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Paul Carrick Brunson faces pushback, Spike Lee goes to church and other religious news…

Hello World, 

What it do? What it be like? As for me, I’m reflecting on God’s word this morning not just because it’s Sunday, but because of a Facebook status update that slapped me in the face…From Paul Carrick Brunson’s Facebook page yesterday…

The most interesting thing I’ve had to deal with since emerging as a “public figure” – attacks on my religion. I started my tour in NYC last week and referenced God on stage just a few times…and afterward, the critics jumped on me. On Thursday, I was being interviewed by a major media outlet and it was suggested I not mention religion. Even on twitter now, if I drop anything Christian related, I’m sure to get a tweet back calling me a “religious freak.” WOW…to PUBLICLY stand as a Christian man is going to be harder than I thought.

This status update yielded 113 comments before I added mine to make it 114 comments…Usually, when a thread has gone on that long, I don’t add my two cents because I don’t want a lot of comments to flood my inbox, but I felt compelled to do so I added my weak “Dang, it’s like that?!” I commented that because in the United States, where we at least try to equally respect all religions, it is sometimes easy to forget this verse…

Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also…’ John 15:20

Because of this verse and others, Christians have to be prepared for some pushback and even some persecution…Jesus the Christ will not bear the cross alone…If you have not heard of Paul Carrick Brunson, he is one of the relationship coaches on Oprah’s new show “Lovetown USA,” which debuted last Sunday. From Oprah’s website…

After a nationwide search, Oprah Winfrey chose Kingsland, Georgia, formerly known as the marriage capital of the South, to be transformed into Lovetown, USA. Oprah launched the first-of-its-kind social experiment by traveling to Georgia, where she called the community to action at a “love rally” and challenged everyone to “open their arms and hearts to the possibilities of all kinds of love.” She has charged two experienced relationship coaches—Paul Carrick Brunson and Kailen Rosenberg—with the daunting task of transforming Kingsland in 30 short days.

Over the course of a month, Paul and Kailen will attempt to mend relationships of embattled friends and lovers—young and old—and find true love for singles. This social experiment, which involves everyone from government officials to grade school students, will examine how love, grace, kindness and forgiveness can affect an entire community.

The show comes on every Sunday  at 10 p.m. EST/9 p.m. Central…Let’s support this openly Christian man…and here is a video about tonight’s episode…

First Look: Love and War

The love experiment is under way! Oprah checks back in as her love coaches, Paul Brunson and Kailen Rosenberg, take on the battle of three warring dance studios. Can they resolve this bitter feud with a dance challenge? Plus, Paul and Kailen send six lonely singles out on their first dates. Read more: http://www.oprah.com/own-lovetown-usa/First-Look-Love-and-War-on-Lovetown-USA-Video#ixzz24eXURPF1

In other religious news…

2. Megachurch Study Suggests Big Congregations Make Worship “Intoxicating” Experience “The Huffington Post”

3. AME Church Officials Seek to Restructure Finances of Morris Brown College Blackchristiannews.com

4. Filmmaker Spike Lee focuses on faith in “Red Hook Summer’’ “The Washington Post”

5. N.C. churches should support sterilization victims “Winston-Salem Journal”

6. “The Champ is Here”: Gabby Douglas Covers Jet Magazine (And my girl Joyce Davis, who blogs at Enjoyceinglife, wrote the article :). ) “Madame Noire”

7. “How Sweet The Sound” Returns To Philips Arena  Magicatl.com

Any thoughts?

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How to Shout in a Black Church! (VIDEO)

Hello World, 

I’m a firm believer that most people take themselves too seriously…particularly church folk, amen? So I’m always encouraged when Christians can poke fun at ourselves…And I’m lovin’ how CGP Entertainment a.k.a. Anthony Davis, Kevin Fredericks and Jason Fredericks manages to find the funny in church folk and our sometimes hilarious ways….Remember their hilarious video “How to Get A Church Girl?” Now, they are back with “How to Shout in a Black Church!” They have identified many different types of shouters including “The Slider” who slides from side to side a la George Jefferson when he gets happy church! Other varieties include: “40 inch Vertical,” “Bobble Head,” “Tourettes,” and “The One Leg AKA The First Lady.” Take a look at the other videos to laugh at the other types! Check them out on Facebook: Facebook.com/ThePlaymakers1 or Twitter at: @KevOnStage @JsonFredericks @MrAntDavis!

