Category Archives: God & Technology

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Pastor Dr. Tony Evans and Pray.com Partner on ‘Heroes in the Bible’ Podcast

Debuting before Easter, Hit Podcast Series Focuses on the Miraculous Life of Jesus, Inviting Listeners into Scripture...

Hello World,

PRAY.COM, the No. 1 app for prayer and faith-based audio and video streaming content, announces – just in time for Easter –  the exciting second season of its innovative and action-packed “Heroes in the Bible” series with Pastor Dr. Tony Evans, with this new season focusing on the miraculous life of Jesus.

Beginning with the foretelling of the Messiah’s arrival and the birth of John the Baptist, the second season of this series casts a light on the life of Christ—from His humble birth to His sacrificial act of redemption. This series uncovers the extraordinary within the miraculous, narrating His life’s events with cinematic flair, inspiring listeners through the transformative power of the Bible by exploring the Jesus of the Gospels, whose teachings and actions have shaped the course of history.

“We are humbled and honored once again to have Dr. Evans lend his remarkable voice and presence for this epic series, which ranked No. 1 on Apple podcast charts with 3.7 million downloads,” said PRAY.COM founder and CEO Steve Gatena. “We couldn’t be more excited about releasing these new episodes, and we know that millions will be blessed by this podcast about the most important Bible hero of all time.”

Dr. Evans powerfully shares these incredible experiences in his characteristic teaching style, captivating listeners with the transformative power of the Bible. Each episode reinvigorates these biblical narratives, masterfully enacted by a diverse cast of voiceover talent. The soundscapes, richly detailed and meticulously crafted, are complemented by custom musical scores, offering an enveloping auditory experience.

“When we reflect upon the goodness of Christ, we are granted a deepened reverence, gratitude and hope,” said series host Dr. Evans. “In that blessing, we receive peace and excitement to share that same message with others. This is the most valuable gift we could ever give—the hope that can only be found in Jesus.”

PRAY.COM co-founder Matthew Potter adds “The story of Jesus is what the Bible is all about, and we greatly appreciate how Dr. Evans helps us all understand how Jesus is the hero in every one of our stories.”

Recognized as one of the country’s most respected leaders in evangelical circles, Dr. Evans is a pastor, teacher, author and speaker, serving the body of Christ through his unique ability to communicate complex theological truths using simple, yet profound, illustrations. New and veteran pastors alike regard him as a pastor of pastors and a father in the faith. Learn more about Dr. Tony Evans at https://tonyevans.org/.

“We are so excited to bring the story of Jesus to life for our members, in our signature cinematic story-telling style,” said PRAY.COM VP of Content Max Bard. “Of all the biblical figures, Christ is the most important, and only someone with the voice and the depth of Dr. Tony Evans could do it justice.”

In addition to “Heroes in the Bible,” PRAY.COM hosts podcasts from leading Christian pastors and speakers, meditative and reflective prayers and Bible-based resources to aid listeners wherever they may be in their spiritual growth journeys. Find “Heroes in the Bible” and other prayer and faith-based audio content at www.pray.com/podcasts, iHeart Radio or Apple.

About PRAY.COM  

Founded in 2016 with a mission to grow faith and cultivate community, PRAY.COM is the world’s No. 1 app for daily prayer and Bible-based audio content.Reaching more than 16 million people worldwide through its mobile app and website, PRAY.COM is the easiest way to incorporate prayer into your daily life. PRAY.COM provides encouragement and inspiration through daily devotionals, Pastor podcasts, and Bedtime Bible Stories. PRAY,COM founders are Steve Gatena, Michael Lynn, Ryan Beck and Matthew Potter.  See more at www.alarryross.com/pray-com.

About Tony Evans

Dr. Tony Evans has served as the senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship for over 40 years, witnessing its growth from ten people in 1976 to now over 10,000 congregants with over 100 ministries. Dr. Evans also serves as president of The Urban Alternative, a national ministry that seeks to restore hope and transform lives through the proclamation and the application of the Word of God. His daily radio broadcast, The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans, can also be heard as a podcast and on the Tony Evans App. 

Any thoughts?

 

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‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Star Angela Bassett Admits She Was ‘Gobsmacked’ After Losing Oscar Last Year Ahead of 2024 Oscars TONIGHT!

Hello World,

As a Christian, we are promised that all things (good and bad) work out for our good in the end, but I’m still salty that actress extraordinaire Angela Bassett didn’t win the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award last year for her role as the queen in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”  However, I do feel somewhat pacified that the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences opted to give an Honorary Academy Award to Angela in January. She’s more than worthy as Angela’s career has established her as one of the most esteemed actors of our time.  Her breakthrough role as Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do with It” earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.  Her film credits include “Boyz N the Hood,” “Malcolm X,” “Waiting to Exhale,” “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” “Music of the Heart,” “Sunshine State,” “Black Panther,” “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Soul” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” in which her supporting performance earned her a second Oscar nomination.  Her television credits include “The Jacksons: An American Dream,” “The Rosa Parks Story,” “American Horror Story” and “9-1-1.” The Honorary Award, an Oscar statuette, is given “to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy.”

