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The Whitney I Knew
A virtual album of BeBe Winans' treasured memories of his friend and "sister," Whitney Houston.
In the years between the first time BeBe Winans and Whitney Houston met in 1985, to the day he delivered the tribute that touched a watching nation at Houston's funeral, a deep and unique friendship bloomed and thrived. They considered each other family in the truest sense of the word.
Now this very personal collection of remembrances offers us a seat at the table during Whitney's most unguarded moments. Here we see her in all her quirky, passionate, fiercely loyal glory though the eyes of her "brother", BeBe.
For most of her public life, Whitney Houston was a mystery. In The Whitney I Knew, Winans has given us a wonderful gift---the gift of understanding. From profoundly moving personal moments to eye-opening accounts of triumph to the heartbreaking realities that led to her ultimate defeat, the untold stories are intimately woven throughout this book---along with online video links to behind-the-scenes moments, highlights of her career, and never-before-seen video of Whitney. Also included is an extensive photo section from BeBe's personal collection.
In the years between the first time BeBe Winans and Whitney Houston met in 1985, to the day he delivered the tribute that touched a watching nation at Houston's funeral, a deep and unique friendship bloomed and thrived. They considered each other family in the truest sense of the word.
Now this very personal collection of remembrances offers us a seat at the table during Whitney's most unguarded moments. Here we see her in all her quirky, passionate, fiercely loyal glory though the eyes of her "brother", BeBe.
For most of her public life, Whitney Houston was a mystery. In The Whitney I Knew, Winans has given us a wonderful gift---the gift of understanding. From profoundly moving personal moments to eye-opening accounts of triumph to the heartbreaking realities that led to her ultimate defeat, the untold stories are intimately woven throughout this book---along with online video links to behind-the-scenes moments, highlights of her career, and never-before-seen video of Whitney. Also included is an extensive photo section from BeBe's personal collection.
- GenresBiographyMusicNonfiction
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
23 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
BeBe Winans
11 books24 followersBenjamin "BeBe" Winans is a gospel and R&B singer. He is a member of the noted Winans family, most members of which are also gospel artists.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
August 6, 2016
I wanted so much to like this book. I am only one of millions of fans of Whitney Houston's. Her personal life was always vaguely interesting to me, but her professional life has always been fascinating to me. Her voice, her career moves, her concerts, her song choices...these things interest me. Her trials and missteps were never something I obsessed over. I always figured that was her business, not mine. i don't understand why people keep writing about it after her death.
This book lacked any kind of direction or organization. It bounced from tid bit to tid bit of her life and career, never landing on a solid story of a life spent making great music. The author wasted most of the time trying to give the reader credentials as to why he was deemed worthy to talk about Whitney Houston in a public forum. He even went so far as to tell the reader that he would not share personal stories about Whitney with us because those need to be "kept in the family". I respect that way of thinking, but then I reply with: if you don't want to share stores then you probably shouldn't be writing a book.
the one take away that I really liked about the book was that he addressed her exhausted voice in later years. the press has said she "smoked"away her voice, but that just isn't true. After all of the touring and non-stop appearances her voice needed more and more rest and it was giving out. If there is anything redeemable about this book it is that the author took the time to explain that crucial fact.
I'm not asking anyone to tell me about her drug use or what she ordered from restaurants or how much time she spent doing her make up. you can keep all that. I wish one of these books would say something to the effect of 'this is how she felt when she recorded this song' and 'she always loved touring in this area' and 'this is why she chose this script'.
I don't need a book that lectures the public on interfering with her private life. Let us all learn from that mistake and keep it private. Someone should just write about the talent, the work and her musical legacy. That is a book I'd respect and enjoy reading.
This book lacked any kind of direction or organization. It bounced from tid bit to tid bit of her life and career, never landing on a solid story of a life spent making great music. The author wasted most of the time trying to give the reader credentials as to why he was deemed worthy to talk about Whitney Houston in a public forum. He even went so far as to tell the reader that he would not share personal stories about Whitney with us because those need to be "kept in the family". I respect that way of thinking, but then I reply with: if you don't want to share stores then you probably shouldn't be writing a book.
the one take away that I really liked about the book was that he addressed her exhausted voice in later years. the press has said she "smoked"away her voice, but that just isn't true. After all of the touring and non-stop appearances her voice needed more and more rest and it was giving out. If there is anything redeemable about this book it is that the author took the time to explain that crucial fact.
I'm not asking anyone to tell me about her drug use or what she ordered from restaurants or how much time she spent doing her make up. you can keep all that. I wish one of these books would say something to the effect of 'this is how she felt when she recorded this song' and 'she always loved touring in this area' and 'this is why she chose this script'.
I don't need a book that lectures the public on interfering with her private life. Let us all learn from that mistake and keep it private. Someone should just write about the talent, the work and her musical legacy. That is a book I'd respect and enjoy reading.
