la - Blog - The Oracle Mag2024-03-29T08:34:39Zhttps://www.theoraclemag.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/laOn “Preachers of LA”, Deitrick Haddon Gives Advice to Gospel Singer Kevin Terry After Leaked Gay Sex Tapehttps://www.theoraclemag.com/profiles/blogs/on-preachers-of-la-deitrick-haddon-gives-advice-to-gospel-singer-2014-10-21T09:56:22.000Z2014-10-21T09:56:22.000ZPrince Malachi The Firsthttps://www.theoraclemag.com/members/Malachi<div><div class="post-title"><h1 class="entry-title"></h1>
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<p><a href="http://ajsupreme.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/deitrick-haddon.jpg?w=640" target="_blank"><img src="http://ajsupreme.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/deitrick-haddon.jpg?w=640" class="align-center" alt="deitrick-haddon.jpg?w=640" /></a></p>
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<div class="post_content entry-content"><div id="attachment_69017" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><br /><p class="wp-caption-text">Deitrick Haddon speaks with Kevin Terry on the Oct. 22, 2014 episode of Oxygen’s “Preachers of LA”.</p>
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<p>It’s been nearly a year since gospel singer Kevin Terry’s gay sex tape leaked online and had church folk up in arms.</p>
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<p>Next week’s episode of “Preachers of LA” will feature Terry, himself, discussing the video’s fallout with cast member Deitrick Haddon, who knows a thing or two about becoming scorched by the church.</p>
<p>“I’ve been there. I’ve had my own stuff. I’m not here to judge you at all,” Haddon tells Terry in the clip. “I’m here to lift you up and understand wherever you are, and help you move forward.”</p>
<p>Haddon caught a gang of side-eyes several years ago when he was rumored to have gotten his current wife Domonique pregnant while he was still married to his ex-wife of 15 years, Damita. There was also his alleged side chick Simone who claims she was also with him during his first marriage.</p>
<p>Deitrick’s advice to Terry…his leaked sex tape is not the end of the world.</p>
<p>“I’m here to say that you can bounce back after any mistake and still be a soldier for God,” Deitrick says in the clip.</p>
<p><strong>Click <a href="http://www.eurweb.com/2014/10/preachers-of-la-deitrick-haddon-advises-kevin-terry-after-sex-tape-scandal-clip/">here</a> for more.</strong></p>
<p><em>SOURCE: EURWeb</em><br /><em>Cherie Saunders</em></p>
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</div></div>“When the Game Stands Tall” Movie Inspired by a True Story, Encourages Men to Be Mightyhttps://www.theoraclemag.com/profiles/blogs/3153366-BlogPost-655912014-08-23T02:49:09.000Z2014-08-23T02:49:09.000ZPrince Malachi The Firsthttps://www.theoraclemag.com/members/Malachi<div><div class="post-title"><h1 class="entry-title"><a href="http://i0.wp.com/www.blackchristiannews.com/go/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/when-the-game-stands-tall-movie.jpg?resize=500%2C250" target="_blank"><img src="http://i0.wp.com/www.blackchristiannews.com/go/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/when-the-game-stands-tall-movie.jpg?resize=500%2C250" class="align-center" alt="when-the-game-stands-tall-movie.jpg?resize=500%2C250" /></a></h1>
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<div class="post_content entry-content"><p>The story of legendary football coach, Bob Ladouceur, is hitting the big screen in the new movie, “When the Game Stands Tall.” But it is Ladouceur’s actions off the field that get the most attention.</p>
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<p>Coach Ladouceur’s quiet leadership overshadows De La Salle High School’s winning streak of more than 150 consecutive games.</p>
<p>When he signed on to teach religious studies at the school in 1979, the Spartans had never won a football game. But that did not discourage him from adding coaching to his school duties.</p>
<p>“I was young. I was 24 at the time. And I thought I am going to give this a shot and see what I can do,” Ladouceur told CBN News, recalling that time in his life.</p>
<p>“I was even trying to seek my own level of competence and see what I was meant to do because I really didn’t know,” he added. “And I thought this might be it. I felt real comfortable about football.”</p>
<p>“I had a good feel for the game. And I thought, let’s give it a shot. And once I got into it, it only took me a year and I thought this is what I meant to do,” he added.</p>
<p><strong>Jim Caviezel on His Role</strong><br />In the new movie, “Coach Lad’s” story begins with game 152, when the winning streak ends and things fall apart.</p>
<p>Actor Jim Caviezel, best known for his role as Jesus in “Passion of the Christ,” plays the coach in this film. Caviezel discussed the greatest challenges of this role with CBN News.</p>
<p>The biggest challenge was “that he is alive,” Caviezel said.</p>
<p>“That people would put the judgment down pretty hard on you,” he added. “Normally, when you are doing a script you have just the foundation of the script that you are working on this one. This one there is another one and that’s him.”</p>
<p>“And then, who are we going to get to play Terry?” he added. “This is an odd couple. There are a lot of things that could go wrong that didn’t go wrong.”</p>
<p>Terry Eidson is “Coach Lad’s” more animated assistant. That role was played by Michael Chiklis.</p>
<p>“I mean, naturally, they want to win the games they play,” Chiklis told CBN News in discussing the real life coaches portrayed in the film. “But really what they want to accomplish is mentoring these boys into young men, who can be relied upon.”</p>
<p><strong>Click <a href="http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2014/August/When-the-Game-Stands-Tall-about-Raising-Mighty-Men/">here</a> to read more.</strong></p>
<p><em>SOURCE: CBN News</em><br /><em>Efrem Graham</em></p>
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<div align="center"><h3 class="title"><a href="http://www.theoraclemag.com/profiles/blogs/our-new-mixtape-is-out-malachi-dj-i-rock-jesus-present-detox-blen">OUR NEW MIXTAPE IS OUT!!! MALACHI & DJ I ROCK JESUS PRESENT DETOX : BLEND FEATURING BEATS BY DR. DRE</a></h3>
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</div></div>Actress LisaRaye McCoy Weeps Openly at Her Home Church Baptismhttps://www.theoraclemag.com/profiles/blogs/3153366-BlogPost-656452014-08-07T20:08:00.000Z2014-08-07T20:08:00.000ZPrince Malachi The Firsthttps://www.theoraclemag.com/members/Malachi<div><div class="post-title"><h1 class="entry-title"></h1>
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<div class="post_content entry-content"><div id="attachment_48182" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://i2.wp.com/www.blackchristiannews.com/go/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/LisaRaye-McCoy.jpg?resize=500%2C250" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.wp.com/www.blackchristiannews.com/go/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/LisaRaye-McCoy.jpg?resize=500%2C250" class="align-center" alt="LisaRaye-McCoy.jpg?resize=500%2C250" /></a><br /><p class="wp-caption-text">Instagram</p>
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<p>“Welcome to the Kingdom” messages have been pouring to actress LisaRaye McCoy after she posted a brief video clip of her at-home baptism online.</p>
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<p>Though some remember the 46-year-old as Diamond from the Player’s Club, the single mom has, for a while, been a Bible-carrying member of the Jesus club.</p>
