!!!We Hope To See You There!!!

 Supernova Starletta DuPois

Our special Valentine’s Day celebration concludes with a NEW edition featuring excerpts from a conversation I had with my precious sister-friend, the incomparable Tony Award-winning actress Starletta DuPois (“Waiting to Exhale” “The Notebook”). What a way to end the week! Until Monday…Stay lifted!

(Click HERE to listen)

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

LOVE,

GOSPELRHYTHMS.COM

In case you missed it, here it is, our Feb 12th Valentine’s edition – LOVE, ROMANCE and FINANCE issue of GospelRhythms.com Talk Live Radio. Today’s VERY Special Guest Pastor AJ & Shaun Golden from the Chosen Ministries and GospelRhythms.com resident financial guru the Minister of Finance himself Rod Warren. 

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Loving a Fatherless Man.

What EVERY woman should know.

“Mom, where is dad?” When this question is asked by one of my three sons it typically yields one of the following responses; “at work, at a business meeting, or out running errands.” My boys are never left with an uncertainty that lasts longer than my response to their question. But what about the little boy whose question remains unanswered into manhood? 70 percent of African-American children are born out of wedlock, while 20 percent of white children are born out of wedlock. Only 34 percent of all children born in America will live with both biological parents through age 18. With these sobering statistics, a large majority of people reading this may be dating or married to a fatherless man.

 
Children suffer the greatest when a father is absent.

The facts are that 63 percent of youth suicides are from fatherless homes; 90 percent of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes; 85 percent of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes; 80 percent of rapists with displaced anger come from fatherless homes; 71 percent of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes; and 85 percent of all youths sitting in prisons grew up in a fatherless home.

“It is far easier to build strong boys than it is to repair broken men.” – Dr. Barbara Jackson

Men are wired to “model”  behavior. A father’s main role in a home is to provide a “model” for a young boy to follow. He shapes his son’s masculinity, integrity, and character. He influences his son’s understanding and treatment of the opposite sex. He prepares him for purpose and trains him to understand his role as a man. When a father is absent a boy must formulate his manhood out of thin air. While many single mothers have done a tremendous job of bringing up boys, a woman cannot give a boy something she has never possessed; authentic masculinity. A generation of Fatherlessness has produced broken promises, broken families, and the rejected hearts of boys who have become broken men.
 
What role should a woman play? A man’s deepest question will always center on his performance, “do I measure up?” A fatherless man wrestles with this soul question in an even greater way. While a woman cannot validate a man’s masculinity she can certainly further wound him. When we constantly criticize, control, critique, and verbally diminish our men, we inflict greater damage to their souls. A man will rarely offer his strength where he perceives it will be met with ridicule or failure.

“Fatherless boys spend up to 80 percent of their time with women. They don’t know how to act when they grow up. This directly affects the relationships between the sexes. Men become more helpless, like big kids.” – Sociologist Peter Karl
 
How can a man offer what he was never given? A fatherless man often times has never had his significance validated by another man. For many of these men, the deepest question of their soul remains unanswered, “Do I have what it takes?” He has grown up never hearing one powerful, life-altering phrase, “well done” from his father. These men can often become driven, chasing public success, accolades, and affirmation. But their “ache” is a private one and it will never be healed by outward success. Fatherless men may fall into passivity in their relationship, refusing to offer their strength and leadership where their women need it most. A man’s core role is to provide, protect, lead, and cover his family. But when he has not had a father to teach and set a tangible example for him, his entire family may suffer.  “Fatherlessness is the greatest social problem facing society today. When you cut off the head, the body falls.” – Filmmaker Andrea Wiley
 
It takes a man, to make a man. My husband and I struggled with one particular issue in our marriage for several years. I prayed, cried, fasted, and expressed my heart openly. As a “last resort” I called a dear couple friend of ours and the husband strategically intervened in our situation. When I heard this powerful man of faith speak into my husband’s heart, I wept. My husband changed right before my eyes. This man laid out a plan of accountability for my husband. For the next several weeks he challenged my husband, led by example, and with tough love. Lasting, tangible change in my marriage followed almost immediately! My man needed another man to validate, affirm, and guide him back to truth. As his wife, I could not lead him. It took the power and strength of another man to do this. “Every time you raise a loving, wise, and responsible man, you have created a better world for women. Women today are having to bond with half-men, boys not fully raised into manhood and they don’t know what their responsibilities are nor do they have a strong sense of service. Today’s father’s have an opportunity to change that.” – Dr. Michael Gurian
 
