In my Sesame Street voice, this post is brought to you by the number 3.

Hello World,

2015 is shaping up to be the worst year ever for three pop culture icons: Bill Cosby, Josh Duggar & Jared Fogle. And we still have four months left in the year…

These three have starred in a trifecta of sex scandals this year. A New York magazine cover photograph earlier this month featured 35 women who accused Bill Cosby of sexually assaulting them over the years. But most damning of all was his own “admission in a newly released court record that he had obtained quaaludes to give young women with whom he wanted to have sex,” according to a New York Times article. And if admitting molesting young girls wasn’t enough, as of a few days ago, “19 Kids and Counting” star Josh Duggar, a married man, has now confirmed he is a cheater too. And he is no run-of-the-mill cheater who met some chick  at a T.J. Fridays or Applebee’s. It was confirmed a few days ago that he used the popular Ashley Madison, a website for cheating spouses. And if the scandals that are Bill Cosby and Josh Duggar weren’t enough, Jared Fogle, who became a spokesman for Subway after his inspiring story of losing over 200 pounds by eating the sandwiches, has now been accused of having sex with minors and receiving child porn!

These men are a ménage à trois of messy, a trio of trips, a triplicity of duplicity, a threesome of creeps, a troika of trolls,  a triad of tribulations, a trichotomy of tricks, a ternion of vermin, a trilogy of tragedy, essentially an unworthy triumvirate these three…allegedly…

1. Bill Cosby as Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable was once hailed as America’s favorite father, but as of this year, he has been knocked off of his pedestal, proving again the only perfect Father is Father God.

And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Matthew 23:9

2. Let some conservative Republicans tell it, Josh Duggar was the embodiment of the perfect son, but as of this year with 2 sex scandals and counting, the Truth is only one Son is worthy of worship.

Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. John 9:35-38

3. The obese nation that we are, Jared Fogle was an inspiration for countless Americans as he was able to lose 245 pounds and for the most part, keep it off. But the Subway guy in no way compares to the inspiration provided by the Holy Spirit if only we would seek His help.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

The only perfect One is the triune Godhead, the only perfect Trinity…

Any thoughts?

The post 3 Reasons Why We Should Trust the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit Instead of Bill Cosby, Josh Duggar & Jared Fogle appeared first on After the Altar Call.

If anyone has ever doubted the power of Google, just say three words. “Bill Cosby Rape.” In just over a month, just these three words have been able to tear down a career that took decades for the noted actor, comedian, philanthropist, author and more to build. Since fellow comedian Hannibal Buress first delivered these words as a part of a show in Cosby’s hometown Philadelphia on October 16, video of the show went viral, heightening interest in what Buress claimed…

I admit that I first came across an article in which the author alleged that Cosby had coerced several women to have sexual contact with him about three weeks ago. I quickly scanned the article but dismissed it an Internet hoax and or outright hogwash because Bill Cosby is Dr. Heathcliff “Cliff” Huxtable to me. And everyone in my generation knows that Dr. Huxtable is a noted obstetrician,  husband to wife, attorney Clair Huxtable née Hanks and father to their five children. Although Cliff and Clair were busy working parents, they took time to have fun together as a family. Remember when the family memorized a dance routine to Ray Charles’ “Night Time is the Right Time” to entertain Cliff’s parents as they celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary? And has having five children would suggest, Cliff and Claire took time for romance too, emanating unadulterated adoration as they gazed at each other listening to jazz greats like Betty Carter when she sang “Look What I Got.”

Dr. Huxtable is a proud graduate of the highly esteemed HBCU Hillman College and sent his daughter Denise, the original boho-chic fashionista, there. When she left the Huxtable nest, her college days were chronicled in “A Different World.” While at Hillman, Denise was schooled in the honor and high jinks characteristic of attending HBCUs although she didn’t graduate from the school. However, her friends Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert were able to carry on without her. In fact, they later married and moved to Japan when Dwayne got a job offer from Konichiwa.

Yes, these fictional characters became a part of my family. But now as these 16 women have recounted stories of starstruck naïveté, pills and forcible sexual encounters, I have been forced to extricate Bill Cosby from Healthcliff Huxtable. They are not one in the same. And I suppose that is one of the fallacies of fame – confusing an image with a person. Since the allegations have spread throughout the Internet, spawning by the day, FB friends have declared that they will no longer watch reruns of “The Cosby Show” and “A Different World,” networks have dropped the shows from their programming and while other people and entities have taken a more centric approach. I am a part of the latter group.

