Posted on Monday, July 13, 2015

Russell Wilson & Ciara Are One of at Least 7 Celebrity Couples Who Chose Celibacy Before Marriage…

Read About Other Celebrity Couples Who Were Celibate Before Marriage in Today's Post...

Hello World,

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson created headlines recently when he revealed in an interview with Pastor Miles McPherson from The Rock Church in San Diego, California that Wilson and his girlfriend, singer and dancer Ciara have opted to be celibate in their dating relationship of five to six months…

Below is an excerpt from the interview:

Wilson: I met this girl named Ciara, who is the most beautiful woman in the world. She’s the most kind person, the most engaging person. I could probably learn more from her … everything that I could ever want.

And so I’ll never forget: She was on tour, she was traveling, and I was looking at her in the mirror. I was sitting in the dressing room, and she was getting ready to go, about 15 minutes before she went onstage. And she was sitting there, and God spoke to me and said, ‘I need you to lead her.’ And I was like, ‘Really? Right now?’

He goes, ‘I want you and need you to lead her.’

So I told her right then and there, ‘What would you do if we took all that extra stuff off the table and just did it Jesus’ way?’

McPherson: Elaborate on what that means, because there’s a lot of people out here, their minds are going a whole lot of different places right now, and we wanna know.

Wilson: Yeah, we’re talking about sex.

For me, I knew that God had brought me into her life to bless her and for her to bless me and to bless so many people with the impact that she has, that I have. We’re not gonna be perfect, by any means. Life’s not perfect. Nobody’s perfect, but he’s anointed both of us, and I know that He’s calling for us to do something miraculous, something special.

I said to her, and she completely agreed: ‘Could we love each other without that?’ If you can really love somebody without that, then you can really love somebody.

Below is the video if you want to see for yourself.

But Russell Wilson & Ciara aren’t the only celebrity couple who opted for celibacy before marriage…

2. DeVon Franklin & Meagan Good

DeVon Franklin, vice president of production for Columbia Pictures and author “Produced By Faith: Enjoy Real Success Without Losing Your True Self and actress Meagan Good, who got married on June 16, 2012, were celibate for 10 months, according to a The Christian Post interview. The couple have written a book about their celibate courtship, “The Wait,” which comes out in February 2016, according to Franklin’s Facebook page. In fact, Franklin, who is also a minister, revealed in a GlobalGrind.com interview that he was celibate for 10 YEARS before he married Good.

Franklin said in a GlobalGrind.com interview: The thing I couldn’t do which was eating me apart, going back to this idea of being whoever God created you to be. Sometimes we want to be this person at home, this person in the office, this person at church and then we get our lines mixed up. And trying to be different people to different situations, it tears you apart. So what was happening with me is that I would go and preach one thing but then I was living another, and I could not do it. I could not look at myself in the mirror. I’m like, no, I can’t live like this, so I had to stop and say, ‘You know what, until I get married, [sex is] off the table.’

3. Adam Housley & Tamera Mowry

Adam Housley, who is a senior correspondent for Fox News, and Tamera Mowry, co-host on “The Real” talk show, dated for approximately six years who before they got married on May 15, 2011. Mowry has revealed that they waited three years before becoming intimate, but she opted to become “re-virginized” and be celibate again for three additional years before they got married. She recently gave birth to their second child Ariah Talea on July 1!

Mowry said in a YBF interview: We actually didn’t wait before we got married to be intimate…but we did wait 3 years. (The two have been together for 6 years). I wanted to do what felt right for me. I became re-virginized. It’s something that just felt right for me. It was just a personal choice. And even after being intimate, we decided as a couple to be celibate until the wedding.

4. Courtney B. Vance & Angela Bassett

Actors Courtney B. Vance and Angela Bassett got married on October 17, 1997 after they began dating in 1996. They wrote about their love for one another in their book Friends: A Love Story.

Vance in their book: Don’t be ashamed to save yourself sexually for the person you’re going to marry. When you’re dating, it can be helpful to communicate a standard message up front: ‘I just want to be clear that I’m saving myself for my husband (or wife), so there’s not going to be any sex. I’m not even going to think about it. So let’s just get to know each other.’ You’ll know that if the person sticks around, they like you for who you are, rather than thinking they’re going to get sex from you.”

5. Rev. Wilbert Floyd & Cee Cee Michaela Floyd

Cee Cee Michaela Floyd, who was once a star on the UPN hit comedy “Girlfriends” and is now a minister, was celibate for 10 years and 9 months before marrying Rev. Wilbert Floyd on Feb. 20, 2011. I interviewed her in my book After the Altar Call: The Sisters’ Guide to Developing a Personal Relationship With God

Michaela Floyd: I remember I was on an airplane, and I was reading a book. I can’t remember what the name was, but in this book was one of the scriptures out of Psalms―that verse that says you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Oh my God, that really blessed me. As simple as that was, I had never heard anything like it. This is so much bigger than your parents just having a baby. Before you were in your mother’s womb, God had a purpose for you. I realized I didn’t want to take my body parts and use them for anything because I was literally made by God. I can’t just walk around and let folks dabble with my makeup. You know what I’m saying? And that is when I made my vow to be abstinent until I got married.

Two other celebrity couples were also celibate before they got married. Unfortunately, they have since divorced:

There are some single celebrities who have opted to practice celibacy as well:

Obviously, celibacy before marriage is God’s standard according to the Bible, but do you think celibacy is practical in today’s times? What do you think about the decision of Russell Wilsonn & Ciara to be celibate? Is it harder for celebrities to be celibate?

Any thoughts?

