Minnow Mail

yadah, tehillah, barak, halal, towdah, zamar, shabach

I was at a friend's house babysitting her infant this afternoon. When she came home with her husband, they both invited me to the baby's upcoming baptism. The conversation turned into one about religion. We began discussing small congregations vs. large ones. They told me about a church they went to that had surround sound, theater seats and the pastor's face on a Jumbotron. In my friends' opinions, these churches practice "easy religion". They think the people who attend these churches are seeing religion as a form of entertainment and pay no attention to scripture and prayer.

At first, I saw their point and I thought the term "easy religion" was pretty clever. All I kept thinking about was how children always see church as boring or something difficult to suffer through. Maybe a Jumbotron and a live band would make it easier.

The more I think about it, though, I realize that it is impossible to judge someone's dedication to religion. As humans, we learn and love in so many different ways, so why should we praise God in the same way? Who can say which way is better?

In ancient Hebrew days, they recognized seven specific ways of praising the Lord: yadah (lifting your hands to surrender spirit soul and body to God), tehillah (to sing, praise God through song), barak (to kneel or bow, showing reverence to God and adoration), halal (to boastfully praise, large physical movements, loud praise), towdah (extending hands in adorationand thanks) , zamar (to play a musical instrument, make music to praise God) and shabach (to glorify by shouting, being totally uninhibited). 

To connect these terms to present day, I’ll say that it doesn’t matter if you dance, play an electric guitar, speak in tongues, sing hymns or pray silently. Humans are not cookie-cut, so our forms of expression will not be the same. Your relationship with God is private and not up for interpretation. 

Me

Okay, I'm about to be a really big baby, but my sister just got a new car and I am so damn jealous. I should be happy for her, but I just looked @ her & said, "I hate you, Bia; I'm jelly."

I should look on the bright side and say, "I have no car payment and my car still runs." She has a bill every month & I don't. Plus, the car was a gift from my parents, and even though it's a 98, it is still in good shape.

In the big scheme of things, a new car is not the best thing for me... I have enough effin bills as it is. But... it's like... back in the day when your elementary friends would have the new Jordans... and you didn't. You know they're too expensive... and your Converse All-Stars are just fine... but still.

I have jelly in my belly.

Alright, I called it first--- this little cutie pie Tiffany Evans is going to be something major. Not only is she an extremely talented singer & dancer... she's also pretty and very young. She's already got waaay stronger pipes than her mentor, Ciara, so I can imagine how great she'll be as an adult. Tiffany's not trying to hard... she just is. I will be in line w/ all the teeny boppers buying this CD :)

Audio: Share your favorite song from this summer.

 

 How about two?

 

 I still shriek, when I hear this song on the radio, even though I bought the cd:

 

Shawty snappin'

                        

 

"Walk it Out Remix" is another summer fave &  Felipe's post was so hilarious that it reminded me of this video:

 

What words make you giggle (no matter how old you are)? 
Submitted by Margurette.  

Ballerina, Ballerina, Ballerina...

I'll never forget watching the "Alf" episode, where he kept saying the word "ballerina" over and over again. He was like, "Doesn't it sound funny when you keep saying it?" To this day, I can't hear that word, without giggling.

Click here to take this quiz.

What are the 10 most memorable music performances you've seen? (Remember, "memorable" may not be good.) 
Submitted by Bill. 

All of my memorable music performances are good--- I've blocked out all the bad ones. And my top ten are...

Lauryn Hill feat. Carlos Santana - To Zion

10. T.I. performing You Don't Know Me/Bring 'Em Out at the 2005 BET Awards. My boy knows how to move the crowd-- you gotta love that energy and passion.

9. Chris Brown singing Run it at the 2007 Grammy Awards. He's so young and so talented already. I know he'll grow as an artist over the years and I'll be smiling the whole way, like a proud Mommy.

8. Gwen Stefani singing Wind it Up at the 2006 Billboard awards, because she was rocking the hell out. I love when artists "feel" their songs so much that they're manic. This was a beautiful, manic moment.

7. Dixie Chicks singing Not Ready To Make Nice at the 2007 Grammy Awards, because they were "mad as hell" and I loved it. They amaze me with their vocal, instrumental and writing skills. I've been a fan since day one.

6. Beyonce singing Ring the Alarm at the MTV Video Music Awards--- she was dancing her butt off (reminding me of a young Janet Jackson) and she her voice is ridiculous. I think she's really grown as an artist over the years.

5. Miss B makes the countdown once more with Deja Vu, a duet with her man Jay-Z at Fashion Rocks 2006. She was so cute in her little banana skirt, a tribute to the late-great Josephine Baker. She sang her patootie off here, too.

4. Joss Stone and Melissa Ethridge at the Grammy Awards singing Crybaby/Take Another Piece of my Heart. They both sang from the heart (Joss was right at home, belting it out with her bare-footed self). These ladies rocked the hell out, to say the least. It's always nice to see artists of different generations collaborating.

3. Jamie Foxx singing I Wish You Were Here (a tribute to his Grandmother Estelle Marie Talley) at the American Music Awards. He sang with such emotion and conviction. I love hearing him live, because he is so amazing at the piano and his voice is sincere and sweet.

2. Whitney Houston singing The Star-Spangled Banner at Superbowl XXV. This was probably the first live performance I saw that made me say "Wow!" Whitney has always had that effect on me... her voice is soulful on CD, but it is intensified when you hear her live. I need a shirt that says "Team Whitney."

1. Lauryn Hill featuring Carlos Santana singing To Zion, a tribute to her son. L-Boogie's voice is like honey: smooth and sweet. I've been hooked since Sister Act 2. She writes and sings for the love of music--- not for fame. I could watch this performance all day long.

Show us the one thing that unfailingly makes you smile, no matter what. 
Submitted by Sourire.