December 31, 2012
Can't do it. I'm being preached to. Just because its in a manner which I'm not supposed to realize doesn't make it so. The book is titled "The Whitney I Knew" not "The God I Knew".
I made it almost halfway but I've realized he has nothing to say. Not to me anyway. He's redundant, mostly speaking about God and gospel music.
The funny part? I didn't open this for "dirt". I opened it because I *thought* it would tell the *truth* about Whitney Houston, whether that be the good or the bad. Or, I should say, the good AND the bad.
And yeah, I'm going to say it. Whitney died this year that's ending, this past Feb. This was published in Aug. Counting those two months even, that's a grand total of 7 months. This is fast, certainly not much to it, but in my opinion, that's fairly fast. Money venture perhaps?
(I know. I'm so unGodly.)
I made it almost halfway but I've realized he has nothing to say. Not to me anyway. He's redundant, mostly speaking about God and gospel music.
The funny part? I didn't open this for "dirt". I opened it because I *thought* it would tell the *truth* about Whitney Houston, whether that be the good or the bad. Or, I should say, the good AND the bad.
And yeah, I'm going to say it. Whitney died this year that's ending, this past Feb. This was published in Aug. Counting those two months even, that's a grand total of 7 months. This is fast, certainly not much to it, but in my opinion, that's fairly fast. Money venture perhaps?
(I know. I'm so unGodly.)
August 10, 2012
This is a difficult read for me for a few reasons...BeBe's words are very warm and personable. I have seen Whitney many times in church and can attest to her love for the Winans family and her love for God. I am trying to read over the lump in my throat...this was a book that made me feel close to Whitney. I still hurt for the loss but could see the zest she had for life along with the antics that made her lovingly Whitney. BeBe's love for Whitney was clear in each page and he was careful to keep their confidences and honor the pact they made. I will continue to keep her daughter, mother and family in prayer.
June 8, 2017
I tried to listen to The Whitney I Knew by BeBe Winans although it is well-intentioned but I felt like he was lecturing and yelling at me. Also, throughout the first hour of the audiobook he is guilt tripping the listeners. BeBe's tone is absolutely ridiculous. It is not our fault that Whitney was so famous, you don't get to make us bad that we loved her music that she released to the public. BeBe's preaching tone was a huge turn off so I couldn't keep listening.
July 16, 2016
What a strange book. I think the purpose of it was to desperately convince us that Whitney was a heaven-bound backsliding Christian with a great but faulty heart and dangerous passions (think of King David and his many horrendous exploits). I definitely understand that this memoir might help Bebe and family sleep better at night. I would do the same for my family and friends possibly.
I wasn't much of a Whitney fan. (I did thoroughly enjoy the Bodyguard movie though. I'm more of a Kevin Costner fan. I even loved the Postman and Water World). After reading this book I spent some time on Youtube watching Whitney concerts clips. THAT GIRL COULD SING!!!! But i prefer Aretha Franklin's Soul music. I want to hear a good rockin' band with my singers.
As I was reading this Black Gospel pop commentary (Yes, that is different than a Biblically theological Christ centered commentary - not horrendously different necessarily, just pour in a huge cup of emotional celebrity appreciation. Sadly, I see black pastors do this all the time.) I kept thinking of three of my other FAVORITE possibly Christian music celebrities (I say that in the most hopeful of terms): Here goes... Alice Cooper, Wynonna Judd, and Dave Mustaine (singer for Megadeth).
"WHAT?!" I'm sure people will say - how dare a boy compare the Holiness of Whitney to that EVIL Creepiness of Cooper and that hillbilly harlot Judd? (I won't even get into Megadeth's Ummmh... DEATH.)
Hey! Nobodies perfect.
But they are all trying to have Christianity mixed in their life, families and career. With some successes and major failures. I'm not sure how many of them actual attend a church or have ever sat still for a serious Bible study. (not much mention of Whitney ever opening a Bible) But I've heard all four of them speak of the importance of their Christianity - and for that: I cheer them on.
I know, I know, Alice Cooper sang about Dead Babies and sex, drugs and rock n' roll. Yep, He also was constantly showing us that he was playing the Devil's advocate. I can't count all the songs he sang that dealt with Heaven and Hell and Satan and sin and the need for salvation. Hopefully it's not too little too late. I would never hold him up as a role model though. He's more of a philosophical poet entertainer. But God is mentioned in pretty much ALL of his albums. I'm not sure Whitney can boast that? She seems to mostly sing about love and sex. (which is God approved in specific family settings).
