Glorilla & Gospel Music. What Is The Real Issue?

SEE: Seduced Church: The Prostitution & Sale Of The Psalmist

Since the rapper known as "Glorilla" (Gloria Hallelujah  Woods) was delivered the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award for her collab with Kirk Franklin, Maverick City and multiple other  gospel artists at the 2025 BET Awards, there appears to be an outcry from certain gospel artists who have taken the time to cry "foul" to one degree or another. 

While some alleged gospel artists, have no problem with a rapper, who's previous claim to fame was a 2022 viral Tik-Tok rap entitled "F.N.F Let's GO", (whose lyrics are far too vulgar to state here) there are others who claim that there is nothing wrong with Glorilla having the opportunity to "shine" in the gospel music industry and that her appearance is a welcome addition to the gospel music industry.

Because of the apparent success of non-gospel artists in the gospel music space, others, like Deitrick Haddon, above, feel that Gospel Music, as a genre, is dying in its appeal to the masses because of the failure of those within the industry to respect the industry and recognize the work of many within the industry. 

I wonder where was all this "energy" when rapper Snoop Dogg, who has presented his secular rap music with equally or more vulgar language and messages, and also won the same award in 2021 for his song "Blessing Me Again" also in collaboration with respected, top selling gospel artists, such as the late Rance Allen. 

Since Deitrick was silent then (in 2021), is his interest now because of just being fed up with the issue, or is it because Glorilla is a woman, and he didn't want to fall out of favor with his "boyzz"? 

Then, there is "close the doors" Marvin Sapp, recognized as one of the highest charting gospel artists in American history, who in a rather lengthy facebook post, took the time to assert his opinion that the real problem was not that gospel music was dying, but that gospel music has lost its diversity, flavor, and appeal in part because of Christian community's bias and confusion over artists lifestyles, sins, failures and perceptions of "anointing". 

The following is my partial response to Marvin Sapp's posting:

"When we took gospel music, industrialized it, and gave it to secular individuals to promote it, what do you think would happen to it???
Why would the world safeguard and care for something that has been given to us and that we have been entrusted with?"

The truth of the matter is that gospel music, as soon as it was made into an "industry" and rooted in secular appeal, it died. Yet, there were and are presentations, concerts, tours and everything else, but it is as far away from the cross of Christ as left is from right. 

Secondly, far from the opining of Dr. Sapp, I believe that personal character and integrity have everything to do with the success and move forward of gospel music as a whole. To be sure, I am not talking about character flaws and idiosyncrasies. I am talking about sins and the deliberate ability to attempt to straddle the fence singing gospel while living secularly and in sin.  

SEE: Michael Tait Confession

The real issue is salvation and the church's inability to distinguish gifts, talents and abilities from anointing and the yoke breaking power of God. The church is enamored with associations and the ability to run with, be next to, and be in concord with "the world".

James 4:4 ~ Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Now, the truth is that "the world" and "the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:2) are incompatible. Not the mere material existence, which God has given us to enjoy. "The world" is the mode, operation and motive behind life and living.  Association with "the world" leads to compromise and exchange of ideals and values...That push and desire to compromise is the sin nature which is tied to "the world". As believers, we cannot run with it, in part because if we are converted or changed within our hearts. The nature of sin has been broken. We no longer want  sin to be the dominant part of our nature. As believers our nature, hearts, minds, and will should be changed, and reflective of the work Christ has begun within us. As believers we begin to "mortify" the deeds and sins of the flesh.(Col.3:5)

As the late Bishop CH Mason once said, "one can't be a little saved" just as one can't be "a little pregnant". Just as a woman is either "pregnant or not", a person is either "saved or not"! Of course, practically we grow in grace, (2 Pet. 3:18) but our love of sin and desire for evil associations, should be broken. 

Damage To The Kingdom

Then, what of the Kingdom of Christ? Like Gideon's idolatrous father, Joash, many contend that if God didn't want his Kingdom damaged then he would deliver those who represent his name. They would further assert that it is not our job to worry more about the Kingdom than God does himself and that a laissez-faire attitude toward all those who claim to be his servants of representatives is the best action to take.

