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Unwrapping my 2021 #SpotifyWrapped

It’s that time of the year again! Since 2016, Spotify has been sending its users end of year listening statistics called Spotify Wrapped. The stats are taken from January to October, so you can binge all your guilty pleasures and Christmas music now until January without it being included. (so turn up to Mariah Carey all you want)

Spotify delivers the stats with a bit of sass in an Instagram story-like fashion. Like many uses, I look forward to the musical reflection to see what I enjoyed most during the year. The last few years have been so uncertain, with music providing the audible chicken soup for our souls. Whether during quarantines, solo drives, or remote work music was always there for us. Recently podcast stats have been added to Spotify Wrapped’s lineup as well.

According to Spotify, I spent over 34,000 minutes listening this year, more than 85% of listeners in the United States. That’s about 577.5 hours, 24 days. So what were my top picks? Here’s a link to my top 100 songs playlist Spotify generates as well for listeners.

My top artists

  1. Mavercity City Music – I spent about 3200 minutes listening to Maverick City, and was in the top 2 percent of their listeners. I have a worship music playlist but I might as well just put Maverick City on shuffle as much as they dominate it. They also put out a lot of music this year, including a Juneteenth album. They are nominated for a few Grammys this year as well. I was able to see them in concert this year, it was a great experience. Surprisingly, my top genre overall was Christian Hip Hop, with Worship second.
  2. Tobe Nwigwe – I wouldn’t consider Tobe to be CHH, but I wouldn’t say he’s secular either. He’s in his own lane, socially conscious with great beats. God fearing and fearing no man. I wish there were more rappers like him. The song I’ve listened to ths most of his was Eat and I enjoyed the At the Crib version he did for his song Fye Fye, a slowed down version.
  3. Wande – You could say Wande is the top female CHH artist right now. She has some songs that feature some of my other favorite artists such as Nobigdyl. Her album Exit came out in 2020 which I listened to this year, as well as the remix to her song Blessed Up.
  4. Social Club Misfits – Social Club is a CHH group made up of two guys named Marty and Fern. I really like Marty’s fun personality and their songs have great beats. They are from the same state as me also, FL.
  5. Andy Mineo – I was expecting Lecrae to be in my top five, but Andy Mineo must have beat him out. Andy released an album called Neverland II this year that I listened to a lot. It is very instorspective and mature without losing Andy’s sense of humor. My favorite song on it is “Working on It” and features Chandler Moore from Maverick City Music, I would’t be surpised if it’s in my top songs for next year.

My Top Songs

All of my top songs have really unique beats to me, I suppose that’s why I had them on repeat. Seems like I was more into mainstream CHH this year. I did keep some more indie artist CDs in my car like Beautiful Eulogy and Dream Junkies so those plays were not counted. Spotify said I listened to my top song about 40 times this year.

Here’s some of my favorite lyrics from the songs, along with a link to their rap genius pages:

  1. BAND$ – “I got the Lord on my side and He stay with me/ “God first” in your bio, ain’t amazing to me/ I can’t let just anybody come and hang with me/ You gotta be about that life to be bae to me”
  2. Colossal – Give my thanks to the Lord I know without Him I’m nothing, I’m nada / They say, “Dyllie, how do you make it?” I told ’em, “Man, it ain’t all about talent” /You gotta work every night like you Jimmy/ I’m talkin’ Kimmel, I’m talkin’ Fallon/ Then when you done, gotta take a lil’ Sabbath/ Don’t let the internet make you an addict
  3. Slingshot – I got the key to the vault /They wouldn’t want me to fall, yeah/ I made the blessing my own/ I don’t go back to the old
  4. Coming in Hot – Yeah, coming in hot /Just like the fajita/I write what I live/ My life in the speaker / I’m nice with the flow/ Just like the demeanor
  5. Ella – Somos chicas con Dios, my faith international/ But really, we killing. Shout out to God, we do this for a living/ To say it’s all me but realy I would be fibbing/ God making the moves and I listen while kneeling/ Aye, mmm, yeah, yeah/ Still unashamed, Romans 116K/ They like “Wande, ¿cómo se dice?”/ To rep Christ you ain’t gotta speak inglés

What was your top listens in 2021? Happy listening in 2022!