And my current favorite Wynonna Judd song is called: "Jesus and a Jukebox." Go listen to it on youtube. Awesome. A good indication of where her heart is at. And I just watched a video of her and her band praying before a concert. This is NOT the same type of prayers you mockingly see Madonna or Nicki Minaj blasphemously portraying. (best just to assume they are praying to Baal). Thankfully, Wynonna has a long history of trying to do the right thing. And she's still alive and growing. It's awesome that she married the drummer from the band HIGHWAY 101. (Mr. Cactus Moser).
Okay, having said all this - What do we do with Bebe Winans' book? Well, mostly we learn NEVER to get our religion from celebrities (or our hopes). Better to simply go buy a Bible and read it for yourself.
This does help us understand the pressures and temptations that Musicians and celebrities constantly face. Even folks in the Bible times didn't often make out that well. So for this memoir I do find the praising of Whitney's religious stance to be pointless mostly. But I sure enjoyed hearing Bebe share some fun carefree moments with the Whitney who was like a sister to him. And he shared a few moments he had with Whitney's daughter: Another tragedy of celebrity rebelliousness there as well.
Why can't everyone just be like Ringo Star (that guy from the beatles) who just uses his drumming celebrity status to jam with some friends and enjoy life and music. If you're busy with music - hopefully you can leave the drugs and debauchery behind. Sadly, most people love those WAY MORE than making music. Can you imagine if Whitney went out and jammed with Eric Clapton, Branford Marsalis, Bonnie Raitt, Vince Gill, Newsboys etc.? She might still be alive: Like Joe Walsh is. Music and friends should always trump drugs, sex, and loneliness. Or better yet - read some good books.
I wasn't much of a Whitney fan. (I did thoroughly enjoy the Bodyguard movie though. I'm more of a Kevin Costner fan. I even loved the Postman and Water World). After reading this book I spent some time on Youtube watching Whitney concerts clips. THAT GIRL COULD SING!!!! But i prefer Aretha Franklin's Soul music. I want to hear a good rockin' band with my singers.
As I was reading this Black Gospel pop commentary (Yes, that is different than a Biblically theological Christ centered commentary - not horrendously different necessarily, just pour in a huge cup of emotional celebrity appreciation. Sadly, I see black pastors do this all the time.) I kept thinking of three of my other FAVORITE possibly Christian music celebrities (I say that in the most hopeful of terms): Here goes... Alice Cooper, Wynonna Judd, and Dave Mustaine (singer for Megadeth).
"WHAT?!" I'm sure people will say - how dare a boy compare the Holiness of Whitney to that EVIL Creepiness of Cooper and that hillbilly harlot Judd? (I won't even get into Megadeth's Ummmh... DEATH.)
Hey! Nobodies perfect.
But they are all trying to have Christianity mixed in their life, families and career. With some successes and major failures. I'm not sure how many of them actual attend a church or have ever sat still for a serious Bible study. (not much mention of Whitney ever opening a Bible) But I've heard all four of them speak of the importance of their Christianity - and for that: I cheer them on.
I know, I know, Alice Cooper sang about Dead Babies and sex, drugs and rock n' roll. Yep, He also was constantly showing us that he was playing the Devil's advocate. I can't count all the songs he sang that dealt with Heaven and Hell and Satan and sin and the need for salvation. Hopefully it's not too little too late. I would never hold him up as a role model though. He's more of a philosophical poet entertainer. But God is mentioned in pretty much ALL of his albums. I'm not sure Whitney can boast that? She seems to mostly sing about love and sex. (which is God approved in specific family settings).
And my current favorite Wynonna Judd song is called: "Jesus and a Jukebox." Go listen to it on youtube. Awesome. A good indication of where her heart is at. And I just watched a video of her and her band praying before a concert. This is NOT the same type of prayers you mockingly see Madonna or Nicki Minaj blasphemously portraying. (best just to assume they are praying to Baal). Thankfully, Wynonna has a long history of trying to do the right thing. And she's still alive and growing. It's awesome that she married the drummer from the band HIGHWAY 101. (Mr. Cactus Moser).
Okay, having said all this - What do we do with Bebe Winans' book? Well, mostly we learn NEVER to get our religion from celebrities (or our hopes). Better to simply go buy a Bible and read it for yourself.
This does help us understand the pressures and temptations that Musicians and celebrities constantly face. Even folks in the Bible times didn't often make out that well. So for this memoir I do find the praising of Whitney's religious stance to be pointless mostly. But I sure enjoyed hearing Bebe share some fun carefree moments with the Whitney who was like a sister to him. And he shared a few moments he had with Whitney's daughter: Another tragedy of celebrity rebelliousness there as well.
Why can't everyone just be like Ringo Star (that guy from the beatles) who just uses his drumming celebrity status to jam with some friends and enjoy life and music. If you're busy with music - hopefully you can leave the drugs and debauchery behind. Sadly, most people love those WAY MORE than making music. Can you imagine if Whitney went out and jammed with Eric Clapton, Branford Marsalis, Bonnie Raitt, Vince Gill, Newsboys etc.? She might still be alive: Like Joe Walsh is. Music and friends should always trump drugs, sex, and loneliness. Or better yet - read some good books.
