Vision: call & response

#rhymeinrealtime written while listening to Lead Pastor Ger Jones speak at Vintage Church Los Angeles

Colossians 1:19-20

God in His fullness was pleased to live in Christ and through him God reconciled everything to himself…

Acts 16:6-10

——————————————-

Drill deeply, very briefly

That we are to love the world through mission

Knowing that in Matthew 28

God gave the great commission.

That says, We’ve been given authority

In heaven and in earth

So that God’s mission would be done

That’s the first thing, yes! The first

Authority wasn’t given

So we’d do as we please

Authority was given

That through it, we’d meet the need

To disciple nations

Planting churches in love

Knowing the Holy Spirit

Gives us a destiny far above

Even if it means we’d leave behind

The comforts of our home

reaching to those who are far away

showing them they’re not alone.

When we leave behind the ninety nine,

To seek and save one lost

We do the same as Jesus Christ

And truly count the cost

What’s the luxury of living in a bubble

When miracles await?

we can move in miracles

If we truly stay awake.

Partnering with people

Locally and globally

Knowing redemption begins

When we gather actively.

To have strategic discussions

Prioritizing God’s mission

To welcome all just as they are

And encouraging all to make that decision.

– Adjoa Skinner

—-

Sweat Equity – Stepping up to more

#rhymeinrealtime written & rhymed & shared live while listening Living Spring Church Pastor John Rittenhouse

Sept 10th, 2017

“We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we could walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

I Timothy 4:8

—– —– —– —– —–

We all have different ideas

Of what healthy looks like…

We all have pictures in our minds

That we pick and choose throughout life.

God has shaped each of us

And each of us unique

To focus on the Lord

To find out what healthy could be

Godliness has value for all,

In this life and what’s to come.

We belong to YHWH

To make sure God’s work is done.

We are the Divine’s workmanship

Bought with a price so high

That Christ would lay down everything

To give eternal life.

It takes hard work to try to change

To seek and find the truth.

It takes effort to each morning say…

God I want to be led by you.

You have prepared good works

You’ve prepared a work for me…

An exercise, a way to live

To walk within freely.

So that in time, let’s choose not to resign

To who we were before

Six weeks to grow together.

That we’d step up to more.

– Adjoa Skinner

#nowifoundmyvoice

Freedom in love

Pastor Jonathan Puckett

Sept 4th, 2017

Core Freedoms

BT Roberts, founder of free Methodism

Was kicked out of the Methodist church

Because he opposed the pew tax

He found this a segregation far worse

Than what was experienced out in the world

He wanted the church to be a place

Where we choose to not identify people

In stereotypes or race.

BT founded free Methodism in freedoms

That were not the norm

All races, genders, economic backgrounds

Could come as one to the throne

The throne of grace and mercy

The throne of righteousness and love

For there is neither slave nor free

Or Jew or Greek because…

The law was given to overcome offenses

Til Christ came to make all things new

These rigorous, complex traditions & rituals

Might seem strange to me and you…

That is why Paul didn’t force non-Jews

To follow Jewish customs, because

A follower of Jesus

Is anyone who receives Christ’s love

No gender, race or social status

Decides if you’re in or out.

These things do not determine our worth

That’s not what the church is about.

Righteousness does not come from the law

Nor from social acceptance

The law was there, to tend and take care

while Christ died for our offenses.

We all become Gods children

Through Faith in Christ alone.

No matter where we come from

We are loved and known!

Sons and daughters, heirs to a kingdom

Christ’s sacrifice invited us in.

Allowing every person to be set free

From the law and from their sin.

So that we might be a blessing

For freedom Christ set us free.

To love and live in a way

That truly is healthy.

Not putting up barriers

Saying don’t cross, you’re not right…

Right color or gender or background

How are we fighting the fight?

Fighting the fight to be inclusive

In the way that Christ is for all…

That every person is to be a blessing

Every person has a call.

Equal before God and family

The family that is in Christ

Sharing & growing & learning & loving

in our everlasting lives.

