October 11, 2015
Father/Son/Holy Ghost
DOUBLE PORTION! Pastor Jamal-Harrison Bryant and Bishop John Bryant preach a tag team sermon!
Father/Son/Holy Ghost! Bishop John Bryant (the father) and Pastor Jamal-Harrison Bryant (the son) usher in the Holy Ghost during the Double Portion Conference at Bethel AME Church (Dr. Frank M. Reid, Pastor) in Baltimore, MD. The pair delivered a tag-team sermon entitled "If You Weren't Born With It, Fight For It!"
October 10, 2015
Gospel Jazz Playlist
Gospel Jazz Playlist
Proverbs 16 NIV
1 To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue. 2 All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. 3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. 4 The LORD works out everything for his own ends-- even the wicked for a day of disaster. 5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. 6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil. 7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him. 8 Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. 9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. 10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle, and his mouth should not betray justice. 11 Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making. 12 Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness. 13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth. 14 A king's wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will appease it. 15 When a king's face brightens, it means life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring. 16 How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! 17 The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life. 18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. 20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. 21 The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction. 22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, but folly brings punishment to fools. 23 A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. 24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. 25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. 26 The laborer's appetite works for him; his hunger drives him on. 27 A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. 28 A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. 29 A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good. 30 He who winks with his eye is plotting perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil. 31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life. 32 Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city. 33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
September 25, 2015
March 16, 2015
Walk in the Light You Have
Walk in the Light You Have
"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them" (2 Tim. 3:14).
If you're born again and have the Word of God in your heart, you can live in victory. You may not have all the answers. There may be a great many spiritual things you don't understand. But, it's not those things that are most likely to destroy you. It's the things you know to do - but don't - that usually make you fall.
Just think about walking at night down a dark, unfamiliar path in the middle of a jungle. The guide up ahead has a flashlight to keep you on the right path. But then, you just decide to wander off into the darkness by yourself. What do you think will happen to you? You'll probably stumble and fall. Very likely, you'll get hurt.
That's exactly the same thing that can happen in your walk with the Lord. He knows what's ahead and He shines just enough light for you to take one step at a time. You have to continue walking in that light in order to get where you're going.
You may not know why He's leading you a certain way. You may not understand all the things involved. But God will make up for your ignorance by the Holy Spirit. He'll see to it that you have victory if you continue in what you know.
It's good to keep studying. It's good to keep learning. But remember, it's not the great revelation you haven't had yet that will cause you the most trouble. It's failing to walk in the ones God has already given you. So, be faithful in those things. Continue in them day after day after day. You'll make it through just fine!
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 1:2-11
March 10, 2015
Dear Mr. Jim Crow I think We Need You
Dear Mr. Jim Crow I think We Need You: What Happened To Black Preachers After 1965
A Tribute To Rev. CT Vivian As He Took On Sheriff Jim Clark
PimpPreacher.com New Orleans Bureau 07/03/2014 - Repost by demand 10/10/2014
I never thought I would say the words I am about to utter, but the sad reality is becoming too obvious to ignore. Black Preachers need another visitation from you Mr. Jim Crow. Not only do they need you, but in so many ways I believe you made the Black Preacher a better Preacher. Hear me out Mr. Crow.
Because of your mean and hateful demeanor from 1887 - 1965, you gave the Black Preacher a common enemy, a visible threat, and someone to strategize against. When you were alive and well, the Black Preachers stood united around one common goal; and, unlike anytime in African American History, they had a sense of purpose. When you encourage Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam to kidnap Emmett Till, it was the Black Preachers who networked down through the red dirt roads in Mississippi to find him. Unfortunately, The Black Preachers arrived too late. When Rosa Parks stood still, with pride, for her mugshot photo, your hatred of equality gave birth to a beautiful movement.
Because of you, Mr. Jim Crow, Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth challenged a young, gifted Black Preacher from Atlanta named Martin Luther King to get more active in the real fight in Birmingham. Oh yes, Mr. Crow, you made the Black Preacher better in many ways; but, the biggest and perhaps most important area was selflessness. During your 70 year life span, Black Preachers operated as one single organism – never caring who received the credit- as long as the people reached the Promised Land. You caused a spontaneous outpouring of compassion that raced from the pulpit to the corner liquor store; compassion that we have not seen since 1965.
Not only did you make the Black Preachers better, but you also made the Black teachers better. You stood in the way of Civil Rights. You blocked the exterior entrances of Separate but Unequal Schools, causing Black Students to evolve under strenuous academic conditions. It was under your reign, Jim Crow, that Black Teachers had to prepare Black students to exist, and excel, in a segregated society. Because of your determination to see African Americans remain intellectually inferior, those black Teachers passed with flying colors. Jim, you created that environment, and I don’t know how we survived your rage, but we did.
In the years since President Johnson handed that famous ink pen to Dr. Martin Luther King- that single moment marked the decline of Clergy Activism in our Communities. That moment in the Oval Office also marked the beginning of the Prosperity Gospel, because Black Preachers no longer had you as a formidable opponent. Gone are the days when very few people wanted to be a Pastor- that lifestyle seemed boring and mundane- now it has become a coveted career path. Gone are the Black Preachers who felt as Fred Shuttlesworth did when he said “this entire community is my Pulpit.”
Today we have Black Preachers who are only concerned about their Love Offerings, and their Church Buildings. Gone are the days of Jim Crow.
Now You’re Gone Mr. Crow!
