Hello World,
Imagine you’ve entered into my prayer closet…This is what is what you will hear today…
Dear Lord,
Your child Kanye is back in the news again (not that I really needed to inform You of this because You are omniscient)…as if he has ever been out of the news since his first album “The College Dropout” dropped in 2004…I loved his song “Jesus Walks” Lord because it glorified your son and it was banging…And although he didn’t seem like a usual Christian artist based on his repertoire, I knew that song had to mean something to him. It was so in your face. And then he was dating a Delta at the time (“Through the Wire” – “She was with me before the deal she been trying to be mine. She a Delta so she been throwing that dynasty sign.) And he was cute.
And it’s true that his first album was his best album to me anyway, but everything ain’t for everybody and that’s fine. And then he dropped his woman who he was with before the record deal and the fame and fortune and got with different women. But you don’t have to be a famous and fortunate man to have a revolving door of relationships and with fame and fortune, the revolving door probably turns at whiplash speed. And I appreciated his outburst about Hurricane Katrina. It may have not been true, but I respect the sentiment behind his delivery…He spoke from the heart and used his platform to highlight a critical issue…
And Lord, I really don’t understand why his mother had to die when she did in 2007 and so tragically too. I don’t care how famous someone gets and how much fortune someone amasses, nothing compares to having a loving family including your parents in your corner…And let’s be honest Lord, that’s when he started being in the news for not-so-good stuff. I mean it’s been 10 years this year since your child interrupted another one of your children Taylor Swift during one of her first big moments at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2009 and people are still talking about it…Even then your child President Obama, who is from Kanye’s hometown of Chicago, had to weigh in on your child’s tomfoolery…
And Lord, correct me if I’m wrong, but do you think that then President Obama’s rightful critique of Kanye has caused him to latch on to current President Trump, who is also your child, like he has? And then, your child allowed the words slavery was a “choice” to drop from his lips. He may as well dropped a bomb on the black community with that hate speech! But I did feel compassion for your child again when he opened up about his bipolar disorder.
And then Lord, your child seemed like he was trying to return his first love…Your son Jesus…with his new Sunday Service. And yeah, I was a bit put off by the high-behind Sunday Service merch…(By the way, Lord, did you know that I was yesterday’s years old when I realized that ‘murch’ was actually ‘merch’ and short for merchandise. Why didn’t you reveal that to me sooner? All this time, when I would hear people saying ‘murch,’ I wanted to ask, ‘What is that?’ But I didn’t want to look stupid.) But on the other hand, nobody can force me to part with dollars unless that’s what I already wanted to do.
And then Lord, after your child took his Sunday Service on the road, he finally came to the capital of the Civil Rights, Atlanta, and brought his Sunday Service to New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. I didn’t make it, but I read the glowing reviews. I heard your child had folk waitin’ in line for hours just get into church. Ain’t that somethin’ Lord?! That’s what you been tryin’ get us to do. Spread the word that Jesus is King. But we are so disobedient some time…And by the way, thank You God, he no longer refers to himself as Yeezus. Lord, You stay forgiving us when we falter… Lord, your hashtag should be #GraceandMercy…I kid Lord, You know and I know You’re above all of that, but I know You’re cracking a smile because I’m one of your favorites…Just kidding…all your children are all blessed and highly favored…
And then Lord, your child acted like he didn’t even visit the civil rights capital of the world when he made some controversial statements following his visit…Your child New Birth Pastor Jamal Bryant, who once welcomed your child Kanye to New Birth, had some thangs to say ’bout that too…although his “Jesus Is King” album is spreading your word in a way that many other Christian artists aspire too…I mean, when was the last time You saw, “Jesus is King” as headline in the New York Times?!! (Here’s the exact headline…Kanye West’s ‘Jesus Is King’ Is No. 1)
In a new message to his congregation at @newbirthmbc, Pastor @JamalHBryant says it’s not Kanye West’s music or his #SundayService that’s the problem; it’s “the in between the songs” comments on slavery/Donald Trump that’s harmful & he cant “sell out” & support it! #KanyeWest pic.twitter.com/B7Ty7P9nAm
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) November 12, 2019
And Lord, the American Bible Society has informed me that over 6,000 Bibles have been given away to Kanye fans!!! According to the society, his album generated more than a million queries on Google alone and prompted fans to search questions such as “What do Christians believe?” And now the American Bible Society will continue to give away free Bibles to Kanye fans through Nov. 22!!! Lord, I’m scratching my head on this one. What am I supposed to do with this? One one hand, he is making controversial statements that hurt the black community and on the other hand, he is reaching the masses for You…
And then as I was cooking this morning, I heard he performed in a prison on Friday and some of the prisoners became believers…(And You know that the average your child, me included, aine really standing in line to volunteer for the Prison Ministry)…I know You know this, but here’s the video anyway…
And in just a few hours, your child will be at Lakewood Church, which I’ve heard is the largest megachurch in the country…I just don’t know how I feel…
But although your child President Obama jokingly referred to your child Kanye as a “jacka$$,” it’s true that you definitely used a a talking donkey to convey your message in your Word…
And then Lord, I know you also said that not everyone who calls your name really knows You…
So…I’ma just end my prayer right here Lord. I’ma let You sort through it all. In summary, help me stay on the narrow way to Heaven because You know I want to wander off from time to time. And Lord, guide all of your children because You created them and know their ways and how they wander off. May we all make it there, some way, some how and some day…
Amen….
