1. If a song can be played on a Soap Opera during a sex scene, can that song also be called a “gospel” song? I’m on the fence with this one, and in my opinion, that is exactly where Benjamin and Priscilla Winans (BeBe and CeCe) reside, on the fence! I think playing it this way is lukewarm. I believe you can sing anything you want, this is America, but there needs to be distinction as to the purpose. I really don’t mind if BeBe and CeCe go secular. Many entertainers have recorded a combination of Christian/Gospel, Soul, Hip Hop, etc., music in their careers. No biggie. But when you claim to be gospel recording artists and your music is fit to be played in a sex scene, doesn’t that cross a line and take your music out of one category and put it in another? I am not getting paid to decide, I just have a problem with them seemingly, not wanting to take a stand on either side of the fence!

2. Is there NO ONE in the gospel arena, that lives the gospel daily, capable of hosting the BET annual Celebration of Gospel? Seriously? Steve Harvey himself talks about how surprising it is they asked him to host the show. He talks about how stunned his Kings of Comedy costars were and thought he was joking with them! He talks about how for two hours he can’t cuss! Is there no one else? I’m talking about someone who doesn’t have to put on their personal censors and deserves the honor and paycheck because they are a 365 day living example of the good news of Christ? Here me when I say, I love me some Steve Harvey! I listen to him every morning on my way to work. I even enjoy watching him on the Celebration of Gospel every year but I do get tired of the first 5 or 10 minutes being dedicated to him defending himself and justifying why he, of all people, is hosting the show! Enough of that! If BET can’t find a representative from the gospel community to host the show that would make them as much money as Steve Harvey, ok, just do it and move on! Don’t make us feel bad for wondering why a chronic and habitual curser, with a questionable lifestyle as a Christian is doing it! Don’t tell me I’m judging you when all I am doing is watching you sweat as you go overboard explaining why you are there! You’ve done it for 10 years, what’s one more! (and by the way, who was that husband and wife that sang on there this year??? Yikes!)

3. (Colts fan speaking…) Why did Peyton Manning keep handing the ball to the runner only to have him go straight into the cluster of big boys in Saints jerseys!? That play didn’t work the first time he did it, the last time he did it, or any of the times in between!!! I hate that play!!! I don’t like it if any team does it but… it did work a couple of times for the Saint didn’t it? I blame that play for our loss! It was the difference between Drew holding the trophy and Peyton holding the trophy… I’m just saying. (lol. I know nothing about football. I know there were other things that caused the fabulous Colts to walk away defeated but that plays drives me nuts!)

4. After last night’s performances, I must ask, didn’t Jennifer Hudson and Faith Hill have the right idea to lip syncing their performance at the Super Bowl?! Even the little award winning Carrie Underwood struggled with that last note, did she not!!! I love my Queen but…. And the Who?????????

5. Why on earth does Face Book keep changing their layout!!! I don’t know what I am doing anymore! My coworker told me I need to update my browser. Ok that is fixing something that is broke! In my opinion, Facebook wasn’t broke, my browser wasn’t broke and my computer wasn’t broke! Now nothing works right!!!

Holla back!

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!