"The New N'Word"

 In February of 2009 the NAACP launched a campaign in Detroit, Michigan to bury the N’Word. There was a massive ceremony and funeral processional, which included a wooden coffin symbolic of the final resting place of this historically derogatory word. Detroit clergy, along with other political and civic leaders joined together in downtown Detroit to officially put to rest the use of this offensive word. The N’Word has been historically used as not just as a term to offend, but to be-friend. Black people use the N’Word in some circles as a term of endearment, which raised the issues of identity and self awareness within the black community, because of the continual used of such a historically offensive term. How could blacks continue using this word as a term of endearment, which was also used to belittle and berate us as a people? Some would contend that it depends on the context or connotation of which it is used. There were several cases leading up to the N’Word’s official burial that seemed to make the case for it to be universally discontinued. Comedian Michael Richards, during one of his stand-up comedy shows went into an irrational tirade using the N’Word, which became very offensive to his audience members. This has always been a historically controversial word and it seems even after the official burial of the N’Word it has still not completely eliminated its use. Little stock was put into the ceremony itself, because the prevailing belief is and has always been until this word has been officially buried in the hearts and minds of the people it will never completely go away.

However, the N’Word we seek to address is far more diabolical and controversial; it’s exceedingly more penetrating and severe, and transcends the sphere of nationality, ethnicity, race, creed, and color. For our purposes in this chapter the “N’ Word” does not refer to this historically derogatory word used during slavery days to describe blacks on slave plantations. The N’Word we seek to address speaks to the physical, psychological and spiritual disease plaguing the whole of mankind. The N’Word we seek to address in this chapter is the same word Adam chose to describe himself to the one who created him; “naked.” Naked is the new “N’Word.” Naked is the generic placeholder for the anemic condition of mankind, which has brought us to the brink of our own self-destruction. Naked is the new N’Word, because it rightfully describes the emptiness and the void that was felt after Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s commandment. Naked is the new N’Word, because with it comes a whole host of psychological, emotional and even spiritual problems that have existed ever since the skin of the forbidden fruit was broken. Naked is the new N’Word, not because it indirectly addresses mankind’s physical nakedness, as much as it directly addresses the sin that encompasses all forms of physical, psychological and even spiritual nakedness including; pornography, fornication, exhibitionism, homosexuality, lesbianism, transexualism and the list goes on and on. The emphasis is on the “sin” that is the over-arching epidemic of mankind that became manifested through Adam and Eve’s physical, psychological and spiritual nakedness.

Naked is the N’Word, because there seems to be no better word to describe how “open” and "exposed"
 mankind was after its monumental fall from grace. Man is a trichotomy of body, soul and spirit. Michael McAvoy author of the “Doctrine of Trichotomy of Man: A Biblical Analysis writes,  

“The body is the tool used to experience and engage in this natural / physical world. The soul is the seat of emotions, reason, also directly associated with the mind, and personality. The spirit is the life, the power source of man and the home of conscience and will.”

These three components of mankind therefore make us a multi-faceted, multi-dimensional being. These three components of mankind; body, soul and spirit are directly associated with the manifestations of the word “naked” as it relates to the physical, psychological and spiritual condition of our human existence. This association between man’s trichotomy and the manifestation of nakedness speaks to the magnitude of the impact that Adam and Eve’s disobedience had on the entire psyche of our species. The consequence of this singular moment reverberated throughout the course of time and space, and every man, woman, boy and child born from the loins of Adam and Eve were contaminated physically, psychologically and spiritually. Man’s corresponding trichotomy is proof of the overall impact of Adam and Eve’s sin, of which we plan to discuss in greater detail within the pages of this very chapter. Every aspect of man’s being was affected by what took place in the beginning, an impact that cannot be overlooked, or undervalued. The question we must ask ourselves is how can an event this significant take place in the beginning and it not have some type of ripple effect throughout eternity? This was a life altering event that drastically affected the make up of the world that God had just created.

In The Beginning God…

The Bible says in Genesis that when God was ready to create mankind, He did so from the dust of the earth. He fashioned and shaped our being from the fragile clay of the earth He separated from the waters; a couple of verses earlier, and breathe into man the breath of life and man became a living soul. It was from the breath of life that man’s vital organs begin to function; it was this breath of life that man’s mind began to operate and function; and it was this breath of life that activated the celestial part of man which is his soul. All of this was done with God simply breathing on the clay He fashioned and shaped by his own accord. What is assumed; and rightfully so, is after man was initially created by God he was naked in the traditional sense of the term, which is He had no clothes on or nothing was there to cover his physical body. Without anything covering Adam’s physical body he was considered to be “naked.” It’s interesting that the first man was created this way. One would assume that after the first man was created then God would have given him the desire to cover himself. Why wouldn’t that have been a reasonable expectation? After all being “naked” is not always comfortable. Being naked requires confidence. Being naked often leads to being noticed. You cannot be inconspicuous and be “naked.” The two do not go well together. And, this is probably so because being clothed is a part of our institutionalization as “human beings.” It is a part of the social contract we’ve ascribe to one another to conduct ourselves with decency and decorum. This institutionalization is also a by- product of the sin that engulfed mankind as a result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the garden of Eden, and it has contributed greatly to the constructs of today’s society. Even though we have “nudist” as well as “exhibitionist” in this community who enjoy their own skin enough to be exposed in public and even to the point of getting paid for baring it all, the general rule in society is that clothing is a necessary part of proper social etiquette. But, before Adam and Eve sinned in the garden clothing was not a mandate, in fact it was not even heard of. The bible says of Adam and Eve in vs 25 of chapter 2 that there were naked and not ashamed. This is a literal translation of what they were in the garden, physically naked and were not ashamed of their “nakedness.” Why were they not ashamed? They were not ashamed, because God was their covering. God was their physical, psychological and spiritual covering. When God created man; before the fall, He was their covering. which directly compensates for the three 3 different facets of man’s trichotomy; body, soul and spirit. This was the primary reason why Adam and Eve were physically naked and not ashamed because they were physically, psychologically and spiritually covered by God. It is these three aspects of this term “naked” that this chapter seeks to deal with, inasmuch as the Bible suggests; at least, by the use of the term that it means more than what we are typically familiar with. You can even infer based upon the ramifications and the outcome of Adam and Eve disobedience that there was far more at stake than just their physical conditions. The consequence of their disobedience was separation from God; their Creator, which definitely had strong psychological and more importantly spiritual implications attached to it. Adam and Eve hiding themselves could have very well been interpreted as them hiding themselves because of their physical nakedness, but why were they hiding their nakedness from God now when earlier the bible says that were naked and were not ashamed. What was the real reason behind their sudden change in their perception of themselves? To better understand this we must first examine the constructs of Adam and Eve’s relationship with God prior to their disobedience, which will shed some light on these three areas of nakedness and how they factored into their perception of themselves and most importantly their Creator. As we examine the 3 aspects of mankind’s nakedness, we will first look at what God intended or expected of His creation post Adam and Eve’s disobedience and then examine the impact sin had on mankind; physically, psychologically and most importantly spiritually.

