The Old Black Church

I believe the heaven is frowning on Mary Mary’s brand of gospel and I truly believe that their music is confusing struggling Christians by blurring the lines between the gospel and secular worlds while also dividing the church. Yes I said it! They are dividing the church with this mess. You got half of the church understanding that gospel can be packaged in any musical form and the other half not paying attention...The “God In Me”and “Get Up” are not wonderful ways to minister to our lost youth... Most who aren’t regularly exposed to traditional gospel or to a church... If we’re dressing, acting and speaking like the world yet still professing our love for Christ we are liar's and the truth are not in us... We’re supposed to stand out not blend in… Either you’re on Team Christ or you’re not... As,Christian we are not supposed to draw people with how we look or sound.... We are supposed to draw people with the gospel of Jesus Christ... Paul the apostle by his own acc

First off this post is more about questioning Jay-Z motives for embracing the occult if in fact that is what he has done. Now what is the Illuminati and this secret society that is increasingly being mentioned in hip hop music? Is there a masonic connection or pagan worship in all of this? Many of our kids and young people love this music, so we need to check it very carefully. Now it has been long rumored that Jay-Z is part of some sort of occult and most likely it could be "The Freemasonry." Due to the hints slipped in his songs and the imagery that is being used. Now let me make another disclaimer: I have never listen to any of Jay-Z music so I can't say if that statement is true or not. But I have been reading alot about Mr. Jay-Z and other young artists who are supposedly part of this secret society. There's a slew of videos that are making the rounds on YouTube, and what they claim is shocking. Now Jay-Z, supposedly is one of the biggest up a

Bishop Thomas Weeks and Christina Glenn are set to wed in October and has released a video clip invitation. It seems the Bishop is planning an exclusive, private 5 star wedding for the Prophetess which is set for October 17, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. Show Off!

The ugly face of Christianity is on display for all to see. AZ Baptist Pastor Steven L. Anderson delivered a fiery sermon in which he said he prays for President Obama to “die and go to hell.”It's true out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speak. Some one need to inform this man that this kinda of prayer will never enter the throne room of God heck it won't even make it to the outer court. You must have a pure heart and I don't believe this is the case. So brother needs to get up off of his knees. When there is hate in the heart it will eventually come out in our words. This pastor is a prime example of a heart filled with hate and self righteousness. I don’t know if these type of so-called Christians were always around, but just more hidden, but it sure seems they are coming out more boldly and openly today. What is equaling disturbing is the fact that few Christians speak out against them. This tells me that there are many MANY Christians, who silently agree with

"Like the unique African Baobab tree, which nourishes its community with its leaves and fruit, McDonald's has branched out to the African-American community -- nourishing it with valuable programs and opportunities." That's the description found on McDonald's 365Black website -- an Internet presence exclusively for the African-American. The site, which features Keith Sweat proclaiming his love for Chicken McNuggets, has some people mad. Then there's a blog over on Fox Nation that has over 800 comments about the site, mostly from mad people who believe it to be "tactless," racist and blatant separatism. Many are calling for a Mickey D boycott. I am sorry but I don't get what all the hoopla about. Will some one explain to me what's wrong with this. McDonald has always been a big supporter of the black community. Tom Joyner and McDonald have been partners for many years. The Tom Joyner Morning Show is were I first heard the solgan 365B

This young lady was named an Artist to Watch by Rolling Stone Magazine and selected as a “Next” artist by VIBE magazine. Atlantic Recording Artist Laura Izibor, is the Ireland born singer of the Billboard hit “From My Heart to Yours .”I am not into alot of secular music but I love this album. Especially these two cuts "mmm, and from my heart to yours" Question: Is there anything wrong with listening to secular music if you're a Christian? I have always wrestled with the old problem of secular versus Christian music. It's hard for me to avoid all secular music do to the fact that I work in an environment were secular music is played all day.When music is done with excellence and beauty I struggle to reject it, unless what is advocated is clearly sinful and offensive. I know Christians who would never listen to secular music who would watched Sex and the City and R-rated movies.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year- old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themsel

