Posted on

How Martin Luther King Jr.’s Last Sunday Sermon Speaks to Us Today – A Post from the Denison Forum…

Me and Dr. Bernice King, CEO of The King Center, at the Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine Women of Excellence reception last night…

Hello World,

I had planned to post about the fact that the 33rd Stellar Gospel Music Awards will be aired tonight on Good Friday no less on TV One at 9 p.m. EST and 8 p.m. CST and share some fun red carpet photos from the event which took place last Saturday, but then I received an inspiring post in my inbox from the Denison Forum  this morning which is the website where Dr. Jim Denison writes about cultural and contemporary issues from a Christian perspective.

His post was so inspiring and timely that I thought I would share a portion of it here particularly since I got the chance to hear Dr. Bernice King speak at the Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine Woman of Excellence Reception last night. I interviewed her in 2014 for the magazine so I got to know her a little bit back then, but last night she reminded everyone of something: When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., her father, became a martyr on April 4, 1968, 50 years ago next week, he was one of the most hated men in America. It was only because of the diligent work of his wife Coretta Scott King AFTER his death that he became a man loved the whole world over. Her statement spoke to me on so many levels. When we’re doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord we may not be liked, loved nor appreciated. In fact, we may not even live to see the fruits of our sacrificial labor. I’m reminded that when Jesus died he was treated as a common criminal, spat on, mocked and physically abused. So it is up to us to demonstrate that his actions in laying down his life were the ultimate in sacrificial love and that this gift of love is high, deep and wide enough to save whole world if only we share this Good News…

Below is a portion of Dr. Denison’s post:

Tomorrow marks the fiftieth anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s last Sunday sermon.

On March 31, 1968, Dr. King preached at the Washington National Cathedral. An overflow crowd heard him deliver “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution,” calling his listeners to join God in a movement that would bring righteousness to a culture divided by racial bigotry and endemic poverty.

In his message, he noted: “On some positions, cowardice asks the question: Is it expedient? And then expedience comes along and asks the question: Is it politic? Vanity asks the question: Is it popular? Conscience asks the question: Is it right?”

Then Dr. King stated, “There comes a time when one must take the position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right.”

Four days later, he paid for his conscience with his life.

Dr. King ended his sermon by invoking a hymn sung earlier in the service as a challenge to America, the church, and all of humanity:

Once to ev’ry man and nation
Comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth and falsehood,
For the good or evil side;
Some great cause, some great decision,
Off’ring each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever
‘Twixt that darkness and that light.

“God proved his love on the cross”

On this Good Friday, we remember Jesus’ choice “‘twixt that darkness and that light,” his “great decision” to bear the evil of our sin for the “great cause” of our salvation.

You and I have no ability to fathom just what this day cost our Savior.

See the rest at denisonforum.org.

I will share one snippet from the Stellar Awards. Below is a video snippet of Tori Kelly & The Hamiltones, the R&B trio made up of the three singers who sing background for Anthony Hamilton, performing “Help Us To Love,” which is appropros on this Good Friday.

Here is a excerpt of the lyrics written by Kirk Franklin:

This world is weeping, hurting, broken and begging for change
Oh yeah
But still we marching, praying, dying, and things stay the same
When will we see?
Till everyone’s free
There’ll never be peace between you and me
God, your love is the cure
For the rich and the poor
God, please will you open our eyes?

Any thoughts?

Posted on

Bishop T.D. Jakes Issues Apology After Potter’s House Fort Worth Volunteer Allegedly Assaulted, Handcuffed & Thrown Out of the Church!

Hello World,

Some Palm Sunday Shenanigans went down this past Sunday it seems! Media outlets from The Christian Post to Media Takeout are reporting that Audrey Stevenson, 22, a member of The Potter’s House of Fort Worth church under the leadership of Pastor Patrick E. Winfield II and First Lady Veronica Winfield, claims she was allegedly assaulted at the church. She argued with church staff regarding being able to be on the church stage…See the details below…

With gospel music playing in the background, presumably establishing a worshipful experience in the sanctuary, something that could have taken place on the street was going down in one of the the side rooms of the church building. In a video recorded by Stevenson, church elder and administrator Rhonda Lewis  is heard saying to Stevenson, “So I want to be clear. On the stage, you are not allowed to do anything on the stage. Now they just said to me that you stated the pastor said you could do the stage? Am I clear about that?”

