These Times & My Life

A blog from a Student of life. A Runner for life. A Tech lover through life. Who knows that #GodisLife. And who likes music too...

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#StillUnashamed, a playlist by Garrison Stribling on Spotify

This is a playlist that I created on 116 day. You can find out more about 116 day and the #Unashamed movement by looking up Reach Records online!

Music has been a big part of my life. Since I was in elementary school I had a connection to music that I could not understand. As I got older I began to understand that each song I listened to had messages embedded within it that we as listeners could relate to and connect with. When I got to college I really started to analyze the songs I listened to for the messages embedded within them by the various artists. The songs that are in this Spotify playlist are embedded with messages that I feel speak volumes to movement from Reach Records that is based on Romans 1:16 which states that “I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes...”. Below you will find my analysis of the 15 songs in this playlist and how I believe that they uphold this Unashamed mindset.

Still Unashamed - Trip Lee

The title of this track says it all, however my favorite line from this song in at the beginning of the chorus Trip Lee states: “On the mic I might testify, oh my... Still Unashamed” and shows that as a artist he is not ashamed to declare he faith through his craft.

My Shot(Rise Up Remix)-The Roots, Nate Ruess, Busta Rhymes, Joell Ortiz

I added this track to this list because its main message is how we should throw away our shot. I believe that as Christians we have one life, one shot, in order to share the Gospel and we should not be to ashamed of this mission God has given us and throw this shot away. 

Ignite - Zedd

The first two lines of this track explain exactly why I added it to this playlist: “There’s a fire that burns inside, its a instinct that never lies.” If you are truly a born again Christian then the Holy Spirit now dwells inside you, aka the fire. This “fire” compels us to not be ashamed of what God has done in our lives and instinctively pushes us to share this life change with the world!

Heroes (we could be) (Grandtheft Remix) - Alesso

As Christians, I believe that God has called us to be the Heroes of this world. At the start of the second verse it states that “Anybody’s got the power, they don’t see it ‘cause they don’t understand”. We all have the power to push the Gospel forward out into this world and this job does not just have to be left up to Pastors, Preachers, and other church leaders. I see this unashamed movement as a way to get people to understand the power and influence that they could have if they would stop being ashamed...

All We Got - Chance The Rapper

I chose this song not just only for the song, but also because of the artist. I see Chance as a rapper who is not ashamed to declare to the world that he is a believer in God. My favorite line for this track is in the second verse and says, “I was baptized like real early, I might give satan a swirlie!” 

Unbreakable - Michael Jackson

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"A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us." -John Steinbeck. Every time I come home I am greeted by a refrigerator full of the travels that my parents have taken. These souvenirs always motivate me to work harder in order to achieve the level of success that will allow me to travel the world. However I recognize that no matter how much planning and success achievements I get, if it is not in Gods plan it will not happen. I am prayerful that He will allow me to travel and see more of this amazing Earth that He has made. #travel

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"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything." -Plato

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"Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope..." #washingtondc #mlkjr (at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial)

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"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works." -Steve Jobs #iPhone

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To Apple, Love Taylor

I write this to explain why I’ll be holding back my album, 1989, from the new streaming service, Apple Music. I feel this deserves an explanation because Apple has been and will continue to be one of my best partners in selling music and creating ways for me to connect with my fans. I respect the company and the truly ingenious minds that have created a legacy based on innovation and pushing the right boundaries.

I’m sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service. I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months. I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company. This is not about me. Thankfully I am on my fifth album and can support myself, my band, crew, and entire management team by playing live shows. This is about the new artist or band that has just released their first single and will not be paid for its success. This is about the young songwriter who just got his or her first cut and thought that the royalties from that would get them out of debt. This is about the producer who works tirelessly to innovate and create, just like the innovators and creators at Apple are pioneering in their field…but will not get paid for a quarter of a year’s worth of plays on his or her songs.

These are not the complaints of a spoiled, petulant child. These are the echoed sentiments of every artist, writer and producer in my social circles who are afraid to speak up publicly because we admire and respect Apple so much. We simply do not respect this particular call.

I realize that Apple is working towards a goal of paid streaming. I think that is beautiful progress. We know how astronomically successful Apple has been and we know that this incredible company has the money to pay artists, writers and producers for the 3 month trial period… even if it is free for the fans trying it out.

Three months is a long time to go unpaid, and it is unfair to ask anyone to work for nothing. I say this with love, reverence, and admiration for everything else Apple has done. I hope that soon I can join them in the progression towards a streaming model that seems fair to those who create this music. I think this could be the platform that gets it right.

But I say to Apple with all due respect, it’s not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this. We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.

Taylor

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As a audio engineer I know a lot of artists that put a great deal or work into their craft in order to get their work out to fans who really appreciate them. This statement by Taylor Swift is a direct testament to that fact. 

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The past 28 days I have been training in Fort Knox, Kentucky and I had the opportunity to learn a lot about leadership and working with others and how to apply these things to my Army career and my various civilian affairs. Throughout the training I was recognized along with a few of my fellow cadets as leaders who stood out a little more than the rest. At the end of my training I was awarded the Armed Forces Services Corporation Award for demonstrating the moral requirement for a strong work ethic and positive attitude in order to achieve individual and group objectives. I am looking forward to move opportunities as I continue to serve in the U.S. Army!

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This past week I lost a man who I have learned a lot from. My grandfather was a man of few words, but you always knew how he stood on every matter. He will be missed, but we know who now holds his hand. Below you will find a poem that I read at his funeral by Maya Angelou. This poem is almost a perfect testament to life than he lived and the legacy that he left behind.

You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may tread me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? 'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard 'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I've got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame I rise Up from a past that's rooted in pain I rise I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise.

-Maya Angelou

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Clifton-Stribling&lc=9653&pid=175192537&uuid=9f40bf80-8c35-49ed-90a5-56aa0bca4a02&photoid=42765957

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Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.

Martin Luther

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Garrison; Texas A&M University Prairie-View:

“Serving here this past summer was simply amazing! Getting to see so many campers give their lives to Christ is something that cannot be explained fully. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for this place. I hope that he allows me to come back and serve His people next summer.”

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“Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art.” -Stanislaw Jerzy Lee

The past 21 years have shown me that every moment that I have been blessed to live has been a gift from God. This gift has allowed me to see and do so much in our world today. These years have also given me the chance to learn from the people have come before and gain some wisdom of my own from my own experiences. I have also learned that life is a work of art in progress and that God is not finished with me yet… I am excited to have lived another year and I can’t wait to see what He has in store for me next!

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Kneel To The Sky

I heard this song for the first time last night and it really touched my soul. The reason this song is so powerful to me is because I am currently going through a time in my life where I have to lay my troubles down at the feet of God and trust what his plan is for my life. I am having to relearn to trust Him and not myself or the world. It is almost like this song is literally speaking through my current situation. I know the journey of life is not going to be 100% easy and I am seeing that now. Also I am having to learn how to trust the wisdom of those who came before me. I am praying for forgiveness and guidance as I push through this new struggle in my life and that I will learn and grow from it. I am trusting that as I kneel to pray that Jesus will give me the power I need to touch the sky and live the life he wants me to live. 

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If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."

Michael Jordan