Rapper KRS-One has decide to form a new religion on earth call "The Gospel of Hip Hop." "The First Instrument",is a 600-page book that will examine the spirituality of the culture. The new spiritual book will help form this new Hip-Hop religion. The new book will explore the spirituality of Hip-Hop and the divinity of Hip-Hop. He's quoted as saying that in 100 years, this book will be a new religion on the earth, he told AllHipHop.com . “Now you talk about controversy, there’s some Christian ministries if you go online, look up some ministers, they dissing right now. 'Who the hell does he think he is?' Well, I think I have the authority to approach God directly): I don’t have to go through any religion [or] train of thought. I can approach God directly myself and so I wrote a book called The Gospel of Hip Hop to free us from all this nonsense garbage right now. I respect the Christianity, the Islam, the Judaism but their time is up. The Gospel of Hip

I find this story fascinating. It’s about a gender test being demanded of an athlete, South Africa’s Caster Semenya, who is competing at the world games. The world track and field federation calls this test, “extremely complex, difficult,” involving a gynecologist, endocrinologist, psychologist, an internal medicine specialist and an expert on gender. I’m curious what constitutes such an expert. The spokesman for the track and field federation is quoted as saying, If there’s a problem and it turns out that there’s been a fraud … that someone has changed sex, then obviously it would be much easier to strip results. However, if it’s a natural thing and the athlete has always thought she’s a woman or been a woman, it’s not exactly cheating. Where I suddenly paused was the phrase, “the athlete has always thought she’s a woman…” This should have been well taken care of before the world championships in Berlin, and importantly, how difficult and hurtful this must be for Ms. Semenya. T

Nothing fuels prayer like real need. In crisis even professed unbelievers will try to pray when in trouble. Just about every person who ever lived has prayed before. Even people who say they don’t believe in God, that they are not religious in any way. These are the people who beseech “The Universe” when they pray. “Please get me out of this, and I’ll never do that again as long as I live!” That’s a prayer. “Don’t let my husband die on the operating table!” That’s a prayer. People silently say things like this to themselves, sometimes over and over again, in difficult situations. The point I’m making is that everyone has uttered or thought some fervent plea in their lifetime, and they were asking some-other-entity-other-then-themselves for something. If you say, out loud or in your head, “Please let me win the "Lottery"well, your sure not beseeching yourself! Whether you care to admit it to yourself or not, the fact remains: you’ve prayed before and despite our acc

There's another church being sued by church members - over access to financial records. This time its Bethel Baptist Institutional Church , pastured by the Revs. Rudolph McKissick, Sr. and Jr. BBIC is a predominantly African-American church that split from FBC Jax way back in 1877. Any how according to an articles by Jeff Brumley in the Florida Times Union on July 25 th and August 16 several BBIC deacons are suing the church to gain access to financial records of the church, so that they the church members can be fully informed on how a $22 million dollar loan was spent by church leaders. Questions: Why not let members see financial records? What could possibly be wrong with that? On what grounds is the church denying these members from gaining access to financial records of their own church at which they've served and financially supported? Now, according to Brumley, the church is drawing a distinction between being members of the "church", and being a member

This was kinda interesting! So research has shown that $5, $10, $20 and $50 bills are more likely to be positive for cocaine than $1 bills. The reason for that could be because the "Dollar Bill"stay in church more that the other notes. I am just saying! Now according to the report from CNN.com, recent research reinforced previous findings that 90 percent of paper money circulating in U.S. cities contains traces of cocaine. The report says that in an average of 20 months in circulation, U.S. currency travels extensively, from ATMs, to coffee shops, convenience stores and newsstands, to hundreds, maybe thousands of hands.The dollar just don't get around like the other notes,check this out. A well worn dollar bill and a similarly distressed twenty arrived at the bureau of Engraving and Printing to be retired. As they moved along the conveyor belt to the shredder they struck up a conversation. The twenty reminisced a

