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his boxing career, winning can be his only salvation. On the other hand, Adonis is a bit boujee. He isn’t broke. He isn’t desperate. Only one of them has the real eye of the tiger, and the flaw is that it isn’t the Rocky-type main character.

The musical playlist jumps right from the gitgo, with beats by Big Sean, Ari Lennox, Kehlani and J. Cole. While Joseph Shirley’s score rocks the house too. Sylvester Stallone’s presence is missed as the weathered champ turned trainer Rocky Balboa—a bridge to the past. But the cast finds their own way. Thompson exhibits a wonderful sensitivity as the family-focused, career-minded and loving quintessential modern Black woman. Benavidez, an actual boxing pro, brings a touch of realism to the Felix character, as does Selenis Leyva (Orange is the New Black), who plays his manager.

Every performance is professional, but Majors as the aggrieved Dame and Jordan as the guilt-ridden Adonis really bring the gravitas. They melt into their characters, are buff and as bromantic, envious and hateful as Cain and Abel. Working class Crenshaw in one corner. Moneyed West Los Anglian in the other. May the best man win. Admirers of this boxing saga, adults craving drama, genre fans looking for a fight and those who enjoy excellent acting will go the rounds with Creed III. Why? Because Jordan doesn’t pull any punches. He lands them.

In theaters March 3rd.

Trailer: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=AHmCH7iB_IM

Visit NNPA News Wire Film Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com.

Gospel Music Legend, Bill Gaither Brings

The Brighter The Light Tour To PasadenaMarch 17

Lifestyle/Entertainment News

Circumspectly Not as Fools, But as Wise!” [Ephesians 5:15]

By: Lou K. Coleman Lou K. Coleman

“Going through your daily life and your daily routines acting as you know that you have tomorrow promised to you. You act like there is time to waste and things can wait. You put off the things of Me and you only concern yourselves with the things of this world. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. “Walk Circumspectly, Not as Fools, but as Wise.” Because I tell you, things are going to change dramatically. Do not be one of those who I have to turn away when all is said and done. Time is of the essence. [Psalms 39:4-6; 90:12]. Do not delay! You must get yourself together if you are going to be able to survive what is coming. Turn from your procrastination! Do what I’ve told you to do, and do not waste any more time! You’ve been warned! I, the LORD, have spoken! The time has come, and I won’t hold back. I will not change my mind, and I will have no pity on you. Therefore, “Walk Circumspectly Not as Fools, But as Wise!”

Listen, the Bible is actually very clear about what is coming. We are living in a very troubling time in this world. The world conditions have escalated from confusion to chaos. In Revelation God gives us three different accounts of the end time. These are given in the Seals, the Trumpets, and the Vials. Heed the warning as we near the Rapture and Great Tribulation prophesied in the Book of Revelation. For there is only one place to be safe and that is in Christ. So, consider today with some urgency your eternal life. With as much going on in our society and in the world today, tomorrow is not promised. “Walk Circumspectly Not as Fools, But as Wise!” And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples. [Acts 19:8-10]. It then became too late!

“Bullets and Tanks Won’t Solve It”

by Peter Makari

Last week, one year had passed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine took place. The war is now in its second year and there do not seem to be any promising diplomatic efforts underway to end the fighting. In the meantime, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and millions have been displaced. The impact has been felt throughout Europe, the Middle East, and beyond, particularly in places that depend on grain and fuel imports from Russia and Ukraine.

number and most potent tools of hard power.

the climb of Black entrepreneurs everywhere as we collectively continue to break barriers and accelerate the opportunities for growth,” added Ms. Rodriguez.

“I am thrilled that we will make an even greater impact in how we give back to the community.”

Both Mielle and P&G have each committed $10 million to Mielle Cares, a non-profit aimed at providing resources and support to advance education and economic opportunities in Black and Brown communities.

P&G’s investment in Mielle Cares further expands its work in advancing gender and racial equity through award-winning platforms like My Black is Beautiful and Widen the Screen.

“We founded Mielle Cares to give back to our community who has been so instrumental in the success of Mielle,” said Melvin Rodriguez, co-founder and chief operating officer for Mielle Organics. “Mielle remains committed to leading with purpose and impact and serving as a beacon in historically underserved communities.

Expanding our impact in Black and Brown communities will become an even greater focus in the years ahead.”

The news caps an impressive period of growth for Mielle.

