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Originally Published May 27, 2015.

No matter how successful we are in business, life can, without our permission, drop a bombshell that we never saw coming or could have been prepared for.

Renee Hornbuckle thought she was ready, equipped, and prepared for practically anything. Through the lenses of many, she was considered “successful” from the external side of things: successful marriage, thriving ministry, fruitful relationships, and lucrative business. But her house of cards came tumbling down after a jolting scandal broke that her then-husband and pastor was facing multiple allegations of narcotics possession and gross sexual misconduct. Paralyzed with a real-life scandal that included shame, suffering, and sorrow, not to mention the spiraling loss of finances, relationships, and possessions. Hornbuckle had to choose to either rise above her crisis or collapse into it.

Hornbuckle now serves as a crisis intervention strategist and CEO of Insight Development Strategists to share experiential wisdom in confronting, managing, and overcoming crises. The woman of faith, who has written several books, including Sustained and Suffering in Silence, has an executive career that spans 30 years in strategic management, organizational leadership, crisis intervention, analytic capability, staff training, development, and mentorship.

“Troubles don’t ever come at a convenient time,” she says. “They actually tend to come at times of inconvenience, as an interruption when we least expect it. The truth is that as much as we desire for things to be just right in life, there will be troubles and unpredictable adversity. The bigger question becomes, will you be ready?”

When you are faced with a crisis or suffer loss, recognize that there are three phases in the experience: Shock, acceptance, and adjustment. Hornbuckle shares the following practical crisis coping list to empower you through the process to a healthy, functional, and rational recovery:

Focus only on what’s important. Take it one hour, day, or even moment at a time.

Get enough sleep and rest your body and mind. If you are exhausted, you won’t be able to process information effectively to make smart decisions.

Try to maintain some type of normal routine as best as possible. This is of utmost importance if you have children. Their daily routines should continue as best as possible.

Remember that regular exercise helps relieve stress and tension. Even if it’s just a walk or relaxation exercises.

Eat a balanced diet. Limit high-calorie and junk food. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

Avoid consuming alcohol, medications, or other drugs in excess to mask the pain. Once the effects of alcohol and drugs wear off, you still have to face the facts!

Find the right sources to talk to, especially those who have lived through and survived similar experiences. Make sure they are individuals who have the capacity to comfort, sustain, and recharge you.

Don’t be ashamed to consult a licensed professional or speak with your pastor or trusted counselor.

Give yourself time and permission to heal. You will have some challenging days, and that’s perfectly alright. Just don’t let these temporary challenges begin to paralyze you.

Do something you enjoy: Journal, paint, cook, travel, and spend quality time with family and friends to relax, unwind, and refresh.

Remember the coping skills you have used to survive former losses. Draw upon these inner strengths again.

Written by Roz A. Gee

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After the firing of Melissa Barerra, Jenna Ortega leaving the Scream franchise, and director Christopher Landon abandoning the project, it looked like Scream 7 was on ice. But now, the sequel is roaring back to life with arguably its biggest star involved once again. After controversially stepping away from Scream VI, actress Neve Campbell has revealed via an Instagram post that she is returning to the role of Sidney Prescott for Scream 7. Not only that, but so is original Scream writer Kevin Williamson, who will direct a Scream installment for the first time. Scream (2022) and Scream VI’s writer Gary Busick is taking over writing the script from James Vanderbilt, according to The Hollywood Reporter. You can see Campbell’s announcement below:

In her post in regards to Williamson’s involvement, Campbell said “This was his baby and it’s his brilliant mind that dreamt up this world. Kevin is not just an inspiration as an artist but has been a dear friend for many years. To the amazing Scream fans, I hope you are as excited as I am. See you on set.” The original Scream originated as a script called “Scary Movie,” which caught the eye of Wes Craven. Williamson would also write the second and fourth chapters. Not to mention other slashers like I Know What You Did Last Summer. His only feature directing credit is 1999’s Teaching Mrs. Tingle. Now, his second will take him back to where his career began, with Sidney Prescott.