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network recently premiered an all-new OWN Spotlight one-hour special featuring Oprah Winfrey in conversation with 2024 Honorary Academy Award Recipient, Angela Bassett, for a retrospective look at her incomparable career spanning four decades. In this OWN Spotlight, Oprah met with the legendary actress at The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures to discuss her recent, well-deserved honorary Academy Award  and how losing the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award last year felt as well.

On how she felt in the moment: It was, of course, a supreme disappointment. A supreme disappointment is human. So I thought, yes, I was disappointed. And I was. And I handled it like a human being.

On her viral facial face expression: I know a pastor who says technology’s different, people are the same.

On being gracious in the midst of a visible loss: For myself and for my children who were there with me.

Below is the entire clip in which Angela recounts what it was like last year when her name wasn’t announced as the winner…

Oprah and Angela also looked back on her illustrious career, from how she knew acting was her destiny to her blockbuster roles in both TV and film. Oprah reflected on the many highlights from her viral, uplifting acceptance speech and the impact of her legacy on future generations. They discussed the iconic women she’s portrayed through the years and what those characters have given to her. A devoted mother and wife, Angela shared moments from her journey of parenting with her husband, actor Courtney B. Vance and the dreams she has for her children.

Below is a clip of the full episode…

In looking for the good in this situation, what Oprah said to Angela following Angela revealing how she felt in the moment of “supreme disappointment” is something good… “And you know what’s interesting, that actually teaches your children more than anything you can ever say about what you’re supposed to do is how you behaved in that moment.” As Angela’s twins Bronwyn and Slater are headed to college next fall (I remember when it was announced that they were born), they will experience moments of triumph and disappointment, and it’s important to know how to respond to both.

Additionally, Angela and her family were recently featured on the cover of PEOPLE magazine in the article “How I Fought For My Dreams” and that feature may have not happened had it not been for her Oscar loss the year prior. We journalists live by the mantra “if it bleeds, it leads” so there’s that…

It was also a full circle moment as Angela, her husband Courtney Vance and their newborn twins were featured in the magazine back in 2006.

As a twin mom just two years into the journey, this full-circle moment gives me all of the feels…

I hope to be able to watch the Oscars later today (with toddlers,  TV time is not always guaranteed), but the top winner already took home the trophy in more ways than one…

Any thoughts?

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Former Antioch Church First Lady Myesha Chaney Reveals ‘The Untold Story’ Behind Her Divorce from ‘Preachers of LA’ Pastor Wayne Chaney on YouTube…

Hello World,

I would guess in an effort to have a new beginning, Myesha Chaney, who was blindsided by her former husband Preachers of LA Pastor Wayne Chaney of Antioch Church when he announced their divorce on social media a year ago, revealed “The Untold Story of My Divorce” on YouTube earlier today at 8 a.m. PST. Eight is the biblical number for a new beginning…

I watched the video which was roughly 20 minutes, but I still don’t get why they divorced after 18 years of marriage. She mentioned that sadly one of their children attempted to commit suicide and that her father had a health emergency. I do understand that life-altering events such as the ones she mentioned are capable of breaking up a marriage, but I didn’t get the sense that these events directly led to the demise of their relationship. She also mentioned that due to counseling, she started to change, but she never mentioned any specific change that led to a rift worthy of divorce. In fact, I get the sense that she is not quite sure what truly caused their marriage to unravel, but she is trying to move forward nevertheless.

But I will say this: Based on the first few minutes of the video, it doesn’t seem that their marriage had a firm foundation from the beginning. Some people think this is antiquated advice, but older women will advise that a woman should marry a man who loves her a little more than she loves him. She fell in love within days of meeting her former husband while her former husband had to be convinced by God that she was “The One” and even broke up with her for several months before he eventually resumed their relationship and proposed. When I think of when I met my husband or when my friends met their husbands, the common thread was that these dudes came hard with it. Typically, when men want a particular woman, they don’t have to be convinced. They chase you down and as it turns out, men love to chase (for the most part)…I think it appeals to their masculinity to think they chased and caught you and now they have scored the ultimate prize in convincing you to be their wives….when that doesn’t happen, I think men feel cheated…I know this sounds like real caveman behavior but it is what it is…Older women believe that marriage will certainly be hard at times, but if you marry a man who had to catch you, he is more willing to go through the rough times because he remembers how hard he had to work to even catch your attention…

Watch the video for yourself and let me know what you think…

I apologize if my ideas are disjointed. It bees like that when you have twin toddlers so…

Anywho…

Any thoughts?

P.S.  I do feel odd dissecting their divorce, but since she put it out there…Lastly, I wish them the best in their respective journeys to their new beginnings…Even if they did choose to divorce, it can’t be easy to separate after you have lived with a mate for 18 years…