Let There Be Joyful Noise:Celebrating Easter with Own

Make a joyful noise to God,all the earth! 

Psalm 66:1

 This Easter holiday season, I vowed to listen to and share as much music as possible and lift the Easter holiday up while working on my Easter reflection. I even curated a playlist to share for the season. Watching Own's Easter concert was icing on the cake and spurred me on to complete the music playlist project for family, friends and hopefully for inclusion in my Apple radio station. It is actually a compilation of all of my jazz,r&b and inspirational music. 

So, you could say that my Holy week celebration got off to a great start watching Own network's concert starring  legendary gospel royalty from the Winans' family including BeBe,  CeCe and Deborah Joy Winans.  CeCe sang while BeBe and Deborah hosted the inspiring line up of performances by Stellar and Grammy winning recording artists including Kirk Franklin, Travis Greene,Jonathan McReynolds, Koryn Hawthorne,Fantasia, Anthony Hamilton and the Hamiltones, Lewis, Michelle Williams, Cedric the Entertainer, and several others including some amazing pastors and spiritual leaders who shared some of their enlightening and educational perspectives on Easter. It was an enriching experience all the way around with music and Biblical education. 

Own network has the full video up on their website. If you missed the original broadcast a complimentary viewing  will be available at this link until the end of this month. Enjoy!

On Racism and Cancel Culture Osborne and Morgan Style with Weigh Ins from Fox on Soul Queens

 

While the media stratosphere and blogosphere is rife with incidents sparking debates and “cancel culture” actions, I thought it important that I dig into my archives and share some commentary on racism from some of our great leaders. I found an essay I wrote about how Obama handled and weighed in on the outcome of the Trayvon Martin trial. Although that verdict is now unbelievably 8 years old, it is relevant as the incident that sparked this modern debate and stirred a controversy on racism of the police and auxiliary police that has expanded to other areas of our lives and provided the impetus for the Black Lives Matter movement. The recent swift release of Sharon Osbourne a co-host of the Talk for her aggressive questioning of Sheryl Underwood about what Piers Morgan did in Underwood’s view that was racist caused enough of a stir to have her leave the show she has been co-hosting for 11years even though Underwood in her media remarks had no objections to Osbourne’s line of questioning. Nor did she seem to have been offended. Likewise, the abrupt and seemingly heated and non-sensical rift that occurred between Morgan and the Duchessof Sussex has resulted in the same course of swift firings or resignations without any  follow up dialogue.

On a healing note, I think we have to be very careful about alienating potential allies and folks of other races by knee jerking in the course of sensitive dialogue that may not be intended to cause harm, but is merely person’s trying to get to the heart of the issue without any racist intentions or objectives . Hear more on my upcoming podcast at a forthcoming link. I also mention a commentary I wrote about President Obama’s response to Trayvon Martin’s disappointing verdict which many thought was a racist and unfair outcome and what measures he thought could be taken to bring healing to the situation.

Taking Inventory of Obvious and Not So Obvious Blessings

Rev. Cynthia Wilson with Dr.Hyung Chung faculty organizer of  Union Theological Seminary's "Is Peace Possible Summit" circa 
 2013.

Happy Spring! On this second day of Spring, you may be considering Spring cleaning,taking inventory or otherwise getting things in order in preparation for resurrection Sunday or for renewing, refurbishing, reclaiming and rebuilding.

This morning  I read through chapter 1:1-11 in the book of Ezra in preparation for an inspiring word to share today. This portion of Ezra  is about Cyrus helping the exiles to return and taking inventory of the goods, supplies and financial assets that had been used to build their old temple, the one that King Nebuchadnezzar had leveled during the war according to scripture and taken to store in his temple. He had also sent the captives into exile.They were returning with King Cyrus' help and being restored. That restoration did not occur overnight but took place over a period of years and rulerships.The array of gold bowls, silver and other implements inventoried to be placed in the newly constructed tabernacle was staggering at 5,400. 

Couldn't help but think of how God will open up the windows of heaven and pour out blessings you won't have room enough to contain. But you have to recognize your  blessings. Sometimes they come in forms you least expect. Remain prayerful, watchful and discerning, boldly stepping out on God's word and trusting in his provision.  For more tune into my forthcoming podcast on the topic of "Taking Inventory of Your Obvious and Not So Obvious Blessings." The link will be provided in the near future as a follow up to this post.

As you reflect on the word today, please continue to keep our Asian community lifted in prayer.

Above is a photo of me and my Seminary advisor, well regarded  Korean feminist and liberation theologian Professor Hyung Chung. She served as my advisor during my studies at Union Theological Seminary.  I am lifting her up today as part of my prayer to embrace and pray for our Asian community.

 

Please Pray for Cessation of Gun Violence: Supermarket Shooting Leaves 10 Dead

 Appallingly alarming. Here we go again. Mass murder is definitely a cycle that should never repeat itself in this country or anywhere else in the world. These horrific events should never be regarded casually. Nor should they be allowed to desensitize our nation to the dire need for the promulgation and enforcement of intelligent gun control laws.

 There is only so much the human psyche can take before shutting down and protecting itself from the repeated trauma caused by senseless acts of violence. Prayers are needed for the soul of our nation. This type of violence has to cease. It is a senseless way of handling internal or external conflict. Public health is at stake, especially our country’s mental health.

Prayers of comfort going out to the families of the victims including the Boulder police officer who perished in the attack.

Please pray mightily for the cessation of senseless gun violence.

No one should be afraid to go grocery shopping or filled with anxiety at the thought of being shot down at the market while leisurely shopping for their meals. God have mercy.

Spotlight on Terri Lynn Carrington

 This week's special video selections are  performances by renown female drummer Terri Lynne Carrington. The first video found below, is a performance with jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves and includes a solo drum segment a few minutes into the set.

The second video is a performance at NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concert. History making, multiple Grammy Nominee, three time Grammy award winner,  jazz drummer, teacher, trailblazer and activist Terri Lynn Carrington is performing with her band Social Science at NPR Music's prestigious Tiny Desk Concert series. The  Tiny Desk concert video features special guests

Malcolm Jamal Warner reciting spoken word. 

 Carrington's latest album Waiting Game was nominated for a Grammy this year in the category of Best Jazz Instrumental Album.