By:  Lynn Green

PRESS HERE for site information

This book is coming out in June, 2009 and I plan to read it from cover to cover.  Would anyone like to join me so that we can have a positive discussion/book club talk about this?

I’m all for rebuilding the black community and for black folks improving our economic situation.  We have never read a book together as a group for discussion and now is the time.

Check out the website information and let me know if you will order the book, read it and discuss it here on the blog.

I will come right out of the gate and say that I loved this book. In fact, I give it FIVE out of FIVE stars. 

Some hyper-sensitive black people such as Michael Eric Dyson and Earl Ofari Hutchinson   turned on Bill Cosby   years ago after Bill dared to look truth in its eyes and to confront and expose the truth of what is happening in the black community.

IF I COULD HAVE CONVINCED MORE SLAVES THAT THEY WERE SLAVES, I COULD HAVE FREED THOUSANDS MORE - Harriet Tubman

That is my favorite quote of all time, spoken by the late, great Harriet Tubman. Not much has changed, however. There still are blacks who need to be convinced that there is a problem. There are too many black folks walking around high as a kite and buck dancing to the beat as our race falls apart at the seams. It reminds me of the old saying, “If I ignore it, it will go away”. Sorry, the problems in the black community are getter worse as opposed to better. And that’s where Bill Cosby and his book comes into play. For a moment, put aside how you feel about him personally (for those of you who believe and judge him regarding the news reports about his personal life).

Every time Bill Cosby tells the obvious truth—that black men need to “man up” and act like mature men and that black women need to stop laying up having babies for every Tom, Dick and Harry who passes by, whiners show up to moan and complain.

Funny how some of us can be so “sensitive” to the truth of the problems in our community but have ZERO sensitivity to black roving males blowing each others’ brains out in the mean streets of Chicago, New York, New Jersy, Philadelphia and Baltimore.

I read Cosby’s latest book, written by him and Dr. Alvin Poussaint. It is titled, Come on People: On the Path From Victims to Victors. Somebody needs to have the balls to tell the truth because the truth indeed sets us free. This book is all about the truth!

In a nutshell, here are some of the truths that Bill and Alvin share:

1. In the 1950’s five out of every six black children were born into a two parent family. That’s over 80%, folks! And it proves that there was a time in recent history where the black family was intact and thriving.

2. Presently, less than two out of six black children are born into two parent families. That is a tragedy, folks!

3. Ninety four percent of all blacks who are murdered are murdered by other blacks. Again, that is a tragedy!

4. Black males make up 44% of the prison population, though they are only 12% of the general population. Sorry folks, but there is no way to dance a jig around that one.

5. Following slavery, during the Reconstruction period of the South, there were black men starting their own businesses, buying property, voting and serving in Congress.

6. Prior to welfare, blacks were self sufficient and thriving.

7. After welfare, the black community started falling apart.

8. We need to help black children to view themselves as important and worthy

9. We need to save our schools and make education a priority in the black community—cut off the t.v.!

10. We need to return to the community church

11. We need to reinforce “code switching”. What this means is that if children want to speak slang with their friends, fine. However, they need to learn standard English so that they can compete out there in the board rooms of society!

12. Stay away from gangsta rap, as it poisons the mind

13. Respect our elders

14. Guard our health…stay away from so much fast food, as it leads to disease

15. Get guns out of our homes

16. Offer support to those who have taken up drugs and become abusers

17. Show love for our children so they will be less likely to go out there searching for love in gangs, etc.

18. Re-direct our children and teenagers to the most important thing of all, EDUCATION.

19. Stay out of debt, which acts to enslave

20. Support black businesses

This book is about TRUTH but it also is about LOVE. We need to ban together to love ourselves enough to stop allowing filthy music into our homes where “rappers” tell black teens that they are niggers and that women are bitches and hos. WE need to work on that. We need to love ourselves enough to educate ourselves and support those who have gone astray.

I strongly support and recommend that you purchase, read, and internalize the wisdom and knowledge that this book offers!

Thanks, Bill and Alvin!

Link to Bill Cosby’s site HERE

For those of you who care, I was sent a review copy of Bill Cosby’s new book, Come on People. It was written by both Bill Cosby and Alvin Poussaint     

I am a HUGE Bill Cosby fan. I have loved him and what he stands for since I was a child. When I say I embrace his views and what he stands for, I am referring solely to his social views and the fact that he desires that blacks strive for excellence on all levels.  Looking forward to reading this book and reviewing it.

Give me a week or two. It’s a 248 page book. I’ll be back with the review.

