FINALLY! DiCaprio Gets Gold...Check out the complete list of Oscars 2016 Winners

The 88^th Annual Academy Awards took place yesterday at the Dolby theatre in Hollywood. Inevitably this time around, Leonardo DiCaprio finally gets his elusive Oscar for his lead role in The Revenant and receives a long, standing ovation as deserved.

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

CHILDREN! FOLLOW THE WAY – Monday February 29th 2016

TOPIC: CHILDREN! FOLLOW THE WAY

Memorize: My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother Proverbs 1:8

Read: Ephesians 6:1-3,

¹ Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

² Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;

³ That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Bible in one year: John 4:30-5:18, Job 30:16-23

A Quick One: Solve the Drill! (Photo)

Hi guys, look deep into the picture and solve that drill. I found two ways around it already. Put your thinking caps on and drop your comments below. Get smart! *winks*

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Saturday February 27th 2016

TOPIC: LOVE, THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW I

Memorize: These things I command you, that ye love one another. John 15:17

Read: 1^st Corinthians 13:1-3, 

¹ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Bible in one year: John 1:1-3:15, Job 29:21-30:8

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Friday February 26th 2016

TOPIC: ABUNDANT LIFE AFTER DEATH 

Memorize: And he said unto me, it is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. Revelation 21:6

Read: Revelation 21:1-7, 

¹ And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

² And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

³ And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

⁴ And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

⁵ And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

⁶ And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

⁷ He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Bible in one year: Luke 23:6-24:53. Job 29:7-20

QUICK TIP FOR THE DAY

I know a lot of people love feasting on junks; cookies, pies, pizzas, chocolates, cakes and all. I could be guilty at times too...lol. But as much as we like to indulge ourselves with these things, the least we can do is know how to burn out the calories consumed.

As shown above, 1 small chocolate chip cookie contains about 50 calories, and would require 10 minutes of BRISK walking. And the time multiplies as you eat more. So let it always ring in your mind what you have to do when you are about to eat these things. The use of a treadmill is equally effective, so you can subscribe to a gym or get a personal one if you can.

Have a good day guys.

Check out these Unbelievable Facts!!!

These are a few more weird and unbelievable facts, most of which we probably never knew before. Check them out!

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Thursday February 25th 2016

TOPIC: HELL IS REAL

Memorize: And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. Luke 16:23

Read: Luke 16:19-31, 

¹⁹ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

²⁰ And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

²¹ And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

²² And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

²³ And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

²⁴ And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

²⁵ But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

²⁶ And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Wednesday February 24th 2016

TOPIC: HEAVEN: ARE YOU PREPARED?  

Memorize: Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. Job 14:1

Read: 2^nd Timothy 4:6-8, 

⁶ For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

⁷ I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Bible in one year: Luke 19:28-21:24, Job 28:7-19

The TITANIC II Project is Underway!

Yes, Titanic II project is underway, and I’m not talking about a sequel to the movie. It is about a project similar to the infamous one undertaken over a hundred years back and it's exciting.

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Tuesday February 23rd 2016

TOPIC: HOW OLD ARE YOU? 

Memorize: So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto

wisdom. Psalms 90:12

Read: Psalms 90:1-12, 

¹ Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

² Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

³ Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

⁴ For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

⁵ Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

⁶ In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

⁷ For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Monday February 22nd 2016

 TOPIC: APOSTATE OR REFORMER? 

Memorize: Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. James 5:4

Read: 1^st Kings 18:41-46, 

⁴¹ And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

⁴² So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

⁴³ And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

⁴⁴ And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.

