PRAISE, WORSHIP, DEVOTION, OBITUARIES & INSPIRATION 70th Birthday Bash For Rance Allen
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John P. Kee really knows how to throw a party. Recently, the legendary recording artist threw a concert celebrating the 70th birthday of his mentor and gospel icon, Bishop Rance Allen. Kee hosted Jason Nelson, Yolanda DeBerry, Isaiah Templeton, Shawn Bigby and Zeeksong for a spirited and packed-out concert at his New Life Fellowship Church in Charlotte, NC. For those artists who couldn’t appear in person, they sent greetings via Instagram. A Korean soul music quartet, Korean Seoul, serenaded Bishop Allen with an a cappella rendition of the Rance Allen Group’s signature tune, “Something About the Name Jesus.” Multiple re-postings of the video have amassed over 150,000 views: https:// instagram.com/p/BqXyYfOhm2N/ Kirk Franklin, who wrote the song, wrote on his IG wall, “the greatest opportunity of my life was to work with you sir. Forever grateful for what you made this song become.” The original and various re-recordings of the song by The Rance Allen Group have earned over 50 million streams. “Thank you for all that you’ve done for me and many others like me to blaze trails out here, so we can sing our songs today,” Brian Courtney Wilson said on his IG page. R&B artists ranging from Ruben Studdard and K.C. Hailey (of K-Ci & JoJo/Jodeci fame) to Tank and Lalah Hathaway, all sent Instagram messages as well. “You have been one of my favorite singers all of my life,” Hathaway said in her post. “I don’t know if you remember me as a ten-year-old, but you were one of my favorite singers even then.” Super Producer, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, said, “I’ve got the Stax vinyl records and I listen to them jams man and you were ahead of your time with the grooves you were making and your singing, your style of singing was ahead of your time.” The stars kept on shining and sharing Instagram anecdotes about Bishop Allen. PJ Morton, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Kierra Sheard, Tasha Page, Fred Hammond, singer/songwriter Eric Dawkins, comedian Not Karlton Banks, worship leader Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Le’Andria Johnson, Lena Byrd Miles, and Erica and Warryn Campbell, among others. Joey “Beanz” Little of The Rude Boys posted a video too. “I’ve followed you ever since I was a kid,” he said. “A part of my makeup of who I am
Deaths & Funerals
Magnolia Edwards center. 85, passed away Thursday, Nov. Ms. Magnolia Edwards, age Graveside Service: 1 p.m. 22, at a local care center. 93, passed away Sunday, Nov. Tuesday, Nov. 27, Omaha Survived by son: Perry 18, at her residence. National Cemetery. Stanfield, Omaha; daughters: Survived by daughter: Erma J. Arrangements by Thomas Evaline, New Orleans, La, Ross; other relatives. Funeral Home. Michelle Stanfield, Omaha, NE; Funeral Services were held *** 5 grandchildren, 11 great-grand, 12 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, at the Ashley Parris 2 great-great-grand, nieces, mortuary. Mrs. Ashley Parris, age 28, nephews, other relatives. Cremation passed away Sunday, Nov. 18, Funeral Service: 1 p.m. Friday, Arrangements by Thomas in Kansas City, MO. St. Mark Baptist Church, Rev. Funeral Home. Arrangements are pending. Darryl Brown, officiating. *** Arrangements by Thomas Interment: Forest Lawn James Nelson Evans Sr. Funeral Home. Cemetery Mr. James Nelson Evans Sr., *** Rance Allen and friend at birthday party Arrangements by Thomas age 81, passed away Saturday, Betty J. Stanfield Mrs. Betty J. Stanfield, age Funeral Home. has got something to do with you.” Actor Josh October 20, at a local care Eason, who’s acting in Kee’s new movie, “The Lost Song,” also made a video. As did Anthony Hamilton, Bishop Carlton Pearson and Israel Haughton and Adrienne Bailon. Clark Sheard, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Twinkie Clark, By Jacksonville Free Press Big-name pastors such as Bishop Charles E. Jacky Clark Chisholm and Denise Clark Bradford Blake, Travis Greene and Bishop Joseph Walker The story of the Clark Sisters, coming to – have inspired many of today’s divas including saluted Allen via Instagram. “What you’ve done television in early 2019 as a Lifetime movie, will Mariah Carey, Beyonce and Faith Evans. Denise is can only be imitated but never duplicated because no longer associated with the group, though there follow the gospel legends’ rise to fame. you are really the best at what you do,” Greene The legendary gospel siblings will be the subject has been talk of the group performing with her said. of an upcoming Lifetime biopic, “You Bought again. “What do you say about a voice for the ages?” The Clark Sisters were honored at the 2016 the Sunshine,” produced by heavyweights Queen scholar Michael Eric Dyson asked in his IG post. Essence Music Festival. They also performed at Latifah, Mary J. Blige, and Missy Elliott. Sunshine “What do you say about one of the most poignant, Aretha Franklin’s funeral earlier this year. will tell the story of their rise to fame. piercing plangent tenors that runs