š¤ Watch the Spoken Word Video Here.
This month Iām dropping something different on the blog. Not another article, not a missional rant (donāt worry, those will return), but a piece of my soulāwrapped in rhythm, rhymes, and raw truth.
I grew up the son of refugees.
I grew up Buddhist, bowing to idols, living in low-income communities where violence, gambling, and alcohol numbed the pain.
But then the Kingdom of God invaded my heart and Jesus rewrote my story.
I donāt just teach lessons behind a pulpit. Sometimes I spit bars in hoodies. Because the gospel is fire whether itās whispered, shouted, or rhymed.
This piece is my testimony, my missiology, my Christology and my protest against the darknessāall woven into one.
ā” Full disclosure: The lyrics and video are 100% mine. The music was generated with AI. The message, though, is eternal.
š¶ Why Spoken Word?
Because religion feels safe.
Spoken word doesnāt.
Religion polishes its shoes before stepping into the sanctuary. Spoken word drags its muddy sneakers into your living room and asks, āSo whatās good? You really alive or just surviving?ā
The Bible itself is raw poetryāprophets spitting fire, psalmists weeping bars, apostles dropping truth bombs in jail cells. Why shouldnāt we?
ā Final Word
Listenāthis isnāt entertainment. Itās invitation.
If you vibe with the rhythm but miss the message, then you missed the whole point. Jesus didnāt just die for āreligious folksā or āgood people.ā He came for sons of refugees, daughters of exiles, kids in the hood, the atheist sipping lattes, the successful who feel empty, and the broken who know they are.
The Kingdom is here. The chains are broken. The invitation is open.
š What are you waiting for? Hit play. Feel the words. Let the Spirit wreck you.
š Full Lyrics
For my readers who want to sit with the words and not just hear them, hereās the full piece below. Donāt skim. Let it slap you in the face, then heal you in the chest.
Intro
Son of refugees, minorities,
devout Buddhists praying to idols on knees,
ghetto communities, the least of these,
every place we go the same diseaseā¦
Violence, gambling, alcohol, to easeā¦
Chorus:
There is a Kingdom that you can’t see but must believe,
because it affects the world and all that breath.
There is a real Creator and no one greater
than the Spirit of God who made the stars and the seas⦠and the seas.
Verse 1 ā The Fall & The Snake
Out of God’s love he breathed life into a world of
goodness and perfection a reflection of Himself.
The pinnacle of Godās creation
was a man and woman of whom God had relationā
a son, a daughter, who brought God elation.
God placed them in a beautiful garden,
a place they didn’t have to work hard in.
God said, “All that I create is yours to partake.
I give you free will except don’t eat from the tree
of knowledge of good and evilā¦
for if you do death is your fate.”
Along came the snake, the king of deceit,
an angel turned demon said, “You will be weak.”
Believing the lie they turned from God’s best
and chose eternal spiritual death.
Sounds so crazy that one single tree
would separate this family for all eternity.
In reality, it was disobedience
against God’s holy decree.
The Fatherās heart broke. All creation was choked.
Sin had entered the world,
the man and woman were hurled
outside the garden where the
snake in his cloak stood holding a chain yokeā¦
Chorus
Verse 2 ā The Promise & The Savior
Despite humanity’s lethal rejection,
God’s heart and affection made way for human redemption.
The Father forever loves his familyāfor that is his natureā
and promised to send a Savior
who would crush the head of the hater⦠the snake.
2,000 years ago a dark-haired baby was born with a glow.
He was sent from heaven so all would knowā¦
hope, in the flesh. You see, Jesus Christ of Nazareth
walked the earth without sin.
Casting out demons, forgiving those in sin,
and raising the deadāno tricks.
He healed the sick, ate with prostitutes and outcasts,
and blasted the religious trash.
Jesus claimed that God was his Father.
That neither heaven nor earth could contain him
ācause he’s above and before all creation.
His enemies went crazy, raging,
labeling Jesus a desecration.
Yet, Jesus was the manifestation of love and light,
willingly gave his life, the greatest sacrifice.
The cost of sināthree nails on a cross.
The Son of God momentarily lostā¦
or so the snake thought.
After three days in a grave, Jesus overcame,
crushing the devil, ending his game,
breaking the chain of sin with his
bodily resurrection.
Jesus restored what was broken
through his body that broke
and offers hope to all who invoke⦠his name.
I am no longer in chains, Mom wipe those tear stains.
You can be proud of your son,
and rest in peace with the Son.
One day Jesus will reclaim
all creation for his fame.
Chorus
Verse 3 ā The World Today & The Call
But until that day darkness still reigns.
Humanity will stay in its lane
and fight against the light.
We still live in a world of pain and misery.
We’re both young and old figure,
“Just pull the trigger, ain’t nobody missing me.”
Where pandemics cause chaos and uncertainty
and governments kill babies in infancy.
Maybe you don’t struggle with societal woes
because you gots espressos and cameos.
But when you look in the mirror you see someone you don’t know.
Maybe you’re perfect and everything’s handled
but then the doctor calls and says you got cancer.
Or you got degrees⦠no reason to do this,
you think religion is a crutch for the weak
and a drug for the stupid.
Amen to that, I agree.
No amount of earthly justice
is enough to wipe this corrupted sin-stained heart.
Jesus did not come to make religion,
but change hearts from within
which transforms the world we live in.
Simply admit that you are broken.
Believe in what Jesus did to make you whole again.
Call on him to be your King and true devotion.
No matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been
God has a home for you with a huge garden.
Open your eyesāthe King wants you to see,
that you’re no longer a slave,
but a child of royalty set free.
Commissioned to spread
the Kingdom seed, honor restored,
forever a part of God’s family.
Chorus