Over the last three years, Ms. Rodriguez was able to secure funding from the New Voices Fund for Women of Color continued on page 7

Alexandria, IN – MultiGrammy Award winning recording artist, Bill Gaither will present the Brighter The Light Tour to 20 cities during the Spring of 2023, as he brings his multi-award winning group, The Gaither Vocal Band to a dozen states during the February, March, April and May. One of those stops will take place Friday, March 17 at the Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, CA.

For nearly half a century, Gaither, a multiple Grammy and Dove award winner, has been a musical trailblazer. His reputation as a performer, songwriter and mentor for newly-discovered artists is known world-wide. His beloved series of Homecoming CDs and DVDs continues to top the sales charts and attract an ever-increasing audience. Honors and accolades have flowed his way in bunches, including his most recent Grammy nomination for Best Roots Gospel Album of the Year for the Gaither Vocal Band Let’s Just Praise The Lord recording.

Taking the stage with Gaither and the Gaither Vocal Band, featuring Wes Hampton, Adam Crabb, Todd Suttles and Reggie Smith, will be popular female vocalist, Ladye Love Smith and talented male vocalist, Gene

McDonald, as well as Gaither’s musical entourage, comprised of Kevin Williams, Matthew Holt and Michael Rowsey.

The 2023 Spring Tour affords Gaither the opportunity continue to share the message he has been proclaiming for more than six decades. It’s that desire to spread the message of hope through music that keeps the 86-year old Indiana native thriving. “You know this world has never been very stable,” Gaither shares, “and according to God’s Word, it’s not going to be stable. We are called to be God’s people in the midst of an unstable culture. So the question is, how do we live out the power of love and grace? Do we really believe that love is the most powerful force on earth? Can we trust that the darker the night, the brighter the light? Our call is just simply to shine. The little song we learned in Sunday School was so, so true. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. I believe that message can change the world. The darker the night, the brighter the light.”

Tickets for the 2023 Brighter The Light Tour stop in Pasadena at the Lake Avenue Church, located at 393 N Lake Avenue, are on sale now. To purchase tickets or obtain additional details visit www.gaither.com.

According to the State Department, the US has committed more than $32 billion in “security assistance” to Ukraine in the last 14 months, which includes a long list of weaponry such as tanks, antiaircraft and anti-armor systems, unmanned aerial systems, artillery, ammunition, mortars, rockets, missiles, and other matériel. This massive military aid has provided a huge boost to US defense contractors. The US already exports arms to almost 100 countries, making up roughly 37% of the global arms market, and nearly half of those exports are to the Middle East. This is in addition to military aid, much of which is required to be spent in the US on American products.

Refocusing on the US, the years between 2020 and 2022 saw the highest incidence of mass shootings in history, with 610, 690, and 647 in each year, respectively. So far in 2023, there have been 92, with more than 6,000 people killed already as a result of shootings. The country is experiencing more than one mass shooting per day already and is on pace for another year of high levels of death and injury. In the last ten years, the number of firearms produced in the US has averaged almost 10 million per year and gun ownership has remained mostly steady. Despite robust debate and advocacy, there appears to be no clear pathway to gun safety legislation on the horizon.

Domestically and globally, the US is a leader in gun and arms manufacturing and sales. For some, such rankings might be a source of pride—the US is a (the most?) powerful country, producing and selling the greatest

But what about those on the other end of the equation? While the US has several sets of laws in place to attempt to ensure that countries receiving US foreign military aid and arms sales must comply with human rights standards, it is not clear that such accountability is enforced. And in the US, mass shootings continue unabated. The victims of such US expression of power continue to mount, even as the US remains a purveyor of weaponry. Is killing and destruction what the US wants to be best at?

Joseph Nye has written about other forms of it, specifically “soft power.” Soft power is the power to attract, including by holding to a set of principles and values. Nye writes, “Firms, universities, foundations, churches, and protest movements develop soft power of their own. Sometimes their activities will reinforce official foreign-policy goals, and sometimes they will be at odds with them.”

Christians are called to speak truth to power, advocating for a justice that lifts up the value of each person, so that we each might enjoy an abundance of life that Christ promised.

On a recent visit to central and eastern Europe and church partners responding to the needs of people displaced by the Ukraine war, I had the privilege to dine with a church leader from western Ukraine. He told our small delegation, “I understand why there are more weapons sent, but do we ask how many people will be killed? We can make better decisions at a table like this than on the battlefield. If we can’t solve this [conflict] with love, bullets and tanks won’t solve it.” His plea was heartfelt and motivated by having seen the direct impact of war. From his lips to God’s ears, and to the ears of those who purport to resolve conflict by force.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Peter Makari is the Global Relations Minister for the Middle East and Europe for Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ.