Dorothy Height with President Obama at the White House

As I watch this video of the 1st African American President-Barack Obama sitting across the table from Civil Rights Leader Dorothy Height, I was moved by the historical significance of their exchange and their interaction. In fact as I looked at the way the camera opens up with the table separating the two figures; Pres. Obama and Dorothy Height it is an indirect reference to the two different time periods from which they both represent. Dorothy Height, civil rights activists and figure; who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and participated in the Civil Rights Movement, and President Obama a beneficiary of both Dr. King and Ms. Height's dedication and committement to the struggle for equality for black people.
It definitely was a very moving exchange, and to hear Ms. Height talked about some of the stories of the movement and how she first met 15 yr old Martin King; a new student at Morehouse. She marveled at his brillance and intelligence at such a young age. At the time of their meeting, he was contemplating whether he should go into medicine and be a doctor, or become an attorney or follow in his father's footsteps and become a minister. Ms. Height was amazed at the depth of knowledge and wisdom he expressed about what he was to become. She went to talk about what it was like to stand with Dr. King on the that autumn day in August of 1963 as he boldly declared the merits of his dream. And, then to have to the opportunity 40yrs later to stand next to the 1st African American President of the United States-Barack Obama, during his Inauguration last year and witness the fulfillment of Dr. King's dream. Marvelous!
After Pres. Obama's Inauguration Ms. Height was said to have visited the White House some 40 times meeting the President and members of his cabinet to discuss policy issues among other things. On April 21, 2010 Dorothy Height made her transition, leaving behind a tremendous legacy and miriad of accomplishment some of which include; recieving our nation's hightest honor the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004. Pres. Obama eulogized this great woman on yesterday during her funeral. He said of Ms. Height that was a force equality and justice and deserved to mentioned in the same breath as W.E. B Dubios and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
We salute Ms. Height and are so happy that she got to see the Dr. King's Dream realized in the inauguration in our nation's first Black President. We pray that her legacy will live on forever!

The Return of the Ambassador

Recently "The Ambassador" member of the Gospel Hip "Cross Movement offered up an official apology for his public indiscretions with another woman. It was just over a year ago, that he confessed to having an relationship with another woman outside of the bonds of marriage of which caused him to take a spiritual sabbactical from the music industry.

In his video statement the Ambassador mentions that this relationshp was not sexual, but it was one that he felt jepoardized his martial relationship with his wife, and his public image as a Gospel Hip Hop Artist and  a Pastor. The details of this affair were not discussed, but it caused him to step back from everything that he was involved in previously to gain a greater spiritual perspective, mend his relationship with this spouse, and start to repair some of the damage that his been done to his public image as a Gospel Hip Hop Artist.

The Ambassador's is not alone on this island of indiscretion, we've discovered not many months after his announcement, that the Da' Truth; another one of his label mates, was caught in an extra-marital affair with Tye Tribett's wife. This was supposed payback on behalf of Tye's wife for his (Tye Tribett's) extra-marital affair with Da'Truth's wife. (Unbelievable) After Da'Truth's announcement of his indiscretion, he too has taken a leave of absence from the Gospel Music industry to get somethings together naturally as well as spiritually.

But, what does all of this mean? It means that these men are human just like we are, and we have to un-deify them and remove the "halo" from over their heads. They are human just like you and I, and are prone to mistakes. Does that exxonerate their wrongdoings, No! Because they were Men of God they are held to a higher standard, and rightfully so. They are pubically professing their faith and allegiance to God, it is only right that they're public and private lives measure up to that profession. However, the bold reality is that they are human just like you and I, and can and will make mistakes. Thankfully, we serve a God of not just a 2nd chance, but a 3rd, 4th, 7th, 9th, and more chances. He is a God that "sticketh closer to us than any brother." If we just reflect on how many chances God has given us after we've messed up time and time again. I thank God that He, above all else, is a Faithful God and one that we can depend on. David said, when in Psalms 27, "When my mother and father forsake me then the Lord will take me up." And, this is the season that these young men are in right now. I'm sure they have felt forsaken by their fans, their supporters, they're friends and even relatives, because of their mistakes. Many have been hurt by their fall, and some have vowed to never listen to their music again.

The Ambassador stated in his video that there is a possibility that he will release in another album in light of his recent indiscretions. The question that I pose to you is simple, are you going to buy his album if and when it does come out? Has his indiscretion tainted his ministry in your eyes? Will you ever be able to listen to his music again, and will these men (The Ambassador, Da'Truth, etc) able to re-gain notoriety and credibility in the Gospel Music Community in light of what he's done?

Your thought?