28 Jan, 2009

Kanye West changes name to Martin 'Louis' The King Jr.
Jan. 26, 2009 09:22 AM
BANG Showbiz

Kanye West has changed his name.

The 'Stronger' singer wants to be known as Martin 'Louis' The King Jr. in future after being "forced" to adopt a new pseudonym following the launch of his new footwear range for Louis Vuitton, which was unveiled during Paris Fashion Week last week.
In a posting on his blog, the rapper said in a video message "to the world": "Due to what has happened - what has happened so severely when the red shoes hit the runway, I was forced to change my name to Martin Louis the King Jr. Address me as such."

Referencing T.I's 'Swagger Like Us', Kanye ended the video by saying: "And until then I will be in the building, swagger on a hundred-thousand trillion."

Kanye recently revealed he is embarking on a fashion internship in London to help him carve out a successful career as a clothes designer.

He said: "I'm going to go and take an internship and just do something that's like completely normal, and just rap at the weekends or something."

(Article Provided By: http://www.azcentral.com/ent/celeb/articles/2009/01/26/20090126kanye.html)

Yes, I Know Your Name.

What Was Your Moniker Again?

Genesis 32:28 (New International Version)

28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."

2 Corinthians 5:17 (New International Version)

17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

What does God's Story scripture teach us about where we find our identity?

The story of Jacob at the river Jabbok is one of my favorite stories in scripture. Jacob, up to this point, has been a less then pleasant person. He has been a deceiver. He has cheated his brother Esau, and he has lied to his Father, and several others along the way. When he reached Jabbok, he is forced to confront who he is. He is left alone to struggle with God, and as day breaks on the river, Jacob is given a new name: Israel. In ancient culture, your name was more than just what you were called, it identified who you were. Your story was contained in your name. In this encounter beside the Jabbok, God changes Jacob's identity from "the deceiver" to "the one who has struggled with God and Man."

The second part of God's Story today is about our "Jabbok" moment. God in His love for us gave us a gift of new identity in Jesus. Paul writes, "the old has gone, the new has come!" Accepting Jesus' sacrifice on the cross made us something new. Maybe once you were known by the things you did, but this piece of the story teaches us that our character is no longer defined by us, but by our friendship with Jesus. The old way of life can be let go of, because Jesus has given us new life defined by him and our obedience to him.

How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?

It is kind of an overwhelming thought, to be defined by the creator of the universe. If you're like me, part of you wonders what that even means. Here are some things you can do to get some clarity.

  • Read all of Jacob's story through his experience at the river Jabbok. You'll find it in Genesis 25:19 through chapter 32.
  • Ask God to show you how he sees you.
  • Borrow a dry erase marker. Get a mirror in front of you. Take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Now search the bible for places that define who we are in Jesus (ex. Genesis 1:27, John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 3:16, Romans 8:15-16). Using the dry erase marker, write a key idea or word from each verse on the mirror. After you have 5 or 6, take a look at the mirror again and think about what you see this time.

How can we connect today's story, God's Story Scripture, and our story to others?

The new identity we received through Jesus is the greatest gift we could ever be given. It is a present we need to share with our friends. Kanye's story opens a door for conversation about identity and how we are defined.

  • Ask your friend if they have ever wanted to change their name. What would they change it to? Why? How important do they think a name is?
  • As you talk about the different names you would like to have, you can share Jacob's story and ask your friend what they think. How does it differ from Mr. West's name change?
  • Share 1 Corinthians 5:17 with your friend and ask them for their input.
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