Any thoughts?
Like you I became a Kanye West fan when I first heard “Jesus Walks.” College Dropout came out when I was a junior in high school, and I still get goosebumps when I listen to it to this day. I agree the song was very “In your face” and so honest. Maaaaaaaan…I miss the “Old Kanye” (before his mom died).
I tried to listen to his new album (Jesus is King), and I felt empty inside. I thought there was something wrong with me because people in the youtube comments would say “I’m an atheist but Kanye is making me think twice and possibly give God a try.” A lot of people are moved by this album, and I wasn’t. For a little bit I thought in my head, is there something wrong with my relationship with God because this album is really touching people. Apparently many people are getting saved because of Kanye. I literally asked God “Am I tripping? Am I lost?”
Then Kanye’s appearance at Joel Olsten’s church confirmed one thing I cannot deny. Kanye West meets the criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder. When Kanye called himself “the Greatest Artist That God Has Ever Created” I immediately said “The devil is a lie!” Don’t get me wrong Kanye was arrogant even when his mother was alive, but his arrogance has gone on another level since her death. We all know that there are several bible verses about being prideful, and Kanye is full of it. Criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder:
1) A grandiose sense of self-importance…CHECK
2) Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love…CHECK
3) Belief that one is special and can only be understood by or associate with special people or institutions…CHECK
4) A need for excessive admiration…CHECK
5) A sense of entitlement (to special treatment)…CHECK
6) Lack of empathy…CHECK
7) Exploitation of others….Oh yeah!!! CHECK CHECK
8) Envy of others or the belief that one is the object of envy….CHECK
9) Arrogant, haughty behavior or attitudes…CHECK
Too bad treatment depends on the person realizing they have the disorder, which is difficult because they believe they are PERFECT. I remember when folks have called Kanye “Coonye” when he gave that awful “slavery is a choice” statement. I do see him as a wolf in sheep clothing and believe he is a “CON-ye” I will actually take Kanye seriously when he actually acts humble of full of humility. Sometimes it’s best to do great things or help others without having to announce out loud your actions. A prime example of that is actually “One of the GREATEST ARTISTS OF ALL TIMES,” Prince (Rest in Peace). After he died, there have been so many stories of his philanthropy actions that he kept on the low. He would donate to maaaaaaaaaaaany charities under a different name so that he wouldn’t take the attention away from the charity. That’s a true humble man.
As for Con-ye, I pray that he does heal from the death of his mother and gets the real mental health help that he needs so that he can get a clearer message from God. With a HUMBLE heart, that can be accomplished and help more to converting others. I think that’s why I love “Jesus Walks.” You can hear the humility in that song compared to Jesus is King album.
Wow, Sis. Ilyssa, I’m so glad you gave the album a chance. I’ve only heard what I’ve seen online. Sometimes, it’s hard to trust your own assessment of a situation, but as I’ve gotten older and hopefully wiser, I’ve learned to trust that I can discern appropriately…That being said, I’ve learned that sometimes something just ain’t for me but that doesn’t mean it’s not for someone else…And that’s cool too…
Now as far as his performance at Lakewood, chile, I’m almost speechless. I’m reasonably sure there were people in the audience saying, ‘Now, what in the world?!’ Knowing me, I would probably start laughing right there because it was so unbelievable. All Pastor Osteen could do was smile and not say anything. And you’re right, Jesus walked with humility. Kanye, not so much. LOL at Con-ye. Know what? Underneath all of that bravado and weird talk, I think he wants to do right and be right and like I said in my blog post, I will just let God handle him. But I still prefer his music from back in the day…Oh well…