<p>In early 2011, during an interview with Steve Harvey, McCoy publicized her spiritual journey and solicited prayer as she worked to grow in her Christian faith.</p>
<p>Now, three years later, the star has chosen to publicly share another milestone in celebration of her deepening walk with God. As a result, those who were unfamiliar with her previous faith conversion have been relating to the former “Single Ladies” star as a new convert.</p>
<p>The flood of attention follows McCoy’s publishing amateur footage of her pastor, Touré Roberts of One Church LA, sharing words of encouragement on her big day.</p>
<p>Dressed in a long white robe, she wept openly as Roberts clutched her hand and told her, “LisaRaye, I’m so excited when I see you. I see purpose and destiny. You’ve done crazy-amazing things at the church and in the church, and at the artist resource center blessing people.”</p>
<p>He ended with, “And I just think that God is getting ready to take it to a whole ‘nother level.”</p>
<p><strong>Click <a href="http://www.empoweringeverydaywomen.com/lisaraye-mccoy-baptized.html">here</a> to read more.</strong></p>
<p><em>SOURCE: EEW Magazine</em><br /><em>Paula Mitchell</em></p>
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</div></div>Deitrick Haddon Upsets Some Christians After Saying Shacking Up Before Marriage Is Okayhttps://www.theoraclemag.com/profiles/blogs/3153366-BlogPost-652302014-07-29T08:08:05.000Z2014-07-29T08:08:05.000ZPrince Malachi The Firsthttps://www.theoraclemag.com/members/Malachi<div><div class="post-title"><h1 class="entry-title"></h1>
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<div class="post_content entry-content"><div id="attachment_46631" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://i1.wp.com/www.blackchristiannews.com/go/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Deitrick-Haddon1.jpg?resize=500%2C250" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1.wp.com/www.blackchristiannews.com/go/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Deitrick-Haddon1.jpg?resize=500%2C250" class="align-center" alt="Deitrick-Haddon1.jpg?resize=500%2C250" /></a><br /><p class="wp-caption-text">Credit: GETTY</p>
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<p>“Preachers of LA” star Deitrick Haddon has upset members of the faith community by saying on national television that co-habitation before marriage is okay.</p>
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<p>During an Oxygen special last week, the 41-year-old argued that there are “different reasons” he deems acceptable for shacking up. But EEW Magazine’s President Dianna Hobbs weighed in, calling it “bad advice.”</p>
<p>During a network special that aired last week, ahead of the Season 2 premiere of the controversial reality show, the “Have Your Way” singer passionately fought for his perspective.</p>
<p>“Living with somebody does not mean that you’re having sex with them,” said Haddon, who also condemns fornication. “There are people that live together for various—many different—reasons.”</p>
<p>According to him, this is perfectly fine as long as the pair is not sexually active.</p>
<p>When asked to offer an opinion at a weekend event in upstate New York, Hobbs, who is an award-winning urban faith-based media specialist and bestselling author of The New A-list: Abstinence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder, said, “Oh wow, uh, Deitrick’s a really gifted artist, but I don’t think I can go with him on this one.”</p>
<p>She continued, “See, in my travels, I talk to so many singles that are struggling with temptation, you know. And I, uh, wish an influential Christian leader wasn’t the one condoning living together, because that serves only to heighten that struggle. I believe it’s really poor— bad advice.”</p>
<p>Hobbs added, “I don’t hold anything against him personally, but I have to stand against his stance. We need to give people biblical answers, not our opinion, to strengthen them in their journey to remain pure. I can’t find support for his views in Scripture. I just can’t.”</p>
<p><strong>Click <a href="http://buzz.eewmagazine.com/eew-magazine-buzz-blog/2014/7/28/eew-magazine-president-dianna-hobbs-calls-deitrick-haddons-a.html">here</a> to read more.</strong></p>
<p><em>SOURCE: EEW Magazine</em><br /><em>Rebecca Johnson</em></p>
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</div></div>LISTEN: Deitrick Haddon’s Ex-Wife Speaks Outhttps://www.theoraclemag.com/profiles/blogs/3153366-BlogPost-647862014-07-15T22:56:08.000Z2014-07-15T22:56:08.000ZPrince Malachi The Firsthttps://www.theoraclemag.com/members/Malachi<div><div class="post-title"><h1 class="entry-title"><a href="http://i2.wp.com/www.blackchristiannews.com/go/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Damita.jpg?resize=500%2C250" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.wp.com/www.blackchristiannews.com/go/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Damita.jpg?resize=500%2C250" class="align-center" alt="Damita.jpg?resize=500%2C250" /></a></h1>
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<p>There were very few stories that shook the Christian community like the love triangle involving Gospel artists Deitrick Haddon, Damita, and Isaac Carree. Through it all Damita Remained silent for over two years while going through the divorce process and continued to stay silent far beyond that. Ridiculed by ex-husband Deitrick Haddon on social media, the singer hit rock bottom when all the drama took place closely after her mother’s death.</p>
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<p>Now for the first time the newly remarried singer speaks exclusively to Path MEGAzine about what really happened during her 15 year relationship with the singer, actor and “Preachers of LA” reality TV star Deitrick Haddon.</p>
<p>Deitrick Haddon and Damita were both Co-Pastoring a church in Detroit when their lives would irrevocably be shifted by the scandal. Damita tells Path MEGAzine publisher Kris Patrick that half truths and inconsistencies in Deitrick’s statements wounded the ‘No looking back’ singer during the time she took the stones casted at her.</p>
<p>In the descriptive conversation Damita starts out by saying, “Truth with deception is not a whole truth.” In response to Deitrick’s public statement on social media Damita says, “It should have been handled behind closed doors.”</p>
<p>Damita stopped short of admitting or denying that she cheated, but she did give us a window into who did what. “If two people’s hands are dirty it behoves you not to throw stones.”</p>
<p>Elaborating, she goes on. “Honestly I think that he (Deitrick) had gotten himself in a situation, and he didn’t know how to get out of it, so the only thing he could do was play a blame game.”</p>
<p>Deitrick has admitted openly on his TV show that he did have a baby out of wedlock, but insists the relationship began after parting with Damita.</p>
<p>The bombshell in the interview came when Path MEGAzine publisher Kris Patrick asked Damita if her relationship was over with Deitrick Haddon before he courted his new girl (now wife) Dominique Mctyer, eventually getting her pregnant. Damita was adamant that the timeline he shared with the world didn’t match up.</p>
<p>Damita insists that any issues that they had were reconciled after her Mom had passed in 2011. Under the impression that their problems had been reconciled in June of that year, Damita discloses that Deitrick left her two days after she buried her mom, only to find out in December of 2011 that someone was pregnant. Damita wasn’t surprised when hearing about the baby, saying her intuition told her that someone was pregnant after Deitrick abruptly left her and his church behind.</p>
