THE TIMES…Pastor Zackery Tims and Nicholas Ashford… gone…

First Zackery Tims …and now Nicholas Ashford.

Oh, I know… I know that Nick was not known for writing and singing gospel music.  But no one can deny that he did come from a strong gospel background… that sometimes even managed to show up in his song writing and way of singing.

And what songs they were.  He was gifted… and what he didn’t have …his partner and later to become his wife… Valerie Simpson had.  Together they wrote some of Motow’s best known music.  Songs like ‘Ain’t No Moutain High Enough,’ ‘It Takes Two,’ ‘Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand’ ….just to name a few.  And I do mean just a few… because their list does indeed truly go on and on.

For a while Val and Nick could be caught holding down the evening drive-time radio slot at WBLS,in New York City.  In fact, 1 afternoon I decided to drop by BLS with the hope of getting in to see Vinny Brown, an old friend and co-worker who at the time was the Program Director for the station.  While waiting …to my unexpected surprise as I happened to look up… standing before me were 2 people I would have had to be totally blind to not to have recognized from the very moment my eyes came up on them.

“Val and Nick,” I heard myself say… as my head jerked back slightly in surprise.

It just kind of eased out of my mouth… I hadn’t realized they were handling BLS’s on-air  drive-time shift at that time.  So, I was really surprised to look up and see them, standing right there before me… close enough for me to just reach out and touch them.  Nick slightly smiled at me… while Val kind of looked off.

From the time I hit college Nick and Valerie had been busy in recording studios.  So, I had looked at and played  just about every album of their’s.  Definitely a sign of the time… because most of the kids don’t even know what an album was …or a 45 for that matter.  But yes …I had played Val and Nick for many years.  And it didn’t hurt for me to be a big fan either… which meant as often as I could I would sneak them in on my music lists rotations.

As the years went on I didn’t have to continue to ease… I just played them… back to back …or however I wanted.  Them and Phyllis Hyman… Donnie and Roberta… Friends of Distiction… Dells… Roy Ayres… George Duke… and whoever else I wanted to program.  Including Motown’s Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye… and just so much good music…  The kids don’t even have a clue… they have nothing like it today.

Nobody writes good music any more…  they don’t even know what it is to have anything called ‘good lyrics.’  They… the kids are too busy buying beats.  A lot of which are stolen from times gone… times that music like that during which Val and Nick came from …and wrote during.

Though they …Val and Nick had long since turned their attention to other things …such as going into the restaurant business… New York’s Sugarbar and I forget what their first restaurant was called …it had been on 22nd Street also in Manhattan.

And whenever traveling home on I-95… as I passed Stamford, CT… my mind would always run across them, as I knew that for a while at least they had made their home in Connecticut.

Having their number I called them once while seeking investors for 1 of my feature film projects.  Though I failed to reach them initially… you will never know to my surprise… how thrill I was to receive a call back from them concerning the message that I had left.  Val told me that they were just getting ready to open up another restaurant… which was to become the Sugarbar.  So, they couldn’t afford to do it at the time.  She appologized and told me maybe the next time.

I hung up not at all feeling let down.  All I could think was… wasn’t that nice for them to take the time to call me back?

This is my all time favorite song by Valerie Simpson and Nicholas Ashford.

While living in Chicago… Millie J… used to visit a friend of mine by the name of

Jean… who was Tyrone Davis’ sister.  Millie had come to town to perform and while talking with Jean… I overheard her say-

“While I was coming through the airport guess who I came across?  These two people walking around holding hands.  I didn’t even have to look twice.  I knew right off it was nobody but Nick and Val.”

They had that something special… kind of like what Michelle and Obama have.  A total appreciation for each other… and a desire to always be in touch with one another… as though they cannot do or bear to be without each other.

Just a few seconds ago, a friend of mine informed me that Nick had dealt with sustance abuse.  Never knew that …or ever heard that.  So, I don’t know for sure.  I have not seen him or Val for years now.  But I know their music anywhere or anyhow I hear it.

Personally, I cannot imagine Val without Nick.  She loved him… and held on to him.  And he loved her… and held onto her.   And together they held on to each other …a profoundly good example of 2 people who truly walked in love with one another.  I certainly pray her strenght in the Lord… and that of their children and other family members.

