LightChild's Xanga

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 16:02:59 GMT

Although I claim to have completely defected to myspace, I can't say that is completely true. Especially since I find myself still logging onto my xanga page every now and then to see what folks are up to. But so many of my friends are just in myspace now, and with my work/travel schedule and time constraints, it is a little difficult to maintain 2 of these things. I must say that I have become married to myspace, but I still have a little xanga on the side...

I hope all of you who are still here on myspace are doing well. Jeanie, I do read you rmessages, and I am sorry that I don't always take the time to reply to you. But I am so happy and excited for you and your family in this new season you are in. Rhonda, thank you for sharing about the PBS show, "Merchants Of Cool". I have yet to actually watch the show online, but I did spend about 2 hours on the website over the weekend reading over the wealth of research, reports and information about the show, all of which blew me away.

Anyway, I hope you all are well.

Friday, June 30, 2006

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 04:42:56 GMT

Hey folks. As you have probably noticed, I am hardly ever on here. That is because I am the latest to fully defect over to myspace. So, if you want to keep up with me and all of my wild adventures, you can visit me at www.myspace.com/lightchild75. In fact, I just posted a new blog there tonight. Check it out!

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 03:19:45 GMT

Hey kids, just wanted to take a break from livin la vida loca to pause for the cause and share one of my latest music picks with you.

If you are one of my Nashville peeps, then I probably don't have to tell you who Mat Kearney is. But now the world finally has a chance to hear for themselves.

Yesterday, Mat's Aware/Columbia Records' national debut, "Nothing Left To Lose", was released. It is comprised of 6 songs from Mat's Inpop Records' release, "Bullet", plus 7 brand new songs. If you already have "Bullet" and are hesitant to purchase the new album, throw caution to the wind, bite the bullet (pun intended) and go get the new record!

In short, "Nothing Left To Lose" is a masterpiece. It's only April and I can confidently say that this record is a shoe-in for my Top 10 albums of the year. Yes, it is that good. Mat's music is instantly disarming and he has an uncanny ability of communicating truth through his music with so much depth and vulnerability that it is hard not to feel equally challenged by and connected to his experiences.

I bought the album on iTunes in the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 18 and found my way to a Best Buy on the harbor here in Baltimore where I purchased 3 more copies, for only $7.99 each, to give away to friends.

After spending some more time with the album throughout the day yesterday, I found that I needed more and went back to buy 2 more copies of the CD today. It's that good, folks.

You can click here to listen to the whole album on AOL Music for at least the next few days.

If you are looking for some great new music and you like quality with your tunes, I highly recommend Mat Kearney's "Nothing Left To Lose". I also highly recommend that you pick it up this week and show some street week support to the brotha!

If you get the record, hit me back with your thoughts!

Peace!

Saturday, February 25, 2006

Sat, 25 Feb 2006 18:49:24 GMT

Yo, whay up er'ybody. I know it's been quite a long minute since you all have heard from me. And I have gotten many phone calls and emails that I have juyst not been able to return yet. I just wanna let you all know that all is well, but a brotha is just HELLA busy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (that's what I feel like most all day everyday lately).

We are gearing up for this tour and on toup of this being my first ever tour to go out on, I have a LOT, and I do mean A LOT, of responsibilities right now. It is an awesome and amazing time right now and I am learning so so so so so so so much. I have been in Baltimore for the past week in final tour rehearsals. Actually, Baltimore for the first 5 days, then NYC on Thursday/Friday and got back home to Dallas yesterday afternoon. Once I got to my car at like 12:30 pm yesterday, I had right at about 48 hours until I have to be back at the airport to catch a flight to Chicago, then to Cleveland on Monday. I took care of a few personal matters yesterday then by the time I crashed last night, I slept for like 10 hours. Considering the fact that I had only had about 6 hours combined sleep in the previous 4 days, 10 hours was a reeeeeal blessing. Today is a day to pack, clean, pay bills, and get everything in order to leave. Oh yeah, and I don't think I mentioned that I moved to a new place just a few weeks ago, so I am trying to make sure all is well there, too, before I leave.

Once I leave on Sunday, I will be on the road for possibly up to 4 months. Yikes! As I said, it's a very exciting time, but also a little intimidating. On top of all of THAT pressure and the general demands of my tour duties in general, it has been raining ever since I got home. DOH! I hate it!

If you are ever just chilling out or sitting at work and happen to think of me, first please say a prayer for me because I am quite sure I will need it.

** in fact, I would like to pause to give you an opportunity to say a prayer for me right now. Why don't you just go ahead and do that....
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... Ok, great. thanks so much. I really needed that!

