By Terry Loving
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
“And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.”
OK, before you start banging out cuss words on your keyboard, hit the delete button for I will not entertain such responses. And for those who question, “Who does she think she is?” Let me answer that for you. I am a child of God that is blessed with the gift of writing, with its intended use to honor God, and contribute to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. When the Holy Spirit prompts – even wakes me up like this morning – I write what I am instructed to write. So, there is no self-righteousness here, just humble obedience.
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I am also blessed with a worldwide ministry, and that is no accident. God has graced me with the opportunity to reach millions of lost souls, and spiritually weak Christians that need a dose of spiritual truth. False preachers and teachers don’t care if you go to hell, Christ does. There is no time to be “politically correct” when Christians should be more concerned with spiritual correctness. When we die, we will not stand before the world and be judged by them, we will stand before a Righteous Judge and His faithful followers – to hear either, “Well done,” or “Depart from Me.” I don’t know about you, but I am striving to hear “Well done.” Please do not think that I am this heartless, self-righteous Christian spewing unkindness – not so.
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I did not plan to watch Whitney’s funeral, but I felt compelled to do so. It was emotional for me, especially when they hoisted her coffin on their shoulders and carried her away. They played a song that I can directly link to a broken relationship many years ago. I became overwhelmed at the end of her funeral for I was thinking, “Satan destroyed another one.” And I am sure that he is extra proud especially since his handiwork was displayed before the whole world.
With that said, here we go.
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Whitney Houston was a gifted singer, who set a singing standard that will remain unchallenged. Yes, she opened doors for other Black female singers, and made substantial contributions to the music industry. She sang songs that uplifted the soul, or words that fit a situation that you may have been going through. In spite of all of her earthly achievements and awards, we must acknowledge the truth. The music and film industries do not exist to promote the things of God, but the whims of the devil. Her contributions did not advance the Kingdom of God, but that of Satan – in film and onstage.
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Like so many other Black music artists, Whitney started out singing for God, and then started singing for the world. I saw this t-shirt quote that said something like, “Work for God – The Pay Isn’t Much, But the Retirement Plan Is out of This World.” It has been said that you can make more money singing for the world than singing Gospel music. Many are allured to this fact, and get caught up prostituting their gift for the kingdom of Satan. Has it ever occurred to anyone that perhaps God meant for former gospel singers to use their gift to sing songs about Jesus and salvation, and not about adultery, fornication and the like? God is a jealous God. Many commentators’ have stated that “Whitney is in heaven because God wanted to hear her sing.” Could not an all-powerful, Omnipresent, omnipotent God have heard her sing from His heavenly throne?”
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And here is another thought, did you notice that many entertainers lives are eventually destroyed? The entertainment industries have led many souls to destruction. Yes, numerous artists were willing participants; however, vanity’s grip becomes a stronghold that is not easily shaken. Our gifts from God are to be used to glorify God – especially if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord:
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995)
“Each of you as a good manager must use the gift that God has given you to serve others.”
“Stewards of the manifold grace – Whatever gifts or endowments any man may possess, they are properly speaking, not his own; they are the Lord’s property, and to be employed in his work, and to promote his glory.” Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible
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“Manifold and various are the graces of the Spirit of God, and the rich experiences communicated to men, which are not only for themselves, but for the good of others also: gifts for public usefulness are different one from another; one man has one gift, and another has another; or the same gift is not alike in all, in some greater, and in others less; and all are but stewards: they are accountable for them, and the use of them, to their great Lord and master:” Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
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Although Whitney Houston is an example in this post, what is said applies to everyone in the household of God. She is not the only gospel singer that chose to sing in nightclubs, or on Satan’s many stages throughout the world. So, I am not picking on Whitney. This is a spiritual teaching opportunity while the world is so focused on her life and her death. By the way, no one on earth can confirm Whitney Houston’s final destination, heaven or hell. So stop wasting your time looking for a definitive response on the internet. That conclusion is between Whitney and our Creator, no one else.
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Covetousness is the foundation of mostly all desires to become a star. Some child stars are forced by their parents to become famous, and others reach for stardom to create wealth to care for their parents – as in the case of Whitney. She told her mother that she “wanted to be a star” so that she could provide for her – so that Cissy Houston would “never have to work again.” This was a big dream that had many traps waiting for this unsuspecting young woman.
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My next comments are not to judge Whitney’s heart and soul concerning her love for the Lord – just speaking the truth. Many have stated that Whitney “loved the Lord.” The only way to confirm this is with the Word of God:
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
John 14:21 “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
John 14:23 “Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
John 15:10 “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”
1 John 2:3 “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.”
1 John 5:3 “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,”
2 John 1:6 “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”
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“14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. Keeping the commandments will be the result if we love him. The Revised Version gives the true idea: If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. Obedience is the fruit of love.”