<p>Damita described the two years of accusations and shame on social media as ‘hell.’ Hell that got a little hotter for her when she found out that Deitrick was having a baby. The singer shared that she had been pregnant multiple times by her ex-husband, but lost the babies and almost died during one of the pregnancies. Damita emotionally voiced, “That was the nail in the coffin.”</p>
<p>When asked could the marriage have been saved Damita says, “absolutely.”</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gz-CN4jj5XU?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
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<p><strong>Click <a href="http://pathmegazine.com/news/gospel/damita-ex-wife-of-preachers-of-la-star-deitrick-haddon-breaks-silence-on-affairs-in-their-marriage-says-deitrick-did-not-tell-the-whole-truth/">here</a> to read more.</strong></p>
<p><em>SOURCE: Path Megazine</em><br /><em>Kris Patrick</em></p>
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</div></div>LISTEN: Kirk Franklin Says He Is Very Disappointed In “Preachers of LA”https://www.theoraclemag.com/profiles/blogs/listen-kirk-franklin-says-he-is-very-disappointed-in-preachers-of2014-05-31T21:02:17.000Z2014-05-31T21:02:17.000ZPrince Malachi The Firsthttps://www.theoraclemag.com/members/Malachi<div><div class="post-title"><h1 class="entry-title"></h1>
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<div class="post_content entry-content"><div id="attachment_33199" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://i1.wp.com/www.blackchristiannews.com/go/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Kirk-Franklin.jpg?resize=500%2C250" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1.wp.com/www.blackchristiannews.com/go/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Kirk-Franklin.jpg?resize=500%2C250" class="align-center" alt="Kirk-Franklin.jpg?resize=500%2C250" /></a><br /><p class="wp-caption-text">Kirk Franklin</p>
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<p><span>Kirk Franklin fans don’t have to worry about seeing him on “Preachers Of LA.” He tells “The D.L. Hughley Show” he would never join the cast. Listen to Kirk Franklin explain why he’s disappointed in the show, although he has good friends who are part of it. In addition, hear Franklin’s perspective on gospel and secular music and how he balances the two in the latest edition of This or That!</span></p>
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<p><em>SOURCE: The D.L. Hughley Show</em></p>
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</div></div>10 REASONS WHY EX-MICROSOFT CEO STEVE BALLMER WILL BE THE BEST TEAM OWNER EVERhttps://www.theoraclemag.com/profiles/blogs/3153366-BlogPost-642432014-05-31T18:00:00.000Z2014-05-31T18:00:00.000ZPrince Malachi The Firsthttps://www.theoraclemag.com/members/Malachi<div><p></p>
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<div id="primary-wrap" class="full-width-header-media"><div class="header-media image full-width wp-caption dt-caption-large"><a href="http://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ballmer-buys-clippers-2.jpg"><img src="http://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/ballmer-buys-clippers-2-970x0.jpg" alt="ballmer-buys-clippers-2" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text on"><a class="button" title="Close this caption"></a><div class="text-wrap"><p>Image: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/programmerman/2315566040" target="_blank">Nick/Flickr</a></p>
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<div id="primary"><p><a href="http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/former-microsoft-ceo-steve-ballmer-reportedly-buys-la-clippers-for-2b/#!SupnS" target="_blank">Reports indicate</a> that former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who is a legend for his zany antics during his tenure with the company, has had his $2 billion bid for the rights to the LA Clippers, a top-tier NBA franchise, accepted by Shelly Sterling. Sterling is the wife of disgraced team owner Donald Sterling, who is infamous for making racist comments that were recorded by his former girlfriend, V. Stiviano.</p>
<p>As both a tech head and a rabid <a href="http://www.digitaltrends.com/sports/" target="_blank">sports</a> fan, I think this is tremendous news for both the NBA and the world of tech. Though the average sports fan may not know it just by looking at him, tech geeks know all too well that Ballmer is an absolute wild man when it comes to stuff that he’s passionate about. For that, and other reasons as well, we think Steve Ballmer is the perfect guy to take over the Clippers. Moreover, the man simply belongs in the world of sports.</p>
<p>With that in mind, here are 10 reasons why Steve Ballmer will be the best sports team owner ever.</p>
<h3>10. Ballmer is crazier than the craziest sports team mascot</h3>
<p>We’re all aware of nutty sports team mascots, whether <a href="http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/phi/fan_forum/phanatic.jsp" target="_blank">it’s the Philly Phanatic</a>, or <a href="http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/mil/fan_forum/mascots.jsp" target="_blank">Bernie Brewer and the Famous Racing Sausages</a>. But if Ballmer can go crazy passionate in public about something as dry (to most sports fans, that is) as software developers, can you imagine how freakin’ nuts he’ll get the first time he’s sitting courtside as the owner of the Clippers and witnesses one of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN5yO3wHQzM" target="_blank">Blake Griffin’s trademark monster dunks</a>?</p>
<p>He’ll definitely be doing one of these, that’s for damn sure.</p>
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<h3>9. Steve Ballmer is more passionate than the most die-hard sports fan</h3>
<p>When you think of sports fans, you think of people who love their squads so much, that they’re willing to go to games naked in sub zero weather <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrel_Man_(Denver_Broncos)" target="_blank">wearing nothing but an empty barrel</a>. Thankfully, NBA is an indoor sport, so we don’t have to worry about Steve donning his birthday suit after making the (inevitable) playoff victory guarantees he’ll soon spout about. That’s beside the point though: every sports team has crazy fans that love them no matter what, whether it’s the aforementioned (and infamous) Barrel Man, New York Jets uber-fan <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fireman_Ed" target="_blank">Fireman Ed</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogettes" target="_blank">or the Hogettes</a>, a group of dudes who love the Washington Redskins so much, that they cross-dress and wear pig masks to every ‘skins game. In case you don’t know, they do so in honor of the Hogs; the Redskins’ offensive line unit of the 1980s and 1990s that helped propel the team to three Super Bowl victories within a roughly 10-year time span.</p>
<p>Anyway, it’s the sort of passion that Ballmer regularly displayed during his tenure his Microsoft that makes him a perfect fit to be a sports team owner. Win or lose, the guy will go absolutely nuts, and make loopy sports fans seem vanilla by comparison. Just check out the below clip if you don’t believe me.</p>
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<p>If he can get this excited about Windows 1.0, can you imagine him court-side during the NBA playoffs?</p>
<h3>8. Ballmer’s LA Clippers are in the same conference as Mark Cuban’s Dallas Mavericks</h3>