As I was saying, if you do happen to think of me, first please say a prayer for me because I am quite sure I will need it. Then, look at your calendar to see what day it is, go to www.kirkfranklin.us, and click on 'tour' to see where I am. I will try to blog when ever possible and also take a lot of pictures of all the places I go.

I love you all and hope you all are doing well. If I know you, I will try to holla when we roll through your city and maybe we can connect for a few minutes, but no promises. As I have never been on a tour, I have no point of reference for what the next 4 months of my life are going to look like and therefore have NO idea what to expect. So, don't hate me if we miss each other. Jesus is still King.

Peace and love.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Wed, 08 Feb 2006 01:57:04 GMT

Yesterday, Coretta Scott King was laid to rest.

Admittedly, apart from her being the widow of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I did not really know a whole lot about her life until after she had passed away. I have not yet gotten a chance to watch her funeral (which I hear was just as beautiful and amazing as she was), I have read various transcripts throughout the day and have seen the funeral program. In the program, one of Mrs. King's caretakers, Evelyn K. Dudley, submits a piece that she wrote in honor of Mrs. King entitled "The Journey".

As I read the piece, I could not help but be overwhelmed by the depth of purpose with which Mrs. King lived. Just like her late husband, she had a focus and a tenacity that was not satisfied by anything other than fulfilling her divine destiny here on earth.

I was so inspired by what I read, that I wanted to share it here. Reading a piece such as this causes you to reflect on the days of your life, past and present, and fix your eyes on what lies ahead of you.

As you read "The Journey", I challenge all of you, as well as myself (just as I did recently in honor of Dr. King), to live a life that is befitting of such a salute. There are plenty of people jocking for position in the "mediocre" line.

Once again, today, I not only challenge you, but I dare you to dig deep and unearth the purpose of God in your life.

Be excellent! Rise above! Dream! Reach! Become!

The Journey
(in honor of the late Coretta Scott King)

Ill go alone if I have to. Ill lay aside every sin and every weight which so easily besets me. So if youre behind me when I begin this journey, stay there, for you will only hinder me. In my basket, in case you are wondering, are seeds to be sown. You see, this is a road less traveled and only a few therell be that will find it. My footprints will someday vanish from this trail, but the seeds I sow will grow and bear fruit that will remain. The fragrance from this fruit will draw hungry souls to sojourn with me, as we all seek God in Spirit and Truth.

Dust from this road tempts my thirst, but it is not mere water I thirst for. The cup of destiny contains the substance that will quench my thirst, so only from destinys cup will I drink. Eternity has allowed me only a few moments in time, so I must be about my Fathers business and find my way back to where I belong.

My steps are ordered toward a destination that has been waiting for me since the laying of the worlds foundation. If I deviate from this journey, Ill only delay my arrival.

Although my feet are shod with preparation, they still grow weary. So I must stand on the promises of God to gain strength for the miles of this road left untrodden. At the end of this journey, waits a festive table filled with blessings and prayers that I prayed and had forgotten. Have your fill of these blessings! Divide them among my prodigy to the fourth and fifth generation, for along the way, Ive eaten of bread you know not of. I am full.

Tired of my journey, Jesus bids me to rest and extends his hand with an invitation.

Ill gladly accept and sit on the porch of the Kingdom to recap my travels and realize that this journey was just as important as the destination.

-- Evelyn K. Dudley (one of Mrs. Kings caretakers)

Monday, January 23, 2006

Mon, 23 Jan 2006 13:23:18 GMT

Welcome to Atlanta where the playas play... and we ride on them thangs like e'ryday.

It's always good to go back to Nashville and see my peoples. I didn't get to hang with nearly as many people as I would have liked to because of my packed work itinerary. But I did manage to squeeze in lunch with Josh, Anthony and Amy on Friday, as well as dinner with some more peeps, including my brotha Lew later that night. But that was about it. The rest of fot time was spent shuttling all over Nashvegas, rehearsals, airport runs, meetings and generally keeping tabs on 14 people. You've pretty much got to be wired to do what I do, other wise you will absolutely hate it.

The Stellar Awards on Saturday night were great. For the first time, I actually had seats in the audience and got to watch part of the show, and right on the second row next to my boss, no less. Not bad at all. It was a great show, but I honestly think that by that point, I was so exhausted from the events of the previous 4 days that I had already kind of shut down.

