The Old Black Church

R eader, people online are saying that Bishop Jakes  errored  in his teaching of Samson and Delilah and Pastor  Marvin Sapp was wrong in trying to defend him, what are your thoughts? The statement on the above flyer seems to have struck a nerve online. Bishop Marvin Sapp seems to have come to Bishop Jake's defense in the matter by trying to convince his social media followers and bible readers that Delilah was actually good for Samson: 

R eader, Kenneth Williams became the fourth convicted killer executed in Arkansas in eight days as the state sought to carry out as many lethal injections as possible before one of its drugs expires Sunday.

R eader, interesting research "Race Tests" are performances by white individuals and groups, in the presence of incoming people of color. A new study explores why nominally welcoming churches remain racially segregated in the post-civil rights era. The reason may be due to clergy and congregants in white evangelical churches who execute what the authors term "race tests" on incoming people of color.

Reader y'all, I'm catching up on Bishop's International Pastors & Leaders' Think Tank in Dallas.  Paula White had been lost her credibility with me a long time ago as well as with most of the black community. During the conference Bishop, Jake called Paula out on her foolishness which made her look like a cut-down dog. 

R eader, God has put a gift or talent in every person that the world will make room for.  Ms. Shirleen would say "Get God on the main line, We Made It".

R eader, how do you feel about breastfeeding in public? I don't have a problem with a mother feeding her baby in public, but I don't agree with it being done in the church sanctuary uncovered. 

R eader, how well do you fair with the Black Hebrew Israelites when they are using  Scriptures (out of context) as sheep in wolves clothing? Well, a well-known Apostle of the Lord's church Brian Keith Williams has taken to Facebook to call the cult-like group out. Generally, the Black Hebrew Israelites teach that certain groups of blacks are the descendants of ancient Israelites and that white people (especially those in Israel today) are not true descendants.  Some adhere to the Jewish collection of teachings, laws, and interpretations based on Genesis through Deuteronomy while others do not. A very small fraction are racist and considers white people to be evil.  Most Black Hebrew Israelites are peaceable and oppose racism.  Check below the break to read what the man of God had to say:

R eader, these folks are giving Pepsi a run for their money, aren't they? You're telling me out of five experienced ministers of the gospel, all of whom apparently teach preaching for a living, not one of them thought to say, "You know, this might be inappropriate"? A White dean of a Texas seminary affiliated with a Christian denomination is once known for its staunch defense of slavery posted what some say is a "racially-insensitive" photo of himself and other White professors apparently dressed as gangsters online.  

R eader you the person reading this have most likely heard preached from a pulpit somewhere in America the following: "God chose you before the foundation of the world." God chose us, we did not choose Him. "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last--and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you." - John 15:16. This is a great biblical truth that with a correct perspective, frees the believers to share their faith, instead of crippling them for fear of saying something wrong and influencing another to hell.

R eader Bishops are the exception rather than the rule with black Baptists, but over the past couple of years, some Baptist churches have elevated pastors to bishops, citing biblical precedent and their ministers' influential leadership. Bishops already are incorporated in historically black denominations such as the Church of God in Christ and the African Methodist Episcopal Church.  Last weekend Atlanta's Tabernacle Baptist Church consecrated its first ever gay affirming bishop Pastor Dennis Meredith.....Atlanta’s Tabernacle Baptist Church, is home to many of the city’s LGBT Christians.  

Reader according to a news report coming from the Dallas NBC affiliate, Channel 5, federal authorities have initiated a raid on Benny Hinn’s Grapevine, Texas ministry headquarters. United States Postal Inspectors, as well as IRS criminal investigators, are involved in the execution of the search warrant. http://pulpitandpen.org/2017/04/26/feds-raid-benny-hinn-headquarters

R eader most evangelical kills me always wanting to sit on the judgement seat of the almighty as if they are the one's in authority. It is sad that many evangelicals think they are going to heaven and have convinced themselves of that because they said a prayer they're on the narrow path. With all the hate in this little man heart I do wonder what part of Hell will he be occupying? 

R eader, I usually don't say anything when it comes to Obama, but not this time. People have the nerve to be saying that Formal President Obama shouldn't be getting paid a large hefty sum for his speaking engament. I disagree!

R eader in my opinion there are many other sins more celebrated in America than homosexuality. Gluttony. Greed. Many forms of idolatry (celebratory worship, self worship, success worship, etc). Apathy. Flattery. Comfort. Shall we continue. Many of these sins are celebrated not only within America, by the American church.  

R eader Bishop T. D. Jakes will lead a discussion on 'Politics & the Pulpit' at this year's 2017 International Pastors & Leadership Conference In Dallas. 

R eader, Freddy Haynes calls addiction, crime, and mental illnesses plaguing Dallas' minority communities wolves chasing his flock. So he fights them where that evil thrives - in the streets. 

