Need a Christian Rock station? We've got more than a few.

What about Christian Hip-Hop? Not so much.

Well that all changed last month when PowerRadio.FM launched in Houston. It started with a 4-hour session live on Houston's 100.7FM which was also streamed on the PowerRadio.FM site. I listened while getting some work done and thoroughly enjoyed the DJs and the music selection on this "rhythmic" station. The mix includes hip-hop, of course, but also branches out into dance and pop. When not live on the air, at least for a few more weeks, the online portion of the station switches back to internet radio-style playlists. But this month, they plan to open a new studio and after that will broadcast live on the internet most of the day.

So download the iOS or Android app, or tune in on the website. The stream is great and I listen in the car through my iPhone regularly. Also pray for PowerRadio.fm as they work to broaden their reach.

“It was deep! I liked the parts where some character was once this, but he ended up becoming that. Like he’d be dissing Jesus, and then he ends up being a saint. That was cool.”

What a great description of the gospel. “Some character was once this, but ended up becoming that.” I was lost, but now I am found. I was once blind, but now I see.

Certainly that's not the best explanation of the gospel I've ever heard (no mention of sin or whether Lil' Wayne recognizes his own need for forgiveness). But I like Acuff's point!

I’m saying that I love it when God gets an unexpected shout out. And that I could crush Lil’ Wayne at UNO.

This wasn't the old and tired "I thank God for this award" stuff you hear out of celebrities. Lil' Wayne, in his own way, was speaking of how Jesus changes lives from the inside out.

The next post that caught my eye was also about a music artist, the teen sensation Justin Beiber, or "the Beiber" or "the Beibs". Apparently the dude not only has a movie but a Bible study to go with it. I'll let you read the rest for yourself.

"Faceless"

"Not Alone" - click this link to go to NBC.com where you can skip to the end of the show to see RED.

So awesome to see these guys get the recognition as artists!

Live Stream

Some of my favorite quotes:

Joseph: I am pledged to marry someone very special.

Mary: Just who might that be? ;)

Joseph: It sounds crazy ... But an angel told me.

Joseph friend #3: Oh, that's convenient...

Shepherd # 1 started a group "A Savior is born to us"

"Background" by Lecrae featuring C-Lite

"Fly Away" by Rhema Soul

Classic: "Wonder Why" by PFR



The Woadani are a native tribe in the jungles of Ecuador along the Amazon river. They live simply as one might imagine but bore the distinction of being one of the most violent people groups known to exist. This violence perpetuated through generations of revenge killings. One family group or clan would murder with spears or machetes members of another family group or clan who had previously murdered their members. These killings had become so frequent that their entire ethnic group would have likely ceased to exist, had the killing not stopped.

This is the setting of Beyond the Gates of Splendor, a documentary on the tribe and the missionaries who impacted their lives so greatly. Five missionary families had gone down to Ecuador to reach out to many of the native peoples of that area and support the work of nearby missionaries. In 1956, the men were killed after a successful conversation with some Woadani ended in one big misunderstanding and a lie that the foreigners were there to kill them. They were speared to death.

Later, some of the Woadani very apologetically ask two of the women to come live with them. They do and by their love and teaching, many come to know Jesus through his "carvings", the Bible. Little else changes in their community, but the love of Christ alone, impacting an entire people group causes the killing to drop by more than 90%.

As you watch it, the documentary then follows one of the boys whose father was killed as he becomes friends with the men and boys of the Woadani and after he grows up, he brings his family down to Ecuador to live with them for a while.

I had already read "End of the Spear" a book by Steve Saint (the boy above) which tells both the history and of his journey back to live with the Woadani people. It's priceless though to hear and see the actual people from the widows to the grandchildren to the Woadani themselves tell the story from their perspective. And seeing Mincaye, one of the Woadani tribesmen who killed his father, walking through a grocery store with Saint is amazing.

Make sure you check out this documentary!

In a project called CompassionArt, several of the world's best worship leaders and song writers collaborated on 15 songs and all of the proceeds from record sales, royalties and even church performances will go to charities. Coming from a variety of styles and backgrounds, the writers met up in Scotland in 2008 for one week to hammer out the songs. The group was Paul Baloche, Steven Curtis Chapman, Stu G, Israel Houghton, Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park, Matt Redman, Martin and Anna Smith, Michael W. Smith, Chris Tomlin and Darlene Zschech.

Check out this CNN piece where they interviewed Houghton about his experience:



CompassionArt is truly a unique album in that it mixes worship and social injustice. It's a perfect blend, as they make the case that since there is no poverty in Heaven, there shouldn't be any here. Not all of the tunes talk about poverty or social issues but even when you are singing along with a straight up worship song off this album, you can't help but think about it.

Another unique thing is the DVD that accompanies the album. It features a documentary on the process of writing the songs, and seeing all these people working together is quite amazing. Also, chord sheets and lyric sheets are included so you can perform the songs in your church. Remember, all proceeds from that also go to the selected charities so you can't go wrong there.

Additional artists came in for the recordings including Kirk Franklin, TobyMac, Cece Winans and Amy Grant.

All the songs are great but my personal faves are the first 4 tracks, "Come to the Water", "Shout Praise", "King of Wonders" and "Lead Me to the Rock".

This is one where you need to get the physical album to get the full deal! And give one to your worship pastor!