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Events

My #ICFF2021 Experience

Recently I went to Orlando for the 9th Annual International Christian Film Festival (ICFF). It included seminars for actors led by industry professionals like Roma Downey and Cameron Arnett, but anyone can get a movie pass to watch the film and documentary screenings. Volunteers are also needed to support the festival activities. The event ends with a red carpet awards ceremony, the winners for this year are listed here. While I listen to a lot of Christian music, I want to watch more media that aligns with my values. This is why I was excited to attend the festival, to get exposed to new edifying content. If that is an interest of yours as well there are some Christian streaming services like PureFlix and 24Flix, both helped sponsor the festival and have free trials. 24Flix even live-streamed parts of the festival online. 

This was my second time attending ICFF. The first time I went I arrived towards the end and wasn’t able to see much, but this time I got a movie pass for two days and was able to watch several movies and documentaries. Of course this time was also different due to Covid, but I wore a mask and socially distanced from others. I liked that time was allotted to the filmmakers and actors for each screening to give more information and have a Q&A. There was so much being shown, sometimes it was hard to pick what to watch! I did find myself watching more documentaries than movies and short films. In addition to the screenings, there were networking opportunities and vendors promoting their products, services, and books. Two speakers I wanted to see were Mimi and Muziqueen, two women who started Nashville is Not Just Country Music, cultivating the city’s diverse music scene. Although I did not get to meet them, their content is worth checking out! I could definitely see myself attending again in the future, perhaps volunteering to assist with a documentary screening room. For creatives, you can check their website for movie or music submissions for the next festival.

Here are some of the screenings I watched:

Death to Life – Trailer Link – Website

This was a very moving documentary about opioid addiction and recovery by filmmaker Nate Powers. It was my favorite screening at the festival. It tells the story of Markus McFolling and Kurstie Elser in a humanizing, personable way. It showed how things like depression and injuries can lead to an unexpected path of substance abuse. Their faith, determination to recover, along with the enduring love and support of their family brought people in the audience to tears. Markus eventually started a non-profit called Reach1 to give youth the encouragement he needed growing up.  The producers hope to get it distributed in 2022. It may get turned into a series as well. This Patheos article includes an interview with Nate Powers, it has more insight into his vision behind the documentary.

Sweet Sunshine – Trailer – Website

This movie won second place and best musical score at the festival. I don’t want to give away too much if you decide to watch it, the summary on their website says “After his rise to fame causes a rift with his father, a young superstar suffers a tragedy that will change his life forever.” Although I don’t listen to country music much, I appreciated the story and acting. It has had over 1 million views and can be watched in several places including Amazon Prime.

Witness to the Ends of the Earth in Vanuatu – Link to documentary on Youtube

 This documentary is about Won Chun Hee, a missionary who traveled to Vanuatu (a country east of Australia) to share the gospel and help a community. I had only heard of Vanuatu because a season of Survivor was filmed there. He initially struggled with God to accept the calling, but you can see how God graced him to fulfill it. I was curious to see the day to day life of a missionary. Some of the ways he serves include teaching local missionaries and helping with repairs after cyclones. He spent 10 years living with the natives to learn their culture and earn their trust. Their lifestyle is definitely different from ours in America.

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Bible In One Year 2020

Bible In One Year – Day 10 (of 10 day sample)

Scripture:
Genesis 30-31

Notable Hebrew words:

  • exceedingly Gen 30:43 – meod
  • attitude Gen 31:2 – panim/paneh

Observations

  • Rachel and Leah continued their feuding
  • God allowed Jacob to prosper with Laban
  • Jacob and Laban made a covenant and made peace

Application:

  • Don’t let emotions and desires steer my heart away from God or pursue my own interests over what is right

Prayer:
Help me to be a peacemaker

Scriptures that come to mind:

  • Matthew 5:9 – Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
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Bible In One Year 2020

Bible In One Year – Day 9 (of 10 day sample)

Scripture:
Genesis 27-29

Notable Hebrew words:

  • sustained Gen 27:37 – samak
  • weak Gen 29:17 – rak
  • beautiful Gen 25:17 – yapheh

Observations

  • Rebekah’s love for her son overrode her ethics
  • Jacob lived up to his name
  • Jacob served Laban for a total of 14 years
  • Leah turned more towards God instead of trying to win her husband’s love when having Judah

Application:

  • Don’t let emotions and desires steer my heart away from God or pursue my own interests over what is right

Prayer:
Help me to submit my desires and emotions to Your will. When that happens, there is manipulation and deceit.

