Drew Chambers Is Eliminated From Sunday's Best

I really don't get into reality shows, especially competitions. But occassionaly I venture and watch BET Sunday's Best. Why? I love God and I love music that makes me think about and feel God's presence. I won't talk about previous shows, except to say I love Andrea Helms, but I will talk about last night's episode.

I watched the tryouts which are generally really good or really bad. Is there any in between? But I heard a voice and I said, "Oh, I'll watch this season." Immediately I was drawn to the voice and the ministry of Drew Chambers. So okay, he made it through the auditions let the show begin. The first group of singers were on last week's show and of course I'm like, "Where's Drew?" He tells me he will be on the upcoming show, which aired last night. Oh, ok, Drew told me over Twitter it wasn't a text or anything. We're not like friends or anything. 

Last night at 8PM I'm planted in front of the TV and eventually Drew sings, I wanted to hear more but it's a show with limited time so maybe I'll get more next week. Well, no I won't because Drew was eliminated last night. Hmmm. I feel some kind of way. I go to Twitter and I have a small venting session, I'm a bit bothered. I had to call my friend, a young guy who has a strong musical background, and we discussed the issue surrounding what is Sunday's Best. 

We live in 2014 where to be honest some African American families are leaving the traditional black church for nondemoninational culturally diverse churches. On any given Sunday you can hear Praise Teams singing, "Our God" (Chris Tomlin), "The Anthem" (The PlanetShakers) or "Because Of Who You Are" (Martha Munizzi). So the question is "What is Sunday's Best?" I watched that entire show last night and not every contestant was up to their best. The contestant who ministered, "Go Get It' by Mary Mary. She was allowed to stay even though she clearly messed up notes. Clearly. But I guess she gets to continue on because she fits the mold for Sunday's Best. I guess.

To me Sunday's Best is an artist who capitvates and allows you to hear a little bit of heaven. That doesn't require a bunch of riffs and runs. Sometimes it simply means a pure voice that sings with a heart after God that apparently doesn't always win a gospel music competition. Before I watched the show last night I went to YouTube and I heard Drew sing http://youtu.be/JA3Uh73YWY8. 

Drew didn't make the cut last night but boy did his dismissal from the show have an impact that went beyond cultural lines. It provided some good conversation online about race, gospel music and the idea of "the anointing". To me that was possibly the best thing that happened on a Sunday. 

Side note. Even if alone I'm silently protesting this season of Sunday's Best. 

WIP The Runway - CityGate Church - August 2, 2014 5PM

So... How can you get tickets for #WIPTheRunway? 

CityGate Church (Towne Campus) on Wednesdays from 6-8p.m. and Sundays from 8-11a.m.

Lakota Freshman Campus on Sundays from 10-1p.m.

or visit

WIPTheRunway

Are You Red Carpet Ready?

There Is Peace In Memphis, TN For Me

About 12 years ago my son was a 3rd grader and we traveled to Memphis for AAU Nationals. What I remembered the most was the huge churches and me being introduced to the concept of church life centers. At that time I had not heard of such. These churches were huge and they had fitness centers and basketball courts. I want to say that it was Ridgeway Baptist that had a sign outside of its court that said "Enter His Court With Praise". I was in such awe.

It was more to Memphis that I loved. It was serene to me. It was so beautiful to me. I felt like I was where I was supposed to me at that moment. To say the least we had a ball and at one point I'm walking through a strip mall and an older lady stops me and asks if I was from Memphis. I tell her no and she says you should think about moving here. That conversation has stayed with me for 12 years. Can you imagine that?

Well here it is 2014 and I have a 2nd grade son playing AAU. (Yeah, I know weird huh?) You would never imagine where AAU Nationals were this year. Yes! Memphis! Mind you they played in Maryland and it was a coach and players only trip a couple of weeks ago. The trip to Memphis, I was going and we went and I had a ball.

