The Old Black Church

I read  that the first designer baby clinic has opened in Los Angeles... . Called "cosmetic medicine," parents can choose their pre-born baby's eye color, hair color, complexion and sex.   DNA research has helped to reduce the likelihood of children being born with genetic defects.... . A "designer baby" will cost around $18,000 ... The  LOS Angeles fertility clinic is offering to design a baby to the parents' exact requirements. I feel it's wrong!! It's playing God... . Babies should be natural, not tweaked to our own preference  like some object.... I’m sorry, but I am disappointed that this idea is gaining acceptance in some communities….It seems to me that what  doctors  are trying to do is play God.....We should not be able to pick the sex of our baby or the characteristics we want them to have!I believe that’s God’s job.... It always has been and it always should be....I believe science has gone too far this time.... I’m not one

QUESTION : Please explain the “unequal yoke” of 2 Corinthians 6:14. “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”Do it mean fellowship with an unbeliever is sin?  That's a question  I have  received  from a reader via email....I would love for my readers to answer the question  in the comment section...

I was on a discussion board reading how the NFL was  not willing to allow this young  man to play in the league based on incest an  incident that took place when he was 16.....What I'm understanding   from  the article the young man was very forthcoming about the incident....And  recognizes it  was an extremely bad decision, one made with total deep regret. I honestly cannot believe that with all the things some players do they are STILL ALLOWED TO PLAY IN THE NFL...But they  cannot allow a man who made  a bad decision at the age of 16 with a 15 year old to be forgiven....I believe in  a second chance God. I like the fact that he doesn't blame anyone or hide from the truth.... I like the fact that he stands up for himself and realizes his mistake.... And he is punished for it every day, regardless whether he is playing football or not. Article Here

A woman has filed a defamation lawsuit against a pastor at a Prince George's County church, accusing him of falsely indicating during a sermon that she had sexually molested him. Cynthia G. Smith, a Virginia Beach lawyer, claims that Sullivan McGraw, pastor at the New Life Worship Center in Capitol Heights, orchestrated a skit and gave a sermon in which McGraw implied that she was "sexually immoral," according to the complaint. T he alleged skit and sermon occurred at the 10 a.m. worship service on Aug. 23, 2009, according to the complaint, filed this week in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt...At the time, Smith was seeking McGraw's mentorship in her own efforts to join the ministry. New Life is associated with the Assemblies of God , which allows women to serve as ministers.... Read more at the Washington Examiner :

C ongratulation  to VaShawn Mitchell  very recently  successful   CD "TRIUMPHANT" Which has   risen  rapidly  to the top of  Billboard’s Top Gospel Chart, debuting at number 2... TRIUMPHANT marks Vashawn beginning of a new life in the gospel world....I receive the CD about a week ago and loving it....I have intentions  to give a CD as a gift to a student  in my Sunday School Class.   V aShawn Mitchell celebrated the release of the new CD with a  concerts in Atlanta and Chicago....Both  with sold out shows ."TRIUMPHANT" is the number one Gospel album on iTunes... TRIUMPHANT   is one of the summer’s best releases. Along with the standout first single, “ Nobody Greater ,”I also like the  track “ His Blood Still Works, ”which  feature Lisa Page Brooks .

 This is an open letter to  the Christian Right: How can  Glenn Beck a  Non-Christian fool  you? For almost two weeks  now  the news has been  all about how Obama is not a Christian.....But the one who's  really not a  Christian is the very  one  you have chosen to follow to  Washington, D.C. today.... If you're claiming  to be a follower of Jesus Christ   then something not  adding  up...Most  Christians with a discerning spirit  consider the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to be a cult....So how is that   Beck is  manging to get away with passing himself off as a Christian? "" For months now he's been talkin' religion, more specifically Christianity . Which is odd because he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day (LDS) a.k.a. Mormonism. Beck is a member in good standing in the LDS Church, yet his focus is not on Mormonism but on Christianity. Mostly he uses Christian terminology, which is misleading. It would seem that Be