⁴⁵ And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

⁴⁶ And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Bible in one year: Luke 14:25-17:10, Job 27:1-12

Things About Kim Kardashian You Never Knew

Over the years, Kim Kardashian has been famous for so many reasons. She has never been away from the spotlight. But I guess being a mother now has helped her lay back a little bit. Moreover, she is not getting any younger, and the baton now has been passed on to the young soldiers Kylie and Kendall...lol

These are a few things you probably didn't know about this all round celebrity:

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional - Sunday February 21st 2016

TOPIC: BLESSINGS OF KNOWING THE TRUE GOD

Memorize: And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. Daniel 11:32

Read: 1^st Kings 18:21-24, 

²¹ And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

²² Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

²³ Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

²⁴ And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

Bible in one year: Luke 12:35-14:24, Job 26

Check Out these 5 Health Benefits of Green Tea

Tea is one of the most valued and widely consumed drinks in the world. Besides being a delicious, inexpensive beverage that has no calories, tea has a unique set of natural chemicals that provide various therapeutic benefits. As more research is conducted, tea, specifically green and black, demonstrates significant antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticavity properties.

Here are a few benefits of green tea:

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Saturday February 20th 2016

TOPIC: BEWARE OF DECEIVERS II 

Memorize: But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 2^nd Timothy 4:5

Read: Romans 16:17-20, 

¹⁷ Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

¹⁸ For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

¹⁹ For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

²⁰ And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Bible in one year: Luke 11:1-12:34, Job 24:21-25:6

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Friday February 19th 2016

TOPIC: BEWARE OF DECEIVERS I 

Memorize: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for

doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2^nd Timothy 3:16

Read: 2^nd Timothy 3:1-8, 

¹ Know this also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

² For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

³ Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

⁴ Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

⁵ Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

⁶ For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with diverse lusts,

⁷ Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

⁸ Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

Bible in one year: Luke 9:21-10:42, Job 24:9-20

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Thursday February 18th 2016

TOPIC: THE GREAT HELPER 

Memorize: My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Psalms 121:2

Read: Psalms 121:1-8, 

¹ I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

² My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

³ He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

⁴ Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

⁶ The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

⁸ The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Bible in one year: Luke 8:1-9:20, Job 23:14-24:8

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Wednesday February 17th 2016

TOPIC: TIME TO FIGHT II 

Memorize: Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5

Read: 1^st Timothy 6:6-12, 

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain.

⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

⁸ And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

⁹ But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

¹⁰ For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

¹¹ But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

¹² Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Bible in one year: Luke 6:17-7:50, Job 23:1-13

GRAMMYS 2016: Full List of Winners

The highly revered show held yesterday at Los Angeles, California, and for the fifth year in a row, LL Cool J was the host. The night started and ended with a bang, featuring performances from a staggering list of superstars, including Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Adele, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and more!

The full and very long list of nominees and winners is below, and there was some really tough competition among the contenders. The big winner was Taylor Swift with 3 awards, but there were many double award winners though, including The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran and more.

The most controversial category was the album of the year, that many thought Kendrick Lamar was the one to beat, but Taylor Swift won the award making her the first woman to win that category twice for the first time ever.

Check the full list below:

RECORD OF THE YEAR

“Really Love” — D’Angelo and the Vanguard

WINNER: “Uptown Funk” — Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars

“Thinking Out Loud” — Ed Sheeran

“Blank Space” — Taylor Swift

“Can’t Feel My Face” — The Weeknd

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Sound & Color — Alabama Shakes

To Pimp a Butterfly — Kendrick Lamar

Traveller — Chris Stapleton

WINNER: 1989 — Taylor Swift

Beauty Behind the Madness — The Weeknd

BEST NEW ARTIST

Courtney Barnett

James Bay

Sam Hunt

Tori Kelly

WINNER: Meghan Trainor

BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE

WINNER: “Don’t Wanna Fight” — Alabama Shakes

“What Kind of Man” — Florence & The Machine

“Something From Nothing” — Foo Fighters

“Ex’s & Oh’s” — Elle King

“Moaning Lisa Smile” — Wolf Alice

BEST MUSICAL THEATER ALBUM

An American in Paris

Fun Home

WINNER: Hamilton

The King And I 

Something Rotten!

