IYANLA’S DRAMA WITH OPRAH MAKES HER BOOK #1

(blackmediaSCOOP) That tv cat fight between Iyanla Vanzant and Oprah Winfrey is paying off! Iyanla’s latest book “Peace From Broken Pieces: How to Get Through What You’re Going Through” is now a New York Times bestseller! You may remember, Iyanla enjoyed regular segments as a self-help guru on “Oprah” until a falling out ended her appearances 10 years ago. In February she returned to the show for a no-holds-barred interview that aired in two parts.

The two finally got to the bottom of the miscommunication that forced them to go their separate ways, which left Iyanla broke and on the verge of committing suicide. FYI, “Peace From Broken Pieces,” is published talk show host/author Tavis Smiley’s SmileyBooks. It currently sits at #1 on the Times’ Hardcover Advice & Misc. list.

CLICK to get the book!

How I discovered "The Secret"

So it was around 3AM and I was fast asleep in bed with my new boyfriend, when all of a sudden something woke me up right out of my sleep. When I woke up I noticed that the light from his cell phone was being hidden under the cover and that he was obviously texting someone in the middle of the night. I was so upset that I got out of bed and went into the bathroom to splash water on my face, because Beyonce’s “Ring the Alarm” was pounding in my head and was burning from anger. I had finally met someone that I was really falling hard for and this guy was just like all the others it appeared. The next day I had an attitude toward him and what few items I had left at his home I gathered up to take back to my own; because I had already decided that this was the beginning of our end. As I was venting to my best friend about what happened I passed a book store and I thought about this book that everyone was telling me about called “The Secret” and how it had changed their lives and how they felt like I should read it. I knew that I had a business trip coming up so I decided that I would take the book with me on it and read it while I was in San Francisco.

When I read the book it really reflected how I was currently feeling sad, broken, loveless, and lost. I did not really understand what I was going to really get from the book, but my intuition told me not to discuss the cell phone incident with my partner until after I return from my trip. When I read the book it really taught me a great secret, one that I had used without realizing it. It taught me that I have a great magic inside of me and that everything in my life I was attracting it. I had always thought that men were worthless and I was not worthy to be loved the right way and that is what I got. In that moment I decided that I was worthy of love and that I was beautiful on the outside as well as inside, instantly tingling went throughout my body. I also declared that I wanted to be successful and that I was going to have a booming career. I am not saying these things to just brag; however if you look at my life and my circumstances they do reflect these blessings. I noticed a difference immediately when I shifted my thoughts, on my trip I received a financial blessing on my plan ride home, a free shuttle ride, entire new wardrobe within a month, and a repaired romance (Come to find out he was checking the time on the phone, because he accidentally unplugged the clock and didn’t want us to over sleep, he hid the phone to keep the light from waking me). I urge you to sit in a quite still place on today and keep saying over and over what you want as if you always had it and watch how quickly it will become yours. God gave all of us equal gifts and the one that we usually misuse is our power to will. My daily mantra is “I am happy, healthy, and wealthy… Yay Yay Yay” and whenever I say it, it reminds me to radiate thoughts that bring me those things. May the power of your thoughts bring you many blessings, that is my prayer for you, Amen.

Black History Month: Malcolm X

Malcolm X (pronounced /ˈmælkəm ˈɛks/) (born Malcolm Little; May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965), also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Arabic: الحاجّ مالك الشباز‎), was an African-American Muslim minister, public speaker, and human rights activist.

To his admirers, he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its crimes against black Americans. His detractors accused him of preaching racism, black supremacy, antisemitism, and violence. He has been described as one of the greatest and most influential African Americans in history.

Click here to read the entire article from Harlem World News

Real Open Talk For Life with WJC

By: Rev. W. Jeffrey Campbell, Houston, TX

Today is Valentine’s Day! This day is filled with cupids, flowers, chocolates, cards, expensive gifts and more. Some people will get engaged on today. Others will actually say their vows today. It is a day that has morphed into a love celebration as well as a money maker for greeting card companies, florists and candy companies. With all of the excitement that this day is wrapped in I would venture to say that for every 4 people who are excited about this day or at the least tolerant of it, there is one person who is not in the least bit excited at all. As a matter of fact I would venture to say that person actually loathes this day.