up and down the “You Brought the Sunshine” is the title of The The Detroit-based Grammy Award winners are scales? The arpeggio, the melisma, the incredible Clark Sisters’ eighth studio album, which was the credited for helping to bring gospel music to the sonic timbre, the tone that resonated the deep group’s first album to be certified gold. mainstream. and profound soul of Detroit. With a voice and a “It is with great anticipation group that conjures the majestic heights and the that we share with you the sorrowful depths to which we could descend and story of the Clark Sisters,” ascend the extraordinary power of gospel to reach the group announced in an beyond a barrow sectarian region of the church.” Instagram post. The Rance Allen Group which is comprised of No actresses have been Bishop Allen and his brothers, Steve and Thomas, attached to the project as yet. is currently planning new music to release in Daughters of the legendary late 2019. In the meantime, their latest project, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, these “Live in San Francisco,” continues to sell well dynamic trailblazers have and is available at this link: http://smarturl.it/ given us hits such as, “You’ve LiveFromFrisco Stay up-to-date on Rance Allen at Brought the Sunshine,” his Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/ “Endow Me,” and “Is My realranceallen Living in Vain.” The five sisters – Karen The Clark Sisters – Karen, Dorinda, Twinkie
Clark Sisters Biopic Coming in 2019
Kids Talk About God
How Do You Respond When People Make Fun Of You For Doing The Right Thing? By Carey Kinsolving And Friends “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10). “When I had the flu, I gave my sister my Popsicle,” says Halle, age 9. “I got a spanking.” Ouch! Halle, I’m sorry your sharing got you into trouble. Let’s hear from Adrianna, 8: “It means when people ignore somebody when they’re doing the right thing and don’t play with them, God blesses those people because they’re doing the right thing.” “Once I was opening the door for people, and some teenagers were saying that I didn’t need to do that,” recalls Carson, 9. Three cheers for you, Carson. If you want to join the bandwagon, conform to peer pressure and make decisions based on popularity polls. But if you want to do what’s right, expect resistance because you’ll have to go against the crowd. Salmon is my favorite food for three reasons: One, it tastes great; two, it’s full of brain food called marine lipids; and three, I like the idea of eating a fish that swims against the current. Being mocked, ridiculed or socially ostracized for doing what’s right is swimming upstream. This isn’t nonconformity just to be different. It’s desiring, thinking and acting differently because you’re living in a relationship with a righteous God. Tertullian, a Christian leader who lived about 150 years after Jesus, wrote: “We (Christians) have a reputation of living aloof from crowds.” Social life is not all Christians lost in the early days of the church, says Langdon, 11: “A man named Paul used to capture people who talked about the great Jesus Christ. One man named Stephen got stoned and died. One day, Paul changed. He didn’t capture people anymore. He believed in the great Jesus Christ. He went to different countries and cities to tell people about Jesus Christ. Many times, he and his friends got
November 30, 2018
put into jail, but they escaped a lot.” God likes paradoxes. He took the greatest persecutor of the early church and transformed him into its most acclaimed evangelist, the Apostle Paul. “People are blessed for telling about God even when you might get hurt or killed,” says Kate, 10. “For this, you will be honored.” Indeed you will, Kate. In fact, the Apostle Luke says you should “leap for joy” when people hate and exclude you because of your relationship with the Lord Jesus. Leap for joy? Yes, because “your reward is great in heaven” (Luke 6:23). Only those who are believers can rejoice in the midst of persecution. They can do this because believers filled with God’s life can love and forgive those who hate them. Since Jesus rose from the dead and went back to heaven, the Holy Spirit has been given to live inside every believer. The power of God’s love transforms believers’ hearts. Compassion replaces brutality. Greed gives way to generosity. Understanding prevails over prejudice. Hope drives out despair. Hunter, 10, tells the story of Jim Elliot, a missionary martyr who died in the jungles of Ecuador. “When his wife heard about it, she cried for a long time. A few years later, she made a Bible in the language that the natives spoke in that country.” God’s love came to this remote tribe through Elisabeth Elliot, the wife of the man whom they murdered. Only God’s power working in a person could make that person love those who murdered her husband. Point to ponder: God rewards those who suffer for doing the right thing. Scripture to remember: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10). Question to consider: When you suffer for doing what’s right, can you rejoice that God knows and will bless you?