Our only responsibility

is to share & to love and to give.

Our role is not to tell people

how they can and cannot live

Inclusive means you can belong

Before you do believe

Inclusive means that you can stay

And it means you can leave.

So let’s do this together

Let’s journey with full hearts

Let’s move upon our path

Unafraid to make new starts.

Let’s find ways to be united

Let’s make each day an ask

God show us how to live as you

Put us on your path…

A path that joins with many

Belonging first to you

We love you Lord. Our rock and strength

Our hope and light and truth

— — — — — —

Galatians 3:19-28

Women In Music LA Presents “How I Got Here”

#rhymeinrealtime done while listening to the panelists speak in Pasadena, CA – Wednesday, August 23, 2017. I took what each of the women said and rhymed it while they hopped around with the mic in a Q & A Style panel.  Enjoy 🙂 – Adjoa Skinner

Panelists from Left to Right:

 

Molly Miller

Head of Guitar dept at Los Angeles College of Music

Dr in guitar performance from Thornton college of music

 

Jennifer Horton

13 yrs of experience in strategizing

Consultant for too music labels

 

Monica Hyacinth

Development and implementation of innovative digital marketing strategies for BMG / Universal

(Imagine Dragons, Ariana Grande)

 

Michelle Pesce

started in PR

Now highly sought after DJ (Grammy after party, Gox, Google, Paramount, GQ)

 

Shannon FitzGerald

CAA – tour marketing management

Chicago, earth wind and fire….

 

Kristen Smith

Women in Music

Universal Music

 

—-

 

Molly

started playing guitar at seven

I was assigned that role

One of five siblings

The family band did not take toll

 

Nine years at USC studying

So I could do more than record & tour

Cause I have a passion for teaching

I have multiple things to live for.

 

I’m me and have something to say

I found this out when I went deep

When I let go of the fear

And enjoyed what makes me… me!

 

I was challenged by my mentor

Each time I pick up my instrument to start

that I approach my instrument with honor

And truly play with all of my heart.

 

Intention, integrity, and sincerity

Knowing your work will be revealed

When you just decide to show up

without needing to get something from the deal.

 

————-

Jennifer

Came to LA on a mission

Someone gave me chance

That internship turned to a job offer

And put the music world in my hands.

 

I ran my own company for ten years

After working multiple fields

Learning while doing, taking it all in

Giving whatever was real.

 

What people gave me was experience

When I really took the work to heart

I realized that I could do it

I knew how to handle their art.

 

I did this by always doing & reading

Life is not points A,B,C

Jumping from PR to DJing can work

If you’re willing to first trust and see.

 

By being confident and knowing

That if I make it happen, it will..

What doesn’t work out, is not meant to be

And this doesn’t reflect on my skill.

 

—-

Monica

Started as an analyst in a corporate bank

Working in IT

Took a pay cut to work as a temp

at a music company

 

Meeting with YouTube and Facebook quite early with those who now run the world

with those who now run the world

Found my niche in digital

And my job at EMI unfurled

 

Breaking new artists like Avicii

With the first live steam ever

And then I planned to go to Rome

to work for Unilever

 

Until a phone call came from Universal

To meet Andrew Crawford my now boss

Two hours in, Logic failed me, But instincts…

told me I wouldn’t be at a loss.

 

Though I’ve had all the bad bosses at a company

I learned it’s important to be empowered by trust.

Trusting the people around you

And cultivating those relationships is a must.

 

Some of the pressure in digital

Is knowing the men around may not know

That I’m not just the woman in the room

I’m the one who is running the show!

 

———

 

Michelle

Started my career at Fox broadcasting

But left do to PR from there

Learned An incredible work ethic from my two bosses

And in time met a mentor who took care…

 

To guide me in being a DJ

I took the risk fifteen years ago

Good morning America And Grammy parties

DJ’s who brunch so we’d know…

 

That we as women are not competition

We are all in this for reasons

I started a business booking DJs

And we encourage one another in our seasons.

 

We must trust our intuition

I learned from Spinderella once a week

it is so important

To have mentors that want to teach.

