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Breaking Down the Holy Spirit/Why Beyoncé Did Ledisi A Favor…

Hello World,

Like the rest of the Innanet, I watched as Beyoncé, swaddled in her flowing, white organza, bejeweled dress with muted makeup to match, belt out her rendition of “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” on the GRAMMYs Sunday night.  Backed up by the Harlem Boys To Men Choir(tee hee), who also wore white, she hit all of the right notes and gestured with all of the appropriate movements, but when she was done…

Meh. I was still sitting on my bed, head scarf on and sleep at the corners of my eyes, with my remote beside me just like I was before she started….Translation: I wasn’t taken to church. Had she not been singing “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,” I wouldn’t have even thought about church. As one of my FB friends aptly noted: “All those dramatics and no spirit.” Chile…And more proof that God just don’t like ugly. (Back story: In some sort of secret coup, Beyoncé usurped Ledisi’s chance to sing the song at this year’s GRAMMYs although Ledisi was the one that portrayed Mahalia Jackson and sang “Precious Lord” in the recently released movie “Selma.”)

So since this is a religious blog, I decided to break down or introduce the Holy Spirit for those who don’t know Him…First of all, the Holy Spirit, is one of the three parts of God. There is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the invisible presence God who enables us to know or perceive things that we could not know or perceive without His presence…Below are a few Bible verses that describe Him…

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:4

 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Acts 7:51

In today’s terms…

The Holy Spirit is the One that lets you know, in some sort of mysterious way, that even while the doctor is giving you bad news, you will be healed…Hallelujah, Thank You Jesus!

The Holy Spirit is the One that lets you know that after you have fasted and prayed, that what you prayed and fasted for, is already done in Heaven although it hasn’t been manifested on earth yet…Hallelujah, Thank You Jesus!

The Holy Spirit is the One that will have you crying like somebody slapped you when you hear your favorite gospel song on the radio, swearing the artist got in your head and is singing your testimony for all the world to hear…Hallelujah, Thank You Jesus!

And that was the problem with Beyoncé’s rendition…”Take My Hand, Precious Lord” is Thomas Dorsey’s testimony…He wrote that song after the death of his wife in childbirth and their child days later…Reportedly, it was Dr. King’s favorite song, and he loved to hear Mahalia Jackson sing it…Now, I don’t want to say that Beyoncé’ is not saved nor has the Holy Spirit, but from where I sat in my bedroom, the Holy Spirit bypassed her performance…That’s why aine nobody listenin’ to Rihanna, Lady Gaga and all of the popular girls in the music industry when you going through…You got to go to Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams and other great women of gospel music when you need to hear from the Lord…The Holy Spirit has blessed their songs to bless us in our time of need…Below is Ledisi’s version of “Take My Hand, Precious Lord.” The video is just her voice…You don’t even have to see her face to feel the Spirit…

Now since Beyoncé’s performance on Sunday, she released a video about why she sang the song instead of Ledisi. Something about connecting to her father, ancestors, the struggle etc. Bye Beyoncé…That could be true of Ledisi or any black person in America for that matter as well…It was her moment to shine…That’s why the late Etta James was mad at you…God rest her soul…You performed her signature song that nobody but nobody could sing like her for the Obamas’ first dance at the inauguration in 2009. Admittedly, you portrayed Etta in the movie “Cadillac Records” sooo…see, and that’s why Ledisi should have performed on Sunday. She portrayed Mahalia Jackson in “Selma” not you…

But God has a way of making things that seem bad end up being all good…This year’s GRAMMYs was one of the lowest rated in its history…But for the Beyoncé backlash, no one would probably be talking about it that much. But since Beyoncé is one of the biggest stars (I’m a fan…sometimes…) in the world, even people that didn’t watch the show are now wondering why Beyoncé did what she did…and inadvertently being introduced to the luscious vocals of Ledisi…

Any thoughts?

 

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Nikki Giovanni Comes to Southern Illinois University & More Black History Month Events…

Hello World, nikki

As it is February, I have to pay homage to Black History Month and the wonderful contributions that black people have made to America and beyond…Below are several Black History Month Activities you may want to check out…

1. Longtime poet, writer, commentator, activist and educator Nikki Giovanni will present “Human by the Grace of God: A View of Diversity” at 7 p.m. on Feb. 19 in Shryock Auditorium at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Illinois. For more information, go to news.siu.edu. – Actually, this event has been cancelled as today, 2/12/2015…

2. Radio host and activist Joe Madison will be the guest speaker today, Feb. 8, at 2:30 p.m. when Bethlehem Baptist Church in Fredericksburg, VA celebrates Black History Month. Madison is the former director of the Detroit branch of the NAACP. He was appointed to that post at the age of 24. For more information, go to fredericksburg.com.

3. On Feb. 22 at 10:15 a.m., Rose of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church in Odessa, Texas will host “Showcase of Black Authors” with a presentation and book signing featuring Elaine Hunt, the author of “Dreams Fulfilled.” For more information, go to oaoa.com.

4. Centerville Community Center is hosting a story telling event about African-American heroes from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 at 3025 Bethany Church Road in Snellville, Georgia. There will be fun and interactive activities for children to increase their learning about African-American heroes. For more information, go to patch.com.

5. Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree will speak at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Martinez, Georgia on Sunday, Feb. 22.  at 11 a.m. For more information, go augusta.com.

6. Rev. Charles Lucas will tell how his “great-great-grandfather secured his freedom from Squire Lukas (His family also has his ancestor’s freedom papers!) and walked from Virginia to Ohio to launch a family on a mission” during his presentation “Lucas Legacy and Cleveland Black History: 1852 to 2015,” at St. James A.M.E. Church in Cleveland Ohio on Feb. 22. 12:30 p.m. For more information, go cleveland.com.

