Chynna Phillips Tells Mackenzie to ‘Get the Lord on Board’
On Wednesday’s episode of The Oprah Show, Mackenzie Phillips, daughter of The Mamas & The Papas front man John Phillips, unveiled a secret she’s kept hidden from the public for decades: she was involved in a consensual sexual relationship with her father for over 10 years. The actress, who made her film debut in “American Graffiti” at the age of 12, details this relationship and her battle to overcome drug addiction in her new book High on Arrival.
Steeped in the aftermath of Wednesday’s show, Mackenzie reappeared on the The Oprah Show via satellite from New York to discuss the public fallout from her allegations. Following the show, Mackenzie claims hundreds of friends have come forward on Facebook sharing their own stories of incest and applauding her for speaking her truth. Not everyone is happy, however, about the release of this private information. Michelle Phillips, stepmother to Mackenzie who is the last living original member of The Mamas & The Papas, adamantly denied the allegations to reporters and called Mackenzie mentally ill.
On Friday, Oprah sat down with Mackenzie’s sister Chynna Phillips, to see how she feels about the news and how her perspective is being shaped by her faith in God. Before a live studio audience, Chynna told Oprah,
Who among us has not done something that we are highly ashamed of in our lives? All of us have. So who’s going to cast the first stone? [...] In my faith, as a Christian, God has told me that I need to forgive,” she says. “I need to forgive and not return an eye for an eye. Am I happy that Mackenzie has put me in this position that now here I am having to discuss all these things? No, I’m not. But at the same time, I have to forgive. It’s a lifelong process. I’m not going to digest this information [overnight]. It’s 13 years later, and I still haven’t.
I think Mackenzie’s on a healing path as well. I wouldn’t say that we’re polar opposites. I mean, we have two different stories. But Mackenzie’s on a very healing path and I’m hoping she’ll take everything out of this book and really go out there and try help to people who have similar experiences. I’m a Christian. I am singing for Jesus now. I’m truckin’ for Jesus. And you know, if I had one piece of advice for my sister it would be, get the Lord on board, ’cause you’re gonna need it.
Later in the show, Oprah asked Mackenzie what she thought of Chynna’s advice to get God on her side. She responded saying, “Well, first of all, God is on all of our sides’–even dad’s. ‘Forgiveness is mine,’ saith the Lord. Isn’t that it?”
Chynna is currently a singer-songwriter serving as one half of the Christian music group Chynna & Vaughan. The duo just released the album One Reason on Tuesday. For more information, please visit the official site for Chynna & Vaughan.
One Reason by Chynna & Vaughan, in stores now
Bad Boy CFO Keeps the Faith
This Thursday, September 24th, Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City is hosting a special evening with Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group CFO, Derek Ferguson. The Harvard Business School (HBS) graduate who holds down the bottom line for Diddy’s empire will be sharing what challenges he faces as he lives out his faith in the midst of the music industry.
In a past interview with the HBS alumni magazine Bulletin, Ferguson explained why he feels peace about working in the industry, despite the negativity he encounters:
“I don’t think we’re called to run away from controversial environments. We’re called to run to them and try to create change,” he says. Acting on that credo, Ferguson also leads a weekly Bible study for employees of Bad Boy. “I was never the type to wear my faith on my sleeve. It seemed inappropriate,” he recalls. “I had to overcome that barrier because I felt so called to take action.”
Tickets are available now at Redeemer.com for $20.
NBC’s ‘Community’ Talks Moral Relativism
On Thursday night, NBC premiered its hilariously smart new sitcom Community, starring Joel McHale (E! Network’s Talk Soup) as Jeff Wingate, a lying lawyer whose license has been revoked. The show centers on the drama ensuing when Jeff heads back to school and in an effort to win a girl, poses as the board certified Spanish tutor for a study group of misfits at the fictitious Greendale Community College.
In this week’s pilot episode, there was a quick-witted dialogue between Jeff and British professor Duncan (played by John Oliver) about moral relativism.
Duncan: I’m asking you if you know the difference between right and wrong.
Jeff: I discovered at a very early age, that if I talk long enough, I can make anything right or wrong. So either I’m God, or truth is relative. and in either case, booyah.
Duncan: Oh interesting; it’s just the average person has a much harder time saying ‘booyah’ to moral relativism.
I look forward to seeing what this show has to offer in the coming weeks. Obviously, the spiritual content will likely be minimal, but the intelligent humor is sure to be a hit.
Obama-Wan-Kinobi: In a White House Far, Far Away
If this doesn’t make you feel spiritual, I don’t know what will.
And I love Michelle. She’s just like, “Yeah, that’s my husband. He’s the President of the United States. Totally normal behavior…”
Whitney Houston’s ‘Come-Through’
Whitney Houston appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show this week, giving her first tell-all interview in seven years. Over the course of two episodes, the singer, whom Oprah describes simply as “the voice,” explained how she let God’s gift slip away and how she got it back.
“I had done it all [...] I wasn’t remembering the gift that God had given me. I had the money. I had the cars. I had the house. I had the husband. I had the kid. And none of it was really that fulfilling. There was time [when] I was happy, but I needed my joy back–that peace that passeth all understanding. I needed that moment when I was three years old–that church thing; that thing that my mother gave me that I was born into. And I had thought it had gone…”
When Oprah asked Houston who she loved, the singer responded, saying
“The LORD. I do. I am so humbled and so thankful for His grace and His goodness. And for never giving up on me.”