“{6} If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
“(6) He loves Christ rightly who obeys his commandment: and because obedience to Christ is accompanied with an infinite type and amount of miseries, although he is absent in body, yet he comforts his own with the present power of the Holy Spirit, whom the world despises, because it does not know him.”
“keep my commandments: Christ is Lord over his people, as he is the Creator and Redeemer of them, and as he is an head and husband to them, and as such he has a right to issue out his commands, and enjoin a regard unto them;” Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
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This is what Satan does when he no longer has use for you. Don't hide it - face it!
“Keep my commandments – This is the only proper evidence of love to Jesus, for mere profession is no proof of love; but that love for him which leads us to do all his will, to love each other, to deny ourselves, to take up our cross, and to follow him through evil report and through good report, is true attachment. The evidence which we have that a child loves its parents is when that child is willing, without hesitation, gainsaying, or complaining, to do all that the parent requires him to do. So the disciples of Christ are required to show that they are attached to him supremely by yielding to all his requirements, and by patiently doing his will in the face of ridicule and opposition,” 1 John 5:2-3.
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What happens to Christians who start out in devotion to our Lord, and choose the world instead is this:
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”
“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee – The clause should be read, according to the Greek, thus: But I have against thee that thou hast left thy first love. They did not retain that strong and ardent affection for God and sacred things which they had when first brought to the knowledge of the truth, and justified by faith in Christ.” Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible
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I don’t know if this is Whitney’s house or not, but it does capture drug use accurately.
This happens to many believers who are gifted with song. They become attracted to the financial rewards of singing for the world, and leave behind the ministry of song to the lost, and encouragement to the saved. Satan set it up this way being the “god of this world.” Satan was granted rule over the world by God. He is on a leash, and cannot do any and every thing he so desires, but he does have control over more than we realize. During the temptation of Christ, he tried to tempt our Lord to come over to his side:
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New American Standard Bible (©1995)
“And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.”
International Standard Version (©2008)
He said to Jesus, “I will give you all this authority, along with their glory, because it has been given to me, and I give it to anyone I please.
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“All Satan’s promises are deceitful; and if he is permitted to have any influence in disposing of the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, he uses them as baits to ensnare men to destruction. We should reject at once and with abhorrence, every opportunity of sinful gain or advancement, as a price offered for our souls; we should seek riches, honours, and happiness in the worship and service of God only. Christ will not worship Satan; nor, when he has the kingdoms of the world delivered to him by his Father, will he suffer any remains of the worship of the devil to continue in them.”
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“Satan also tempted Jesus to be his own murderer, by unfitting confidence in his Father’s protection, such as he had no warrant for. Let not any abuse of Scripture by Satan or by men abate our esteem, or cause us to abandon its use; but let us study it still, seek to know it, and seek our defense from it in all kinds of assaults. Let this word dwell richly in us, for it is our life. Our victorious Redeemer conquered, not for himself only, but for us also. The devil ended all the temptation. Christ let him try all his force, and defeated him. Satan saw it was to no purpose to attack Christ, who had nothing in him for his fiery darts to fasten upon.”
Don't close your eyes to what the devil can do. Are Whitney and Bobby bowing to a false God as well? They were involved with a cult.
“It was the aforementioned Prince Asiel who visited Whitney Houston at the Miraval Resort in Arizona a couple of years ago when she was trying to detoxify. The Prince — Warren Brown — presented her with a plan that the Black Hebrews could cure her of her addictions.” Whitney sought help from a known CULT called the Black Hebrew Israelites.
NOTE: This cult information is from archives, however, it is important for Christians to be reminded that Jesus Christ is our Healer not man. She relied on the wrong source to get well. Read more…
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“And if we resist the devil, he will flee from us. Yet he departed but till the season when he was again to be let loose upon Jesus, not as a tempter, to draw him to sin, and so to strike at his head, at which he now aimed and was wholly defeated in; but as a persecutor, to bring Christ to suffer, and so to bruise his heel, which it was told him, he should have to do, and would do, though it would be the breaking of his own head, Ge 3:15. Though Satan depart for a season, we shall never be out of his reach till removed from this present evil world.” Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
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Whitney came from a family of gospel singers, including a godmother – Aretha Franklin – that chose to sing for the world instead of honoring God with their gifts. Dionne Warwick, the late Dee Dee Warwick ( her cousins) – and Cissy Houston started out singing gospel music, and defected. Cissy Houston, Whitney’s mother was instrumental in introducing Whitney to Satan’s playground via the nightclub scene. And remember this; they were Christians singing for God at one time.