T ye Tribbett ’s solo album “Fresh” will be released on October 19th, and he wants to give his  fans early listening parties... Tye have announce by way of  his twitter page. To  have your church  send him an e-mail  for a night that will be “fun, anointed [and] most of all FRESH.”   F resh is a collection of 16 new musical testimonies, that exemplify a new sound and a new musical direction, but is consistent in displaying Tye’s reverence, praise and worship to God.... Fresh helps the listener dig deep into their life and realize that God’s grace, redemption and restoration are available to everyone. ..Now  I  listen  to Fresh and personally feel that  autotune is completely overused..... I personally like the sound of someones actual voice .  I n an interview Tye stated  this  album allows him to step forth boldly with a new message of grace after weathering the storm of change in his personal life and ministry. “Fresh means restored, new creature and it’s my announcement that

I personally have a problem with d ancing in the church...It's a serious stumbling block or obstacle for   me....I'm not saying it's the same  for other Christian brothers and sisters....But it's one  for me..... There are a lot of things in today's culture that aren't expressly forbidden in the Bible -- like drinking alcohol or seeing R-rated movies or smoking or gambling...But many Christians  believed we should not do them...Why? Because it could be a "stumbling block" to other  believers. Take  the marriage ministry at Trinity United Christian Church in Chicago...They did a  dance in the church sanctuary to  Babyface’s “Every Time I Close My Eyes.”Now,  almost all the  commentator's about  this video loved it....But in my spirit it just seems wrong and out of place.

C ome on this simply has to stop.... One of the principles our military is supposed to defend is the freedom to worship as we choose.... That includes not worshiping at all, and it applies to every member of every branch of service....This is a disgraceful act by this general, and those under his direction who disciplined the non-attendees. . S omeone tweeted the link to this post to the Barlow Girl, the band that performed at this concert....Band member Lauren Barlow responded that she objects to what happened, tweeting: "that's horrible. We never knew that. We thought they had a choice. If we would have known we would have said something." .

Have you ever been in  church service and notice the "builder " older generation  not participating  in the worship service? The most under appreciated generation in current worship trends is the builders seniors' generation... Anyone who has been up in a  church...Even if not but one Sunday knows how important singing is as an act of Christian worship. ...Recently though there has been a deep shift in the music found in most churches..... I believe many churches in an  effort to be more inclusive in worship have almost excluded  a entire generation of people...It seems hypocritical for the church to claim to be "open to all those who believe" but not allow  for the spiritual impact the "builders"  can have in the church body..... According to some churches, hymns are no longer relevant.....This styles  of worship is out dated, and for some even their translation of the Bible has been replaced by a Amplified, The Message, NIV   paraphrased version....

  F ranklin Graham on Friday said that President  Obama was "born a Muslim" because the religion's "seed" is passed from the father....Graham made the remark during an interview with CNN's John King which aired Friday night. "The seed is passed through the father," Graham said. "He was born a Muslim. His father was a Muslim; the seed of Muslim is passed through the father like the seed of Judaism is passed through the mother. He was born a Muslim; his father gave him an Islamic name." F ranklin Graham was not born a Christian because of his father's Billy Graham beliefs and President Obama was not born a Muslim because of his father's beliefs.....When it comes to Franklin Graham, sadly, I won't even say “like father, like son!” He has neither his father’s spiritual depth, nor his father’s biblical knowledge....Didn't Franklin Graham say in his own words, he did not confess Christ until his twenty's? .....President Oba

This is  a sad story!! Churches losing their buildings in foreclosures..During these  hard times, not even houses of God have been spared...Some lenders believe more churches than ever have fallen behind on loans or defaulted....Church giving is down as much as 15% in some places, pastors and lenders report....Higher Ground Empowerment Center pastor Dexter Johnson is under major pressure to keep his Church from being shut down. “the bank has given the church until Aug. 31 to pay up or move out. He says they’re trying to work with the lender to modify the loan , but suffered membership loss and damage during the 2008 Atlanta tornado and don’t have a lot of resources.” J ohnson and a coalition of clergy leaders of other predominantly black churches believe banks are putting unfair pressure on them. Two weeks ago, a bank evicted Darryl Winston’s southeast Atlanta Church.... Marshals dumped the church belongings in the parking lot.