November 25, 2014
Whitney Houston will always be remembered of having the greatest voices I have ever heard. Angelic,powerful, distant and incomparable, few can intimate but never duplicate her accomplishments. Despite all of her immediate success, she was still a human being that had insecurities about fame and live. Told from the perspective of her 'brother', He paints a different side of Whitney that is not exposed in the tabloids. Whitney was a hilarious and lively person, particularly a chatterbox that will talk your head off for hours. Most importantly she was a child of God that had deep roots in the church,never being ashamed to profess her faith in the world. In the midst of her hectic schedule,she still made time available for Bebe, who always joke that he was living in the shadow of her success. While drug use took a toil on her life, she should be remembered about the love that she displayed to her fans. The Whitney that Bebe knew was a human being that struggled like all of us, only that her sufferings was in the spotlight.
I have to say that is one of the better books I read about a celebrities life. Usually I do not care much about books like this, cause some authors fabricate a lot of details.However Bebe knew Whitney like no one else besides her mother did. I laughed at some of the things that they encountered over the years, I had no idea that Whitney was such a character! The pact that they made to be close to each other no matter what happened was truly touching and memorable. Bebe felt a deep sense of responsibility writing this book to tell people that Whitney was not who people thought she was. My favorite chapter in this book is when he did not elaborate on her substance of drugs but simply said that he was there for her in the midst of all. However she is an adult that makes her own decisions, only thing He can do was love her through it.
Whitney Houston I will always love you, this was truly a magnificent memoir to her.
I have to say that is one of the better books I read about a celebrities life. Usually I do not care much about books like this, cause some authors fabricate a lot of details.However Bebe knew Whitney like no one else besides her mother did. I laughed at some of the things that they encountered over the years, I had no idea that Whitney was such a character! The pact that they made to be close to each other no matter what happened was truly touching and memorable. Bebe felt a deep sense of responsibility writing this book to tell people that Whitney was not who people thought she was. My favorite chapter in this book is when he did not elaborate on her substance of drugs but simply said that he was there for her in the midst of all. However she is an adult that makes her own decisions, only thing He can do was love her through it.
Whitney Houston I will always love you, this was truly a magnificent memoir to her.
January 17, 2016
Author: BeBe Winans
Published By: Worthy Publishing
Age Recommended: 14+
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 5
Review:
"The Whitney I Knew" by Bebe Winans was a very enjoyable read. This author did a wonderful job in letting us really see Whitney in truth...dignity and love. I thought this was a awesome novel that tells 'funny personal stories' that only this author could share with us .....the reader. Mr. Winans gives his own perspective view and with his discretion did a wonderful job of giving us..Whitney Houston (Nip) life truths that only he wanted to share with us ..the reader. Mr. Winans wanted to open our eyes to see that Whitney Houston
was human...she breathed, cried, bleeds, falls, get up, stumble and just gets back up again. Whitney Houston was a 'loyal friend, mother, sister, daughter, cousin, aunt, and also a spouse.'
I felt "The Whitney I Knew" was beautiful written by a dear friend that really loved Whitney. Did Whitney have struggles...yes and many people have struggled too ...but one thing for sure we all know that Whitney Loved Jesus...her favorite song...'Jesus Loves Me.'
I really loved "The Whitney I Knew" and would recommend to all as a excellent read and will leave you yearning to hear her beautiful voice once again.
Published By: Worthy Publishing
Age Recommended: 14+
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 5
Review:
"The Whitney I Knew" by Bebe Winans was a very enjoyable read. This author did a wonderful job in letting us really see Whitney in truth...dignity and love. I thought this was a awesome novel that tells 'funny personal stories' that only this author could share with us .....the reader. Mr. Winans gives his own perspective view and with his discretion did a wonderful job of giving us..Whitney Houston (Nip) life truths that only he wanted to share with us ..the reader. Mr. Winans wanted to open our eyes to see that Whitney Houston
was human...she breathed, cried, bleeds, falls, get up, stumble and just gets back up again. Whitney Houston was a 'loyal friend, mother, sister, daughter, cousin, aunt, and also a spouse.'
I felt "The Whitney I Knew" was beautiful written by a dear friend that really loved Whitney. Did Whitney have struggles...yes and many people have struggled too ...but one thing for sure we all know that Whitney Loved Jesus...her favorite song...'Jesus Loves Me.'
I really loved "The Whitney I Knew" and would recommend to all as a excellent read and will leave you yearning to hear her beautiful voice once again.
June 5, 2013
I am a crazy Whitney Houston fan. And I have an embarrassing love of celebrity biographies. However, the first half of this book almost lost me. I was thinking, "I could have written this without any research." But here I was, reading a book written by BeBe Winans, who was supposed to be like a brother to Whitney. Boring.
