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    jackieholness

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    “Joyful Noise” debuts this Friday!!!

    Hello World,

    People are always complaining about the lack of quality entertainment or entertainment that the whole family can enjoy, but “Joyful Noise” is a family-friendly, quality movie! So let’s support it!!! Below is the description of the movie from the “Joyful Noise” Facebook page…

    Oscar® nominees Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton star in “Joyful Noise,” a funny and inspirational story of music, hope, love and renewal.

    The small town of Pacashau, Georgia, has fallen on hard times, but the people are counting on the Divinity Church Choir to lift their spirits by winning the National Joyful Noise Competition. The choir has always known how to sing in harmony, but the discord between its two leading ladies now threatens to tear them apart. Their newly appointed director, Vi Rose Hill (Latifah), stubbornly wants to stick with their tried-and-true traditional style, while the fiery G.G. Sparrow (Parton) thinks tried-and-true translates to tired-and-old.Shaking things up even more is the arrival of G.G.’s rebellious grandson, Randy (Jeremy Jordan). Randy has an ear for music, but he also has an eye for Vi Rose’s beautiful and talented daughter, Olivia (Keke Palmer), and the sparks between the two teenagers are causing even more heat between G.G. and Vi Rose.

    If these two strong-willed women can overcome their differences and find a common voice, they—and their choir—may make the most joyful noise of all.

    According to the AJC, as the film was shot in Atlanta, my folk from the A will recognize some of our fair city featured in the film….

    “Although the movie is set in the fictional town of Pacashau, Ga., it’s pretty easy to spot local landmarks, including the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center, where the final choir competition is held, and Howard’s in Smyrna, where Latifah and Parton fuss and flap at each other like a pair of wet hens. Bethany United Methodist Church in Fayetteville plays the role of Pacashau Divinity Church and the Union City/Jonesboro exit sign off I-85 is visible in one highway scene.

    Gospel artist Kirk Franklin performs as the director of a competing choir in a loud and funky scene filmed at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City.”

    I plan to see “Joyful Noise,” and I hope you do too…

    Any thoughts?

     

     

     

     

     

    Posted on

    In Honor of Beyoncé & New Year’s Resolutions…

    Hello World,

    Well, according to various news outlets Jay-Z & Beyoncé welcomed a daughter, either Ivy Blue or Blue Ivy, to the world last night in NYC.  Ivy Blue or Blue Ivy is definitely one of those celeb baby names akin to Apple, the name of actress Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter with rocker Chris Martin of Coldplay. (Aside: one of my Facebook friends said maybe they got the name Ivy because Bey was born on Sept. 4, Jay was born on Dec. 4, and they got married on April 4 so IV or Ivy is a good number for the couple. ) And the couples are reportedly good friends! But that’s alright. I’m happy for them, and I cannot wait to see pics of their new bundle of joy!

    Since this is January, the month of New Year resolution setting, I’ve decided to post this spoof of Beyoncé’s song “Countdown” entitled “Student Loan Countdown.” It is HIGHlarious, and I feel her pain. In case getting your financial house in order is one of your goals this year, this video may help point you in the right direction. I, for one, plan to pay down my student loan as quickly as possible so I can continue to build my nest egg instead of giving my hard-earned money away…

    Any thoughts?

    Posted on

    Closer…

    Hello World,

    Me when I first started dreaming...

    Wow, I’m so excited that it is 2012!!! Why? Because in just about six weeks from now, God willing, one of the oldest dreams I’ve ever had for myself will come true…I will be a published author! And I’m also seeing the fulfillment of another dream that will remain private on this public domain…I’m so thankful I can barely contain my gratitude….

    I recall a post I wrote at the beginning of 2009 entitled “Hope.Wish..Pray…” which was inspired by R&B and soul singer Lina’s song “Hope, Wish & Pray.” I was feeling a lot of angst then and wondering why God was taking sooo long…Below is an excerpt…

    I don’t know about your relationship with God, but I let Him know how I feel. And sometimes I say, “Okay God, the answer to this problem is taking too long. I need for You to act right now. I cannot take it anymore.” When I get like this, my face is glistening with tears and I am prostrate on my bedroom floor. And sometimes I throw a tantrum. Yes, I get down and dirty. I take the Lord at His word. According to the Word, you can “cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you.” Psalm 55:22. So I’m steady castin’ !

    But that’s the beauty of God. If you know Him, love Him and try to serve Him, you can claim His promises. I do. And so with the sliver of belief that I have left that my dreams will come true, I will hope, wish & pray that in 2009, at least one, maybe two will come true…Please God!

    I still do not know all of why God had me wait for as long as He did, but I trust in His timing…As is noted in Ecclesiastes 3, there is a time for everything…and God has shown me that this is my time to be closer than ever to the fulfillment of my dreams…So this morning, I’m inspired by another R&B and soul singer – Goapele and her song “Closer.” Check out some of the lyrics from the song…

    Me at the Southern Ball which was part of President Obama's inauguration celebration back in 2009...My dreams weren't fulfilled then but the dreams of our ancestors were...Obama 2012!!!

    I’m moving higher (Higher), oh…
    I’m going higher and higher and higher (Higher and
    Higher)
    Closer to my dreams (Higher and higher, oh…oh…)
    I’m moving upward and onward and beyond all I can see
    (Stretching out my arms so I can reach)

    Feels so close it’s like i can just reach
    I can feel my dreams (Closer to my dreams)
    I’m moving closer to my dreams
    I’m moving (Higher and higher) higher and higher
    (Higher and higher)
    Moving higher, oh…

    Y’all pray for me…

    Any thoughts?