As I was perusing through the status updates of others on Facebook on yesterday, one of my friends had a bah-humbug moment regarding Valentine’s Day. There were others who chimed in with her and then one individual asked her a rather interesting question, “Are you getting a gift for your BFF?” I found something very rich in that question because it actually mirrors the way that I have chosen to celebrate this day. In the past 10 years or so as I have been constantly working on being a better WJC I have learned how to transform these “Big Days” into whatever I need them to be for me. “What doth thou mean by this?”

This Valentine’s Day I do not have a significant other. However, I have chosen to give some of the special people in my life cards, flowers and gifts to celebrate the love that we share with each other. On my list of recipients include: my daughter, a couple of my BFF who have been on the mountain tops and in the valleys of life with me and one couple who is a model for me of what a same-gender loving relationship should look like. This day I celebrate the love of family and friends as well as the love that my friends who are in relationships are experiencing. Now, don’t get me wrong! I’m hoping that next Valentine’s Day I will be in a love relationship that I will be able to celebrate, but in the meantime I’m not going to stop celebrating love because I’m not in a relationship.

I believe now more than ever that many of us self-mutilate when we are not in relationships. We cut love as if it doesn’t exist simply because we are not coupled up with someone else. Love is everlasting and it should be celebrated! As I have grown I have been able to even celebrate past loves. Hint: just because the relationship ended doesn’t mean that it wasn’t good while it lasted. Remember the good things that you learned from it! Be thankful for those things that you gained! Those moments good and bad were the fertilizer that caused us to grow.



My friends, it is Valentine’s Day, the day of love! Honor and celebrate the loves that you are blessed to have. Most importantly celebrate yourself! Other than God, you ought to be the best lover that you will ever have!

Much Love to You!

Until next week…ROTFL with WJC!

Please contact me at realopentalkforlife@yahoo.com for further discussion.

Real Open Talk For Life with WJC

God: A Priority and Not an Option
By: Rev. W. Jeffrey Campbell, Houston, TX

I shared with readers on last week how I spent New Year’s Eve in church and the first 12 hours of 2010 with my some of my best and close friend crew. We sat at a round table eating a hearty breakfast and talked about the goals that we had achieved in 2009 and the goals that we have set for ourselves for 2010. It was a gay, gay, gay time as we shared our thankful moments, talked about the future and of course came for each other in the early morning hours as only friends can do.

As 2009 was coming to a close, I realized that I had spent most of the year in a spiritual daze. Yes, I had utilized my spiritual gifts of preaching, teaching, exhortation and administration to bless others. But, I knew that I had been walking around in a fog for most of the year and had not really focused on my own personal spiritual growth. (Anybody feeling me?)

I had decided that I would open up the New Year with a 40-day Daniel Fast in hopes of coming out of the fog. The Daniel Fast is a fast where you eat only fresh fruit and vegetables. You cannot consume any sugar, salt, caffeine, white flour, desserts or fried foods. That’s right, all the GOOD stuff.

In his book, “Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough”, Elmer Towns writes that the Daniel Fast focuses on health and physical healing. I will tell you now that although I am closely following the dietary guidelines of the Daniel Fast, I am praying about and meditating on a plethora of subject matters for my personal life and ministry while I also intercede for others. As a matter of fact, I had to pray about what I was going to pray about during my fast. My answer came as I was reflecting upon a posting that I had read while attending Facebook Church…yes, Facebook Church! If you are an avid Facebooker you know that you really can run across some postings that can be quite beneficial to one’s spiritual growth.

