Artist Spotlight: Rosanna Fiorazo

By Stephanie Colucci

When listening to Rosanna’s music, you can't stop yourself from wanting to dance.  The joy of the Lord is contagious in her music.  This is the kind of music to listen to in really bad traffic.  While everyone else is battling road rage, you can be singing and praising your Savior. Being stuck in traffic just means more time to listen to some good music. On a bad day, a good song can change your perspective.

Rosanna has a real heart for God and it really comes through in her song writing. She came to know Christ in 1996 and that is when she started writing new music. She started her ministry singing in front of anyone who would listen.  Today, she brings a sense of openness to the Christian music scene.  Her music will make you feel comfortable and at ease.  With just one listen, you get the feeling that she would be just as content leading worship at a local church or in a stadium in front of 20,000 people.  

On her latest album “Haven’t you heard”, Rosanna wrote
10 out of the 11 songs on the CD.  The only one not written by her was written by Rich Mullins and Mitch McVicker.  Mitch also sings on her version of My Deliverer.
Read more

Finding Christ in Christian Movies

By Don Parker

This is my first article for The Christian Pulse.  Shall I be afraid to be controversial?  Nah!  Jesus always told it like it was or he used a parable which did the same.  If we are called to emulate our Master, should we not also learn to speak the truth with love?  Here I come with the question that will no doubt bring a rainbow of responses.  Is it a sin to watch movies?   Asking that question in a forum for films might seem like blasphemy or heresy.  Hopefully you all checked your stones at the door.

In the recent past, certain groups have placed movies on the forbidden activities list.  Most people today would consider that Puritanical. Should we as Christians pay any heed to such "man made" rules?  My answer is no . . . and yes. Think I'm waffling or sitting on the fence?   Not even close. The "no" applies to movies in general.  There is absolutely nothing in the Bible that forbids movie watching.  However Jesus said that men shall give an account of every idle word they speak in the Day of Judgment.  It might be argued that every idle moment is also a cause for concern.  How we spend our free time has to be an issue for someone who abides by the scriptural passage which says "if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged."  In other words, using contemporary vernacular, police yourself so you don't get busted.  Would I be out of line to suggest people should pray about watching a particular movie (or TV show)?
Read more

Artist Spotlight: Lyrycyst

By Andre Mullen

Unlike some of his peers, Lyrycyst isn’t trying to protect his alter ego, Steven Cooper.  He is a man on a mission who intends for his listeners to get to know him through his story, the story of a revolution.  This revolution is chronicled in his striking debut album, American Dream.

Lyrycyst uses various instrumentation to create a sonic landscape that is unlike the average hip-hop album.  Utilizing guitars and other string instruments, Lyrycyst takes the listener on a musical journey that talks about various life experiences and testimonies from a God perspective. With his rapid fire tracks and a delivery to match, Lyrycyst confronts the falsehood of the music industry in songs like Showbiz and New Hit.  In What If I, Lyrycyst addresses the issue of abortion from a personal viewpoint.  With simple, yet powerful piano chords, Lyrycyst explores the question of what would have happened if his own young mother would have aborted him.  On Devil Eye, violin strings provide the foundation as Lyrycyst enlightens the listener to the tactics of the spirit of lust.

 

Read more

Family Force 5

By Julie Cook Hess

I had the unique experience of interviewing guitarist Chap Stique a.k.a. Derek Mount of the unorthodox and fun band Family Force 5. This Atlanta group has accumulated quite a resume with performing on national television programs such as The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Attack of the Show on G4 as well as performing on The Warped Tour and The Cornerstone Festival’s main stage.

Mr. Stique gave some very amusing and detailed answers to my sometimes odd questions. If you ever have the chance to see them live, I highly recommend it. This has definitely been the most fun interview I’ve ever done. Continue reading for Chap’s deep thoughts on hairstyles, jerk bands and weight loss programs. 

Read more

Looking at the Film Industry Through God’s Eyes

     This is my first article for The Christian Pulse.  Shall I be afraid to be controversial?  Nah!  Jesus always told it like it was, or he used a parable which did the same.  If we are called to emulate our Master, should we not also learn to speak the truth with love?  Here I come with the question that will no doubt bring a rainbow of responses.  Is it a sin to watch movies?   Asking that question in a forum for films might seem like blasphemy or heresy.  Hopefully you all checked your stones at the door.

      In the recent past, certain groups have placed movies on the forbidden activities list.  Most people today would consider that Puritanical. Should we as Christians pay any heed to such "man made" rules?  My answer is no . . . and yes. Think I'm waffling or sitting on the fence?   Not even close. The "no" applies to movies in general.  There is absolutely nothing in the Bible that forbids movie watching.  However Jesus said that men shall give an account of every idle word they speak in the day of judgment.  It might be argued that every idle moment is also a cause for concern.  How we spend our free time has to be an issue for someone who abides by the scriptural passage which says "if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged."  In other words, using contemporary vernacular, police yourself so you don't get busted.  Would I be out of line to suggest people should pray about watching a particular movie (or TV show)?

         Jesus said you would know Christians by their fruits.  Can we apply the same criteria to movies?  The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.  If a movie promotes those things, can it be wrong to watch it?  My own personal barometer is this:  does it bring me closer to God or would it distance me from Him?  Movies of the latter category would definitely be avoided, whereas the former category would be acceptable.  Movies that do neither are in the gray area.   If there were enough good movies which fed our spirits, then we would not have to consider the other types.  Can we humans ever agree unanimously on the pigeonholes that movies should go into?  Not in our lifetime.

     The biggest rap against "Christian" movies is probably poor quality (acting, cinematography, and scripting).  I think God will be raising up people who will produce quality films that impact lives and win people to Christ.  Unfortunately money drives the process.  Whenever such a film is produced, Christians need to support it.  God's calling is upon the filmmakers, but falls just as mightily on film supporters. Sending missionaries to Africa is not the only way to support spreading the gospel.  Movies have tremendous impact on people's view of the world, but only if they watch them.  May I be audacious and suggest that people who produce Christian movies need to rely on prayer to help them create something that brings glory to God, fans to the turnstiles, and thumbs-up from reviewers? 
 

Read more

« Previous Page — Next Page »