Insert profanity here. Sexually explicit phrase there.  Track-after-track, I cringe and yet nod my head to the beat, laugh at the clever lyric.  And then all of a sudden, at the end of the album.... I hear familiar words like Jesus, Lord and love....wait, is that a choir?  WHAT is going on?!

*clears throat* It's called the RJR, the Required Jesus Record (yes, I totally made this up)... almost every popular and secular Hip-Hop or R&B artist, particularly in the 90s had one.  Think.  R.Kelly... of course, I Believe I Can Fly or U Saved Me.   Puff Daddy... remember that Thank You record that had all of Bad Boy and "they mama" on it?  Or Missy Elliott, who collaborated with gospel legends, the Clark Sisters.  And we can't forget Mariah.... she loved making hits with vaguely Christian lyrics and her standard "black and big-boned, I love the Lord" background singers.  And the list goes on.....

This is such a familiar staple in urban music, that you almost can't take their message seriously.  Over and over again, you see secular artists express and promote sin all over their albums, and then at the end, there's this glimmer of hope.  And yes, if these records, can cause a non-believer to seriously consider Christ and His love for us... that is beyond beautiful.  But still.....what kind of example is being set?

Ultimately, as a Christian it's super-easy to point the finger.  But the truth is, that judgmental mindset is so far from being justified.  Yes, they are celebrities.... yes, millions of people listen to them.... yes, the world watches them.... yes, they should "know better".  But we should too.   Everyday, people watch us, people listen to us. Thank God the love of Christ constrains and compels us.

So tell the FIF, what's your favorite RJR??  :)

Oh well, it's still a good day.

This may be why we stumble upon so many passion-less people... folks walking through life not interested in the purpose God has for them.  As a society, this culture has caused us to become numb.... but what about Christians?  For some of us, the digital age has saturated our lives--we wake up to our iPhones and fall asleep next to our laptops. As intellects, we're entertained by information. As gossipmongers, we're informed by entertainment.  Some of us feel that our ministries, our careers, our livelihood depend on an external server.  We're more concerned about who's commenting on a blog post than what the Gospel says.  We're more prone to tweet or text our complaints, than to pray about it.  We'd rather listen to a podcast than read the Word.  We live in this "freedom" that we celebrate except when our fingertips are glued to the keyboard.

Many Christians have cited the dozens of tornadoes, earthquakes and volcanoes over the last few months, as the signs of the times found in Matthew 24, and ultimately as wake-up calls to the Body of Christ and the world.  And while these signs are kinda obvious in their nature (no pun intended), maybe we should look right in front of our eyes at the phone, the computer, the iPad, and the TV.  Drowning ourselves in information and entertainment...we are becoming numb to the everyday, extraordinary presence of God in our lives.  Yet we fall asleep and put our arms above our heads over and over again.

As a graphic and web designer, my Macbook might as well be sewn into my legs. And there are days that between watching at a Twitter timeline all morning, working on Photoshop all afternoon, and designing websites all night--I just want to go to the nearest park, turn my phone off, lay under the sun and experience my Father. Let him un-numb me.  So that's what I do sometimes.... go and getaway.  Soak Him in, so that my spirit can come back to Life....back close to Him. No matter how many times I lose myself in technology and forget to put my Saviour first, He has a way of drawing me back to Him and back to the only information I'll ever truly need.

FIF.

ANY presentation of your church, your organization or your business, should be a passionate expression of what it represents and what it does.  It's like your signature-- see mine above?  If you look at it long enough, you'll learn a lot about me and my personality.  But the most important feature about my signature is that NO ONE ELSE has it.  No one else has the ability, the gift to write MY name like ME.  It's my signature.  And because I love how unique my handwriting is, I put my signature on almost any paper I see... it's that special to me.

In at least half of the first convos with potential clients, they almost vomit out the word "websites".
It goes a little something like this:

We say hello.
I briefly explain what Firstfruits Creative is all about, and ask a little bit about their ministry, nonprofit, etc.
My question is usually ignored, in exchange for the question "do you do websites??"
I say yes, and go on to talk about other work FFC does.
That's ignored as well, and then we talk more about "websites".... arrgggghhh!