The posting that opened my eyes said this, “Never make anyone a priority that makes you an option.” Wow! I read that posting back in October. In that moment it spoke to a potential dating situation that I was in that was showing signs of failure before it even got off the ground. However, as the year came to a close and I was in prayer about what I needed to do in order to come out of the 2009 fog, I realized that the root of my issue was that I had allowed God to become an option in my life as opposed to a priority. I had been active in ministry all year. I had been in church on Sundays and during the week. I had prayed for others. I had preached sermons and taught lessons but, I again I say I had not taken the time to do anything to enhance MY OWN personal relationship with God.

As I gathered with my friends in the early hours of 2010 I didn’t have a list of things that I wanted to accomplish in this New Year. When it was my turn to share I simply said, it is my intention to make God a priority in my life and not an option. I knew then and know in this moment of writing that that goal included the fast that I would embark upon on January 5th as well as focused prayer and personal worship times. I knew that making God priority meant more times of study of not only the Bible but other forms of literature that support spiritual growth. And, I knew that it meant spending some alone time with God so that we can really reconnect.

I am thankful to say that I am on Day 11 of my period of fasting a praying and I have already experienced God’s movement in my life. It has not come without challenge however, I am much stronger to face and overcome the challenge because I am intentionally making God a priority and not an option.

As you do self-inventory I encourage you to ask yourself the question, “Is God a priority or an option in my life?” It is so easy to get caught up in taking care of the spiritual needs of others but, if you are not dually doing the work of pouring into yourself, you run the risk of winding up in the same fog that I have been living in for the past year or so. What you may be led to do may not look like what I am doing. That’s perfectly okay. My desire and I certainly believe that God’s desire is that you be closer to God today than you were on yesterday. Join me on this wonderful quest. You will be glad that you did!

Until next week…ROTFL with WJC!

Please contact me at realopentalkforlife@yahoo.com for further discussion.

Real Open Talk For Life with WJC

The New Year’s Round Table!
By: Rev. W. Jeffrey Campbell, Houston, TX

The year 2010 has arrived! A new year and a new decade!

Nancy Wilson recorded a song many years ago entitled, “What are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” What a wonderful song of romance and budding love. I remember making a cassette tape (yes, cassette tape) years ago for someone who I had fallen for. The tape included Nancy’s tune and other love songs and I wrote a nice little love note suggesting that we bring the New Year in together. I never mailed the tape or the letter and although our whirlwind two day romance was wonderful, it never moved past that point. No baby’s breath and no lace!

This New Year’s Eve found me in church, which is quite usual for me. I do think it is something quite awesome to ring in the New Year while singing God’s praises and in prayer and reflection. After church I gathered with 10 wonderful friends for breakfast and great conversation. This has become somewhat of a tradition for me and some of my in-town best and close friend circle. This year’s breakfast was held in the home of one of my best friends and his partner of 5 years.

Let’s take a look at what the breakfast crew looked like. The youngest guest was 31. The oldest 46. The relationship status of our breakfast crew included: two couples; one friend who just recently entered into a long distance relationship with plans of his boyfriend moving here later this year; 4 single guys; and then there was me and the great guy that I have been “talking to” for the past 2 months who lives in another state.

We sat at the round dining table and talked about a plethora of topics but we intentionally landed on two very necessary topics for an early morning breakfast on the first day of the New Year: What had we accomplished in 2009 and what were our goals for 2010.

During this time of the evening we gratefully poured our souls out detailing successes of 2009. One crew member began 2009 stating that he was going to lose weight. When by February he had not gone near a gym or cut back on any starches or red meats, most of the crew thought that he was not going to achieve his goal. I however, being one of the smarter crew members (LOL), remembered that this one was very goal oriented and very stubborn, so if he said he was going to do it, he would definitely accomplish it. (Five years ago he said that he was going to buy a home and get into a relationship. He has accomplished both!) So, I was not surprised when in November he had lost 25 pounds and by mid-December he had lowered his weight by 29 pounds. What was his secret? I suggested that he had gotten his stomach stapled but, in actuality he had used the Quick Weight Lose Center Program. He is now tucking his shirt back into his pants and sporting quit a waist line! Congratulations!