Stevenson responds with, “No, I called First Lady and she said they had no regulation of me not being able…”

Lewis interrupts. “Who has no regulation?”

“First Lady & Pastor has no regulation of me serving under any type of restriction and that we are going to have a meeting involving you and Louise so that’s where I’m at with First Lady,” Stevenson explains.

The back and forth continues until Lewis says to church security, “Dude, I want you to hear what I’m hearing right here so that when I confront this, so say what you said one more time. I just want to make sure he heard me.”

According to The Christian Post’s article:

The conversation soon devolved into a tense argument after Lewis indicated that Stevenson was out of order for having gone to the pastor’s wife with the dispute and indicated that there would be no meeting as she is the church administrator. She further called Stevenson a manipulative liar and noted that she had been “sat down” — meaning removed from service — and thus should not be on stage. Stevenson asserted that she has a right to call the pastor’s wife and told the elder she should be “ashamed” of herself.

As Stevenson tried to leave the room, a church security official, identified as Brandon Amie, blocked her way, saying he needed to “explain something” to her. She was then handcuffed and restrained as she begged him to let her leave. At one point, she indicated Amie had his knee in her back while she continued screaming.

There are many verbal bombs thrown during the conversation, mostly by Stevenson:

“You told me to shut up. I’m being spiritual.” (She even cussed with another s-word.)

“You’re an elder and you’re going straight to hell on a one-way trip.”

“I’m from Detroit! What’s up?”

“I’m bi-polar.” (Why did she say that? Was this to imply that she was about to do something as a result? And if she truly bi-polar, why did she say that then? Was she asking for medication? I don’t get this disclosure at this particular time.)

The Christian Post spoke with Stevenson’s mother who said the confrontation has been months in the making.

“These are despicable, ludicrous, demoralizing, hideous acts happening in the church of God. And these are the people who are in leadership, I want to tell you if they get away with this, they’ll do this to somebody else’s child. Or to someone else’s sister. This is a woman. Audrey is 22 years old. 5′ 2″. I’m short. I’m only 5′ 5″ and they would do this to her? What kind of people are these?” she asked.

Below is a video of the fracas:

Below is the apology that Bishop T.D. Jakes, leader of the entire The Potter’s House,  issued on the Fort Worth church Facebook page: (By the way, T.O.R.I. stands for Texas Offenders Reentry Initiative. It’s such a shame that something that was supposed to be so positive ended up being so negative. The devil stays busy…He is the author of confusion and strife.)

I kinda believe that Ms. Stevenson went in that back room ready to get stuff started. I mean she had her phone on the entire time and from what I could tell the other participants in the confrontation were not even aware of the recording. (At least I hope not or else why did they act like that, particularly Brandon?) That being said, there was a more peaceful way to deescalate the situation. And she should have been allowed to leave when asked.

Chile, don’t get it twisted. Just because you’re in church doesn’t mean that confrontations won’t happen.  Anywhere that people can show up, people will show out. But at least at church, we know that we are saved through the blood of Christ and allowing that blood to cleanse us of unholy tendencies. It may take a while, but that doesn’t mean it’s not happening. And that is why Jesus died. To cleanse us from our sins…

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” I John 1:7

Do you believe that Audrey Stevenson was assaulted at The Potter’s House of Forth Worth? Should she had been handcuffed? Should she have been thrown out the church? I hope to see you in church on Easter Sunday this Sunday…

Any thoughts?

Posted on

Gospel Stars Pastor Shirley Caesar & Le’Andria Johnson to be on ‘UNSUNG’ & ‘UNCENSORED’ on TV One TONIGHT!

Hello World,

After you finish watching Stormy Daniels on 60 Minutes (Don’t Act. I Figure Every American Will Be.) on CBS at 7 p.m. EST, turn to TV One where you will watch a more savory but none less interesting offering because this weekend’s episode of TV One’s award-winning series “UNSUNG” will feature Pastor Shirley Caesar, and the brand-new series “UNCENSORED” will feature Le’Andria Johnson.  Pastor Shirley Caesar’s episode of “UNSUNG” will air tonight, March 25, at 9/8C  and Le’Andria’s episode of “UNCENSORED” will air tonight March 25, at 10/9C on TV One. Yes, it’s gospel music night on TV One tonight!