Everyone wants a "website" these days.  Great.  And although i love web design, the "W" word is beginning to make me cringe... seriously.  Pastors, CEOs and directors of nonprofits desperately need to see the bigger picture. Everyone wants a website, so eventually everyone eventually GETS a website. Hundred of thousands of organizations with URLs.   Digital clutter for your potential supporter to sift through.  And the average online commuter is rapidly adapting to the messiness.   The internet is becoming more like the Yellow Pages than a place to showcase a vision, mission or a message.  Some people think that just having a website is enough, or even that "as long as it LOOKS nice" that that's enough.  ALL WRONG.  

This is why Firstfruits Creative strongly advises potential clients-- let's learn your organization's signature first.  The more we learn it, the more we'll love it and the more you will want it to be all over that website you want so badly.  Without YOUR signature-- the unique gift or vision that God has placed deep inside of you-- it will just be another webpage, another video, another URL that someone will forget.  Another "website" in the midst of clutter.  

So let's not skip steps-- promotional tools like websites lack substance and originality when they are constructed just to "have one".  Don't forget your signature!

FIF.

**Shot at St. Patrick's Center and the YWCA West Florissant Center.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of shooting some of the great work that the STL Urban League Young Professionals are doing this month, for our their annual campaign for March, Young Blacks Give Back.  Each Saturday this month, we they, along with friends and family, are participating in a slew of community service efforts all across the St. Louis area.  The goal is to not only excede our their 1000-hours-of-service goal for the month, but more importantly to meet the needs of our their city, and raise awareness of how important it is help those in need.

There's two Saturdays left to participate in the variety of service efforts ULYP has available, so if you're in the St. Louis area and interested in serving, email the YBGB committee at ybgb@ulyp-stl.org for more info!

If you've already visited our blog, you'll notice that our aesthetics have changed up quite a bit.  Reason?  Simple--as the content evolves, so will the look.  Eight months in, Firstfruits Creative wants to bring FAITH IS FRESH closer to you, in every way possible.  So be on the look out for new opportunities to contribute to the FIF!  As a matter of fact....

You can start now! :)  Comment below with your answers to these three questions:

1. What's your first name and what city do you rep (and if you have a twitter name, be sure to let us know, so we can follow you.)?

2. From your perspective, why is FAITH fresh?

3. With A being the best and C being the worst, rate the designs below... soon you may see ONE of these on a shirt.  :)

A.

B.

C.

FIFresher.

three D's by firstfruits creative. shot 12.28.09.

**FIF Editor's note** Daunte called to let me know he was emailing his poem over so I could post it on FAITH is FRESH. He wanted an intro about himself, and I said "Okay, you should write it". I could tell he really didn't wanna do it... but he didn't have a choice. ;)  The next day (today) I get his email, check the intro and honestly... I hate it.  It's so bland, ultra-professional and formal... So not HIM (I should've known better...).  So let ME tell you about Daunte Henderson.

He's the same guy I met in a local art program, here in St. Louis, almost nine years ago--wise, confident and sophisticated, inside and out. He's not complicated... he has simple ideas about life and love. Yet talk to him for one minute, and it's obvious there's a certain rarity about him.

Yet nine years later, Daunte's so different. He's matured into a man, a Chicagoan, an awesome best friend, a risk-taker, and an even better writer. All of this growth and his walk to God is explored in his first book of poems, Things I Learned While Walking.  The book, soon-to-be-released, will tackle everyday struggles and triumphs with life, love and spirituality. It begins with the poem below-- "October 17th"--the day he met Jesus Christ.

To keep up with Daunte Henderson and learn more about the book, join his Facebook group, "Daunte Henderson Is A WRITER" (click HERE to be redirected).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

October 17th.