I had heard his testimony.  And what an awesome testimony he had had regarding how God had saved and pulled  him out of a messed up life of drug addiction… and having come from a home where nobody knew the Lord.   How God had put someone in his path that gave him an invitation… and 1 day for whatever reason Zackery Tims, some 8 or  so years ago… called a man on his job who had invited him to come and go to church with him.  And that night he got saved… and his life was forever changed.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20092873-504083.html

A megachurch Pastor having a congregation of more than 4,000 members in the Orlando, FL area… on this past Wednesday, Pastor Zackery Tims was found dead on the floor of his Time Square hotel room.  The first information said… heart attack.  But later information started circulating… that a white powder sustance… cocaine had been found on him.

I had long ago stopped watching him … or some reason or other.  I cannot remember why… but it always seems to me that as you watch some of these television evangelists… you like them in the beginning, but then they begin to shift.  And everything about them and what they are preaching changes.

I cannot say that about Pastor Tims… because I cannot remember what prompted me to stop watching his program. And it might not have had been anything with him… but a time conflict between the show schedule and my schedule.

His eyes lately were watery or shiney… glossy I guess you could say… whenever I would happen to catch the tailend or some part of his show.  And I am not just saying that because I am hoping that after the autopsy is finally released… it will show any drugs in his system.  Because I am not… if anything quite the opposite.

I would hate to think that he would have been drawn back… into something that he was blessed enough to have been released from.   But when you think back to the events that lead to his divorce… you have to think…    Well, maybe.

He was involved with a stripper for a year… that is what the article read.  But if it read a year… then it is possible that it was for a longer time than that.  While he was engaging in adultry with her… it is very likely that he was also indulging in other things too.  And while that relationship may have ended… and who really knows…  But if  he was drinking or indulging in drugs as well… it is not so likely that he also just stopped abusing either.  And do note I said ‘if’… because I don’t  know.

I didn’t know him… or much about him except what most of you who also watched the Word Network knew about him.  But I was watching the day he leaped upon the top of his pulpit  podium to dramatize something he was preaching.  I did think that  was very odd… and all I could think was-

“That is suppose to be holy.  How could he jump up on it?”

But it would seem that not much is still considered to be holy any more in church.  I see preachers with baseball caps and hats on in the pulpit… and sweat suits and sneakers.  Anything it seems  goes today… whatever… however…  whenever.   My, Lord…

Whatever happened to reverencing the house …and the things of the Lord?

UPDATE: SUNDAY, January 15, 2012…As of New Years Eve this year Pastor Paula White has been chosen the Board of Regents of New Destiny Christian Center.  And it would seem that since the autopsy done on the body of  Pastor Tims was never released to the public…that drugs had indeed been found in the blood system of the late Pastor Zackary Tims.

With the announcement of  Paula White becoming the chosen replacement…  Well, it did not seem to sit right with Pastor Tims ex-wife.  Tims’ ex-wife claims that Tims’ and her children are being robbed of their inheritance.  You can read more on that by CLICKING the LINK below.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/riva-tims-paula-whites-appointment-process-was-illegal-and-deceptive-66161/

Since I am on the subject of Pastors… and since I did write a blog on it.  Let me just note here that I read somewhere… or heard it… that Bishop Eddie Long quietly settled his cases with the young men who had filed law suits against him, for supposedly taking sexual advantage of  them while they were under his religious leadership as young teenaged boys.

The settlement is said to have been $15 million total going out to the young men in question.

Perhaps it is a sign of the times… but I sincerely hope not.

Visiting with a niece and enjoying myself.   Can’t you tell?

I have so much time on my hands that I decided to take some of  it to write this blog.  I rarely have much time these days.  I am on assignment… and must pick up my pace.  I have to stay busy in the things of the Lord.   And at the end of the day… I just want to be ready when He comes.

And for as long as I can remember that has not changed.

I still love this picture… It is sooooo refreshing looking.

Speaking of which… while talking with a cousin this evening… she told me that they were buckling down for a bad storm that they… the insurance claims agents of the company she works for …are being prep for if  it should hit us this week on the east coast.

Better get out and pick up a few things for just in case.  And no need to wait until the last minute… do it now since you have gotten some advance info.

One other thing… while here.  My niece took me by Dr. Martin L. King’s house and the Center for Non-Violence.  Took a picture with a tour guide who informed me that every house on his street was bought by the Federal Government… and the only house on the street that is not owned by the Federal Government on that street is the King house… which is still owned by the King family.  But the house is open for tours …which are done on the half-hour. 

It was amazing watching the people… black and white touring the grounds of the King’s house and the Center for Non-Violence.  And it is all free… parking and everything without any hassles.

