Category Archives: Culture

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Reality Show Roundup…Christian Edition…

Hello World,

Ever since the “The Real World,” debuted in 1992, the year that I graduated from high school, I’ve been a fan of reality show television…I must say in recent years, I have been shocked by the depth of debauchery, depravity and downright “dumbness” of the reality shows that are allowed to be on television. Still, I do love the concept of seeing real people in real situations.

For the longest time, the religious world was absent from reality show programming, but over the last few years, we are finding a way to be included in this cultural phenomenon.

  • In January, “The Sisterhood,” which featured the wives of Atlanta pastors, debuted on TLC. While the show generated a lot of heated conversation inside and outside of religious circles, the show was canceled after the first season due to ratings. See my article “The Real Preachers’ Wives of Atlanta” about “The Sisterhood” at Urbanfaith.com.
  • This Saturday, on “Iyanla: Fix My Life,” Iyanla Vanzant will attempt to fix the life of the popular Atlanta-based gospel group the Anointed Pace Sisters in the episode entitled “Fix My Overweight Family.” I actually went to high school with two of the Pace Sisters. Also, I wrote an article “Can Iyanla Vanzant Fix Your Life?”  for Urbanfaith.com
  • Bounce TV, the nation’s first-ever broadcast television network for African Americans, will premiere its first original non-scripted series, “Forever Jones” Presented by Wal-Mart on Wednesday, June 5th at 9:00 p.m. ET. The new reality series will delve deeper into the daily lives and challenges of the close-knit, faith-based family and gospel group foreverJONES. The series, set in the family’s hometown of Shreveport, LA, will run original episodes Wednesday nights at 9:00 p.m. over a six-week period.
  • Oxygen Media has teamed up with Lemuel Plummer, the creator and executive producer of “Vindicated” and producer of “The Sheards,” and Holly Carter, creator and executive producer of “106 & Gospel” and executive producer of “The Sheards,” for the network’s latest series greenlight, “Pastors of L.A.” (working title), an authentic new docu-series set to premiere in the fall of 2013. “Pastors of L.A.” will give viewers a candid and revealing look at six boldly different and world renowned mega-pastors in Southern California, who are willing to share diverse aspects of their lives, from their work in the community and with their parishioners to the very large and sometimes provocative lives they lead away from the pulpit. The cast includes Bishop Noel Jones, Deitrick Haddon, Bishop Clarence McClendon,Pastor Wayne Chaney, Bishop Ron Gibson and Pastor Jay Haizlip.

Will you be watching any of these new reality shows? Are you a fan of reality shows?

Any thoughts?

 

 

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Should Students Be Punished for More Than Two-Hour Prayer Session During School Hours?


Hello World,

When was the last time you prayed for two hours? Some students at Lumpkin High School in Georgia prayed for more than two hours last week while they were supposed to be in class…See and read the story for yourself below courtesy of myfoxatlanta.com.

Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga.

By Aungelique Proctor, FOX 5 reporter

Controversy is brewing in a northern Georgia community after about 50 students prayed together Wednesday morning when school officials said they should have been in class.

The spontaneous prayer at Lumpkin County High School has become the talk of the town. Lumpkin County Schools Superintendent Dewey Moye said that a student started the prayer in a coach’s office at 7:30 a.m. and it lasted more than two hours.

“It was a student-led initiative. The student showed up at the coach’s office and the coach did pray with them and it went into the school day, over into the first period of the day,” Moye said.

Moye says the student who initiated the prayer is part of the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter. The superintendent said that before the prayer ended, 50 students had joined in. Moye said that the students were within their rights.

“I believe it’s a Constitutional right to pray, yes I do. I believe they can do so at their desk, as long as they do not disrupt the school day,” Moye said.

Moye says he realizes what happened Wednesday cannot happen again. He admits some parents called to complain about the prayer, but he says that going forward, procedures and policies will be followed.

While he said that he will not discipline the coach and students, Moye says from now on, there will be no prayers during school hours.

One student was suspended for three days for being overly aggressive to an administrator who would not let another person join the prayer group.

Any thoughts?

 

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Bow Down to Beyonce’ or Ascend With Tavares Stephens…

Hello World,

Since Sunday, social media sites, blogs, radio programs and television outlets have been buzzing about a new song Beyonce’ released on her Tumblr account. “Bow Down/I Been On” is a shocking departure from Beyonce’s female empowerment anthems and beautiful ballads. In this expletive-laced song, Beyonce’ commands women to bow down to her. And she raps although her voice is unrecognizable as it distorted. She pays homage to her Houston roots by shouting out the Geto Boys and UGK as well. If all publicity is good publicity, Beyonce’ is still running the world as she stated in one of her more radio-friendly hits. But the mom force is not to be trifled with either, and many mothers have stated that Beyonce’s latest song may get her banned from their children’s playlist…

Below is just a sampling of blog posts from mothers in an uproar…

OK Beyonce’ – First We Run The World, Now Should We “Bow Down?!”  by Radio Host Mo Ivory on Atlanta.CBSlocal.com

Beyonce’s New Song is Bad News For Blue Ivy by Jeanne Sager on TheStir.Cafemom

and below is the perspective from a Christian publication…

NEGATIVE REACTIONS: Beyonce’ Says ‘Bow Down’ to Her Pepsi-Sponsored Throne  by Rebecca Johnson on EEW Online Magazine

What do I think? There is a part of me that thinks that Beyonce’ should abide by the principle in Philippians 4:8″…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.” And then there is a part of me that says that artists should be free to express themselves…

At any rate, I love positive and uplifting music! One of my fellow Georgia Bulldogs Tavares Stephens will be hosting his debut concert on Saturday, March 23 at the 14th Street Playhouse, 173 14th Street, Atlanta 30309 at 7 p.m. He will be performing gospel and spoken word songs from his new CD The Ascension Project. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. To buy tickets, go to woodruffcentertickets.org.

“The Ascension Project reminds listeners that communion with God can ignite their faith in order to uplift, heal and overcome. It is a testimony of the love, grace, and redemption of God expressed as notes, melody, and verse.” For the record, I only bow down to my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…Can I get an “Amen?”

Listen and be blessed…

Any thoughts?