7. “Black Historic Churches of Lynchburg and Surrounding Counties,” a photography exhibit by Welford Jones, opens with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Feb. 13 and remains up through April 30 at Hunton Randolph Community Center in Lynchburg, Virginia. For more information, go newsadvance.com.

Any thoughts?

 

 

 

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“Preachers of L.A.’s” Myesha Chaney is Coming to Atlanta This Friday/MY INTERVIEW…

Hello World, myesha book cover

If you’re a fan of “Preachers of L.A.,” I’ve got great news! Myesha Chaney, First Lady and executive director of Antioch Church of Long Beach and wife to Antioch Senior Pastor Wayne Chaney, is headed to the A as a part of the “Hiding Behind the Lipstick” Tour.  She will be hosting the women’s empowerment event, on which her new book “Hiding Behind the Lipstick” is based, at the dReam Center Church of Atlanta, 4209, Northeast Expwy, Atlanta, GA 30340 at 7 p.m.

If you’re unfamiliar with First Lady Myesha, she is also a songwriter, recording artist, motivational speaker, worship leader, and entrepreneur. In addition to starring on “Preachers of L.A.” First Lady Myesha and Pastor Wayne also co-host ““Real Life with Wayne and Myesha Chaney,” a radio talk show on KJLH, 102.3.  They are also the parents of three children: Wayne, Reign, and Cadence.

Below is my interview with First Lady Myesha about her new book, Preachers of L.A., her family life and MORE…

How did you come up with the “Hiding Behind the Lipstick” concept and write the book?

It was an answer to prayer. I was a young pastor’s wife, and I felt the expectations of others, and I saw the condition of the women that were in my sphere of influence. And I felt like everyone was just kind of putting on their best face, and they were presenting what they wanted people to see, not the truth. I didn’t want to live a life where I felt I had to be perfect, and I had to not have flaws so I asked God what can I do because I can’t live this life, I don’t want this so He gave me this concept of hiding behind the lipstick.

So I spoke about it at our women’s retreat, and it was so effective that we decided to do it again, and we kept doing it. And I said we need to put this in book so that we can reach more people. So it began as a women’s empowerment event that we host in different cities all across the country, and it’s also a book. Two different things but the same concept.

Tell me more about the women’s empowerment event and what happens.

We start off with some kind of musical component like a praise and worship. We play a video where women do what we call “lipstick confessions,” and they share things that you didn’t actually know about them or you don’t see it on the surface, but it is the truth. We do skits, we have dance, all of these things illustrate the pain we sometimes carry. We  have cardboard testimonies when women actually get up and they have where they were on the front and and they will turn it over and show where they are now. And I’ll get up and do a 40-minute talk about the whole concept of hiding, and I use a woman from the audience and do a kind of facial on the woman to illustrate the various things we do before we put on concealer which is hiding the imperfections. We end with allowing women to get up from the audience and stand and share what their lipstick was. And somehow between all of these elements women are much freer than they have ever been before, and they can share things and get healing for things they have had to struggle with their entire lives.

What has been the response to the women’s empowerment event so far? 

I have met women that have said, “Oh my God after 21 years of being the way I am, I finally changed,” and that is more than enough for me. I did it out of obedience. I didn’t attach anything to it. Sometimes we do things because want to make our name great and make our mark, but this is not one of those ministries. It is a labor of love.  So if a girl pulls me aside and I says, “I know you,” and I’m thinking it’s from the “Preachers of L.A.”or from Antioch Church, but she says, “You do that lipstick event,” that to me is more than enough for me.

I’ve done the workshop over 20 times in cities like L.A., Oakland, Detroit and in Texas in Florida. We’re going to D.C. It was shown on episode 10 of “Preachers of L.A.” too.

First Lady Myesha inviting the owner of a strip club to come to "Hiding Behind the Lipstick," from episode 10

First Lady Myesha inviting the owner of a strip club to come to “Hiding Behind the Lipstick,” from episode 10

How did you become a part of the “Preachers of L.A.?”

Actually, it was my husband. We had been in pitch meetings and kind of in that entertainment space. We prayed toward that from some years prior before any meetings. So when “Preachers of L.A.” came about, my husband was approached, and he was open to it. And I decided to do with him, and it has been a great experience.

How has the show changed your life and the lives of your family?

It has allowed us to reach more people. From Day One, I decided if it helped me to do “Hiding Behind the Lipstick,” easier, I was grateful. I got out of it what I wanted to get from it. I have been able to reach more women. We were on radio for three years so we were quite familiar in this region already. It hasn’t been an overwhelming change. People see you out and want to take pictures more so that has been the only difference that I have experienced. My kids want to be on TV more. They say, “They need to show more of us,” and I’m like, “Really kids?”” But we have normal lives, and our kids have a normal lives. It’s an opportunity that God has given us, and we are grateful.

myesha chaney picWhat has been your favorite story line on “Preachers of L.A.?”

I know for us, we dealt with a lot of family issues as well as the other cast members. It was phenomenal to see the pastors help reconcile things in their family relationships. So that was the most moving story line I think, the stories of us reconciling with family.

One of my favorite story lines is the relationship of Bishop Noel Jones and Loretta. Are they ever going to get married?

(Laughing) I have no idea. I will be sitting and watching and waiting like everyone else.

To register for “Hiding Behind the Lipstick” in Atlanta, go to eventbrite.com. Free & VIP tickets are available!

Any thoughts?