The Impact of God’s Physical Covering

 Physical nakedness is the first translation and probably the most familiar, and one that we have been pre-disposed to for obvious reasons. When the term “naked” is used  first in Genesis, it is in the literal sense or “without clothing.” God created man “naked” because one could infer there was no real need for clothing in the beginning. Although God created man from the dust of the earth, quite differently than any of the other of His creations, He chose to leave man naked or “without clothes” so that He could behold the beauty of His creation. We have to believe that there was a unique aestheticism and beauty with which mankind was fashioned and shaped by God. There is no scripture to support a haphazard or rushed approach to God’s creation of man, in fact, everything in God’s Word tell us that there was a painstaking and methodical approach to the way we were created by God. When we look at the human body and how it is constructed, there is apparent harmony and organization, which is characteristic of the God who created us. Indeed, the harmony and organization with which mankind reflects also serves to dispel scientific theories and hypothesis that suggests that the world was not created by God, but rather was a product of a “Big Bang” or some kind of evolutionary process. If any of this were true, the products of these scientific events would share in some of their disorientated and chaotic character traits. Conversely, what is significant about everything that God created in the first 2 chapters of Genesis, He declared of everything that He created that “it was good.” There was no ambiguity or uncertainty that was associated with any of God’s thoughts towards His creation. God made it very clear of what His thoughts were towards everything that He created. This was so, because it was His Words that were the source of His creation in the first place. And, just as His Words were clear with everything in the world He created, His thoughts of everything He created were just as clear as well. He could not afford to be vague or ambiguous when it came to what He created, nor could He afford to be vague or ambiguous when it came to His thoughts of what He created as well. In fact, His Word and His thoughts are one in the same. This concept is reflected in God’s use of the pronoun “us” when He set out to create the world. Inasmuch as it was His Word and His Thoughts combined that were utilized to create the world in which we live. God’s Word can be characterized as His literal “spoken word” and His thoughts are considered to be the “mind of God.” God’s mind and His “spoken word” were directly in-sync with one another, which meant He spoke what He thought and He thought what He spoke. Yet, there are some competing theories and philosophies out there of what God really meant when He used the pronoun “us” in the beginning, some of which include; a Trinitarian collection of gods, which collaborated together to create the world. God-the Father, God-the Son, and God-the Holy Ghost, all made up the board of gods that deliberated collectively on how the world was to be created and organized. However, the proper interpretation of God’s Word reveals to us that there are not three separate deities that sit equally together, but rather ONE God who embodies 3 manifestations of Himself; who at various times in History were manifested to ultimately redeem mankind back to Himself. In no way was God schizophrenic in His approach to creating the world, and as we will see later on in this book in no way did God produce anything other than what He originally intended for this world to be. God’s creation of the world divinely reflected both a “harmony” and a “oneness” that was as much apart of His character as His deity-itself. Therefore the use of this terminology in the Word of God was to exemplify a unity and harmony within which the world that was created. It’s important to consider; as we continue examining the physical aspect of mankind’s “nakedness” pre Adam and Eve’s disobedience, God’s declaration of what He created post mankind’s fall. Inasmuch as it seems to be a great disparity between what God’s thoughts were, and what our thoughts were of ourselves. The Word of God tells us in Genesis the 1st chapter that man was the last project of God’s creation, and implicit within this chapter and verse is God’s expectations of His most prized possession.

Genesis 1:27 states; “And, God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth...And God saw everything that he made, and, behold it was very good...”

Verses 26-31 of the 1st chapter of Genesis are typically viewed as God’s thoughts of mankind before we were actually created. The creation of mankind takes place in Genesis chapter 2 vs. 7 is where man is actually formed from the dust of the ground. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed unto his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Here we clearly see that God had some lofty expectations for mankind, and again we see how His thoughts of us directly correspond with the words He spoke upon our creation. Commanding us to have “dominion” and authority over the earth that He created, and establishing an earthly pecking order, that begins and ends with man, is yet another demonstration of what God intended for mankind to be when He created us. The loftiness of God’s expectations directly translated into the aestheticism of which we were created. The psalmist David muses about the marvelous way in which we were created in Psalms 13:14, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are thy works; and my soul knoweth right well.” Essentially David was praising God for the magnificent way in which we were created. God’s love for us was demonstrated in the way He decided to fashion and shaped us. The human anatomy is still the most celebrated, at the same time miraculously mystifying specimen to say the least. Some of the world’s greatest and most prolific artists have captured the human anatomy on canvas as way of recognizing and appreciating the magnificence of its beauty. The collected works of Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Da’Vinci, Digal and many others are tributes to the masterful creativity of our Creator. We are essentially living and breathing “works of art” in God’s eyes; apart of His wondrous collection He-Himself declares is “very good.” We can’t help but marvel at the originality and uniqueness inherent to our design. We are not carbon copies of someone else, in fact in the over 6 Billion people that populate planet earth there is only one of you to be found. If that isn’t enough to confirm your significance, God took upon Himself to use His own image and likeness as the primary blueprint for our design. The quality with which we were created is a clear indication of not just God’s thoughts of us, but God’s expectation for us. He expected greatness from us, He desired only good thing from us, and everything in God’s Word substantiates that fact.

What’s also important to note is what God’s intended use of these heavenly bodies He created for, and how this was plainly expressed when we were created. God commanded man to be “fruitful and multiply and to replenish the earth.” This is a direct reference to copulation or sexual intercourse, which was the primary means of reproduction that God installed within mankind to fulfill one of His commandments for us. Sexual intercourse, as it appears in this particular verse is designed for a specific purpose. The three words God used in this scripture explicitly and implicitly suggest what the meaning of sex was suppose to be from the perspective of our Creator. This commandment was given pre-Adam and Eve’s act of disobedience, so everything that was associated with this commandment directly coincided with God’s declaration of "it" was "good.” Sex, in the eyes of the Creator was viewed as “good,” inasmuch as it fulfilled each of His expressed objectives, to be fruitful, to multiply and to replenish the earth. We can also infer based upon the emphasis God put on the multiple copulation of mankind, that there was indeed some enjoyment and pleasure to be felt embedded within this experience that was directly put there by God. You mean God wanted us to enjoy having sex? Yes, of course He did! Remember everything that God commanded pre-man’s fall was declared to be good, so there was nothing evil or sinister to compare it to at that time. Therefore the prude that God is thought to be post mankind’s fall should be done away with, because “goodness” was the over-arching theme of every one of God’s thoughts as well as His actions before mankind’s fall. God essentially wanted man to enjoy the earth that He created, He wanted mankind to make earth their home and to take ownership of it as well. Thus, we can clearly see that this well a well thought out and methodical plan that God put in place before it was completely distorted by sin.

To read this chapter in its entirity click here. Remember you can also purchase this book in hard copy and E-book form from Amazon.com and the iBookstore.

Be Blessed,

Michael S. Nimmons
President / CEO
Michael Nimmons Ministries, Inc.
www.MichaelNimmons.com
@PSTRNIMMONSTV
@OfficialMNistry

Is God A Ravens Fan?

Seems like a pretty interesting question. Is God even a sports fan? And, if so what is his favorite sport? Football, basketball, maybe baseball, or soccer? Seemingly questions of no particular consequence that we have asked ourselves at one time or another, but the implications of such continue to make for good discussion. If God were to have a favorite sports team, which would it be and why? On the surface these questions really don't carry much weight, but when you consider the fact the some if not all professional teams have a Chaplain and many times engage in prayer circles before they engage in their sport. And, these prayers are often time designed to ask God for favor to win their game against their rival or opponent. It becomes increasingly significant when you consider the scenario that two teams before playing each other engage in prayer to the same God for victory, who does God listen to? Is it the team that ultimately wins the game?