W hat is a seasoned rendered competent through trial and experience believer? Do God want new Christians  to sit down for a season and be TAUGHT? Have you eve r tired to “witness” to a ""Jehovah Witness, Mormon or  Muslin""? It's not easy! Especially if you don't know the Scriptures...The lack of knowledge is  why so many Christians  get beat down  because they don't know but others do the Bible...I ask those questions because for some reason  young  Christians are under the impression that as soon as someone gets saved or give his/her  life  to Christ.... That they can immediately go out and witness to others. I believe this to be a bad idea...Don’t get me wrong, I know the saying…”God can use anyone, anytime, anywhere, He can use me etc…I'm not saying God don't/can't use young people as in age... I'm saying if you're a  seasoned believer who  have sp

H ow can we stop the young people from pouring out of our churches, never to return? How about we shock them into staying... That's right shock as in the most popular—and arguably most unseemly—methods of making "church hip" is to make it shocking....What a better way to appeal to younger generations than to push the envelope and go where no fundamentalist has gone before? M any churches are finding creative ways to use sex-themed marketing gimmicks to lure people into church. Oak Leaf Church in Cartersville, Georgia, created a website called yourgreatsexlife.com to pique the interest of young seekers. Flamingo Road Church in Florida created an online, anonymous confessional ( IveScrewedUp.com ), and had a web series called MyNakedPastor.com , which featured a 24/7 webcam showing five weeks in the life of the pastor, Troy Gramling. Then there is Mark Driscoll at Seattle's Mars Hill Church—who posts Q&A videos online, from services where he answers questions from

There are things happening in the country lately — some funny, some sad, some scary —  that make me SURE  that the LORD is about to crack the sky. We’re at the place now where Gomorrah was when God destroyed it.

A women in Colorado Springs is convinced that Armageddon, the end of the world as written of in the Bible, will come next year...Her conviction is so strong that, though unemployed, she’s paid $1,200 to buy advertising space on 10 Colorado Springs bus benches through October to get the word out. T he ad says, “Save the Date! Return of Christ May 21, 2011...In Matthew 24: 36 Jesus said "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the Angels of Heaven, ""But My Father only."" F or man or woman to place a date on the return of Jesus is just false prophecy....According to the word of God, NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY OR THE HOUR! The bible tells us that man doesn't know the day or hour -Christ didn't even know it, so how  is it that this woman would think that Harold Camping would know? Harold Camping...Who's the host of a  conservative Christian radio show Family Radio ....Is the one who is  predicting Christ will  return on May 21, 2011, and the en

R ick Warren got in a little trouble on Twitter the other day when he tweeted: I challenge any church in America to match the spiritual maturity, godliness & commitment of any 500 members of Saddleback. T hat  tweet didn’t sit too well with some of his followers....Some welcomed the challenge.... Some said it was “pride”! Some say Rick have  a big EGO! Some say he should  apologize !! I don't no what Rick meant by the tweet but my question is: don't  we all serve the same King?     T he Kingdom of God is not a competition between the people in the kingdom..... We are all in this together and should be working together to show the love of Christ-not how mature we are...Just how do you define spiritual maturity? How do you measure it?   S piritual maturity is a process that begins when a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior. He or she is born again of the Holy Spirit and then chooses to live "in Christ." The Apostle Paul said that spiritual growth is an ongoi

I love worship music and I  love worship leaders who can take you to the next level..... Worship Music  for me it's like watching  somebody love something so much that you won't to try it for yourself....It's as if they are showing you the way."Take Worship leader William McDowell's powerhouse worship song, "I Give Myself Away," Wow!! That's one awesome song....The song reminds me of something my formal pastors said many years ago: You don't get  more of Christ but Christ  gets  more of you....I also read that this particular song is being  sung and  is opening the hearts of worshipers in congregations around the country... Clip here!!