The 9 a.m. service was packed. My friends and I sat stage left to get a good view of the sign language ministry.  My years of not going to church/lack of clean dress clothes are the reasons why I sported a black hoody, black dress slacks and matching Nike tennis shoes to church this particular Sunday morning. Dramatic changes and inner callings were the sole reason why I was in church that morning. I didn’t go to church growing up, but I ALWAYS knew God was the reason why I was alive. Life had told me “No” for the last time and I was finally ready to submit to God. Towards the end of service, Reverend Charlie made an announcement to encourage all who hadn’t accepted Jesus Christ to walk towards the pulpit and make that first step towards a new life in Christ. A few years ago I couldn’t have walked to the pulpit because I was stuck in my ways of doing things but I was FINALLY ready that Sunday. Out of the hundreds of people in the room I was the only ONE who walked up to the pulpit. I felt like the world was watching me. It was God’s special way of telling me “I have been waiting on you my son, Welcome”. The congregation applauded and a million hugs followed soon after. In minutes, my soul opened up. I was NEW. FRESH, RENEWED, LIVING, READY. I was born again. Running in the past got me to a lot of places but I never felt firmly positioned where I was because I was essentially running from the Lord. I was now ready to walk.  

Temporary pleasures stated
In “Baby I love you” forevers
Are now replaced by
“Never will I leave you or forsake you”
I can’t replace you like a BFF
Or digest what you’ll do for me next
You’re responsible for me getting by
When I was in between checks
The upliftment that you gave me when
I was going through great depressions
Thank you for the listening ear
That you lent when I gave you
Heartfelt confessions
Thank you for the blessings
Thank you for addressing my self esteem
And removing the things that kept
Me from feeling the cream of your healing touch
Thank you much for allowing me to experience
Pain so that I can now laugh at the rain
When it tries to stain my armor
Thanks for turning a boy into a man
Who could understand your plans for my life
And the people around
Thanks for making me sound in spirit
Hopefully I can get others to hear it
I now look for Jesus in the left chest of a woman
And not the ample size of the breast on a woman
I’m a changed man and I hope
They can see it
The life described in John 3:16
I wanna live it
Breathe it
Receive it
Pass it on
God please continue to work
On me and my ways
Forgive me for my strays
And not to mention my nocturnal days
That left me lazy and hazy
In your mission
Forgive me for bended knees that never
Get accomplished
Along with the poor decisions of which I’m accomplice
My trust alone wouldn’t get me this far
It’s because of YOU I can now dance with the stars
I’ve devoured many TV dinners, snacks, and 1-minute recipes
Just to let it be and fast on your love
I could say we fit like a glove
But really we fit like up above
You’re my addition when life subtracts
And detracts me from peace
You’re the soul food minus the “itis” and the heart burn
Because of you my heart learned
And it’s allowed my soul to see
So I could carry out your mission which
Has made me a better me
Amen

Limits. We all put limits on who we are, what we are able to do, and what we will accomplish.  There are some moments in life where we become so aware of our fragility.  And within those blips of time, is when greatness just seems SO out of reach.  So we use limits as a way to cope with who we are. Weak. Unaware. Human.

We also use limits to cope with who we are NOT. I'm certain that a few years ago, somewhere in the back of my mind I told myself, "I'm not business-minded... so I'll probably NEVER own a business."  Foot currently in mouth.  Limits are a way to make us feel better about the talents, the gifts, the courage, the resources that we don't have.  They feel like a warm hug, but then you're left feeling so cold.  Feeling without.

Limits are designed to put restraints on us, so that's what they do. It's simply a false hope. But thank God for the Hope of Glory.  Thank God for His Word that speaks much more greater things about us, and thank God that His Word is TRUTH.  From Genesis to Malachi to Acts to Revelation, God's Word is pointing at me, at you. We're in the midst of a crowd, and His Word is pointing and saying---"Yes.... yeah... you!". Perhaps we don't believe it, but YES, He really is pointing at us! 