Well it seems that these are questions that many people have been asking because of future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis. The Baltimore Ravens have been winning here lately in the NFL Playoffs, and are now headed to Super Bowl XVLII representing the AFC as they knocked off heavy favorites the New England Patriots in Sunday night's heated match-up. Towards the end of the regular season, Ray Lewis announced his formal retirement from the NFL after 13 years effective end of this season. I'm sure he couldn't imagine playing this deep into the playoffs after making this announcement, but you wouldn't know it by the way he proclaims and professes his faith at the end of games. NFL Analysts didn't give the Baltimore Ravens much hope beyond their Wild Card game against the Indianapolis Colts. And, the Ravens have exceeded everyone's expectations and are now just two weeks away from playing in Super Bowl XLVII. His outward expressions of his love for God; at least for some, are a bit over the top. Some even say that he is taking advantage of all of this extra media coverage by engaging in these religious antics, which they don't believe are real or sincere. I was listening to a local sports talk radio show, where this was a major topic of discussion. The radio show host were annoyed and even tuned off by Reverend Ray Lewis public displays of affection and praise to God. I do not subscribe this belief, nor do I agree with these radio talk show host (surprising), but I find it absolutely refreshing and inspiring to see an athlete give praise to his Creator.

For those who are not familiar with Ray Lewis, or do not know his story. He played football for the University of Miami, and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 1996. He has had a very successful NFL career as one of the leagues most fierce and competitive linebackers. He led the Ravens to Super Bowl XXXIV back in 2000 where they eventually became champions. But, what followed this Ravens victory would haunt Ray Lewis for the rest of his NFL career. According to Wikipedia,

"Following a Super Bowl party in Atlanta on January 31, 2000, a fight broke out between Lewis and his companion and another group of people, resulting in the stabbing deaths of Jacinth Baker and Richard Lollar. Lewis and two companions, Reginald Oakley and Joseph Sweeting, were questioned by Atlanta Police, and 11 days later the three men were indicted on murder and aggravated assault charges...Lewis admitted he gave a misleading statement to police on the morning after the killings. Superior Court Judge Alice D. Bonner sentenced Lewis to 12 months probation, the maximum sentence for a first-time offender, and he was fined $250,000 by the NFL, which was believed to be the highest fine levied against an NFL player for an infraction not involving substance abuse. Under the terms of the sentence, Lewis could not use drugs or alcohol during the duration of the probation."

Ray continues to credit God for bringing him through this dark period of his NFL career. In fact, he tells us that it was through this dark time that his relationship with God became closer and more intimate. And, so these outward expressions of an inward affection and love for a God that has done so much for him is really the best way to explain what's going on. I personally am in no way offended by Ray Lewis praise & worship to a God that he loves and reverences. If nothing else that type of activity should be praised instead of scrutinized. We have enough negativity in our society, we have enough bad news clouding our airwaves, so this should be a welcomed change to the everyday minutia of pessimism that seems to find its way into our lives. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Unfortunately, you have some who believe Ray Lewis is just cashing in on the moment, that he is just taking advantage of the limelight and essentially making a spectacle of himself and an even a mockery of God. This again, begs the question does God have any place in the sports world, or is this world completely off limits?

I find it interesting that we live in a world where homosexuals and lesbians are praised and lauded for the courage to "come out of the closet" and openly proclaim their sexual preference. But, as soon as someone openly professes their love for God without shame or apprehension, they are immediately criticized and ostracized for their profession of faith. It is considered a nuisance or an annoyance that society should not have to tolerate. It's almost as if Ray Lewis is imposing his Christian beliefs on us without out our permission or "expressed written consent" (Where have I heard that from?) But, isn't that what is been done to us as impressionable consumers of all things media? Every time we turn the television on we are being imposed upon by network execs who force feed us shows that they think we would like, or they want us to like. Shows that carry with them specific special interests or underlying agendas that we were neither asked nor consulted on, and yet they have found their way on our television screens. No one asked us is this is the kind of show we want to see, and what they will tell us is that if you don't like these shows then you can simply change the channel. But, this doesn't seem like a viable alternative for the perturbed radio host who can't stand Rev Lewis religious display, he wants society to be completely redeemed of this type of behavior. No one should have to deal with Ray Lewis or people like him without our "expressed written consent." (There's that phrase again)

Is this fair, should Ray Lewis be silenced in favor of the irreverent and profane. Should Ray Lewis have to dial back his emotions and his love of God for the benefit of the media pundits who can't stand it? Should he have to consider those he might offend before he makes remarks concerning his relationship with God? The last time I checked we live in a country where we have freedom of speech, and everyone has the right to speak freely as it relates to their beliefs and their convictions. Again, I find it continually interesting that Ray Lewis is being lambasted on talk radio shows for his religious beliefs, but Lance Armstrong; while he recently admitted to doping and using performance enhancing drugs, will find more sympathy and support for his long awaited confession than Rev Lewis profession of his faith. Interesting!

Well the word of God tells us that the world loves its own. And, if Jesus was persecuted and criticized while He walked the earth, what should we expect as is His followers. This type of ridicule and vitriol from society is what Jesus tells us as His followers we should expect. In fact, the Bible tells us that, "those that will live godly shall suffer persecution." So, this should be an expected behavior from those who don't know God, let alone do not have a relationship with Him. Jesus is essentially saying the world will never understand your love for Me, society will never appreciate your faith in Me. In fact, you will be setting yourself up for persecution when you openly profess your love for me. And, what we typically don't understand we ridicule, what we cannot comprehend we ostracize and defame. So, my message to Ray Lewis is don't take it personal; don't allow the media pundit to discourage you; don't let them quench your hunger and thirst for God; don't allow people who don't understand your relationship with God to define your relationship with God. But, what's interesting about all of this is that I don't think for one minute that Ray will be deterred by what people say. I don't think he will allow his critics to stop him from loving God and telling everybody's about his love for God. With the same physical domination and determination he exemplifies on the field, I believe he will use this to overcome the cynicism and negativity from his most ardent critics. And, if nothing else, this should be a lesson to us as Christians to not allow society to dictate how our love for God ought to be demonstrated. We should not ever allow our voices to be silenced in favor of maintaining the status quo. But, we should do as Jesus instructs us in Matthew 5:15, "let our light so shine that men may see our good works and glorify the Father, which is in heaven. So Ray keep on keeping on,and don't let anybody stop you, because at the end of the day I don't think anyone really can. Just remember, "NO WEAPON!"

Much Love!     

Michael S Nimmons
CEO/PRESIDENT
Michael Nimmons Ministries, Inc
www.MichaelNimmons.com
@PSTRNIMMONSTV
@OFFICIALMNISTRY

Not So REAL TV!

This blog topic has been a long time coming. First let me say I have never been a fan of reality TV, because I've always been suspicious of the percentage of "real-ness" that exists in "Reality TV." Nowadays we have reality shows that span the entire gamut of society's entertainment appetite. And, that's what network execs are attempting to satisfy; "society's entertainment appetite." We have reality shows about so-called "Real Housewives" (yeah right), all the way to a show about the best funerals. Unbelievable! How morbid and absurd! Is this society's entertainment pallet? Is this the entertainment appetite that TV execs are attempting to satisfy? I'm sure network execs would say the TV ratings would tell us yes this is exactly what is happening. The ratings for these types of shows are through the roof. And they continue to rise despite the depths of deplorable behavior and raunchiness that seems to be a fixture with most of these kinds of shows. It seems the more cat fights and the more drama that a show can muster, the higher the ratings and the more popular the cast ultimately becomes as a result.

