Saturday, February 18, 2012

Whitney Houston: The Funeral.



As of this time of writing the tears, tributes and testimonies have been on the air for seven continuous hours.
Whitney Houston's funeral service has been broadcast to an estimated 70 million viewers and in an hour's time Piers Morgan will devote his entire talk show as her eulogy.

His own response to the memorial at Newark Baptist Church was framed in these words:

."These past four hours have been so real. It has been spine tingling I have never experienced a church service like this."

Perhaps this was due to the powerful testimonies of secular celebrities who gave unashamed witness to their faith in Christ.

Tyler Perry, film producer and movie mogul, transformed into a veritable gospel preacher; Kevin Costner became teary eyed as he reminisced about his early days in the Baptist Church where his father was a founding elder; Marvin Winnans brought the black audience to their feet pounding out the text "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God;" while Don Lemon, the on spot reporter from C.N.N. overflowed with gusto in his newly revived faith in Christ.

Suddenly it was good to be a Christian and the prospect of Heaven was as close as the flowers of Whitney's casket. Church had come to the millions and, to judge by the reaction of the Media and the man in the street, WE LIKED IT.

 That being the case, get up tomorrow and make your way to the house of God, so that faith "will not be something tacked on to the end of your life but prioritized into your every decision." (Marvin Winnans)

Jubilate.

Ian

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Sir Paul. Speaking words of wisdom "Let it Be"



News tonight that Sir Paul McCartney has smoked his last joint.
After years of promoting marijuana, L.S.D and other brain enhancers Sir Paul has seen the light.

Asked whether his change of heart was due to the Whitney Houston debacle he replied negatively, saying that he wished to provide his young daughter with the right role model.

Sir Paul obviously did not count that a factor in the raising of his other four children, but time has passed and rays of wisdom seem to have broken forth upon him in his 69th year. 

Late though it may have been in coming, we must applaud this public confession and hope that there will be no backsliding.

In support of this good news, George Clooney has declared that he has had his last drink of booze. He publicly stated that the bottle was getting the better of him and so he has quit.

Where will it all end? Maybe some of these beautiful celebrities will finish up in church on a Sunday. I think I'll polish off a pew just in case.
Jubilate.

Ian

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Celine Dion speaks out



Celine Dion, diva of universal fame, spoke out yesterday about Whitney Houston and the perilous world of Show-Biz.
Listen to her cautionary tale:

"I am so scared" she said on Good Morning America, "I am scared of Show Business, scared of drugs and  scared of hanging out.
That's why I don't do parties and I don't hang out: that's why I'm  not part of show business. Think of Elvis and Marylyn Monroe......
Whitney was an amazing inspiration to me. How tragic that drugs, bad people and bad influences over took her dreams and destroyed her love and motherhood."

For such prudent and timely words Celine has been castigated on Twitter and on Facebook as being unloving and judgemental.

ASTONISHING!

Hamlet's father was killed by hemlock being poured into his ear.

When the devil brews his potions some are crafted for the mouth, some for the veins but his most lethal poisons are for the ear.

Be careful who you listen to in the wake of Whitney Houston's demise.

Ian

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012




It happens with predictable regularity. Another super star falling out of the galaxies to incinerate in the harsh reality of this world with it's impossible pressures and expectations.

Michael  Jackson, Don Cornelius, Amy Winehouse and now Whitney Houston, dead at the age of 48; the golden voice brought to a final gurgle in a bath tub at the Beverley Hilton Hotel .

It should not have been.

This famously talented young woman was tutored by her mother Cissie, a Gospel singer and solid member of a New Jesey Baptist church. It was there that Whitney sang in the choir and there, in front of her home congregation, that she sang her first solo "Guide me o Thou Great Jehovah"

But Jehovah did not tell her to take her next step which was to join up with a touring band called "Life's a Party".

It was a fateful excursion that led her deep into the perilous world of the music industry, movie production and, after 160 million in album sales, to her final party last Friday in Beverly Hills.

Her body will be brought back to the New Jersey Baptist church tomorrow, and no doubt the choir will be singing "Guide me o Thou great Jehovah" before the preacher gives the final eulogy.

But it is a sad way to come home and the question remains unanswered as to what might have been.

Ian

Monday, February 13, 2012

St Valentine's Day

Perhaps a short eulogy on St Valentine would be in keeping for today's post.

In the second century he was not called "Saint". He was simply called brother Valens (Latin for 'worthy') and he lived up to his name.

At a time when it was expressly forbidden to help Christians in any way he was known for performing the rites of marriage and baptism.

The picture denotes him baptizing a prominent Roman lady for which he was quickly arrested.

Brought into the presence of Claudius 2nd on several occasions, the
Roman Emperor had a liking for the young man's company until, that is, Valens tried to convert him.

For that Valens was sentenced to death.

A few hundred years were to pass before he had sainthood bestowed upon him and another century before Geoffrey Chaucer, the  English poet, declared 14th February to be his special day.


I thought that you might be interested in this short bio lest you think Valentine to be the patron saint of lingerie,roses and chocolates .... a long way removed from dying for one's faith in Christ.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Ian