Women must choose wisely. Please choose your mate wisely. You would do better to ask about his relationship with his father than to ask “where he works?” or “what he drives?” If a man felt loved by his father and learned to respect his father’s authority, he is more likely to make a good mate. If you chose a man who has not had his soul healed through his relationship with his Creator, and other male influences, prepare for a harder journey. Loving on this level is challenging, it is NOT for the quitters or faint at heart. God can restore a Fatherless man to wholeness, greatness, and truth. One man restored can reach back and restore a thousand other men. Bless you sister as you seek wisdom. I pray for your courage and understanding as you love, affirm, and stand by your man.

by Shannon Yvette | Follow Her on Twitter Here

GLAM Sez: 

DRY SKIN? HATE IT??

So do I and within this time of year, dry skin is most common. In fact, EXTREMELY common and if you are inquisitive like me, you’ve wondered what is causing our dry skin?? What can I do to relieve my skin?? I have been asked this time and time again, so I decided to share some amazing tips and ideas to help make your skin comfortable.

 First off, things that cause dry skin are normally the environment (weather) or something YOU are doing to your skin to strip away the oils, leaving your skin unprotected. If you’ve been contending with dry skin, you’ve probably already tried a moisturizer — if not dozens. While moisturizers are a crucial part of dry skin care, experts say that we don’t always use them very well.

The biggest mistake we make is applying moisturizer to dry skin, when it’s least likely to help. Apply moisturizer when your skin is still damp. This way the moisturizer is trapping the moisture still on your skin. Your skin shouldn’t be soaking wet — Just pat yourself dry with a towel and put it on. Let it soak in for a few minutes, and then towel off the excess.

Getting the RIGHT type of moisturizer.

Experts recommend that people with dry skin get mild moisturizers that have no perfumes or alcohols. Often, the less expensive goodies you get at the drugstore is better than the high-end products. Find which works for YOU. The moisturizer may be thick to supply moisture needed for good, dry skin care. However, some people may not be able to tolerate such a heavy cream. Lighter moisturizers — even OIL-FREE options — are also WIDELY available. Check your local drugstores and/or Sephora locations to purchase the right moisturizer for YOU! No grease monkeys allowed, but as always, in ALL you do,  BE YOU, BE GLAM!!

 

For more insight and opinion, contact Glamberj via www.facebook.com/glambi or follow on twitter @therealGLAMBER.

 ”The Glam Experience”

Let THAT man pursue YOU!

 
 
I made some pretty classic mistakes when I was dating my husband. As I have expressed in previous blogs; I was a STRONG, Independent woman, and even though my husband and I were friends long before we began dating, I initiated the friendship. I drew him into my world, I “arranged” and planned our activities and in many ways set the tone for our relationship. As a result, in the early years of our marriage, I found myself lonely, wanting to be pursued, sought after.
 
One of our friends, Mykel Mitchell, beautifully summed it up: “Whoever pursues the relationship, upholds the marriage.” For many years I felt the pain and the burden of “upkeep”, which ironically only fed my fears as a recovering STRONG, Independent Woman, a lying fear that told me: “women had to handle it, men could not be trusted to lead.” My husband, Bryan, and I have had several heart-to-heart conversations regarding a woman’s need to feel pursued. I am grateful for God’s grace in giving me a man who allows me to express my desires and is a safe place for my pain. I am issuing a STRONG word of caution to single ladies: PLEASE, let THAT man pursue you! When a man views you as a priority in the dating process, that same priority will direct his heart and actions within the marriage. A real man knows what he wants and how to go after it. Let’s give our men the freedom and space to live the truth of who they are.
 
As women we need to “stay in our own lane.” 
I was recently speaking to a friend who was “arranging” a life for a man. She was helping him find work, relocate to another State, find a place to live that was close to her and their child, and trying desperately to motivate him to simply “be a man.” I stopped her in the middle of the conversation and said: “Aren’t you EXHAUSTED!?” She sighed, “Yes!”. I said, “Let that man pursue you! Let him restore his family!” Not only do we rob men of their dignity when we constantly “fix and manage” everything for them, but we also devalue ourselves, we lose our peace and serenity. By design, men are hunters, conquers, pursuers. Sadly, many women both married and single are realizing that something vital in the hearts of our men has been lost, forfeited. We must trust God to restore our men to wholeness and not enable this dysfunction by “doing too much.”  We cannot put our agenda for our men above God’s agenda for their lives.
 
