Changing The Location Of the Phillip Carter Blog

 Hello Everyone, 

Thank you for sticking with this blog.. I am moving the location of my blog to www.buygospel.com. That allows me to do everything in one place and be more consistent. Please check it out and I hope to be more interactive with you VERY SOON. Take care.

What Matters To God

There is unequivocally no doubt what matters to God. "All lives matter" to God. The problems lies with His people. God's message of "who matters" was hijacked centuries ago. For centuries the only lives that mattered, in mainstream society and in the white church, were white lives and it continues today. If we want to return to Gods definition of "Who Matters" then those who perpetuate the lie must confess, repent and work for the change so that all lives will matter. God is NOT against "Black Lives Matter" because it is NOT a lie. It is an undeniable Christian truth within a larger truth that WE ARE ALL GODS CHILDREN.

Big Companies, Black Economy, What To Do Next.

I see a lot of big companies emailing consumers with positive messages calling for an end to racism and supporting the slogan "Black Lives Matter." This should be an awakening sign to ALL black people that we are VERY important to the economy of America. This is such a critical time to shape our agenda and demand what we want starting with our local governments all the way to the White House.

1.We must pay close attention to who actually supports the changing of laws that support brutality and systemic racism.

2.We must be willing to turn away from those who show their true colors.

3.We must be willing to support our own even if our own is not quite at the level of their Caucasian counterparts. After all we helped them reach that level that they are currently at.

4. We must be willing and knowledgeable enough to reeducate our children and STOP relying on public education to do so. Some of us are still celebrating Columbus Day and the 4th of July and we are ignorant to Juneteenth.

This is just a start but we the engines are already revving up

Brand New Song From Phillip Carter (Dedicated To The World In Crisis)

Good Day Everyone, 

I was inspired to redo and release a song I had written 20 years ago entitled "I Shall Survive" featuring Ana Gibson. It's dedicated to the victims, families and people around the globe who are experiencing this hardship during the pandemic. This song is also available as a FREE download on www.buygospel.com. All of us are affected one way or another by this pandemic. I hope this song blesses you. May the Lord continue to grant you His protection as we survive together. 

To commemorate the release we also have "I Shall Survive" T-Shirts for sale on the website.

Our Herbal Journey- (This is not medical advice)

Over 10 years ago my wife and I made a decision to use herbs and alternative medicines as our main course of action to treat ourselves and our children. While this road is a complete re-education of EVERYTHING, it has been a wonderful journey. I even considered going back to school to learn more about the human body. I can truly say that God has been with us in this journey. We go to doctors like everyone else but we choose to use herbal remedies before we take conventional medicines. I have many stories of healing and wellness to share regarding herbs.

When my mother became ill, I knew that the doctors were going to one day say the magic words "There is nothing more we can do for her." Those words were comforting to me because I knew those medicines were not working and now I could go full throttle with alternative care. She is doing well. She has ups and downs but I truly believe God has blessed her and the herbs help to sustain her through this difficult stage of Alzheimer's. My father has since become a believer as well and has adopted some herbal practices.

Herbs do not cure anything but they do support the body in it's natural healing and functioning process in some powerful ways. Herbs are not just used as medicine but also for daily living. Herbs are also used in conventional medicines as well. There is strong biblical precedent for using herbs. Herbs have been used for 1000's of years to support and aid humanity. If you wish to learn more about herbs, you will embark on a never ending fun journey of knowledge.

The Bring Back The Choir New Music Forum- Why You Should Come

In starting the process of another recording, I realize how many great songs I am considering just from our bi-annual Bring Back The Choir New Music Form. We've had some great songs presented in the last three years. You should consider joining us this time around. It takes place on Saturday, April 25, 2020 from 10AM to 2PM. You will receive 15 great songs at this forum ranging from Hymn arrangements to contemporary Gospel. 

Here are 5 reasons that you should consider the Bring Back The Choir New Music Forum

*You're serve a musically diverse congregation and are in a constant search for various styles of Christian music.

*You're a songwriter and you want to expose your music to a group of singers, musicians and choir directors who are looking to sing your songs at their carious churches.

*You're trying to connect with musical friends from different churches.
*You want to involve your music department in an environment that promotes choral reading.
*You do not attend national conventions and this could serve as a great way for you to still be involved with singers, songwriters and choir directors on a local and national level.

Register Today at www.bringbackthechoir.com

Praise and Worship's Not Working At My Church

It's not working! Somebody do something! The worship leader is irritating! The people on the mics are irritating! It's too long! Bring back devotion! It's a show! I don't like the music!  Etc, etc, etc.

These are just some of the responses I've heard down through the years regarding the Praise and Worship segment in many of our churches. Whenever I am invited to do a workshop, it's one of the hottest topics. People want answers to their Praise and Worship problems. My first question to everyone is, "Why did you feel the need to start a praise team?" Many cannot answer this question with certainty.  Most of the time it is because of what was seen at someone else's church. That is a problem. What might work for one doesn't always work for the other.  

Here are some of the other reasons Praise and Worship may not be working at your church:

1.  Lack of Understanding

The teaching from the pulpit, if any, doesn't under gird the understanding and expectation of Praise and Worship.  If the Praise and Worship segment is to be effective, there must be teaching from your Pastor or Minister of Music. Congregations are more likely to do what they've been taught from the Bible than some random admonishment from a worship leader. Many congregations do not understand the power and purpose of Praise and Worship. They look at it as just another part of the program instead of a possible encounter with God.

