepared for the worst, and the best may just end up smiling at you; than thinking that you are the best only to realize that the best is actually better and smarter than you in many ways.

I hope you learn this whenever you fail: that two arrows are always better than one. The second arrow enables you to eat your failure-feed with pints of salt.

End Note: The only place where our strategy and our drawing board are allowed to be the same is in our relationships and when dealing with God.

Bonface Morris.

Musings From My Birthday

Musings from my birthday

I don't know about you, but birthdays never really mattered to me in my early 20s. 

I used to think that people who fuss over birthdays are just being petty. Actually, I still feel that way but with a bit of salt because I have come to know people with all kinds of personalities; and I now understand why birthdays are a big deal to some and not that much of a big deal to others.

I'm older now, and I'm realizing that the older I grow, the more introspective I become. (Even so, the pettier I become.) And being introspective means having a self consciousness that never attempts to overlook my own pettiness. I have grown older, therefore I have grown pettier. And I have become more introverted than people really think I am. I only yap when I should. Isn't that what introverts do? (Haha)

I analyze statements, emotions, patterns, words, gestures, eye language, body language, silence, many words, few words, smirks... I don't overthink. No, I don't. I simply analyze. I analyze all kinds of stupid things in people. But mostly, I analyze if I really matter to them. I analyze because I want to understand people. I don't want to go around beating the air as far as people are concerned.

I analyze if I have impacted people's lives in these many years I have been in this world. I analyze my relationships. I analyze how the most important people in my life react to life changes and how they treat me in the different phases of life. I analyze how I make them feel. I analyze where their relationships with other people and with God seem to be going. 

Here is why I get deeper into the burden of understanding people and their life patterns: because, I somehow always have this Maya Angelou quote running at the back of my mind when I interact with people: "I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel". 

Lemme say it again: people will never forget how you make them feel. 

I don't have to be perfect around people, I just have to make them feel something - something that will bring a change in their lives. That is my life goal.

I want it to be told that when I lived down here on earth, I at least managed to make people feel the following things:

1. Hatred

Yes. I want you to be able to hate something and hate it really well. Not to hate people, but to hate something. Hatred is the one emotion that changes everything. I want someone to be able to say, "Morris stirred up my heart to hate sex before marriage, to hate the devil, to hate sin, to hate being violent and inconsiderate, to hate being a naggard, to hate, hate and hate..."

And if possible, when I'm alive, I want such a person to come to me, face me and tell me: "You make me hate the things that God hates."

2. Love

I want someone to arise and say, "Morris makes me feel loved and he shows me how to love people. He arouses within me the ability and passion to love. He makes me love God, love people, love the right things and love myself."

I want someone to face me and tell me: YOU TOUCH MY HEART. (Actually, someone I truly love woke up this morning and told me amongst many other beautiful words: YOU TOUCH THE HEARTS OF MANY.) 

I don't know how I touch people, but if I do touch, I hope I do touch their hearts to enable them to respond to God and to love and to be able to give it back to others.

Also, if possible, when I'm alive, I want such a person to come to me, face me and tell me: "You make me love the things that God loves."

3. Included

I want people to have a feeling of inclusivity when they are around me. I want them to feel, "Morris won't leave me out of this, he's got my back. If he is there, we are all covered."

I want people to feel a sense of confidence when they think about me: to be sure of themselves. I want them to know deep down in their hearts that they are special. I don't want them to think, "Aahhh, what a selfish, egocentric, narcissistic prude!" but "Aaaah, what a selfless, generous and self-sacrificing friend."

And if possible, when I'm alive, I want such a person to come to me, face me and tell me: "You make me to be considerate of others with the selflessness of Christ."

4. Happiness

Have I ever made you laugh? Laugh until the clouds turned into stars? Until the dark become a light before your eyes? I don't know about you, but I do make myself laugh. I am weird: so weird that I even laugh at myself.

I want it to be told that I cheer up a room. I want people to be proud that I'm coming, to expect to be happy. I want someone to say, to the glory of God, "Morris, please come. We need your laughter there. We need your laughter."

And if possible, when I'm alive, I want such a person to come to me, face me and tell me: "You make me laugh. The joy of the Lord resides within you."

5. Think

I want to help people think. Think deeper, think wider and think with open minds. I want them to think about life down here and life through eternal eyes. 

I want them to think until they feel they are making the right choices. I want the feeling that comes out of their thoughts and choices to be a feeing of satisfaction and surety. I want it to be said of me, "Morris makes me think really hard about my life choices and where I am headed. He makes me reconsider my choices in life."

And if possible, when I'm alive, I want such a person to come to me, face me and tell me: "You make me feel proud of the choices I made in my life in such and such an area and at such and such a time."

6. God

Forget about everything else I have just said, friends. Forget it all and just hold on to this one. This last one. Yes, this is more important than the rest. 

After all has been said and done, I want people to say of me, "He makes me feel God. He makes me draw closer to Jesus and sense His Holy Spirit. He makes me realize who I am in God." 

I want people to see, feel, touch, know, glorify, delight in, find satisfaction in, bless, magnify and acknowledge God through me. I am part of the body of Christ, so I want to help reveal Him to people. I want to be that kind of vessel that God uses to reach the masses for Himself. I don't want to be at the center of it all, I just want to be a conduit - a pathway that God uses to reach His people. That's my duty on earth, so help me God.

And if possible, when I'm alive, I want such a people to come to me, face me and tell me: "Morris, you make us see God, experience Him and know Him. May He bless you on our behalf." 

