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Editorial Comment We love the President of the United States but his advisors need to change their philosophy when advising President Obama. Compromise is to be expected in many instances, however we do not feel President Obama should give in to the party of NO at the expense of those Americans who voted him into office. Just as the Republican leaders have indicated they will not compromise their principles and values, neither should the Democrats who by the way had the real historic election in 2008. The actual majority of Americans spoke by casting their votes for President Obama’s Democratic Agenda. These American people, who also have principles and beliefs, “surprisingly” have not been acknowledged by the Republican/Tea Party when they make their blanket statement “What the American People want”.
Wishing President Obama A Very Happy Birthday August 4, 2011
If the overwhelming voices of those who voted President Obama into office had been heard during the last two years instead of the false statements and lies touted by the republican/tea party, perhaps there would have been a significant different outcome in the mid-term election. Just as the sound of “finger nails scratching a chalk board” sends chills through the spine, so does hearing the Republicans state, “the American people have spoken” or the “American people do and/or do not want”. Contrary to what it looks like from midterm elections, the Republican/Tea Party does not speak for all Americans as they seem to believe. This just proves the point they are out of touch and do not acknowledge the people who they forget are also Americans who voted for President Obama. The next time they have the audacity to assume what the rest of us want or think, would you please remind them that there is great majority of American middle class, hardworking people who do NOT agree with their corporate, Wall Street & wealthy ONLY agenda. They do not speak for all
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Dr. Verolga Nix - Minister Of Music Verolga Nix is the daughter of the late Reverend Andrew W. Nix, Sr. and the late Ida A. Nix of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She majored in music at Germantown High School. After taking the test given by the Board of Education, she won the first out-of-state, four year music scholarship ever offered by the Board of Education Music Division. After two years at New England Conservatory of Music, in Boston, Massachusetts, she transferred to Oberlin Conservatory of Music, in Oberlin, Ohio. She received a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Oberlin Conservatory. Verolga taught Music in the Philadelphia Public School System for over 20 years. Verolga is a member of BMI (Broadcast Music Inc,); NANM (National Association of Negro Musicians); and The Hymn Society. She has received awards from O.I.C.; Jazz Cultural Award from Amy 6 Public School; a proficiency award for “Composition, Arranging, Directing and Editing” from Dr. Hytolia R. James; the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Harrisburg, PA; and the Josie R. Roberts Music Award presented by the Delaware Valley Alumni Association of Bethune-Cookman College. She has accompanied, on piano, such greats as Patti LaBelle, Ruth Naomi Floyd and Jill Scott and taught two members of Pieces of A Dream. One of her greatest achievements was being selected as one of the two co-editors of the Supplementary Hymnal Songs of Zion underwritten by the United Methodist Church. Completed in 1981 she still lectures on its contents. In 1996 Verolga and the Intermezzo Choir recorded a CD and Cassette Tape, of her music entitled “Holy”. On Sunday, April 21, 1996, the manuscript book and tapes were released and presented to God. For the past 11 years Dr. Nix and Intermezzo Choir have sung Negro spirituals at a Slave Memorial Ceremony held on the George Washington Estate in Mt. Vernon, VA. The choir will participate again this year. In 1999 She traveled to Egypt as conductor and Music Consultant for the Eastern College Choir of St. David’s, PA. In 2000 Ms. Nix received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, with an emphasis on Sacred Music, from Bennett College in Greensboro, NC. In 2004 Dr. Nix and resume is published in the Who’s Who Directory of Executives and Professionals. In January 2007, Dr. Nix and Intermezzo Choir were invited, by Governor Edward Rendell, to sing for his Inaugural Ceremony and Gala. They sang an original composition of Dr. Nix entitled “PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA” especially arranged for the occasion. 5
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In August 2007 Dr. Nix and Intermezzo Choir Ministry toured Europe for twelve days. They ministered in Munich, Nuremberg, Vienna, Austria, Bratislova and Italy. They were well received at each exchange and ministry. On January 15, 2008 Dr. Nix was awardee of “THE LIBERTY BELL” at the Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration, by Colonel Deputy Commander Alexander Davis. The event was at the Naval Defense Supply Center in Philadelphia, where she accompanied singers and the audience on the Piano. Dr. Nix is a member of the New Covenant Church of Philadelphia. She is organist for Ward A.M.E. Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Intermezzo Choir Ministry is her pride and joy. Her whole devotion to God and musical talents flow and is exemplified in and through this ministry.
THE INTERMEZZO CHOIR MINISTRY This unique aggregation was formed by men and women from various churches who wanted to sing to the “Glory Of God”. These “specially selected” singers were auditioned by Dr. Nix and chosen after exemplifying a spirit of unity, a distinct individualized musical style and musicianship. In November, 1967 they chose the name INTERMEZZO CHOIR. They have performed on TV and radio. Their repertory consists of Anthems, Patriotic songs, Gospel music and Negro Spirituals, done expressly for them by Dr. Verolga Nix. In 1982, the choir sang Dr. Nix’s arrangement of The National Anthem for the 76ers Basketball game after having won a competition over 37 other performers; the same year they sang “Philadelphia” an original song by Dr. Nix at the City Council Committee meeting. On April 21, 1996, a recorded CD, Cassette and manuscript book, the music of Dr. Nix, entitled “HOLY” was published and released. This effort was anointed. Intermezzo is noted for its unique arrangements of the Negro Spirituals.
