I went to church today!  The choir was good. They sang “My Name Is Victory”. Remember last Sunday’s spotlight on Jonathan Nelson? His song. And the preacher was excellent! He spoke about obedience and the difference between being obedient because we were taught to and know we should be, and growing to the place where we are willing to be obedient because we want to. I’m convinced that not only is he a preacher but a standup comedian as well! He was so funny and so down to earth! Have you witnessed the new thing today of people sowing a seed (giving money) into the life of the preacher while he is preaching (walking up to the front and laying it on the table or alter) if he says something that deeply ministers to you? Well today, was a first for me! On many occasions I have witnessed people doing this, been a sower myself and even experienced being a recipient of seeds that were sowed when I spoke, but today was different! I have never seen so many people go up and sow into the preacher as I did today! They were literally bumping into each other! And his message was on obedience! Can you believe it! That is usually a hard pill for Christians to swallow, obedience.  Today was a great testament that God can get any message – no matter how difficult – across to his people! Some how, some way, through somebody, the message will be delivered!

God is so good! So did you go to church today? Did you communicate with God today? Did you read His word today? Holla back and tell me what God has done for you, what scripture resonated with your spirit today and anything else to bless us and give us spirit fuel for the week!

We’ve been talking a lot about our first black President Barack Obama and racism and actions that stem from the hatred of racism. I have a scenario. You are walking through the mall with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Dennis Rodman. The three of you are walking, talking and minding your own business when an unidentifiable skinhead comes up and spits on all three of you. I think we can surmise what Dr. King would do and probably assume what Rodman would do. Their history, reputation and actions precede them. But here’s the thing: what would you do?

We would all love for the world to think the best of us, but you know what emotion was invoked just now when you read it, and you know what you would do or what you think you would do. Tell the truth and share with us what an outward, direct, public show of a race provoked demeaning act, such as this one, could and would provoke you to do! Tell us if the morals and Christianity (if you claim to be one) you possess will cause you to turn the other cheek and say Father forgive them. Be honest and tell us: What Would You Do???

Holla back!

Uh… help me with this!!!

A Barnes & Noble spokesperson claims a customer placed a book about monkeys in a window where Barack Obama books were on display. So…anybody can just come into Barnes and Noble and rearrange or add to their displays? Sounds like Monkey Business to me!

Here is an article that accompanied this picture and what Barnes and Noble had to say to resolve this matter.

Barnes & Noble would like to publicly apologize for what happened in our Coral Gables, Florida store. We believe that a customer played a cruel joke and placed an inappropriate title in the front window of our store, where we were featuring books written by or about President Obama. We want to assure our customers that the book placed by someone other than our booksellers was never intended to be included in our display and was removed as soon as we became aware of the situation. We are looking into it and are taking the steps necessary so that it does not happen again. From time to time customers will move titles from one area of the store to another. In this particular case, we do not condone whatever message may have been intended with the placement of this title in our Presidential display. It certainly was not part of our merchandising and we regret that we didn’t see the placement of this title immediately.

Unfortunately, when I first received the email with this picture in it, an apology/explanation did not come with the picture. How many people will see this and never hear what B & N has to say? I wonder if it will impact business at all. Why are people so cruel?

Holla back and tell me if you have seen this picture, how you would take it if you walked by and saw it, what you perceive the implications to be and how long it will take society to change.

Ok, so I don’t intend to write about TV shows too often, but let’s talk about “The Bachelor”. I think because I am, and always have been, a romantic at heart, I watch “The Bachelor” every season and hope for the best! As far as I know, Ryan and Trista are the only two who are happily married, but here we are at season 15 or 16 and I’m still watching!

So here’s what happened. Last season DeAnna Pappas, who had not been chosen the previous season, was selected as the new bachelorette. It came down to Jason, a single dad and Jesse, the snowboarder. She picked the snowboarder. Uh… anyway. Since Jason was so “boy next door-ish” and a sweet single dad whose son meant everything to him, Jason became the new bachelor.

He had 25 women to choose from. It got down to Molly and Melissa. I liked them both but leaned toward Melissa, however, my instincts told me he would choose Molly. He chose Melissa. He explained it to Molly, walked her to the car while listening to her tell him what a big mistake he had made, and then walked back in the house and almost fell over the balcony (I exaggerated a little bit) because he was crying so hard after letting Molly go! Was this our first clue or what!!! He then goes in, gets on one knee and proposes to Melissa. Yippie! Especially since Melissa had been dumped/hurt three times before and had never been the one to do the dumping. Life was good. Fast forward to six weeks later when we get to see them and hear how things have been going since he proposed. I knew something was up when Chris Harrison – the host – said there would be no audience because of the tricky nature of what was about to happen.