I had spent a great deal of New Year’s Eve day trying to remember what I had accomplished in 2009. Just about the time I was ready to throw in the towel and say “nothing”, I remembered the commitments that I had made during our 2009 New Year’s breakfast. I said that I would work more with my African American GLBT community, particularly Black gay men. Light bulb moment! In 2009 “Brothas Speaking I” and “Brothas Speaking II”, my idea to create safe and healthy spaces for African American same-gender loving men to discuss subjects live relationships, health and spirituality and sexuality came to life with great success. I had the opportunity to preach on the Ebony Pyramid Entertainment Cruise in October, yet another event for same gender loving members of the African American community. I also spoke during several events at the DFW Pride Movement and I was asked to serve as a contributing writing for The Future Forward. I am grateful to God for not only giving me these opportunities to connect with my community but also for bringing these achievements back to my memory when I was almost convinced that the year had gone by and I had done nothing.

I do not believe in a creature embodied in red skin with horns, a pitch fork and a spiked tail named the devil. I do however believe in the presence of evil in our world that sometimes attacks us and causes us not to be able to focus on what is important, to remember the things that we have accomplished and force us into a period of discouragement. It happens to all of us at some time or another. It is just something that we don’t like to talk about or that we discuss with no real idea of what is causing our struggle.

If the enemies of depression, low self-esteem and discouragement have caused you to not be able to recall your past accomplishments or have you stuck and not wanting to move forward into your present and future assignments, I encourage you to seek God for deliverance over these strongholds. You, my friend, are a gift to this world that is priceless. You are filled with potential much of which has gone untapped. Do not waste another minute wandering in the fog.

Begin to walk in your truth, your gifting and your call! Seek God for personal revival! Get focused or re-focused! We have goals to achieve, lives to touch, relationships to enter into, families to birth and nurture. 2010 is here let’s take it by storm!

Happy New Year!
Until next week…ROTFL with WJC!
Please contact me at realopentalkforlife@yahoo.com for further discussion.

2010 Clearing Experience

So I have never started a “New Year” off the way I started off 2010. So much has happened to me in a matter of days and I am just sitting here looking out my window wondering what can I do to grasp a hold on to my life? As the question resounds in my head I answer my own question, I am going to take control of my year and my life. As many of you know in my professional world some things have already shifted; however in my personal life for the past year and a half things have been on a rollercoaster ride.

LOVE

So as you have watched “Dating Dwight” you may have noticed that my dates are not to actually make a real life love connection. My dates are to enlighten my viewers on the art of dating, give my date the chance to showcase themselves/work, and last to provide you with excellent entertainment; however off camera I have attempted this task and now it has left me dazed and confused. Have you ever liked someone so much and you don’t know why? When you write down all their traits you sit there and you are like really trying to figure out if the thing will actually work out. Once you decide that you want to take this journey of being friends to see what happens it seems like things began to become rushed and then all of a sudden out of fear one of you pump the brakes to either halt from having an accident or to just slow things down. If you have not been in the situation “aren’t you special” (high pitched squeaky voice); however many of us have. In addition to this type situation the realization that true love or what you thought to be true love separation is a tough thing to deal with. I am so excited I am in the place that I am in right now; however it took some time to get here and now that I am here I really don’t want any threats to shift me back into a not so happy place. The last heart dilemma is the one of an ex thinking you are not over them when you are and they make the confession that they want to be with someone who is fairly good friends with you; however never made the move out of fear of breaking your heart. Now that is a sweet gesture and honestly even if there was love still there I have learned you cannot force someone to love and be with you, so why stop someone else’s happiness, by doing that you are preventing your own true love from coming into your life.

CAREER

So in 2010 I have decided to embark upon the journey of really getting my career to the next level. I have had many career shifts in the past and the one thing that I have learned is when the fire gets high I get really creative. As many of you know I have had a very interesting last few days on the entertainment front and many of you are waiting to see what I am going to do. Well my primary place of employment is with “The FUTURE” and I signed up to work for “The FUTURE,” not any of my co-contributors. When I was approached with the idea of a company that would bring the media to a community that I create my work for I was siked and over the past year with The FUTURE I have reached several of my goals and created some work that I am very proud of. With every job there are different things you have to deal with, different personalities that you have to adjust to, and different assignments that you may not want to work on; however if your good out weighs the bad and you believe in your company’s mission I suggest that you hang in there and give it your all. This is the year that the Dwight Allen O’Neal brand will become a household name. I celebrate 10 years in this business and I am excited for what I have already become blessed with and what is coming today and tomorrow.