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They have sung for the last 10 years, at the Black Slave Memorial on George Washington’s Estate, Mt. Vernon, VA. This ceremony is sponsored by Black Women United For Action and the Mt. Vernon Ladies’ Association; they also sang at the Ecumenical Service Commemorating Patriots of African Descent at the Valley Forge National Historic Park, Pennsylvania; the International Police Chiefs Convention in Philadelphia and was a guest choir honoring Patti LaBelle. In December 2004, the choir opened the Christmas Program for the internationally renowned group TAKE 6 at the Zellerbach Theater in Philadelphia. In 2005, a second CD entitled “ECHOES” was presented to God. The music consists of all Negro spirituals arranged for Intermezzo Choir by Dr. Nix. On January 15, 2006, Intermezzo Choir Ministry was special guest for the Martin Luther King Memorial Service with the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale. From this union came another CD entitled “VOICES UNITED” which is now available. Intermezzo was the featured choir for the C. DeLores Tucker Memorial held in Harrisburg and Philadelphia. In January, 2007, Intermezzo Choir sang, by special invitation of Governor Edward Rendell, at his Inaugural Ceremony and evening Gala in Harrisburg, PA. In August 2007, the choir traveled to Europe to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ through song. They ministered in Nurnberg, Vienna, Salzburg, Bratislava and Italy. They were well received everywhere they raised their voices in song! On January, 21, 2008, Intermezzo received the DRUM MAJOR AWARD, “VOICES OF FREEDOM” presented by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association President, William Tucker. Over the past decade, the "Voices Of Freedom" award has been given to: Dr. Sonia Sanchez, Rev. Wintley Phipps, Sister Sledge, Cicely Tyson, and Lisa Thomas-Laury. This event was held at a luncheon in the Sheraton Philadelphia Hotel. September 11, 2008 - Intermezzo participated in a memorial for the victims of the 911 tragedy at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The concert also celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Black Women United For Action. Intermezzo Choir Ministry looks forward to being “Ambassadors” for the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. God bless them as they foster “Brotherly Love” and “Sisterly Affection” here and abroad.
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MRSA By Allen Cofield Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus or better referred to as MRSA is a bacteria that causes staph infections that are resistant to treatment with the usual antibiotics. In 2005 the Center for Disease Control (CDC) conducted a nine-state survey and discovered there were 32 cases of MRSA infections for every 100,000 people. The survey also estimated there were 94,300 case of MRSA diagnosed in the United States in 2005, with 18,600 deaths. Most of these cases occurred in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes (Park). The staphylococcus bacterium is a common organism that lives on skin and in nasal passages. A staph aureus bacterium has been causing skin infections and various other infections since the beginning of the human race. Infections are acquired only if the bacterium enters the body through a cut. Most MRSA infections occur among patients who undergo surgery or who have a suppressed or weakened immune system. This can cause serious problems for individuals who have HIV/AIDS, diabetes and other immune suppressant diseases. The MRSA infection is resistant to methicillin as well as other commonly used antibiotics such as oxacillin, amoxicillin and penicillin (Klevens, et al). The MRSA a bacterium was first noted in 1961 after the antibiotic methicillin was first used to treat staph and other infectious bacteria. Some of the leading causes of MRSA as documented in the Journal of American Medical Association are the use of unnecessary antibiotics for various viral infections. Antibiotics are given to farm animals that are eventually slaughtered for human consumption. The continued use of these antibiotics has caused the staph bacteria to mutate and develop immunity to specific drugs and other similar medicines (Gupta). Symptoms Most staphylococcus bacteria are harmless. The bacterium is carried by 20-40% of the population on their skin and in their noses. However, once this infection gets into the body through a cut, surgical procedure, insect bite it can cause infection. Most staph bacterial infections look like a pimple or boil. It may be red and become swollen and painful. It may have pus and drain. MRSA infections has often been mistaken for an insect bite, most preferably that of a spider. Transmission of this infection occurs through various methods. Transmission Transmission of MRSA infections can also occur through close skin-to-skin contact, contact with contaminated items and surfaces, crowded living conditions and poor hygiene (Elixhauser and Steiner). MRSA skin infections can occur anywhere. However, some settings make it easier for transmission. The MRSA bug can be transmitted from skin-to-skin contact and use of items that have touched an 9
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infected person. Unsafe hygiene practices such as not washing one’s hands is another way to transmit infection. Treatment comes in many forms. Treatment Treatments for MRSA include draining of the abscesses and the use of various antibiotics. Drainage and treatment of skin boils should only be treated by a licensed healthcare provider such as a doctor or nurse. Looking back on my experience with this infection, I was hospitalized for five days to monitor diabetes which I was diagnosed with as well as undergo surgery to scrap and drain the infected MRSA lesion. The MRSA infection kept me out of work for over a month. On release from the hospital guidelines were given for the prevention and reoccurrences of MRSA. Prevention The most effective way to prevent MRSA infections is thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer. If you have an open wound, scrape or cut always cover with bandages until they are fully healed. At all costs avoid contact with open wounds, sores, and bandages of others. Never share personal care items or products such as towels, razors, cosmetics, deodorants with others. Healthcare How does MRSA infection affect health benefits and employee compensation? In 2005, there were over 368,600 hospital stays for MRSA infections. The average cost for hospital stay for a person with MRSA was around $14,000 compared to $7,600 for all other stays. According to the statistics the highest rate of MRSA hospital says was among the elderly (Elixhauser and Steiner). People infected with antibiotics resistant bacteria such as MRSA are more likely to have longer and more expensive hospital stays. Some people with seriously compromised immunity problems are likely to die because of the infection (Gupta). These extended stays in hospitals because of hospital and other infections increase the amount of money that the consumer must pay for healthcare. It is to be realized that MRSA is a growing problem in many healthcare setting. However, it is one with a cure. MRSA is preventable when the proper precautions are taken. Most healthcare facilities have implemented and making sure infection control guidelines are adhered to by staff. Following the appropriate guidelines have decreased the number of MRSA infections in hospitals.
