“This book presents her special connection with the Lord. Many events are uplifting moments that she believes to be miracles or direct communication from Jesus.”
–Kirkus Reviews

“The number seven is believed to be God’s perfect number, representing completion. Mary Johnson believes that being the seventh daughter in her family has given her special connection to the divine.”
–BlueInk Review

Can Miracles Really Happen? Can Faith Really Guide Our Lives? Is There A Higher Power?

Mary Alicia Guillory-Johnson can attest, unequivocally a yes to all of the above. The minister, counselor, and former local TV host shares her personal stories and insights in a unique new book, Mary the Seventh Girl: Extraordinary Miracles in an Ordinary Life.

Mary, a mother of three full-grown children, has spent three decades teaching religious education, including 10 as a religious education director. For 35 years she has been a lecturer and a Eucharistic Minister. She was certified as a licensed counselor from the University of Texas, is board certified in anger management (CAI), and is certified in domestic violence and death and loss. For four years, Mary hosted a TV show on Houston Public Access called Alicia’s Eyes, which put a spotlight on positive events involving students K-12. Mary practices her faith – Catholicism – in Houston, Texas.

The post Mary Alicia Guillory-Johnson, Mary the Seventh Girl: Extraordinary Miracles in an Ordinary Life. Video and Podcast are Here… appeared first on Good News!.

NEW ORIGINAL SONG “ORDINARY LOVE” BY U2

The Weinstein Company (TWC) and producer Anant Singh announced today that a new trailer for their upcoming release MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM will premiere on Thursday, October 17^th at 7:30pm EST.  Depicting key moments from the biopic starring Idris Elba and Naomie Harris, this trailer will also feature a new song, “Ordinary Love” written especially for the film by U2.

The trailer will be broadcast on Access Hollywood, with an online premiere on Yahoo. Additionally, it will land in theaters nationwide this coming weekend in front of new release 12 YEARS A SLAVE.

Said TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein. “Over the years U2 and I have had a superb relationship including partnering on the Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe winning song ‘The Hands That Built America’ for Martin Scorsese’s GANGS OF NEW YORK.  When I asked them to consider writing a song for MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, it was the fastest ‘yes’ I have ever received.  The band saw various cuts of the film over the summer and worked diligently to write a song that truly reflects Nelson Mandela.  I think they did a brilliant job honoring the man and the leader they have known for over 20 years.”

Noted director Justin Chadwick: “Having U2 contribute their talents adds to the already enormous body of support we’ve had in making MANDELA. I’m incredibly excited for audiences to get this latest glimpse at the film.”

Commented producer Singh: “We are delighted to have U2 write an original song for MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM. This is really fitting as U2 have always been a staunch supporter of Madiba. As a board member of Madiba’s 46664 anti AIDS initiative together with U2, I was fortunate to be with them when we visited Robben Island together, accompanied by Madiba.”

MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, which the TWC is releasing theatrically on November 29^th,  is based on South African President Nelson Mandela’s autobiography of the same name, which chronicles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison before becoming President and working to rebuild the country’s once segregated society. Idris Elba (PROMETHEUS) stars as Nelson Mandela, Naomie Harris (SKYFALL) stars as Winnie Mandela, with Justin Chadwick (THE FIRST GRADER, THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL, BLEAK HOUSE) directing. The film had its world premiere earlier this year at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.

ABOUT PRODUCER ANANT SINGH

Anant Singh is acknowledged as South Africa’s preeminent film producer. He has produced some of the most notable films made in South Africa, among which are SARAFINA!, CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY, RED DUST and the Academy Award nominated YESTERDAY. Nelson Mandela personally awarded the film rights to his autobiography ‘Long Walk To Freedom’ to Singh.

ABOUT THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY

The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, which has released such popular franchises as SCREAM, SPY KIDS and SCARY MOVIE. Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes.  TWC releases took home eight 2012 Academy Awards®, the most wins in the studio’s history. The tally included Best Picture for Michel Hazanavicius’s THE ARTIST and Best Documentary Feature for TJ Martin and Dan Lindsay’s UNDEFEATED. THE ARTIST brought TWC its second consecutive Best Picture statuette following the 2011 win for Tom Hooper’s THE KING’S SPEECH.

