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Last night Kevin and I had the privilege to sit down with one of our partners in the Gospel to talk about his recent mixtape release. Mychal Hunt opens the first song with these words, “Welcome to the CD and I pray they see Jesus when they look at me.”

The mixtape, “LIFESTYLE,” is Mychal’s first solo project. It was released January 13, 2013 and produced by John Williams of Dynamics Music.

Is Christian rap an oxymoron?

Yeah, some people think you can’t be a Christian and rap but if Saul never got converted to Paul, a lot of people would think that you could never kill people then turn around and write 13 books that inspire Christians.

Who’s your main audience?

Everybody. I want to reach everybody. The Gospel is for everybody.

Why rap?

I used to rap before I was saved. I can’t sing. If I could sing, I’d be singing.

What are the highlights of your testimony.

My father is a Muslim who always told me that Jesus wasn’t the Messiah. Until I was 17 years old I really didn’t believe in the Christ and I lived for myself. I used to rap before I was saved and I used to degrade the name of Jesus in my music. Then a lady ended up sharing Jesus Christ with me in the studio one day. She invited me to a church and I heard a pastor preach. They ended up inviting me to a Nicky Cruz event and I gave my life to Christ.

What do your parents think about you doing Christian rap?

The first three years I was saved, my dad and I had a lot of disagreements. He would always tell me that the Bible contradicts itself, no man can be 100% God and 100% man, and that Christianity was false. No one else in my family lives the life of Christ. So a lot of my family like my cousins, brothers, and sisters want the old me back. They say they miss the cool me. So sometimes it’s hard to relate but rap can be a bridge. So if they like rap and if they like the beats of secular rap, it’s good for them to listen to my music because they like the beat and they hear the message.

What role does quality play in the production of your music that can help you share the Gospel?

It plays a big part. First thing that comes to my mind: If I was watching a movie about Christ and the picture really wasn’t that good and the picture was faded and it was really hard to figure out what it was about, I would probably change the channel. Just like if my production was horrible, people probably wouldn’t even tune in to listen to it. And since it’s the message of Christ, I want it to be as excellent as it can be because if it’s not, then I’ve killed the whole purpose. I want people to hear what I have to say. I want people to hear the message that’s in that music. And if the production’s not good then they aren’t going to listen.

How long have you been working on this project?

It took probably about a week to write. And the whole month of December to record.

So why did you make this free?

This is something I wanted to give away for free because the message is so real for people who live on the side of town I grew up on. And it’s so encouraging for the people who are already in Christ and are walking with Christ. I just couldn’t sell that. The first day we had over 500 downloads and the first thing my producer told me was that we could have made $5,000 that day if we sold them at $10 a piece. And that didn’t even phase me. I wasn’t upset or like “Aw man we could have made $5,000.” If it was up to me, I’d make everything free. But they invest so much in me that I have to charge for the next one. It’s got such a great message. Jesus Christ is someone that is so amazing – He changes lives. I have to get that message out for free. Investing time in the studio, it’s all worth it. Me writing songs and staying up late, reading the Bible, praying, trying to get a Word from God is all worth it.

Who are some of your inspirations?

Lecrae. Some of the other guys I rap with – Quan, DP. The guys I rap with. I know their lifestyles; I know the things they really do. They inspire me.

In writing this album, you cover a lot of topics. For you, what is one of the hardest things to rap about?

Probably struggles that Christians have. I don’t know if I write about struggles then people will say, “He was too harsh about this. Or too open. Maybe he was too real on this song.”

What do the lyrics “these beautiful nightmares” refer to in opening song?

Coming from the background I come from you would think, “Wow, this is bad, this guy isn’t going to be nothing.” But when you put Christ in your life, He makes that beautiful. He makes beautiful what society says is going to be nothing.

What was your favorite track on this album?

They probably aren’t my favorite sounding tracks or my favorite lyrically but the songs that have to do with missions. There are three of them. “Cold World”  which talks about going into neighborhoods and talking about Jesus. It’s about two people who had church buildings in their neighborhoods but they still ended up dying and nobody shared the Gospel with them. Another one is  “Mission Trip.” That’s about travelling the earth and sharing the Gospel about Jesus Christ. The other one is called “The Hood.” That’s about going to the hood and telling people about Christ. It’s about not being afraid to do it. Walking confidently because you know who God is and you’re going to spread His message no matter what.