SONG OF THE YEAR

“Alright” — Kendrick Lamar

“Blank Space” — Taylor Swift

“Girl Crush” — Little Big Town

“See You Again” — Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth

WINNER: “Thinking Out Loud” — Ed Sheeran

BEST COUNTRY ALBUM

Montevallo — Sam Hunt

Pain Killer — Little Big Town

The Blade — Ashley Monroe

Pageant Material — Kacey Musgraves

WINNER: Traveller — Chris Stapleton

BEST RAP ALBUM

2014 Forest Hills Drive — J. Cole

Compton — Dr. Dre

If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late — Drake

WINNER: To Pimp A Butterfly — Kendrick Lamar

The Pinkprint — Nicki Minaj

BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE

“Ship to Wreck” — Florence & The Machine

“Sugar” — Maroon 5

WINNER: “Uptown Funk” — Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars

“Bad Blood” — Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar

“See You Again” — Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth

BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE

“Heartbeat Song” — Kelly Clarkson

“Love Me Like You Do” — Ellie Goulding

WINNER: “Thinking Out Loud” — Ed Sheeran

“Blank Space” — Taylor Swift

“Can’t Feel My Face” — The Weeknd

BEST RAP SONG

“All Day” — Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West

WINNER: “Alright” — Kendrick Lamar featuring Pharrell Williams

“Energy” — Drake

“Glory” — Common & John Legend

“Trap Queen” — Fetty Wap

BEST MUSIC VIDEO

“LSD” — A$AP Rocky

“I Feel Love (Every Million Miles)” — The Dead Weather

“Alright” — Kendrick Lamar

WINNER: “Bad Blood” — Taylor Swift Featuring Kendrick Lamar

“Freedom” — Pharrell Williams

BEST RAP PERFORMANCE

“Apparently” — J. Cole

“Back To Back” — Drake

“Trap Queen” — Fetty Wap

WINNER: “Alright” — Kendrick Lamar

“Truffle Butter” — Nicki Minaj featuring Drake & Lil Wayne

“All Day” — Kanye West featuring Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom & Paul McCartney

BEST MUSIC FILM

Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown

Sonic Highways

What Happened, Miss Simone?

The Wall

WINNER: Amy

BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM

Piece By Piece — Kelly Clarkson

How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful — Florence & The Machine

Uptown Special — Mark Ronson

WINNER: 1989 — Taylor Swift

Before This World — James Taylor

BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA

Empire: Season 1

Fifty Shades of Grey

WINNER: Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me

Pitch Perfect 2

Selma

BEST SCORE SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA

WINNER: Birdman

The Imitation Game

Interstellar

The Theory of Everything

Whiplash

BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR VISUAL MEDIA

“Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)” — The Weeknd

WINNER: “Glory” — Common & John Legend

“Love Me Like You D” — Ellie Goulding

“See You Again” — Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth

“Til It Happens To You” — Lady Gaga

BEST URBAN CONTEMPORARY ALBUM

Ego Death — The Internet

You Should Be Here — Kehlani

Blood — Lianne La Havas

Wildheart — Miguel

WINNER: Beauty Behind the Madness — The Weeknd

BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE/SONG

“Worth [Live]” —Anthony Brown & Group Therapy

WINNER: “Wanna Be Happy?” — Kirk Franklin

“Intentional” — Travis Greene

“How Awesome is Our God [Live]” — Israel & NewBreed featuring Yolanda Adams

“Worth Fighting For [Live]” — Brian Courtney Wilson

BEST LATIN POP ALBUM

Terral — Pablo Alborán

Healer — Alex Cuba

WINNER: A Quien Quiera Escuchar (Deluxe Album) — Ricky Martin

Sirope — Alejandro Sanz

Algo Sucede — Julieta Venegas

BEST LATIN ROCK, URBAN OR ALTERNATIVE ALBUM

Amanecer — Bomba Estereo

Mondongo — La Cuneta Son Machín

WINNER: Hasta La Raíz — Natalia Lafourcade

Caja de Música — Monsieur Periné

Dale — Pitbull

BEST REGIONAL MEXICAN MUSIC ALBUM (INCLUDING TEJANO)

Mi Vicio Mas Grande — Banda El Recodo De Don Cruz Lizarraga

Ya Dime Adiós — La Maquinaria Norteña

Zapateando — Los Cojolites

WINNER: Realidades (Deluxe Edition) —Los Tigres Del Norte

Tradición, Arte Y Pasión — Mariachi Los Camperos De Nati Cano

BEST TROPICAL LATIN ALBUM

Tributo A Los Compadres: No Quiero Llanto — José Alberto “El Canario” & Septeto Santiaguero