<p>Mark Cuban, an Internet billionaire who owns NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, has his own reputation for being a super fan/crazy sports team owner. He has been fined by the league for his outbursts and demonstrations while sitting in the stands at Mavericks games more times than I can remember. Here’s a clip of him going at it with a referee, who he gets into a physical altercation with.</p>
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<p>Looks like some kind of nutty sports fan, right? Nope, that’s a billionaire businessman who’s allowed to be on the court because he owns the damn team. Though Cuban has toned it down in recent years (perhaps winning an NBA title against the Miami Heat had something to do with that…), I can’t even begin to imagine the feud that will likely ensue once Ballmer is officially minted as the owner of the LA Clippers.</p>
<p>By the way, both the Dallas Mavericks and LA Clippers are in the NBA’s Western Conference, meaning that they’ll likely be seeing plenty of each other next season.</p>
<h3>7. Wait until Ballmer gets under the skin of sensitive NBA stars like LeBron James</h3>
<p>One of the great things about sports is that, despite how chiseled many athletes are, many of them are really, really sensitive deep inside, and care too much about what the fans and other outsiders think. Take, for example, this LeBron James rant about NBA fans who rooted against him.</p>
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<p>Think Steve Ballmer won’t get under LeBron’s skin? Ballmer has so passionately stirred up the emotions of people in tech, that he once got eggs thrown at him in Budapest, which he handled much better than James did when he reacted to fans who disliked him.</p>
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<h3>6. The NBA is full of weirdos, and Steve Ballmer might be the weirdest of them all</h3>
<p>We all have conjured up that image of the stereotypical jock who excels at sports but has the personality of a two day old uncooked steak. However, the truth is, a lot of people in sports are just plain freakin’ weird, including the players themselves.</p>
<p>The latest example of this is Indian Pacers guard Lance Stephenson <em>blowing in the ear</em> of Miami Heat forward LeBron James. Why did he do it? Mind games? Man-crush? Who the heck knows, either way, it’s out there.</p>
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<p>And if one thing’s for certain, Steve Ballmer knows a little something about being out there.</p>
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<h3>5. Steve Ballmer might be the best cheerleader ever</h3>
<p>Many, if not all, NBA teams have full female cheerleading squads. However, no amount of sexualized bopping and bouncing around by a group of attractive females can match the raw emotion of Steve Ballmer’s cheerleading skills, as demonstrated in the clip below.</p>
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<p>Look how fired up he gets about … developers. And notice how he actually gets a response from the crowd! If you have any doubts about the man’s ability to light a fire under a crowd of rabid NBA fans, just picture him covered in sweat like he is in the clip, chanting “DE-FENSE!!!” over and over again.</p>
<h3>4. Ballmer can rename the LA Clippers to the LA Clippys!</h3>
<p>Remember Clippy? He was the much-hated virtual assistant that would pop up in older versions of Microsoft Office and suggest certain actions and changes to users. Though Clippy has since been retired, we’re pretty sure that Ballmer could work out a deal with Microsoft to bring Clippy out of retirement and place him squarely at the front-front of the franchise’s logo and identity.</p>
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<h3>3. Ballmer has big bucks</h3>
<p>Having the cash to buy a sports team, whether it’s in the NBA or another league, is one thing. However, having the willingness and ability to spend money on your team as an owner once you make your purchase is of utmost importance. Sure, some sports teams have been successful without spending much, but signing big stars to big contracts can help you get ahead in the game.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.forbes.com/profile/steve-ballmer/" target="_blank">According to Forbes</a>, Steve Ballmer is worth $20 billion. Assuming Ballmer is willing to spend on players, and he probably will be, the LA Clippers are in a position to be a premiere NBA franchise for years to come. That’s music to the ears of Clippers fans, who suffered with Donald Sterling, a notoriously cheap owner until recent years, for decades.</p>
<h3>2. Ballmer is gonna be loved and hated like no other</h3>
<p>Most sports team owners are fairly anonymous and stay out of the spotlight. Then, there are the other owners, like the aforementioned Mark Cuban, Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, and the late George Steinbrenner of the New York Yankees, who are so constantly visible, and often do and say weird things. Like this:</p>
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<p>For the record, I’ve done some reading up on that clip, and Jerry Jones made his money in the oil business and was referring to a term that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glory_hole_(petroleum_production)" target="_blank">they use in the oil industry</a>. Poor Jerry. I think Ballmer may have similar moments during his tenure as Clippers owner.</p>
<h3>1. Ballmer is not afraid to take risks</h3>
<p>During his time as Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer had both his share of successes and failures. On the plus side, there was Xbox, Windows XP and Windows 7. On the down side, there was the Zune, Windows Vista, and Windows 8. Either way, if Ballmer’s term as CEO told us anything about the way the man operates, it’s this: he’ll do what he thinks is right, whether the public and press agree or not.</p>
<p>Will that be good for the Clippers in the long run overall? Maybe, maybe not. But, either way, it’ll probably be entertaining as hell for us fans and observers, that’s for sure.</p>
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<p><span><br /> <br /> Read more: <a href="http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/10-reasons-ex-microsoft-ceo-steve-ballmer-best-sports-owner-ever-clippers/#ixzz33I9QVv5I">http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/10-reasons-ex-microsoft-ceo-steve-ballmer-best-sports-owner-ever-clippers/#ixzz33I9QVv5I</a> <br /> Follow us: <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=a4WNn6KVyr4yHaacwqm_6r&u=digitaltrends" target="_blank">@digitaltrends on Twitter</a> | <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=a4WNn6KVyr4yHaacwqm_6r&u=digitaltrendsftw" target="_blank">digitaltrendsftw on Facebook</a></span></p></div>Gunman Holding 2 Hostages in Inglewood, CA; 2 Police Officers Wounded in Standoffhttps://www.theoraclemag.com/profiles/blogs/gunman-holding-2-hostages-in-inglewood-ca-2-police-officers-wound2013-11-28T09:55:40.000Z2013-11-28T09:55:40.000ZPrince Malachi The Firsthttps://www.theoraclemag.com/members/Malachi<div><table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="selectedEntry">
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<div><i>A SWAT team responded after two officers were injured during the shootout. (Credit: KTLA)</i></div>
<div><div>Multiple rounds were exchanged after officers responded to a "family disturbance," with the gunman first firing and then police returning fire, Inglewood police Lt. Oscar Mejia said at a news conference at 4:30, about four hours after the incident began.</div>