It eventually picked up and he started to share more insights. This wasn't a celebrity "tell-all" book, which I kind of enjoyed about it. When he finally did get to the more personal aspects of Whitney, a lot of it was about her faith and what being in the public eye did to her. I liked that his perspective was that she struggled with fame, but not in the "oh, woe is me" way you often hear from celebrities. She knew she was blessed with fame and fortune, but there were certain negative aspects as well. This was a very humanizing perspective on one of the biggest superstars ever to have lived.
(It gets preachy at times, which usually bugs me, but it didn't here. I think that's because he was really preaching about what Whitney believed, not really telling me what to believe.)
It eventually picked up and he started to share more insights. This wasn't a celebrity "tell-all" book, which I kind of enjoyed about it. When he finally did get to the more personal aspects of Whitney, a lot of it was about her faith and what being in the public eye did to her. I liked that his perspective was that she struggled with fame, but not in the "oh, woe is me" way you often hear from celebrities. She knew she was blessed with fame and fortune, but there were certain negative aspects as well. This was a very humanizing perspective on one of the biggest superstars ever to have lived.
(It gets preachy at times, which usually bugs me, but it didn't here. I think that's because he was really preaching about what Whitney believed, not really telling me what to believe.)
Read
March 13, 2015A quick read and a heartfelt book from a guy walking through the tragedy of having lost a friend who was like a sister to him. The book seemed therapeutic for him, walking through personal heartache and reminiscing joyful memories to tell the reader who Whitney Houston truly was. I've said for years and say it now, I appreciate the sweet spirit of BeBe Winans. In his own small way, the guy encouraged me several years ago by email when I was feeling down and just needed to know someone out there felt I was important enough to notice in that season. God used BeBe that day, in just a small way to him, which probably looked forgettable but meant world to me. I can see his "voice" in the words of this book.
My favorite chapter was the last one, which is not so much about Houston, but offers fresh insight into the value of those around us.
My favorite chapter was the last one, which is not so much about Houston, but offers fresh insight into the value of those around us.
August 5, 2016
Recording artist and composer Bebe Winans writes THE WHITNEY I KNEW as an intimate portrait of his long-time friend. The stories in this book reveal the inside story of the effects of fame and celebrity. For example, Winans tells about the pressure to respond and graciously treat fans who interrupt daily life when you are out in the public at a restaurant. Or the fact that Whiney Houston loved to drive her own car—even though according to Winans, Whitney was a terrible driver and once spent 45 minutes driving around trying to find her own home.
I found Winans’ stories in this book have a refreshing honesty which makes it worth listening. Because of his 28-year friendship with Whitney Houston, Winans provides an intimate look at how a celebrity also wants to have normality in their life. I enjoyed this book and heard it cover to cover. I highly recommend it.
I found Winans’ stories in this book have a refreshing honesty which makes it worth listening. Because of his 28-year friendship with Whitney Houston, Winans provides an intimate look at how a celebrity also wants to have normality in their life. I enjoyed this book and heard it cover to cover. I highly recommend it.
July 5, 2012
This portrayal of who Whitney really was beyond the fame is the best tribute to her legacy. It is a heartfelt recount of personal stories and memories that people really need to hear. I never stopped smiling, this book captured my heart because it was like bring her back to life through words. The main lesson in this book is love, loyalty and friendship. If you are a Whitney fan, this is a great book to read. It will solidify what we already knew about her, she was an amazing spirit. If you were not a Whitney fan, this is a great book to become a fan! I am not an easy critic on the art of storytelling but I finished this book in one day. Enough said.
April 11, 2015
Too praising. Human beings are more multi-dimensional. Also, it's a book about faith in God, not really about Whitney...
November 7, 2019
Short review: beautiful but white-washed tribute to a sister-friend. It's annoying how Bebe keeps acting like fame happened to Whitney instead of the truth, which is that she pursued it with all of her strength...and belatedly found out that she lost her soul in the attainment.
Longer review: 2012 Bebe Winans was still in denial. Famous people - and those who worship, envy, etc. them - simply refuse to admit that it's impossible to say yes to the devil's deal without losing your soul in the process. Bebe spends the majority of the book making excuses for Whitney's bad choices, blaming everyone else for Whitney selling her soul to Satan, and trying to convince us that Whitney really was a child of God despite all evidence to the contrary.
She literally sold her God-given gift to the highest bidder to sell products and a false version of love (e.g., her first pop hit, "Saving All of My Love For You", glorifies adultery). Then she tried to promote Jesus while serving Satan (e.g., thanking Jesus as she accepts the world's awards for singing music and portraying roles that don't glorify Jesus). That's the very definition of double-mindedness! The Bible says that a double-minded person will be unstable in all of their ways, and shouldn't expect to receive anything from God (James 1).
