Anyway, so I went with my friend Stephen because he wanted to join the Big Bite Challenge. When we arrived, there was a television crew at the 7-11 store we selected. The three hosts of “Boys Night Out” (89.9 Magic?) were there, and apparently, they were awaiting a customer who would avail of that challenge so they could shoot it for MTV. So guess who was unlucky enough to be there at that time?

Stephen bought the hotdogs, signed the waivers, had me “witness” the contract, and chose his hotdogs. After one crew member asked unfortunately which variant I wanted - excuse me, I wasn’t the contestant! Can you blame him for thinking so, though? - Stephen took them over to a table and began to set up. After asking permission to shoot him, the TV crew set Stephen up and the three radio jocks interviewed him. Cue crude homosexual jokes. Then Stephen got to work. It was WILD. He just downed those hotdogs and everything else. When the smoke cleared, he finished 2:47. Like I said, it was WILD. Good enough for fourth in that store, or so I’ve heard. I’ll bet if he gave it another go-around, he may actually beat the record. I’m not kidding. It was his first time; he can do it better, the second time around.

I took some photos and a video of the actual gluttony eating contest, and that was that. It was my first time to experience something like that and it was kinda surreal. I’m real proud of Stephen, though. I wonder how he’d do with pizza…

This is an a capella original I wrote rap lyrics to. (I’m no rapper, mind you.) It isn’t necessarily an entry to Victory’s Got Talent because I don’t think I can replicate it live, but it was fun to make. Glory be to Jesus Christ, Lord, Savior, and Giver of Grace and Talent. I am nothing without Him.

The last line of the song features a melodic line and lyric from “Praise You,” written by Norman Cook and Camille Yarbrough.

• Andy Roddick really wowed me as he just narrowly beat Andy Murray at Wimbledon. He’ll go up against Roger Federer in the finals on Sunday, and, well, that’s just a treat! Regardless of who wins, that’s a win-win for me.
• Rob Thomas’ Give Me the Meltdown is so hot. I’ve been listening to it nonstop the past two days.
• Psalm 37 is such a long psalm, but it’s rich with so much of what God wants to tell me. I think I may have to dwell on this psalm for, like, a week. I’m getting a lot of song ideas.
• Got an idea for Victory’s Got Talent. It won’t be easy to pull off - especially if I’m nanny-less on Monday - but I’d like to see if I can make it happen.
• Still haven’t registered for Training for Victory. Will probably do it at work on Sunday.

Enjoy your weekend, y’all.

I will probably attend this, because I’ve recently begun One 2 One, Victory’s foundational Bible program, with some young men, and I know we’ll be starting up a small group soon enough. Best to be equipped with the right tools to ensure the men entrusted to my care grow properly in the faith.

I have always been fascinated with archaeology and forensic science, and this news that marries the two just excites me no end. Many people think the Bible is largely a fictional account, and this evidence is an excellent reminder that the Christian life is still very much situated in the real world. Kakatuwa.

I’m going to miss Melissa’s powerful voice. Man, that just stings. First, Cherie Paliotta, then Michael Passons, then Jody McBrayer, now Melissa. Thankfully, Janna’s still there.

Meanwhile, I’ve added Avalon to my Twitter list.

Here’s the exciting news: Ian Eskelin and Barry Weeks are producing their new album! Reborn is going to be HOT! Ian is responsible for the songs of a lot of great CCMusicians, including Krystal Meyers, Jump5, Joy Whitlock, and Francesca Battistelli; the latter is currently the hottest solo female artist in CCM today, thanks to top 10 hit I’m Letting Go and Free to Be Me, which topped the US AC Christian charts earlier this year. Ian’s also a respected worship leader and artist in his own right, and I am so excited for this project! After Still My God, which returned Avalon back into the good graces of the Christian radio industry, this is a step in the right direction.

God will open doors for Avalon through Ian Eskelin! WOOT!

Meanwhile, I hope you’ll join me in prayer for Jody McBrayer, who I assume is still battling his heart disease. I’ve committed him to daily prayer, and I’m believing He will be healed. It would be good to learn of the results of our prayer intercession. There is absolutely no information online about Jody’s condition. I hope someone in the USA might stumble into this post and let me know how he’s doing.

Ever since Eliza Dushku dumped me, I thought I’d never love again! Until today! Kelly Rowland, you are HOT!

When love takes over, yeah, you know you can’t deny!

Rap superstar Eminem apparently wrote a song, Bagpipes From Baghdad, that made it to the final cut of his new album, Relapse, which dropped in the USA May 19. Bagpipes From Baghdad basically takes R&B songstress and superstar Mariah Carey to task for ending their (apparently nonexistent) relationship; the rapper, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, skewers Carey and her husband, actor/DJ/director Nick Cannon, over an Indian/Middle Eastern-inspired musical hook. This, of course, dates back to a few years ago when Eminem told the world he has a six-month relationship with the star, which she has always flat-out denied.

Well, Carey finally fires back. Musically, anyway.

Her new single, Obsessed, has been served to radio in the United States, landing significant radio airplay ahead of her twelfth studio album, Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel, which drops August 25. Obsessed pulls no punches: the superstar calls Eminem out, saying he’s “obsessed” and “delusional.” She implies he’s lost his mind, hinting that it must be the “weed” and “e(cstasy).” She also reminds Eminem who is a bigger star. She’s a corporation; he’s a mom-and-pop store. She’s the press conference; he’s a conversation. (While I don’t care much for Mariah as a lyricist, I have to admit I personally liked those lines; they’re funny.)

I basically have four comments on this entire turn of events, which, quite frankly, shouldn’t even be an event because this fight is so dated. Nevertheless, the cynic in me just feels the need to comment that:

1. Obsessed is, in itself, historic for Carey. The overwhelming topic of Mariah’s track record of hits has been about love in its various forms. (As is probably 90% of all songs that have played on pop radio.) She’s never released any singles that come this close to being explicitly autobiographical, and for a carrier single, this is arguably the bravest decision she’s made. (The cynical side of me says she may be releasing it to capitalize on the freshness of Bagpipes From Baghdad, but that doesn’t negate the relevance of Obsessed.) However, the point may very well be moot, because…

2. Obsessed isn’t too big a hit. Frankly, I can’t see people singing Obsessed. Production-wise, it meets all the requirements of a current radio hit, complete with vocoder effects and up-to-date production; vocally, it’s Mariah at her most comfortable and laidback. But if you take that melody and pop a different set of lyrics on it, you have a tepid mid-tempo snoozer of a song. I’ve listened to it several times, and I can’t get the melody. I can’t figure out the chorus. I may be old, but Obsessed ain’t no Touch My Body, and that’s saying a lot. Obsessed owes its mileage to the controversy, which tells me that…

3. Eminem and Carey should just take a lie detector test. Talk about making mountains out of molehills. If both celebrities really want to lay this issue to rest, they should just take the test and we’ll see who’s telling the truth. Thing is, they’re not going to, because…

4. Both Eminem and Carey need Obsessed. Obsessed is a calculated hit. The classy thing to do when someone disses you is to be quiet; deep waters stay still and let the shallow water babble on. Mariah may not be deep water, but she probably smelled an opportunity and took it. Just like when she mentioned YouTube in Touch My Body, Carey knows she stands to stay relevant when she employs current trends and uses it in her music. She has been in the music business for almost 20 years; staying relevant is now the most important thing for her. (If Obsessed reaches #1 on the Hot 100, she will collect her 19th #1, placing her firmly as the solo artist with most #1 hits, and putting her one short of the Beatles’ overall record of 20. She will also tie Elvis Presley for most weeks at #1, with 80 weeks; she’s currently at 79.)

Meanwhile, Eminem’s Relapse has been a relative failure, in comparison to his previous studio albums. Bagpipes Over Baghdad offers nothing new for the rapper who has been known to attack several people in his music, including his mother, his wife, and several celebrities, including fellow rappers. The controversy afforded him can result in much-needed media mileage, which he probably will get if Obsessed does manage to become a hit. Thanks to Bagpipes Over Baghdad, he actually and finally got a response out of Mariah that people can react to; it’s a battle of two celebrities trying to remain in the news, with the American public serving as arbiters and judges.

Will the public reward them with commercial success for Obsessed, or will they say - as I’m thinking - so what? At this point, the issue at hand is not whether or not Mariah has “schooled” Eminem; it’s whether or not the public is as equally obessed with them as they are with each other. We’ll see in a few weeks.

1. When Love Takes Over (1) David Guetta feat Kelly Rowland
2. Give Me the Meltdown (3) Rob Thomas
3. No Surprise (2) Daughtry
4. No Boundaries (5) Kris Allen
5. I Do Not Hook Up (6) Kelly Clarkson
6. Falling For You (7) Colbie Caillat
7. The Lost Get Found (8) Britt Nicole
8. Battlefield (4) Jordin Sparks
9. Never (new) Ayiesha Woods
10. Fight For Love (9) Elliott Yamin