Reader, a church member of Victory Time Full Gospel Church received a letter from her pastor stating she would lose her church membership if she did not pay her tithes within the next thirty days. Emma Hafferkamp says her friend has been distraught ever since she received the letter. "In the letter, it says she had only tithed twice last year and she needed to pay her tithes within thirty days or her name would be removed from the membership list," Hafferkamp told 27NEWSFIRST. Hafferkamp says the church means everything to her friend and the thought of losing her membership made her sick. "She was so upset last night, she had like an anxiety attack. They called the ambulance and she went to the hospital", Hafferkamp said. She also says her friend cannot afford to tithe because she is about eighty years old, on a fixed income and lives in subsidized housing. The letter does say the church member is still welcome to attend church services but will not be a membe

Call and response did NOT originate with the Black Church. But it has been part of our culture for many generations. In fact did you know that the enslaved blacks used call and response as a form of communication--be it on Sunday morning, when preachers called "exhorts" would bring the message of God, or in day-to day communication when they would sing hymns to one another. This form of communication became very important as it was used to plan escapes via the Underground Railroad or whatever. They would plan escapes from slavery to the North, or even to Canada. One slave would begin to sing a song like, "Crossing the River Jordan." The others would respond with an answer verse. A perfect example of this is "Wade in the Water." It can be sung this way: Wade in the Water, Wade in the Water, children, Wade in the Water... In the church I grew up in we had a preacher/teacher who was very loud with his preaching. Now if the pew sitters felt that he was

I found this article from the Huffington Post By Tameka Raymond (Usher’s ex-wife) interesting… She raises a lot of good points, and brings in a lot historical evidence. This is a well-written piece in which I could feel her pain. It's hard not to agree with the things in the article ,especially the current events that she references, along with her own situation. I want to say to Tameka, Stop Cutting Yourself Down! The character Charlie Brown was once discussing his low self esteem: "It goes back to when I first set foot on the stage of life. They looked at me and said, 'He's just not right for that part' Our self-image is second only to our faith in God. It doesn't matter what others think of us, what matters is what we think of ourselves based on what God thinks! Self esteem has to come from self. That's why it's hard to believe the good things people say about you when you can't see them in your self. Plus, how you treat others flows dir

While talk shows have never been afraid to broach the subject of stripping and the lifestyle it entails, there are some programs that have catered to this subset of individuals. Talk show hosts like Jerry Springer have found that their ratings enjoy a sturdy boost when their producers seek to exploit the lives of certain types of people. The guests are free to say and do what they like; and as a result audiences in general have become desensitized to the lifestyle. In a sense, we have caught a mild case of "Jerry Springer- itis " ---a condition which has caused people to apply more legitimacy to exotic dancing. You know what…. . I’ve got a big problem with Miley Cyrus pole dancing at the Teen Choice Awards. I’m not a prude by any means, but a 16-year-old girl gyrating on a pole at a kids award show is just not appropriate. Not to me. Especially if you're trying to convince the world you're a virgin. Miss Miley, you need to actually act like a virgin.

I thought I've heard it all until this article: A 48-year-old Michigan man used his 7-year-old son to try and meet women in a park. Detective Sgt. David Faber says the man told his son on Sunday evening to ask women “if they would like to meet his dad so he could have a mother.” When the women in suburban Detroit’s Grant Park “would refuse, the boy would get upset and cry.” All the women rejected the suspect, but several men in the park overheard what was going on and confronted the desperate dad. The man, who told cops he is divorced but has weekend visitation rights, was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge and posted a $100 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court within 10 days. What do you think of this single desperate dad? This may be a desperate thing to do, but is it illegal?