The great thing about the word 'inheritance', is that it is a spin-off of the word 'inherent', which is defined as "involved in the essential character of something or belonging by nature or habit."  So, what was promised to me is ALREADY inside of me.   Because of Christ connecting us to his Father, we are limitless.  There is no need to worry about who we are not, or what traits or gifts we don't have.  We don't have to be like Jeremiah and say "Hold it, Master God! Look at me!" The great thing about it, He has already looked at us, from the beginning to eternity.  And He knows what's deep down inside of us. Now, we must embrace the journey of taking the limits off, and uncovering a great inheritance...

Yes.... yeah... you!

FIF.

READYSETGO! is underway for Firstfruits Creative (see here), and if you've seen the packages that we are offering for the year, identity and promotion, are two terms that are connected and extremely important in our campaign.

In brand strategy and in overall advertising-- classification is necessary.  Client and designer alike must know-- this is exactly what we're doing and THIS is exactly why we're doing it.  This is where the relationship between identity and promotion shines.  

A great brand strategy begins with clear identity, and ends with clear promotion.  Have you ever seen an awesome looking flier promoting an interesting event... but you have NO clue what the organizers are all about or what they stand for...? It's a bad look.  Good promo is nothing without an identity, visually or verbally... there is no foundational message sent to the consumer.  And of course, promotion is necessary to the process, because without it... vital information regarding a client's ongoing operations won't be distributed.  The identity will be presented, but still, fall flat.

So FFC, we classify our full line of graphic design & consulting services, 23 in all, by what they accomplish.  Either they help the client build a stronger identity, OR they promote an initiative, event or activity, effectively complimenting the identity.  For example, a business card is meant provide an identity, while a poster promotes or sells.   So "I&P", as we like to call it-- they go together like peanut butter & jelly, Lucy & Ricky, or even yes dare we say, faith and works. This is what Firstfruits Creative is all about--utilizing the concept of I&P, along with vision-digging-- to create a comprehensive brand strategy for our clients.

FIF.

Seeing images like this, hearing his powerful voice, and reading summarized biographies -- as the years go by, the more the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. seems like this ethereal figure, when in reality-- in God's beauty-- he was just a man.  a King was just a man... like Peter, he 'obtained a faith of equal standing with ours'.

A man who was so great and has his own national holiday, shouldn't be remembered for just ONE day and then put back in the box for the next January.  I've found that the more I get to know King-- through his speeches, books, books about him and the time in which he live-- the more flawed, the more complex, the more amazing lessons I've learned from his life.

So don't wait to next January.  Start today.

FIF-recommended books & media to check out:

---MLK's Autobiography.  He wrote it.  'Nuff Said.

---Stanford University's King Institute. The ultimate digital resource to find all audio, speeches & sermons from MLK.

---America in the King Years: the Taylor Branch trilogy. Three books of unprecedented chronicling of MLK and the civil rights movement that surrounded him.

---A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings & Speeches of MLK. Great compilation of MLK's most famous and not-so-famous words.

FIF.

For countless years, popular culture has injected Christianity into discussions of morality, and placed it on a big stage for the world to see.  But now you find these moments easily accessible on television, online, or all over the media. From Tyra Banks interviewing "exorcism victims", to "there is no God" on MTV's The Real World...the list goes on. By the end of the segment, the general jist is that God's 'ideas' are important, but "we've decided that there IS no right or wrong." More and more, there's this leftover inkling of a feeling that SOMEBODY is dissin' our Creator and His Son.  Not giving them their due props.  Once again, someone is making a mockery of His people. Once again, someone is confusing the masses on what the Word of God truly says and how necessary it is for our lives.  The message is "do what's most comfortable for you, BUT we don't recommend that Jesus thing. No freedom there." WHAT??

As Christians, how do we respond (through word & deed) to the influence of a culture that (consciously AND unconsciously) seeks to make God "gray" & defame what we believe and who we believe on?  Does our stance, or lack of, contribute to the message that popular culture presents to our peers?  If we even have a stance, is it informed by the Word of God, by religion, or even by pop culture? Do we let confusion or untruths rule the convo (or our lifestyles), or Christ the main focus, end of discussion?  Let's realign, folks.

"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden...." Jesus Christ.

FIF.