Posted on Wednesday, July 8, 2015

‘The Neophyte Author’ Nigeria Lockley to Release Second Novel ‘Seasoned With Grace’ (MY INTERVIEW)

Hello World,

I’m always happy to help promote my fellow authors especially those of us who are beginning our author journey…Please check out my interview with Nigeria Lockley, whose novel Seasoned With Grace (Urban Books) will be released on July 28! Below is a synopsis of “Seasoned With Grace” followed by the interview…

Sentenced to probation, 30-year-old, supermodel Grace King must put her plans of transitioning into acting to extend the longevity of her career on hold. Desperate to keep a close eye on Grace and his job, Grace’s ambitious lawyer, Ethan Summerville has her complete community service in the last place Grace wants to be. His church.

Instead of God, Grace finds a “chocolate drop” of a man–Brother Horace Brown. However, Horace isn’t looking for a supermodel. He wants his woman saved and sanctified, but Grace has never met a man who has been able to resist her. Will Horace compromise his faith for a taste of fortune, fame, and Grace?While Grace focuses on the pursuit of passion Ethan finds one director willing to take a risk and cast Grace in his debut film, but this role fits Grace all too well. Will this film revive Grace’s relationship with God and her career or bring her closer to destruction?

1. What inspired you to write “Seasoned With Grace?”

I cannot say there was any one thing that inspired me to write this story. I just saw Grace King in my head on probation and cutting up. I simply wrote the story as it came to me.

2. Why did you choose a supermodel as the main character of your story?

I didn’t make that choice. I don’t impose my will on my characters. It may be about skill or just being organic, but I take them as they are and let them run wild.

3. How did you research the supermodeling industry?

On the low, I’m a fashion insider. I read Vogue, InStyle, visit various fashion blogs, and of course you know I’ve seen one too many episodes of “America’s Next Top Model.” Therefore, I didn’t have to do much research and bless the Lord for Google.

4. What do you hope readers will learn or understand by reading this story?

I hope that readers will learn that despite the hardships in life God has not forgotten them and you cannot go so far over the edge that you cannot be redeemed. Those are just two big lessons in the book, but one subtle lesson that I learned as I was writing “Seasoned with Grace” is to be thankful for your friends.

5. I read that you wrote most of “Seasoned With Grace” on your cell phone. Is that true? Why? How long did it take? Please explain.

I did write the majority of “Seasoned with Grace” on my cell phone. I started that way because the first time I saw the story in my head I was in the subway and the only thing I had on me was my cell phone. It was slightly more convenient than pulling out my laptop during rush hour, and once I realized I spend an hour a day on the train commuting to work I decided to capitalize on that. It only took me a few months to finish “Seasoned with Grace.”

6. I understand that you have started your own publishing company Inheritance Books. Why did you decide to start your own publishing company? When will the first book from your new company debut,and what is the title? (if you have that information)

Starting Inheritance Books was one of those move when the Spirit says move decisions. Last year, I started working on a novella that I planned to release independent of my publisher at the time, Urban Christian. I only had a two- book deal and my plan was to test the indie waters before attempting to renew my contract. Now fast forward to the last week of February 2015—I get selected for jury duty and while everyone is griping about having to be there I’ve got the name for the company, the tagline, and plans for developing authors floating through my head. For a moment I thought I was having delusions of grandeur, but something inside of me was telling me to form this publishing company. I applied for the LLC, got my logo done, and started taking coaching classes on publishing. When I showed my logo to my sister to get her opinion, she said, “It’s nice, but what is this for?” I replied, “For my publishing company. There’s a hole and I want to fill it.”

The very next day I found out that the Urban Christian line of Urban Books had been dissolved. So, it wasn’t a decision; it was more like an unction. The first release will be my novella, “Tempted to Touch.” I’d like to follow that up with an inspirational anthology, and by the grace of God start accepting manuscripts by the winter of 2015.

7. You refer to yourself as the “Neophyte Author.” How many books will have you have to write before you consider yourself a “seasoned” rather than “neophyte” author? What is the most important thing you have learned on your “neophyte author” journey so far?

There will always be something for me to learn and I will always be a new author to some reader regardless of how prolific I am, so I’m not sure when I’ll attain that seasoned status. The most important thing I’ve learned as a neophyte author is that you have to tell your story and live your story. You cannot allow other people’s idea of what works stifle your productivity and creativity. As you travel along the road to your goal, you’ll receive lots of advice, but you have to live your life and work in a fashion that works best for you and not anyone else.

I’ve always loved the game “20 Questions” so below are Nigeria’s answers to 20 of my random questions in no particular order 🙂

Nigeria Lockley possesses two master’s degrees, one in English Secondary Education, which she utilizes as an educator with the New York City Department of Education. Her second master’s degree is in Creative Writing. “Born at Dawn” is Nigeria’s first published novel. Nigeria serves as the vice president of Bridges Family Services, a not-for-profit organization that assists student parents interested in pursuing a degree in higher education. She is also the deaconess and clerk for her spiritual home King of Kings and Lord of Lords Church of God. Nigeria is a New York native who resides in Harlem with her husband and two daughters. Visit her online at www.NigeriaLockley.com

Any thoughts?

Posted on Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Isaac Carree Performs in All-Star Tribute to Kim Burrell at the ESSENCE Festival 2015‏!

Hello World,

Kelly Rowland and Isaac Carree

Gospel music superstar Isaac Carree attended and performed at the ESSENCE Festival 2015. The annual festival in New Orleans, included a musical “All Star Gospel Tribute to Kim Burrell.” Carree sat down with Sirius XM for an interview on all his new happenings, attended the nightly concerts at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and visited many of the various sponsored booths/stages during his stay at the festival. Below are a few pics from his trip.