Blog

Sunrise Testimony

In summer 2008 after the release of my second album we did many street concerts and gave away about 500 copies of the album. There have been many stories of God’s work through the album but the following story has been my favorite.

About 5 years after this album was released, I received an anonymous message from a woman who through some personal circumstances ended up in a Women's refuge. The woman found my album in an unclaimed drawer and decided to listen to the album. She said that listening to the album helped in her search for God, she explained how some of the answers she was looking for were found in the lyrics.  She ended the message saying the project helped her stay strong when she felt weak and “God knew da way 2 get thru 2 me”

As an artist it’s great to know people love your art, but if it can affect someone's life, then the job is complete. Do you have a testimony from the Sunrise album? please share in the comments below.

by Baliva

WHY DOES THEOLOGY EVEN MATTER ?

"Most of us tend to think that theology is a waste of time, discussing theological terms like doctrine, trinity, atonement, creation etc can seem like an intimidating waste of time in light of the pending task of evangelising the lost. Studying or discussing doctrine often brings connotation's of arrogant intellectuals who don’t live out their faith so the response is normally ignoring theology but it has been greatly misunderstood. "Theology is one of the most important tasks that everyone should take part in. It is not for church leaders only, theology matters to everyone."

Read More

God is in Control, Not the Illuminati

​For those who are not aware. The illuminati is a secret society run by an elitist group that are involved in occultism. Their plan is to create a one world system, this system is known as the New world order. Over the years there have been many leaders and politicians that have called for a new world order, so this is far from being a conspiracy theory.

Read More

In May 2010 I told my boss that I was planning on leaving my job to spend a year serving my local church. This was an unpaid year where I would be involved in serving my church’s media team while receiving theological training. There was no degree to be received, no job at the end of it, and I was not looking for either. I was following God’s call to grow in the word of God and help further the gospel by volunteering at my church on a full time basis. I had no idea what would happen to me or what I would be doing after the voluntary year but all I knew was, God called me to make the first faith step like Abraham did in Genesis.

Read More
by Baliva

THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU: THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THE FILM

Adjustment Bureau was quite an entertaining film to watch, I love films like this that raise philosophical questions. I could relate to Matt’s determination to beat the system. However I began to have a few objections to the worldview that the writer suggests. Judging from the writers comments he may not explicitly be trying to say that it relates to God but lets just say it is for the sake of my point.

Read More

How I became a Christian

I was born and raised in Zimbabwe, I knew God existed but never factored him much in my day to day life, you could say I was religious but did not have a personal conviction about God.

Growing up we were heavily influenced by British and American culture primarily through MTV, BET and other media programmes. I heard how great england was and had the opportunity to visit every summer holiday so I had a taste of the life there and could not wait to move to England.  I got into music in my last year of school, my friend Ian and I put out a song which got airplay on national radio, we even managed to get  a spot at a Channel O festival.

 

Read More

REFLECTIONS ON BECOMING A CHRISTIAN

This post is a reflection on my story of how I became a Christian, In essence there really is nothing wrong with the desire to enjoy life, make music, be famous or move to a new country, after all these are gifts given to us by God for our enjoyment and his glory,the problem  is the motive in the heart, it occurs when we desire these things more than we desire God. This desire ends up becoming worship,  sometimes as artists or (Fill in the blank) our hearts can meditate on the following thoughts, Read More
by Baliva

Im a Millionaire - Part 2

The world promotes a craving for physical pleasure, pride in our achievements and possessions. You can find evidence for this by watching MTV for one day, maybe even half and hour in some cases. From MTV cribs to Making the Band with P Diddy there is a constant message in the media that motivates us to chase after the cars, the house, the lifestyle etc. In other words “the American Dream” meant happiness. But at what cost?

Read More
by Baliva

I'M A Millionaire” - PART ONE

I remember in October 2004 when I heard the new release “Millionaire” by Kelis and Andree 3000, being a fan of electro beats this tune was explosive for me.As I began to listen to the lyrics I laughed because I actually woke up mad early that morning…but as the song progressed I took interest to the main message which was like a word to me. Now four years later I listened to the same song and thought about the lyrics, so have a listen to the song than read my thoughts from a few of the highlighted lyrics.

Read More
by Baliva

Sunrise Release Party - Highlights

​Its a Saturday afternoon and I arrive at the Basement room in The Beacon, Belsize Park, London, for the “CD launch party”, I’m feeling relaxed now after a very busy afternoon spent getting ready. As I walk down the stairs I notice the room is filled with people, the atmosphere is so welcoming and a bit surreal. This album was the hardest project I have worked on and I must admit there were moments where I did not feel I could finish the CD.

Read More
by Baliva

Back to Basics

Ive recently been visiting alot of myspace pages and finding out the unlimited possibilities with the look of a Myspace page, Ive seen some simple designs that give you basic information, a selection of songs and a handful of pictures then ive seen some really complex designs that take ages to load and ages to figure out where everything is.

Up until recently i had one of those fancy preset [myflash.com] layouts and never took much care to the look or originality of my [myspace page] but recenly I cant help yearn for an original simple page that loads and communicates effectivly.

During this period of time Ive also thought about the music I make and how its so easy to get strung up in all the complex things that people say music should be. I have constantly been asked why I dont use alot of the common metaphores and rhymes that are used in rap music or how i should sound a certain way in order to attact the people. I have even got so caught up in how I want to sound that I have almost forgot who I am as an artist. Its all gone a bit too complicated [kinda like the crazy myspace pages].

As I write this blog I am listening to [Braille -he has a nice myspace :-) myspace.com/braillebrizzy ] , he reminds me of myself when I first started rapping. He is simply speaking about what is on his heart, he is being himself, he is being honest, Alot of his songs are basic stories, nothing too complex, the beats are simple and the messege is clear…he wants to know and walk with Jesus. For me listening to this guy rap reminds me of the essential parts of my character as a rap artist that have been removed and at times sadly replaced by a front. Listening to this guy makes me want to be myself nomatter what people think.

Living as an active Christian can bring you alot of battles in life, sometimes its hard to get keep your walk with God right, especially after taking knock after knock. The one question I asked my self is, I have been a Christian for 5 years this summer gone, what special and complex things do I have to do now, to be up there with God. Surely after being a Christian for such a time I must have more things I should do to be right with God.

The truth is similar to that of the myspace pages, simplicity!!!, when I first became a Christian, I prayed [spoke to God] , read my bible [heard from God] , hung out with other Christians , I told my friends about Jesus and more importantly I believed and trusted by Faith that God so loved the world that he gave his only son to save me. These are the same basics that will keep us walking with God until he returns [Soon], these are the same tools that will save us in trials and give us the abundant life.

by Baliva