If it were not for the fact that we are to "earnestly contend for the faith, once delivered unto the Saints" Jude 1:3 I would probably relegate myself to saying nothing or even attempting to shore up the faith of the readers of this blog, because what we are witnessing both in the so called gospel music industry, to the pulpit is a tragic shame. I cannot spend the time speaking on and or against the multiple, repugnant practices, doctrines and manipulative moves I am witnessing and have seen, but have not yet written about...I don't thing that there is enough band-width to reveal and rebuke the contemptuous acts that we are all witnessing. 

For sure, because JESUS prayed and paid for it with HIS blood, the church will survive. However, the exit wound will be painful. Many that started with us, won't make it until and to the end. Many are fainting as we speak.

So, is Gospel music dead? 

CERTAINLY NOT! The God of gospel music yet lives and HE is an should be the reason for the song and HE is certainly the reason I sing. However, that is a far cry from saying that God is pleased with what we see and are witnessing as the gospel music industry. 

I grow tired and absolutely sick of them, who give their gifts directly to the devil, in the name of "business deals" and in order to "promote the message"...It is  TRICK...it will not work. Only God can touch hearts and minds. Yes, I know that there is money to be made, but as the saying goes, "not all money is good money".

Jesus gave us the example...when satan tempted him, which was only done to prove to us that HE was without sin and could not sin, Jesus decried the challenge that satan could give him riches, wealth and influence in the world. In the end, without satan, Jesus stands and says, "behold all power is given unto me" (Mt. 28:18)...Not through or by compromise or anything that satan had to offer...It was GOD who already owned it all that Jesus reveals had and has the ability, control and authority over all things. 

Haddon is too far gone. He can see the issue and not perceive the real problem. Same with Dr. Sapp as far as I can see it. Then there are countless others who only see what the secular world and satan has taught and told them to see in order to judge the issue. Ooh yes, I could name them and nearly present an endless catalogue of misstatements, erroneous statements, errors, and flat out anti-Biblical diatribes flowing from many of our so called "Psalmists" on the issue...but why and to what avail???

What we are sure of is that it is time to REPENT and go back to the foundation and fountain of faith to find it again. When that happens, I am sure we will see a deliverance among the minstrels, (not ministers) that claim to lead us to the throne-room of God. They too, will lose their desire for sexual abuse, alcohol, drugs and other damnable and illicit practices...and most of all, feel the conviction about compromising the gif of God at the alter of satan. When we repent and when we pray there will be a change and folk will be blessed and saved as a result.  

To the church...

Revelation 2:2-5 ~ 2-I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3-And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4-Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5-Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Blessed!  

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"But What About Polio?" ~ Robert F Kennedy Jr.

For sure, politics is ugly these days. We have a whole justice department politicized against a political opponent while overlooking treasonous acts of a current President and son...We have people, such as Bill Gates, genetically modifying mosquitoes and releasing them in effort to change something, but WHAT is the question??? This is the day of the mad scientist and the ultra materialist and it is shameful...the more enlightened some of these become, the more morally bankrupt and barbaric they become as well. I am NOT a Democrat or shall I say a "DEMO-RAT", but I am also not one to simply judge
and label. Robert F Kennedy Jr., who endorses some policies I don't agree with and some I do, is one that is shaking up the Democratic side of the race for President and he is doing it by simply asking questions and making assertions...You see, the elites don't like being questioned...They like to tell everyone what to do, but they don't like being challenged. When Mr. Kennedy speaks up regarding vaccine collusion and deception, the liberal "controllers" on the Left can't stand it. They are ready to relegate his commentary to misinformation, even though THEY are the one's misinforming. No less is the case when it comes to the Polio vaccine and the modern computer scientists who have suddenly turned into medical practitioners...Remember, the Gates Foundation was at the table for the TABLE TOP EXERCISE on a Global Pandemic, prior to there being one. They think we are so stupid we can't put 2 + 2 together...Yes they have nerve. Here is what Mr. Kennedy recently wrote and revealed about this Polio vaccine and its administration...This is really insightful and shocking.

“Promising to eradicate Polio with $1.2 billion, Gates took control of India ‘s National Advisory Board (NAB) and mandated 50 polio vaccines (up from 5) to every child before age 5. Indian doctors blame the Gates campaign for a devastating vaccine-strain polio epidemic that paralyzed 496,000 children between 2000 and 2017.