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When Christian’s decide that working for the Lord isn’t as lucrative as serving the devil, they cross over – but sadly – may not get a chance to repent and turn back to their “first love.” In the case of Dionne Warwick, she crossed the line even deeper by getting involved with the occult – representing the Psychic Friends Network. She also had in common with Whitney a drug issue, even at the age of “61.” Whitney’s influence to go down the wrong road started at home. Her father was in the entertainment business as well.
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New American Standard Bible (©1995)
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
“A man may do some service to two masters, but he can devote himself to the service of no more than one. God requires the whole heart, and will not share it with the world. When two masters oppose each other, no man can serve both. He who holds to the world and loves it, must despise God; he who loves God, must give up the friendship of the world.” Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
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“two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other-Even if the two masters be of one character and have but one object, the servant must take law from one or the other: though he may do what is agreeable to both, he cannot, in the nature of the thing, be servant to more than one. Much less if, as in the present case, their interests are quite different, and even conflicting. In this case, if our affections be in the service of the one-if we “love the one”-we must of necessity “hate the other”; if we determine resolutely to “hold to the one,” we must at the same time disregard, and (if he insist on his claims upon us) even “despise the other.”
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
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2 Peter 2:20 “If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.”
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“{9} For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.”
“(9) It is better to have never known the way of righteousness, than to turn back from it to the old filthiness: and men that do so, are compared to dogs and swine.”
“… persons may be outwardly righteous before men, have a form of godliness and a name to live, and yet be dead in trespasses and sins; all which they may have…”
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“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world – This does not necessarily mean that they had been true Christians, and had fallen from grace. People may outwardly reform, and escape from the open corruptions which prevail around them, or which they had themselves practiced, and still have no true grace at heart.”
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“Through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ – Neither does This imply that they were true Christians, or that they had ever had any saving knowledge of the Redeemer. There is a knowledge of the doctrines and duties of religion which may lead sinners to abandon their outward vices, which has no connection with saving grace. They may profess religion, and may know enough of religion to understand that it requires them to abandon their vicious habits, and still never be true Christians.”
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“They are again entangled therein and overcome – The word rendered “entangled,” (ἐμπλέκω emplekō,) from which is derived our word “implicate,” means to braid in, to interweave; then to involve in, to entangle. It means here that they become implicated in those vices like an animal that is entangled in a net.”
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“The latter end is worse with them than the beginning – This is usually the case. Apostates become worse than they were before their professed conversion. “Reformed” drunkards, if they go back to their “cups” again, become more abandoned than ever. Thus, it is with those who have been addicted to any habits of vice, and who profess to become religious, and then fall away. The “reasons” for this may be:
(1) that they are willing now to show to others that they are no longer under the restraints by which they had professedly bound themselves;
(2) that God gives them up to indulgence with fewer restraints than formerly; and,
(3) their old companions in sin may be at special pains to court their society, and to lead them into temptation, in order to obtain a triumph over virtue and religion.” Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
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“2:20 For if after they – Who are thus ensnared. Have escaped the pollutions of the world – The sins which pollute all who know not God. Through the knowledge of Christ – That is, through faith in him, 2Peter 1:3. They are again entangled therein, and overcome, their last state is worse than the first – More inexcusable, and causing a greater damnation.”
“2:20 The latter end is worse with them than the beginning. If one who has been converted is enticed back again into his sins, his state is worse than before. That this is possible is taught in many places.”
… “such persons are more extravagant in sinning; are like raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; and are seldom, or ever, recovered; and by their light, knowledge, and profession, their punishment will be more aggravated, and become intolerable.” Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
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New International Version (©1984)
“If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.”
Deuteronomy 4:24 “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
“For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another.”
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Romans 6:16 “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey–whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”
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There are many more lessons to be learned from this tragedy. Please allow what has been said thus far be a lesson within itself. And for those who are dogging Whitney’s daughter Bobbi Kristina – please stop. Unless you have walked a mile in her shoes, grew up with domestic violence, alcohol and drug addiction, you have no clue what this child was exposed to, and is suffering today. I have been there, and the effects last a life time. Instead of shooting her down – “She is going to be a druggie just like her mom,” pray for her. Help some other teen struggling with drug addiction, and worldly allurements.
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Most of all, please read the Word for yourself. True Christians understand that this world is not our true home, and we are just passing through. There are many snares and dangers we will encounter as we navigate our earthly pathway, but it is Jesus who overcame the world so that we would gain the victory in the end. If we reject the blood of Christ, we have no hope.