On page 140, Bebe even blasphemes the Holy Spirit saying that the truth did not set Whitney free (contrary to what JESUS says in John 8). Oh really? How would he know?No one bothered telling her the truth that she's faking her faith in Jesus. God's gifts are given without repentance (Romans 11:29), meaning that it's possible for someone to sing with an anointing that "delivers" the listener even while the singer is not living in alignment with Jesus. Just because the Holy Spirit made us feel something when she sang doesn't mean that SHE was saved. As apostle Paul wrote (1 Corinthians 9), he made sure to discipline his body so that he wouldn't be disqualified from salvation after preaching to others. The fruit of a person's life shows who is their true God (or "god"). Whitney's "fruit": addiction, crazy marriage, divorce, wild child, idolatry, etc.
The truth is that Whitney enjoyed singing and talking ABOUT Jesus, but she didn't actually follow Jesus OR rely on Him to make life decisions. So He wasn't truly her "Lord" or her "Savior". If someone close to Whitney had told her the truth about herself, then maybe she would've been free from "life" (God) exposing her as a fraud who worshiped entertainment, not Jesus. She chose the devil's path but expected God's rewards. In other words, she believed in - and promoted - a lie (Satan). Her "Christian" friends and family need to repent of enabling her hypocrisy and self-delusion. They knew the truth, but denied it to continue to prop up their idol and call their idolatry "love".
For example:
"Sometimes our dreams can lead us down a path we never thought we'd walk. They can deceive us into thinking we want something that wouldn't be so great for us after all. It makes me wonder what is really worthy of my dreams in this life. I don't think it's wrong to desire prosperity or success. So don't hear me saying that you shouldn't dream to be like Whitney. Go ahead: Chase your dreams, and dream big. But be wise.
Jesus once advised that one should consider the cost before taking on a project -- and he didn't just mean financially. The world will shower abundance upon you if and when you achieve your dreams, but it will also bury you with expectations and strip away the simplicity of your life." - Bebe Winans (p. 147)
Actually, Jesus was referring to counting the cost of FOLLOWING HIM before agreeing to become His follower because most people turn away from Him to follow their own desires instead. Truly following Jesus is the most difficult path to take in life. Whitney lived to please "the world" so that she could be "successful" according to "the world". She discovered that path ends in destruction. Did she ever admit to herself that her downfall life is the result of her own bad choices (i.e., NOT fame's fault or her fans' fault)?
I hope that she repented of her idolatry and rebellion in the end...but considering where/how she died, I don't think that she did.
The day after Whitney died, I returned to the church that God chose for me...to receive the answer to my question of why He didn't save Whitney. Almost 8 years later, I finally received His answer: her life is a cautionary tale for everyone who knowingly wastes God's grace.
Matthew 4:1-11 NLT -
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.
During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ ”
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’ ”
Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ”
Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
JESUS: "You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
"Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” (Matthew 7:13-27 NLT)
JESUS: "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?"
(Matthew 16:26 NLT)
Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."
(Mark 7:6 NLT)
John 8:31-59 NLT
-
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
“But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message. I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.”
"Our father is Abraham!” they declared. “No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. No, you are imitating your real father.”
They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.”
Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”
The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?”
“No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me. And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge. I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!”
The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!’ Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’ but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”
The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!”
At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.
John 14:6-7 NLT
-
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
Galatians 5:19-25 NLT
-
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
Colossians 2:6-8 NLT -
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.
Hebrews 6:1-6 NLT -
So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.
For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.
Hebrews 10:26-27, 35-39 NLT
-
Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies...
So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
“For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”
But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.
Ephesians 2:1-10 NLT
-
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.
So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Luke 14:25-35 NLT
- A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’
“Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
“Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”
Proverbs 10:22 - The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
Longer review: 2012 Bebe Winans was still in denial. Famous people - and those who worship, envy, etc. them - simply refuse to admit that it's impossible to say yes to the devil's deal without losing your soul in the process. Bebe spends the majority of the book making excuses for Whitney's bad choices, blaming everyone else for Whitney selling her soul to Satan, and trying to convince us that Whitney really was a child of God despite all evidence to the contrary.
She literally sold her God-given gift to the highest bidder to sell products and a false version of love (e.g., her first pop hit, "Saving All of My Love For You", glorifies adultery). Then she tried to promote Jesus while serving Satan (e.g., thanking Jesus as she accepts the world's awards for singing music and portraying roles that don't glorify Jesus). That's the very definition of double-mindedness! The Bible says that a double-minded person will be unstable in all of their ways, and shouldn't expect to receive anything from God (James 1).