<div>A video taken by a neighbor recorded the sound shouting and many shots being fired.</div>
<div>Two wounded officers were treated at Centinela Hospital Medical Center, with one officer released and the other, who was shot in the chest but was saved by his bulletproof vest, later taken to another hospital.</div>
<div>An armored SWAT vehicle could be seen where the incident was taking place near the intersection of 108th Street and Fifth Avenue in Inglewood (map). Dozens of police cars lined nearby streets, which remained shut down as the standoff continued for hours.</div>
<div>A crisis negotiations team was attempting to communicate with the armed man inside the home, where at least two women were being held hostage, police confirmed Wednesday evening.</div>
<div>"Obviously, it's a very delicate situation. We'd like to resolve this peacefully without any injuries," Mejia said. "We are treating it as it hostage situation."</div>
<div>A teen girl who ran from the home was dragged back inside by the gunman, the boyfriend of the woman who lives in the home, a witness said.</div>
<div>Residents in the area were warned to stay inside their homes and not leave until an officer or deputy comes to help them evacuate the area, Mejia said. A nearby day care center was evacuated.</div>
<div><b><a href="http://ktla.com/2013/11/27/at-least-1-hospitalized-in-inglewood-active-shooter-situation/">Click here to continue reading...</a></b> </div>
<div><i>SOURCE: KTLA 5 Web Staff</i></div>
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</table></div>Columnist Anthony Samad says 'Preachers of LA' Offers a Deceptive View of the Black Churchhttps://www.theoraclemag.com/profiles/blogs/columnist-anthony-samad-says-preachers-of-la-offers-a-deceptive-v2013-10-25T02:30:00.000Z2013-10-25T02:30:00.000ZPrince Malachi The Firsthttps://www.theoraclemag.com/members/Malachi<div><div class="entryHeader"></div>
<div class="entryBody" title=""><div class="content"><span class="pinContainer"><img src="http://www.bet.com/news/national/2013/10/17/black-pastors-denounce-the-reality-show-the-preachers-of-la/_jcr_content/featuredMedia/newsitemimage.newsimage.dimg/101813-national-preachers-of-la-show-oxygen-network.jpg" class="pinable" alt="101813-national-preachers-of-la-show-oxygen-network.jpg" /></span>I'm going to say on the front end that I'm not a fan of reality television.<div>The most popular genre in television programming has no real redeeming value to changing the realities of the society in which we live. I call it "Channel Zero."</div>
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<div>But in an anti-intellectual society, channel zero works for people who know nothing about nothing and they are prepared to watch the type of dumb stuff that we all know is scripted reality. Well, a dumbed-down society has reached a new low. It has now included religion as a part of its jaded reality circus. It has caused a stir. </div>
<div>Reality television is scripted for "numbers."</div>
<div>"The Kardashians," "Jersey Shore," "Big Brother" and what I thought was the worst show I ever saw, "The Housewives of Atlanta," are not really reality. These shows "act" as if this is reality and they act out extreme behaviors for entertainment sake.</div>
<div>Fools for fame, I call it. I think "The Housewives of Atlanta," took Black women backwards 100 years. Then "Flavor of Love"came out and I knew it was all downhill from there.</div>
<div>People want to be famous and television projects imagery far beyond fame, regardless of the value. That's why people trip over themselves to get on television.</div>
<div>The point is all of it is nonsense -- not even entertaining nonsense -- that is justified because "they pull the numbers." That's why people watch high-speed chases. They pull ratings because people want to see what they hope will be a fatal conclusion in real time. Next is extreme reality.</div>
<div>Extreme reality not only attacks our sensibilities, it offends our sensibilities. Facebook is already running beheading videos. Televised executions will soon follow because "they pull the numbers."</div>
<div>Nothing is sacred anymore, so when "Preachers of L.A." premiered, of course, curiosity was going to pull viewers. What would "the church" have to contribute to this genre?</div>
<div>Turns out, not much in terms of redeeming social value. But very much, in terms of where does this nonsense stop? Religion is not spirituality. Religion is doctrine -- gospel framed as the word of God. The spiritual person sees right threw the inconsistencies in the doctrine. The fastest-growing segments of the church are non-denominational factions that design their own religion. They give themselves titles and roll themselves out before the people.</div>
<div>I didn't think I would ever see anything worse than "The Housewives of Atlanta." Then came "Basketball Wives," "Housewives of Beverly Hills" (and Orange County) and "The Husbands of Hollywood."</div>
<div>Dumb stuff on top of dumb stuff. But "Preachers of L.A."is extreme reality of a different kind. The thesis here is that the show is supposed to project the human side of so-called, "God's men."</div>
<div>However, it projects the church, and the men (and women) of the church, in a very shallow, material and decadent way. This show is made to feed the carnal appetite, not the intellectual or spiritual imagination.</div>
<div>This is a hit on the church, an institution that is in "rehab." The church is trying to rehabilitate itself from the very type of imagery that this show projects, of the jackleg, over-materialistic, skirt-chasing, prosperity-preaching con men that television evangelism has projected for three decades. Well, "Preachers of L.A." just brought it back.</div>
<div>Supersized (mega-church) and microwaved (short entertainment-driven church services) have caused people to leave the church from the lack of spiritual fulfillment, as religion has become more impersonal and superficial. Then, there is the "devil in the pulpit" factor where trust in faith and the faith messenger become conflicted and people's faith in the church is totally crushed over preacher infidelities. That's church reality in the 21st century.</div>
<div>The insincere Bible thumper preying on the flock, vulnerable to the preacher as they (mostly women) open themselves up to religion (literally and figuratively) in search of salvation.</div>
<div>It is the worst of what the church has become and several of the figures of this reality show are implicated in such activity. In today's society, the devil is real and just as likely to show up in a preacher's robe as in devil ears and pitchfork. But then they are only human, right?</div>
<div>It is not the total persona of the church, but is certainly a prominent one as the mega-church represents the most visible aspects of religion today. "Preachers of L.A."distorts both the Black church and the Black preacher in a not so positive way. If it was positive, the country wouldn't be talking about it?</div>
<div><br /> <a href="http://wavenewspapers.com/opinion/between_the_lines/article_6a9143ae-3cdc-11e3-810f-0019bb30f31a.html">Click here to read more</a></div>
<div>Source: Wave Newspapers </div>
<div><div><i>Anthony Asadullah Samad, Ph.D., is a national columnist and author of "REAL EYEZ: Race, Reality and Politics in 21st Century Popular Culture." He can be reached at <a href="http://www.AnthonySamad.com">www.AnthonySamad.com</a> and on Twitter at @DrAnthonySamad.</i></div>