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The Pencil Maker By Mary Daniels The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. "There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be." "One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand." "Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil." "Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make." "Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside." "And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write." The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart. Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be. One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess. Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you'll need it to become a stronger person. Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make. Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside. And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.
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MOVING FROM PRAISE TO WORSHIP By Minister Donald Graham Jr. I honestly believe that the true purpose of praise has become diluted by the lack of authentic worship in our sanctuaries. There is a misperception in many churches that promotes the idea that praise supersedes worship. Yes I know that when the praises go up the blessings come down, but worship is the prerequisite for having a TRUE and AUTHENTIC relationship with God. For what good is the blessing if you have no wisdom regarding how to handle it let alone use it for the kingdom? Praise does have its rightful place and serves a unique purpose. For it is the outward expression of the abundance of joy in our hearts toward God. It should not be contingent upon what He has done for us but rather who He is to us. The praise and worship portion of church service is our opportunity to give thanks and shout unto God with a voice of triumph. By giving God the ‘fruit of our lips’ we permeate the atmosphere with a sweet smelling savor which fills His nostrils and causes Him to inhabit our praises. Hence we are instructed by the psalmist to ‘Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.’ (Psalms 100:4) Praise in general means making positive statements about someone. Worship is the act of showing devotion. Praise can be about anything, it can be about a person, an item, a place, a concept or just about anything one wants to promote or talk good about. Praise may or may not always be about one’s devotion or their sentiments toward God. Praise is normally to glorify an accomplishment. Since most people are responsive to praise it may generally be done to perk up the spirits and raise someone’s confidence level. Worship is normally unconditional and an expression of gratitude to almighty God simply because of who He is. I do believe that praise should be an integral part of the worship process, however, it should invariably be accompanied by thanks and gratitude towards God. Praise by itself is not really considered worship. I believe the problem arises when people go through the external motions of praise and worship but do not put their heart into it. In John 4:23-24 Jesus said, 'But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.’ For it is when we find our place of worship that God begins to share His purpose and plan for our lives. It is through worship that He reveals the mysteries hidden in His divine will, and it is through worship that He moves us from the mundane to the miraculous. If we want to see the blind recover their sight in our churches, we must get back to worshipping Him. If we want to see the lame walk in our churches, we must be intentional about worshipping Him, however if we become blinded by the notion that simply ‘getting our praise on’ is enough to sustain us on our journey...then I guess we’ll just have to settle for church as usual. Be Blessed
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My Career Reflections By Denise Statham I have been asked to reflect on my career journey by looking at the choices I have made in the past and what I plan to do in the future, through the lens of the various theorists and models I have studied. The model that I most identified with was the “planned happenstance”, which is defined as “creating and transforming unplanned events into career opportunities.” Experiences that once appeared to be scattered and unrelated have begun to transform into building blocks that are lifelong resources. As a pastoral care student, spirituality and religion are extremely important guiding forces in my life and I see God as the author of my career journey. I have gotten confirmation on some parts however I am continuing to seek discernment on the next steps. The common thread for me has seemed to be helping others in all of the jobs and activities that I pursued. As I grow in knowledge I am finding new satisfying ways to continue to weave those threads into my journey. My parents were both raised in the rural south in agricultural communities long before the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights movements. They migrated north to Philadelphia at different times and from different places, but from the same African American cultural beliefs. My father was a tailor and worked as a dry cleaner. My mother was a domestic worker. Education was supposed to be the “way out” of menial labor for their children. The most esteemed jobs for women at that time were becoming a teacher or a nurse. This was their dream for their three little girls. Office jobs like secretaries and receptionists were also esteemed and domestic work for rich families. This was what I grew up knowing about careers. I dreamt of becoming a teacher to please my parents and did everything I could do towards that goal as I began my path. I bought into the belief that getting a good education was the way to go forward and build a comfortable future. In Philadelphia when I went to high school there were only two tracks for students, academic or commercial. The students that did well academically were prepared for college. The others were prepared for clerical work or for working in trades. The only exception would be if your parents were affluent or had prominent positions in the community. I was slated for the academic track, while my two older sisters were prepared for clerical work. Their counselors encouraged them to “go to community colleges”, if they wanted to further their skills. I was prepared for college by the counselors at my high school and went to a four year college as an academic student. Several freshmen at my college chose “uncertain” as a decision when asked to choose a major, but that was not an option for me. I knew I wanted to teach math and had known for several years. However, after trying to match my math skills with that career choice, I had to make another decision. I was required to have a “B” or better average in order to maintain my scholarship at the college. Calculus class killed my grade point average. I immediately switched my major to economics in order to continue my education. I thought about how ones interests and values have to also take ones skills into account when I was completing all of the SDS forms by John Holland in this class. I am not certain that I would have made a different career choice from those tests if I had previously taken those inventories. I was an “A” student in math in my inner city Philadelphia school. However, there were no teachers from different countries in my hometown school. The multicultural teacher base at the college I chose created an obstacle that I could not overcome. I had previously not been exposed to teachers with different accents. I could not understand a word he said or wrote. I was in culture shock 15