I heard you were on the radio. How did you get one of your songs on a major local radio station?

I’m on 95.7; that’s 96 Kix’ major hiphop and R&B. I’m the only Christian artist on there. It was really weird. Usually you would have to pay money, a lot of money, to get on there. But we were at the skating rink one night and one of my guys convinced me to ask the DJ to play my song “Hold Back”. He did and he was like “Wow, I’m going to play this on the radio.” We thought he was just playing. We thought maybe he was just talking in the moment but he supported it and he supported it a lot. And he plays it.

What role does music play in the black culture?

Music is a huge influence. In the black culture, if you listen to a song that has to do with fights, you’re probably going to fight. If you’re listening to music about having a good time where people only want to drink, then you will, too. Basically the music is like an instruction. You’re going to do what it says. If it says dance, then you’re going to dance. So hopefully when they listen to my music say Jesus Christ is the greatest thing, then they pursue Jesus Christ.

Listen to his album: https://soundcloud.com/dynamicsmusictn/sets/the-lifestlye-mixtape

Follow him on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PastorMych?fref=ts

I am extremely thankful to have been chosen by Mustard Seed Ministries to provide today’s devotional. You can read my post about the power of the Holy Spirit at work in Singapore here:

http://www.mustardseedministries.org/blog/2013/1/9/third-but-not-last.html

Thank you all for your continued readership and support.

Like newborn infants, desire the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it in your salvation, since you have tasted that the Lord is good. – 1 Peter 2:2-3 (HCSB)

A speaker once shared with us that he struggled to maintain a regular quiet time. So he made a decision – he would not eat physical food until he had taken in spiritual food, that is, his personal time reading the Word. There were days when he did not eat or drink until after noon.

One particularly hectic semester in college, I also failed to read the Bible as a part of my routine. This man’s testimony came to mind; so I tried it. But I learned quickly that if I miss breakfast, or merely delay it, I get light headed and nearly pass out. Clearly this plan was not meant for me.

So what has helped? I began to ask God to give me the desire to read His Word. I knew He would grant me this request. In fact, I knew that in answering it, my life would change. My desires would change. Watching tv became less alluring. Working on craft projects for hours seemed pointless. Once I started reading Scripture, I kept wanting to read more.

I first needed God’s help to hunger for His Word in the same way my stomach growls. I needed Him to show me what it felt like to have my soul parched. And how it felt to have it quenched. I needed to thirst for God’s Word like a deer thirsts for water.

Was reading God’s Word last year a priority for you? If so, keep it up! If not, what’s holding you back? Stop right now, turn off your computer, and ask God to change the desires of your heart. Ask Him to draw you into His Word. And then, go read it!

This is a guest post by Caroline Davis

At a recent family Christmas gathering, my family and I went to a very nice restaurant to celebrate the holidays. Upon our arrival, we ran into a gentleman who asked my parents for some money. He said that he and his family were stranded on the interstate, didn’t have a cell phone, and didn’t know if they were going to be able to have a Christmas this year. As the rest of my family and I went on into the restaurant, my father stayed and talked with the man. He gave the man all the money in his wallet and a blanket that was in the back of our car. The man thanked him and went on his way.

Ever since that evening, God has greatly been challenging my heart. God has given my family and me so much and through this holiday season, we get so caught up in getting gifts when we already have more than enough. God has challenged me to look beyond all of the world’s standards and get a more Godly view on things. So, this year, my New Year’s resolution is to give more. Give more time. Give more money. Give more effort. Give more love to everyone I come into contact with.

Why are New Year’s Resolutions important?

New Year’s resolutions can typically be a vehicle for unsuccessful weight loss attempts, and promises that are easily broken. However, setting goals that are more focused on God’s desired for our lives can lead us on a divine journey through His comfort and promises.

Resolutions in general can help us to learn from the past and make fresh, new attempts at our decisions, desires, attitudes and thoughts. However, perhaps one of the most important resolutions we make in our lives occurs when we recognized the error of our sin and turned to Christ hoping to do better with our lives for His glory.

What types of resolutions can I make to seek God’s presence in my life in the upcoming year?