 

As a DJ sometimes people are afraid to

Take a risk on a woman but there were times

That being a woman has helped me.

The perspective is all in my mind

 

Work harder and shatter those ceilings

Keep going as your business expands

You can do so much more when you delegate

So everything’s not all in your hands.

 

—————

Shannon

Applied for an internship with Columbia records

but through a smaller label

$8.25 an hour for a full-time job

Moved to NYC when I was able

 

Not having a safety net or friend group

outside of my comfort zone

This was greatly beneficial in my life

The challenge helped me find my own!

 

Don’t pick a career pick a boss

Because your internal environment shows

That you’re as good as your network is

At CAA this mentorship shows

 

I try to not wake to my email

… I try to start the day for me.

I know that it’s hard but I fight the urge

every day I decide to be free.

——

Closing thoughts:

“Luck is preparation meets opportunity!”

—–

On Mentors:

 

Sister Rosetta starp, Sheryl Sandberg

Michelle Obama

Watching my female clients and friends

We are surrounded by powerful women

Who’ve refused to let others decide their end.

 

Super soul Sunday and Brene Brown

Yeah Oprah, I’ll now drop the mic

Books are the source that have filled me up

Zooming out instead of sound bites.

 

Richard Branson, Russell Simmons, Mark Cuban,

I buy books like people buy drinks

Picking the brains of the authors through pages

That share the things that they think.

—————–

 

 

Empowering Lives International

Don Rogers

ELI International

August 13, 2017

Ephesians 3:20

———————

God is a God of power

Working in us for Honor

Inspiring us to give glory

Every minute every hour

I believe glorious riches

dwell deep inside of me

Christ reigning in my heart

Through grace setting me free.

That I might go to the nations

And never feel alone

Surrounded by God’s people

Going together before YHWH’s throne

God’s power at work within us

God’s goodness challenging our faith

Knowing that we can do exceedingly

abundantly more than we know by God’s grace.

Equipping the poor to live sustainable lives

Being transformed inside, out

Through Christ’s guidance and faithfulness

Make a criminal, a leader in town

To face a life of love & goodness

By turning the outcast around.

Taking in 244 orphans

And still the numbers abound.

74 have graduated

Pursuing higher education

Vincent got a second chance through ELI

Although at seven was an orphan.

I was put into a family

Twelve sisters and eleven brothers

A dad and mom who’d guide me

We’d live and fellowship with each other.

The family that God gave

That Educated and supported me

Til the point where here I stand

My fourth year in university.

Empoweringlives.org

We thank YHWH for what’s been done

By the hand of our Redeemer

Spirit, Father, Son.

Be the church by providing for a life

Their needs met 24/7 for each child.

$35 as a sponsor share or

$140 a month to stand beside…

Family was never known to Gladys.

Dad, mom & sister passed on.

But in 2006 she was invited to ELI

As the bigger sister she went on

And told her little sister

Your father and mother have come.

We know that as God’s love continues

This work is never done.

We are still moving forward

We need your support and prayer

Thank you for 22 years of ministry

From the beginning you’ve been there.

Adjoa Skinner

THINK

T.H.I.N.K.

Pastor Jimmie Davidson

The Brooks Church

August 20th, 2017

*As always this poem was written in real time while listening to the speaker.

 

How we think, is how we are

Our thoughts are what keep us back

Instead of demolishing strongholds & arguments

That have gotten us off track.

 

Our false ideas paralyze & dominate

With worry, expectation or fear

Yet God has made provision for

The feelings & fears that brought us here…

 

God asks me to take captive the thoughts

That lead me astray

Forcing them into submission

Each minute of every day.

 

First test every thought

That is the T in think before you move.

H in think is to helmet your head

Guard your mind & seek for truth.

 

Replacing the thoughts that keep you down

With hope and faith and trust

Believing the grace God freely offers

Really is enough.

 

Imagine great thoughts… That is the I

Imagine the possibilities.

Dream and pray with faith knowing

Anything’s possible for those who believe.