Buy ‘Without End’ Now on iTunes!
My church here in New York City has just released its first album called Without End. It’s available now on iTunes. Please join us in purchasing the album now and listening through it tonight as we all praise God’s name without end!
Trinity Grace Church is a progressive Christian Church in New York City committed to joining God in the renewal of all things. To learn more about our church’s values and vision, please visit our website.
‘I Can Do Bad’ Is Just Fine With Pastor Marvin Winans
The results are in, and Tyler Perry has done it again. This past weekend I Can Do Bad All By Myself, the latest release from the Atlanta filmmaker, topped the box office, bringing in over $24 million. This is the second-highest grossing opening week for Perry, following his last hit film, Madea Goes to Jail.
Starring Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson, the film centers on Henson as April — a boozy nightclub singer forced to reevaluate her dead-end lifestyle when her delinquent niece and nephews show up at her doorstep. Henson’s stellar performance is accented by appearances from Adam Rodriguez, Gladys Knight, Mary J. Blige, and noteworthy newcomer Hope Olaide Wilson.
Also making his major motion picture debut is Pastor Marvin Winans, who captured Tyler Perry’s attention after the filmmaker listened to “Just Don’t Wanna Know” from Winans’ latest album, Alone But Not Alone. The pastor of the Perfecting Church in Detroit appears in the film as April’s minister to deliver a stirring musical performance and gospel message. (You can view a brief clip of Pastor Winans’s message here).
On the day of the film’s release, we spoke with Pastor Winans about his experience on the set of I Can Do Bad All By Myself, and why he’s not apologizing if the movie feels too preachy
A Prayer for Fashion Week
I can already hear the click-clacking of heels running through the tents at Bryant Park. It’s official — Fashion Week has arrived! September 10th marks the start of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City. In the spirit of my namesake, the original Coco Chanel, it seems appropriate to offer a prayer for the coming week’s events. Join me, if you feel so inclined.
Dear Father,
We know you are truly a God of fashion. The Bible tells us you are the original designer. In Genesis 3, after the fall of man, out of your grace, you fashioned garments of skin for Adam and Eve to cover their nakedness. And as we move into Fashion Week here in New York City, we recall that act of grace and once again invite you to pour mercy upon your people.
Lord, please bless those in the fashion industry with unparalleled creativity this week. Let them be inspired by the artistic creations seen and unseen. Bless the designers who are lucky enough to show in Bryant Park as they present their vision before critics and peers. Bless the models who will act as canvases upon which a year’s worth of work and a lifetime of creativity will be displayed. Bless those behind the scenes as well: the buyers, dressers/stylists, seamstresses, pattern makers, makeup artists, hairdressers, interns, etcetera who labor anonymously. Please don’t forget the photographers and filmmakers who will capture the looks to share with the masses.
We thank you in advance for the gifts you have given already.
And all God’s people said,
Amen
“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” – Coco Chanel
Regina Spektor: Laughing With God
Maybe it’s because I rarely listen to live radio these days given the Pandora and LastFM alternatives, but it seems like no one’s making much noise about Regina Spektor’s new album Far, released back in June 2009. It’s a shame because it’s really worth listening to if you have the time.
As always, Spektor’s a delight with her quirky dolphin-esque singing and clever “funny ’cause it’s true” lyrical style. If you’re not familiar with her music from past releases Soviet Kitsch and Begin To Hope, Spektor’s voice is everything you think you’d hate: high-pitched, Russian-tinged, and painfully awkward. But something about it sounds like an aural version of the gangling yet beautiful girl you knew in Jr. High School. Her voice reminds me of the way Winnie Cooper from The Wonder Years looked.
On Far, Spektor delivers more of what fans love, artfully exploring religion and spirituality in the playful manner we’ve come to expect. The first single “Laughing With” is about the irony of taking God seriously in the midst of dire circumstances like unexpected plane turbulence or hospital stays, while ridiculing him at cocktail parties or when wishes go unfulfilled.
Relevant magazine recently spoke with Spektor, a self-proclaimed “picky Jew,” to discuss the album and why she thinks God and faith should be the discussed within art. She said, “I just think everything belongs in music. [...] I don’t think there are things that are off-limits. Just like I don’t believe there are things that are off-limits to conversation. I think a lot of bad stuff comes out of people censoring themselves or trying to present an image of themselves or trying to be completely neutral or not even arguing.”
Despite her strong feelings on integrating faith and art, Spektor remains fairly neutral herself when it comes to her personal religion. Though she accepts many of the teachings from her Judeo-Christian tradition, she rejects the things that don’t match up to her own beliefs or logic. “When I read the Bible, a lot of the time it’s been almost like a miniature ‘duck, duck, goose’ in my head. I said: ‘Yes, yes, yes, no. Yes, yes, yes, no.’”
To read more about Spektor’s thoughts on faith, pick up the September/October 2009 issue of Relevant magazine. For a sample of her music, click on the video below to hear her latest single from Far.
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