Time Does Not Slow Down For Anyone By Dr. William Holland Growing older is like a train rolling down the track and no matter how many Botox injections, vitamins, or hair plugs, we cannot stop the reality of our mortality. There is nothing wrong with trying to look young and we agree that dieting and exercise would surely be a healthy and positive lifestyle but the hourglass only contains so much sand. As the days keep ticking away, we are reminded to not put off until tomorrow what we can do today because we are not sure how many tomorrows we will have. If you want a big juicy steak for heaven’s sake go have one. If you have thought about helping someone or have a desire to say or give them something, do not fall into the someday excuse and never do it. If you feel a burden to write a letter, make a call, invite someone to dinner, or ask someone to forgive you for something you did or said, by all means, do it today. Delay is a sure way to miss a golden opportunity. There are certain aspects that I miss from my youth like being free from worries, along with having boundless energy and vitality. Now that I’m older, I cannot see as clear, I get winded pretty easy and sometimes I cannot remember people’s names. I love to take naps and when I watch Jeopardy, the answers are given before I can even think. Then there are the mistakes I wish I could forget. I realize it does no good to live in regret but I cannot help but wonder what could have been. I recall being more occupied with the present than concerned with the future and I can only imagine how much more I could have done if I knew then what I know now. The past is gone and even if I were given a do-over, I would probably make more of a mess than I did the first time. God has always been there for me and all in all, even without winning the lottery, I’m happy with where I am in my journey. Sure, we dream about what we could do with large amounts of money but then we snap back into the real world and realize the most important meaning of life is our personal relationship with
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God. As the scripture says in Matthew chapter 16, “For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? I am not rich by any means but I am also not poor and there again is the compassionate and amazing grace of our heavenly Father. As you and I face the prospects of growing older, we will ask ourselves questions like, “What should I be doing now to prepare for a time when I cannot take care of myself?” Along with these practical decisions are also considerations for our spiritual life that speaks bluntly and boldly to the deepest recesses of our heart. Truth does not intend to be mean or cruel but desires to awaken us to the possibilities of purpose. The fact is, without change, we will be then what we are now. If you are not becoming a person of faith, love, and kindness now, you will not be that type of a person then. If you are a negative and grumpy person now, you will not suddenly become a positive and generous individual then. If you are not learning, growing, praying and developing an intimate personal relationship with God today, unfortunately, you will not walk with him then. We will change when the agony of conviction to be transformed becomes greater than the apathy and contentment to stay the same. Charles Bancroft wrote this encouraging poem, “God loves the aged. He gives them greater visions than the young: He puts words of wisdom on their tongue: And keeps His presence ever by their side, from dawn to dusk, and on through eventide. God helps the aged. Within their home, his spirit dwells: Their mellow hearts are touched like chiming bells: He calms their fears, then worries disappear because they know his help is always near. God keeps the aged. With hearts of gold, and silver tinted hair: And earnestness, and greater faith in prayer: He keeps them as a shepherd guards his sheep, till in his fold they gently fall asleep.” (Read this article in its entirety at billyhollandministries.com.)
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