I was blog surfing and came across a  blog that was promoting a new magazine call Maximum Exposure Magazine. ...The blog author who is a young pastor had this to say about the magazine: I t's  a new  Christian Magazine with a Fashionable Flair ... It's a great Christian website, youth orientated, relevant, trendy as well as substantive.....He goes on to say we definitely need more Christian sites that cater to the needs of today's young Christians, and Maximum Exposure Magazine is definitely one site which should be emulated by everyone. T here's nothing wrong with catering  to the needs of today young people...But  the church  needs to guard against the folly of embracing the world’s ideas.

I t is never too late to come to Christ  as long as two things are happening: 1.  You must still be alive. 2.  You must be willing to turn from your false religion and turn to Christ.  Notice that God says that He is waiting for you to do so...if you do...then He turns and comes to meet you on your way to Him! I was reading this article about Christopher Hitchens the atheist who's being diagnosed with cancer....He's undergoing chemotherapy and has lost much of his hair...But his unbelief remains intact. I just wonder do   the  man that says there is no God Atheists ever think 'what if there is a life after?' I mean Atheists consider themselves rational and scientific, they say if it was up to religion we would still be in the stone ages....It's nothing wrong with seeking knowledge...But the arrogant side of man think we should know everything...No one is  entitle to that much knowledge. I n his first television interview last week with CNN's Anderson Coope

B et is in the business of making money I know...But why sell air time to a over religious  man?....I know to make money!!....It's folk like this that give the church a bad name... Now Pastor Kerney is a  real pastor  worst nightmare.... And I mean, he's typical of most all stereotype that you've ever seen and heard of when it comes to black pulpit pimps pastors....Now Pastor Kerney's "GAAAAAAAAAAAWD." literally  woke me up at 3 o'clock this morning....I could not go back to sleep. P astor Kerney was screaming  yelling speaking  in tongues praying  and shouting  shucking  and jiving all for God.... While selling free "personal prayer  packages"...Now  his "products" are free by way of the Miracle Prayer Line....You can also donate or "sow a seed by check or credit card" because "this is not a debt you owe but a seed you sow and when you sow it.God will grow it!"

I t look like the Gospel music audiences have embrace R&B songstress Ledisi...As if she’s one of their own... To thine own self be true…..how profound....How many of us have a hard time being true to ourselves? Allowing someone else to define who we are, we lose our ability to discover and grow ....That's what I'm liking  about the artist  is her openness and honesty....She admits she enjoys all the love from the Gospel audiences but has no plans of crossing over or doing a gospel album.... To thine own self be true. L edisi  was the only non-gospel act on the ticket at the recent tribute to the late Bishop Walter Hawkins and has performed on Celebration of Gospel and  at The Potter’s House. L edisi says she  just love music and  enjoying the fact that people are accepting her  in any genre....But that don't mean she wont's to  be a Gospel artist...She has also done a recording with Dr. Bobby Jones for the next season of BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel ....

I would like  to know who made the secular world the  trend setter for the Church? I was doing research when I found the clip that's posted below....Some carnal Christians will do say anything to continue  sinning.   Has the church left the foundation of the Word of God, for the so called purpose of drawing people to Christ ?  Christian nightclubs for better or worse are springing up all over the place - esp in some of your largest cities....As a Christian I believe we should exercise caution whenever we get involved with things that originated from a worldly standpoint.  The bible refers to partying and clubbing as part of our “sinful nature” and anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.( Galatians 5:18-21 ).What are your thoughts?

F antasia Barrino has been very open and vocal about her faith in Christ....She once stated that  her parents were  Christian pastors and that she was very actively involved in  her local The Mercy Outreach Church Of Deliverance in High Point NC church. I t looks like Fantasia will  instill values of “Independence and Integrity” in Season 2 of her  VH1 Reality Show...That's what the press release  stated...Now I don't know about that....."Independence and Integrity" is not exactly the two words that  I would use to describe Fantasia  at this present moment......Not while flaunting her affair with a married man.......I just saw a short segment about Fantasia on the Nancy Grace Show....Now you can bet Nancy Grace is going to milk  this for all it’s worth....And according to Nancy the guy she is supposedly  having an affair with has 4 children with his wife.....(from research it's 2 children) T he wife who's  suing Fantasia for a undisclosed amount of mo