On page 140, Bebe even blasphemes the Holy Spirit saying that the truth did not set Whitney free (contrary to what JESUS says in John 8). Oh really? How would he know?No one bothered telling her the truth that she's faking her faith in Jesus. God's gifts are given without repentance (Romans 11:29), meaning that it's possible for someone to sing with an anointing that "delivers" the listener even while the singer is not living in alignment with Jesus. Just because the Holy Spirit made us feel something when she sang doesn't mean that SHE was saved. As apostle Paul wrote (1 Corinthians 9), he made sure to discipline his body so that he wouldn't be disqualified from salvation after preaching to others. The fruit of a person's life shows who is their true God (or "god"). Whitney's "fruit": addiction, crazy marriage, divorce, wild child, idolatry, etc.
The truth is that Whitney enjoyed singing and talking ABOUT Jesus, but she didn't actually follow Jesus OR rely on Him to make life decisions. So He wasn't truly her "Lord" or her "Savior". If someone close to Whitney had told her the truth about herself, then maybe she would've been free from "life" (God) exposing her as a fraud who worshiped entertainment, not Jesus. She chose the devil's path but expected God's rewards. In other words, she believed in - and promoted - a lie (Satan). Her "Christian" friends and family need to repent of enabling her hypocrisy and self-delusion. They knew the truth, but denied it to continue to prop up their idol and call their idolatry "love".
For example:
"Sometimes our dreams can lead us down a path we never thought we'd walk. They can deceive us into thinking we want something that wouldn't be so great for us after all. It makes me wonder what is really worthy of my dreams in this life. I don't think it's wrong to desire prosperity or success. So don't hear me saying that you shouldn't dream to be like Whitney. Go ahead: Chase your dreams, and dream big. But be wise.
Jesus once advised that one should consider the cost before taking on a project -- and he didn't just mean financially. The world will shower abundance upon you if and when you achieve your dreams, but it will also bury you with expectations and strip away the simplicity of your life." - Bebe Winans (p. 147)
Actually, Jesus was referring to counting the cost of FOLLOWING HIM before agreeing to become His follower because most people turn away from Him to follow their own desires instead. Truly following Jesus is the most difficult path to take in life. Whitney lived to please "the world" so that she could be "successful" according to "the world". She discovered that path ends in destruction. Did she ever admit to herself that her downfall life is the result of her own bad choices (i.e., NOT fame's fault or her fans' fault)?
I hope that she repented of her idolatry and rebellion in the end...but considering where/how she died, I don't think that she did.
The day after Whitney died, I returned to the church that God chose for me...to receive the answer to my question of why He didn't save Whitney. Almost 8 years later, I finally received His answer: her life is a cautionary tale for everyone who knowingly wastes God's grace.
Matthew 4:1-11 NLT -
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.
During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ ”
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’ ”
Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ”
Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
JESUS: "You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
"Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” (Matthew 7:13-27 NLT)
JESUS: "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?"
(Matthew 16:26 NLT)
Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."
(Mark 7:6 NLT)
John 8:31-59 NLT
-
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
“But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message. I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.”
"Our father is Abraham!” they declared. “No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. No, you are imitating your real father.”
They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.”
Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”
The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?”
“No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me. And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge. I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!”
The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!’ Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’ but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”
The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!”
At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.
John 14:6-7 NLT
-
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
Galatians 5:19-25 NLT
-
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
Colossians 2:6-8 NLT -
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.
Hebrews 6:1-6 NLT -
So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.
For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.
Hebrews 10:26-27, 35-39 NLT
-
Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies...
So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
“For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”
But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.
Ephesians 2:1-10 NLT
-
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.
So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Luke 14:25-35 NLT
- A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’
“Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
“Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”
Proverbs 10:22 - The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
September 19, 2012
From the time she entered the music industry, she was destined to be a superstar. She had the model looks, the musical family, the personality and the voice. She had it all in our eyes. But it was too much to handle too soon and she struggled. The lost of privacy, the paparazzi, the contracts, the movies, the soundtracks was just too much to deal with in her short life. We lost her early this year. Even though I did not know her personally, I felt like I did. It was such a devastating lost to me.
Unlike the artists today, I had been listening to her since the age of 10 and I am in my 30's now. BeBe introduces us to their 28 year relationship and he put a human face on her. This book was a really interesting and informative read. He deals with certain parts of her life (some funny and some sad) but he does not give any secrets away which was a huge relief.
Her tale is a cautionary one to anyone that wants to go into the "business." It can eat you alive.
May God Bless him and her family.
Unlike the artists today, I had been listening to her since the age of 10 and I am in my 30's now. BeBe introduces us to their 28 year relationship and he put a human face on her. This book was a really interesting and informative read. He deals with certain parts of her life (some funny and some sad) but he does not give any secrets away which was a huge relief.
Her tale is a cautionary one to anyone that wants to go into the "business." It can eat you alive.
May God Bless him and her family.