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</div></div>"Preachers of L.A." Premieres: Reignites Debate Over Prosperity Gospel In the Churchhttps://www.theoraclemag.com/profiles/blogs/preachers-of-l-a-premieres-reignites-debate-over-prosperity-gospe2013-10-11T10:31:15.000Z2013-10-11T10:31:15.000ZPrince Malachi The Firsthttps://www.theoraclemag.com/members/Malachi<div><div class="entryHeader"><a href="http://urbanchristiannews.com/ucn/2013/10/preachers-of-la-premieres-reignites-debate-over-prosperity-gospel-in-the-church.html" class="entryTitle title read" target="_blank"> </a></div>
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<div>Money. Women. Fame. Church.</div>
<div>That's a day in the life of "<a href="http://global.oup.com/academic/product/blessed-9780199827695?cc=us&lang=en&" target="_blank">The Preachers of L.A.</a>," a new reality show centered on the lives of megachurch pastors of the so-called "prosperity gospel."</div>
<div>The show, which premiers Wednesday night on the Oxygen Network, is a chaotic mix of prayer, "house porn," and neatly orchestrated dust-ups between senior pastors and their "first ladies."</div>
<div>In some ways, the combination of the prosperity gospel with the "Real Housewives" format is a match made in Oprah-produced heaven.</div>
<div>Men of the cloth cruise Southern California in lavish cars weighed down by their gold watches and tiny dogs.</div>
<div>As Ron Gibson, a bishop in the largest Pentecostal denomination in the country, explains: "P. Diddy, Jay Z. They're not the only ones who should be driving Ferraris and living in nice houses."</div>
<div>Clarence McClendon, said to be so good-looking that he must take out restraining orders on women in his church, concurs: "The Bible says that I wish above all things that you would prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers."</div>
<div>He grins. "I believe that."</div>
<div>To critics, "The Preachers of L.A." represents the distilled toxicity of Christianity combined with a money-obsessed generation of American preachers.</div>
<div>Even to sympathizers, the show seems to reaffirm all the negative stereotypes about greedy prosperity preachers more interested in bling than the BIble.</div>
<div>So why would six well-established prosperity preachers put so much on the line, with so much to lose?</div>
<div>I have spent the last decade studying the prosperity gospel and trying to convince readers that, underneath all the hype about the lifestyle of its preachers, there is serious theology at work.</div>
<div>The prosperity gospel is an offshoot of Pentecostalism that centers on a new understanding of faith. Faith, rather than simple trust, is re-imagined as a spiritual power released by positive thoughts and words.</div>
<div>This faith formula was a blend of early 20th-century American theologies of self-help, popular psychology, metaphysical philosophy and can-do attitudes about the power of the mind.</div>
<div>During the economic boom of the 1950s, tent-toting Pentecostal healers like Oral Roberts, Kenneth Hagin and A. A. Allen began to expand on what this newfound spiritual power could do.</div>
<div>By their teaching and their example, they showed a generation of believers how they could use their faith to change their circumstances. Faith could heal bodies, multiply finances, restore families and bring a taste of heaven down to Earth.</div>
<div>The prosperity gospel is predicated on the belief that your life--your body, wallet, family, career and full head of hair--is a witness to whether your faith is effective.</div>
<div>Having traveled the country to visit these churches, I have seen preachers make this point in a thousand ways: from boasting about their perfect health ("I've never been sick!"), giving tours of their airplane fleet, even handing out cash in the Sunday service.</div>
<div>In "Preachers of L.A.," when Bishop Noel Jones of the 20,000-member City of Refuge rolls out of his Sunday service with his entourage in a gleaming town car, fawning women pressed up against the glass, his celebrity status is confirmed.</div>
<div>But this is not just show-and-tell bragging. It's meant to be a spiritual witness, concrete proof that God is present. Look at what God can do!</div>
<div>What's most dangerous for a cast of prosperity preachers, though, are the unwritten rules of all reality shows: The rich and the mighty must prove that they, too, are plagued with "real-life" problems. They might be in a Lear jet, but they are suffering in a Lear jet.</div>
<div>"Being a pastor is very dangerous, because you have to be perfect at all times," says one L.A. pastor.</div>
<div>"People put you up on a pedestal that you can't live on," complains another.</div>
<div>Or as Pastor Deitrick Haddon bemoans behind designer sunglasses: "I'm a pastor, but at the end of the day, I'm a MAN."</div>
<div>The problem is these ministers gave up being "just a man" when they became prosperity preachers. The movement places a great weight on the spiritual power of leaders as living proof of what the prosperity gospel can do.</div>
<div>You will find a theological justification for this every time a journalist asks a prosperity pastor a few pointed questions about why he or she needs a plane or a vintage muscle car collection or a personal rare bird sanctuary.</div>
<div>The answer is always the same: What I have, I use for the ministry. If the prosperity gospel worked for me, it can work for anyone. I'm commissioned by God with special gifts for special purposes.</div>
<div>These pastors' Midas touch provides endless sermon illustrations designed to tantalize audiences: If only you believe what I believe, you can have what I have, too.</div>
<div><b>Click <a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/09/believing-in-bling-meet-the-prosperity-preachers-of-l-a/" target="_blank">here</a> to read more.</b></div>
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<div><i>SOURCE: <a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/" target="_blank">CNN Belief Blog</a></i></div>
<div><i>Kate Bowler</i></div>
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</div></div>Pastors Gone Wild: The Church and Reality TV Don't Mixhttps://www.theoraclemag.com/profiles/blogs/pastors-gone-wild-the-church-and-reality-tv-don-t-mix2013-10-09T23:51:53.000Z2013-10-09T23:51:53.000ZPrince Malachi The Firsthttps://www.theoraclemag.com/members/Malachi<div><div class="entryHeader"></div>
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<div>Now, this fall television season will usher in two more "faith-based" programs on major cable networks. "The Preachers of L.A," which focuses on the lifestyles of six mega-pastors in Los Angeles, will premiere on Oxygen media next month. "Thicker Than Water," highlighting the family life of millionaire gospel recording artist Ben Tankard, will debut on Bravo media in November.</div>
<div>This new phenomenon of church leaders as the focus of reality television shows is seen by some as a rare, needed look into the guarded lives of pastors. For others, it will further the embarrassment of an already ridiculed church community. My thoughts lean towards the latter: I question what's behind this growing trend and what potential damage it will do to Christian ministry.</div>
<div>Like so many reality TV shows before them, these programs focus on black opulence. Often, they make a mockery of black wealth, portraying affluent African Americans as irresponsible, reckless financial stewards. These stereotypes are magnified by highlighting prosperity ministries versus churches rooted in a social gospel focused on the poor.</div>
<div>But lavish living and fame are unfamiliar comforts to most pastors. The majority do the arduous work of saving lives and souls day in and day out without the sexiness of film crews and make up artists to catch it on camera.</div>