*******

People, don't tell these things to my grave, it won't hear you. Tell them to me right now, when I can hear it. And I know - oh yes, I know - that the same Spirit that kept Christ humble will keep me humble for the glory of God. Let us all be proud that God had a reason to bring me to your lives.

That's my legacy.

*******

PS: And whatever this blog post makes you feel, don't keep it to yourself. At least tell it to God. (Haha). 

Bonface Morris.

Download Darlene Zschech's Here I Am / Send Me (2017) Album and Hillsong Worship's Let There Be Light (2016) Album for Free Here..

1. DARLENE ZSCHECH - HERE I AM / SEND ME (2017)

Darlene Zschech - HERE I AM / SEND ME (2017) official album cover art

Summary info on the album:

Former Hillsong worship pastor Darlene Zschech (pronounced "check"), most famous for the song "Shout To The Lord," is back to writing and singing worship songs after a miraculous recovery from cancer. Her latest project, Here I Am / Send Me, is a live record featuring of all new material. The album is performed by her worship team at Hope Unlimited Church in Australia and written alongside respected songwriters, such as Martin Smith and Paul Baloche. Here I Am / Send Me is a focused project, declaring God's unchanging love while promising to praise Him in every season of life and share his love to the nations and our neighbors. (JFH)

Artist: Darlene Zschech

Album: HERE I AM / SEND ME (Standard Edition).

Number of tracks: 11 in standard edition and 16 in deluxe edition.

Note: The deluxe edition of the album contains 5 live videos of You Will Be Praised, Daylight, You Are Great, Here I Am Send Me and Go (in that order).

Album length: 72 minutes, 36 seconds

Date of release: March 3, 2017

Record label: Integrity Music

Music genre: Contemporary Christian/Gospel, alternative, CEDM

Download: Darlene Zschech - Here I Am, Send Me LIVE (2017) (67mb.)

2. HILLSONG WORSHIP - let there be light (2016)

I have wanted to review this album since last year but time constraints have not allowed me.. Anyway here is a summary about the album, plus the download link.

Hillsong Worship - let there be light (2016) official cover art.

Summary info on the album:

Taking its cue from Genesis 1:3 is Hillsong Worship's titular "Let There Be Light" (stylized as "let there be light".)  And in at least three ways, this album is a return to the group's grassroots genesis. First, this 25th live album sees the return of Brooke (Fraser) Ligertwood as the worship leader on two cuts.  Though Ligertwood has never ceased writing for the Australian worship team, she has not been on the microphone since 2010's "A Beautiful Exchange."  Second, the same can be said of Marty Sampson.  In the earlier days, Sampson used to be one of the most prominent male voices of the team.  After a period of conspicuous absence, Sampson is back both as a songwriter of 2 songs and he sings lead on his self-penned "Elohim."  Third, while their previous record "OPEN HEAVEN / River Wild" was a tad more experimental and ethereal, this new record gets back to their mother's milk of solidly congregational-focused songs. (Hallels)

Artist: Hillsong Worship

Album: let there be light (Deluxe Edition).

Number of tracks: 17 

Note: I have excluded a short sermon by Pastor Brian Houston (Behold, New Roads) in the download I'm sharing.

Album length: 92 minutes, 58 seconds (without the short sermon)

Date of release: October 14, 2016

Record label: Hillsong Music, Sparrow Records and Capitol Christian Music Group.

Music genre: Contemporary Christian/Gospel, alternative, rock, CEDM.

Download: Hillsong Worship - Let There Be Light (2016 (85mb)

Bonface Morris.

Whatever You Do, Please Don't Fall In Love

Or fall in love anyway;
Fall in love so deeply, so recklessly...Fall in love so that your heart can be barbecued, grilled and smothered;
Fall in love so that your mind can explode a multiple times into small fragments like fireflies and disappear into oblivion...
Yes, maybe, just fall in love so that you may know the depths of bliss and disarray;
Fall in love anyway, because there is no one that is going to catch you after you come down with a thud!

Because,
If you've ever fallen in love,
If you've ever been loved,
There are two things; no, three things that you have found to be true:
That love is circular: it goes around and comes around,
That love is inexpensive: it brags itself to be aloof and in a class of its own ; and
That mature love is like wine: when you take too much of it, you get drunk, too little of it makes you yearn for more and "just enough" is never enough.
So falling in love leaves you neither in the waters of love nor on the shores...

But in a way I can't explain, mature love cripples the soul.
It retards it's ability to do normal things.
It matures the soul into doing the unthinkable, extraordinary, stupid and almost malevolent things;
Mature love is dangerous.
Childish love is dangerous.
Lukewarm love is dangerous.
All love is dangerous.
All love is not bad; just dangerous.

Stories of love are stories of bloody hearts and broken bones,
They are stories of rugged crosses, thorn-brawed faces and empty graves.
They are stories full of stories inside stories that were stories.


In all my life, I've fallen in love at least twice.
I know how it feels. I know how it tastes.
I know its pits and mountains, its lilies and scotches.I know its sourness and it's sweetness.
I've tasted both the angst and the anticipation;
And all these times, love has proved two things: that it tastes the same way if you get it just right,
And that it can be trodden upon just much;
But if you were my son and you happened to ask me, "Dad, should I fall in love?"
I'll tell you this:
It is beautiful, but it is dangerous. So, please, whatever you do, son, don't fall in love. Or fall in it anyway, because your heart can't help it and somehow, love delights and thrives in it own wars.


********
This tiny writing is for that person who knows what it means when we say, "I am thirsty, but please don't give me water, it will kill me."


Bonface Morris.