W hat is "SOWING AND REAPING?" This is a question I receive from a young lady the other day...In  the Book of Genesis, which means the book of "beginnings" , is were we find the expression of a seed principle that runs throughout the scriptures...And it's  a principle that will endure as long as the earth endure....In other words "sowing and reaping", will be as unchangeable and predictable as day and night. S owing and reaping is a law, like the law of gravity. The law of gravity always works the same way for everyone. So does the law of sowing and reaping. It's a fixed principle that God built into his creation. In Galatians 6:7, we are told, "Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." E ssentially, this means that every action has a predictable consequence....If I sow give away life to others, I will reap life myself....If young black women continue to sow the  type of  negative image in the world...Young Black women  are going to

I 've been to  many blogs and  web sites....Were  young people are petitioning  asking God to bless Ms.Keys and her new husband...But I ask to whose prayers does God respond? W hy would God bless this marriage oppose to the marriage this man had with his formal wife? I'm asking it, because some people actual think  that we can bend God's plan to our own desires.... In so doing, we can make God our servant and ourselves the master. G od doesn't favor adultery. He commands us all to stay away from it, to steer clear of its temptations.... However today's  society is actually telling us a different story....If you think about it a lot things  occurring in the media nowadays, the things they show on TV, the things they air on the radio, what they film in the movies, a lot of things doesn’t go along well with God’s commandment and just what the Bible are stating about adultery. " M ay God bless them" Please stop with the foolishness asking God to bless

N ow days you will see people getting tattoos on just about any and every part of the human anatomy, even on their most intimate, personal and private parts... Many young churchgoers are enticed by the fad for sporting Bible verses or Christian symbols on their skin. T here are  many Christians who sport tattoos. Whether the tattoos are religious pieces of art or just happen to grace the body of a believer, they're on the rise....According to the Food and Drug Administration, 45 million Americans have at least one tattoo. And with 77 percent of Americans identifying themselves as Christians, there's bound to be some overlap.... Religious tattoo and Christian tattoo shops are opening all across the country....Question: What do you think of the idea of  expressing your belief using this type of cultural form?

  I s there any indication that Jesus drank alcohol ? Someone email me the  two questions along with the picture...The emailer stated that she /he had  a problem with Bishop Weeks and his new bride toasting one another with champagne... T he Bible says that "wine is a mocker, intoxicating drink arouses brawling" ( Proverbs 20:1 ). The Bible also says, "Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, pressing him to your bottle, even to make him drunk" ( Habakkuk 2:15 ). Yet the Bible does not say that drinking a glass of wine, beer or champagne is a sin.... Drunkenness is a sin, forbidden by the Bible, but having one drink may not be wrong....What do you think: Should a Youth pastor, Senior pastor ,Bishop or any Christian drink in public?

I t look like I was sleep  when this took place....I saw this  on a discussion board early today about....How Christian rapper Flame (M. Gray)has started a Facebook campaign in  which  he's  trying to rally support to go to  New York to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with Lil Wayne who's  in prison....Some of the comments on that board were hateful and disheartened: " RAPPERS AND GANG MEMBERS DO NOT DESERVE PRAYERS, THEY DESERVE A FIRING SQUAD " L ike Jonah, we are called to preach to people who'd rather here something different....The first thing God told Jonah to say when he reached Nineveh was, "REPENT" The Gospel does two things: It comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable...The truth that sets us free will make us feel bad before it makes us feel good...God's goal is not our comfort; it's producing in us the character of Christ so the world will be drawn to Him...Question: If you're a Christian have you ever led anyone to C

I pay attention to church signs, just to see what the message is.....I see many cute church signs but they are cute and that's about it....This one in particular caught my eye and  it reads: "Don't Let Jesus Catch You Riding Dirty"  (goggle meaning)  To ride dirty means carring or consuming drugs...Riding Dirty is a popular rap song among the young folk...Question: What's the purpose of a church sign? Is there a message in this particular church sign; if so what?

