On Abortion

North Carolina protesters rally against proposed abortion restrictions in May | Photo: PolicyMic

Abortion is a hot topic across the nation. This week, North Carolina has been in the spotlight as tension mounts and protesters on both sides come out in droves to promote their sides.

Let me be clear, I don't want to start World War III with this post. As I've said earlier, if you disagree with me fine but, if you find it necessary to express your thoughts, please do so in a mature and professional manner.

First I'll address the N.C. Legislature. WRAL reports a bill that was supposed to be about foreign affairs was overhauled Tuesday - with little to no public notice I might add - into an omnibus bill that included many restrictions on abortion practices in North Carolina.

According to WRAL, Gov. Pat McCrory said in the past that he was against any new restrictions on abortion but Republicans in both the House and Senate have enough of a majority to override a possible veto.

Senator Tom Apodaca, R-Henderson, told WRAL that [the Democrats] routinely forced bills through during  last-minute votes when they were in control of the legislature.

So does that give the GOP a free pass to do the same? Absolutely not. 

For once - and only once - I agree with Gov. McCrory when he told WRAL that this kind of cheap trick of sliding language into unrelated bills is wrong and should be stopped.

Now onto abortion itself.

My stance has always been the same: I don't agree with abortion personally but I will not stand there and tell a woman what she can or can't do with her own body. 

Isn't it bass ackwards how these legislatures, mostly made up of men, can make up laws that tell woman what they can do with their bodies? I feel it's not my position as a man to make those decisions for women.

That's my stance and it will not change.

Read More

NMM: Triple The Tunes

(L-R) Spencer Cane, Emblem3 and David Nail | Photo: Spencer Kane Music, Emblem3, David Nail

Haven't done this in a long time so I've got three, count 'em, three fresh songs for you to listen to. Enjoy!

First up is Spencer Kane. The son of a pastor, this teen artist and actor from Indiana grew up in a Christian home and recorded his first music video at age five. After singing in his church, Spencer competed in a county talent contest in 2010 in which he finished second. In 2011, he released his first original song, "Best Friends" and has continued to record music since.

Spencer recently came out with an EP called One of the Kind which has five new songs that combine cool music with inspirational lyrics. The title track off the EP is just one example of his amazing talent.

Have a listen!

Next up is a band that many of you have probably heard of. Cue the screams...it's Emblem3!

Since my NMM post on them last year, the trio of guys from Huntington Beach, C.A. finished in fourth place on The X-Factor, signed with Simon Cowell's record label and released a brand new song as a part of an upcoming album called Nothing To Lose which you can pre-order on iTunes right now. 

The song is called "Chloe (You're the One I Want)" and is quickly gaining airplay on the radio. One of our local stations here in North Carolina, Pulse 102 FM, has been playing this song pretty regularly. "Chloe..." is definitely one of those feel good songs of the summer. 

Get ready to rock out!

Last but certainly not least is one of my favorite country artists, Grammy and Academy of Country Music Award-nominated David Nail. I was fortunate enough to see him in concert twice back in 2011, once at the N.C. State Fair and again a couple months later. I was not disappointed in either of these concerts.

Now, David is back with an all new song called "Whatever She's Got" and it's sure to be yet another hit for him. This is definitely one of my favorite songs from him by far.

Listen to it right here!

Read More

Names

Photo: FBC Jax Watchdogs

What's in a name? Names can have different meanings to different people.

There has been recent "discussion" - or should I say it's pretty much a done deal regardless of what "discussion" takes place - in axing the "Baptist" part of my church, Grey Stone's, name.

I do not agree with this at all.

I understand the name "Baptist" has been dragged through the mud - Westboro Baptist Church need I say more? I get that people have turned against the Baptist church for its few rotten apples. But the fact of the matter is there will always be people with these negative opinions regardless of whether you get rid of "Baptist" or change your church's name to "Big Dave's Praisin' Center."

Grey Stone Baptist Church is all I've ever known. I've been going to that church since I was in diapers. Even though Grey Stone has changed drastically - and I mean drastically - over the years the name is a part of our community and our identity as is with any other church's name.

I've heard time and again that the church is not going non-denominational although the name change suggests that. Grey Stone will apparently keep everything the same - association with the Southern Baptist Convention, etc. - just with the different name of course. 

But I take issue with other churches and, yes, even my own church, for doing this because it seems like they're shying away from their true identities. Don't get me wrong, I'm a 20-something, college student and I applaud modernization wholeheartedly. But some things need to be left alone. This is one of those things.

Let me ask you this: should we change the name of Christianity?

Popular Christian blogger and motivational speaker, Jon Acuff, wrote an article that speaks volumes to just a fraction of the opinions people have about the Christian faith. The article described a time where he was on a plane and got to talking to this woman. He mentioned faith to her and she was taken aback to find out he was a Christian because he wasn't "judgmental enough" to be so. 

That's what I'm saying. There are many people who take issue with the Christian religion itself, let alone the Baptist denomination. Will we ever change the name of Christianity because of similar negative opinions about the religion as a whole just to add a few people to our church rosters? Not a chance.

My fellow church members can call it what they want but, as far as I'm concerned, I go to Grey Stone Baptist Church.

