The Best Seat in the House!

Today Pres Obama officially signed the landmark Health Care Reform Bill into law. Flanked by Senators, Congressman and other dignatories including Vice-President Biden, the most noticeable person in the group was a young black boy who was standing next to Pres. Obama watching as he signed this historic bill. What an amazing sight for this young man to see. Standing next to our nation's first African American President who just so happens to be the most powerful man in the world, and he's watching history unfold right before his little eyes.

Watching this young man stand next to Pres Obama, dressed in a black vest with a white shirt and matching turquoise tie was a tremendous sight to behold. You can't help but think about the historicity of the moment and not just the signing of this historic legislation. But, the civil rights leaders of yester-year that fought and died so that this moment could be realized. The slaves who worked on plantations amidst physical and mental oppression, the era of Jim Crow, Rosa Parks refusing to surrender her seat on a segregated bus along with countless other moments in black history that painted this tremendous picture for all the world to witness.

I felt blessed to witness such an occasion, and I wonder what your thoughts are as you watch this historic event unfold right before your very eyes. And, the price of that young man's front row seat in history was indeed priceless, but more importantly it was the best seat in the house!

Bishop David L. Ellis - Whatsoever Ye Do

Today, I would like pay tribute to one of the greatest preachers this side of heaven, the Late Great Bishop David L. Ellis. He is definitely one of my spiritual fathers in the Gospel. And, I thank God immensely for his leadership, guidance and obedience to the Word of God. He has definitely made an indelible mark in my life and one that will follow me throughout my ministry.

On Friday March 19th 2010 it has marked 14yrs since his death. He is still greatly missed, and will never ever be forgotten. Greater Grace Temple is the church he pastored for over 30yrs. Now he is son Bishop Charles H. Ellis III is the pastor and has been for 14yrs. We can truly say through it all that "hitherto hath the Lord helped us." Because without Him, we-as a church, would not have made it. But, the ministry has not missed a beat and we are going on in Jesus name. You can find out more about our church and these great men of God at www.greatergrace.org.

Check out this clip from one of his messages and leave us your thoughts and impressions of this great man of God!! We definitely need more like him. Be Blessed!!

Pastor Nimmons

Pastor Nimmons Message to Jay-Z.mpg

Pastor Nimmons responds to Jay-Z's song lyrics "Empire State of Mind," "Jesus can't save you, life begins when the church ends." Check out what Pastor Nimmons has to say about this.

Michael Nimmons.com Web Welcome

Check out the new Welcome Video for Pastor's Nimmons personal ministry website Michael Nimmons.com. Find out what features are available once you log on, PSTRNIMMONSTV, The Pastor's Perspective, The GuestBook, Ministry Downloads, and much much more. Log on today and tell us what you think!

Sleeping With the Enemy Pt3- Who is Our Enemy???

Pastor Nimmons continues the Young Apostolic Students For Christ (YASC) @ Wayne State Univ. bible lesson entitled "Sleeping WIth The Enemy." In this edition, he deals with the identity of enemy why is it important to know who are enemy is, and the power that it is going to take to defeat him.

Sleeping With the Enemy Pt4 - The Sons of Sceva

Pastor Nimmons continues the Young Apostolic Students For Christ (YASC) @ Wayne State Univ. bible lesson entitled "Sleeping WIth The Enemy." In this edition, he deals with the identity of enemy why is it important to know who are enemy is, and the power that it is going to take to defeat him.

Let the "Games" Begin!!!

View Pastor Nimmons Full Bracket here 

That's right! I love College Basketball. I am probably more of a lover of college sports than professional sports period. I think its because college sports has more passion; more of a drive for the game than the pros. College atheletes have more of an incentive to play, because of their desire to go to that next level and play professionally. Pro atheletes, once they've gotten that "Almighty Dollar" their incentive to play decreases in increments the longer they play professionally. Especially in the salary cap era and younger atheletes are playing professionally nowadays, the NFL and the NBA seems to get younger and younger every year. And, the older atheletes are being pushed out sooner and sooner. But that's a blog for another day and another time. (smile)

But, yes I'm a lover of college basketball and I make no apologies for my love the game. I am a Spartan Fan through and through. And, each year I fill out a bracket that has them winning it all, even though it has been almost a decade since Izzo's won his first NCAA Championship. I usually fill out several brackets with different scenarios, with State being one of the victors in my championship spectrum. But, this year I went a little differently and only filled out one bracket and I didn't pick MSU to win it all. Even though, Izzo has been called "Mr. March" because somehow he is a master at taking what appears to be a mediocre Spartan team and send them all the way to the Nat'l Championship game, circa 2009. So, while you can't count them out completely, the team this year is marred with internal bickering and lackluster offense and plague with too many turnovers per game. I just decided to play them to the Sweet 16 where they meet Kansas, and Kansas exacts revenge against them for knocking them out of the tournament last year.