After a non-stop 4 days in Nashville, I left the Music City Sunday morning and am now in Atlanta, chillin' in my room at the Ritz-Carlton. I have never stayed in a Ritz-Carlton, and I must say that it is very nice. I was just relaxing last night when there was a knock at the door. I thought it was strange because no one knows I am here, other than the 9 other people in this hotel, who don't really even know what room I am in. I opened the door to find a gentleman with a plate in his hand who said, "I have your chocolate truffles for you, sir." Well, well, well, saints! I know that I sure didn't order any chocolate truffles, but as it turns out, I had a truffle in my spirit that had not yet manifested... and now look at God!

I called one of the girls in our group in her room and asked if she had gotten some truffles. She said yes, they had just arrived. She said the man knocked on their door, but they were both half asleep and didn't answer it. next thing they knew, this guy was opening to door and one of them had to get up to find out what was going on. But when they got to the door, instead of being upset, they found the man with the truffles and were pleasantly surprised.

I told her that what I felt the Holy Ghost was trying to say is that sometimes you might have a blessing knocking on your door and not even know it, and you might have to be inconvenienced to get what he has for you. but when it's all over, your blessing will far outweigh any inconvenience that you had to endure to get to it! Can I get a witness that know I'm right about it?!?!?

Somebody give Him a toasted coconut truffle praise right now!

Monday, January 09, 2006

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 16:56:24 GMT

Unbelief and disobedience

My buddy Micah posted this on his blog this morning.

"Someone asked me today what my New Year's resolutions are. I hadn't really come up with any at the time, so I came up with one.

I've been thinking lately about all the ways that Christians are different from non-Christians. What things ought we do that the rest of the world doesn't do? What things ought we avoid that the rest of the world embraces? What ought we be good at that does not come naturally to people?

One thing that seems obvious is obedience to God. Obeying God certainly isn't something that comes naturally, and when we do it, it can highlight differences between the Christian and the non-Christian. But I think that these differences are designed to bring glory to God, and to bring to light things that may show non-Christians that there is another, better way to live. So they are good. Difference for difference's sake is just counter-culturalism for counter-culturalism, and that gets absurd, but difference for holiness' sake, or for faith's sake, or for love's sake, this is a good thing.

So, that's my New Year's resolution. Be different from the world. Find the things that Christians are supposed to be good at, and start doing them, or do them better. Find the things that Christians are supposed to avoid, and stop doing them. Go beyond the obvious. Obey God and learn to know Him, in public and in private."

I thought his comments were quite poignant, particularly in light of some things that I have been meditating on lately regarding some issues in my own life. Here is my response to him:

"Good stuff, man. Really good stuff. I have been meditating on that topic lately, in regard to my own various areas of disobedience to God in my life. Just this morning on the way to work it hit me that disobience, while still wrong, is really the fruit of a much bigger sin, unbelief. If I allow unbelief to take root in any area of my life, then I have allowed myself to believe that what God says about any given subject is not true, and that He is not Lord over that area. This is a dangerous mindset, from which grows the fruit of disobedience. I disobey God because I don't believe that His way is better and that His word is true. Wow. Thanks for sharing."

Selah.

Friday, January 06, 2006

Fri, 06 Jan 2006 15:52:25 GMT

You know what, 2005 was a hard year. On many fronts it was great, but it was also just rough in a lot of other areas.

I went to the New Year's Eve watchnight service at The Potter's House and really was encouraged by the word that Bishop Jakes gave. He talked about what Jesus said regarding not pouring new wine into old wineskins, etc, but rather to pour the new wine into the new wineskins because they are more flexible and can accommodate more. But in order to accommodate more, there is a constant stretching that must take place. The new skins are pliable and as more is poured in, they make adjustments to facilitate what is being put in them. Then he talked about how that 2005 was a really hard year, but to stop looking at it from a position of defeat and drudgery, but rather a position of preparation and expectation. It was not a year of struggle, it was a year of stretching. And Lord, oh my sweet Jesus, Father up in Heaven... has it ever been a year of stretching.

Regarding the new wine and old wine skins, he spoke about how you can't go into getting ready to receive something new when you still have an old mind or attitude. In order to fully receive and give room to the new thing that is coming, you have to have a new mind to accommodate it. For instance, you can't walk into a year expecting prosperity with a poverty mentality. He said "the magic is not in the clock striking midnight or in it being a new year. the magic is in having a new mind! So now let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus!"

I was so encouraged when I left the service. On my way out, I was telling everybody, "Happy New Mind!"

So, as I step into 2006 so full of expectation, I am really focusing my vision on some specific goals this year, and I feel so empowered to acheive all that God has purposed for my life. I already know in my spirit that at the same time that 2006 will be a year of "more" that 2005 stretched me for, it will also be yet another year of stretching to prepare me for what 2007 will bring. It is with a heart full of expectation that I dive head first into what God has in store for my life this year.