Read More

On Paula Deen

Photo: Paula Deen

I wasn't originally going to make a public comment on the Paula Deen situation but decided to type up just a few of my thoughts.

First off, I'll say that I do not condone anything she's admitted to doing as it pertains to using racial slurs.

I can only say that, we're all human. We all make mistakes. It's life. 

Being a widely-known public figure as Deen is, she should have been more careful with the words she chose. Despite that I feel, in a figurative sense, that she's been "tried, convicted and hanged" without really giving her side of the story.

I've gone through the same thing in my life - but mine was on a very different subject than Deen's. I've learned a lot from my experience of being "tried, convicted and hanged" without giving my side of the story. I learned who my real friends were and not to put everyone on a pedestal because they'll most likely disappoint you.

It's unfortunate what happened every way you look at it. Once again I do not support or condone Paula Deen's actions. I believe what she did was appalling. However, I do understand the crap she's going through before truly giving her side of the story. 

And that's all I'm saying.

Read More

Review: Now You See Me

(L-R) Isla Fisher, Jess Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Dave Franco | Photo: Summit Entertainment

Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo and Woody Harrelson are just a few of the household names you'll find in Now You See Me. But did the film impress? 

First a little background.

Director: Louis Leterrier

Writers: Ed Soloman (screenplay); Boaz Yakin and Richard Ricourt (screenplay and story)

Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco and Morgan Freeman

Rating: PG-13 for language, some action and sexual content. Parents Guide

Plot: Four magicians are mysteriously summoned to an obscure apartment and are formed into the biggest magic act the world has ever seen. The Four Horsemen, as they're called, climax their sold out Las Vegas show by staging a bank robbery apparently for real. This puts agents Dylan Rhodes of the FBI (Ruffalo) and Alma Dray of Interpol (Mélanie Laurent) on the case to catch them. 

But the case proves to be a tough one to solve, even with the help of professional illusion debunker Thaddeus Bradley (Freeman), as it takes the agents on a cross-country excursion filled with twists and turns. In the end, you may be surprised to find out the truth behind The Four Horsemen's scheme.

Family Friendly? Not really. There's quite a bit of mature material in this film that would not be suitable for the entire family.

Should You See It? YES! This is a very well-done film. I'd be lying if I said the movie started off kind of slow. Despite that, Now You See Me does an amazing job of putting you right in the middle of the action. You ride along with the agents to try and figure out the motive behind The Four Horsemen's crimes while being wowed by the Horsemen's grand illusions.

But, as I teased in the plot write up, you'll be thrown for a loop when you find out who's really behind the scheme. That's what made this movie even more exciting! 

Read More

NMM: Hanson

Photo: Hanson / Flickr

That's right, folks, the "MMMBop" boys are back...big time.

Hanson has returned with its first studio album in three years and even more assurance that the music has taken a more mature turn - I'd be lying if I said I didn't listen to "MMMBop" though. The new album is called Anthem and is, in my opinion, the best work Hanson has ever produced.

There is, honestly, not one song on the new album you won't enjoy listening to. Each of the 13 tracks has its own distinct identity and are beautifully crafted to fit that more mature pop/rock audience. The nice thing about this album is, even though it's geared toward a more mature listening audience, the songs are smooth, cool and will definitely impress all who listen to them.

No question this album should give Hanson a lot of awards buzz.

My personal favorite is the very first track, called "Fired Up" - have a listen!

Read More

One Heck Of A Ride

UNC dogpiling after win against South Carolina to reach College World Series |  James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

I was hoping I wouldn't have to write this but here we go.

It's always upsetting to see your favorite team lose, especially when they've come so far. That's exactly how I feel about the UNC Baseball team as I'm writing this. 

After going through a lot of adversity to get there, the Heels made it back to Omaha for the College World Series. So close to the championship series, the team lost 4-1 to UCLA on Friday night. This loss actually hurts more than those two championship series losses to Oregon State a few years ago.

Why?

It just seemed like, of all the years UNC has been in Omaha, this was the year the team would finally win it all. 

Everything seemed to fall into place: a school record 59 wins - one shy of the NCAA record - a number one overall seed, coming back to defeat Florida Atlantic in the Regional and South Carolina in the Super Regional during the NCAA Tournament and then fighting through the loser's bracket in the World Series to get so close.

But it just didn't happen. The Heels are still without that elusive national title. Don't worry, though, the time is coming soon.

I'm not technically apart of this team but I've made so many memories with them. From sitting right behind UNC's dugout at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in that 14-inning thriller against Clemson during the ACC Tournament, to watching every second of the 18-inning game against N.C. State a day later, to watching this team deservedly win the ACC Championship in person, to meeting these players and coaches and wishing them good luck before the team departed for Omaha. 

Nothing beats seeing the excitement on my 86-year-old grandma's face when she got to meet Coach Jackson at that send off. The memories made this season far surpass any championship or trophy.

As far as I'm concerned these 2013 UNC Diamond Heels are national champions. Period.

Congrats to Coach Mike Fox and the rest of the players, coaches and staff on a great season and I can't wait to see what's in store for next season!

Read More