Sharpton Speaks Sharply In Louisville

By: Angela Lee Price

Pictures courtesy of George Williams

The Lord certainly knew what He was doing when he gave civil rights activist and 2004 presidential candidate Rev. Al Sharpton the last name “Sharpton.” On Thursday, August 3rd, he was sharper than a two-edged sword...again! Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the keynote address, Believing An Evil Report on Simmons' Night at the General Association of Baptist in Kentucky’s 138 Joint Session. The event, held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Louisville, Kentucky drew an audience estimated at 400.

Preaching from Numbers Chapter 14:36, Sharpton said too many people in the church are believing an evil report. “We’ve built mega churches with miniature missions….We’ve built a generation of people with titles and no function, ministers that don’t minister to nobody, and trustees that can’t be trusted."


Left to Right: Rev. K. L. Moore, Barnetta Cosby, Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Rev. Dr. A. Russell Awkard

The church is believing an evil report, he chimed repeatedly. He told the audience of mostly pastors, preachers, and church leaders that many of our people don’t work, but run from church to church looking for the next fix. “When you don’t work, you become Holy thrill freaks, he said.” We’ve got bigger houses, but we are not speaking to each other; new cars and nowhere to go,” Sharpton said.

Speaking on the final night of the four-day convention, the 52-year-old Sharpton sharply criticized African Americans for believing false stereotypes and not trying hard enough to advance themselves. “Even if you are not responsible for being down, you are responsible for getting up,” he said. Black men who abuse their women believe an evil report. “Ain’t nothing hip about degrading your mama, calling your sister and girlfriend out of her name,” said Sharpton.

Simmons College of Kentucky President and St. Stephen Church Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby gave a glowing report on the state of Simmons, Kentucky’s oldest historically black college, just one and a half years into his presidency.

Cosby told conferees his role as president is to acquire “bucks, buildings, bodies, and brains.” Cosby helped raise $2 million dollars for the school since becoming the 13th president in January 2005; helped Simmons re-acquired its former campus at Eighth and Kentucky; completed major renovations at the Seventh Street campus; hired new staff and professors; and established ties with Campbellsville and Kentucky State Universities. The school expects to enroll more than 200 students this school year, and is in the process of becoming accredited.

Cosby introduced head coach Stan Hughes and unveiled the school’s new basketball team, the Simmons Panthers. The St. Stephen Voices of Praiz performed contemporary and hip hop gospel music. Simmons raised an additional $75,000 for scholarships.

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

Mo Money! Mo Money! Mo Money!

The sitcom theme song once rang, "You can do what you wanna do, In Living Color!," and Rev. Ike would add, "as long as you got money!" In this six-minute seminar, Rev. Ike has nothing against money circulating while he's talking. In fact, he encourages it. The Ten Commandments of Money, from the Rev. Ike "Big Money" Bible translation (BMB), include, "Thou shalt not think money is evil, money is real good stuff, and my desire for money is totally good." Humm..., My Bible says, "For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered far from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows" (1 Tim. 6:10 NLT).

Post your comments in the comment section of this post.

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

Hinn Pecked: Will the Real Deal "Holy Fill" Please Stand Up?

Just because certain athletes, actors and hip hop celebrities support certain high-profile mega-church pastors and faith healers doesn’t necessarily mean those preachers are the “real deal.” Former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield goes by the nickname “The Real Deal.” But did “The Real Deal” chose the real "Holy Fill?” Holyfield dislocated his shoulder in a fight against opponent Michael Moorer in April, 1994. He was diagnosed with a heart condition at the hospital. On December 27, 2003, Dateline NBC aired an expose on Bennie Hinn in which Evander Holyfield was slain in the spirit and reportedly cured of his heart ailment. Holyfield later contributed $250,000 to Bennie Hinn Ministries.

Bennie Hinn has been the subject of many documentaries calling his miracles and lavish and unethical spending into question. This 41-minute excerpt from a follow-up Dateline NBC expose’ entitled The Preacher’s Life aired on NBC on March 6, 2005. It features Hinn's lavish spending including stays at hotels for $10,000 per night, reports on lavish travel expenses, and interviews with family members of people supposedly healed at Hinn’s crusades. They reported that their loved ones either still had the same diseases they were supposedly cured of or had later died from those same illnesses. This expose revealed that the Mayo Clinic stated that Evander Holyfield never had a heart ailment. He was misdiagnosed.

Are you Hinn pecked or pecked by the right hen? Will the real deal "Holy Fill" please stand up? Post your comments below.

Remember, it is neither Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

Drunk On the Spirits

By: Angela Lee Price


This next time someone approaches you in church with a little liquor on their breath asking for help in turning their life around, don't talk about them. Pray for them. Their sincere request to walk with the Lord delivered from their addiction has to be more pleasing to God than anything that happened in this Kenneth Hagin service.

In this six-minute video, the Father of the Word of Faith Prosperity Movement the late Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the "Money Cometh to Me Now Man" LeRoy Thompson, and others are seen sliding from their seats, laughing uncontrollably, running, and crawling on the floor in what was deemed a manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

I Fold At A Hundredfold

By: Angela Lee Price

When it comes to "a hundredfold," I fold! I draw the line! Word of Faith televangelists the late Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Fred Price, and many other prominent "prosperity preachers," have popularized the terms "sowing a seed," and "seed faith offering" by telling followers that sowing money into their ministries will produce a "hundredfold return." As a result many trusting Christians, mostly poor, have sacrificially given to these and other mega ministries, some have even mortgaged their homes, in hopes of cashing in on the "hundredfold" blessing. I fold at a hundredfold. I draw the line. One hundred dollars for every one dollar is not what is promised in the Word of God.

On pages 135-136 of the book, When Cultists Ask: A Popular Handbook On Cultic Misinterpretations, authors Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes cite Kenneth Copeland's twisting of Mark 10:30, the scripture use to prove a "hundredfold return," and provide commentary on the misinterpretation of this verse:

"but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethen, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the the world to come eternal life."

You give $1 and the Gospel's sake and $100 belongs to you; give $10 and receive $1,000; give $1,000 and receive $100,000....Give one house and receive one hundred houses or one house worth one hundred times as much. Give one airplane and receive one hundred times the value of the airplane. Give one car and the return would furnish you a lifetime of cars. In short, Mark 10:30 is a very good deal. [Copeland, 1978, 54]

In response to Copeland's misinterpretation, Geisler and Rhodes state:

This verse has nothing to do with money or riches. It is speaking specifically of those who forsake home and loved ones for the sake of Jesus and the gospel. These individuals will receive a "hundredfold return" in the sense that they become a part of a community of believers. It is in this new community that they find a multiplication of relationships-many of which are ultimately closer and more spiritually meaningful than blood relationships (cf.Mark 3:31-35; Acts 2:41-47; 1 Tim. 5:1-2).

Geisler and Rhodes go on to provide a biblical perspective on money citing numerous scriptures that prove that it is not a sin to be wealthy, as Abraham and Job were quite wealthy, but God hates the love of possessions and riches (Luke 16:13; 1 Tim. 6:10; Heb. 13:5; Matt 6:33).

Pastor John Cherry, Senior Pastor of the 26,000-member From the Heart Church Ministries, Inc., Temple Hills Maryland, warned against the "hundredfold" teaching in the 2003 sermon series, Beyond the Decision: When Famine Arises:

Don't let faulty prosperity teachings trick you into making foolish decisions with your money. There are many predatory lenders just waiting to put people in homes they can't afford so that they can say God gave them the houses they claimed. Many Christians are speaking to their wallets when they should be speaking to God. If you have a problem with out-of-control spending, start speaking to God and asking him to deliver you from your addiction. Ask, seek and knock. Get a grip on your finances before the prosperity wolves get a grip on you.

The fortune tellers, soothsayers, and prosperity preachers don't have a clue about our personal futures. Otherwise, they would have predicted, 9-11, the Tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina. Be a good steward with what God has given you, and keep an eternal perspective on riches, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matt. 6:6-19-20a NIV). God only knows what tomorrow will bring. It's certainly not a hundredfold return on your money.

Read the article, Blacks Saddled With High-Interest Loans: Study shows disparity in subprime lending

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

Kenny and the Jet

By: Angela Lee Price

Prosperity televangelists Kenneth and Gloria Copeland abandon a business venture leaving business partners in debt. Soon after, their ministry purchases a $20 million dollar private jet. This expose was posted on youtube.com on May 4, 2006.

Please post your comments below.

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

It's A HBCU Thing - Please Understand!

By: Angela Lee Price

Simmons College of Kentucky is expanding its course offerings in 2006 and will be re-acquiring its former campus at 7th & Kentucky. To God be the glory! Simmons College of Kentucky has a rich heritage. Enroll at Simmons College of Kentucky and become a part of a proud legacy that has played a significant role in the advancement of African-Americans since 1879.

Plan to spend an evening of "Jazz Under the Tent" with the 13th President of Simmons College of Kentucky, Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby (photo right), faculty and staff Friday, July 28th at 1811 Dumesnil Street.

Don't miss minister and civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton (photo right), Simmons' Night, Thursday, August 3rd at 7:00 p.m. at the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky's 138th Joint Annual Session at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The following audio excerpts are from the Simmons Saturday Morning Solutions July 15th radio broadcast on 1350 WLOU, Louisville's Best Gospel Music Station. The hosts were Simmons College Executive Vice President and New Covenant Baptist Church Senior Pastor Dr. J. R. Sams and Simmons Director of Institutional Development Michael Hicks. Guests appearing on the show were Simmons College of Kentucky Director of Finance & Administration Sharon Adams and myself.

