Hey family– don’t forget that voting ends tomorrow for the 2010 Black Weblog Awards, in which GospelPundit.com is nominated for Best Faith-Based Blog.

That’s pretty nifty!

If you haven’t already done so…

CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

The faith-based blog category is on the first voting page, at the bottom.

Note: your vote is not counted until you proceed to the last page, enter your info and press “submit.” I don’t think they’ll automatically sign you up to receive anything, so fret not.

Thanks, folks!

Huge apologies to all of you good folks for the site’s absence over the past week.

Long story, short– a virus crept into the server and attached itself to several pages.  Google scanned these pages and said “not safe to visit” to anyone who tried to come to the site.  I’m glad it did because, though no one has reported that they were infected with malware, it’s better to be safe than sorry, yes?

In any case, after SEVERAL sweeps of the site by professionals over the past 7 days, Google said “ahhh… though your site was as scarlet, it is now white as snow.”  Or something similar.  In short– we’re clean!

For me, it’s back to bloggin’.  For you, it’s back to readin’.

Sorry, folks. Love ya and THANK YOU for emailin’, textin’, twitterin’ and facebookin’ me inquiring about the site.  It means you really read it, huh?

And at the end of all of it, thanks for stickin’ with me.

I don’t know that I’ve ever posted anything like this on GospelPundit.com, but something about this just seemed RIGHT.

I got an email this morning from a guy named Ricardo, asking for my help.  He and his girlfriend, Joniece, (both loyal GospelPundit.com readers) are in a competition to win an engagement ring and a honeymoon.

Having just celebrated my two-year anniversary last week (shout-out to my Wifey!), I can STILL remember how EXPENSIVE rings and a honeymoon can be.  They need help! LoL

In the email, he said “I am confident that we are the only Gospel Pundit supporters in the top 10…” That’s reason enough for me!

If you’re up for it, I need you to click this link NOW–http://www.tinyurl.com/RicardoandJoniece

And I need you to vote for Ricardo and Joniece.  You have no idea how much of a blessing it will be to their Godly union– and that’s what we’re supporting.  Amen?!

There are only 2 weeks left to vote, and they need thousands to win.  But we can help ‘em.

Join me?  http://www.tinyurl.com/RicardoandJoniece

I’m incredibly humbled and shocked to have learned that I’ve been nominated for the Black Weblog Award for Best Faith-Based Blog!

Guys! First of all, who in the world nominated me?!  Second of all, you really think so?!

Out of 10,000 ballots and 32,000 nominations, somebody (or a bunch of somebodies) picked GospelPundit.com as one of 5 finalists for the award.  I greatly appreciate the love and support, fam!

If you want to vote for this site in the Black Weblog Awards, you can do so between NOW and August 31, 2010.  The winner will be announced on September 1st.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

The faith-based blog category is on the first voting page, at the bottom.  Note: your vote is not counted until you proceed to the last page, enter your info and press “submit.”  I don’t think they’ll automatically sign you up to receive anything, so fret not.

I’m still dumbfounded, but thanks, guys.  Love you a bunch.

In August, my pastor’s 19-year old son, Josiah, went to Heaven after a sudden car accident.

The pain that my pastor and his family felt was almost tangible and unlike anything I’d ever witnessed.  My initial response, along with many others in the congregation, was to mourn… almost as those with no hope, though we “knew” better.  But during that time, the Lord began revealing unshakeable truths to my pastor and his wife about the realities of life on Earth, life in Heaven, and the relationship between the two.

The culmination of that revelation has just been released in the form of a book– Have Heart: Bridging the Gulf Between Heaven and Earth.

I believe that the concepts discussed in this book– very much written as a story depicting the journey that my pastor and his wife have been on for the past 10 months– will be mind-blowing and life-changing.  I URGE you to read it, whether you’re currently coping with the transition of a loved one’s life, or if you ever think you might have to (and you will).

