Originally Posted by tstew (Post 1138342)

I think you know me well enough to know that I am not part of the PC police. There are conversations where the race or ethnicity of the person is relevant and perhaps makes an accomplishment more remarkable or unusual. By all means, in those situations discussing the race is understandable and expected. Including it in this particular compliment was just confusing to me. If she was singing in Spanish and doing it flawlessly as someone born a black American, I would understand and expect the sentiment that she does it well for a black woman.
I don't want to beat a dead horse, but I see situations like this as an opportunity to perhaps allow well-meaning people to see how some things are going to widely be perceived by many other people. I certainly don't want to be in any sort of offensive or confrontational conversation with anybody here.
God Bless

Originally Posted by forgivenson (Post 1138367)

I think Jennifer is great. However, I do not think it is just about octave range....in my opinion...Whitney Houston had a far superiour tonal quality of her voice, and the passion to go along with it.
Also....it has been suggested on here, that her fall was do to the drugs and the wild life, I believe that is somewhat true, but these were the 'symptom'....not the cause. Some of us really do not understand that, people with great passion....must first have great sensitivity, great love....extremely deep emotions. When a person like Whitney reaches deep inside of her heart for a place that 'touches' us deep within 'our' hearts...it is very very real. If you dive so deep inside yourself for these emotions, you can't just flip them on and off like a light switch. With deep deep love and tenderness.....the price for it is almost always deep pain and suffering. We very often do not know the price that is being paid for our 'entertainment'....we do not see the 'breaking heart'. Without that 'breaking heart'.....without 'opening up to'.....a broken heart, we woulld not have the empathy and love that this woman expressed for us. She gave 'all' for us. As her song say's that I will always remember her for...."I will always love you". I pray earnestly that she spoke often with the Lord before she left here and that I would be fortunate to see her over there at His feet.

Originally Posted by llambert (Post 1138532)

Thanks so much for writing this. I believe that what you have said speaks of great knowledge and insight into the root of this woman's issue.

It also convicts me.

The bible says that in the last days there would be a lot of trafficking of the souls of men:

merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men.

It's bad that Whitney died just 2 days after singing a gospel song at the pre-grammy party- but let her death be an admonition to us all. It's not for us at this time (i don't think) to say whether she was saved, went to hell or is awaiting her judgment- but I think that we need to be mindful- are we encouraging people who have these kinds of giftings and sensitivities with the love and strength of the Holy Ghost or are we enabling them? Are we in a position to minister graciously to the people like Whitney who are in our churches and in our circles or do we just want them to act as minstels to entertain us?

This post hit me deep and this is real.

I believe there are many in the mental hospitals, rehab clinics and those who by their behaviors would qualify to be there who are gifted with these sensitivities that you described, forgivenson. God help us if we aren't sensitive about them.

It's so easy to say, "I don't get why so and so would do such and such"- It's time for us to thus hear what the spirit is saying to the churches about these hurting people. There is much work to be done.

Originally Posted by forgivenson (Post 1138367)

I think Jennifer is great. However, I do not think it is just about octave range....in my opinion...Whitney Houston had a far superiour tonal quality of her voice, and the passion to go along with it.
Also....it has been suggested on here, that her fall was do to the drugs and the wild life, I believe that is somewhat true, but these were the 'symptom'....not the cause. Some of us really do not understand that, people with great passion....must first have great sensitivity, great love....extremely deep emotions. When a person like Whitney reaches deep inside of her heart for a place that 'touches' us deep within 'our' hearts...it is very very real. If you dive so deep inside yourself for these emotions, you can't just flip them on and off like a light switch. With deep deep love and tenderness.....the price for it is almost always deep pain and suffering. We very often do not know the price that is being paid for our 'entertainment'....we do not see the 'breaking heart'. Without that 'breaking heart'.....without 'opening up to'.....a broken heart, we woulld not have the empathy and love that this woman expressed for us. She gave 'all' for us. As her song say's that I will always remember her for...."I will always love you". I pray earnestly that she spoke often with the Lord before she left here and that I would be fortunate to see her over there at His feet.

Originally Posted by Truthseeker (Post 1138542)

"gave all for us" really?

Originally Posted by forgivenson (Post 1138965)

If you do not understand, I can not explain. I really do not care anyway to even 'attempt' to 'cheapen' this.