The journalist in me knows that 16 accounts of anything should be considered, particularly since the accounts seem to be similar. Many of the women themselves seem to similar (at least at the time they allege these encounters occurred) as they all paint a picture of Cosby as a powerful Hollywood player while they were young wannabe starlets eager to ascend with his influence. The home training advocate in me wonders just what did they think would be the end result of carousing alone with this married comedian. The realist in me wonders if the truth is also somewhere in the middle. Maybe Bill Cosby used his fame to attract the attention of these then young women under the guise of innocent fun. And maybe what happened between them was consensual until it wasn’t…

The fact of the matter is no matter what is proven in court or has not been proven in court or what Bill Cosby and his accusers have said or haven’t said, only Jesus is the ultimate and final arbiter of truth…

There are many Bible verses that I can list to support my point, but this verse comes to mind today…

The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.  Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

Any thoughts?

The post What Would Jesus Do About Bill Cosby? appeared first on After the Altar Call.

Hello World,

I’m a finicky TV viewer…I’ve never watched a complete episode of the runaway hit “Scandal.” I didn’t watch my all-time favorite program “Sex and the City” until several seasons in. And I prefer to watch sitcoms from yesteryear from “The Golden Girls” to “The Cosby Show” rather than the sitcoms of today…So you could imagine that I would be somewhat skeptical about enjoying TV Land’s sitcom “The Soul Man.” However, I did enjoy Cedric the Entertainer when he portrayed Cedric Jackie Robinson on the sitcom “The Steve Harvey Show!” I loved the relationship between “Ceddy” and Lovita Alize Jenkins! They were hilarious!

On Monday, I was invited to a blogger reception to watch an episode of “The Soul Man” and meet Wesley Jonathan, who portrays the younger brother of the Reverend Boyce “The Voice” Ballantine, portrayed by Cedric the Entertainer. Here is the premise of the show from its website:

From the creators of Hot in Cleveland, The Soul Man revolves around Cedric’s character, Reverend Boyce “The Voice” Ballentine, an R&B superstar-turned-minister who takes over as preacher of his fathers church. Niecy Nash (“Reno 911”) stars as the reverend’s wife, Lolli. The pilot also features John Beasley (Everwood) as his father, Wesley Jonathan (“What I Like About You”) as his younger brother, and Jazz Raycole (“My Wife and Kids”) as his daughter. The character of Reverend Boyce originated on a second season episode of “Hot in Cleveland” in which Cedric guest-starred.

Actor Wesley Jonathan talking about his new show “The Soul Man.”

The sitcom premiered last year and was picked for a second season beginning tonight! However, some changes have been made to the lineup since the show’s debut. Jazz Raycole, who portrayed the daughter on the show, is no longer there as she is attending boarding school. According to Jonathan, budget constraints for the show led to Raycole’s departure which is especially unfortunate as Raycole was also dropped from the popular “My Wife and Kids” sitcom. Also, since the show will come on at 11 p.m., Jonathan said the show will be “not as family-oriented” and “a little sharper” as far as the comedy is concerned. Also, I noticed that Yvette Lee Bowser (“Living Single”) is the showrunner rather than the original showrunner Phoef Sutton. (I loved “Living Single” too by the way!)

Me and Wesley Jonathan.

In the episode that we watched at the blogger reception, Stamps is having a hard time adjusting after being the Reverend Ballentine’s stage manager and then suddenly not having a career after the reverend decides to leave entertainment for the ministry. He ends up moving with the reverend and his wife after being kicked out of their father’s home. My honest verdict: I thought the show was funny. But with my busy schedule, I have to remember that a show is on for me build it in my schedule which as you know includes planning a wedding/marriage, working full-time, training for the Peachtree Road Race, etc.  A show has to really pull me in to make me remember to watch it so I will see…and you should too…

Check out the season premiere tonight at 11/10C on TV Land! A preview clip is below…

Any thoughts?

The post TV Land’s “The Soul Man” Starring Cedric the Entertainer and Niecy Nash Returns Tonight! appeared first on After the Altar Call.