WINNER: Son De Panamá — Rubén Blades with Roberto Delgado & Orchestra

Presente Continuo — Guaco

Todo Tiene Su Hora — Juan Luis Guerra 4.40

Que Suenen Los Tambores — Victor Manuelle

BEST AMERICAN ROOTS PERFORMANCE

“And Am I Born To Die” — Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn

“Born to Play Guitar” — Buddy Guy

“City Of Our Lady” — The Milk Carton Kids

“Julep” — Punch Brothers

WINNER: “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean” — Mavis Staples

BEST AMERICAN ROOTS SONG

“All Night Long” — The Mavericks

“The Cost Of Living” — Don Henley & Merle Haggard

“Julep” — Punch Brothers

“The Traveling Kind” — Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell

WINNER: “24 Frames” — Jason Isbell

BEST AMERICANA ALBUM

The Firewatcher’s Daughter — Brandi Carlile

The Traveling Kind — Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell

WINNER: Something More Than Free — Jason Isbell

Mono — The Mavericks

The Phosphorescent Blues — Punch Brothers

BEST BLUEGRASS ALBUM

Pocket Full of Keys — Dale Ann Bradley

Before The Sun Goes Down — Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley

In Session — Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Man of Constant Sorrow — Ralph Stanley & Friends

WINNER: The Muscle Shoals Recordings — The Steeldrivers

BEST BLUES ALBUM

Descendants of Hill Country — Cedric Burnside Project

Outskirts of Love — Shemekia Copeland

WINNER: Born to Play Guitar — Buddy Guy

Worthy — Bettye LaVette

Muddy Waters 100 — John Primer & Various Artists

BEST FOLK ALBUM

Wood, Wire & Words — Norman Blake

WINNER: Béla Fleck And Abigail Washburn — Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn

Tomorrow Is My Turn — Rhiannon Giddens

Servant of Love — Patty Griffin

Didn’t He Ramble — Glen Hansard

BEST REGIONAL ROOTS MUSIC ALBUM

WINNER: Go Go Juice — Jon Cleary

La La La La — Natalie Ai Kamauu

Kawaiokalena — Keali’i Reichel

Get Ready — The Revelers

Generations — Windwalker And the MCW

BEST INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION

WINNER: “The Afro Latin Jazz Suite” — Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra featuring Rudresh Mahanthappa

“Civil War” — Bob Mintzer Big Band

“Confetti Man” — Turtle Island Quartet

“Neil” — University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band

“Vesper” — Marshall Gilkes & WDR Big Band

BEST ARRANGEMENT, INSTRUMENTAL OR A CAPELLA

“Bruno Mars” — Vocally Challenged

WINNER: “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” — Pentatonix

“Do You Hear What I Hear” — Committed

“Ghost of A Chance” — Bob James & Nathan East

“You and the Night and the Music” — John Fedchock New York Big Band

BEST ARRANGEMENT, INSTRUMENTS AND VOCALS

“Be My Muse” — Lorraine Feather

“52nd & Broadway” — Patrick Williams featuring Patti Austin

“Garota De Ipanema” — Catina DeLuna featuring Otmaro Ruiz

WINNER: “Sue (Or in a Season of Crime) — David Bowie

“When I Come Home” — Jimmy Greene with Javier Colon

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, CLASSICAL

Blanton Alspaugh

Manfred Eicher

Marina A. Ledin, Victor Ledin

Dan Merceruio

WINNER: Judith Sherman

BEST RECORDING PACKAGE

Alagoas — Alagoas

Bush — Snoop Dogg

How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful (Deluxe Edition) — Florence + The Machine

My Happiness — Elvis Presley

WINNER: Still the King: Celebrating the Music of Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys — Asleep At The Wheel

BEST ALBUM NOTES

Folksongs of Another America: Field Recordings From the Upper Midwest, 1937-1946 — Various Artists

Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection — Lead Belly

WINNER: Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, A Ballet, Waiting to be Danced — Joni Mitchell

Portrait of an American Singer — Tennessee Ernie Ford

Songs of the Night: Dance Recordings, 1916-1925 — Joseph C. Smith’s Orchestra

BEST BOXED OR SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION PACKAGE

Beneath the Skin (Deluxe Box Set) —Of Monsters And Men

I Love You, Honeybear (Limited Edition Deluxe Vinyl) — Father John Misty

WINNER: The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume Two (1928-32) — Various Artists

Sticky Fingers (Super Deluxe Edition) — The Rolling Stones

30 Trips Around the Sun — Grateful Dead

What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World (Deluxe Box Set) — The Decemberists

BEST HISTORICAL ALBUM

WINNER: The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series Vol 11 — Bob Dylan and the Band

The Complete Concert by the Sea — Erroll Garner

Native North America (Vol. 1): Aboriginal Folk, Rock, and Country 1966-1985 — Various Artists

Parchman Farm: Photographs and Field Recordings, 1947-1959 — Various Artists

Songs My Mother Taught Me — Fannie Lou Hamer

BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, NON-CLASSICAL

Before this World — James Taylor

Currency of Man — Melody Gardot

Recreational Love — The Bird and the Bee

WINNER: Sound & Color — Alabama Shakes

Wallflower — Diana Krall

BEST REMIXED RECORDING, NON-CLASSICAL

“Berlin by Overnight (CFCF Remix)”

“Hold On (Fatum Remix)”

“Runaway (U & I) (Kaskade Remix)”

“Say My Name (RAC Remix)”

WINNER: “Uptown Funk (Dave Audé Remix)”

BEST SURROUND SOUND ALBUM

Amdahl: Astrongnosia & Aesop

WINNER: Amused To Death

Magnificat

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7

Spes

BEST CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM

Guitar in the Space Age! — Bill Frisell

Love Language — Wouter Kellerman

Afrodeezia — Marcus Miller

WINNER: Sylva — Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest

The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter IV — Kirk Whalum

BEST NEW AGE ALBUM

WINNER: Grace — Paul Avgerinos

Bhakti Without Borders — Madi Das

Voyager — Catherine Duc

Love — Peter Kater

Asia Beauty — Ron Korb

BEST IMPROVISED JAZZ SOLO

“Giant Steps” — Joey Alexander

WINNER: “Cherokee” — Christian McBride

“Arbiters of Evolution” — Donny McCaslin

“Friend or Foe” — Joshua Redman

“Past Present” — John Scofield

BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM

Many A New Day: Karrin Allyson Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein — Karrin Allyson

Find A Heart — Denise Donatelli

Flirting With Disaster — Lorraine Feather

Jamison — Jamison Ross

WINNER: For One to Love — Cécil McLorin Salvant

BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM

My Favorite Things — Joey Alexander

Breathless — Terence Blanchard featuring The E-Collective

Covered: Recorded Live At Capital Studios — Robert Glasper & The Robert Glasper Trio

Beautiful Life — Jimmy Greene

WINNER: Past Present — John Scofield

BEST LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE

Lines of Color — Gil Evans Project

Köln — Marshall Gilkes & WDR Big Bana

Cuba: The Conversation Continues — Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra

WINNER: The Thompson Fields — Maria Schneider Orchestra

Home Suite Home — Patrick Williams

BEST LATIN JAZZ ALBUM

WINNER: Made In Brazil — Eliane Elias

Impromptu — The Rodriguez Brothers

Suite Caminos — Gonzalo Rubalcaba

Intercambio — Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet

Identities are Changeable — Miguel Zenón

BEST REGGAE ALBUM

Branches of the Same Tree — Rocky Dawuni

The Cure — Jah Cure

Acousticalevy — Barrington Levy

Zion Awake — Luciano

WINNER: Strictly Roots — Morgan Heritage

BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM

Gilbertos Samba Ao Vivo — Gilberto Gil

WINNER: Sings — Angelique Kidjo

Music From Inala — Ladysmith Black Mambazo with Ella Spira & The Inala Ensemble

Home — Anoushka Shankar

I Have No Everything Here —Zomba Prison Project

BEST CHILDREN’S ALBUM

¡Come Bien! Eat Right! — José-Luis Orozco

Dark Pie Concerns — Gustafer Yellowgold

WINNER: Home — Tim Kubart

How Great Can This Day Be —Lori Henriques

Trees — Molly Ledford & Billy Kelly

BEST SPOKEN WORLD ALBUM (INCLUDES POETRY, AUDIO BOOKS & STORYTELLING)

Blood on Snow (Jo Nesbø) —Patti Smith

Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic Moments and Assorted Hijinks — Dick Cavett

WINNER: A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety — Jimmy Carter

Patience And Sarah (Isabel Miller) — Janis Ian & Jean Smart

Yes Please — Amy Poehler (& Various Artists)

BEST COMEDY ALBUM

Back to the Drawing Board — Lisa Lampanelli

Brooklyn — Wyatt Cenac

Happy. And A Lot. — Jay Mohr

Just Being Honest — Craig Ferguson

WINNER: Live at Madison Square Garden — Louis C.K.

BEST OPERA RECORDING

“Janáček: Jenůfa”

“Monteverdi: Il Ritorno D’Ulisse In Patria”

“Mozart: Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail”

WINNER: “Ravel: L’Enfant Et Les Sortiléges; Shéhérazade”

“Steffani: Niobe, Regina Di Tebe”

BEST CHORAL PERFORMANCE

“Beethoven: Missa Solemnis”

“Monteverdi: Vespers of 1610”

“Pablo Neruda - The Poet Sings”

“Paulus: Far In The Heavens”

WINNER: “Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil”

BEST CHAMBER MUSIC/SMALL ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE

“Brahms: The Piano Trios”

WINNER: “Filament”

“Flaherty: Airdancing for Toy Piano, Piano & Electronics”

“Render”

“Shostakovich: Piano Quintet & String Quartet No. 2”

BEST CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTAL SOLO

WINNER: “Dutilleux: Violin Concerto, L’Arbre Des Songes”

“Grieg & Moszkowski: Piano Concertos”

“Mozart: Keyboard Music, Vol. 7”

“Rachmaninov Variations”

“Rzewski: The People United Will Never be Defeated!”

BEST CLASSICAL SOLO VOCAL ALBUM

Beethoven: An Die Ferne Geliebte; Haydn: English Songs; Mozart: Masonic Cantata

WINNER: Joyce & Tony — Live from Wigmore Hall

Nessun Dorma — The Puccini Album

Rouse: Seeing; Kabir Padavali

St. Petersburg

BEST CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL COMPOSITION

Barry: The Importance of Being Earnest

Norman: Play

WINNER: Paulus: Prayers & Remembrances

Tower: Stroke

Wolfe: Anthracite Fields

BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM

WINNER: The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern — Tony Bennett & Bill Charlap

Shadows In the Night — Bob Dylan

Stages — Josh Groban

No One Ever Tells You — Seth MacFarlane

My Dream Duets — Barry Manilow (& Various Artists)

BEST DANCE RECORDING

“We’re All We Need” — Above & Beyond featuring Zoë Johnston

“Go” — The Chemical Brothers featuring Q-Tip

“Never Catch Me” — Flying Lotus featuring Kendrick Lamar

“Runaway (U & I)” — Galantis

WINNER: “Where Are Ü Now” — Skrillex and Diplo with Justin Bieber

BEST DANCE/ELECTRONIC ALBUM

Our Love — Caribou

Born in the Echoes — The Chemical Brothers

Caracal — Disclosure

In Colour — Jamie xx

WINNER: Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü — Skrillex and Diplo