In 2017, the Indian Government dialed back Gates’ vaccine regimen and evicted Gates and his cronies from the NAB. Polio paralysis rates dropped precipitously. In 2017, the World Health Organization reluctantly admitted that the global polio explosion is predominantly vaccine strain, meaning it is coming from Gates’ Vaccine Program. The most frightening epidemics in Congo, the Philippines, and Afghanistan are all linked to Gates’ vaccines. By 2018, ¾ of global polio cases were from Gates’ vaccines.

In 2014, the Gates Foundation funded tests of experimental HPV vaccines, developed by GSK and Merck, on 23,000 young girls in remote Indian provinces. Approximately 1,200 suffered severe side effects, including autoimmune and fertility disorders. Seven died. Indian government investigations charged that Gates funded researchers committed pervasive ethical violations: pressuring vulnerable village girls into the trial, bullying parents, forging consent forms, and refusing medical care to the injured girls. The case is now in the country’s Supreme Court. In 2010, the Gates Foundation funded a trial of a GSK’s experimental malaria vaccine, killing 151 African infants and causing serious adverse effects including paralysis, seizure, and febrile convulsions to 1,048 of the 5,049 children. During Gates 2002 MenAfriVac Campaign in Sub-Saharan Africa, Gates operatives forcibly vaccinated thousands of African children against meningitis. Between 50-500 children developed paralysis. South African newspapers complained, "We are guinea pigs for drug makers" Nelson Mandela's former Senior Economist, Professor Patrick Bond, describes Gates' philanthropic practice's as "ruthless" and immoral". In 2010, Gates committed $ 10 billion to the WHO promising to reduce population, in part, through new vaccines. A month later Gates told a Ted Talk that new vaccines "could reduce population". In 2014, Kenya's Catholic Doctors Association accused the WHO of chemically sterilizing millions of unwilling Kenyan women with a phony "tetanus" vaccine campaign. Independent labs found the sterility formula in every vaccine tested. After denying the charges, WHO finally admitted it had been developing the sterility vaccines for over a decade. Similar accusations came from Tanzania, Nicaragua, Mexico and the Philippines.

A 2017 study (Morgensen http://et.Al.2017) showed that WHO's popular DTP is killing more African than the disease it pretends to prevent. Vaccinated girls suffered 10x the death rate of unvaccinated children.

Gates and the WHO refused to recall the lethal vaccine which WHO forces upon millions of African children annually.

Global public health advocates around the world accuse Gates of - hijacking WHO's agenda away from the projects that are proven to curb infectious diseases; clean water, hygiene, nutrition and economic development. They say he has diverted agency resources to serve his personal fetish - that good health only comes in a syringe.

In addition to using his philanthropy to control WHO, UNICEF, GAVI and PATH, Gates funds private pharmaceutical companies that manufacture vaccines, and a massive network of pharmaceutical -industry front groups that broadcast deceptive propaganda, develop fraudulent studies, conduct surveillance and psychological operations against vaccine hesitancy and use Gates' power and money to silence dissent and coerce compliance."

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A Federal Judge's Order Against The The Erosion Of Personal & Religious Liberty

In the process to mitigate the alleged "pandemic" of covid 19, it seems that the Constitution of the United States has been tabled by many Governors all over over the country, initially, so we were told, to curtail death, but more recently, so we are told, to keep the healthcare system from being overwhelmed. 

Shelter In Place

According to the New Your Times (a news organization I certainly DON'T recommend) "Stay at Home" orders have been issued to an estimated 316 million American citizens in 42 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, 3 counties and 9 cities.

Having begun in California, the executive orders, which are allegedly rooted in CDC and Washington DC guidance,  are issued by the Governors in most cases and vary widely. For example, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, in a State hard hit by covid 19, recently issued an order prohibiting citizens from traveling to second homes, standing outside too long, and even purchasing specific items, such as paint from hardware stores, contending that the items were "non-essential". In other States such as Mississippi, Kentucky, and even Illinois  in which Governor Pritzker and his colleagues contended that orders to stay home meant prohibitions on attending church or places of religious worship no matter if social distancing guidelines were followed or not. In the case of Illinois and Kentucky, the Governors were so brazen as to suggest that the churches were "non essential" institutions, while, in all cases simultaneously contending that liquor retail establishments were/are"essential". (Even though the same CDC from which they take their guidance states that over 88,000 people die annually of alcohol related illness or excessive use of alcohol.)