Any thoughts?

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Sparkle…Whitney’s Last Time To Shine This Side of Heaven…

Hello World,

Since February 11, the world has mourned the death of the shooting star that was Whitney Houston, an iconic voice that is not likely to be matched for generations…But this Friday, when the movie “Sparkle” is released, the world will be able to see Whitney shine once again – her last time this side of Heaven…I do believe that “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven,” and I believe the world was being prepared to release Whitney back to the Father that bestowed her with the voice of angels although we did not realize it at the time…

Mara Brock Akil, who wrote the screenplay for “Sparkle,” discussed the synchronicity at work as the screenplay unfolded in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

“She kept calling me her angel,” Mara says. But Mara was baffled when Houston said to her, “I really appreciate your putting my church in your script.”

“I didn’t put your church in my script,” Mara told her.

“New Hope Baptist,” Houston prompted. Mara had unwittingly given the church in Sparkle the same name as the church in Newark, N.J., where Houston had started to make her indelible mark, singing gospel as a young girl. (The same church hosted Houston’s funeral service.)

“I believe in divine order all the time,” Mara says. (She and Salim are Muslim.) “But this particular time, I really felt the presence of God all the way through. It was like it was meant to be.”

And I do believe each of us is afforded the opportunity to claim “new hope” in Christ Jesus if we would only take Him at His word. In spite of the addictions and ailments she suffered from throughout her short life, Whitney professed her faith in Christ Jesus over and over again, and I pray that He guided her safely into the arms of Her heavenly father…In fact Whitney’s devoted mother Cissy Houston always felt that Whitney would never be in the world for very long and revealed so in an open letter to Whitney that appeared in Whitney’s funeral program. A copy of that letter appears on Essence.com.

I never told you that when you were born the Holy Spirit told me that you would not be with me long and I thank God for the beautiful flower he allowed me to raise and cherish for 48 years.

In the same letter, Cissy Houston revealed that for months leading up to Whitney’s passing, she had been depressed although unable to pinpoint the cause of her feelings…

The other day on February 11th He came for you. But not without warning. For two months now I have been depressed, crying, lonesome and sad not knowing why.

And I believe that if you choose to walk with the Lord, He will give you experiences that enable your burdens on earth to be a bit lighter in spite of the pain we all will experience from time to time…That is what He did for Cissy Houston on the very day of her beloved daughter’s death…

On Saturday, before I found out about your transition, my doorbell rang. I went to answer it but there was no one there. It rang again and again, no one was there so I called the concierge to tell him someone was ringing my doorbell. He checked the cameras and told me that no one was there. You promised me you were coming to spend time with me after the Grammys. I believe the spirits allowed you to come after all.

Last night, I attended a book signing for Denene Millner, who wrote the novelization of “Sparkle.” Millner detailed how she was entrusted with developing a back story for Whitney Houston’s character Emma, Sparkle’s single mother who was a former singer instead of a maid as in the original movie. In this modern-day version, Emma warns her daughters that show business has its pitfalls in spite of the dizzying heights of fame and fortune. We’ve all probably seen that the now haunting trailer for the movie in which Emma says, “Was my life not enough of a cautionary tale for you?” She said writing the novelization of the movie over a two-week period last month was particularly meaningful  in light of Whitney’s death months earlier. In fact, Millner wrote the book in two weeks as she only was offered the opportunity last month.

So, I hope you will join me as I plan to reflect on the beautiful brilliance of Whitney Houston in “Sparkle” this Friday! Your earthly vessel has been gone back to the dust, but your spirit soars on…

Any thoughts?