Posted on Sunday, May 6, 2012

The Gift of Powerlessness…The Paradox…

Hello World,

It’s been a while since I’ve written an introspective post, a post that captures my inward being instead of posts about events of the day or the people that I find fascinating or various and worthy initiatives…

But introspective is how I am feeling right about now so here is what flows…Over the past couple of weeks, I have experienced some events in my life that have reminded me that no matter what achievements I have accomplished, no matter how optimistic I am in general, no matter how many people I have in my corner and on and on…at the end of the day, I’m powerless…and it’s alright. It’s even a gift…Think about it…None of us are even in control of the next breath we take, and so when life reminds me of that, I am forced to cling to God yet again and acknowledge apart from God, I can do nothing…And yet, with God, I can do everything…

And I think trials of our own making or random events of evil or even delays in blessings come (filtered through the loving-kindness of Jehovah-Shammah) to remind us it is God, not us, that controls our destiny. Over the past 6-7 months, I have found myself in a near constant state of “gotta do this, gotta do that,” and as things have happened, I can sometimes think that things are happening because of all my activity…And while I may have tended to my garden, it is only God that has given the increase…Trust. The moment I get that thing twisted, something or someone reminds me that it’s all God and none of me…

That’s why I love this video that Tyler Perry created on how to be successful. He acknowledges that it is only the grace of God that has allowed him to achieve his success…

And it seems that Tyler Perry is experiencing one of those events that reminds us of our powerlessness…the fire at his beautiful studios last week. We cannot prevent the calamities that happen in our lives from time to time, but we can see the calamities for what they are – opportunities to recognize that we are powerless, but with God, we are powerful and capable of enduring and overcoming…What a gift! And I always have to reclaim my favorite Bible verse Romans 8:28. And we know that in all things (good and bad) God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Any thoughts?

Posted on Sunday, April 29, 2012

Black Christians Making an Impact in Hollywood…

Hello World,

As you can probably tell by this blog, I’m a big entertainment and overall media junkie! My love for the entertainment world started as a child and although I am almost 40 years old (GASP), I still read my celebrity gossip magazines, try to see all of the hottest films and stay abreast of all pop culture trends…At times, my interest in entertainment and all media has conflicted with my faith as Christians are charged to focus on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8) People who get to know me are surprised that I can quote popular rap songs as easily as I can quote Scripture…

However, in recent years, I have noticed that more and more Black Christians are committed to creating compelling and actually good entertainment outside of Gospel music and nowhere is this more apparent than in Hollywood…I’m loving how Bishop T.D. Jakes is making an impact in Hollywood from producing “Jumping the Broom” (the main character Sabrina Watson decides to forego premarital sex after one too many failed relationships with the wrong men) to writing the story for the recently released “Woman, Thou Art Loosed: On the Seventh Day” to producing the upcoming “Sparkle,” which features Whitney Houston’s final screen performance…

DeVon Franklin, vice president of production for Columbia Pictures, shared his faith in Christ through his awesome book/testimony “Produced By Faith: Enjoy Real Success Without Losing Your True Self.” And I actually got the chance to interview him about his book and life as a Black Christian in Hollywood. Check out my interview here! Also, I wasn’t aware that Meagan Good is a Christian until recently, but I have come across quite a few articles in which she only expresses her faith. And she is currently starring in “Think Like A Man,” which reportedly grossed over $33 million on its opening weekend (last weekend) and is no. 1 at the U.S. box office! I saw the movie last weekend, and I really enjoyed it! (Sidebar: I adored Good in “Eve’s Bayou!”, and I watched it again last weekend.) And incidentally, DeVon Franklin and Meagan Good recently announced their engagement! Congrats to them!

Good recently ministered to some girls in the FEARLESS Girls Club (a youth empowerment program for high school girls) and told them how her faith has sustained her, particularly as she has been taking care of her family financially since she was 14 years old. Apparently, some of the girls have seriously considered suicide and Good as well as Bre’ly Evans, an actress who appears in “Sparkle” shared their testimonies with the girls. Check out the video below.

I’m sooo excited that Black Christians in Hollywood are opening up about their faith and making a real impact as well…And I’m not even mentioning Tyler Perry, Kim Fields and others…This is sooo right on time…

Any thoughts?

Posted on Sunday, March 18, 2012

POTUS, TP & Me…

Hello World,

Guess where I was on Friday night? Chile, I was in the SWAT (Southwest Atlanta) to see with my own two eyes plus contacts that President Barack Obama was actually going to show up at Tyler Perry Studios on Continental Colony! As I rode down the street and up to the home base of THE richest man in show biz, I was invigorated by the people that had gathered along the streets with lawn chairs and posters welcoming the president to Atlanta! This was one of those “once in a lifetime” moments that I will cherish forever…Y’all I know that men like POTUS and TP are the very embodiment of what our enslaved ancestors hoped, wished & prayed for…So with all of that being said, I took a few pictures so that you can see what I enjoyed…

This is what I saw as I drove onto the grounds of Tyler Perry Studios...

People waiting to be let inside of the studios...

I took a photo of Tyler Perry's motto which is displayed on this water wall. I took the photo from the outside so some of the words did not show up, but it says, "A Place Where Even Dreams Believe." Amen!

The entrance to his 400-seat theater! I loved "Good Deeds!" Have you seen it?

Walking to the back lot...

This is the first structure that you see once you enter the back lot...TP has named it "34th Street," as in "Miracle on 34th Street."

Me on 34th Street...My look was my homage to Michelle Obama's official White House portrait...

I love this look...Understated & Classy...

More pics from 34th Street...Doesn't this look real?

34th Street again...

A cake fit for a president...

Setting up for the president...I was there early...

Dueling deejays getting the crowd hype...I mean this in the SWAT...

Me just taking it all in...

The crowd...jam packed...

Since we were in the SWAT, you know one of our biggest stars had to perform...Cee Lo getting it in!

Mayor Kasim Reed getting everyone hype for TP & POTUS! His greatest line of the night "You better stop comparing President Obama to the Almighty and start comparing him to the alternative." Say that Mayor Reed!