Since 2005, TWC and Dimension Films have released such films as GRINDHOUSE; 1408; I’M NOT THERE; THE GREAT DEBATERS; VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA; THE READER; THE ROAD; HALLOWEEN; THE PAT TILLMAN STORY; PIRANHA 3D; INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS; A SINGLE MAN; BLUE VALENTINE; THE COMPANY MEN; MIRAL; SCRE4M; SUBMARINE; DIRTY GIRL; APOLLO 18; OUR IDIOT BROTHER; I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT; SARAH’S KEY; SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD IN 4D; MY WEEK WITH MARILYN; THE IRON LADY; W.E.; CORIOLANUS; UNDEFEATED; THE ARTIST; BULLY; THE INTOUCHABLES; LAWLESS; KILLING THEM SOFTLY; THE MASTER; SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK; DJANGO UNCHAINED; QUARTET; ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH; DARK SKIES; THE SAPPHIRES; SCARY MOVIE 5; and KON-TIKI. Currently in release are UNFINISHED SONG and FRUITVALE STATION, LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER, THE GRANDMASTER and SALINGER. Upcoming releases include 12-12-12, PHILOMENA, MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM and AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY.

TWC is active in television production, led by former Miramax Films President of Production Meryl Poster. TWC is the studio behind such hit television series as the Emmy® nominated and Peabody Award winning reality series PROJECT RUNWAY and its spin-off series PROJECT RUNWAY ALL STARS and PROJECT ACCESSORY; the VH1 reality series MOB WIVES and its spin-off series MOB WIVES CHICAGO and BIG ANG; and the critically acclaimed scripted HBO comedy/crime series THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY which also received a Peabody Award. The company is in production on the upcoming TLC series WELCOME TO MYRTLE MANOR, the A&E series RODEO QUEENS, and the Lifetime reality competition show SUPERMARKET SUPERSTAR hosted by Stacy Keibler.  Among TWC’s other projects in development for television are the martial-arts epic MARCO POLO for Starz, an untitled private eye procedural for FX, and THE NANNY DIARIES developed by ABC with a pilot by Amy Sherman Palladino.

The post NEW TRAILER PREMIERE FROM THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY FOR MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM appeared first on Good News!.

John Legend performs at the 75^thAnniversary of the Apollo in Harlem, New York.  Good News celebrates the occasion.  ….Did you know that John Legend’s last name is not Legend?  He told GoodNews at a Hamptons Magazine Cover Partyfor him,   that his buddies used to call him Legend because he sang like an old man to them – hence he was a Legend! We guess the name hasn’t hurt him!

the Apollo probably exerted a greater influence upon popular culture than any other entertainment venue in the world. For blacks it was the most important cultural institution–not just the greatest black theatre, but a special place to come of age emotionally, professionally, socially, and politically. Ted Fox, “Showtime at the Apollo”

1.

John Legend has sold more than five million albums worldwide, garnered multiple hit singles: “Ordinary People,” “Used to Love U,” “So High,” “Save Room,” “Heaven,” “Another Again” and received countless awards, including five Grammy’s. Music’s leading producers clamor to work with him. Fashion aficionados can’t get enough of his incomparable style and the humanitarian community has rallied around his fight to end poverty. Critics have called him a genius, one of the most compelling and important singer/songwriters of this generation, an elegant ambassador of soul. A favorite of Apollo audiences, Legend was the first artist to appear on the Apollo’s Heineken New Legends Series. “We are thrilled to welcome John back to the Apollo. He is truly part of our incredible legacy, and his concert is sure to be a highlight of our 75th Anniversary season,” said Jonelle Procope, President & CEO of the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. With all of the acclaim, it would be easy for John Legend to rest on his laurels, but he continues to push himself, always striving to break new musical ground.

About the Apollo Theater:

Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo Theater has played a major role in the emergence of innovative musical genres including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul and hip-hop. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Sammy Davis, Jr., James Brown, Bill Cosby, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, and countless others began their road to stardom on the Apollo’s stage. Based on its cultural significance and architecture, the Apollo Theater received state and city landmark designation in 1983 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Apollo Theater Foundation was established as a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit corporation in 1991 and is dedicated to the preservation and development of the Apollo Theater. The historic venue hosts major concerts and special events and continues its tradition of discovering future stars with its weekly installment of Apollo Amateur Night every Wednesday night. Harlem is Manhattan’s third most popular tourist destination and the Apollo remains Harlem’s top attraction, drawing 1.3 million visitors annually.

The world famous Apollo Theater, “where stars are born and legends are made” is located in the heart of Harlem at 253 West 125 Street, between Adam Clayton Powell Blvd (7th Ave.) and Frederick Douglass Blvd (8th Ave.). For further information about the Apollo Theater, visit the website at www.apollotheater.org

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