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and panic for fear of failure. I don’t remember any of the theories we studied in this class addressing that reality. That experience was thirty years ago, however in reality education in today’s world is much more multicultural and multilingual for students and teachers. I am not certain if any tests or surveys have been conducted to measure the impact of this complicated layer on choices for careers. Growing up the messages I received about careers were very concrete. You got a job with the hope that you could stay until you retired. You kept the job unless they fired you, the building was destroyed or they closed for some reason. Job hoping was not seen as a career building strategy, but rather with negative undertones about one’s ability to commit. I took the first job I was offered with the hope of retiring there. It was in Philadelphia, working for a large well known firm, so security and location were all wrapped up in one. I sold elevators for Otis Elevator Company for twenty-four years, until I gave myself permission to let my values and personal desires overpower those original messages of staying for loyalty, money and security until retirement. There were more opportunities for women and minorities by this time but my choice of quitting my job and going to seminary was not popular with my family of origin. In addition I must add that I was also a divorced single mother with loads of responsibility. Getting more education was valued but chasing a “dream” was not seen as a practical and responsible choice, especially for a single woman with my circumstances. According to John Holland, “individuals are attracted to a given career because of their particular personalities and numerous variables that constitute their backgrounds.” I didn’t know anything about the various career choice theories then but I had reached that stage of my life where those “variables” outweighed so called safety and security. I knew I wanted to do Christian counseling and I went to seminary in hopes of pursuing that dream. It was in seminary where I was first introduced to career testing through Meir’s-Briggs, interest inventories and a battery of personality tests. Also, my outplacement service from the job I resigned from offered me career counseling courses, resume preparation classes and also helped with new ways of job searching through computer based networks. It was at this time that I was actually able to grasp the concept of having a “vocation” and not just a string of jobs. I realize that high school guidance counselors and even college career counselors have so many students to deal with that individual counseling is often impossible, but the testing should be implemented in my opinion somehow into the curriculum, if individual sessions are not possible. I personally could have done things differently at a much earlier stage in my career. I found the SIGI3 portfolio and the psychological assessment resources in the SDS forms developed by John Holland to be extremely helpful in confirming the choices I had already made, but it seemed to me that it would have made so much more sense to have taken the tests and used them for guidance and direction before making choices but somehow everything has worked together in spite of it all. While in seminary I discovered a passion for chaplaincy. I was required to complete a course in Clinical Pastoral Education and my placement site was at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in the Pastoral Care Department. It was in chaplaincy that I really began to know myself and to examine the myths, truths, superstitions, prejudices, biases and all the things I held as part of me without previously examining the facts that surrounded the beliefs. Once my values became clearer, my interests and my skills began to grow to equip me for further exploration of that occupation. My process of decision making began to change the more knowledge I acquired. Fewer things were concrete and black or white; gray even had a range on the spectrum. Becoming aware of my “self-talk” made me think about what I had been told and how it had stunted my professional and personal growth. I think that the inventories that are given in testing individuals can act as a catalyst to start the process for those that don’t go into an intense program like chaplaincy and give them another way to see themselves more 16
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critically. At this point in of the process I could have found support for Krumbold’s learning theory of career counseling where he emphasizes the importance of a social-learning model where learning experiences can have an important effect on ones choice of occupation but I still would take it one step further and look at the collaborative effort that Mitchell, Levin and Kromboltz developed in their “happenstance approach theory”. The crux of the theory involves taking advantage of opportunities offered by chance events. I graduated from seminary and came back to the hospital site and did a full residency in chaplaincy. Jobs in chaplaincy are few and far between so I stumbled into social work after I completed my residency. I convinced myself that I could tie the two together. I took a job at a “faith based agency” and I was assigned to find parents for teens and to recruit and teach parenting classes for prospective adoptive and foster families. I approached it as a ministry. I had twenty-four years of sales experience from my corporate job. Selling parents on the idea of taking a teen into their home and life was a joy, and teaching had always been a passion for me. I had finally found how I could make it all work together, so I thought. Although the concept looked great at first, I found the laws in social work to be very challenging to my value system. Their came a point where I could not perform some of the things I was required to do because of my Christian conscious. I refused to return a child to a home where I knew they were being abused even though the law stated that the agency would be financially penalized for not “successfully” reuniting the family. There were many cases where I realized that social work was more about the law and the money than the love of the children. It broke my heart to leave, but I knew I couldn’t stay any longer. Two days after leaving that social work position, I got hired to work with autistic children and the adjustments that parents have to make in coping with that diagnosis on a lifelong basis. I knew I had to wait for new child abuse clearances and FBI checks and other background checks but I was excited to take on this new challenge. I called my supervisor from my chaplaincy residency for a reference letter. He gladly responded to my request and we chatted briefly. Two days later that I got another call back from him. This time he asked me if it would be possible for me to come back up to the hospital and help out “answering the phone” for a few days. The story was that the department secretary had “family problems” and that she would be out for a while. I was more than happy to oblige him. I was just going to be home collecting unemployment and waiting for the clearances. I arrived Monday September 16, 2005 at 7:30am to “answer the phone for a few days” and five years later I am at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, as the Administrative Chaplain. The secretary had in reality left a note taped to her chair that the Director found when he returned from a meeting. The note was very straight and to the point stating, “I quit”. The only one in the department that seemed to be surprised was the Director. He had searched long and hard for a replacement when the previous secretary had retired over a year. Several qualified people that were familiar with the department had applied but I was told that he had decided to hire a twenty-three year old woman who had no religious or spiritual experience as an assistant because she was “computer savvy.” Needless to say, when I arrived there were no passwords to get into the computer, no one could get paid and nothing could be ordered just to give some idea of the chaos that was going on. I immediately took charge. I went to the human resource department, explained the situation and got clearances to get the work done to keep the department functioning. I had been a secretary for a District Superintendent briefly while I was in seminary as a part-time job. I do not have any secretarial skills and cannot type remember because I only took academic classes in high school. The District Superintendent only had minor typing to do the job was mostly about presence and image. He wanted me to professionally interact with the other clergy, maintain 17