But, my question is at whose expense? At what expense do these shows high ratings come? Who is ultimately at risk here? On the surface it would seem like pure entertainment. You can turn on one of Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA) to escape the doldrums of your own mundane life. But, the larger question at stake here is how real Reality TV is really, and more importantly what type of damage has been done to the various roles as well as ethnicity's portrayed on Reality TV? Shows like RHOA or Basketball Wives are supposed to portray “A Day in the Life” of Spouse A or Spouse B for whatever sports figure or athlete that they are married to. For the most part this is the case, however the life of most of these women are not realistic nor are do they exemplify the typical role of a housewife that many woman can identify with. (Well maybe that’s one reason why so many women watch the show!) They watch because they are not only physically removed (because the show is not about them) but socially removed (because many are not privy to the lifestyle that these women are portraying). However, what does bother me is how African American women behave on shows like these, because it does nothing but contribute to the stereotype that they are nothing but gold digging opportunists who prey on unsuspecting (stupider) men; who just couldn’t resist their feminine charms. You have women like Kenya Moore; former Miss USA, model/actress, who I’m told on RHOA is by far the raunchiest and ghetto-ist of all the women on the show. Oh, and by the way she is not even married and therefore not a “housewife.” So, what qualifies her for a Reality TV show like this? What kind of example is women like Ms. Moore setting for our young impressionable youth aspiring to walk in her shoes? Does she even care who’s watching? From the looks of things, she absolutely doesn’t.

What are the ramifications that these reality shows carry with them? I believe what it really boils down to is a question of "Reality vs. Reality TV," I would argue that reality TV really isn't reality. For example, the show "The SisterHood" which is supposed to chronicle the lives of 5 First Ladies who are wives of husbands that are real pastors over real ministries. However, you discover after watching the 1st episode that only 2 of the 5 women are actual First Ladies whose husbands are real pastors over real ministries. (Exactly! I was thinking the same thing.) Why would they only have two "Real First Ladies" on a show that is suppose to be about "Real First Ladies." I guess it makes too much sense. Nevertheless, on this show you are treated to all of the tawdry details of each of these "First Ladies." You see them at their "best" and you definitely see them at their "worst" (Which by the way is most of the show. LOL) So we can see the show was founded on a misleading premise, and if its starts on a shaky foundation then what kind of reality are we really trying to build here? And what continues to suffer is the church's image and credibility in our world. The church's image continues to be damaged by the its supposed "caretakers." Here's a video of the 1st Episode in its entirety.

Then you even have shows about funeral homes and shows that chronicle the lives of Gospel artists; attempting to give viewers and inside look into their lives, but unfortunately what you are left wondering is how are their lives any different than anybody else seeking to make some money, or simply to be "famous." You have some that believe showing the human component of some of these "celebrities" that we see everyday will somehow garner a greater appreciation for what they do. But, really more harm is done than good, because the focus appears to be more on their lives than the God in them, which is suppose to be the focus of their lives. It's sad when you look at Mary Mary's reality TV show and Real Housewives of Atlanta and you can't see a difference in the overall content and disposition of the so-called stars of the show. It seems in looking at the gospel artists of these reality shows, what you discover is that they want to be more like the world they were called out to lead to Christ. And, this is my real angst behind the proliferation of these types of shows, if we as Christians have been called out to be a light and to be different; according to God's Word, and yet these shows seem to only illustrate how great our desire is to be like everybody else. Our attitudes, dispositions, proclivities and the like are truly shared by everyone else. By virtue of our desire to be included in these shows, illustrates are longing to be just like everybody else.

Maybe this desire is really what is "real" in these reality shows, the desire to be famous. The desire to attain celebrity status. The desire to be special or elite, and these shows give these otherwise conspicuous people an opportunity to be noticed, an opportunity to be in the limelight if nothing but for 15mins. Interestingly enough, you got some of the more savy Reality TV stars who have parlayed their 15mins into a lucrative career for themselves. The Kim Kardashians and NeNeLeaks of our society are looked at as contemporary business women who know how to market their particular brand. And, their fame and notoriety is an example of that. No real talent, no really special gift or ability other than an "eye appeal" or an "personality" that has translated into some huge financial dividends. And, in both shows, if the desire for fame and notoriety is the real motivations of these "First Ladies" and "Gospel Artists" then I think we know all we need to know about their "ministries." So, for me the perception of these "Christian" Reality TV shows is that they are parodying and propagandizing what real ministry is, which is the collateral damage these types of shows have had on the church and everything associated with it. The result of these shows is the church is bastardized and caricatured for entertainment sake, and the real power that supposed exists within its walls is never experienced.

The question for our readers in addition to Reality TV going to far, what are some other ways that "Christian" Reality TV has effected people's perception of the church? Has it effected the way you see the church, has these shows effected the way you see those "Reality TV Stars" in other settings? Do you think "Christian" Reality TV is benefiting or harming the overall perception of the church as well as anything associated with it(i.e. gospel music, pastors, first ladies, etc.)?

Would love to get your thoughts and opinions.

Be Blessed

Michael S. Nimmons
CEO/President Michael Nimmons Ministries, Inc.
www.michaelnimmons.com

"WE ARE TRAYVON MARTIN"

Trayvon Martin

This is an article Pastor Nimmons wrote for the April edition of the Greater Grace Temple Newsletter regarding the case surrounding the death of slain teen Trayvon Martin.

 

It seems that the spirit of violence has encapsulated not just the city of Detroit but the entire country. Everywhere we look there appears to be some more news about a violent altercation or event that’s taken place in one of our cities across this country. Recently, the nation and even the world has come together in support of the family of slain teenager Trayvon Martin, who was tragically killed by self-proclaimed neighborhood watchmen “George Zimmerman” for simply looking “suspicious.” Trayvon was shot and killed inside a gated community in Sanford Florida by Zimmerman; who has yet to be arrested, because of the State of Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. Protest and demonstrations have taken place all across the country, in hopes of shedding more light on this case and ultimately bringing Zimmerman to justice. 

Abreya Jones & Ashely Brown; two Hamtramck women recently killed

 This case hits home in so many ways and for so many people, as we see this spirit of violence plaguing our city.  During a rally for Trayvon Martin in this past Monday, people dawned hoodies and held picket signs demonstrating and protesting this senseless killing. Some also spoke out about the recent homicides and murders in our city. What about the Bianca Jones, or the two women who were killed in Hamtramck, along with countless others. While it is easy to separate and segment each of these crimes by location and circumstance, there are more things that tie them together than what separates them. If we want this violence to end, we can no longer see this as a Detroit problem or a Sanford problem, but this is a people problem. And, ultimately when we cry out for Trayvon, we are also crying out for the hundreds and thousands of young people that are loosing their lives everyday around this country. John Donne said it best, “No man is an island entire of himself, every man is apart of the continent, apart of the main. If a man dies it diminishes me for I am involved with mankind. So, never send to know for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee.”

All of us are affected by the loss of even one life, and not knowing someone shouldn’t preclude us from empathizing with their personal pain and struggles. At the end of day we all are human, regardless of race creed or color. At the end of day, we all ARE TRAYVON MARTIN!