Kelly Price is suing New Light Church in Houston, TX for copyright infringement.... According to the court documents filed in Harris County... New Light Church applied for a license to use Kelly's song " Women Who Win " but where denied....It seems the church went on to unlawfully use " Women Who Win " and Kelly rightfully wants to be paid....Here some of the ways that New Light Church used" Women Who Win " 1. In a telecast of the New Light Church show "Women Who Win." 2. To promote DVDs and other products on the Church's website. 3. Used on the "Women Who Win" website home page. 4. Performed and recorded several times in 2008 at the Women Who Win conference. 5. Audio CDs and DVDs of the song are currently on sale. Should other Christians sue other Christians?

  D eonte Bridges valedictorian speech  is one of the most powerful clips on you- tube!! I for one have almost been persuaded  into believing for too little about this generation; than believing for too much. V ision is essential for survival...And a God-given vision is conceived by faith, sustained by prayer and fueled by God's word...It's not about what you can do, but what God can do with your life when it's fully surrendered to Him....It encompasses things outside the realm of the predictable, the safe and the expected..."Where there is no vision the people perish"(Pr 29:18).If God has given you a vision pursue it, and believe Him for great things!!

K elly Price gave an   interviewed to Bossip ....And in the interview Kelly  talked about her ability to flip-flop between gospel and  secular music: Bossip: You’ve been known as both a Gospel artist and a secular artist. Do you ever find a conflict in doing both or do you have a preference? Kelly Price: Again, it goes back to relevance. I can do both secular and gospel. Both are a part of my life. I grew up in the church. My gospel audience buys all my records, they don’t judge me. I’ve been able to win a lot of gospel music people over because of my message . I speak to life situations. There is life outside of the church. We can get so wrapped up in our beliefs that we segregate ourselves. My mom always told me, “Don’t be so heavenly minded, that you’re no earthly good. The quality of life on earth is as important as life after death. "I’ve been able to win a lot of gospel music people over because of my message ". W rong Kelly!!! the gospel message is about Christ

What do you think about a fashion line for pregnant teens? I believe it's a great idea!!From reading a couple of articles.... it looks like " The Fashion Chain Forever 21 " have did  just that....The chain announced last month that they were rolling out a maternity line for young mothers-to-be in five states....And out of the five states  three  states already have the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country...Forever 21 have/has  been  accused of glamorizing teen pregnancy .... I read a lot of negative things about the chain starting a maternity line in which I completely disagree with the charge against the chain store. I really would like to give them a high 5 and shout of hallelujah praise for recognizing and filling that gap.....I'm  tired of seeing young pregnant teen girls with skimpy clothing  on while pregnant....What about younger married women  having children that want a trendier look?What's wrong with cute trendy inexpensive maternity clothing

When did the title "First Lady" creep into "The Black Church"? If not mistaken  that's a  title once reserve for  the president wife.....That title have been miss used in almost all of our Black Churches.... I am not saying that there's anything  wrong  with a pastor wife being call that ...But, isn't that an improper title being used in an improper way? Since this is my blog I will put it this way...Why should the pastor wife be put above other women in the church? So do that make her better than the other hard working women in the church? To me by doing this it can causes problems within the church....Me personally I don't like it.. I am willing to say the 1st time I heard that term used in church was with Bishop T.D Jakes.... He called Mrs. Jakes 1st lady.... I've been hearing that term every since.....For some reason the church has  a way of  allowing things to creep into the church, and we being the church just let it happen...Isn't

I like how  news week  feature story is about The Rev.Al  Sharpton.... I have always held Rev. Sharpton in high regards with plenty of respect.... I still believe  there is a place for Rev Al Sharpton in the world today.... Because there is still a generation of people that feel the way Rev. Al does. I don't like how the article ask the  question whether Rev. Sharpton is still needed because we have a  President of African descent...To me that  was  crazy.... Rev. Al Sharpton's  expertise is in the area of Civil Rights...While The  President job is to look after the welfare of all the people--not just people who civil rights have been violated....I don't know what point the writers was trying to make with  that question....But over all I like the feel of the article...So keep on keeping it real Rev.Al Sharpton.