July 22, 2012
I happened upon this book during one of my usual perusals through B&N. I picked it up, found a seat, and read it through. It was an easy read and I enjoyed his account of Whitney and his memories of the times they shared. I especially appreciated the fact that he held true to his loyalty and did not divulge any secrets she shared with him, though I do think he shared in a roundabout way the demons that plagued her. You have to read what's there and what's not there to see it. My heart went out to her even more. I so wish that she had moved to an island and opened up that juice bar she joked about, it may have saved her life. Miss you Whitney, RIP knowing that we will always love you. BeBe, thank you for sharing the Whitney you knew.
July 28, 2012
I went into Books-A-Million and saw this almost immediately. I picked it up and thought I would scan through it and just see what content it contained. As I began reading I felt myself being absorbed into the story. It was real. A real person telling of his friendship with a real person, not a celebrity, movie star or singer, but a real person. I never left my chair once I began it. I enjoyed it just that much. I rarely do this anymore with a book but did with this one. I loved it! I always was a Whitney fan so perhaps that is one of the reasons I became easily entranced by the book. Regardless, it was a great read. I love biographies and true life stories. This is more than just a story. It is a life recalled and moments between friends shared.
Read
April 1, 2016I read this book a while back. I saw it in the library and was instantaneously confused. My first thought was: 'Why is Bebe Winans writing a book about Whitney Houston?' I knew off the top of my head that the Winans family had always been close to Whitney but I still couldn't wrap my head around WHY he was writing a book about her. Anyway, I checked out the book and got to work.
Like I said I read the book a while back but even so it felt like the book was more about Bebe's life rather than is his relationship with Whitney. I felt dirty after finishing it because it made me feel like he was using Whitney's tragic and untimely demise to make himself look good.
I can't give this book a rating because I still don't know how to feel about it.
Like I said I read the book a while back but even so it felt like the book was more about Bebe's life rather than is his relationship with Whitney. I felt dirty after finishing it because it made me feel like he was using Whitney's tragic and untimely demise to make himself look good.
I can't give this book a rating because I still don't know how to feel about it.
November 10, 2014
I listened to this on Audiobook and while it is very repetitive, not exactly chronological and even "preachy" at times it is a very personal and intimate account of Bebe Winans friendship with Whitney Houston. You can feel in his words that what he has to say is very important to him and he wants the reader/listener to learn from his accounts. He wants people to know that Whitney was a very real and wonderful person whose death affected him deeply. At the heart of his story is a real message of love and the acknowledgement that everyone needs and deserves to be loved.
January 2, 2013
This is a very compassionate book written by a close friend of Whitney. He gets behind the tabloids & news story to the real Whitney who was a very loving, generous, & Christian woman. He sheds light on the incredible pressures put on Whitney and how this led to attempts to escape it through drugs. He is honest about the issues but states that's only one facet of this incredible woman with a voice of an angel.
November 16, 2012
I wanted to read a real autobiography about Whitney. She was at the height of popularity when I was a kid so I don't remember much. This was just a book of one of her best friends remembering her personality and singing voice without any of the problems she had in her marriage or with drug use. There were nice memories of her but not what I wanted to read about.
February 11, 2015
The Best
I loved this book. Not only does Be Be tell you his precious memories of Whitney, he gives life changing advice about life. Whitney was a precious angel the went home and will be missed for years to come and I love the something positive has been written about her. She deserves this. Brilliant book!
I loved this book. Not only does Be Be tell you his precious memories of Whitney, he gives life changing advice about life. Whitney was a precious angel the went home and will be missed for years to come and I love the something positive has been written about her. She deserves this. Brilliant book!
February 2, 2016
The Whitney I Knew
Tastefully written
3.5 stars
This book was written by a close friend of Whitney's. I felt his (Bebe Winans) love and protection for her, on every page. Without getting too deep, he shared her ups and downs and her love of Christ in a way that any good friend would. Nice tribute.
Tastefully written
3.5 stars
This book was written by a close friend of Whitney's. I felt his (Bebe Winans) love and protection for her, on every page. Without getting too deep, he shared her ups and downs and her love of Christ in a way that any good friend would. Nice tribute.
May 4, 2016
I just started reading this week.
August 26, 2012
All I can say in this review is that I miss Whitney, and reading this book made me miss her even more...
May 29, 2013
read my comments on amazon.com
May 26, 2014
Awful!!
I was excited to read this and learn about Whitney's real issues but this didn't cover any of it :(
This is all rainbows & butterflies & a TON of Preaching.
I was excited to read this and learn about Whitney's real issues but this didn't cover any of it :(
This is all rainbows & butterflies & a TON of Preaching.
November 7, 2014
Great perspective from a place of love and truth. It acknowledged the ugly, but did not exploit it.
August 16, 2012
Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, and warm overall. I loved every word of it!
April 22, 2015
I really enjoyed reading a close friend's account of her life, with such a positive spin.
September 21, 2014
Written With Dignity!
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