Even During A Pandemic, The Free Exercise Of Religion Is Upheld

As I began to speak and write on this issue, I was surprised by the number of practicing Christians who do not know the difference between religious freedom and freedom of worship and why each is vitally important but not necessarily one in the same. This has been quite a controversy, between so called "enlightened" people, both secular and religious, who believe that religious practice is flexible and can be done in any setting.

The fact is that one can actually worship anywhere. That is not a question that needs to be addressed.  What is at question however is the fact that our Constitution guarantees the right of the religious to freely exercise religion no matter the circumstance. That is, We The People are guaranteed the ability to freely carry out the practice of religious belief without restriction. What's more is that the practice or free exercise of religion and tenets of faith, need not meet an intellectual standard or criteria suitable to anyone looking on. Further, it seems that the State does not have a right to regulate how our belief is carried out or to tell the church how to conduct its beliefs.

This is the problem. The Governors, in their zeal to thwart and stop the covid 19 alleged pandemic, from overwhelming our medical systems, went further than their lawful boundaries and, in many cases, usurped their control and authority over religious practice and the free exercise thereof, telling the church not only how to worship, but restricting access as to how and where the free and valid exercise of religion would be carried out while simultaneously not holding secular businesses and industries to the same or similar standard. 

Now, many of our churches sat back and allowed this to happen without a word to the contrary. Truthfully many people from church leaders to lay persons, suffered and died as a result of this dreaded disease, and there is nobody that is favor of that, however, as I have written, what is the price that we have paid as a result of allowing secular leaders to take control of and usurp authority over the church at any time, yet alone times of distress? In the future, what will limit the states power over the church in the event of the "next" crisis?

I'll say more on this in my next article, but the church was only to be subject to "just" law, and law that does not impede liberties given by God and not simply any law. 

A Judge's Eyeopening Decision

A recent Facebook posting by a news group , Unbiased America, caught my attention. Their post outlined the actions of a Federal Judge Justin Walker of Kentucky. Judge Walker ruled, just prior to Easter, in favor of the On Fire Church and against a Kentucky Mayoral directive allegedly enforcing the Governor's stay at home order, which had been constructed to prohibit church worship on the Churches most Holy Day, Easter. In his ruling Judge Walker stated:

"On Holy Thursday, an American mayor criminalized the communal celebration of Easter. That sentence is one that this Court never expected to see outside the pages of a dystopian novel, or perhaps the pages of 'The Onion" 

The Judge went on to say:

"But two days ago, citing the need for social distancing during the current pandemic, Louisville’s Mayor Greg Fischer ordered Christians not to attend Sunday services, even if they remained in their cars to worship – and even though it’s Easter. The Mayor’s decision is stunning. And it is, “beyond all reason, unconstitutional."

Judge Walker concluded by saying:

"But for the men and women of On Fire, Christ’s sacrifice isn’t about the logic of this world. Nor is their Easter Sunday celebration. The reason they will be there for each other and their Lord is the reason they believe He was and is there for us. For them, for all believers, “it isn’t a matter of reason; finally, it’s a matter of love.”

Groups such as First Liberty have been inundated with requests for help during this pandemic from churches seeking to merely continue to freely exercise their religious beliefs against the backdrop of over the top stay at home and anti-religious subversion efforts of State officials.

Conclusion

It seems that, although many have been born and raised within America, that they don't know exactly how the interface of human rights work in conjunction with or in accord with State law, and the desire to keep and maintain a peaceful and safe society. Although covid 19, has presented issues and problems that have never been dealt with before in American society, it seems that  too many people in authority believe that rights can be suspended by the State at any time and without notice, and that religious rights or the essential nature of religious belief is only an illusion.

While the latter sentiments are right in line with the anti-religious extremists, who have not taken the time to consider that human rights only exists as a result of religion, and the Christian religion in particularly, it is saddening to know that the people must continually check, recheck and call into question the actions and directives of their elected secular officials. 

To be clear, noone wants to upbraid the State or anything done to keep us and make us safe in this hour of pandemics, however, we want the State to work within the confines of human rights to address the issues. Not break the law in order to make the law. That is unreasonable.

In my next post, I will present the letter and email that I sent to the Governor of Illinois regarding these things and others. 

