Last week Michael Eric Dyson called out Roland Martin, Rev. Jamal Bryant and Sophia Nelson on the same sex marriage issue. He did it without giving them the opportunity to respond. Last night Sophia Nelson did get that opportunity to eloquently render her biblically sanctioned response. Dyson did apologize for the initial way he handled it, but he stood by his opinion. Dyson has evolved like the president and the evolutionists believe everyone should make the transition, but Nelson like many in the faith community have not.
President Barack Obama said in an interview with ABC that “it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.” So the president has come out for gay marriage will this cost him votes in the black community particularly the black church? The president and his team have made a political calculation and he wants the gay vote and the money that comes with it, and he believes that blacks will vote for him regardless of his stance. We will see if he calculated correctly on Novemeber 6th.
I must admit I have not been a fan on the OWN network. Over the past year it has served up a heaping helping of reruns, but I did find a ray of hope when she launched the show Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s, which chronicles the struggles of a family that owns a sould food resteraunt in St. Louis. I liked this show enough to keep coming back on a weekly basis. Most recently I have watched Oprah interview Joel Osteen and TD Jakes and last night I watched her Lifeclass. Last night’s lifeclass with Jakes was outstanding. The theme of the night was Finding Your Purpose. They talked about how people confuse talent with purpose. You might have a little talent in an area and people encourage you to pursue that but that might not be what you were designed to do. they stressed that everyone might not have an earthshattering change the world kind of prupose but they have the capacity to change their own world. There were so many golden nuggets last night including: “When your space is too small for you–you have to get out and grow”. Get rid of the “cublicle mentality”. “Don’t let people define you how they met you.” Jakes also talked about our need for immediate results and he shared an African saying “there is a danger of eating your dinner in the morning.” It was a great session and I encourage anyone in search of their purpose to visit Oprah on Facebook or her website to see last night’s session.
So many churches in the black community are struggling to stay afloat. Many of the members have been downsized, right-sized or simply let go from their jobs. With the coffers low some churches are taking part in gospel tours. People from all over the world are paying for the gospel experience. It is almost as if worship has been reduced to a show. Is this just a savvy idea that can help a struggling church or is there something wrong with this? Tell me what you think.
It is something exciting about seeing someone you know on national television. Jesse Campbell wins voice battle last night. Campbell has an amazing voice and I hope he goes far.
As Christians we are taught that we must forgive our enemies no matter what they do. On Monday TJ Lane killed four young people. One of them was Demetrius Hewlin. Hewlin’s mother Phyllis Ferguson says she has forgiven his killer. How could she forgive the person that killed her own son? For her to heal she has to forgive, but it has to be difficult. Watch the clip and share your thoughts. http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/oh_geauga/Chardon-High-School-shooting-victims-mother-forgives-alleged-gunman
On Saturday the funeral of Whitney Houston brought the black church to the worldwide stage. There are a number of churches that are on television but they are mostly viewed by the true believers. People just keep hitting the remote as they look for other options, but for those who watched Whitney Houston’s funeral were forced to watch a traditional black funeral service. As I listened to the commentators I wished someone had provided them with a glossary for things that go on in the black church (not all but some). So I submit this after the fact and ask that they file it away for another time. This is by no means an inclusive list and I invite you to add things to it via the comment section. 1.Homegoing Service-this means that we are celebrating the life of the decedent and the fact that he or she is now home with their heavenly father. 2. Nurses*-Yes there are nurses on duty to help if someone becomes overcome with grief or on a regular Sunday service if someone becomes overcome with the Holy Ghost. In some cases some are actually nurses by profession and some are a part of the nursing ministry. 3. Talking back to the Minister-If you noticed Pastor Winans would say can I get an Amen. This is commonly done. The minister likes to receive the immediate response from things that he says within the sermon. Amen is an affirmation of the true word. 4. Choir-it is important to have a good choir because they help set the tone for the service. It is their job to help usher the spirit into the temple. To actually create an atmosphere for true worship. 5. Speaking In Tongues-this is speaking in a heavenly language. It is an intimacy with the Father and in most cases man can not understand it. Pastor Winans mentioned this prior to starting his message. 6. Wake-This was not done during Whitney Houston’s funeral, but in some cases there is an offsite viewing of the body at the funeral home generally called “family hour”, and then there is a brief wake prior to the actual funeral. 7. Emotional Family members-There is usually a family member that becomes overcome and in some cases there ceremony is punctuated by loud crying and in some cases screaming. (*This is why you need the nurses)
Other terms you might need to know: 8.First Family-The pastor’s family. 9. First Lady-Not Mrs. Obama, but the wife of the pastor. 10. Pastor-Leader of the congregation. In some cases the members see him as a family member. Don’t talk about him unless you are looking for trouble. 11. Members love their pastors that is why in some cases it is so difficult for members to accept the fact that pastors are in most cases men and men have faults and make mistakes. 12. I almost forgot: You will here this phrase more than once: “In closing…”
I grew up in church so this list reflects my experience as I said before it is by no means all inclusive.
This past week we have mourned the loss of Whitney Houston. We have heard that her roots were in gospel, but we have not heard a lot of the gospel songs that she recorded. Last night on the televised NAACP image awards gospel great Yolanda Adams sang the Houston song I Love the Lord, this song was featured in the movie, The Preacher’s Wife, which featured Whitney Houston, Denzel Washington and Courtney Vance. Adams performance was spirit filled and left the crowd on their feet. Adams knows how to sing a song in a way that can pierce your very soul.
Rev. Al Sharpton took a stand on gay marriage. He supports marriage equality, but will his stand hurt him within the black church? Sharpton hosts Politics Nation on MSNBC. In the statement he says he is a Baptist minister but, his personal views should not affect his belief in marriage equality. Gay marriage is not accepted in many of the churches that Shaprton preaches in. Will his stance hurt him within that community? Tell me what you think.