Society has changed, our desires have not
If we can be honest, society has changed, but our deepest desires as men and women have not. A real woman still desires to be wanted; a real man still desires to lead. If a woman asks for the date, who pays for it? If you use strength and boldness to pursue him, what happens once you land him? You have taught him that you are “the pursuer” try keeping this up for a few years and you will find yourself tired, burned out, and utterly confused.
 
The gender freedom we desire now as women is often the very thing that enslaves us to broken hearts in the future. When a man devotes his time, energy, and focus towards pursuing a woman, she feels valued, important, and as though she is a priority in his life. What real woman does not want to feel that way? What real man does not want the opportunity to lead and pursue? The sorrow of feeling lonely or forgotten in a marriage can often be prevented if you let the man pursue you from the beginning. Remember whoever pursues the relationship carries the burden of upholding it. Sister, rest in God, and KNOW you are worth a man who recognizes you are a Grand PRIZE, worthy of PURSUIT!
 
What are your thoughts regarding this subject? Let me know below…
 
by Shannon Yvette | Follow Her on Twitter Here

Donell Greene, a multi-talented Christian artist, has been gifted by God to croon the masses, pump up the youth, and invigorate the downtrodden. This psalmist, inspirational speaker, and brilliant songwriter is a worship leader at heart who understands the magnitude of authentic worship and possesses a unique ability to create an atmosphere of worship.

A native of Los Angeles, California, Greene literally grew up with a microphone in his hand. His talent has been developed and polished over the years, now allowing him to traverse unprecedented ground in the contemporary, Christian music genre with his passionate and genuine embrace of worship music. His artistic appeal is a melding of his naturally acquired urban vocal style with intonation, grit, and authenticity. With his start as a choir director and praise and worship leader, Greene finds himself most comfortable performing in front of thousands of people who are seeking a real worship experience and who desire a fresh touch, a refreshing word, and a novel approach to entering into a place of honest reflection, spiritual enrichment, and sincere veneration for God. 

Greene believes that music has the power to unify individuals from all walks of life. His music invokes this power, and his talents as an accomplished lyricist and musical composer reaches almost effortlessly into the heart of listeners, piercing through age, gender, ethnic, and spiritual barriers. He combines stellar vocal performances with lyrical content that is satisfying to even the most discriminating music fan. Meshing varied music genres together to accommodate an ever-evolving industry and multicultural audience, Greene never has to reinvent himself. His masterful approach to every portion of music production, especially instrumentation, results in an unparalleled musical experience. He stays attuned with what matters most and delivers, with awe-inspiring accuracy, whenever he is given the opportunity to share his unique gift. 

Greene has worked with a host of entertainment industry greats, including gospel playwright David E. Talbert, Kirk Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Keyshia Cole, BeBe Winans, and Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas. He has appeared on every major network as a background frontline artist. He has received national acclaim with appearances on Black Entertainment Television (BET), The David Letterman Show, The Jay Leno Show, and Showtime at the Apollo. He appeared on the album of hip-hop gospel music sensation Brent Jones and the T.P. Mobb as a featured soloist. More recent projects include work with producer phenom Rob Lewis, as Greene was selected to record several gospel music covers for Gospo-Centric Records (now known as Lilly Mac Entertainment). Lewis, who has produced hits for Christina Aguilera, Tony Braxton, and Sean “Diddy” Combs, chose Greene for his consistent and convincing vocal delivery each and every time he hits the booth or the stage. He frequently works with Eric Dawkins, of noted recording group Dawkins and Dawkins, as a background vocalist. 

Presently, Greene is hard at work on his debut solo album which will include music from the greatest producers and some of the most progressive musical approaches within the music industry to date. His sound can be characterized as worship music with a world appeal. He aspires to reach the masses, sharing the gospel on an international level, not just through song, but also through inspirational speaking and teaching.

Who is Donell Greene?

Listen to Donell Greene’s latest HIT single “You’re All That I Need”:

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