To be clear– I’m not endorsing this book because I love its authors, Pastor Steve and Sarah Berger (though I do, very much so).  Nor am I endorsing it because I want you guys to know how awesome my church is (though it is, very much so).

I’m endorsing it because, in less than a year, God has revolutionized my thinking about our natural lives and our eternal lives through this teaching.  I have been the beneficiary of this Truth, and I’m desperately excited for everyone I know to be exposed to it as well.  There is hope and healing in the pages of this book.

Not a dime of the sale proceeds will ever go into the Bergers’ pockets– it’s all going toward the continued building and support of Josiah’s House, a boys’ orphanage in the Dominican Republic.

Check out the video below and visit http://www.haveheart.net to learn more about the book, more about Heaven and more about this ministry through numerous videos, blogs and resources.  Please, do that for me, folks.  Thanks.

Family, let’s lift up Adrian Anderson, one-third of gospel trio Trin-i-tee 5:7, as she deals with the recent passing of her mother.

No further details have been made available at this time, but our collective prayers are definitely going to go a long way.  Cool?

If you want to, you can also send Adrian a message of encouragement at her Twitter page– http://www.twitter.com/adriansmile.

Aside from my Sunday Best recap this morning, I’m not posting anything today– regularly scheduled programming will resume tomorrow.

Have a great and safe Memorial Day.  Let’s remember, honor and pray for those who have fought for this country.  Cool?  Cool.

Family, let’s keep Canton Jones and his family in prayer– his father, Pastor Clarence Jones, passed yesterday.

Canton featured his father on “Fix It,” a song from his 2005 album, Love Jones.

Let’s lift them up, folks!

I don’t like posting stuff like this, but it’s hit national media attention and I’m informing you guys MERELY so that you can pray.  In fact, I’m not opening comments on this one because there’s no discussion needed, in my opinion.  At least, not here.

Darin Lee McAllister, husband of Judith Christie McAllister, has been charged with 19 counts of fraud, including wire fraud and bank fraud.  Specifically, he is accused of falsifying his profession and income to secure financing for rental properties worth $1.25 million in 2006, then falsifying information about his income and assets in bankruptcy proceedings last year.

Judith Christie McAllister has declined to speak with reporters at this time.

As their family in Christ, I hope we will support them both by praying.  We don’t know the circumstances surrounding the allegations, nor do we know the truth of the situation.  As such, I believe wisdom dictates that we simply take it to, and leave it with, God.

On Sunday, BET aired a great interview between Cory “CoCo Brother” Condrey and Tye Tribbett on its long-standing television show Lift Every Voice.  I was traveling, so I didn’t get to see it until last night via my trusty DVR.  Gotta tell ya– I loved it.

In the interview, Tye Tribbett spoke publicly about his recent marital infidelity and the rifts that it caused.  He shared that he had struggled with whether to leave the music ministry altogether, and had even contemplated suicide.

What I loved most about the interview, however, was not the confession of some widely-speculated sin– I loved hearing about his restoration in God.  Moreoever, I loved hearing about the restoration of his marriage!

That’s the testimony and that’s what will cause other people to overcome– seeing that the grace of God abounds and that He is faithful to restore us.

I’m grateful for Tye’s new posture, too.  He says that, while on sabbatical, “God showed me ME.”  He’s been brought low and hopes to “stay teachable, vulnerable and humble.”  He even says that his approach has changed– he’s got more compassion, acknowleding his once “militant presentation.”

An aside: I’ve not spoken about this situation on this blog, ever.  I’m a little disheartened that I didn’t get as many phone calls and text messages, nor see nearly as many tweets and facebook posts about the up-side of this story as I did the more scandalous side of it.  Many have inquired about my lack of coverage of this topic on my blog, so I suppose I’ll briefly clarify– in my view, sin is not particularly newsworthy– redemption is.

I praise God for His redeeming work.  Let’s continue to pray for Tye and his family as God continues to work on ‘em, and let’s keep praying for the ministry that God has given them.

Cool?