In this world, what is evil is called “good.” And what is good is called “evil.”
New International Version (©1984)
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” Pray for discernment so that you will know the difference.
At the end of the day, we must ask ourselves – “How many souls did Whitney Houston win for Christ?” Michael Jackson? Amy Winehouse? Elvis Presley? The world idolizes these souls incorrectly, and give honor to lives that were not living for God. Why? Because they could sing? Act? What contributions have they made to the Kingdom of Christ? Only these things will be honored by God and everlasting.
And one more thing, Black folks and the Black church – please stop believing that we will get a free pass from God because we sing so well. Stop being deceived. Not everyone that says, “Lord, Lord” is going to heaven. God is Holy, and He will not allow anything that has to do with the flesh in His Holy presence. Read the Bible!
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.”
Peace
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SATAN STOLE EVERYTHING FROM WHITNEY – BUT SHE WAS A WILLING PARTICIPANT
“Another fan said: ‘I’d been looking forward to it for months but when Whitney came on stage she was a shadow of her former self and just couldn’t hit the notes. It’s clear the drug abuse has taken its toll and I don’t think she’ll ever be the same again.”
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Where was the love when Whitney needed it the most?
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”
http://nasb.scripturetext.com/1_corinthians/6.htm
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“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
http://nasb.scripturetext.com/galatians/5.htm
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New Living Translation (©2007)
“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”
May God be merciful.
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CAN YOU LIVE ANY WAY YOU WANT TO?
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WHY PRAY FOR THE DEAD?
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Where Are All the Gospel Singers?
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You Can’t Serve God And Mammon
“I know that it’s hard to get by on the Gospel circuit, but part of ministry is sacrifice. If you want to make money, don’t get into gospel music. For those of you in gospel music, don’t be fooled by the “success” of secular artists and writers, for their success is temporary. I don’t think that God wants us to be beggars, but it’s important to remember exactly what the gospel is for – not to make a quick buck, but to reach a lost and dying world.”
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Slippery Slope: Fred Hammond goes secular with his upcoming “Love” album
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Are You Living For God or The Gospel Music Industry?
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Whitney’s devastated chauffeur tells of superstar’s wild life and spiral into drug addiction
“He watched helplessly as Whitney and husband Bobby Brown became wasted in the back almost daily, set fire to his car and enjoyed a wild threesome with an A-list soul singer.”
“Al also recalls driving Whitney into rundown ghettos in Los Angeles to meet shady drug dealers so the star could score more drugs.”
“But most shockingly, the star’s drug abuse became so severe that she openly smoked crack in front of her young daughter Bobbi Kristina.”
“Whitney would just say, ‘Baby, Mommy and Daddy are doing adult things’, it wasn’t anything major to her.”
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John Burri, Father of Fallen Soldier, Burns NJ Flag to Protest Whitney Houston Tribute
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Report: Prescription drug, alcohol combo killed Whitney Houston
“Whitney had taken Valium, Xanax, and alcohol, which led to her death. The coroner is waiting on final toxicology results to determine which one of the three was the major contributing factor of her demise,” an insider told the celebrity news Web site.”
Whitney Houston and the Silent Shame of Addiction
“Remember: Jesus has a message for anyone struggling with drugs: “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28, NASB).”
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Did The Whighams Funeral Home Sell Photo’s Of Whitney Houston In Casket?
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Tina Brown about Whitney Houston: “We did crack together”
Celine Dion ‘Scared of Show Business’ After Whitney Houston’s Death
“It’s just really unfortunate that drugs, bad people, bad influences took over her dreams, her motherhood,” Celine said of Whitney. “When you think about Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson . . . To get into drugs like that for whatever reason–because of stress, bad influence, whatever.”
“What happens when you have everything? Love, support, motherhood…Something happens that I don’t understand. That’s why I’m scared of show business, of drugs and hanging out. That’s why I don’t go to parties!” she added.”
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Why do we always blame ‘toxic’ men for the downfall of female stars?
“To her credit, that wasn’t the legacy Whitney wanted. She had endlessly protested that Bobby Brown was not responsible for her choices.”
“We were partners,’ she said. ‘The biggest devil is me. I’m either my best friend or my worst enemy.”
“It was an admirable insight. So it’s even more of a pity that no sooner did she die than the rent-a-quote mob insisted upon casting her, like all the rest, as a ‘victim’. Because what I think Whitney knew, and what I think she was trying to say — albeit through self-induced brain damage — is that we have no equality worth the name until we recognise a woman’s equal right to be held to account for her own choices. And for her own mistakes.”
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