THE EXCORCISM OF NICKI MINAJ

21221223435 by YardieGoals>

I have debated back and forth about whether I should write a post regarding Nicki Minaj's Grammy performance, primarily because it was so outrageously blasphemous that I believed the average person didn't need convincing. In fact, during her performance as well as several days later people were still talking about how sacrilegious and utterly profane it was. If you missed her performance, feel free to click on the video player at the top of the blog to see for yourself. However, BE WARNED, you are clicking this button at your own risk.  What prompted me to write this blog is again the growing boldness and the audacity for which the music industry continues to target the church as the subject of their blasphemous antics.Here again, is prima-facia evidence of the music industry using one of its biggest stages to take aim at the church as well Christians across the globe.

Nicki Minaj's Grammy debut was entitled, "The Exorcism of Roman." And, for those who don't know who Roman is, it is Nicki's alter ego. Which as she describes is her rougher, tougher personality that "likes to fight." Here she is giving a more detailed description of her alter ego "Roman."



We've seen an increasing number of celebrities mention their "alter egos." Beyonce had "Sasha Fierce" even though, recently, she claims to have "killed" Sasha Fierce because she really didn't need her any longer. Beyonce went on to indicate that her two personalities seemed to have "merged."Lady Gaga channeled her male alter ego "Jo Calderone" in the 2011 MTV VMA's. Is this becoming a trend? Where artists are introducing the world to an alternate personality to give people a closer look at another side of themselves, or is there something far more sinister going on? I tend the believe the latter is true, what Hollywood is calling "Alter Egos" I call "Demon Possessed." There is absolutely no other rational way to analyze this irrational behavior. What's also interesting about these "alter egos" is; at least for Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj, they both are male. Why is that? What message are they trying to send to their millions of impressionable fans out there? That gender is a matter of choice rather than it being purely biological. Even though, the Gay and Lesbian movement wants you to believe that sexual preference is indeed biological or a result of a chemical imbalance in their DNA, forcing a person to prefer one sex over another. However, this couldn't be any further from the truth. But, it seems with the appearance of these 2 male alter egos, that the over-arching message is that gender is relative. And, a person is free to choose what gender that want to be, instead of that being decided by the one who created us in the first place; God. Sending an even more confusing message to the young impressionable children that follow these artists, that it's ok to want to be a boy if you are a girl, or to desire to be a girl if you are a boy.

Nicki Minaj

But, I digress. Now to her performance, which was loosely based on the movie "The Exorcist." After seeing it performed live, you couldn't help but feel confused and at the same time upset with the boldness and the audacity with which the church of God continues to be targeted by the music industry. The Catholic Church has already expressed their displeasure with Ms. Minaj's performance, as it included a pseudo Pope, a priest along with several other references to the Catholic Church. Even some of her own fans took to social networks like "Twitter" and "Facebook" to express their displeasure with her performance. Her performance was being "billed" as something we have never seen before, which raised some viewers expectations of what they were about to see. While my expectations were lowered even the more, because that is usually code for a more edgy, irreverent, raunchy and profane display. And, I was not disappointed from that perspective. There was a mixture of live and recorded moments during the performance that added to the dramatic presentation.  And, Nicki acted as well as rapped during her Grammy debut. There was even a scene where she crawled up a wall, reminiscent of "The Exorcist" movie.

Then of course, there were the occult as well as Illuminati images and references made during the performance that continued to beg the question of what is really going on here? At one point Nicki was handcuffed to an elevated gurney, where she seemed to have been taken captive. Surrounded by robed dancers; who appeared to be her captives, in what seemed to be a church like setting. She's ultimately released and amidst simulated sexual acts with these priest-like figures, Nicki is now becoming entranced by her captives. And, if you've ever read any of the blogs from the Vigilant Citizen, you will know and understand how all of this appears to be apart of a greater message concerning the inner workings of the music industry. This elaborate staging and special effects, was really a way to demonstrate to those on the outside looking in just how sinister and evil the industry-itself is. And, what you have to become to achieve the heights of success and fame that is the prize of every aspiring artists. There are really two (2) ways to look at Nicki Minaj's performance. On one hand it could be viewed as a celebration or a tribute of sorts; a dark and sinister ceremony which seems to be the rite of passage for every artists seeking fame and notoriety. And, on the other hand it offers great insight into the world of music and celebrity that the average fan may never see. One that should be extremely "eye-opening" and revealing; providing valuable information to those who look at the exterior profiles of these celebrities and want to be so much like them. A word of warning to those who are reading this with a strong sense of skepticism, if nothing else her performance should have at least shown us the line of demarcation between the world and the church. Her performance speaks volumes about what the music industry thinks of the church. And, it not very much at all!

In light of all of this, how did seeing Nicki Minaj's Grammy performance make you feel? Personally, I'm not as upset with her as I am with the real purveyors of these blasphemous messages; who remain nameless, faceless puppet masters controlling the puppets of the industry from behind the scenes. Ms. Minaj, is indeed a puppet that is being used because of her willingness to be used.  She, like many of the other puppets of the Entertainment industry have been coerced into submission, because of their strong desires for wealth, fame and notoriety. An artist willingness to do anything to fulfill these desires is the fuel that drives the puppet masters of the industry to use these unbridled desires to entice their unsuspecting puppets to promote their sinister agenda. So, for me while watching artist like Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Beyonce and many others perform; their performances are just answers to the question of how much am I willing to do to show how committed am I to the agenda of those responsible for my new found success. At the end of the day, how much is success worth? Is it worth my continued exploitation, or more importantly is it worth my soul?

Your thoughts?


Pastor Nimmons

"Who Told You Were Naked?"

Here is some morning inspiration from #PSTRNIMMONSTV to get your day started off right!

Be Blessed!

Pastor Nimmons

The Walk of Shame

Head Coach of Penn State Joe Paterno fired

The past few days have been very sad to say the least for the Penn State Football program. Mired in scandal and controversy, the news surrounding this case has sent the entire country reeling and rocking. This scandal stinks on some many different levels we find it hard to grasp and really don't know where to begin. When the news broke about the reports of child molestation by a former defensive coach of the Penn State Football program, we were shocked and mortified by it. And, as the horrific details of the story begin to unfold, it seemed very hard for us to believe and even understand.  A 10 yr old boy being sodomized by former defensive coordinator Gerald Sandusky and then Grad Asst ( at the time) Michael Queary walking in on this horrific scene; who after seeing this grotesque display of molestation, called his father and then reported to his boss, now former Penn State Coach- Joe Paterno. How about calling the police? Why not intervene and stop Sandusky from violating this 10yr old in this horrific way. So many questions.

Since the details of this event has come out, countless others have come out as well. And, what is most disturbing is that Joe Paterno; probably the most revered and respected football coach in America, did very little in correcting things, or maybe he believed what he was doing was actually that? No one really knows. But, now this Hall of Fame Coach of this storied program on last night had to begin the walk of shame away from a life that he has known for over 7 decades. Next to Grambling Coach Eddie Robinson, Joe Paterno is the winningest Coach in College Football with 409 wins. Amazing. And, it seemed like he was at a point in his career where he could exit on his on turns. In fact, he was planning to do exactly that, as of early Wednesday, Joe Paterno was going to retire as the Penn State Head Football Coach at season's end. But, amid this current scandal and controversy the Board of Trustees voted on yesterday to fire this head coach immediately as well as the University President Graham Spanier. Two of the universities more powerful men, who used their power and influence to cover a molestation scandal that has rocked us to the core of moral being.  What a sad day for Penn State, what a sad day for America.

