Speak Hallelujah!

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peaks of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah for the Lord our God the almighty reigns. —Revelation 19:6

Hallelujah means God be praised! It is to praise and rejoice in God's goodness. Speaking hallelujah in no way suggests that stark realities of grief, loneliness,sorrow, pain, loss or sadness be dismissed or disregarded. These emotions are more evident it seems during this season of advent when the way is being prepared for the celebration of  Christ's birth. The one holiday which not only aligns with qualities of peace,joy,togetherness, hope and love, but which as a community of believers we earnestly seek and make every effort to acknowledge and manifest here on earth.

Speaking hallellujah does not imply to disregard bad things and evil doings of this world with a formulaic command or phrase. It is 'Holy Spirit' powered realization, divine internalization bolstered by faith in God's mighty and enlightening word that negative emotions, situations, actions or circumstances do not have dominion, power nor the ultimate victory.

Rev. Cynthia Wilson

Jonathan and Mali Movin’ On to the Grammys

Congratulations to Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music for their Grammy nominated  record Movin’ On. It was nominated in the category of Best Gospel Performance Song.

The rhythmically upbeat Movin' On is an 

energizing blend of get up and feel good gospel  with r&b and old school soul flourishes. The lyrics meld traditional

 spiritual phrases like from “faith to favor” with hopeful ones like I know my rearview(ooh, ooh) Can't compare to what God will do with my life and “forgetting what’s behind me, focusing on what’s inside me” as he places his hand over his heart in a light hearted manner in the original Movin’ On  video. When I hear the song, I think of moving ahead, “closing chapters and turning pages”... as an often bittersweet feeling, leaving familiar and steady places for new and unknown territory. The move takes courage. 

The song is accentuated at the end with Mali's slick yet God centered rap lyrics alternating with Jon’s smooth and laid back vibrato on this cut.  It’s innovative, spiritual, fun and inspirational.

Congratulations to all the other nominees in this category as well.

, Rodney Jerkins, Lecrae Moore & Jazz Nixon, songwriters

 Wishing John and  Mali all the best.  Get your blessings guys. In this case, your Grammys. Praying for you. Amen.

 

By the way the Grammys will be televised on Sunday, January 31, 2021 on the CBS network. Check your local listings for exact times.

Georgia Needs a Change:Lifting Up Raphael Warnock

Pastor Warnock and Dr.Steed Davidson January 2006-Church Sanctuary

Willie Baptist and Min.Cynthia Wilson Second Ebenezer Church Sanctuary, Atlanta, GA.  January 2006

Photo Credit: Cynthia Wilson  Second Ebenezer Church Marquee January 2006-Atlanta, Georgia 

...no oppressor shall again overrun them, for now I have seen with my own eyes. Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your King comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he... Zechariah 9:9

Just want to top an excerpt from an old article and fond memory of  a visit made by a group of Union seminary students that included me and forty Columbia University School of Social Work students to Raphael Warnock’s church as part of our trip to the hurricane ravaged Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. The article can also be found in the book, Katrina: Listening with Our Hearts
With Pastor Warnock now running for a critical seat in the Georgia Senate I just wanted to lift him up. The visit to his church, Second Ebenezer, pulpit of the late great civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King,  was one of the highlights of our journey. His hospitality was stellar and his sermon was just what was needed, a rhema word to carry on and complete our mission to Ocean Springs, Biloxi and finally New Orleans.

Listen to my podcast at this link.

God First

 The Great I Am is another name for God.

For Doe Jones:Make Way for a Beautiful Voice and God Loving Spirit

 

Doe Jones released her Ep several weeks ago 10/29/2020 at a Listening Party hosted by Jonathan McReynolds featuring the upbeat and cheerful “ Brighter”. There was something about Brighter that I really resonated with perhaps the joyful melody, Doe’s  gift for hitting just the right note at the right time and its vibrato far exceeding your tonal expectations. 

You might recall if you’ve ever listened to her Grammy nominated break out performance on Jonathan Mc Reynold’s Cycles just how resonant and melodious her vocals are. Girl can blow as in really s-a-a-a-n-g. She’s been singing at church services and with her family music group the Grammy nominated Jones’ for years. But I still could not help but wonder why I hadn’t seen any commercial albums on the mainstream gospel charts after hearing those powerhouse vocals for the first time on Cycles. Getting back to her EP, I enjoyed all of the cuts on it. Good Now, Take Me Back,  but my favorite songs are “Hey You”  her duet with McReynolds and “I Try” a song about an up and coming star’s struggle to conform to the recording industry’s rather imposing beauty and style standards that equate success as sometimes prioritizing style over substance—running neck in neck. You know the frou frou, lashes and big hair that has little to do with musical talent, but somehow seems to trump it from time to time in combination with the x-factor. 

I highly recommend you add this EP to your digital or CD record collection for easy access when you need to hear some refreshing and spiritually uplifting songs. It is also a collection you’d be happy to share with your friends as a gift over the holidays as I indicated in an earlier post announcing her listening party here.