Scriptures that come to mind:

  • Proverbs 6:16-19 – There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination [a]to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, 19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who [b]spreads strife among brothers.
  • Luke 6:31 – Do to others as you would have them do to you.
  • Proverbs 10:9 – Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
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Bible In One Year 2020

Bible In One Year – Day 8 (of 10 day sample)


Scripture:
Genesis 25-26

Notable Hebrew words:

  • blessed Gen 25:11 – barak
  • granted Gen 25:21 – athar
  • inquire Gen 25:22 – darash

Observations

  • Rebekah and Isaac were married for 20 years before she had children
  • Esau traded his lifelong birthright to fulfill his short term hunger
  • Isaac inherited generational blessings from Abraham’s obedience, but repeated his father’s sin of claiming his wife as his sister.

Application:

  • Think how sin effects me long term, even though it may be desirable in the moment

Prayer:
Help me to not let my flesh rule me, and give into temptation.

Scriptures that come to mind:
Matthew 26:41 – Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Proverbs 14:12 – There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

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Bible In One Year 2020

Bible In One Year – Day 7 (of 10 day sample)


Scripture:
Genesis 22-24

Notable Hebrew words:

  • provide Gen 22:14 – yirah/raah
  • meditate Gen 24:63 – suach

Observations

  • Abraham was ready to sacrifice what he loved at God’s command, even though his promise (descendants) was from it
  • The servant had faith and trusted in the God of his master

Application:

  • Don’t be afraid to get specific in prayer . Look for God in circumstance.

Prayer:
Help me to remember that you use events in the day to day to achieve Your Will. Help me to trust You are provider and be willing to sacrifice anything You command.

Scriptures that come to mind:
Hebrews 11:17-19 – By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.” 19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type

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Bible In One Year 2020

Bible In One Year – Day 5 (of 10 day sample)

Scripture:
Genesis 16-18

Notable Hebrew words:

  • roi (sees) Gen 16:13
  • meod (exceedingly) Gen. 17:6

Observations

  • God was preventing Sarah from getting pregnant until the appointed time
  • God has compassion for Hagar
  • Abraham tried to reason/settle for what seemed more natural, Ishmael getting the blessing
  • God was going to bless all nations of the earth through Abraham

Application:

  • Remember that faith demands actions of obedience

Prayer:
Help me to value righteousness and justice, to the point of action. Help me to remember that you see me and Your word will always come to pass.

Scriptures that come to mind:
The birth of John the Baptist in Luke 1
Jeremiah 32:27 – “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?”

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Bible In One Year 2020

Bible In One Year – Day 4


Scripture:
Genesis 12-15

Notable Hebrew words:

  • blessed Gen 12:2
  • called Gen 12:8, 13:4
  • reckoned Gen 15:6

Observations

  • God called Abram away from the familiar
  • Abram lied out of fear
  • God punished Pharaoh, perhaps so Abram would be convicted
  • Abram believed God’s promise
  • Abram wanted to ensure his success was from God alone

Application:

  • Trust God’s promises no matter how impossible they seem

Prayer:
Help to resolve family issues in a way that honors You. Help me to go wherever You call me to go, without fear. Help me to trust in Your promises, despite my circumstances or feelings.

Scriptures that come to mind:
Hebrews 11:8-10 – By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed [i]by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God

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Bible In One Year 2020

Bible in One Year – Day 3 (of 10 day sample)


Scripture:
Gen. 8-11

Notable Hebrew words:

  • yetser (intent) Gen 8:21
  • berith (covenant) Gen 9:11

Observations

  • Man naturally drifts towards evil
  • God kept Noah and his family during the flood
  • God made a promise to not flood the earth again knowing man’s nature

Application:

  • Value unity, but know it will not replace relationship with or be more powerful than God
  • Remember the significance of the rainbow

Prayer:
Thank you for protecting Noah and his family during the flood. Help me to treat elders with their proper respect, even when they are in moments of weakness. Help me to show them grace and help them without causing them shame. Help me to remember the strength, unity, and skill of every man alive combined is no match for You.

Scriptures that come to mind:

  • Hebrews 11:7 -By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
  • Ephesians 6:1 – Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
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