Oprah Develops Megachurch Drama

As Oprah Winfrey is continuing her push into developing scripted programming for OWN, her next foray is sure to raise a few eyebrows. You see this time it's going to be a drama with the backdrop being a megachurch. The name of the show is called Greenleaf, and follows the lives of a prominent African-American family in the ministry.

 Doesn't sound too bad right? What could be so controversial or eyebrow raising about that? Well once I read a brief summary of the show, I had to pause and just shake my head.

Here's a brief description:

“Like so many megachurches in America, Greenleaf World Ministries is more than just a house of worship. It’s a home. It’s the center of the community for the thousands of predominantly African-American members who attend services there.  But beneath its steeple lies a den of iniquity — greed, adultery, sibling rivalry and conflicting values — a multigenerational matrix of deception that involves the church’s founding family, but also extends to the congregation and prominent members of the Memphis community and beyond. Yet, amidst all of the mayhem and deception, the power of something greater persists, calling everyone to conscience for their sins.”

 Greed? Adultery? Just wow!

I'm wondering how this will be taken, particularly by fellow Christians. I'm going to go on record and say I'm not in favor of the premise behind the show.  I know that I'm going to sound a bit hypocritical here, because I have watched dramas like Empire - which takes on some of those same themes - but just in the music industry.

Perhaps it's because of my faith; perhaps it's because my wife has worked at a church in the past; perhaps because I think it's OK as long as these themes are discussed somewhere else; whatever the reason might be, there's something unsettling to me about a show that portrays the church in a negative light. Somethings I feel should be left alone. Church scandals...meh, I'll pass.

But apparently, it seems like Winfrey is really getting behind this one. She will even have a reoccurring role on the show. The ensemble cast also includes Keith David, Lynne Whitfield, Lamman Rucker, Deborah Joy Winans, Tye White, Kim Hawthorne and Desiree Ross.

Greenleaf is slated to premiere in 2016. Sorry, I don't think I'll be tuning into this one.

You're not cool anymore

After reading a Rolling Stone interview with comedian Eddie Murphy, who is now 50, I immediately felt like I was out of touch.

I think the thing that's hitting me most, is that all these cultural changes have happened in the last few years, and I've just kind of stopped trying to play catch up. Seriously. Now, when I take the time to look and see the changes, I'm so far behind...

Like the other day, I went looking for a pair of jeans. My style has always been a relaxed fit. A little baggy, but not so much that they would fall off my behind if I took two steps.

I immediately talked to the clerk in hopes that she could point me in the right direction. She told me that the style was getting away from that. Men now like to wear skinny jeans. 

I'm sorry I'm already a slim dude - NO way am I ever going to wear or put on some skinny jeans.

But that's my point. When did the world suddenly turn upside down. When did such cultural icons in my youth like Eddie Murphy become a thing of the past? When did rappers like Niki Minaj come to the forefront of the hip hop charts?

I don't have any answers. Maybe it's because I outgrew a lot of those things. Maybe it happened when I stopped going to Target every Tuesday to pick up the latest releases. Maybe it happened when I stopped going to the movies every Friday to catch the latest flick.

Maybe it happened when my priorities switched and the most important things in my life were being a good husband and father. Or maybe, I just grew up.

Why I do, What I do.

Because I'm a slim guy, some friends and family members have often made snide comments about me working out.

The taunts I think spring from uneducated minds, because working out isn't about losing weight, so much as it is trying to stay healthy.

My family on my mother's side is predisposed to diabetes and hypertension - the latter of which I had during my 20s before I started my workout routine.

It's important for me to try and maintain my health, by running, lifting weights and keeping busy.

Things are a lot more difficult with Grace (my daughter) around, because now everything has to be tailored around her schedule.

But that by no way means that exercising must be cut out entirely. Now, I get up 4 a.m. and sneak away to a popular running trail while Grace is sleeping. For one hour I give it my all before I come back in to relieve my wife of her duties taking care of Grace.

It's a must. In this day and age where so much of our work is done sitting down using computers, and inside an office all day long, a regular work out routine is needed.

We have to keep fit. So to all of those who have made the beanpole comments and the toothpick comments, save them. I'm trying to see my daughter grow up, and I want to enjoy as much time with her as I can.