R eader, will Jesus welcome home a believer who died at his/her own hands? I believe he will, tenderly and lovingly. With that being said, there's some sad news out of Cincinnati, Ohio. My timeline is being flooded with the above picture along with the conversation that folks who commit suicide are hell bound. 

R eader, #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear tag on Twitter is throwing down some truth. And you ALL need to go look at some of the responses. Author, Sarah Bessey started a much-needed conversation, on Tuesday, April 18, 2017.  The hashtag linking it all together is #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear, and the experiences women are relating are heartbreaking, and sadly point to a divisive rift in the church.

Reader, Thursday Georgetown University apologize for its role in the slave trade and offered to give admissions preference to the descendants of those sold for the benefit of the school, one of the most aggressive responses to date among the universities trying to make amends for the horrors of slavery."

R eader James Hall Worship & Praise will come together, Saturday, April 29 @Christ Fellowship Baptist Church for a 30th-anniversary reunion concert.... along with special guests, Lisa Page Brooks, Vashawn Mitchell, and Hosted by Bishop Hezekiah Walker.

R eader Oprah Winfrey is dealing with the outrage of the LGBT community after it was revealed the latest docu-series on her network OWN centers around Pastor, John Gray, who some say is anti-gay. 

R eader many have heard Sarah Jakes Roberts' story before....you know the one that she's riding to the bank on (new book). The daughter of famed preacher Bishop T.D. Jakes got pregnant at 13, married by 19, and divorced by 23. However, that is not the end of her story.

R eader, in the midst of his very serious marital issues Pastor Chris Hill has officially resigned as the pastor of Potter’s House Denver. Obnoxious Media broke the story about a month ago that Chris was having an affair with an alleged spiritual daughter of his wife Joy. However, this was not the first time Chris has cheated with a woman he pastored. 

R eader I really hope the black church and community has been paying attention these last couple of months and taking notes.  Think about this the next time you are running to these events and supporting people like Paula White and her rocker husband "ministry."

R eader, I just heard that Russia just banned the Jehovah's witnesses from their Country calling them extremists. Well, they are a cult. But what do you'll think about this?

R eader Magic Johnson appeared on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' on Wednesday and opened up about his experiences surrounding the coming out of his son EJ. EJ, who came out in 2013, is a reality star who has appeared on 'Rich Kids of Beverly Hills' and his own spinoff 'EJ NYC.' Johnson told DeGeneres that he’s learned through his son’s coming out that you need to love your children ― no matter what.

Reader, this is somewhat interesting, before he hanged himself with a bedsheet in his prison cell, former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez used a red marker to scrawl the Bible verse John 3:16 across his forehead, according to a report.  

R eader the hypocrisy of some Christians are a downright shame. Two days after Resurrection Sunday, Bishop Jakes...."the people bishop", posted to his Instagram page the above pic of he and Singer Mariah Carey along with the following message:  

R eader, did this church choose sides in this matter? A Birmingham lawyer was ejected from the Church of the Highlands on Sunday after attending an Easter Sunday worship service, when his ex-wife complained that he was in violation of a court order. Bart Slawson posted his account of the ejection on Facebook.

R eader, I'm not sure if you guys know Apostle Bryan Meadows from Embassy Church in Atlanta, but when I tell you this man of God is extremely gifted and knowledgeable.  I know Apostle Bryan Meadows by way of Periscope teaching.  Coming May 5th and 6th, in Atlanta TWO POWER PACKED DAYS of Prophetic Training with some of this generation's leading prophetic voices and minds.   Science expresses the universe in five terms: time, space, matter, power, and motion. Genesis 1:1,2 revealed such truths to the Hebrews in 1450 B.C.: "In the beginning [time] God created [power] the heaven [space] and the earth [matter] . . . And the Spirit of God moved [motion] upon the face of the waters." The first thing God tells man is that He controls of all aspects of the universe.    Anyhow Apostle Bryan Meadows posted the following statement to his social media in hope of educating the Christian body....about science and scripture.       

R eader David E. Taylor, who calls himself an “apostle”, has come under some serious fire over the years for being an alleged false prophet. He has claimed that he has had “face-to-face” meetings with Jesus. He's also faced criticism for “prophesying” that the Denver Broncos would win the Super Bowl in 2014 but instead, the Seattle Seahawks won. He also has faced criminal charges of financial corruption in 2015.  In a couple of videos that are posted online, he is being questioned by a member of the Michigan Bar, in which he appears to not know where his business offices are located and say he doesn't handle his own finances but assures the lawyer that funds donated to his “ministry” are not being used inappropriately.  Anyhow, Mr. Taylor posted the following below the cut to his social media page and his ministry page to clear all this mess up:

R eader, while I'm an Alabamian by birth I'm in no way a fan of Ex-governor Robert Bentley by any stretch of the imagination, but this doesn't sit well with me. Now I can understand asking him to resign any leadership position, but being asked not to attend???  If I got this right, this pastor, and church, asked these folks to no longer attend there. T he pastor said this in his sermon. 