I echo the sentiments of my friend and journalist for ESPN, Jemelle Hill (@Jemelehill) in her column this morning that "this is a justified end for Joe Paterno" seemingly harsh words for such a well respected sports figure, and yet very appropriate given all that has come out regarding this scandal and the immense cover-up. How could he let this type of activity go on at a university that he basically run as one of the most powerful mean on campus. This is the lingering question that we may never have the answer for. We initially help Joe Pa; as he was affectionately called, in the highest esteemed, and believed that if confronted with this time of situation, would respond as any right thinking adult would and should. Alert the authorities of this matter, notified the University President of what was going on, confronted Sandusky with the allegations and completely removed this pervert from the university and its student population until this investigation was completed or for good, if found guilty. But, what we discovered was that no such thing was done. In fact, Joe Paterno openingly admitted to having not done enough. He said, "this is a tragedy it is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more." An open admission of guilt on the part of the man who morally participated as a co-conspirator in the perpetuation of another man's evil deeds. Dr. King said, "our lives began to end the day we become silent on things that matter." And, he went on to say, "there comes a time where silence is betrayal." And, in a real sense Joe Paterno betrayed the trust of those young boys with his silence. By not speaking up and out about what was going on at his school, in his football program, was the ultimate betrayal. And, this is why he was forced to take the walk of shame. This is not how we envisioned Joe Paterno's exit from college football; this is not how anyone believed he would leave the game that he loved. And, yet this seems to be a "justified end" for former head coach Joe Paterno.

Our continued thoughts and prayers are with the families of the effected young boys. And, we pray that the all responsible parties are ultimately brought to justice.

Your thoughts?


Pastor Michael S. Nimmons

I AM TROY DAVIS

Troy Davis

I'm sure you have seen this picture everywhere within the last 24-48hrs. This man-Troy Davis, who was known to some, but it seemed entire world became acquainted with on yesterday as we waited with baited breath for a stay of execution from our nation's highest court. I must admit I didn't know much about Troy Davis before yesterday. I am not an activist by any means, but somehow on yesterday I-like many of you became engaged in this man's life as if he were one of my relatives. His life seem to galvanize an entire generation of young and old, black & white, rich & poor, Democrat, & Republican.I felt just as close to him as those hundreds of people standing outside of the Georgia State Prison hoping and praying for a stay of execution on this man's behalf. The marvelous things about this was how fast the world became acquainted with Troy Davis' plight and how deeply it seemed to effect us all when we heard that his final appeal to the highest court in the nation was denied.

I must admit throughout the day as I was keeping up with what was going on via Twitter & Facebook (mostly Twitter @PSTRNIMMONSTV), I truly believed that at some point we would hear good news that another stay of execution was granted or even that his execution was commuted or absolved, because of a lack of evidence, or because of 7 out of 9 witnesses recanting their testimony or because of no weapon was ever found...you know because of the truth eventually coming out. And, not just because of those facts about the case, but because of the overwhelming support that this man had received not just from the community of his peers, but from the more influential people of our country and even the world. From Nobel Peace Prize Winner-Desmond Tutu, to Pope Benedict XV. Former President Jimmy Carter also weighed in on the fate of this young man, and believed his case deserved a closer look. On twitter, the likes of notables such as Russell Simmons (@UncleRush), Big Boi  of Outkast (@BigBoi), Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian), James Fortune (@MrJamesFortune) and others voice their concerned for the possible execution of what appeared to be an innocent man. How could this unconscionable act be committed in a country founded on the principles of innocent until proven guilty? And, yet it seemed that there was a conscious effort at every level of law enforcement to sign this man's death certificate without any care or concern for the ramifications of killing an innocent man.

After bible class last night I rushed home to watch the developing story on CNN as it continued to unfold. Protesters were outside of the prison in Georgia and outside of the Supreme Court in Washington until the wee hours of the morning in disbelief of what had taken place. My heart went out to Troy Davis' family, again not knowing them, but empathizing and sympathizing with them regarding their unfortunate situation. And, after hearing the mother of the slain police office talked with Anderson Cooper on CNN, my heart was saddened by her cold & seemingly cavalier attitude towards Troy Davis, as much as it was for her son officer MacPhail who was killed that fated day back in 1989. I waited to hear from the Georgia State Corrections spokesperson as they came out and addressed the media and indicated that Troy Davis' time of death was 11:08pm. And, his last words to the family were

"...despite the situation you are in, I'm not the one who personally killed your son, your father, your brother. I am innocent. The incident that happened that night is not my fault. I did not have a gun. All I can ask ... is that you look deeper into this case so that you really can finally see the truth. I ask my family and friends to continue to fight this fight. For those about to take my life, God have mercy on your souls. And may God bless your souls."

He maintained his innocence until he took his last breath. God is the ultimate judge and he is the only one the knows what happened to office MacPhail and who the real culprit is. My prayer is that if the facts of the case are true and Troy Davis was NOT the killer, then whoever pulled the trigger on that fated day some 20yrs ago will be brought to justice.

Johnn Donne-the poet, wrote very poignantly  about the relationship that we all have to one another, "No man is an island entire of himself, every man is apart of the continent apart of the main. If a man dies it diminishes me for I am involved with mankind. So, never send to know for whom the bell tolls it tolls for thee." He and Dr. King both would agree on the interdependence of mankind, and how, "we are all tied together in a single garment of destiny," as he once said. What effects one of us ultimately effects us all in some way shape or form. And, I guess the message in this blog is simple, the events of yesterday personally impacted my life and this is no exaggeration. I truly felt like one of my brothers was lost on last evening. I did not have to know Troy Davis personally for his life to have effected me personally. Knowing someone does not always have to be a prerequisite for empathy, but we all were touched in some way by someone that we didn't even know. And, so the question becomes what do we do now? It would seem that we have lost the battle, and Troy Davis was the unfortunate casualty of a system of justice that failed all of us. But, the war on the death penalty, the war on poverty, the war on drugs, the war on violence the war on injustice continues. We mustn't sit idly by and wait for this to happen again, but we must become as Ghandi once said, "...the change that we seek." We have to actively pursue justice in our communities, schools, neighborhoods, churches, local, state and national governments. We mustn't give up the fight until as the Prophet Amos so eloquently put it, "...judgment (justice) rolls down like waters and righteousness, like a mighty stream."


I AM TROY DAVIS! WE ARE TROY DAVIS....AND WE MUSTN'T EVER GIVE UP!


Your Thoughts?


Pastor Michael S.Nimmons
www.MichaelNimmons.com

A FITTING TRIBUTE...

Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Statue

Aug 28th 2011 marks the 48th Anniversary of one of our nation's most memorable and historic events. This date marks the anniversary of the historic March on Washington lead by slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This march brought over 250,000 people to our nation's capitol, and on this autumn day in August Dr. King would give his most famous address entitled; "I Have A Dream." This stirring address given by Dr. King still rings in the hearts and minds of Americans as a pivotal point not just for the Civil Rights Movement, but a watershed moment for the entire country and maybe even the world.

In just a few days this historic occasion will be marked with what is being celebrated as one of the proudest moments in Black American History. Next to the inauguration of our nation's 1st Black President, this is truly a moment that will never be forgotten. On Sunday, August 28th the world will witness the unveiling of the newest addition to the collection of monuments in Washginton D.C. The MLK Monument will be officially unveiled, towering over 30ft tall, a fitting tribute to a man of monumental character and stature; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Crowds are expected to converge on this site from around the country and the world to witness this historic event. Pres. Barack Obama will be on hand to speak during the official unveiling and dedication of this beautifully sculpted Dr. King Monument. This will truly be a celebratory moment for our nation, as we pay tribute to a man who's tireless dedication to the movement of Civil Rights has brought us to where we are today. It's certainly been a long time coming, and we are extremely proud of what the monument stands for an represents.