PAPARAZZI

As Saturday quickly approaches I reflect over all my years and I am excited about many things that have happen and I am sad by some. With life you take the good and the bad and you deal with it all. I am so happy that God has given me the gift of life and I would not trade that in for the entire world. My birthday party has turned out to be a “mega” event and many of my friends, staff, and I have put a lot of work into pulling this thing off. When I sat down with my party planner I told her that I wanted to celebrate everything that I have enjoyed in life. What we came up with were fashion, cake, men, and Hollywood. When you place all these things together what you get is cameras, stars, models, underwear, and Paparazzi. During the process of planning this event I learned that life really does reflect art, because rumors just like in tabloids flare and my response to that is “they talked about Jesus (who is perfect) so why not talk about you (who is far from perfect). I cannot wait for my birthday to actually arrive on Saturday, I made this event free because I really want to see everyone and right now I want to just celebrate life, it is a new decade and a new year.

As I open up to you all I ask is that you continue to support and uplift one another. I think so many times in our lives we tear and pull each other down. Let’s leave that bad habit in the last decade. Happy New Year and Happy Birthday to ME!!!!

KWANZAA ANYONE?

Reflect for the Seven Days with Love

Each year, the African-American community pays homage to its families, friends, and spirit during the seven days of Kwanzaa, a holiday for people of any religion. But what about you and your sweetie—or that cutie you have your eye on? How can the two of you get in the holiday spirit? We have the answer with these fun, Kwanzaa-flavored dates. Now, you may not be able to pack them all in during the week of December 26th, when the holiday occurs this year, but keep these ideas on hand and let them add richness and an element of surprise to your dating life in the year ahead.

1. Make it a group get-together

The first day of Kwanzaa celebrates Umoja (ooh-MOE-jah), the unity among families and communities. Are we sending you out on a date with your parents? Absolutely not! A friendly outing with another couple or two is what we have in mind. It’s sure to bring you and your date closer while emphasizing the bonds you’re all building. This plan can take the pressure off if you’re inviting someone special out for the first time. And if you’re a twosome that’s been stuck in the “let’s rent a DVD” rut, it can add a nice change-up, too. Challenge the other duo to a bowling match, go ice skating en masse, or play a game of Scrabble. (Just remember to play nicely—there’s only one “m” in “Umoja.”)

Real Open Talk For Life with WJC

“You Cannot Take Everyone with You….”
By: Rev. W. Jeffrey Campbell, Houston, TX

…these were the words that my aunt said to me when I came out to her in December 2004. I had opened up to her because we had become so close since my mother’s transition in the year before and I wanted her to know about the ministry work that I was doing in the GLBT community as well as in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the African American community.
As I tearfully shared my story with her, including some of the painful experiences that I had endured in a relationship with a man who she had known to be a close friend, I remember her saying, “You know that Bible better than I do. So, if you are okay with who you are and you believe that God is okay, then I am okay. But, you have to know that you will not be able to take everyone with you on this journey. Everyone will just not understand.”

In Nehemiah 2 beginning at verse 11, the prophet begins to share with the reader his return path to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls and to redeem his people. He specifically states in verse 12, “I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem.”

There are times in our lives as leaders of the civic and political community, spiritual community and even as leaders in our family when God speaks a vision to us that gives directions, that when followed, will promote health and healing for a target audience. Due to our compassion for the audience and our excitement about hearing from God, we often rush to share this vision with others before we are even clear on the steps that are to be taken in order for the vision to be fulfilled. I have experienced this personally as I have far too soon shared visions with people who probably meant well for me but could not handle what God was giving me in that moment. I found that in those moments, those people had no words of wisdom or encouragement for me. Some even violated the vision by sharing it with others in a way that was far from what God gave me.