We stayed on the University of Memphis campus and I fell in love with the Poplar Avenue area with it's somewhat hidden mall and cute stores sprinkled all over the place. One evening my son and I went to dine at The Germantown Commissary and as we were riding we drove past the hotel we stayed at 12 years ago. I felt this heavy spirit come over me and I heard God say, "I've brought you back to the place you were years ago to feel what you felt then." I couldn't think of the word to describe how I felt in Memphis until I discussed it with my niece and the first and only word she could say was "peace". 

I completely receive that. So now I've decided to make another trip to Memphis soon. I won't let another 12 years go by without me being in the place that makes me feel so peaceful.

Holiday Inn at The University of Memphis

Germantown Commissary

Corky's BBQ 

Our last stop in Memphis before getting on the expressway. I just needed one last reminder of the time spent there. 

Author Terry McMillian Keynote Speaker At 2014 Women's EmpowermentConference In Cincinnati, Ohio

2014 Women's Empowerment Conference

Isaac Quaye Ministries In Collaboration With Zion Global MinistriesPresent Back To Worship

WIP The Runway 2014 - City Gate Church, Cincinnati, Ohio

Fashion and fun unfold on the runway August 2nd at 5PM. Doors open at 4:15PM for a Red Carpet Pre-Show. Ticket distribution will be on Wednesdays at 6PM at City Gate Church (1125 Towne Street, Cincinnati, Ohio) Admission to the show will only be granted with an official WIP the Runway event ticket.

Sneezed On The Beat.........

Sneezed On The Beat.........

Prior to December 2013 I had not owned any Beyonce' music, not even a Destiny Child's single. I would watch their videos just to see the unique coordination of their outfits. Once Mrs. Carter went solo I would continue to watch her videos and every award show that she would perform on but still hadn't made a purchase. I loved her energy and just thought she was simply fabulous, especially when performing with her hubby Jay Z. 

For some reason I just never felt a real connection to Beyonce' until the birth of her beautiful daughter Blue. When I read about her speaking on motherhood things began to change for me. It was like ok, we have something in common. We are mothers. 

I woke up the day after the surprise release to all of the commotion on social media. I had not made it to iTunes before someone had posted the video for Partition. Whoa!! I must have sat and watched that video over and over. Then I heard there were more videos. I was quickly absorbed in reading about the sales and listening to the songs online. 

Remember when videos were are big deal coming out? MTV would tell you when the world premier for a video would be and you would sit and wait and watch it every hour on the hour. How else did we learn the Thriller dance? Beyonce's release was something similar. It wasn't comparable to anyone else's videos or anyone else's music. 

As much as some people want to criticize Beyonce' and her music, some of her songs are explicit, I couldn't help but be excited for how well her album did in December. It's motivating. Yes, her money is different from most but we all have the same 24 hours. What are you doing with yours? It got me to a laptop and I not only finished my second self pub book but I made it available for sale. 

Now, I'm listening to Beyonce often and she's coming to Cincinnati on June 28. The city is excited and I am too. Even if I don't get inside the concert, the most expensive tickets seem to be left, best believe if I'm in town I will be in the area. The chance to hear a snippet of Yonce' or Partition live..Man listen! That's gonna be crazy!

Once day I wasn't feeling well and all I could think to text a friend was "I sneezed on the beat and the beat got sicker." The response from my friend was one of confusion. "But you saved Arlinda." Yeah, well there are some saved chicks that love Beyonce' too. 

WIP The Runway 2014 - August 2 at 5 PM City Gate Church in Cincinnati,Ohio

Kenneth "The Truth" Williams on the Empowerment Encounter with Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant

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Pastor Jamal H Bryant Responds On The James Fortune Show

Yesterday Pastor Jamal Harrison Bryant went on The James Fortune Show to respond to the controversy surrounding him using a line from a Chris Brown song in a recent sermon. The sermon entitled I'm My Enemies Worst Nightmare aired on The Word Network on May 3, 2014.

Below you will find the links to The James Fortune Interview and the actual sermon in its entirety.

James Fortune Interview

James Fortune Interview

I'm My Enemies Worst Nightmare