Judge Justin Walker's Complete Decision

TRO Granted In covid 19 Kentucky Church Case from Pastor Harvey Burnett

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Hip Hop, Idolatry & The Church Pt. 27 ~ Super Bowl & The New Gospel

Now here's something that you don't see everyday Chauncey...
What's that Edgar?
Well, here it is:

.@SnoopDogg x @RealRanceAllen performed "Blessing Me Again" during the #SuperBowlGospel Celebration. 🙌 See more tonight on BET at 11/10c. pic.twitter.com/Qj6SfiwOYt

— BET (@BET) February 3, 2018

No, I'll let you talk on this one. I've done 26 parts to this series and said enough.

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Can't Take Our Heritage Away!

In a recent update of the fundraising portion for my new book, "Ministering Effectively"

I reminded the audience that our heritage in Christ and in church could not be simply taken away and done away with as the secular left has seemingly proposed. 

My reason for saying this, is because as we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday we are reminded that the tribute to him erected in Washington, DC. in 2011 included everything BUT his heritage and the real reason that he engaged the civil rights struggle as he did. 

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

To be clear, there is NO REFERENCE to Dr. King as being a "Pastor", a "Servant Of Jesus Christ", or one who "Served God". There is not even a reference to scripture or the bible as being the guide or motive for his efforts in the movement. Also, one only need to look at the title of the memorial, "Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial" to see that even his title "Dr." has been taken away by the liberal elite under a liberal Black President. 

In their efforts to not "offend" and to be so inclusive, as their necessary condition is these days, those who created the memorial, and those who approved it (which include some of Dr. King's own family members) took the ultimate step to rewrite history, and only acknowledge the portions of history that they agree with and to offend the very un-enigmatic roots and source for the strength of Dr. King during the struggle.  

This is a SAD shame on America and upon every person of color in America who has endured unfair and unequal treatment based on race or ethnic background. This is a SAD shame upon America to realize that in a memorial that addresses so called "civil rights" that religious rights and freedoms are clearly struck down as being insignificant and are under attack. 

This is what I said in the new note:

Can't Take Our Heritage Away!

Interestingly, there is overwhelming historical evidence that the modern civil rights and social justice movements were birthed out of the church. In fact, if we look at positive change that occurs in the world, overwhelmingly the church is at the center of things and the place where ideas are transformed into action.

As we celebrate another Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day, let us be reminded that secular society, while attempting to honor him, has tried to strip his memory of his heritage, within the church and God.

Although the highly controversial monument was erected in Dr. Martin Luther King's honor in 2011 without a SINGLE reference to Jesus Christ and or scripture, we know that without Pastor King's desire to serve both his God and his community, that Black and poor minorities would continue to be trivialized in their plight for change.

"Ministering Effectively" is looking beyond self, self desires and needs, and refusing to adjust to the "status quo". That is what those that truly serve HIM do!

Your gifts towards this book helps send the message out to countless millions that we CAN overcome anything with Jesus and that each individual can bring change to their community.

How many Dr. King's are there out there? How many of us are willing and ready to "Minister Effectively" to our Christ KING? 

May the Lord continue to bless you this Pastor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Thank you for your prayers and your contributions!

The critic can say what they wish, but those who believe in and are confident of the truth clearly and unobtrusively know that the fight for social justice, liberation, and freedom, even freedom from slavery was birthed out of the church and because of the Bible and its teachings on the same issues of liberation. 

Conclusion

My son recently told me of a conversation in which a person said that they didn't believe in the bible because it endorsed slavery and that most slave traders in American history used the Bible to affirm their racist beliefs.

I responded by pointing out and saying this...

"Are we as confident that the slave traders did what they did because they believed in the Bible, or because they were White and sinners who felt that they could do it? History affirms that the only reason that slave trading was challenged as an acceptable practice, was not because of some secular and materialistic paradigm (survival of the fittest certainly endorses slavery) but it was because of the biblical paradigm and world view that men, some even slave traders themselves, could no longer give themselves to an institution that was so diabolically against love, humanity and all the good and moral things that humans embrace. We know from history that it was because of the Bible that abolitionists fought against slavery. So are we really as confident that folk believed in slavery because of the bible? I think not! Slavery was always a product of elitism. What the Bible calls a "proud look" which is a sin. Money and the love of money was at its heart, which the bible condemns as a moral ethic in the service of humanity. So it can hardly be said that slavery was a product of the Bible and or God when everything that slavery represented was opposed to him. So ask the question again, was it mostly because of the Bible or because some were White and sinners? We are confident that slavery as an institution was condemned because of the Bible and belief in God, but less confident of the alternate." 