Omarosa Manigault Stallworth has found a new calling in the pulpit. I've just learned that the reality boardroom beauty plans to enter The United Theological Seminary for training to become a minister. “I feel like God is calling me. He’s been calling me for two years and I can’t ignore it,” Omarosa told S2S today. She plans to begin classes later this year. Though most may remember her from “The Apprentice” and “The Celebrity Apprentice,” or that infamous sit-down on “The Wendy Williams Show” last year, Omarosa has dedicated herself to several community programs. Most recently she has become a goodwill ambassador for the Hatian Support Program. She also works with Positive Vibrations and the New Image Emergency Homeless Shelter. There's a consistent pattern in Scripture of what happens in a life that God wants to use and improve: There's always a call. God asks common people to engage in uncommon acts of trust. There's always fear. God has a habit of asking peopl

My son is on his way to prison because of parole violations. Now, as a mother it's one of the hardest things that I have had to deal with in this life. And for me it's not easy. I am praying this prayer for my son as well as myself: Father, Your Word says that we should minister unto those who are in prison. Therefore, I come before Your throne of grace lifting up Cedric in the name of Jesus Christ, and petitioning You on his behalf. Your Word says that You are the Potter (of our souls) and we are the clay. I pray that while Cedric is incarcerated, that as a potter is able to take a once formed clay object and remolding, reshaping and a transformation of his heart and his life. Father, as the prodigal son came to himself in the hog's pen and realized that he needed his father, I pray that my son would come to himself while he is in prison, and come to know that he needs You in his life. May You send faithful laborers to minister Your Word unto him. I pray that You woul

Have you ever watch young children worshiping God on Sunday morning? I have! For me it's a beautiful sight to behold. To be a believer in Jesus Christ early in life is to be saved from a thousand regrets! Such a person shall never have to say that they carry in their bones the sins of their youth. Question: Did you come to Christ during your youth? Early godliness helps us to form friendships for the rest of life which will prove helpful and saves us from those which are harmful. The young Christian will select, as his friends, the godly from the church and not the party-goers at the local bar. They will be his helpers in virtue and not his tempters to sin. Depend upon it--a great deal depends upon whom we choose for our companions early in life. If we start in bad company, it is very hard to break away from it. The man brought to Christ early in life has this further advantage--he is helped to form holy habits and is saved from being the slave of sinful ones. Habits soon be

After reading this article I've come to the conclusion that man think God don't no what He is doing. For- get about the fact He's the one Who wake us up every morning with His breathe. Ships with giant funnels which travel the world's seas creating more clouds to deflect the sun's rays could help cut global warming, say scientists The project, which is being worked on by rival US and UK scientists, would see 1,900 wind-powered ships ply the oceans sucking up seawater and spraying minuscule droplets of it out through tall funnels to create large white clouds.These clouds, it is predicted, would reflect around one or two per cent of the sunlight that would otherwise warm the ocean, thereby canceling out the greenhouse effect caused by Carbon Dioxide emissions. Article Here!

Have you ever paid close attention to the signs on the door of restaurants and grocery stores that say, “No shirt, No shoes, No service”? We can all agree that dirty, grimy feet can be a health hazard in any eating atmosphere. However, was the law meant for barefoot babies, the smallest of us all? With the heat, most mothers leave their baby’s feet bare in order to keep them cooler. Shoes and socks can overheat babies. Six month old babies cannot even walk. Yet, apparently, babies may be asked to leave if they are barefoot, even though their feet are often the cleanest feet to enter a restaurant. Any way, 2 women with a 6 month old baby tried to order food at a Burger King restaurant but when the manager saw the baby was barefoot, he asked them to leave citing health concerns. The two women put socks on the baby’s feet but that still wasn’t enough. When the women insisted that the rule shouldn’t apply to infant babies who couldn’t even walk and whose feet would never touch the floor d

Our President Barack Obama, leader of "the free world", has admitted that while he used to pray every night. "Now I pray all the time,’’ he said in an interview last month. WOW! that's a powerful statement and when you consider what prayer is then you can get it. See I have heard it said ... and have said myself, that prayer is just communication between us and God. The communication is not prayer. The communication is the result of prayer. Now just because you have bowed your head and said some things. Maybe read something that is written out, Or talked out to someone in the great somewhere, does not necessarily mean you have prayed. Prayer is so much more.... The essence of prayer does not just consist in asking God for, whatever is on our hearts. Whether praying for ourselves or others. Question can you pray for someone with out knowing their personal needs? Yes! I believe you can. What I have discovered it don't matter. When I pray for my family the