2.  Poor Song Selections

The song selections may not match the purpose and mission of Praise and Worship. The Praise and Worship moment is at its height when the chosen music directs people to the greatness and Spirit of God. The songs should cause us to sing unto God, our Father. Sometimes leaders make the mistake of inserting songs that talk about God instead of songs that talk to God. The music should cause the congregation and singers to shift the focus off  themselves. When this happens, God promises, in His Word, to inhabit our praises (Psalm 22:3). For example, "How Great Is Our God," is a Praise and Worship song. It causes us to focus on the greatness of God. "We're Gonna Make It," by Timothy Wright, is not a Praise and Worship song because it's a song of encouragement unto the people. This type of song would fit better later in the worship service.  If you structure your worship so that you sing "up" to God first and then later on in the service sing "out" to the people, you will yield a greater result with your congregation.

3. Bad Song Leaders

Many of our churches are suffering from bad song leaders. Bad song/worship leaders tend to carry some of the same traits:

1. They're not worshippers themselves. They tend to admonish everyone else to worship, but do not demonstrate expressions of praise and thanksgiving to God themselves. It's self-centered worship.

2. They're not personable people. They don't spend time with the people they serve. People tend to follow someone they like. If one is leading others in the worship of God, they need to be authentic and likable.

3. They tend to sing solo during every Praise and Worship song. When I say sing "solo", they're not leading others in the singing of songs but rather treat the congregational moment as a solo opportunity for themselves to shine.

4. They tend to misquote Scripture and use cliche worship phrases most of the time. Great worship leaders are great students of not only music but Scripture. They spend time with God and with the people. They know how to affect people because God is using them to do so. When one is armed in Scripture and in prayer, one is equipped for battle. In this case, the battle can be inviting or teaching others via Scripture about the importance of Praise and Worship.

4. Poor Background Singers

I, personally, do not believe in Praise Teams anymore, but I am a proponent of Praise and Worship. I believe that everyone in the building is the "praise team", not just the people on the mics. However, if you're going to have people on individual mics, they need to come correct.  Bad singers on microphones create a poor representation of the music presented unto God and His people. I don't care how anointed a song is. If the singers are bad, the people are going to have a hard time getting into the presence of God.

5. Not Knowing When To Quit

If you're a leader and your Pastor has charged you with leading the congregation in Praise and Worship, you have to know when to quit. If you submit yourself to the Spirit of God, "He", the Spirit, will tell you. Carrying on and on can be damaging to the atmosphere especially when you're operating in the flesh. There are many times when the Spirit of God is moving and He calls for a continuation.  However, there are many times when He calls for an ending. One must know the difference. Sometimes you learn it through trial and error. The best teacher is the Holy Ghost. The lesson you don't want is the people looking at you in disgust because you won't quit.

I know there are other reasons why Praise and Worship may not be working at your church but I can guarantee you if you address these 4 core issues mentioned above, you will see a dramatic turn in your corporate worship experience. 

My Thoughts on #45, White Privilege, African Americans and The Next Election

Good Morning Everyone,

I am hopeful that my blogs provoke further thought and questions regarding the topics that I address. After yesterday's impeachment vote, I came to some conclusions that I think could be of some use to Black America. Please feel free to offer your comments.

Here are my thoughts:

1. #45 is a symptom of a larger problem and not just the problem.

2. White privilege is the most powerful force in America right now. It's on both sides of the aisle.

3.Whether #45 wins or not will NOT solve the larger problem. 4. African Americans need to secure economic power. That is a long process but it is attainable. It starts with trust and unity within our community.

5. Voting is important but it's not the sole answer.

6. Black people are waking up but we must not be distracted by what's going on with #45. We have much work to do within our own communities.

7. #45 will win the next election. The Republicans spent 8 solid years, while #44 was in office, rezoning, redistricting and passing voter suppression laws. They are always two steps ahead.

Sincerely, 

Phillip Carter

Black Church Music Part 1/ Concerning Hymns In The African American Church;

Black Church Music Part 1
Concerning Hymns In The African American Church;

I think it's important to note that the majority of hymns we sing in the black church were not written by us. They were given/taught to us by whites. Hymns and European anthems were promoted and ingrained in "US" as a more sophisticated, theologically sound form of worship in lieu of our own songs.

Growing up in the black Baptist church and subsequently studying classical music in college(HBCU) further promoted this music superiority complex ingrained in "US" by Europeans. In most white Universities and some HBCUs, black church music is still seen as unsophisticated and less technical due to the lack of education of many professors, university restrictions and in some cases lack of resources.

I think hymns are important. I've spent more than half my life learning, playing and singing hymns. Many are rooted in sound theology. I think hymns, regardless of who wrote them, should be sung in church. They have and continue to provide spiritual nourishment. My concern is "OUR" exaltation of European hymns and anthems, as we currently define them, as a necessity for worship in the black Church. We exalt "Their" music and degrade/downgrade our own as optional choices. It's even sadder that the majority of black church musicians are not aware of the hymns written by black people.

I see this trend also with CCM/Black Gospel Music but that's another post. I want to encourage African American church musicians to research, learn, introduce and teach your congregations the hymns and anthems that were written by our own people. We've already spent hundreds of years promoting hymns written by others. You may find a deeper connection with your audience. Many of our songs/hymns were written to address "OUR" conditions of which we are still suffering from in many ways.You will unlock new treasures for the people you serve. They may take a little longer to learn but that just speaks to the musicality, sophistication, technical prowess and spirituality of our people that "OTHER CULTURES" have been trying to emulate for years.