BEST METAL PERFORMANCE

“Identity” — August Burns Red

WINNER: “Cirice” — Ghost

“512” — Lamb of God

“Thank You” — Sevendust

“Custer” — Slipknot

BEST ROCK SONG

WINNER: “Don’t Wanna Fight” — Alabama Shakes

“Ex’s & Oh’s” — Elle King

“Hold Back The River” — James Bay

“Lydia” — Highly Suspect

“What Kind of Man” — Florence & The Machine

BEST ROCK ALBUM

Chaos and the Calm — James Bay

Kintsugi — Death Cab For Cutie

Mister Asylum — Highly Suspect

WINNER: Drones — Muse

.5: The Gray Chapter — Slipknot

BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM

WINNER: Sound & Color — Alabama Shakes

Vulnicura — Björk

The Waterfall — My Morning Jacket

Currents — Tame Impala

Star Wars — Wilco

BEST R&B PERFORMANCE

“If I Don’t Have You” — Tamar Braxton

“Rise Up” — Andra Day

“Breathing Underwater” — Hiatus Kaiyote

“Planes” — Jeremih featuring J. Cole

WINNER: “Earned It (Fifty Shades of Gray)” — The Weeknd

BEST TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE

“He is” — Faith Evans

WINNER: “Little Ghetto Boy” — Lalah Hathaway

“Let It Burn” — Jazmine Sullivan

“Shame” — Tyrese

“My Favorite Part of You” — Charlie Wilson

BEST R&B SONG

“Coffee” — Miguel

“Let It Burn” — Jazmine Sullivan

WINNER: “Really Love” — D’Angelo And The Vanguard

“Shame” — Tyrese

"Earned It (Fifty Shades of Gray)" — The Weeknd

BEST R&B ALBUM

Coming Home — Leon Bridges

WINNER: Black Messiah — D’Angelo And The Vanguard

Cheers To The Fall — Andra Day

Reality Show — Jazmine Sullivan

Forever Charlie —Charlie Wilson

BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION

“One Man Can Change the World” — Big Sean featuring Kanye West & John Legend

“Glory” — Common & John Legend

“Classic Man” — Jidenna featuring Roman GianArthur

WINNER: “These Walls” — Kendrick Lamar featuring Bilal, Anna Wise & Thundercat

“Only” — Nicki Minaj featuring Drake, Lil Wayne & Chris Brown

BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE

“Burning House” — Cam

WINNER: “Traveller” — Chris Stapleton

“Little Toy Guns” — Carrie Underwood

“John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16” — Keith Urban

“Chances Are” — Lee Ann Womack

BEST COUNTRY DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE

“Stay A Little Longer” — Brothers Osborne

“If I Needed You” — Joey+Rory

“The Driver” — Charles Kelley, Dierks Bentley & Eric Paslay

WINNER: “Girl Crush” — Little Big Town

“Lonely Tonight” — Blake Shelton featuring Ashley Monroe

BEST COUNTRY SONG

“Chances Are” — Lee Ann Womack

“Diamond Rings and Old Barstools” — Tim McGraw

WINNER: “Girl Crush” — Little Big Town

“Hold My Hand” — Brandy Clark

“Traveller” — Chris Stapleton

BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC PERFORMANCE/SONG

WINNER: “Holy Spirit” — Francesca Battistelli

“Lift Your Head Weary Sinner (Chains)” — Crowder

“Because He Lives (Amen)” — Matt Maher

“Soul On Fire” — Third Day featuring All Sons & Daughters

“Feel It” — Tobymac featuring Mr. Talkbox

BEST GOSPEL ALBUM

Destined To Win [Live] — Karen Clark Sheard

Living It — Dorinda Clark-Cole

One Place Live —Tasha Cobbs

WINNER: Covered: Alive In Asia [Live] — Israel & NewBreed

Life Music: Stage Two — Jonathan McReynolds

BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ALBUM

Whatever The Road — Jason Crabb

How Can It Be — Lauren Daigle

Saints And Sinners — Matt Maher

WINNER: This Is Not A Test — Tobymac

Love Ran Red — Chris Tomlin

BEST ROOTS GOSPEL ALBUM

WINNER: Still Rockin’ My Soul — The Fairfield Four

Pray Now — Karen Peck & New River

Directions Home (Songs We Love, Songs You Know) — Point of Grace

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, NON-CLASSICAL

WINNER: Jeff Bhasker

Dave Cobb

Diplo

Larry Klein

Blake Mills

BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, CLASSICAL

WINNER: Ask Your Mama

Dutilleux: Métaboles; L’Arbre Des Songes; Symphony No. 2, ‘Le Double’