This 120 million dollar endeavor was not just met with enthusiasm and excitement by those who were directly and indirectly responsible for its erection, but it was also met with controversey as well. Some groups spoke out against the design, the size, the scupltor and even the granite chosen for the statue. Chinese artist Lei Yixin was chosen to sculpt this enormous statue of this revered icon. And, his choosing was met with much criticisms, not just because of his race but because of his past projects as well. Lei has done scupltors of such leaders as Mao Zedong; who according to Anu Lau; chair of the Human Rights Guild, had one of the most egregious human rights records in the world. Some thought this monument should have done by an African American, after all Dr. King was an African American leader, And, who better to capture his ethnicity, likeness as well as his spirit than an African American. However, from the onsite of this campaign, Harry Johnson, President & CEO of the MLK Memorial Foundation set out to select an "extraordinary" artist to scuplt this monument, inasmuch as Dr. King was an "extraordinary man." 

This project took more than 15yrs to become a reality and even longer than that before it became an official campaign not just by the King family, but by the hundreds of thousands of stake holders that helped to make this dream a reality. This is the only monument dedicated to a non-president and the only African American statue in Washington D.C. The design itself is taken directly from his "I Have A Dream" speech, where he refers to "from the moutain of despair comes a stone of hope." The monument is comprised of three 30 foot stones, two of which are divided at the entrance, where visitors can walk through and see the third stone situated in the middle of this circular garden. And, Dr. King's likeness is carved out of the third stone which is called the "Stone of Hope." And, in this circular garden are 15 notable quotes of Dr. King's hand carved into stone that visitors can read as they take in the breath-taking atmosphere from this historic site.

MLK Monument and the Washington Monument

But, I wonder if Dr. King was asked what he thought of this kind of tribute, what would his thoughts be? What would he have to say about a monument erected on his behalf in our nation's capitol? Would he be appreciative of such a tribute, would he be humbled by the gesture; recognized and celebrated as one of our nations notable leaders. Standing along side men that led this country from our nation's highest office, would he feel that this tribute accurately depicted not just his likeness, but his spirit as a moral leader? Or, would he be compelled by his moral conscious to flee any such self aggrandizement as it may appear to be a sharp contrast to the true essence of the life he tried to live. Would he scoff at the amount of money invested in this endeavor, would he believed it would have been better used for some philanthropic campaign to feed the poor or the clothe the naked? Was this a fulfillment of a desire of his, or would he have thought that he himself was not worthy of such recognition? No one's sure what Dr. King would say about this monument, and I no way am attempting to speak for him by asking these questions. It is a simple consideration of what do we believe Dr. King's wishes would have been if he were alive to see this beautifully crafted monument to himself.

As many of our readers already know, I am a long time admirer and student of Dr. Martin Luther King. While I was not alive to witness his eloquence and splendor in the pulpit or participate in any of the historic marches of his time, he still has impacted my life in a very profound way. I have memorized and internalized many of his speeches as apart of my spiritual curriculum, as he was as much a prophet from God as he was a leader for so many people. I too am very proud of this monument and I celebrate with the rest of the country and world in its symbolism of freedom, justice and equality; moral tenets of which Dr. King stood for.

What are your thoughts on this MLK Memorial? What do you think Dr. King would say about it? How do you think he would feel about it as it relates to the continued struggles of our people? I'm reminded of the poiyant words Dr. King chose to sum up his life's most signicificant accomplishments in his last sermon entitled, "The Drum Major Instinct."

"If I can help somebody
As I pass along
If I can cheer somebody
With a Word or Song
If I can show someobdy
He's traveling wrong
Then my living will not be in a vain"

"If I do my duty
As a Christian ought
If I can bring salvation
To a world once wrought
If I can teach the message
As the Master taught
Then my living will not be in vain."

Truly words to live by!


Pastor Nimmons
www.michaelnimmons.com

What a virtual tour of the MLK Memorial

Lucifer Salute Or Not?

To see commercial click here

Saw this commercial last night for Benefiber. Is this an another example of the Luciferian Salute or not? You be the judge?

Your thoughts?

Pastor Nimmons
www.MichaelNimmons.com

WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON?

Skater Johnny Weir & the Lucifer Salute

Why are we starting to see more of what is quickly becoming known as "The Lucifer Salute." What is really going on? Why does it seem like when you watch a music video, or read a magazine where this occult sign is being made, it always appears like there's more going on than what you actually see? I've always believed that a picture is worth a thousand words, and if this true; what is the photographer trying to show us, what is the artist attempting to say, what are the producers, editors, publisher's and directors trying to tell us? What's really going?

For those who don't know "The Lucifer Salute" is when someone covers their left or right eye, and only one eye is exposed. The one eye exposed is an occult symbol for the "All Seeing Eye." Here are a few examples of this;

Willow Smith

Bono

Some say the "Lucifer Salute" represents a shadowy, mythical organization that is secretly running the country from behind the scenes called the "Illuminati."  There are obviously a lot of answers, and even more questions as to "why" we're seeing this occult symbol so often, but the problem is because there are so many answers; what is fact and what is fiction? 

Pictured at the very top of this blog is Olympic Skater Johnny Weir doing the "Lucifer Salute." What is also interesting about this picture is that in addition to him covering his left eye, there is also what appears to be a lightening bolt over his right eye. This is believed to be another occult symbol, which symbolizes the "lightening" that Lucifer was beheld after being kicked out of heaven. (Isaiah 14:12 / Luke 10:18) Some say it also references the "S" being the first letter of Satan's name.

Above our images of the "Lightening Bolt" and artist "Lady Gaga" sporting the occult symbol very prominently over her left eye.  These disturbing images are becoming more and more the norm as we watch our televisions, go to the movies and read the magazines and newspaper publications of our world. But, why? What is really going on here?

Here's a Revlon Commercial that has been airing since the beginning of this year featuring actress Jessica Alba, and she's doing the Lucifer Salute.  During this 14 second commercial Jessica Alba did the Lucifer Salute a grand total of nine (9) times.  In a commercial which is supposed to be advertising makeup and nail polish, there seems to be something else going on here. However, I'm sure if you were to ask the people at Revlon what was the purpose of Jessica Alba's hand gestures, they would say she was just showing off our nail polish to prospective consumers. My question is, do you believe that?What's really going on?

Here you see a few pictures from the commercial showing Ms. Alba covering her right and left eye in salute of Satan.

Actress Jessica Alba & the Lucifer Salute

The Lucifer Salute

Egyptian Pyramid

Baphomet Image

What is even more interesting about this commercial is what was also included, but you couldn't really see it unless you happened to watch it in slow motion. At the .07 / .08 mark of the commercial you see two women standing along side an Egyptian Pyramid and then you see what appears to be an image of the two-horned goat "Baphomet." Why was this included in a nail polish commercial, and why does it seem like it was snuck in there? What's really going? Is the fashion industry trying to tell us something without actually saying it? Is there a larger message being conveyed here? My answer to these questions is a resounding "YES!"