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confidentiality in meetings and present a professional image as a representative of his district. I was fine at doing all of those things so the typing was not an issue. There is a tremendous amount of correspondence, however at the hospital since there are student chaplains to train and staff to keep up with for compliance in all areas, along with interdepartmental meetings, therefore I wasn’t trying to campaign for the position of department secretary. I was just “filling in temporarily”. I continued to fill in an after three weeks the Director tried to convince me to take the position. He knew I was overqualified but promised that he would find ways to tailor the job to include the use of my pastoral skills and gifts. Time went on and one of the other chaplains resigned due to family obligations to care for her mother. I agreed to take on part of her job, training pastoral volunteers, perform some chaplaincy duties as needed, and maintain the twenty four hour coverage schedule and some clerical duties. We were able to work with that job description and to develop a position for me that had never existed before, Administrative Chaplain. The position needed was much more than secretarial in nature. In reality I have done more typing for this paper than I have done the entire year so far at this job. My pastoral presence, chaplaincy skills and people skills are the heart of the job. I didn’t stop there though. I decided to go on and to get credentials in what I do most often and validate my counseling skills. I enrolled in Neumann because I met Dr. Wallace Fletcher while he was doing our monthly chaplaincy debriefing sessions. I asked him “what I had to do to do what he does?” I admired the way he could lead a group through sessions and hold all the feelings that came out within our one hour monthly meetings. He not only told me about Neumann, but about the Philadelphia School of Psychoanalysis where he has a practice. He helped me to retain an internship there and I turned it into another job as a part-time clinical associate at that site once I finished their program and completed my coursework. Looking back over my life I know that my experiences were divinely orchestrated. If I put the pieces together it mostly fits the happenstance model, but I tell people I started my career in the vertical transportation business, and I am still in the vertical transportation business as a pastoral counselor. It’s just a different type of top floor.
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What do you call two men who are not ashamed to proclaim that the Kingdom Of God Is At Hand? You call them KOGIAH, aka Charles Phillips and Donald Graham. Formed in 2004, this anointed duo from Philadelphia brings strong vocals, reinforced with a sincere witness to their music ministry. With an urbancontemporary gospel style influenced by the likes of Rance Allen, Israel & New Breed and The Winans; both members believe they have been commissioned by God to proclaim the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ through their music, while impacting the world with a message of hope and purpose. KOGIAH is preparing for the release of their upcoming CD in late August entitled: 'The KOGIAH Project'. A gospel music breakthrough is inevitable for these talented brothers, who through their music allow scripture to be transformed into inspirational melodies of praise & worship! Booking & Contact Info: INO Management, Inc. (215) 439-3172 Email: Kogiah@yahoo.com Website: www.kogiah.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kogiah/164942093559078?sk=info
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A Healthy Body Is A Healthy Mind Is A Healthy Spirit By Phill Hughes Hi, my name is Phill Hughes and I wanted to take a moment to share my thoughts with you about eating and exercise. There are many wonderful and delicious foods and food types. Whatever your choice is, it should always, and I mean always include vegetables. In a year and a couple of months I’ll be turning sixty and I want to turn seventy and eighty and ninety as well. The only way I can do that and be healthy, is to eat the right foods, which are vegetables. I’m not going to labor the point about the many different vegetables and how different vegetables are beneficial to the body. I’m not even going to elaborate on the benefit of the different exercises. Personally, I think you already know that. I want to talk about some of the issues regarding a healthy diet and exercise and the choices you might recognize. First, do you choose the higher octane for the car you drive? You buy the better fuel so that you can get the best out of your automobile. Isn’t it funny that we don’t think of our bodies that way? (LOL) Don’t you think we should? If you spend extra money for the higher octane and the better motor oil so that you can get good mileage and longevity from your vehicle, don’t you think the same rule would apply to your body? I didn’t always, and before I turned fifty, I didn’t care. But today, I do and I want you to care too. By the way, it’s never too late. Second, who was it that proclaimed, one vegetable, one starch and one meat on your dinner plate was sufficient? I don’t know who said that either and I don’t know why it became a standard practice in most homes. I’ll just say this, the more colorful the food on your plate, the better. A yellow, orange, red and/or purple vegetable can really compliment the green vegetable and make your meal delectable, delicious and more nutritious. Third, are you the kind of person who will eat what you want and take a pill to balance your blood pressure or cholesterol level afterwards? Do you know someone like that? How long do you think that will last? More today than ever, people are taking medications and using breathing machines when the only thing many of them really need to do is eat the proper foods and develop an exercise regimen. Eating the correct foods and a good exercise regimen to balance your blood pressure and cholesterol levels are an integral part of your treatment. If you are overweight, take the excess weight off. Your back, knees and ankles will thank you. Exercise and a balanced diet is a basic fundamental requirement to getting healthy and staying there. Don’t make excuses, just do it. Do it because your quality of life depends upon it. Do it because you have loved ones who want you to be around. Fourth, why can’t fruit be your dessert? Chilled melons, berries, pineapple, citrus fruit cups or chilled guava, kiwi, banana or any other fruit (there are so many different fruits) can be the alternative to ice cream, cakes and other pastries. Fruit is always, and I mean always better. 20
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Fifth and sixth, do you pile a lot of food on your plate? Do you enjoy fast foods? Cut it out. Stop it. For those of you who like to pile food, I’ve got a great way to help you cut that out. When you are putting food on your plate, don’t let one food item touch another. This will portion your food for you. You can’t go wrong. It’s a great exercise and a good habit. Now, I’ve checked out many of the fast food places and I’m only going to say two things…. One, if it’s cooked with grease, don’t order it and two, if it’s processed, don’t get that either. In closing, you are in the good company of many people who want to get healthy or stay healthy as they mature. That’s what “growing old gracefully” is really about. I don’t know anyone who wants to be alive and sickly through their golden years. That doesn’t have to be your destination. Now is the time to change. You have time to make that change. It starts with your diet and your exercise. The bottom line is this; your body is a temple. God gave it to you so that He could use you. He didn’t give it to you so that you could abuse it and become sickly. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body," (1 Cor. 6:19-20). "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to Me and eat what is good and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." (Isaiah 55:2) After God speaks, I have nothing else to say. Peace.