Many believed that Neve Campbell would not return to the franchise after a salary dispute with Spyglass Entertainment. This conflict (allegedly) led her to not return for Scream VI. Since then, the goodwill for Spyglass among Scream fandom has been not so great. This only got worse after Melissa Barerra’s firing and Jenna Ortega’s decision to not return. Many believed another Scream would never get off the ground. Now that it will, a lot of Scream fans will feel conflicted contributing to a franchise that treated its stars so shabbily. Can the return of Neve Campbell be enough to get the fans to un-boycott the franchise under Spyglass? We’ll find out when Scream 7 hits theaters probably in 2025 or 2026.

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The post Nicole Murphy Breaks Her Silence After The Death Of Her Partner: ‘You Were My World’ appeared first on Essence.

While X-Men ’97 on Disney+ is bringing back many well-known and beloved characters from back in the day, they are also incorporating one X-Men character from the ’90s many have forgotten about. This character has not appeared in a significant capacity in a Marvel comic in years. He did not even show up on the ’90s cartoon. That character is the mysterious villain the X-Cutioner, whom Marvel Animation has confirmed will play a big role in the Disney+ series, and already has an action figure in the new Hasbro X-Men ’97 line. Here’s the lowdown on this often-forgotten villain.

The 1993 First Appearance of the X-Cutioner

Created by writer Scott Lobdell and artist Jason Pearson, the X-Cutioner first appeared in Uncanny X-Men Annual #17 in 1993. In the story “The Gift Goodbye,” the mysterious figure in the executioner’s hood first appeared. He’s a human slaying mutants, but only “mutants who have killed first.” He gets on the X-Men’s radar in a bad way, and they discover he’s using a collection of advanced weapons from various villains they’ve faced. Some included Sentinel tech, but most others include alien races like the Shi’ar and the Z’noxx. After that first encounter, X-Cutioner fakes his death, but Storm suspects he teleported away instead. She was correct.

The X-Cutioner Fights Cyclops, Cable, Rogue, and X-Man

The X-Cutioner next appeared later that same year in Uncanny X-Men #301, also written by Scott Lobdell. He attacks the X-Mansion and tries to murder the comatose Emma Frost. Supposedly this was a judgement for her crimes as White Queen of the Hellfire Club. Cyclops and Cable find a way to stop him. However, the mystery of who he really is under that mask remains. It’s not until 1995’s X-Man #11 that we learn the truth about this hooded figure, and why he targets mutants. It’s a secret that ties into the X-Men’s earliest days under Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

The X-Cutioner’s Origin Revealed in X-Man

In the early X-Men comics, Professor Xavier had a contact in the FBI named Fred Duncan. He was sympathetic to the mutant cause, and he helped Xavier on many occasions. He faded into obscurity over time. Decades later, when Marvel revealed the X-Cutioner’s origin, we learned that a mutant murdered Duncan, and his FBI partner Carl Denti vowed revenge. Duncan confiscated alien materials from the X-Men’s adventures which Denti now had access to. He donned the guise of the X-Cutioner and used the alien gadgets to kill mutants he saw as dangerous. Denti believed himself to not be a bigot, saying he didn’t hate mutants, only those that caused harm to others. He attacked Rogue, Nate Grey, and Gambit. After assisting the Punisher on a case, he disappeared for years. The X-Cutioner returned after nearly two decades, in the X-Men’s Krakoan era, when he attacked the Marauders.

The Powers and Weapons of the X-Cutioner

The X-Cutioner has highly advanced technological weaponry, mostly of an extraterrestrial origin. These weapons came from the government storehouses of his old FBI partner Fred Duncan, who once worked with Charles Xavier. The armor he wears is possibly the same armor used by Shi’ar operative Eric the Red, who once fought the X-Men. The armor gives Denti enhanced strength and durability. It can also analyze DNA, distinguishing mutant from human, possibly extracted from Sentinel tech. The X-Cutioner wields a staff that has some sort of powerful plasma discharge. He also has a teleportation device, almost certainly also of alien origin.

The X-Cutioner in X-Men ’97

It remains a mystery just what kind of role the X-Cutioner will play in X-Men ’97. The fact that he has an action figure suggests he will be much more than a cameo. It’s quite possible this X-Cutioner is not Carl Denti at all, but someone already hinted at in the original X-Men: The Animated Series. He’s a relatively obscure and minor villain, so the man behind the mask might be someone else entirely on the show. Fred Duncan was never in the classic show, so it makes little sense for him to get a reference in the new series. We’ll find out what role the X-Cutioner plays in X-Men ’97 when the show rolls out this spring.

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