Every now and then we’ll get a glimpse of how great our Black Pastors were during the days of Jim Crow- on those occasions when Rev. Jessie Jackson or Al Shapton dust off their marching shoes in protest. Other than that, the Black Preacher, as we knew them during the days of Jim Crow, are all but extinct. Without Jim Crow there is no leadership coming from the multitudes of pulpits throughout our communities- only Church Taxation without Representation.
With the absence of Jim Crow, community strategy sessions have been replaced by Pastor Empowerment Conferences. Without Jim Crow, the SCLC has become a trivia question that many Black People can’t answer. Without Jim Crow, we lost preachers like Rev. Avery Alexander and Rev. Cordy Tindell Vivian, only to replace them with Bishop Eddie Long and Bishop T.D. Jakes.
As I watched the blood pour out of the mouth of Rev. CT Vivian, I became sad. Not because of the pain that he must have endure at the hands of Selma, Alabama’s Sheriff, Jim Clark, but at the thought that there is not one Black Pastor that I consider his equal today.
To Rev. CT Vivian, I say thank you for dedicating your life to defeating Jim Crow – I owe my freedom to the Black Preachers of your generation. To the current Black Preachers who couldn’t care less about the communities surrounding their own Churches, I say shame on you for destroying such a beautiful legacy.
To Jim Crow, I say these current Black Preachers don’t fear God, so maybe they might fear you should you decide to resurrect yourself.
TJ – CHURCH FOLK REVOLUTION
March 1, 2015
February 15, 2015
Reverend Dr. James Cleveland
The Reverend Dr. James Cleveland (December 5, 1931 - February 9, 1991) was a gospel singer, arranger, composer and, most significantly, the driving force behind the creation of the modern gospel sound, bringing the stylistic daring of hard gospel and jazz and pop music influences to arrangements for mass choirs. He is known as the King of Gospel music
Rev. James Cleveland is a legendary Gospel artist worthy of carrying the title name "King Of Gospel Music!!!!!
James Cleveland Thank God Playlist
He began singing as a boy soprano at Pilgrim Baptist Church, where Thomas A. Dorsey was minister of music and Roberta Martin was pianist for the choir. He strained his vocal cords as a teenager while part of a local gospel group, leaving the distinctive gravelly voice that was his hallmark in his later years. The change in his voice led him to focus on his skills as a pianist and later as a composer and arranger. For his pioneering accomplishments and contributions, he is regarded by many to be one of the greatest gospel singers to ever live. In 1950, Cleveland joined the Gospelaires, a trio led by Norsalus McKissick and Bessie Folk, who were associated with Martin. Martin hired him as a composer and arranger after the group disbanded. His arrangements of songs such as "(Give Me That) Old Time Religion" and "It's Me.
Playing the piano was a skill that James developed through trial and error. His keen ear and ability to quickly grasp musical style helped him develop a command of the keyboard. But it was Roberta Martin who was the inspiration for his piano style. At a young age, James patterned his playing after Mrs. Martin, and it was Roberta Martin who published James Cleveland’s first composition, “I Want to See Jesus”. After developing his musical skills, James went to New York where he became Minister of Music at Faith Temple COGIC. where Bishop A. A. Childs was pastor. There he worked with organist Herman Stevens. From New York, James went to Philadelphia, where along with Bessie Folk and Narcellus McKissick (former members of the Martin Singers) the Gospel group “The Gospelaires” was formed. After much success with the Gospelaires, James went on to move to Detroit, Michigan where he became Minister of Music for Dr. C. L. Franklin.
In the course of the next few years, James moved from Detroit to Chicago, and then back to Detroit. It was then that he became Second Assistant Pastor to Rev. Chas A. Craig Sr., at Prayer Tabernacle and through this fellowship the famous “Voices of Tabernacle” was born. Eventually Rev. Cleveland relocated to Los Angeles, California, where he founded the Cornerstone Baptist Church. Even though the church started with less than 100 members, the membership grew to over 7,000 people.
Before moving to California, James Cleveland enjoyed a great deal of success as a Savoy Recording artist. However, after moving West, he found himself without the usual polished background singers, and nearing the end of the recording contract, James needed to complete one more recording session. He decided to call his friend Reverend Lawrence Roberts, pastor of First Baptist Church of Nutley, New Jersey, and solicit the use of Roberts Angelic Choir to background this final session.
Roberts responded positively and James along with friends Thurston Frazier and Billy Preston drove from California to Nutley, New Jersey. The album was recorded in 1962 and titled “This Sunday In Person” featuring James Cleveland with the Angelic Gospel choir, under the direction of Thurston Frazier and Rev. Lawrence Roberts, featuring Billy Preston at the organ. The LP was the first live gospel recording session ever. It was an overwhelming success. Savoy Records hurried to re-sign Cleveland and quickly produced Volume 2. This LP was even greater success featuring the hit selection “How Great Thou Art”. Volume 3 of James Cleveland and the Angelic Choir was titled “Peace Be Still”. This 1963 LP became the first gospel LP to sell over 50,000 albums (unheard of back then).
From then on James Cleveland had the “Midas” touch on any LP which he was associated. He spoke of his musical style … “I’ve always maintained my own style of music, it has changed slightly over the years because I’ve tried to stay up with the times. I prefer traditional messages and stylings because people in the church choirs can sing it. I try to make my music a source of material for churches and choirs. I play simple enough so that even storefront musician can pick it up”.
As a musician, performer and producer, James maintained a level of excellence over an incredibly long period of time. Reverend Cleveland stated once, “I want to stay in the music business through promoting gospel music and upgrading the quality and performance of gospel music. I am pleased that Gospel Music Workshop of America has grown to the largest gospel music organization in the world, with over 20,000 members”.
Tribute To Rev. James Cleveland - Gospel Legends Volume 2
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