Joke of the Month Holy Prostitutes A man is driving down a deserted stretch of highway in KENTUCKY when he notices a sign out of the corner of his eye... It reads: SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION - 10 MILES He thinks this is a figment of his imagination and drives on.... Soon he sees another sign which reads: SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION – 5 MILES Suddenly he begins to realize that these signs are for real and drives past a third sign saying:
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION NEXT RIGHT 21
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His curiosity gets the best of him and he pulls into the drive... On the far side of the parking lot is a stone building with a small sign next to the door reading: SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS He climbs the steps and rings the bell . The door is answered by a nun in a long black habit who asks, 'What may we do for you my son?' He answers, 'I saw your signs along the highway and was interested in possibly doing business.... ..' 'Very well my son. Please follow me.' He is led through many winding passages and is soon quite disoriented. The nun stops at a closed door and tells the man, 'Please knock on this door.' He does so and another nun in a long habit, holding a tin cup answers the door... This nun instructs, 'Please place $100 in the cup then go through the large wooden door at the end of the hallway.' He puts $100 in the cup, eagerly trots down the hall and slips through the door pulling it shut behind him. The door locks, and he finds himself back in the parking lot facing another sign: GO IN PEACE. YOU HAVE JUST BEEN SCREWED BY THE SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS. SERVES YOU RIGHT, YOU SINNER.
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Let’s Continue to Change America By Sidney Weston It’s almost that time again. In 2008, the United States of America had elected the first Black American as President of these United States. With a new president elected to the office, it has been and possibly still is the most trying times and with so many problems and issues since the Great Depression. Record numbers of high unemployment, a war that has seemingly ended in Iraq and the drawing down of troops in a never ending war in Afghanistan, these things seem insurmountable. Well, its no longer 2008, its 2011 and the presidential elections in 2012 is fast approaching. There have been some small setbacks and there have been some great accomplishments but we still have a ways to go and we cannot give up now. In 2008 I did my part to help Barack Obama get elected to the highest office in this country. I knocked on doors, made phone calls, passed out literature and such to make sure that we would have a chance to make history and bring about a change in this country. Now it is that time again, to do what we must do to bring about a change in this country. We have a responsibility to make sure that President Barack Obama has a chance to finish what he has promised. We have an obligation to see this thing through. Right now talks are going on in congress about the debt ceiling. The republicans are campaigning to see who will be the republican candidate to run against our president Barack Obama in 2012, and unemployment is still rising, but there is hope. We need to re-energize our base, excite prospective voters to get out and vote in the next election cycle, and encourage our youth to participate in campaign drives and initiatives and reassure our seniors that better days are still ahead. I know we haven’t been too happy with some of the decisions that have been made, for better or for worse. I know some of us are still unemployed and maybe on the brink of giving up but we cannot let that happen. Our president has done some great work in the last 3 years despite the many people who oppose him and the opposition he has faced. Let me encourage you; do not let the bad press discourage you. Don’t let the controlled media persuade you with its illusions (Fox News), and trickery with words (Wall Street Journal), don’t let them persuade you that the president hasn’t done anything these past few years. Let his record speak for itself. For the first time we have a reformed Health Care that will help a vast majority of people to be able to receive some form of health care. This president rescued the 23
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country from the brink of economic disaster, one not seen since the Great Depression. He changed the perception of our country when giving his speech in Cairo reaching out to the Muslims; he ended the war in Iraq and started the drawdown of troops in Afghanistan. Obama signed the START Treaty with Russia, and repealed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. He reformed the crack/powder laws and composed a forum to deal with the spread of youth violence. He refused to let the Republicans dismantle Planned Parenthood, he also removed Bush era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research; and he signed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to restore basic protections against pay discrimination for women. We must not forget he saved the auto industry and made a profit for the American people, and he made reforms on Wall Street. Last but not least, he overseen the mission to find and kill Osama Bin Laden, mission accomplished. These are some of his great accomplishments but there is still more to be accomplished and we must re-elect him in the 2012 so we can finish what we started. To quote Russell Simmons, “Obama is playing the long game, the game with the greatest rewards. It’s time we gave him our full-hearted support”. Join me, Russell Simmons and a million others who know more change and progress will depend on our every step, breath and vote. There is no time to cop out. Let’s continue to change America and the world. Re-elect President Barack Obama. Work Cited Simmon s, Rus sell. "Stop Th e Moanin' And G et To Work ." GlobalGrind.com. Russ ell Simmons , 11062011. Web. 01 Jul 2011. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/russell-simmons/stop-the- bitchin-and-get_b_887951.html>.