   

 Watch the Revlon Commercial right here

It is not by coincidence or by happenstance that we are starting to see more and more of these occult symbols sprinkled into popular culture. After all, Satan is the "prince of this world" and this is a way for his servants to pay homage to him over the airwaves of the mass media.  What is interesting to me is the boldness and veracity with which his minions are desiring to give him praise. The instances where these occult signs are used seem so random and abstract, and yet I believe this is done by design as well. While the appearances of these occult signs and symbols may seem random, that is what the handlers of this sinister evil desires for us to believe, when the exact opposite is actually the truth. These occult signs and symbols are not only being integrated into the mass media on purpose, but even the artists that are seen making these gestures are being used on purpose as well. Some even believe that not only are the artist covering their right or left eye in salute of Satan, but they have been brainwashed or a part of some mind control conspiracy that when prompted by their "handlers" they involuntary make these obscene occult gestures. Take a look at the video below and watch what Lady Gaga does in an interview when the interviewer say the word "Lord."

 Watch What Lady Gaga Did during an Interview here

Did you see what she did there, is was almost as if she was programmed to do it. It look so natural and yet so un-natural all at the same time. I know it left the audience as well as the interview scratching their heads wondering what they had just seen. But, as we have said in earlier post dealing with this subject matter ("Signs of the Times", "I Like Cartoons, But..." & "Is This What Passes For Music Nowadays"), we are living in the last of the last days. We-Christians, are very close to the rapture taking place (not as close as Harold Camping may have thought), but close nonetheless. That being said, the closer we get to Jesus Christ return, the more of the occult signs and symbols we are going to see, which should serve as a constant reminder of how close we are to the rapture. We shouldn't get too caught up in the rationale behind these occult signs that we loose sight of own personal salvation. But, we have definitely been warned by Jesus Christ, "...to watch as well as pray." And, there should be a good balance of both going on for us as children of God. Watching as well as praying, we can't get too preoccupied with one that we miss out on the other. Watching more than praying or vice-versa. Because, there are two things I am more certain of today than I've ever been before, this world is deceitfully wicked, and Jesus Christ IS COMING BACK. And, the two go hand-in-hand!

My question to you is are you watching with both eyes or just one? 

Your thoughts?

Pastor Michael S. Nimmons

www.MichaelNimmons.com

The MIS-EDUCATION OF LEBRON JAMES

  

Our readers know I don't spend a lot of time writing about sports and sports figures in this blog. I usually devote this platform to more weightier issues like, religion, politics, as well as other societal issues.  But, I chose to write a few paragraphs about this young man who I believe has been mislead and misguided by the people that surround him, and has caused him to misunderstand what the meaning of a leader truly is. Those of you who follow us on on Twitter @PSTRNIMMONSTV know that I didn't care much for the Miami Heat or Lebron James, not for some of the usual reasons; not my home team, traditional bitter rival of my home team, and the list goes on and on. But, my reasoning for disliking this year's Heat Team and Lebron James, is because they thought they could manufacture GREATNESS. They thought by getting together who they believed to two the best guards in the league alongside an average at best small forward, they could propel their way to an NBA Championship. And, up until the NBA Finals; it seems, the Heat, during the playoffs looked like a formidable opponent and may be even a lock for the NBA Championship. But, once the "Three Amigos" met the the Dallas Mavericks basketball team, it looked like the Heat's fairytale ending was quickly turning into into a terrible nightmare.

But, my dislike of Lebron James goes back further than this years playoffs, it goes back further than him joining the Miami Heat and his controversial "Decision" reality TV show. It goes back even further than his 7 years with the Cleveland Cavaliers. For me, it goes back to when I first became acquainted with his high school phenom Lebron James well before he entered the NBA. The pomp and circumstance that seemed to follow this young man even before he was drafted was a bit over the top. I remember hearing how his autographs and other memorabilia was being put on E-Bay and auctioned for hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Yes, I read articles and saw footage on how talented this young man was, and how it appeared as if he was going to take the world by storm. He made the decision to skip college and go straight to the NBA, where his talents would be on display before millions on a regular basis. Lebron was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2004 signing a 90 million contract at the time that would make him the highest paid rookie in NBA history. After that came a long list of endorsements and other incentives that would increase the exposure and public consumption of this growing media juggernaut. But, for me it was always too much to fast for someone as young and immature as he seemed to be. His talent made all of this available, but his youth and immaturity would send him on a collision course of unrivaled proportions if he was not careful. Dubbing himself "King James" really solidified my dislike of this young man, never having accomplished anything on the level he was aspiring to reach. Posters and pictures of him with outstretched arms of on buildings and skyscrapers with the caption "Are You A Witness" suggesting that we are at a pivotal moment in time where we are "witnessing" greatness unfold before our very eyes.

And, so at least from where I was standing it appeared as if this young man was slowly becoming a product of the media and receiving undue accolades and credit when not much was ever done to qualify him for the attention he seemed to have received. And, I believe its one thing for a person to get attention; and for the media to hype you up and to say great things about you, and for that person to shy away from that attention as if to say I'm undeserving of all of this. But, it is something very different with the subject of the media attention embraces and almost embellishes it to the point that it actually becomes sickening. What it demonstrates to me is their inability to handle the spotlight; the inability to handle the attention. Essentially, it was too much to fast. And, in this age of Twitter, Facebook and all of other social networks, a person's stardom can take off much faster in today's time than anytime in history. Subsequently, once the public has embraced you, it then becomes almost a whirlwind of fan-dom that if not checked could easily go to a person's head. And, this is what we are "witnessing" with Lebron James. A talented young man, who got a taste of stardom too fast, when it is usually dolled out in smaller increments; where you see a person's rise to fame happen more slowly and deliberately.  

The people surrounding him are there only to stroke his ginormous size ego and no one ever chastises him or criticizes his actions. And, that's why you constantly see a young man in front of the media who really looks like a little boy. A self proclaimed "King" that really looks like a child searching for his true identity. His own mother; someone that should be there to offer advice, counsel and even discipline, is too busy carousing with former teammates and basking in the glow of this new lifestyle she's privy too, far too busy to give him the help he so desperately needs. In a real sense I feel sorry for him, because if he never finds someone that can really mentor him and counsel him; if never finds someone that he respects and will listen to, his 15 minutes of fame may soon run out. And, in the end what would he have had to show for it. It would have only amounted to nothing more than a wild ride; the equivalent of a 5 minute roller coaster ride they left a person dizzy and disheveled wondering what really happened.

I write this blog not to simply pile on this young man; the media is doing a pretty good job of that, but I write this blog for the millions of fans some of which are little boys who want to one day grow up and be like Lebron James. I caution you in as you pick your heroes, roles models and those you want to pattern yourselves after. Don't get so caught up in the talents and gifts of a person; don't get so blinded by the media hype and attention that they receive that you cannot see their true character. Gifts and talents are a dime a dozen. In fact, the bible says that, "Gifts and callings come without repentance." And, at the end of the day it doesn't matter how gifted you are, but what is most important is how did you handle your gift. Your character is far more important and significant that how gifted you may be. And, unfortunately in this age of "Bling Bling," "MTV" & "BET" all that our youth see is the materialism that comes with being gifted. But, if they look close enough they can also see the character of the talented as well. Unfortunately, for our youth the shine of the "Bling Bling" often times blinds them to the true character of the gifted. I challenge you to look deeper than what you see and read, look deeper than what you hear and are being told about a person. And, make your selection of your role models on more than what they drive, where they live and how much money they have.

I leave you with the words of Dr. King; "The true measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenges and controversy."

Your thoughts?

Pastor Michael S. Nimmons

www.MichaelNimmons.com