So, my good friend Antonio Neal (whatup yo!) has this new song called "Steppin In The New Year" that I just heard today and not only is it THE JAM, but it is also my new anthem! It is the song playing on my new myspace page. I wanted to put the lyrics here for you and I hope that they encourage you, as well, as you step into 2006 expecting the unexpected and ready to receive all that you were prepared for, and ready to be stretched to receive even more!

I want to dedicate this blog and this song to all of my peeps who really fought to make it through 2005 (don't make me name names!). Get your war clothes on, and step into this year with me with a new mind, a new confidence and an expectation that what's to come is better than what's been!

"Steppin' In The New Year" (by Antonio Neal) (to listen, go here)
Last year, same time / I was looking forward to what the new year had for me / But midway, I got sidetracked / It was nothing like my mind had imagined it would be

But I'm steppin' in the new year with a new attitude / And it's alright, yes I'm alright / I'm steppin' in the new year with a new attitude / And it's alright, yes I'm alright

For this year, gotta be strong / Because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me / Cause His peace, passes understanding / I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

But I'm steppin' in the new year with a new attitude / And it's alright, yes I'm alright / I'm steppin' in the new year with a new attitude / And it's alright, yes I'm alright

Another day that the Lord has made, another day that the Lord has made / Rejoice! / Rejoice!

I made it! I made it! I made it!

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Wed, 04 Jan 2006 04:57:43 GMT

I am beginning a new project and experiment in community reading called Lightchild's Book Club. Each month we will walk through and have various discussions about a different book together.

This month's book is Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. Check it out at LightchildsBookClub.com. Hope you can join in the fun!

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Tue, 03 Jan 2006 03:00:15 GMT

I am needing to purchase a portable DVD player. Well, actually I am wanting to purchase a portable DVD player, but with all the traveling I do and will be doing this year, one of these handy little personal entertainment devices would come in very handy. Between the various Best Buy gift cards (from 6 different sources) and cash that I received for Christmas gifts, I currently have $205 set aside for the specific purpose of getting a nice portable DVD player. I am also prepared to put some additional cash with that amount, if need be, to get the best one that I can find.

So, I've been shopping around for who has the best deals and what options are important to me. As I have all these Best Buy gift cards, I need to purchase there. But since Best Buy has a wonderful price matching policy, I have been looking at all the ads and sales lately trying to find the sweetest deal.

The things that I want most are (a) a large screen, at least 7" or larger, and (b) long battery life, longer than the standard 2.5 hours that I have seen a lot of. These days, a 2.5 hour battery life will barely get you through some of the movies that are coming out now. This will be especially important when I am on long plane trips. I have also discovered the Polaroid swivel screen which I really like, but have only found in 2 models, one with a smaller screen and shorter battery life for about $180, and one with a larger screen and longer battery life for about $380. Neither option is too attractive.

Here are some other options that I am considering:

Model	Price	Screen	Battery
Zenith ZPA-314	142.49	7"	3.5 hours
Magnavox MPD850	188.99	8.5"	3 hours
Insignia IS-PD10135	188.99	9"	3 hours
Samsung DVDL75	216.99	7"	4.2 hours
LG LGDVP7772	236.99	7"	3 hours

Those are the 5 options that I am considering on BestBuy.com. The prices above reflect Best Buy's current 10% off all portable DVD players online-only promotion. Considering the features that I desire, I think the two that I am leaning toward are the Samsung (longer battery life) and Magnavox (slightly larger screen, acceptable battery life). While the Insignia model has a much larger screen and decent 3 hour battery life, I am a little leary of going with it for the simple fact that I don't know Insignia as a trusted brand. I think it is the equivelant of Wal-Mart's DuraBrand, which is essentially the generic line and I just don't know about the quality or durability of these products. I would rather spend a little more on a brand that I know and trust.

I am not dead-set on purchasing right now, but would like to buy one before my trip to Nashville on January 18. Someone asked me why I can't just use my laptop to play DVDs and get an additional external battery for it. My response, that's too much to deal with. When I am on a plane, I need convenience. My laptop is too bulky to mess with on a plane, not to mention adding an external battery in the mix. I need something smaller and more manageable that is easier to work with when and where I need it. So, there you go.

I guess I say all of this, well, because I just wanted to share it, I suppose. But I am also soliciting the input of anyone reading this who would care to provide some insight for my research of portable DVD players. Do you own any of these? What is your experience? Does anyone own a Insignia brand player? I'm going to do some more research and look for consumer reviews as well and hope to make a purchase within 2 weeks.

Holler at your boy.