The NCAA Tournament field this year is wide open and anybody can do well in the tourney this year. The State of Michigan is fielding 2 teams this year with Oakland Univ and the MSU Spartan repping the "Rust Belt" State. You have a newcomer in Cornell, who has been in the tournament for a long time, and of course you have your old reliables Duke, Kansas, Louisville, GeorgeTown, Ohio State, and Kentucky just to name a few. You've got your favorite players to watch; Evin Turner from Ohio State and possible NCAA Player of the Year, John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins from Kentucky; 2010 NBA Draft hopefuls. Some teams to watch, Gonzaga, Villanova, Pittsburg, Temple and Kansas State.

The Madness of March is here and yes I have been bitten by the bug. LOL! That's why I took a minute or two to write a blog on my personal ministry website about my affection for the game of College Basketball. Check out my brackets. As you can see I have Kentucky winning it all for obvious reason, four potential pros, a high powered offense that can run of the score at any given time, and a experience coach in John Calipari. But, as with the "Madness" of March, we'll see. I will be updating my bracket on my blog so you can see how I'm doing each weekend. So check back often. I would also like to know what teams your picking, if you agree or disagree with my picks, and who you have taken home the coveted Nat'l Championship Trophy? Leave us your thoughts and opinions and by the way don't forget to subsribe to our blog when you get a chance!

Let the "Madness" Begin!

Is Oscar Racist?

I must admit I didn’t watch the Oscars this year and I haven’t been a consistent viewer of the Oscars for many reasons; for one it is one of the longest award show broadcast on television, secondly it is probably the most boring awards show in television history, and thirdly and finally I have serious concerns regarding the judging and selection process, particularly for our recent African American winners.

Most recently, Monique’ just won her first ever Oscar for “Best Supporting Actress” during the awards show this past Sunday evening for her role as an abusive, berating, foul-mouth mother in the movie “Precious,” which I must also admit I haven’t seen. And, I haven’t seen it because most of the people that I know that I have seen it did not speak very highly of it, so I decided not to waste my time or money to go see it myself. According to those who have seen the movie, Monique’ spent the entire movie belittling, berating and abusing her over-weight daughter “Precious.” And, I was told the violent scenes in the movie that Monique’ evoked on her daughter was very disturbing, which was another reason why I decided to pass on seeing this movie. After hearing all of this about this Oprah Winfrey-Tyler Perry production, I said in the back of my mind that this movie won’t do to well in the theatres and might be on video sooner than later. And, here we are a year later and this movie has won not 1 but 2 Oscars along with a whole host of other awards. That being said, what are we to say or do as an African American community after Hollywood has vilified “domestic violence” by giving its proper tier one its highest awards. But that’s a question I want to think about as you read a little bit further and offer an answer later.

As I perused the statuses on Facebook and on Twitter Sunday evening, I was met with the usual congratulatory remarks from people who were happy for Monique’ snagging her first Oscar. I read such comments as; “You Go GIIIRRRRL” and “CONGRATULATIONS MONIQUE,” which is what I expected to see. And, in my search through the dozens and dozens of congratulatory messages to Monique’ I must admit firstly, I did not find what I was looking for. I was looking for some people who were critical, and even appalled at yet another black stereo-typical performance being sanctioned and glorified by Hollywood. And, I didn’t find one. Secondly, I must admit that I was in somewhat of a quandary regarding this Oscar moment. While it’s natural to bestow congratulations upon such a high honor, I found it very hard to see past the racist and stereotypical pill Hollywood again has forced us a African American community to swallow. It’s also interesting that some of those same people doling out compliments to Monique’ for her Oscar win, where also recently criticizing her show on BET-which bears her name, because of her crass and vulgar approach to comedy. Many of us are familiar with her brand of comedy and I must admit again that I truly am not a fan of her comedic work. But, that is strictly my opinion, of which I am entitled. Nevertheless, it is not a stretch of the thespian vain to cast a edgy, raunchy, crass, and vulgar comedian as a edgy, crass, abusive, and vulgar mother figure in a movie, which I always thought the rationale behind these kinds of awards shows were; how far did the actor stretch themselves for this role? How different a role for them was this from who they are as a person, or are perceived by the public, was this a believable character for them?

My question to you is, was Hollywood’s offering of its highest honor to Monique’ a way of saying, you really looked natural as a crass and abusive mother in this movie, and if so should she be offended by this? Conversely, to add insult to injury during the same Oscar telecast Sandra Bullock won a “Best Actress” award for her role as a warm-hearted, supportive and encouraging mother to a young black homeless young man who she found wondering the streets and took in and eventually adopted as her own son in the movie “Blind Side,” which was based on a true story. Here is a summary of the movie plot taken directly from a website called “The Internet Movie Database.” (IMDB.com)

“A poor, oversized and under-educated teenager is recruited by a major college football program where he is groomed into an athletically and academically successful NFL prospect.”The Blind Side" depicts the story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher's presence in the Touhys' lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle.