R eader do we now have a generation of young Christians who believe that the God of the Old Testament is not the same God in the New Testament? My newsfeed and this article kind of alluded  to that way of thinking, at least it seems that way to me. Why does God in the Old Testament seem different in the New Testament? Is God the same God from the Old to the New Testament?

R eader, many Americans believe religious organizations require these heavy tax breaks for use in their charitable works. However, researchers at Secular Humanism report that many popular churches are in fact using far less of their funds compared to non-profits.

R eader hubby and I were a part of this man great kingdom work before we moved away. Pastor Hart Ramsey has issued a challenge to believers to a healthy and vibrant relationship through prayer in the release of his new book, Seeking Answers, Finding Rest Through Prayer. 

R eader Bishop Greg Davis will be stepping back into the pulpit as full time pastor, after being gone on a six year hiatus. Bishop Greg Davis, posted the following to social media last month:

R eader, where was Jesus human spirit on Holy Saturday if he hadn’t yet ascended to heaven? Following his death for sin, Jesus journeyed to Hades, the City of Death, and ripped the gates off the hinges. I remember being taught that and that Jesus fought Satan to win the Keys of the Kingdom. 

R eader, Pastor Mark Driscoll says he's not sure if babies who've died are in Heaven, including his own child, saying the Bible is silent on the matter.  What happens to babies and children who die? Pastor Mark wrestles with this question in today’s devotion . He concludes: We can trust the God who died so that His enemies could be saved to do what is right in the case of infants. 

R eader, this right here...yeesh!!!! I I'm loving Le'Andria new single and new look. GRAMMY and Stellar Award-winning artist Le’Andria introduces a dose of joyful sunshine with the release of the uplifting new single “Bigger Than Me”, available at digital providers now and at radio beginning April 17th.   Check it out below.

R eader, Super Soul Sunday begins its new season on OWN Sunday, April 16 (11 a.m. and 7 p.m.) with special guest Pastor John Gray, associate pastor of Houston's Lakewood Church. Pastor John Gray, is the first African-American Associate Pastor at Joel Osteen’s Houston megachurch Lakewood. He and Oprah will discuss his belief that every person was created on purpose and with a purpose.

R eader, today we celebrate Good Friday. This is the day when we as believers journey with Jesus to the cross to remember his powerful sacrifice on Calvary. Winning forgiveness for our sins wasn't easy. It was a horrific, violent, and painful struggle. Through Jesus' death, we bear witness to the horrors of what happens when people fail to see the God that lives within an individual.

R eader, this is an interesting survey by Christianity Today .  I think CHEATING is a CHOICE and a carefully selected one at that. I'm speaking for me now. I would not dine alone with any man that is not my husband, son, brothers or nephews, out of respect for my husband. I hope he feels the same and would not dine alone with a female other than me, his daughter, sisters or nieces.   It's not because it is necessarily a sin, but to be respectful to the other. Especially with the caveat the posted question gives, "someone you are attracted to". I will not allow temptation that luxury. I'm not crazy I know my husband finds other women attractive, I am comfortable with that knowledge; likewise I find other men attractive. It is all how we operate within that knowledge. If either of us were to spend time alone with someone we were attracted to we would both consider the other has having cheated.

Reader, 19-Year-Old GRAMMY-nominated artist Jekalyn Carr received her first two nominations for the upcoming 2017 Billboard Music Awards. Ms. Carr received honors for Top Gospel Artist and Top Gospel Song for her smash hit single “You’re Bigger,” which spent four weeks at No. 1 and Digital Gospel Songs Sales charts that were the 2nd Most Played Gospel Song of 2016. 2017 has been a big year for Jekalyn Carr thus far, receiving her first-ever GRAMMY nomination for “Best Gospel Song/Performance” (“You’re Bigger”) and five Stellar Gospel Music Award nominations.  

R eader set your DVRs and tune in on Sunday, April 16th at 9 am as Bishop Jakes join Chuck Todd on meet the press during a feature conversation on Religion and Politics. https://apps.facebook.com/MeetThePress/videos/10155382603612871/ According to Bishop Jakes, this is going to be good and they will follow up with the discussion at the International Pastors and Leadership Conference in Dallas.

R eader a New York state judge married to Gregory A. Jacobs, canon to the Ordinary and chief-of-staff at The Episcopal Diocese of Newark was found dead Wednesday by way of suicide. 

R eader, what do you think about banning a book not because it has objectionable content, but because its writer stands accused of sexual assault?  Bill Cosby's children's book series Little Bill is one of the most banned books in America... According to a list compiled by the American Library Association the Little Bill book series ranks no.9 on the 2016 list of books banned from public libraries and the only one on the list because of “criminal sexual allegations against the author.”