They bring them out and Jason breaks up with Melissa and lets us all know he is still in love with Molly and is going to ask her for another chance! OMG! Melissa is hurt and dumped for the fourth time! She leaves the stage and Molly comes out. Molly is hurt too! She is hurt because he initially dumped her for Melissa but then…he begins to talk and tells Molly that on national TV he just dumped Melissa and asks her if they could go out for coffee or drinks and see if they can’t have another shot. She looks startled but eventually – seconds or minutes later – says, yes. Duh! Just like that! Six weeks of hurt vanishes and she takes him back! Old timers use to say, if he’ll do it to her for you, he’ll do it to you for somebody else! Molly, I’m just saying…

So last night – six weeks later again – they show us Molly and Jason who are so happy. Boo Hiss! I liked Jason and I felt bad for him because DeAnna didn’t choose him when he was one of the 25 hopefuls. Now he topped that and hurt Molly for six weeks and now Melissa, possibly for life. As much as I enjoy the romance of it all, I am mad at ABC and “The Bachelor” and think they should not have shown this on TV. This right here is the kind of thing suicides are made of! It is one thing to have your heart broken and be humiliated; it is another to have it done publicly!

As far as Jason goes, he is always crying, he is a whiny boy, and said he did what he did because he had to follow his heart. As much as I liked him, I have now lost respect for him. They should have never publicized this turn of events! I know when these men and women sign on the dotted line, all bets are off, but this went too far. This turn of events was unprecedented and, I feel, should have been left for them to work out without America watching. These are real people!

So I guess this is what I want you to tell me:
• Is following your heart ALWAYS the right thing to do regardless of who gets hurt?
• How do you feel about a CRYING WHINY boy on national TV? I saw one news report talking about the fact that Jason cried so much on the show and how women feel about men who cry.
• Have we gone too far with the countless made-for-television romances?

I know this is a diversion from our normal topics but according to how we roll here in the good ole US of A, this is the news of the day! We’ll get more serious tomorrow. Stay tuned and holla back!

Whenever I hear a song played on the radio several times a day, every day; I have to stop and take notice! If you haven’t noticed Jonathan Nelson and My Name is Victory let me bring you up to speed!

On February 5, 2008 Gospel artist Jonathan Nelson and Purpose released their sophomore album, Right Now Praise, on Integrity Music. The uplifting single from the album, My Name is Victory, debuted at #28 on Radio & Records’ Hot Gospel Songs Chart and continues to be one of the most played gospel songs today! (it is my sister’s favorite and my husband’s ringtone!)

The album features the assistance of such gospel artists as Sheri Moffet-Jones on Yes, Out There, William Murphy on Great and Mighty, Nikki Ross on Already Mine and Nelson’s twin brother Jason on Right Now Praise. Nelson co-wrote the gospel hit of Youth for Christ, The Struggle is Over, which went to number one on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs Chart in 2007. He also wrote other chart hits such as Donald Lawrence’s top 10 hit, Healed; Rudolph McKissick, Jr.’s The Right Place; Melonie Daniel’s Praise is My Weapon; and Stephen Hurd’s Destiny and Great Praise. Jonathan also wrote, Manifest, from Bishop T.D. Jake’s Grammy winning, A Wing and a Prayer.

One of six children born in Baltimore, Maryland, Nelson grew up in church. According to Nelson, everybody in his family worked in ministry. His father, James Nelson, was pastor of Greater Bethlehem Temple Church for over thirty years and his mom served as First Lady. Nelson’s extended family was also musical. His grandmother played piano and he had two uncles who were musicians. They all grew up playing and singing in church.

Jonathan earned his first professional gig singing background vocals for Karen Clark Sheard in 2000. Soon after that performance Nelson and his friends formed the group “Purpose”. They went on to back such great artists as BeBe & CeCe Winans and Michael McDonald. Their debut album, Everything You Are: Live in Baltimore, was released in 2003.

An anthem for Nelson’s personal life is the title song, Right Now Praise. He says, “I wrote that during a difficult time in my life back in 2003. I was on the verge of losing my home and my car. I was working as a substitute teacher. I was in a very low place. My car is my mediation place. I was crying down the road and started singing a melody to the Lord and that’s when Right Now Praise came to me. I had to rush into school and get to my tape recorder and put it down before I forgot it. Everything with this project is timing. I feel like its time for whatever God has for me to do right now. This is my God ordained time for my life.”

If you haven’t heard it, run out and get it! Right Now Praise! Congratulations Jonathan Nelson! Because of you, daily I proclaim: My Name Is Victory!