 

Do we believe something can be done

For the broken, the outcast, the poor

To the homeless & those who have lost their minds.

To the 75,000 who live next door.

 

You’re never a failure if you go after your dreams

We all fail and fall and get up…

We are the Joshua’s at 8 or 80

That through miraculous works share YHWH’s love.

 

For God chose the poor & the powerless

God chose those who boast in Christ.

This a church for everyone

no matter their beauty or their type.

 

  • Adjoa Skinner

 

Scriptures Used:

Psalm 139:23-24

Isaiah 55:8-9

Jeremiah 17:9

2 Corinthians 13

1 John 4:1

Psalm 101:3 – “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.”

Phil 4:6-8 – “Do not worry about anything… Pray about everything… Fix your thoughts on what is pure, admirable, lovely, good.”

Acts 2:17 – “In the last days… I will pour out my Spirit on all people.”

Ephesians 3

Isaiah 26:3

1 Cor 1:21

Vintage Church LA – #summeroflove #blessingBabylon #losangeles

Written in real time while listening to the guest speaker at Vintage Church LA, who challenged us as citizens of Los Angeles.

—————————–

Ministers of the new creation
Known for creativity

Standing within culture
living within their city

Retrieving what was lost in the fall
But doing it without the Divine.

the height of rebellion against God was religion, But in relationship we find…

In Christ eternal life and a sound mind
Amidst confusion and chaos

Looking outward, competing against
Each other…who is our equal or boss.

But our freedom is an act of worship
Our freedom has a purpose to bless

The gentiles and the foreigners
Those most abused and oppressed.

Solomon took his freedom and ran with it… ran to accumulate

12,000 horses and chariots
With other tools of war and hate

The Slaves becoming Slave drivers
Not seeing they're need to reform

incrementally getting self reliant
no longer seeking to be transformed

Solomon became like Babylon
Rebellious against the God that saved

Babylon was redeemed through the presence of God, through the people of God that stayed

Babylon was then blessed by the Israelites
and by the God of Israel redeemed

with a grace that they never deserved
With a love that none had seen

God said to them prosper, make a future
And while living in Babylon, keep the faith

I will bring you back from captivity
After the 70 years that you stayed.

So put down roots & make a home
You're not here only passing through

So we also must know our neighbors
Asking them "who and how are you?"

We also in our city
The city of angels, LA

Are blessed that we would be a blessing
And that is our purpose today.

⁃ Adjoa Skinner

Uncommon warfare

Today's message @livingspringchurch was powerful. Our #guestspeaker @pastorlatch brought a transforming message about the power of honoring our commitments to God. Challenged me a lot. I can only rise to the challenge set before me. Here's the poem I wrote while listening to his sermon. Let me know how it impacts you.
#rhymeinrealtime “Uncommon warfare”

John 13
Joshua 9:1-6

—–
What it is to serve
Is to get down on your knees
To love someone so tangibly
You'd wash their filthy feet.

—-
But Judas thought that he would get
Far more than what Christ gave.
A new Jerusalem to him looked like
Leveraging and gain.

—-
But servanthood will stretch you
To grow you where it hurts
There will be fruit from this labor
If you're not afraid of the dirt.

—-
Joshua in battle
Fought with one accord
with lies of mis-representation
the Gideonites made covenant with the Lord

—-
So Joshua made them serve in the tabernacle alongside the Levitical priests.
His Word was his bond, despite their lies
And his life did teach

—-
Teach us that our Word is strong
Our word brings favor and peace.
When we enter into covenant
Our Word is a release.

—-
To stand before the Lord and reap
The good that we did sow.
What will be cast out in the low tide
Will come back, for it is this truth we know

—-
That God has always kept his word
Despite what we have done.
So our rights are under a justice system
That is slim to none.

—-
We are not slaves to sin and death
But slaves to righteousness
To grace and love and quality
We let the Lord address

—-
Address our right to dominion
Claim miracles through obedient hearts.
Knowing that are covenant is with God
Is not a loss, or a false start.