Note the heroic nature of Sandra Bullock’s role according to the storyline of the movie, “…well-to-do white family who help him (homeless African-American youngster) fulfill his potential.” Astounding! That storyline alone deserves an Oscar, not to mention the mother from the well-to-do white family should get one too. (I’m being sarcastic) This took place on the same awards show, where two types of mothers of two different races were given awards, one more stereotypical than the other, you guess which one. And, I guess the rationale according to Oscar was we’re an Equal Opportunity Awards Show, where both the “bad” and the “good” are both rewarded. How are we- as African Americans, suppose to digest this? Here Hollywood awards a stereotype of the urban black community, which is usually the object of ridicule and disdain from society at large and at the same time awards a well-to-do white mother who found compassion on a young African American football player and adopted him and took him in and road his star to the top of the NFL draft. What a tear-jerker! I find the whole thing quite disturbing, and very hard to celebrate.

Call me a cynic if you like, but I do not see the historic value in Monique’s Oscar win. Somebody might need to help me see why I need to be more appreciative of this accomplishment? Someone needs to show me the error in my thinking? Quite frankly, it is been hard stomaching the wins of the past black actors and actresses who received Oscars Tribute. Hattie McDaniels (Mammy), Sidney Pottier (soldier), Denzel Washington (ex-slave / crooked cop), Halle Berry (single mom), Jennifer Hudson (singer), Jaime Fox (singer/ entertainer) and now Monique’ joins this roster of African Americans who received Oscar glory. Don’t get me wrong all of these are actors and actresses who are great in their own right, some greater than others. But my point of contention lies with what they were honored for verses what roles they should have been honored for, again making me question the veracity of Oscars selection process as well as his racial preference?

Your thoughts?

I HATE YOU!!!!!

In our bible lesson series entitled "Sleeping With the Enemy" that we're teaching for the Young Apostolic Students For Christ (YASC) Campus Ministry, we are spending a great deal of time discussing the plan and objective our spiritual enemy the devil. St. John 10:10, Jesus tells his disciples that, "the thief cometh not but for to steal, kill, and destroy." And, this is an objective that our enemy the devil is in direct pursuit of every single day. He is a dedicated and devoted adversary. It's interesting, if there was every a quality about the devil that I do admire, it is his determination. He is relentless in his pursuit of God's children. And, if nothing else we need to adopt that relentless determination that the devil has and implement in our spiritual walk with God. All of us would be the better for doing so.

Even still, our primary adversary the devil is deadset on destroying everything that looks like God. There is nothing about the devil's objective in St. John 10:10 that suggest he like us, but this is not the case with us. We posed this question of hatred of the devil in both our bible class and our Sunday School class, and it got very quiet and the young people pondered the merits of the question. Is it o.k to hate the devil, is it alright to hate our spiritual adversary? In their defense, we were taught as children to never hate anyone, in fact we were punished whenever we evoked the word hate against someone else. So, it is understandable silence after this question of hatred is posed. But, I further explained if there was one person, one entity that it is alright to hate it is the devil. In fact, Psalms 139:20-22, "For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. Do not I hate them, O Lord that hate thee? And, am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them mine enemies." Note that phrase "perfect hatred," which means there is absolutely no room for ambiguity. When it comes to God's enemies, they are my enemies. This is a black and white issue, there are no room for any gray areas. So David makes it very clear that we are to hate the devil and everyone of God's enemies. But, my question is why is so hard for us to do.

What do you mean by that, some might ask? Why is hating the devil so hard to do? Well, it shouldn't be that hard, especially given his expressed objectives against us. But, many of us our in "like" with the devil, because we still gravitate to his devices. We listen to his music, we entertain his company periodically. And, as we said during our bible class, "if you let the devil ride, he's going to want to drive. " And, the devil is the worst passenger and even worst driver there is. So, while we are not in "love" with the devil as so many in the world are, we are definitely in "like" with him, because he is still a silent partner in our lives. And, giving him even the slighest bit of influence in our lives is detrimental to our walk with God. We have got to follow the Word of God's instruction and "resist the devil, and he will flee from you." And our greatest demonstration of our hatred for the devil is our praise & worship to God. The more we praise God, we demonstrate our hatred for the devil. And, in these last an evil days we certainly need to do more praising God and more hating the devil and his works.

I would love to get your thoughts on this subject. Why is it still so hard for many Christians to hate the devil?