Mrs. Coretta Scott King was a very smart woman.  A woman who was determined that her husband’s death was not going to be in vain… or forgotten.  And I mean she did it… and she didn’t do it half-stepping either.

Well, God bless…

Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family, co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on…”  www.bsmith101.wordpress.com  ©2011

4 comments August 23, 2011

Venus out in Melbourne… Non-Believers controversy

        Sent packing Thursday following her lost to the number 46th seed woman in the tennis world, Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain, Venus Williams, rated number 6 in the world, was thought to be the woman most likely to emerge as winner on the Women’s  Singles side in the Australian Open…but following her 2-6, 6-3, 7- 5 whipping at the hands of the Spaniard in the second rounds of the tournament that brought an abrupt end to that hope and casted it totally into the wind…Venus…  Well, she took it hard and… 

It was all they wrote for Venus who has yet to win a single championship in the great ‘down under.’    But all may not yet be lost…as there is still the   Women’s Doubles…where Venus and Serena are a very strong team and are presently doing  quite well.

http://www.arcamax.com/sports/s-483219-454868?source=1930

http://www.nndb.com/people/229/000023160/

It is amazing how time truly flies…Venus is now 28 years old.  It seems like only yesterday that 2 little black girls stepped out on the world tennis stage leaving  tons of bodies in their wake…with white beads all in their hair beating them across their young gleeful faces while they overpowered the field female opponents, both young and old, with phantom speed and might.

Serena on the other hand moved right along until…   Well, she wasn’t sent packing…but her pride was a bit…   Well, she had to sweat through  her second round…6-3, 7-5 victory over Gisela Dulko of Argentina.

One year younger than my son, Serena having been born on the 26th of September 1981…who at the tender age  of 14 turned a professional tennis player.  My…amazing.  And she has already won the Australian Open 3 times…2003, 2005, 2007…seems she likes odd years.  She just may pull it off again.  Cha-ching!

And along with Venus…she too has her own line of clothes…that story is in one of the LINKS BELOW.

http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/668860.html

http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/nothing-patchy-about-serenas-win-20090120-7led.html

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=57&ContentID=120068

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/cmatch/12wd.html

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gu-A1eCt0kuDKuY_MFbs6A_EhLLA

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/aus08/news/story?id=3195266&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24954548-16143,00.html

First it was those black folk who questioned Obama’s blacknesss.  Then those

 who didn’t want Obama talking on this or that.  Then there came the Tavis  Smiley Klann who want to hold Obama ‘accountable.‘

Accountable to what?

For what?

To who?

And why?

We didn’t create him.  We didn’t feed him.  We didn’t send him to college…didn’t sit with him and tell him-

“Boy, you better study.”

We never told him -

“I’ll be there for you, Barack.”

Now, you want to hold Obama ‘accountable’ to black folks because of what?

Because he is black?

I didn’t hear anybody say they wanted to make George Bush accountable for nothing.  And if ever there was a person that that should have been done to it was him.

Now, here comethe black brethren of the Cloth…upset because in his first speech to the nation during his inaugural…Obama said these words-

“…Christian, Muslim and non-believers.”

They are upset because ‘non-believers’ was included in that speech.  Rather than to have enjoyed one of the highest moments ever in Black  History and American History period…they sat around like a bunch of old hens knit picking.

How very sad for them.

That whole very beautiful event that took place this past Tuesday when a black man was sworn in as the 44th President of this country just totally flew over the top of their heads because of ‘non-believers’ being spoken.

When the #1 man in the world became a black man…they sat around poking out their lips and mumbling about 2 words…‘non-believer.’ 

The #1 man in the free world is a black man…Commander and Chief of our country and armed forces.  I am just curious as to what in world part of that  they fail to understand? 

Perhaps, they are too filled up with their own self-importance…or supposed importance to get to the real significance of this whole thing. 

He is the President.   Barack Obama…he is the President of the United States of America…he doesn’t take orders or anything else from anyone…and particularly a bunch of dis-satisfied and highly disenchanted old men sitting around looking for things to complain about…because somebody has reached a higher level than them. 

He is the President of the United States.  Barack Obama is President of the United States…and in case they don’t know…that is higher than any CEO…any CEEO…any board of Presiding Bishops…higher than anything outside of God.   And even God recognized the law of the land…and told us to ‘give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s.’   That includes respect.

 He is the President.  Not chump…whipping boy…or somebody those men should be sitting around trying to analyze every word in order to find fault.