<div>In all four of these shows, African American men and women are the prominent figures with two of the shows having only a few white characters. Despite the faith component of the shows' themes, they mirror the countless other reality television shows crafted for "drama-hunger" black audiences. The racial dimension cannot be ignored.</div>
<div>In the trailer for "The Preachers of L.A.," a Bentley, mansion, clothes and jewelry flash on the screen as the show's stars offer biblical justification for why "the preacher is to be taken care of." This is juxtaposed with images of seemingly thuggish African American men in need of spiritual deliverance. The trailer also features scenes in which the preachers argue with the women in their lives about their degree of love and commitment. </div>
<div>When you put all of that together, it's an old narrative of black preachers as poverty pimps who take advantage of not only naive women but the community in general.</div>
<div>This type of programming ends up serving another purpose: offering white audiences a channel to learn about the "other side of America." The voyeuristic nature of it all is deeply troubling, as viewers may get the impression that watching these shows can replace meaningful engagement with individuals and communities they deem different. As scary as it is to think that Americans will draw conclusions about the black family dynamic based on "The Real Housewives" series, it is equally frightening to think that the black church image might be shaped by shows like "The Preachers of L.A."</div>
<div><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/local/wp/2013/09/26/pastors-gone-wild-the-church-and-reality-tv-dont-mix/">Click here to read more</a></div>
<div>Source: Washington Post | Rahiel Tesfamariam</div>
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</div></div>FOR DISCUSSION: Materialism & Religion? WWJD? - Watch 'Preachers of L.A.' Premiere Episode...https://www.theoraclemag.com/profiles/blogs/for-discussion-materialism-religion-wwjd-watch-preachers-of-l-a-p2013-10-09T23:37:12.000Z2013-10-09T23:37:12.000ZPrince Malachi The Firsthttps://www.theoraclemag.com/members/Malachi<div><div class="entryHeader"><a href="http://www.blackchristiannews.com/news/2013/10/for-discussion-materialism-religion-wwjd-watch-preachers-of-la-premiere-episode.html" class="entryTitle title read" target="_blank"> </a></div>
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<div class="content">Preachers of L.A., the controversial new reality show featuring men of the cloth, premieres this week but you can watch a sneak peek of the full 1st episode in its entirety right here, right now!</div>
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<div class="content"><p>Minister Deitrick Haddon, Pastor Wayne Chaney, Pastor Jay Haizlip, Bishop Ron Gibson, Noel Jones, and Bishop Clarence McClendon, are six pastors with fascinating backgrounds, strong faiths, beautiful women and a ton of material possessions.</p>
<p>In Episode 1, Deitrick Haddon faces his controversial past and makes his onstage ‘comeback’ with an explosive gospel show at Noel Jones’ church. Bishop Ron Gibson intervenes in a gang fight, and invites gang members to the show.</p>
<p>Afterwards, the pastors spend a lil quality time in Gibson’s ‘man cave,’ and things become contentious when Haddon questions McClendon’s material motives.</p>
<p>Watch the full 1st episode of Oxygen’s ‘Preacher’s of LA’ below…<span id="more-132633"></span></p>
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<p>VIDEO: ‘Preachers of LA’ EP 101 – ‘COMEBACK’ – via <a href="http://mrworldpremiere.tv/" target="_blank">YARDIE</a></p>
<p><a href="http://features.oxygen.com/videos/Preachers%20Of%20LA/Full%20Episodes#fbid=eCGxi2VIzsP" target="_blank">Mobile Users Watch Here</a></p>
<span><br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://straightfromthea.com/2013/10/07/preachers-of-l-a-first-episode-1-full-video/#ixzz2hFB6maGO">http://straightfromthea.com/2013/10/07/preachers-of-l-a-first-episode-1-full-video/#ixzz2hFB6maGO</a></span></div>
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</div></div>WATCH: "The Preachers of LA" - Noel Jones Suggests that Homosexuals Should be Allowed to Serve in the Churchhttps://www.theoraclemag.com/profiles/blogs/watch-the-preachers-of-la-noel-jones-suggests-that-homosexuals-sh2013-10-09T06:51:40.000Z2013-10-09T06:51:40.000ZPrince Malachi The Firsthttps://www.theoraclemag.com/members/Malachi<div><div class="entryHeader"><a href="http://www.blackchristiannews.com/news/2013/10/watch-noel-jones-says-homosexuals-should-be-allowed-to-serve-in-the-church-when-he-knows-full-well-t.html" class="entryTitle title read" target="_blank"></a></div>
<div class="entryBody" title=""><div class="content"><img alt="tg_bishopjonesdl_131008.video-260x195.jpg" src="http://www.blackchristiannews.com/news/tg_bishopjonesdl_131008.video-260x195.jpg" /><div><div><b><i>Noel Jones Knows Full Well that the Bible says We Should Not Even Let Heterosexuals Serve in the Church if They are Living in Sin such as Fornication or Adultery; In Fact, Noel Jones has a pastor friend who had to step down as pastor of his church simply because he got a divorce</i></b></div>
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<div><b><i>By the way, Bro. Jones, what's up with carrying around a dog dressed in pink?</i></b></div>
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<div>GRIO: I think one of the biggest issues that is still kind of taboo in the black church is homosexuality and lesbianism. I heard someone here today mention down low culture. Do you plan in this show to address the down low culture and do you ever feel that because it is such a negative stigma to come out in the black church that the black church kind of feeds into the down low culture in the black community?</div>
<div><div>JONES: I think one of the problems with church period is it has a tendency to make a diablo out of what it does not know how to deal with. See, at the end of the day, if we were open enough to have the dialogue and to deal with the issues of homosexuality and lesbianism from a very clinical and decent point of view as as opposed to just butchering people, and generally, the person who gets butchered is the female impersonator. There is a man's man that nobody addresses because they don't know what he's about or what he's doing. And because the church is so influential in the home and influential in the community, the tendency is for somebody who feels a certain way not to bring it up. So by the time you discover it or by the time you have to confront it or deal with it, it is so entrenched that you cannot help them in any positive way. I can tell you from personal experience. My older brother, Chris is gay. And my father thought he had to explain it away and push him away. He pushed him away into the hands of the people that he didn't want him to be with in the first place, whereas had he embraced him. And I think the church needs to embrace the people of all different walks of life because you can't help somebody that you won't embrace.</div>
<div>GRIO: And let them serve? Do you think that the church should let homosexuals serve in the church and be out?</div>
<div>JONES: We let heterosexuals serve.</div>
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<div><i>SOURCE: The Grio</i></div>