My experience at Simmons - Angela Lee Price comments #1

An HBCU Education is PRICEless! - Angela Lee Price comments #2

Support Simmons College of Kentucky, Kentucky's oldest historically black college. All students enrolling in Fall classes will receive a scholarship. Register now! For additional information, click on Simmons College of Kentucky or call 502-776-1443. Simmons College of Kentucky, It's an HBCU thing - please understand!

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius nor New Ages that saves. Jesus saves!

True Faithfulness

By: Dr. H. D. Cockerham, Pastor Emeritus, Zion Baptist Church; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Simmons College of Kentucky

Daniel 3:16-19

"(V16) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
(V 17) If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
(V18) But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
(V19) Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace once seven times more than it was wont to be heated. "

It's A Spiritual Gift: Don't Get It Twisted!

Minister Angela Lee Price

Have you ever tried to do something nice for someone only to have them read into your gesture something that wasn't there? A friend, co-worker, brother or sister in Christ "gets it twisted" and starts smiling, and staring at you as if to say, "I know you like me," after you compliment their shoes. You invite a friend to stay temporarily in your home while in their crisis situation only to discover they've "gotten it twisted," and you can't get rid of them months after they've gotten through their "going through." Your generous gifts were misunderstood, misapplied and misused.

The Lord has done something nice. He has given spiritual gifts to Christians, but often His gifts are misunderstood, misapplied and misused. Spiritual gifts is a subject about which there is much debate within Christianity, and many have "gotten it twisted." Some believe all, or certain gifts, ceased in the first century and none, or only a few, are available to 21st century believers. Other Christians believe all spiritual gifts are available to believers today through the Holy Spirit. Of those who believe in gifts of the Spirit, there is great debate over when certain gifts are received. Some believe they are bestowed on believers when they accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and others believe Christians can receive a “Second Blessing” at some date subsequent to conversion which is evidenced by speaking in tongues. Know what gift(s) you have, and don't "get it twisted."

According to a 2001 St. Stephen Church Spiritual Gift Assessment Guide, spiritual gifts are “special abilities used for spiritual purposes given by the Holy Spirit to every believer in the body of Christ according to God’s design and grace for use within the context of the Body.” Spiritual gifts differ from talents in that talents are given to unbelievers and spiritual gifts are given to believers when they are born again. Talents, like gifts, can and should be use to glorify God. Spiritual gifts are found in four key passages in the Bible, Romans 12, l Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4. Opinions differ over the actual number of gifts in those and other ancillary verses.

Spiritual gift assessment guides or surveys can be good tools to help Christians identify their spiritual gifts. I completed an assessment in 2001 and retook the same assessment in 2005. It measured gift strengths in fourteen areas, administration, counseling, craftsmanship, creative communication, encouragement, evangelism, giving, helps, hospitality, leadership, mercy, prophecy, shepherding and teaching.

The 2001 guide consisted of 112 statements. Respondents were asked to rank the degree to which each statement was true for them from “0, - Not at all or never,” to “3 – Consistently or definitely true.” In 2001 my gifts were teaching, administration and prophecy. In 2005, the ranking was the same as 2001, however, I was surprised to discover that I received tie scores for administration and creative communication, and prophecy and shepherding respectively.

Use any spiritual gifts analysis with caution. Ask the Lord for discernment and be sure to take a second assessment. In researching the gift of tongues, for example, I learned that people in the occult speak in tongues and chant "Jesus" to invoke the powers of darkness. Satan is a master of the counterfeit so research spiritual gifts thoroughly and don't "get it twisted!"

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

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This article is a modification and abbreviation of a Spiritual Gifts paper submitted to Dr. Stephen K Awonyi, Professor, New Testament Survey 1, Simmons College of Kentucky, Fall Semester 2005. The picture, Pentecost can be found in the Original African Heritage Study Bible. The scripture reads, "And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Acts 2:3." To learn more about classes at Simmons College of Kentucky, click on the link in the heading.

Sharpton Sharper Than Two-Edged Sword

By: Minister Angela Lee Price

It's getting HOT in here! I can feel the heat from Dallas! Rev. Al Sharpton's blazin'! He's in rare form, and he's coming to Louisville. He will be speaking August 3rd at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Sharpton's upcoming visit to the state's oldest historically black college, Simmons College of Kentucky and the General Association of Black Baptists in Kentucky's 138th Annual Conference energizes my hopes that black preachers will stop selling out and brainwashing our people, and start taking seriously their calls to speak truth to power.

Rev. Al Sharpton and other prominent black leaders spoke last week at the two-day National Conference and Revival for Social Justice in the Black Church conference at Friendship-West Baptist Church. Gordon Jackson in the article, No Social Justice, No Spiritual Peace said, "Not giving specific names, Sharpton and several of the other 100 ministers representing 20 states at the event criticized in general today’s Black mega-churches for emphasizing prosperity for their congregations, but leaving out practical agendas like helping its fellow man and uplifting the African-American community as a whole. " Click on the BlackPressUSA.com link in the title to read the full story.

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!