My prayer is that everyone who reads this article, particularly those of you who are visionary leaders, will seek God for a healthy support system that will provide listening ears, words of wisdom, comfort and accountability. It is because of my personal support system that I thrive today.

Since that December day when my aunt spoke those words to me we really haven’t discussed my sexuality anymore. However, she supports me with her presence, her prayers and her 7-up pound cakes every step of the way. For these actions of love and support, I am grateful.

Whether you are a pastor, community advocate, partner, parent or the responsible one in the family that everyone seeks out to solve the family madness, when God gives you an assignment always be clear on the following:

Ø Who am I supposed to share this vision with?
Ø When am I supposed to share the vision with the intended hearer?
Ø How am I supposed to share the vision with the intended hearer?
Ø Does the hearer have a role in helping the vision become reality, if so, what is that role?

Until next week…ROTFL with WJC!

Please contact me at realopentalkforlife@yahoo.com for further discussion.

Today’s article is dedicated to my Circle of Support: Boyce, Ronald, Vallen, Gary, Kevin, Deneen, Fran, Jeffery, John, CJ, Drake, Amber, Cedric, Paul and Terry…you each make me better!

Real Open Talk For Life with WJC

Take off That Mask!
By: Rev. W. Jeffrey Campbell, Houston, TX

I have a refrigerator magnet that has 30 different facial expressions on it. Beneath each face is a word that describes the facial expression. Along with the magnet comes a smaller magnet that is shaped like a picture frame that says, “Today I feel…” Occasionally I go into my kitchen and move the magnet to the emotion that I am feeling on that day. Here are some of my choices:

Ø Exhausted
Ø Mischievous
Ø Depressed
Ø Lovestruck
Ø Hopeful

It is amazing how God has gifted the human race with so many different ways to communicate our emotions. We have verbal communication, written communication, gestures and in many cases if you are like me, the face will tell the whole story.

In Nehemiah 2 when the exiled prophet enters the presence of the king and queen it is not his words or his gestures that catches the attention of the king. It is his facial expression. Nehemiah writes, “I had not been sad in his presence before; so the king asked me, Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

In this moment God uses Nehemiah’s look to draw on the king’s concern for Nehemiah therefore setting the stage for the prophet to share with the king and queen the sad state in which the people of Jerusalem were living. Nehemiah’s prayers are answered as God gives him favor with the king who asks the questions, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” But that is not all! The king also sends letters to safe-guard him on the journey and request materials from the keeper of the king’s forest. In addition, the king also sends army officers and cavalry with Nehemiah.

In our journey we have been taught directly and indirectly to wear masks so that who we truly are and how we honestly feel cannot be seen by others. When in actuality there are times in our journey when it is necessary and profitable for the world to know how we feel and that can only be communicated if we take the masks off.

Ø Your co-workers and family members will never know how much their comments about “sissies and faggots” are hurting you if you stay behind the mask by joining in and or sitting there in silence. And, yes, this does still happen.
Ø If you are living with an HIV diagnosis behind a mask, your friends will never know the pain they are causing you when they make comments about others that sound like, “Girl, have you seen him lately? He looks bad! I think he got that stuff!”
Ø Your partner will never treat you any differently in the relationship if you stay behind the mask and never communicate what you REALLY need in order to be happy.
Ø You will never know how really wonderful and valuable you are until you take the mask off and say to the person looking back at you from the mirror, “You are Black, Beautiful and Worth it!"

Nehemiah took off his mask and the king saw his sadness and then heard his concern for his people and his request to return and rebuild Jerusalem. What is being left undone in your life and our community because you will not come from behind your mask?

Take off the mask and give them face! The favor of God will do the rest!

Until next week…ROTFL with WJC

Please contact me at realopentalkforlife@yahoo.com for further discussion.