1. Commit yourself to giving to a specific cause.

2. Pray for a community in  need.

3. Serve in a special organization or use community service to share God’s love with others and give hope to those who are lost.

4. Go! Whether to a different country, nearby city, or a nearby neighbor – make an effort to go and be a light in the darkness and make God’s glory known to others.

 2 Corinthians 2:9 – “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Blog by Caroline Davis

Caroline is from a very small town in Kentucky. She is the proud daughter of two wonderful parents and has two siblings, Betsy and Evan. She is a sophomore in high school and enjoys dancing, swimming and writing.

Have you adopted an elf this Christmas? Do your children wake up each morning on a new hide-and-seek adventure with them? If so, be warned – the elf on your shelf may not be a Christian.

This statement may curl your elf slippers and cause your stocking cap to stand straight up. Not every elf believes in God.

In case you’re completely out of the trendy Christmas loop, Elf on the Shelf is a rather recent product…excuse me…tradition. You can “adopt” an elf at stores such as Target. For thirty bucks you get an elf, book, keepsake box, and access to Santa’s special online activities. The Elf magically appears around December 1st in your home. His or her job is to keep a close eye on your children and report back to Santa every night in order to more accurately update the “Naughty and Nice” list.

Just exactly how popular have these elves become?

• They had an elf balloon at this year’s Macy’s Day Parade.
• The company has partnered with “adoption” centers in Canada, the U.K., and Australia.
• Over 2.5 million copies have sold in North America.
• A movie, “An Elf’s Story” was adapted from the book.
• In 2010, the three founders were named the Georgia Small Business Person of the Year by the Small Business Administration.

Before we  examine your elf’s theology, let’s take a quick glimpse at the creation of Elf on the Shelf.

The team: mom, Carol Aebersold and her twin daughters Chanda Bell and Christa Pitts. The concept is based on Carol’s tradition as a child that she passed on to her daughters. Carol was going through a hard time and her daughter encouraged her to write. They were rejected by all publishing companies so they self-published at first. Their one product sky rocketed and was developed into seventeen products, including a movie. In fact, in 2011, in association with Big Canoe Entertainment, Pitts and her family donated 100% of the net proceeds from the world premiere of “An Elf’s Story” to Atlanta’s premiere healthcare provider for kids – Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

In their own words, “We take Christmas magic very seriously.” The following is an excerpt from their website, www.elfontheshelf.com:

FAQ: What should I do if my elf is touched by mistake? – Christmas magic is very fragile, and if a scout elf is touched it may lose its magic. If your elf has been touched, please sprinkle a little cinnamon beside him or her before you go to bed; cinnamon is like vitamins for elves, and it helps them get back to the North Pole. Once they arrive, the North Pole E.R. doctors will check them out.

So, the question you’ve kept reading for: Is the Elf on Your Shelf a Christian? Read through these four points to determine your elf’s view of Christianity and how that impacts your family.

 1. Elves should foster imagination, not discipline.

Do not overemphasize the watchful eyes of the elf to the point that you ignore the reality of the Holy Spirit. Make certain your children clearly understand the difference between believing in a living God and make-believing a wintry wonderland.

2. Do not let your elf become your family’s idol.

The reason we as Christians celebrate at this time of year is to thank God for sending us His Son to earth so that through His sinless life, sacrificial death, and triumphant rising our relationship with our Maker is reconciled.

3. Let the elf bond your family together.

Traditions bring us together as a family. Some of my favorite Christmas memories as a child involve mom and I baking the same cookies each year. And the trail of candy canes that led you from your bedroom, past the styrafoam Santa, directly to the gifts on Christmas morning. As hard as it might be for kids to find the elf one morning, it’s even harder for parents to continue to create fun, new ideas. I may not believe in “Christmas magic,” but I do believe in the importance of traditions that create a buzz of excitement for every family member, both young and old. So have some fun with your spouse as you plot new hiding spots together. Encourage your children to work as a team as they search for the elf.

 4. As a parent, you control how your children view the elf on your shelf.

Always be mindful of the maturity level of your children. If you don’t feel confident that they can view your elf as a whimsical tradition, then don’t adopt an elf. There’s nothing inherently anti-Christian about the elf you choose to bring into your house. After all, the elf takes after the personalities and creativity of the parents.