Having what it takes to succeed. Remember Susan Boyle the “Britain’s Got Talent” star? Her story is inspiring and one of inspiration to me. To succeed at anything, I believe there are four things you must have. Now I don't no how long it took Susan to master these points but I do believe she got them. Morals : what are you willing to do in order to get where you're trying to go? You can't get there just any kind of way; you must have boundaries. Now all of us have broken the rules at some time. But thank God we had rules to break! We were able to realign ourselves because somebody had pitched a tent on where 'right' is. Today folks don't seem to know or care where 'right' is. Methods : Your methods are your road map. A goal without a plan is like a road to nowhere. First the goal, then the plan, and then the process. Adopting this simple three step formula helps you understand that you won't just leap into the middle of you dream, or get there

There’s a website that argues each of the Seven Deadly Sins is represented by a character on Gilligan’s Island—except for Gilligan himself. (Thanks to Carey for this idea.) Pride- Is the Professor, who can make a radio out of two coconuts and some wire. Envy- Is Mary-Ann! Lust-Is Ginger the movie star! Greed- Is tycoon Mr Howell, who took a suitcase full of money on a three-hour cruise. Sloth- Is Mrs Howell! Gluttony and Anger- Is the Skipper who was both because of his hot-tempered. Now the author of the article believe Gilligan could have possible been SATAN, because he mangered to have kept each one bound in their own state of mind for along time. What do you think?

On CNN's "Reclaiming the Dream" special, during a discussion of HIV/AIDS in the Black community, Judge Penny Brown is asked how to get people involved:"We need to remove the shame" and the self-worth issues surrounding HIV/AIDS". She went on to say "The Black Church" should be at the forefront of this, just like we are with civil rights issues." Is this true ? Now HIV and AIDS was not initially viewed as a black disease, but at present,it could be. The rate of HIV and AIDS has reached epidemic proportions in the black community. Now only 13 percent of the American population, black people make up over half of all new HIV and AIDS infections. There is an obvious disconnect -- AIDS is the leading killer of African Americans ages 25 to 44, and over 82 percent of African Americans belong to a church. Why have the black faith community been muted around this issue? If by being mute did the black faith community allow the root of HIV to take h

Sexual sin is so common, so rampant, so unchecked in our churches. I am wondering “Is anybody living right?” Well, I’m sure somebody is living right. Now living right doesn’t mean living perfect. It means your motives are pure, your intentions are true. It means you are giving God your all and trying your best. Am I perfect? Hell No! Are my motives pure? I absolutely think so;at lest i intend them to be. So, am I living right? Yes, to the best of my ability. I have faults, I have weaknesses. But at the present moment, sexual sin ain't one of them. I've notice two things that are bringing preachers/teachers down in these last days: "Money and Women" It’s a sad fact that the sins of the flesh are often the most compelling. My old pastor used to said will-power won't work on sin; you got to have Holy Ghost Power. Now it has gotten to the point where I wonder if anyone can remain faithful to God—anyone,me included. It seems like a successful ministry

One of life’s lessons we all have to learn is humility. Now the Bible is very clear about humility. God speaks over and over again about how he gives his power to the humble. He even opposes the proud, which is the opposite of humility. First off, I don't know anything about Michael Vick other than my husband would love to see him play football again. He's hoping the Jaguars pick- him. Therefore, this opinion is base on me being on the out side looking in. If any one of us live long enough life will hand every person a situation at which time we 'll be utterly helpless. It may be a relational situation, family situation, financial situation , health situation or in Vick's case being allowed a second chance. It's at this moment that our life will be defined. We'll either live in denial or we'll ask God and others for help. This is the point to where God becomes real to most people. I am not saying Vick didn't no God before this happen. I am