Lynn

I wonder what the admitted convicted criminal, Reuben Armstrong is going to say now that Pastor Craige Lewis has confirmed that HE alone wrote the article (Jezebel’s Finest Hour) that appeared in Armstrong’s Snakes in the Pulpit book without any reference to the fact that Pastor Craige Lewis wrote it?

Pastor Lewis’ newest blog entry says:

When God gave me the Jezebel’s Finest Hour blog to write, I knew it was gonna make some folks upset. I knew leaving it up for almost 2 months was gonna really tick some church folks off. I wanted to take it down the day after I wrote it, but God would not allow me to edit it or remove it. It was a message from God, speaking to our times and showing us that there are many wolves disguised as sheep that are manipulating people for their own sorted gain. I know it was heavy but what’s even heavier is the people that are hurt by these hollywood chasing, money stealing, false prophets that have crept in unaware. And yet the more they deceive, the less they are called out and recognized by the black church. It’s like, the world has declared their words null and void, and labeled them motivational speakers that are on the level of a Dr. Phil or Les Brown, but most church folks consider them to be genuine articles that represent Christ even though, in the face of the world, they never mention Christ. source

So here is the million dollar question. Since Pastor Craige Lewis’ article appeared on the internet, in his blog first and since it was written in his writing style. And since he is confirming that HE wrote the article, can anyone explain how it is that Reuben Armstrong has posted that exact article in his boring, poorly written book, with no acknowledgement of the fact that Pastor Craige Lewis wrote that article? In fact, the only thing in that entire book worth reading was the Jezebel article which we now know was written by Pastor Lewis!

Lord, help us! Folks, trust me. Reuben Armstrong’s book is poorly written, boring and not worth a plumb nickel. Save your money.

I first broke the story HERE and HERE 

As I’ve stated in the past, Reuben Armstrong has an open invitation to come to this blog and respond to the question, which is:

How did an article written by Pastor Craige Lewis end up in Reuben Armstrong’s book without any reference to the fact that Pastor Lewis wrote the article?

Looks like the purchasing audience has been snake bit!

Snakes in the Pulpit by Reuben Armstrong

First of all, this book is not worth the $22 cover charge. That’s #1. If you are going to pay that type of money for a book, it had better be on par with a classic such as Gone With the Wind or To Kill a Mockingbird. Otherwise, it had better have some dynamite information in it that cannot be found elsewhere.  This “Snakes” book has none of those assets.I read 90% of this book while sitting in the beauty salon getting my hair done.  I read the rest at home. But realistically, if you can read a book that quickly, it shouldn’t cost you $22.

Okay, where do I begin? I know. I’ll take it chapter by chapter.

About himself: Armstrong lists his criminal record.  It includes possession of cocaine, bank fraud, issuing worthless checks, theft, contempt of court, failure to pay child support, and forgery. Letter from author:  In his letter, Armstrong talked about his former pastor who had told him that he was called to preach. Armstrong preached for awhile but left the pulpit for good once he realized that was not his true calling.  That same pastor told him that he was interested in getting the church to purchase him some worldly goods such as cars, houses, etc.Chapter 1 - Armstrong talks about the huge churches being built, the crooked people in those churches and his belief that greedy pastors of such churches are hell bound.  He then started a story about a couple who were his friends. The couple had been having marital problems. He talked about how the pastor of a church invited the woman to his church and it appeared that there was a build up to the pastor and the woman having an affair.  But…the story was abruptly dropped. One never learns the end result because Armstrong did not really finish the story. Strange.

Somebody has been Snake-bit!

On August 27, 2007 an article titled, Jezebel’s Finest Hour  appeared on Pastor G. Craige’ Lewis’ blog. Outstanding article which was linked to all over the internet.

To my shock, while reading the book, Snakes in the Pulpit, I saw huge chunks of that article printed without reference to the fact that Pastor G. Craige Lewis had written it. Like everyone else, I reasonably concluded that Pastor Craige wrote it since his name is all over it and he never referenced anyone else as author.

 I asked our member, Bria about it since she is in contact with Mr. Armstrong.  Reuben Armstrong is standing by his story that he in fact wrote those words.

Okay, so somebody is not being honest. Two men publishing an identical article with only their own names attached to the article and no reference to anyone else having written the article?

I will tell you what is NOT in dispute. Somebody plagiarized somebody. Either it was Pastor Craige or it was Reuben Armstrong but I will say this…Pastor Craige’s article appeared FIRST.