Welcome to Real Open Talk For Life with WJC

Real Open Talk For Life with WJC
By: Rev. W. Jeffrey Campbell, Houston, TX

Greetings Family! Welcome to Real Open Talk For Life

I am W. Jeffrey Campbell and I am so excited about this opportunity to spend the next 13 Sundays challenging and encouraging you through spiritual meditations that are being designed specifically for the Black LGBT community right here on Thefutureforward.net.

Like many other same-gender loving African American preachers, I spent a great deal of time struggling with my sexuality and my call to ministry. After many years of searching, praying, counseling, crying and my own personal study, I finally heard God say very clearly, “I love you and you are okay.” What a relief! But God had more plans for me. The next challenge that God placed before me was the call to minister directly to people who identify openly and privately as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgendered. This is what brings me to you on today.

We will start our journey together taking a look at the prophet Nehemiah, one of the biblical loves of my life. In Nehemiah I see a man who has a passion for the well-being of his people. He weeps at the thought of their plight, but he does not resign himself to being a just a mourner. Nehemiah stepped to the plate and began to do the work necessary to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Beyond Nehemiah we will take a look at how rejection, abuse, internalized homophobia and many other ills have caused us great pain. We will not stop at discussing pain…we will delve into how we can overcome these pains of our past and present and live a liberated life in a fulfilling relationship with the Creator.

Let this journey of hope and healing begin!

HOW WILL YOU RESPOND?

In chapter 1 of Nehemiah, the prophet is exiled in Persia, working in the king’s palace as cupbearer. He receives word that the Jewish people who have returned to Jerusalem from exile are in great turmoil and disgrace because the city’s walls are destroyed, the gates burned, the city left in ruins. Nehemiah weeps, mourns, fasts and prays for favor in the king’s presence.

In many ways our Black LGBT community lies in ruins and our people in disgrace.

Ø LGBT Christians are struggling with spirituality and sexuality
Ø HIV cases continue to rise
Ø Our people are dying in unnecessary shame from the virus
Ø Black LGBT teens are being kicked out of their homes by parents

But, the good news is that God is calling US into service to rebuild a healthy Black LGBT community!

How will you respond to the plight of our people? Are you saddened enough to weep and mourn? Are you committed enough to make a sacrifice and pray for favor with the intent to rebuild our community?

Join me today on a journey of rebuilding, one life at a time!
If you would like to contact me via e-mail, please write me at realopentalkforlife@yahoo.com.

Until next week….ROTFL with WJC…

Black Relationships & The Media

Black Think Tank was founded on January 21, 1979, by individuals who had been at the center of the late 1960s birth and battle for black studies. The Black Think Tank pioneered a Black Male/Female Relationships movement, including "black love" (Kupenda groups, Kupenda being Swahili for 'to love') designed to help our people learn to love again, to feel loved, to love ourselves and, therefore, one another, in as much as we already know how to hate one another. The Black Think Tank then issued The Call and was the catalyst for the contemporary Rites of Passage movement for African-American boys in the popular manual, bringing the Black Boys to Manhood: The Passage, which promulgated lectures and workshops nationally and internationally, including in London and the Caribbean islands. Related books of importance and influence followed quickly: The Endangered Black Family and The Miseducation of the Black Child.

This is Dr. Julia Hare speaking at the State of the Black Union (2007) on education, destruction of the Diasporic African family in America, incarceration, and other issues.
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Dr. Julia Hare is widely regarded as one of the most dynamic motivational speakers on the nation's podiums today. The Black Think Tank has decided to turn her loose on the lecture circuit this fall. If you have ever had the satisfaction of hearing this sista speak, you already know why she is gaining so much notice and popularity at conference gatherings and campuses across America and even creating excitement in other lands. The largest black newspaper in London, The Voice, recently dubbed this genteel woman of class and charm a “lady Malcolm X” in a feature story of how she is, quote, “setting the black world on fire” after she electrified the Tavis Smiley “State of the Black Union Conference” with her breakout blast of velvety tough-talk about the difference between “black leaders” and “leading blacks.”

So Future Readers which one are you?