Monteverdi: Il Ritorno D’Ulisse In Patria

Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil

Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3, ‘Organ’

BEST ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE

“Bruckner: Symphony No. 4”

“Dutilleux: Métaboles; L’Arbre Des Songes; Symphony No. 2, ‘Le Double’”

WINNER: “Shostakovich: Under Stalin’s Shadow - Symphony No. 10”

Spirit of The American Range

Zhou Long & Chen Yi: Symphony ‘Humen 1839’”

BEST CLASSICAL COMPENDIUM

As Dreams Fall Apart — The Golden Age of Jewish Stage and Film Music (1925-1955)

Ask Your Mama

WINNER: Paulus: Three Places of Enlightenment; Veil of Tears & Grand Concerto

Handel: L’Allegro, Il Penseroso Ed Il Moderato, 1740

Woman at the New Piano

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Tuesday February 16th 2016

 TOPIC: TIME TO FIGHT  I

Memorize: To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the

heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

Read: 1^st Timothy 4:1-6,

¹ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

² Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

³ Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

⁴ For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

⁵ For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

⁶ If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

Bible in one year: Luke 4:16-6:16, Job 22:12-30

Beware of ‘TEXT NECK’!!!…Make Sure your Head is Up

                                             

Imagine carrying an 8-year-old around your neck several hours per day. The human head weighs about a dozen pounds. As the neck bends forward and down, the weight on the cervical spine begins to increase.

That’s the burden that comes with staring at a smartphone — the way millions do for hours every day, according to research published by Kenneth Hansraj in the National Library of Medicine. Over time, researchers say, this poor posture, sometimes called “text neck,” can lead to early wear-and-tear on the spine, degeneration and even surgery.

Just look around you, everyone has their heads down. Smartphone users spend an average of two to four hours per day hunched over, reading e-mails, sending texts or checking social media sites. That’s 700 to 1,400 hours per year people are putting stress on their spines, according to the research. And high-schoolers might be the worst. They could conceivably spend an additional 5,000 hours in this position, Hansraj said.

“The problem is really profound in young people,” he said. “With this excessive stress in the neck, we might start seeing young people needing spine care. I would really like to see parents showing more guidance.”

Medical experts have been warning people for years. Some say for every inch the head tilts forward, the pressure on the spine doubles.

Tom DiAngelis, president of the American Physical Therapy Association‘s Private Practice Section, said the effect is similar to bending a finger all the way back and holding it there for about an hour.

“As you stretch the tissue for a long period of time, it gets sore, it gets inflamed,” he said. It can also cause muscle strain, pinched nerves, herniated disks and, over time, it can even remove the neck’s natural curve.

Poor posture can cause other problems as well. Experts say it can reduce lung capacity by as much as 30 percent. It has also been linked to headaches and neurological issues, depression and heart disease.

“While it is nearly impossible to avoid the technologies that cause these issues, individuals should make an effort to look at their phones with a neutral spine and to avoid spending hours each day hunched over,” according to the research.

Hansraj gave smartphone users tips to avoid pain:

• Look down at your device with your eyes. No need to bend your neck.
• Exercise: Move your head from left to right several times. Use your hands to provide resistance and push your head against them, first forward and then backward. Stand in a doorway with your arms extended and push your chest forward to strengthen “the muscles of good posture”

Technology is highly necessary and essential, but your just have to be cognizant of where your head is in space. Continue to enjoy your smartphones and continue to enjoy this technology. Just make sure your head is up!

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Monday February 15th 2016

TOPIC: COMMANDED TO REJOICE 

Memorize: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

Read: Philippians 4:1-7, 

¹ Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

² I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

³ And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

⁵ Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 Bible in one year: Luke 2:22-4:15, Job 22: 1-11