YOU be the judge: I’ll print the second paragraph of Pastor Craige’s article and the second paragraph of the chapter 7 of Reuben Armstrong’s book. Then I will print the first line of both of their paragraphs #3.  Keep in mind, however, that the ENTIRE article is copied verbatim. Shocking.

By Pastor Craige

What am I talking about? I’m talking about false prophetess Bynum and her circus of a ministry that has so many silly women fooled it is ridiculous. This women has spread her witchcraft all over the body of Christ and has used her Jezebel anointing to conjure up a demonic influence that has put her on every major platform that our so called church has. She has bewildered the effeminate Bishops and manipulated the minds of silly women to put herself up and basically do whatever she wants without being challenged by any of the so called “leaders” of the body of Christ. But I got news for you. Those that lead her don’t lead me! Those that are bewildered and under her Jezebel spell don’t speak for me. I believe in the bible and I believe in Jesus. I don’t submit to Jezebel and I will never allow her witchcraft to put me under. But so many have it makes me sad. Let’s look at how this all started and where it is now and you will get a good understanding of why it is now.

Second Paragraph of chapter 7, page 122, Reuben Armstrong’s book:

What am I talking about? I’m talking about false Prophetess Juanita Bynum and her circus which have so many believers fooled that it is ridiculous. Bynum has used her Jezebel anointing to conjure up demonic influence that put her on every major platform of our socalled churches. She has bewildered the effeminate Bishops and manipulated the minds of sillywomen and men in order to elevate herself to a level which will not be challenged by any of the so called “leaders” of the body of Christ. But I, Reuben Armstrong, have got news for you. Those that lead her don’t lead me! Those that are bewildered and under her Jezebel spell don’t speak for me. I believe in the Bible and I believe in Jesus. I don’t submit to Jezebel and I will never allow her witchcraft to put me under. But there are so many who have made Bynum their God.

First line of third paragraph in Pastor Craige’s article:

First, this women confesses her sins before everyone and goes in depth to describe her sexual appetite and her carnal cravings in her message No More Sheets.

First line of third paragraph of Armstrong’s chapter:

First, this woman confesses her sins before everyone and goes in depth to describe her sexual appetite and her carnal craving in ther message, “No More Sheets.”

And it goes on and on and on…verbatim. YOU be the judge!

10/3/07 – UPDATE HERE

Mark your calendars!

UPDATE 9/23/07:  Cancelled! Check HERE for details

On Friday, October 12th @ 7:00 p.m (eastern standard time) Reuben Armstrong will be a guest on the program, HickTown Radio. He will discuss his book, Snakes in the Pulpit.

This book is an interesting, quick read. I should finish it this weekend. However, I understand that several of you are just ordering it so we won’t start discussing it just yet.

If you have any questions for Mr. Armstrong, email them to me at: HickTownPress (at)gmail.com and I will be certain to read the questions to him on air.

Bria and I will take turns asking him questions since she was gracious enough to land this interview for us. THANKS BRIA! You go girl!!!!!

Bria, if I’m ever made rich and famous, you’re my sidekick. LOL!

When we are closer to the interview date, I’ll remind everyone to tune in!

ALSO…mark your calendars AGAIN for Saturday, October 13th @ 12:00 noon. My special guest will be Michael Jackson, an author and public speaker. He will speak from the perspective of one who was once incarcerated, yet, is presently living a successful life.

Michael Jackson proves that it IS possible to overcome a shady past and move forward. Don’t miss this important interview and if you know anyone who was or is presently in the prison system who is feeling hopeless, please have them listen to this interview!

10/3/07 – UPDATE #2 HERE

 UPDATE!  10/3/07 – READ HERE

Everyone,

I just received my copy of Snakes in the Pulpit   today. It’s written by Reuben Armstrong.

So far Bria and Shay have said that they will read it and discuss it with me.

If others would like to read this book, let me know!

Lynn

 UPDATE!  Read HERE

My husband just emailed me a link regarding a new book that’s coming out called Snakes in the Pulpit by Reuben Armstrong. It looks interesting!

Question: Would any of you be interested in joining me in reading this book and discussing it?

If so, respond to this blog post.

Next, I have a question for Chelle. Chelle, is this a book you’d be interested in hosting in your book club? If not, I’ll host it. But I want to offer you the opportunity first since you already have a book club set up.

Everyone, Chelle’s community is located about five miles east of HickTown. We visit each other daily!  Below is a roadmap, including directions to how to get to her small town:

Directions to Chelle’s town

Let me know if you’d want to host it, Chelle.  Otherwise, I’ll do it. Either way is fine with me!

Lynn