GETTING OLDER A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor's office. "Is it true," she wanted to know, "that the medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?" "'Yes, I'm afraid so,"' the doctor told her. There was a moment of silence before the senior lady replied, "I'm wondering, then, just how serious is my condition because this prescription is marked 'NO REFILLS' 24
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Sincere’s Corner Irene Council “For there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord thou knowest it altogether”…Psalms 139:4 This scripture reminds us that even the things we think are known by God and it is very important to watch the things we say out of our mouths. I remember when I was just 8 years old and one of my mother’s close friends would always tell me how ugly my feet were. I’m now 38, and those words still haunt me to the point that I don’t wear open-toe shoes. Now, people have told me that there was nothing wrong with my feet, but those negative words stuck with me for years. They actually made an impact that would have me hiding my feet for the next 30 years. The things you say to people can really help them or hurt them, that is why we must put a filter on what we think (which God knows) and what actually comes out of our mouths! If this has you thinking that you should go apologize to someone for something that you might have said that hurt them…go do it! Let that apology be the thing they remember and not the negative statement you made! Sincerely Yours, Sincere Vessel
Spirit and Truth is a Christian talk show hosted by George Ward and is soon to debut on youtube, facebook, and iTunes. Spirit and Truth is centered on all aspects of praise and worship from a biblical, musical, and professional perspective. In this comfortable setting we interview guest worshipers from a diversity of backgrounds such as singers, musicians, pastors, dancers, rappers, actors, painters, and more. Contact: George Ward Executive Producer/Host- Email: spiritandtruth3@gmail.com 215.917.3016 25
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The Elders Corner “Don’t Believe The Hype” Elder Demetrius Adams, II “Don’t believe the hype”, was always the most famous quote used as I grew up and it was always a true statement because a lot of people always STRETCHED THE TRUTH! They made things sound as if, their situation was better than yours or their blessings were greater than yours or even their anointing was greater than yours while all they were doing was stretching the truth but please, “ don’t believe the hype”. Have you ever had a conversation with someone, and all they would do is brag, brag, and brag? Well, that feeling that you feel right now as your read this, is exactly how I felt. Their life stories, their relationships and their sex stories would even be over the top, but they didn’t care as long THEY had the spotlight. People lack attention in so many ways because of their childhood. Many people didn’t have friends, brothers, sisters or even enemies so they were left alone. But as they grow older and finally met people, they have to express themselves as GRAND because they want to, “FIT IN”. God, is also saying this to us, don’t believe the hype. Because the more grand we sound, the more we boost ourselves, the more we allow ourselves to become big headed, we must realize that the same God that gave us these blessings, is the same God that can take it all away. So, when you hear people lie, brag and try to show off, don’t give in or agree with what they doing, but say to yourself, “Don’t believe the hype”! For the past year and a half, I’ve been seeking employment everywhere, as in: fast food places, churches, streets, businesses, agencies and the list goes on. But on June 27th, 2011, I was promised a job to make triple a year than my last job, have an office, go to classes sponsored by a local college and just so much other ways to get my attention because my ears loved what I was hearing. So, I started the job and found out it wasn’t what I expected. The products weren’t real, the money never came and my body became more weak than strong. I felt as if a marketing job made me a slave to work in the heat for 8 to 12 hours, but not train me and give me the office; that I was promised, to enjoy my job and finally have a career. As I did this job, the atmosphere became more dangerous. There were times when I could get chased by the cops, security guards would ask me to leave the premises and even make me get suspended from work for a day or two. But as this went on, I’m like, Lord, I thought this was you’re doing? And he was like no! You gave in; you heard the great things that man could give you and not what I can do for you. So, you believed the hype. You believed the money, cars you can buy, offices in multiple locations, the ambition, the trips to places you always dreamed about and the ways you can make life better. But forgot the scripture that says, if you delight yourself in Me, I will give you the DESIRES of your heart. So, after listening to GOD, I thought about it, sat there and began to look for a steady job, more job opportunities because, I didn’t come this far to be treated like dirt, slave, door mat, a pet or someone who don’t know what is God and what is God, but be treated like a HUMAN BEING. By me believing the hype, I gave God the back burner, and a new career the forefront. The more I delighted in the career, the more I never made any money because my mind was on what can I buy, who can I bless, I, I, I-but no GOD! If I put GOD first, as I always do, I would’ve been more blessed and would’ve had more money than I can handle because I delighted myself in GOD and NOT MAN. So, 26
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now that I know the formula of TRUE faith, how to seek GOD more and delight myself in HIM, I know that my TRUE job is on the way but I must remember, “DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE”! Always know who to believe learn how to hear God’s voice, stay prayed up and know that the enemy has come to kill, steal and destroy. Never get confused with God’s voice and your OWN voice because your voice can lead you to destruction but God’s voice will lead to a better way of newness, happiness and blessings. Delight yourselves in Him, let Him direct, guide and lead you because you don’t want to lose focus on what God has for you. Man will try, friends, significant others and the unsaved will try to distract you but stay FOCUSED on what’s ahead and not behind. “Don’t believe the hype”.