"Amazing Grace!" Men find liberation in the cross and as we celebrate Pastor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, let us remember that the cross can do for us what noone is able to do...save our souls and deliver us from SIN and unrighteousness!

Blessed!

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The World, READY To Hate Believers!

In an interview conducted by NFL writer, Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune, with former Indianapolis Colts Head Coach and NBC sports commentator, Tony Dungy, Tony said the following regarding openly homosexual NFL player Michael Sam:

“I wouldn’t have taken him,’’...“Not because I don’t believe Michael Sam should have a chance to play, but I wouldn’t want to deal with all of it. “It’s not going to be totally smooth … things will happen.’’

Now, I watched and listened as this firestorm took wings. As the new U.S. Socialist, Secular Humanistically inspired, politically correct, talking head police moved in like vultures to devour fresh roadkill on an Arizona highway....I have never heard more blatantly ignorant commentary in my life regarding a subject that was blown so far out of proportion. 

I heard people blaming Tony's Christianity and belief in the bible for his so called "small" views and that he was a secret "homophobe" (whatever that is) because he stated some rather obvious points from a coaching and team management perspective. There were so many people ready to bash Christianity, the bible and the biblical teachings against homosexuality when Dungy made his comments that it was sickening. Local news personalities claimed to be upset that Dungy would invoke his "Christian beliefs" and others were ready to bash the bible as an old irrelevant book, further demonstrating their ignorance that the WORD of God IS a LIVING document. 

Then further, not only did we hear that because Coach Dungy stood with Michael Vick and Plaxico Burriss through their life's struggles that he was somehow less than a Christian by making statements that were "against" Homo-Sam... I heard the continued ignorant ramblings of a comparison of being Black or a minority, and the struggle for civil rights based on color with homosexuality and the struggle for their acceptance in society and homosexual marriage....Look...ANYONE can have sex and stop having sex...every one is free to have sex with whomever they wish, within the bounds of law, however RACE is something that NONE of us can stop, turn off or turn on...There is NO COMPARISON between being Black, and the struggle for civil rights based on color and being a homosexual and struggling for recognition within society based on who you "love" and how you like to have sex...STOP THE MADNESS!

Although homosexual advocates are piggybacking on civil rights advances by Blacks and minorities within society, homosexuality is STILL a choice of sex and sexual activity that DOES NOT deserve to be favored or protected in law as we see happening within America's courts. Certainly, all people deserve dignity and respect. That is NOT the question. But stop the PRETENSE that Black parallels are gay parallels. They ARE NOT!   

Stephen To The Rescue?

Until Stephen A Smith (ESPN Sports Analyst) undertook the topic, I thought to myself, what happened to the "tolerance" of the so called tolerant? And why are these folk bashing the bible and Christianity when the man did not invoke ONE bible scripture, nor was he preaching a message? 

Stephen may be challenged on many issues, and is certainly not one that fights for Christian conservatism, but his comments were much better than almost any that I heard within the media:

Tony's subsequent statement on the issue:

On Monday afternoon while on vacation with my family, I was quite surprised to read excerpts from an interview I gave several weeks ago related to this year's NFL Draft, and I feel compelled to clarify those remarks.

I was asked whether I would have drafted Michael Sam and I answered that would not have drafted him. I gave my honest answer, which is that I felt drafting him would bring much distraction to the team. At the time of my interview, the Oprah Winfrey reality show that was going to chronicle Michael's first season had been announced.

I was not asked whether or not Michael Sam deserves an opportunity to play in the NFL. He absolutely does.

I was not asked whether his sexual orientation should play a part in the evaluation process. It should not.

I was not asked whether I would have a problem having Michael Sam on my team. I would not.

I have been asked all of those questions several times in the last three months and have always answered them the same way—by saying that playing in the NFL is, and should be, about merit.

The best players make the team, and everyone should get the opportunity to prove whether they're good enough to play. That's my opinion as a coach. But those were not the questions I was asked.

What I was asked about was my philosophy of drafting, a philosophy that was developed over the years, which was to minimize distractions for my teams.

I do not believe Michael's sexual orientation will be a distraction to his teammates or his organization.

I do, however, believe that the media attention that comes with it will be a distraction. Unfortunately we are all seeing this play out now, and I feel badly that my remarks played a role in the distraction.