I have never been able to understand people who try to bury their heads in the sand and want to pretend like something is not there…or does not exist.

Just who caused prayer to be taken out of our schools?

Who have had the court houses around this country remove from their walls, edifices and corridors  the 10 Commandments?

Who has been seeking to have removed from the face of American          currency “In God we trust?”

Yes, them.  Those people…those very people whom Barack Obama dared to make mention of in his inaugural speech.  They are real.  They do exist…and in growing numbers.  Those…those non-believers…atheist

Get your head out of the sand, gentlemen.  The world did not stop turning because President Obama included them in his speech.  They are here…and I suggest that you go after them not Obama if you really want to make a statement…and stop letting those people corrupt and change everything to suit themselves. 

You gentlemen are on the wrong side of the battle ground…but then I do understand.  There is only one Barack Obama…and tons of them.  Yes…I clearly understand.

On a higher note… Obama’s approval rating for his first couple of days in office is out…and he gets high marks.  Best since Kennedy.  You can read more on that…CLINK on the LINK BELOW.

http://news.aol.com/?feature=316834

http://news.aol.com/article/obamas-nonbeliever-nod-unsettlessome/316339

http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=13694

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090120/ap_on_go_pr_wh/inauguration_obama_text

 http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-090120-obama-inauguration-photogallery,0,7660072.photogallery

Well, God bless…

Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family, co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on” www.bsmith101.wordpress.com ©2009  

Add a comment January 25, 2009

Some…

Some

came by bus…

some by train….

some by plane…

some by car…

whatever…

however….

but they got there.

Some late in the night…

some in the wee hours of the morn…

some by daybreak…

some by noon…  

some by midday

some by the time it was nearly through….

some at the end…

but they got there.

Some lined the streets…

some sat on ice cold street curves…

some bundled together…

some crowded the gates…anxious to get in.

Some cried…

some cheered…

some screamed…

some shouted ‘GLORY!’…

some

 rejoiced…

and some

 just gave

 God glory.

Some came in furs…

some in overcoats and gloves…

some with ear muffs and thick heavy scarves…

some in knitted caps…

some in baseball caps…

some in sneakers…

some in boots…

but you made it there.

Some white…

some black…

some Native American Indian…

some hispanic…

some jew…

some italian…

some polish…

some russian…

some african…

some jamacian…

some asian…

some muslim…

some christian… 

 

Some young…

some old…

some yet unborn…

some nearly able to walk…

some barely able to stand…

but they got there.

Some travelled through the night…

some caught early morning flights…

but they got there.

Some slept in cars…

some in hotels…

some in motels…

some with friends…

some out in the streets…

but they got there.

Some came by faith…

some motivated by desire…

some by history…

some by pride…

some by curiosity…

but they got there.

Some will remember…

some will forget…

some will cherish forever

what this day truly meant…

              but they got there.

Though history many not relay it with all of its glory…

it may not be kind…

some facts left behind…

but you were there…

you made it there out of  ‘no way’…

Through pain…shame,

heartache and

 chains…somehow we made it

there.

So, some 

travelled by car…

some from afar…

some said ‘no matter how far’…

hours…years…centuries…bondage…hangings…whippings…and burnings…

but…

we made it…

we were there. 

But you were there…you

and some

million…zillion other folk.

You made it  there…you and some 2 million

and more poured into that place…that city…those streets…those sidewalks…

the corner stores…

the restaurants….

the Mall of Lincoln Monument…

places that used to not seat us…

feed us…

or give us a place to rest… 

You were there…

praising and singing  ‘We’ve Come This Far By Faith’…

to see the dream…

no longer deferred…

to see the courage…

and the pride…

the trust…

the hope…

and to see the promise rise up like Moses…

and the Red Sea once again stand on end…

and destiny again be

fulfilled.

some…

Now, you fill the rest in…

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090120/ap_on_go_pr_wh/inauguration_rdp

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/National-Mall/photo//090120/480/14c54f52582346ee9379c1ec3ba40a30//s:/ynews/ynews_ts206#photoViewer=/090120/photos_pl/2009_01_18t165729_450x339_us_usa_obama

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28749799/displaymode/1107/s/2/framenumber/4/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22887506#22887506

 

Some…

Some came to get caught up in the moment…

Some to get a touch of the spirit…

And some to celebrate a time long awaited…

when the tail has finally become the head.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/28741576/

Well, God bless…

Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family, co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on” www.bsmith101.wordpress.com

©2009  

Add a comment January 22, 2009