INSPIRATIONAL FILES

" Deep Cover " is a 1992 crime thriller starring Laurence Fishburne and Jeff Goldblum. Laurence Fishburne plays Russell Stevens, a Cincinnati narcotics officer recruited by the DEA to infiltrate the network of the west coast's largest drug importer, Anton Gallegos (Arthur Mendoza), in an unparalleled sting operation. In order to achieve the DEA's mission of dismantling Gallegos's organization and bringing him to justice, Stevens has to go not only under cover but under deep cover. To keep his cover, he has to really sell the drug he buys, and some days had to eliminate a competitor. The twist in " Deep Cover " centers around Russell Stevens going so deep under cover that he eventually crossed the line between being a crime fighting police officer and being a ruthless drug dealer. And in doing so, he finds himself so deep not only under cover but also deep into the sinister and seductive world of the drug trade he may never get out of. Onl...

What is a chateausque-styled mansion built between 1889 and 1895, nestled on 175,000 square feet, 8,000 acres estate in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, and featuring 250 rooms and considered the largest privately - home in the United States? It is none other than George Washington Vanderbilt's home, the Biltmore. The Biltmore Estate is worth unimaginably between $1.2 and $1.35 billion dollars. This includes the value of the mansion, which is worth between $200 and $350 million dollars, and the 125,000 acres of land that comprise the rest of the estate, which are worth around $1 billion dollars. The current global economic crisis is one that has provided common people with a glimpse into the world of finance and economics, especially with the fact that the value of homes and properties is somehow tied into the dynamics of the economy of a nation. One lesson that many of us have learned from the current economic crisis is that somehow the value of real estat...

Significance is living within the realms of God’s purpose for one’s life. True significance is found in the fulfillment of God’s purpose. And God’s purpose for life is found in a life of dedication to the needs of people. And that is the definition and heart of Christian ministry. Tyler Perry's "House of Payne" revolves around a multi-generational family living under one roof in Atlanta, Georgia led by patriarch Curtis Payne and his wife Ella. The show centers around the day to day life of a black family and explores dark themes and subject matter such as substance abuse and addiction. It also depicts the dedication of a man and a woman to the needs of their extended family. And the only connection between the TV show and the title of this blog is nothing more than a play on words. Nevertheless, a life of commitment to the needs of people, especially that of a family, usually comes at a great price. Sometimes it comes in the form of severe challenges and creates ...

“Unforgiven” is a 1992 Western, produced and directed by Clint Eastwood. The film also stars Eastwood in the lead role, along with Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, and Richard Harris. It won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film explores how the desire for vengeance unveils the real ugly side of violence. “Unforgiven” was set in motion by a burning desire by a group of prostitutes led by Strawberry Alice (Frances Fisher) from Big Whiskey, Wyoming, to perpetrate vengeance on two cowboys who disfigured one of their own. The Kid (Jaimz Woolvett), William Munny (Clint Eastwood), and Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman) answered the call, though with some sense of reluctance. But for the price of $1,000, the heat and the hit was on. And for one sincere question asked and for one shocking story told. Years before Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven" (circa 33 AD), a master storyteller told the story of "The Unforgiving Servant". This time there w...

We live in a time and in a society in which it appears as if names are no longer significant. This is evident of a western society where parents give their children names that appear void of any meaning. Many children's names do not speak any virtue or predict any blessings. When asked how her daughters got their names, a friend of mine recently shared with me how they got their names. Their names were combinations of the first syllables in the different names of different relatives. Names should speak of a character, a virtue, a value, or a purpose in life. Names should be carefully thought out and even prayed about. God takes names seriously. If God takes names seriously, so should we. Let us break the cycles of meaningless names. There is a strong link between name and achievement. I am supposing that the reason why some people never achieve anything significant is because of names that are not significant. What I am driving at is that names can drive (motivate) achievement. Pa...

The statement “This is it” could be a statement of affirmation or that of declaration. As a statement of affirmation it could be a statement made in recognition of the unfolding of God’s plan in the life of a man or a woman. As a statement of declaration, it could mean a statement made in taking a stand against a particularly oppressive situation or circumstance in the life of a person. And for Michael Jackson, “ This is It ” would forever remain the millennium concert that never happened. The theme of the musical event that was once billed as the grandest comeback ever for any performing artist was in itself predictive of the permanent exit of the King of Pop from the musical scene. But this time, it was without all the applause, the ovations, the pomp and pageantries or the signature grand entries and exits that once marked Mr. Jackson’s entire performing career. The irony of Michael Jackson’s “ This is It ” is really in the exit of the King of Pop, not only from the perform...

In a fictional WW II story set in 1944 on the eve of the Allied D – Day invasion of Normandy, twelve American convicts set out as a special military unit on a pre – invasion kill and destroy mission in Rennes, north – western France. They had virtually no military experience and nothing in common except convictions for criminal offenses. For the twelve men, it was a mission to prove their worth as soldiers as well as a journey to find redemption. And for some of them it was a chance to escape justice. Director Robert Aldrich found his big score in assembling twelve of the greatest names (Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, George Kennedy, Lee Marvin, Telly Savalas, Donald Sutherland, and football Hall of Famer Jim Brown, to mention just a few) in Hollywood’s history to star in The Dirty Dozen (1967). The mission of “The Dirty Dozen” was a suicide mission from the onset. Landing in France, they discovered themselves short one man; Jimenez broke his neck in the parachute jump and most ...