—-
We don't need to back down when it's scary
We don't need to take back promises
We must know that intentions matter
Let's stop pretending that we are less

—-
Less than the righteousness of God
Doing what's right pays off.
Let's persevere in Jesus name
And know it is worth every cost.

– Adjoa Skinner
————————————
*For more rhyme in real time poems click on the link in my bio. I create these while listening. #activelistening #flow #freestyle #poetry #poet #songwriter #lyricist #losangeles

Trust, Delight Commit and Rest – Dr Chris Evans #rhymeinrealtime

Living Spring Church

July 9, 2017

Dr. Chris Evans

Trust, Delight, Commit & Rest

*written by Adjoa in real time while listening to Dr Evans speak. #rhymeinrealtime #activelistening

———-

 

Life can be stressful

It is inevitable

That the little and big things

In our lives can take their toll.

 

For stress is over-extending ourselves

Without adequate time to recover

Til our bodies and our minds

Reveal aches & pains we discover.

 

In the places we are vulnerable.

The places where there’s a work.

we think we overcome by striving

But only leads us to more hurt.

 

Trust, Delight, Commit & Rest

Leads to Flourishing, Happiness, Thriving

Although the desire to push on

Declaring “We’re living like we’re dying”

 

Yet…to find or happiness

is to pursue something else…

For birth to death studies have shown

It’s not finding marriage, nor wealth

 

It’s pursuing the right things

in the right kinds of ways for the right kinds of reasons

Through living our lives in community with others

In our good and hard seasons.

 

Peace in the midst of the storm. We don’t have to be weary and worn

We don’t have to be striving towards an end

Peace in the midst of the storm. In our hearts, in our minds in our form

In the presence of our God and of our friends.

 

  • Adjoa Skinner

 

 

Psalm 37:3-9

 

Trust in the Lord and do good.

Delight in the Lord.

Commit your way to the Lord & He will act.

 

Be still before the Lord,

And wait patiently for Him.

 

#babyJesushasgotthis

The power of vulnerability – Rev. Kristy Hinds 

The power of vulnerability Deeper with God. Deeper with others

July 2nd, 2017
Living spring church

Rev. Kristy Hinds            

*Poem written in real time while listening to Rev. Kristy Hinds speak at Living Spring Church.
—————–

The power of vulnerability 

—
Trauma can either give you a platform to stand

Or close you off to the world.

That is the choice of every person 

be authentic? Or a scared boy or girl.

—
To overcome fear we must look upward 

Being honest with where we are at…

To know that although we feel overwhelmed 

We have those who have our back.

—
Those who pour into us while we are vulnerable 

So we can give of our ourselves 

To give to the world, first rest and be filled 

To give of or increase, our wealth

—
The wealth of our time and our talents

Our wisdom, our peace, our lives.

For vulnerability develops compassion

compassion built up makes pride die.

—
And without our pride, we find what’s inside

Not focusing on a facade.

For the Holy Spirit searches the depths of ourselves, even the depths of God.

—
And vulnerability develops authenticity 

It overcomes pride, fear and shame

It benefits us because it reminds us

That God calls us each out by name.

—
YHWH is our closest counselor

Our comfort, Father, Truth

So we can surrender with arms lifted up

And faces held high towards the roof.

—
Oh Lord, you call us your friend.we are blessed! What a joy to share and commune…

In the presence of your Spirit through relationship with you and our Motley Crue.

—
– Adjoa Skinner
—————-

Mark 3:1-19

What is lawful on the sabbath 

To do good? To heal? Or to kill.

Jesus healed

And the Pharisees then went out and plotted how to kill Jesus..

Christ went into a boat to be with the Father and upon returning spoke to the crowd and appointed 12 as his disciples. 
Mark 3:5 (NRSV)

He looked around at them in anger and he was grieved by their hardness of heart and said to the man, “stretch out your hand” he stretched it out and his hand was restored.
1st Corinthians 2:9-10

No eye has seen nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived what God has prepared for those who love him – these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything…