The Congregation at Duke University Chapel

The Confessions of St. Kendrick

For the ears, you can listen to an audio recording [high fidelity audio playable under all personal computer operating systems via VLC media player, Microsoft Windows Media Player with the Xiph.org codecs for FLAC et al, OS X QuickTime with the XiphQT plugin, etc., on many Android-based mobile devices, and on iOS-based mobile devices via apps such as FLAC Player or Golden Ear]

The Confessions of St. Kendrick

presentation at Adult Forum by
Christopher Karnadi
writer on culture and religion
March 24, 2019

We discussed amd heard excerpts from the audio album Good Kid M.A.A.D City by Kendrick Lamar.

  • The prayer we heard (from 15:30 ~ 16:00 in the audio file of the class) was the introduction to "Sherane a.k.a. Master Splinter's Daughter":
    Lord God, I come to you a sinner
    And I humbly repent for my sins
    I believe that Jesus is Lord
    I believe that you raised him from the dead
    I will ask that Jesus will come to my life
    And be my Lord and Savior
    I receive Jesus to take control of my life
    And that I may live for him from this day forth
    Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving me with your precious blood
    In Jesus' name, Amen
  • The song and text we heard (from 17:30 ~ 19:00 in the audio file of the class) was "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst":
    Too many sins, I'm runnin' out
    Somebody send me a well for the drought
    See all I know is takin' notes
    On takin' this life for granted, granted, if he provoke
    My best days, I stress days
    (Lord, forgive me for all my sins, for I not know - )
    My best days, I stress days
    Say "f__k the world," my sex slave
    Money, p___y, and greed - what's my next crave?
    Whatever it is, know it's my next grave
    Tired of runnin', tired of runnin', tired of tumblin'
    Tired of runnin', tired of tumblin' - backwards
    My momma say "See, a pastor give me a promise
    What if today was the rapture and you completely tarnished?
    The truth will set you free, so to me be completely honest
    You dyin' of thirst, you dyin' of thirst
    So hop in that water, and pray that it works."
  • The song we heard (from 26:20 ~ 28:05 in the audio file of the class):
    Sometimes I look in the mirror
    And ask myself: Am I really scared of passin' away?
    If it's today, I hope I hear a
    Cry out from Heaven so loud it can water down a demon
    With the Holy Ghost 'til it drown in the blood of Jesus
    I wrote some raps that made sure that my lifeline reekin'
    The scent of a reaper, ensurin' that my allegiance
    With the other side may come soon, and if I'm doomed
    May the womb of my mother be blessed for many moons
    I suffer a lot
    And every day that glass mirror get tougher to watch
    I tie my stomach in knots
    And I'm not sure why I'm infatuated with death
    My imagination is surely an aggravation of threats
    That can come about, 'cause the tongue is mighty powerful
    And I can name a list of your favorites that probably vouch
    Maybe 'cause I'm a dreamer and sleep is the cousin of death
    Really stuck in the schema of wonderin' when I'ma rest
    And you're right, your brother was a brother to me
    And your sister's situation was the one that pulled me
    In a direction to speak on somethin'
    That's realer than the TV screen
    By any means, wasn't tryin' to offend or come between
    Her personal life, I was like "It need to be told."
    Cursin' the life of twenty generations after her soul
    Exactly what'd happen if I ain't continue rappin'
    Or steady bein' distracted by money, drugs, and four-fives
    I count lives, all on these songs
    Look at the weak and cry, pray one day you'll be strong
    Fightin' for your rights, even when you're wrong
    And hope that at least one of you sing about me when I'm gone
    Am I worth it? Did I put enough work in?

We discussed some aspects of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo.

You may wish to read Chris Karnadi's article for more detail https://sojo.net/articles/respecting-spirituality-behind-marie-kondos-tidying .