About Shirley Caesar

With over 40 albums and 11 Grammy Awards, Shirley Caesar is the reigning Queen of Gospel Music. Beginning her career at 12 years old, she was a vocal phenomenon whose teenage talent earned her a spot in the popular all female gospel group the Caravans, where she became a standout star. In the early 1970s she won her first Grammy Award for a dynamic cover of “Put Your Hand in the Hand of the Man from Galilee,” and the hits continued with songs like “No Charge,” “Hold My Mule and “I Remember Mama”. But despite her success, Shirley always knew her life was meant for more than music, and in the late 80’s she’d taken on a second career as a pastor, preaching around the world and starting her own church in Raleigh, North Carolina. With a career now spanning over 7 decades, Shirley Caesar has become a living legend of gospel music, and shares with “UNSUNG” the triumphs and challenges of a life dedicated to spreading the Good News. Most recently, she gained popularity with Millennials with the “Beans, Greens, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Corn You Name It Challenge.” Remember that?

Check out a clip of her talking about that challenge on “UNSUNG!”

About “UNSUNG”

Through first-hand accounts, interviews with family and friends, and archival footage, each episode of TV One’s signature series “UNSUNG” sheds much-deserved light on some of the most influential and talented R&B, soul, funk, hip hop, disco, and gospel artists of the last 30 years. Also featuring Deborah Cox, Avant, Shirley Caesar, Blue Magic, Brand Nubian and Lost Boyz, season 12 of TV One’s critically acclaimed and award-winning “UNSUNG“ uncovers the personal triumphs and struggles of these musical legends. This is my favorite show on TV One!

About Le’Andria Johnson

Reared in the church, her singing talent was born early in childhood. Later, her teen years shaped her as a rebel that would eventually carve her personality and drive as a gospel music star. Le’Andria Johnson overcame hardship and conflict on the way to epic stardom as a young talent. Along the way to reaching music success, reality dealt her tough hands that challenged her faith in God, relationships, and place in music stardom.

Le’Andria Johnson’s story is about faith in action. Her legacy is about never giving up and never giving in. She has been inspired by following her own path toward God’s plan for her. With hits and misses along the way, Le’Andria uses her platform as a call to action pushing her fans and followers toward a moral foundation. Those calls to action took her from social media rants, spreading her religious message dressed up as a street prostitute, enduring the challenge of pregnancy out-of- wedlock in the gospel-singing community, and many passionate, controversial church sermons. The rebel child in her made Le’Andria the self-professed “bad girl of gospel music”– a kind of reckoning toward her faithful conviction to deliver the truth. (Let’s not forget THAT Periscope broadcast!)

Taking her church message to the streets and performing passionately in conservative churches she is living her divine destiny. With the awards, accolades, and recognition Le’Andria Johnson has yet to settle for less as a Christian leader.

Check out a video of Le’Andria talking about the difficult decision she had to make when she got pregnant out of wedlock…

About “UNCENSORED”

“UNCENSORED” is an edgy new docu-series exploring the intimate lives of some of today’s most notable personalities, that debuted on TV One on February 18 at 10 p.m. ET/9C. The 10-episode biography series gives unprecedented access to stars including Tamar Braxton, Charlemagne Da God, Tiffany Haddish, Le’Andria Johnson, NeNe Leakes, Nia Long, Rick Ross and more, as they personally reveal their own stories, in their own words, in the places their stories unfolded.

“UNCENSORED” is a dynamic series with each episode capturing the essence of its subject. From the ultimate hustler Rick Ross and his climb from the streets of Miami to the top of hip-hop, to Tamar Braxton stepping out of the shadow of her famous sister and the meteoric rise of comedy’s newest “It Girl” Tiffany Haddish, “UNCENSORED” presents the stories behind the stars. Through the “UNCENSORED” lens, viewers get an unfiltered perspective on the journey they have taken to achieve their dreams and pop culture fame.

In its first season, “UNCENSORED” dives deep into the lives of these celebrated individuals with first-hand accounts of their road to stardom from the stars themselves. They speak directly and candidly about their personal triumphs and successes, the obstacles and challenges they have faced, and the pivotal moments that have shaped their lives and careers. No topic is off limits as they discuss issues relevant to today’s national dialogue such as race relations, drugs and violence, and sexual harassment. In addition to first-person interviews, “UNCENSORED” uncovers little known facts with an expansive and impressive list of friends and family who know them best.

Move over NeNe, Kandi & Kim of Real Housewives of Atlanta, between Stormy, Pastor Shirley and Le’Andria, this is where the over-the-top drama will be!!!

Any thoughts?