I wish Michael Sam nothing but the best in his quest to become a star in the NFL and I am confident he will get the opportunity to show what he can do on the field.

My sincere hope is that we will be able to focus on his play and not on his sexual orientation.

Conclusion:

Sorry, if I were a football coach, I would not have drafted Sam either. Not because of his homosexuality, or ability/inability to play the game, but because of his desire to have all attention on him and to maximize and play his sexuality into the shame of others...

Yes, SHAME...Michael Sam strategically came out as gay BEFORE the NFL draft in order to make his being gay a human and humanistic issue in exchange for a NFL chance. He focused on his sexual orientation when noone cared although it was speculated. Certainly he may have suffered in the draft by obtaining a lower place, the fact is that all eyes were not on Michael Sam and the NFL would have taken a hit in the socialist media by not drafting him or giving him an opportunity. It was a "PR hot potato" from the day that he was compelled to open up and say that he was gay. All the liberals in the world were calling him "courageous" and claiming that it was "great to have an openly gay NFL football player". One way or another, Sam was getting an NFL chance. Of that there was no doubt. 

Further, for an new athlete to have a reality show deal at a time when a coach and team are building and learning one another(and he is not even officially on the team yet)  is more NARCISSISM. I could not in good conscience draft a man who not only poses a disruption in the locker room but a disruption in the way of doing business. There is certainly more to it than who is taking showers with whom and where...(and THAT is a consideration...I wouldn't want any gay gawkers looking at me in the locker room!) There is the continuity of a TEAM and common goal that must be considered, and like any coach Dungy spoke from that place of concern. 

Sorry you Christian and bible haters! If you think that Christians hate gays and that the bible endorses gay hate, you are critically deceived and need some sort of lifeline to come back to reality. Our love for God does not diminish the love for humanity, it only orders it placing it in full perspective.

Tony did not mention the bible, he only tries to live out its virtues, and it may be surprising to you to know that there are many more considerations in life than the considerations of those who embrace the sin of homosexuality. We love you, but please don't be upset because we don't encourage, embrace or endorse your lifestyle and we won't be shamed into doing so. Thank you very merch!

Blessed! 

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The "Business" Of Church

Matthew 21:12-13 ~ 12- And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13-And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Although there is a healthy debate even among Christians as to whether the "church" as we know it today was ever supposed to be the "church" as we have become used to seeing it, or even whether Jesus came to establish a religion at all, one thing is for sure, whatever the church and religious practice associated with the church once was, it is hard pressed to continue to be that and as a result has lost it's luster in a ever increasing mine-field of church and even secular "alternatives".

In short, the rise of relative moral values, increasing secularism, and the desire for social relevance are among some of the more pervasive issues that the church faces. That doesn't even begin to touch on the ever increasing moral failures of some of the leaders and adherents of the church. All of these things have made the church, the modern physical church, a very difficult landscape for the average person to navigate.

Church, The Business

Then add the "business" of church to the mix. There has always been a business aspect to serving God through the corporate entity called the church. Even within the first church people sold what they had that the needs of the corporate group might be met (Acts 4). Under the Levitical system, sacrifices and offerings cost and had value. In Jesus time, ministry under the Temple System had become big business. Scripture records that Jesus drove out the "moneychanges" at least twice during his ministry (Matt. 21:12-13, John 2:14-15) and reprimanded temple leaders for their excesses. I believe, and have further taught, that Jesus did this at least annually as a symbol of his office and in expectation of what the religious Jew would have understood as the special authority associated with the Messiah who was expected to appear in every generation. By the time of Jesus, to say that the Temple and the people were being abused would have been an understatement. What was being done was not in accordance with what God had commanded and not in line with what he expected from those who would serve HIM. The poor were to be ministered to, not taken advantage of. The very fact that the nickname of the Temple at that time was "Herrod's Temple" indicates that money and evil associations had began to rule the day even in what should have been the most sacred of places.  

Show Me The Money!

From the historical position of Catholic "indulgences" to modern mega church "sacrificial gifts", to $50 million dollar plus places of worship, not to mention $250,000 monthly TV programming budgets. As we already know, on any given Sunday at mini-mega local churches offerings of the faithful can exceed $20,000. Big business exists within and surrounding the modern church. Much of the raised funds are delivered to folk

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