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</div></div>Brand Evaluation: The Omogo Reloaded Logohttps://www.theoraclemag.com/profiles/blogs/brand-evaluation-the-omogo-reloaded-logo2011-10-12T16:00:00.000Z2011-10-12T16:00:00.000ZOmogo Reloaded/ResQ Recordshttps://www.theoraclemag.com/members/OmogoReloadedResQRecords<div><span style="color:#ffffff;"><a target="_blank" href="http://s1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa426/rescueranjazz/?action=view&current=OmogoReloadedMousePad-1.jpg"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;"><img src="http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa426/rescueranjazz/OmogoReloadedMousePad-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;">According to O'Guin, Allen and Semenik in their book Advertising and Intergrated Brand Promotion, the new world of advertising is full of companies who are looking for new ways to get their brand across to audience and potential consumers. In this seemingly ad cluttered environment, small businesses are caught in the struggle between big corporation on how to make their brand visible and recognizable, send out culturally relevant messages in a refreshing way and become top-on-the-minds of audience and potential customers. How can new small businesses favorably compete considering the criteria listed above. Let us examine one of ResQ Records brand: The Omogo Reloaded Logo. The Omogo Reloaded logo is good because it is simple, representative and fresh.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;"><a target="_blank" href="http://s1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa426/rescueranjazz/?action=view&current=OmogoReloadedAppointmentCard.jpg"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;"><img src="http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa426/rescueranjazz/OmogoReloadedAppointmentCard.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;">Omogo Reloaded brand, Yahoo, Disney and Taco Bell brand all have something in common: Simplicity. When encountered, they are supposed to evoke some sort of feelings in the minds of audience. In comparison, the 4 brands have visual simplicity. These brands employ texts and sometimes an image (as seen in TACO BELL). In the music industry, ResQ Records is a new player with a relatively new genre of music called Afrofusion. The logo just spells the brand out in bold uncomplicated type-face, the smaller font well spaced to hold the weight of the larger ones on top. There are just two colors: Green and black plus the neutral white. The task is to clearly communicate the essence of the music to potential audience and customers and keeping the new logo simple will make recall and association easy for music enthusiasts, potential industry business partners and customers. Simplicity is synonymous to recall and easy recognizability and the Omogo Reloaded brand has that quality.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;"><a target="_blank" href="http://s1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa426/rescueranjazz/?action=view&current=OmogoReloadedT-Shirt2.jpg"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;"><img src="http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa426/rescueranjazz/OmogoReloadedT-Shirt2.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;">As Disney appeals to the fun-loving population and Yahoo to the instant messaging internet users, the Omogo Reloaded logo is packed with cultural appeal. The text is set in white background with green on either side. Green-White-Green is the flag of Nigeria, where Afrofusion originates evolving from Afrobeat. According to WorldFlags101.com, " The green stripes represent Nigeria's agriculture industry and its lush vegetation and the white stripe represents the desire for peace and unity within the country". In relation to Afrofusion blend of music, the green and white mean flourishing in harmony. Brand logos do not just represent names, they carry meanings. Here in North America, almost everyone is familiar with the recycle symbol. It is also used as part of the brand. Representation is what makes the Omogo Reloaded logo better. It is packed with meaning of cultural relevance that an African, American and global audience can relate to.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;"><a target="_blank" href="http://s1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa426/rescueranjazz/?action=view&current=OmogoReloadedPen.jpg"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;"><img src="http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa426/rescueranjazz/OmogoReloadedPen.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;">Notice that the "G" in Omogo has been slightly and intentionally rotated to imitate recycle symbol and the refresh button. This symbol is common on the internet and eye-catching. It represents giving vitality to something that may be worn out. Refreshing, starting afresh and new are the intended messages. At the same time, the rotated "G" also represent ResQ Records consciousness of the diminishing state of the world's resources and our support for the green revolution like encouraging dowloads and reading electronic copies instead of print-outs. The world craves new and refreshing ideas and the Omogo Reloaded brand represents just that. The word, "Reloaded" is implied in the rotated "G" and along the line of brand evolution, all other elements on the logo will be dropped. Like the NIKE swoosh, the slightly tilted G with a arrow head will come to identify Afrofusion music by Omogo Reloaded, percieve as something new/fresh and infigurating.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;"><a target="_blank" href="http://s1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa426/rescueranjazz/?action=view&current=OmogoReloadedOversizedPostcard2.jpg"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;"><img src="http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa426/rescueranjazz/OmogoReloadedOversizedPostcard2.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;">It's lunch time and you're driving on highway 33, when you spot a fast food restuarant sign. Almost immediately, you're feeling hungrier. Result and that's what an advertisers in that industry desire.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;"><a target="_blank" href="http://s1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa426/rescueranjazz/?action=view&current=OmogoReloadedBizCard-1.jpg"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;"><img src="http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa426/rescueranjazz/OmogoReloadedBizCard-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;">For the Omogo Reloaded brand, the composition is created to stimulate ones imagination by arousing one's curiousity. A look at top ranking national and international brands will reveal their simplicity, their struggle to be very represnetative and relavant in meaning transmission to audience and strive to stay fresh. The Omogo Reloaded brand possesses the above-mentioned qualities, making it very easy to recall. Upon immediate recognition and recollection, certain subtle cultural messages are conjured and a sense of affiliation with the brand is established. It is easy to support a brand that customers have a connection with. This connection is importnat to the survival of a brand.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#ffffff;"><a target="_blank" href="http://s1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa426/rescueranjazz/?action=view&current=OmogoReloadedOversizedPostcard.jpg"><img src="http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa426/rescueranjazz/OmogoReloadedOversizedPostcard.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uzMPkukFLcI?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" height="510" width="853"></iframe></span></div>