“At The Right Place, At The Right Time, With The Right Attitude” By Pastor Lenora G. Young Scripture:
II Kings 2: 9-14 - NIV
9
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. 10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise not.” 11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart. 13 He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. Place – meaning physical surroundings – a building or locality used for a special purpose. Time – meaning the point or period when something occurs. An appointed or fixed moment or hour for something to happen. Attitude – meaning a feeling or emotion toward a fact or state. The way we act or respond. Right Place – Right Time – Right Attitude or Temperament. There is a cliché that I have heard used at one time or another, and it’s “Our Attitude Determines Our Altitude” The way we present ourselves, our behavior, our response in positive and negative situations in life determines how far we go. The message I want to convey to you is, the importance of knowing the following things; 1. Our location – 2. The hour we are in – and 3. Our state of emotion. Are we on the right level required by God or are we standing in the same place we were last year marking time? Are we making a lot of noise, saying nothing, doing nothing and going nowhere? The hour we are in, is it the hour where elevation is to take place or are we still behind because the flesh has gotten in the way and won’t allow 27
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movement. The bible says; For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Our emotions, our thoughts, our actions – are they in tact? Or are you still pouting and having tantrums and fits? When you can’t have your way, are you still running your mouth in your mind? No your words cannot be heard but your thoughts and actions are louder than your mouth will ever be. WHY? Because your actions speak louder than your words. Which brings us to one conclusion; “You’re Out Of Place, You’re In the Wrong Time, and Your State of Emotions Stinks” Let’s use this analogy. When a surgeon is about to perform surgery, he must 1. Be knowledgeable of what he is about to do. It is his responsibility to be abreast of the most recent skills and procedures in his field. 2. He must be confident in what he knows and confident in his skills. 3. He must be rested and relaxed in order to take on this task and any emergency that may occur. 4. He must be timely because it could be a life or death situation. But the most importantly – HE MUST BE IN THE OPERATING ROOM. What kind of surgeon would he be or how successful would the operation be with him trying to operate from the cafeteria? For us to receive that which God has for us, for us perform that which God assigns to our hand - to operate in the right spirit we must be “In The Right Place At The Right Time With The Right Attitude” Yes the surgeon can operate outside the operating room but it will be what you call a make shift operation because all of the tools will not be available to perform a successful operation which means there is a chance of death. Considering the situation, he takes the risk of infection; also (taking into consideration the type of operation) it cannot be completed until he gets to the proper tools to finish what has been started. It is important to operate in the right spirit. We need to operate in the spirit of God not in the flesh. Flesh will fail. For the word of God tells us, “Put No Confidence in the Flesh” Our text is a very familiar story. A young man following someone he believed and had great faith in. 1 Kings 19:20, Elisha had promised to follow Elijah faithfully; and this he did in spite of opportunities to depart. He had served his master about ten years when he was told that Elijah was going to leave him. Had Elisha taken the easy route and stayed behind, he would have missed all the blessing. It pays to be faithful to your assignment and your calling. For Elisha to receive the double portion of the spirit which God has placed upon Elijah, there was a requirement. He had to see him when he was to leave this life. In order for Elisha to see him, he had to be “The Right Place, At the Right Time, With the Right Attitude” When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “but do not speak of it.” Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied, “but do not speak of it.” Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on. Fifty men of the company of the prophets 28
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went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise not.” As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart. He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” “At The Right Place, At the Right Time, With The Right Attitude”
Exclusive Interview with foreverJones By George Ward “He Wants It All” Undoubtedly and profoundly stated in the single released by foreverJONES , The Family Band from their CD entitled foreverJONES. This multi-talented and anointed family who resides in Shreveport, Louisiana caused people to stand in their tracks as they listened to this unique blend of soft rock, pop, and contemporary Christian style with a little Soul seasoned on the top. But it is the strong message of Christ that really makes the difference. Dewitt and Kim Jones married for 32 years who are the thankful and proud parents of 5 children. Their names are D’Jeniele, Dominique, Dewitt IV, Judah, and Mya Joy Grace. The scripture that Dewitt and Kim live by is Psalms 127:3 “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward”. Kim Jones was diagnosed with PID “Pelvic Inflammatory Disease” and was told by Doctors that it was a 99% chance that she would never conceive a child. Kim also stated, “My Aunt told me that I would be like her and would not have children”. But she dared to ask God for one child, and God saw fit to reward them with five. It is my pleasure to converse with foreverJONES. There are a few questions I believe our readers would like to know the answers to. Let’s get right to it!
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GEORGE: Dad, it has been reported that you started taking the family to prayer, worship, and bible study when they were small children and continue to this day. How did you keep the family together and motivated to sing for Jesus over the years? DEWITT: I think that probably through a vision for pleasing God by being ministry minded, and wanting to put a smile on His face. Our desire is to inspire people to know Him. We fed the love for music by our lifestyle, and little by little the vision for “family band” grew and matured in all of us. We can't claim the original idea of having a band, but our lifestyle was a family that prayed, worshiped, and played music together. It was God’s idea and our journey led us to being "foreverJONES the family Band". 7 years ago we started singing together as a family, prior to that Kim and I sang together. The Children watched us and now here we are together. GEORGE: After going through your experiences with PID what can you say to encourage others who pray to become a mother? KIM: Sometimes people won't ask God, because they don’t know what kind of response they might get. I want to encourage you to ask God! Remind Him of His word, NIV 1Peter 2:24 “By His wounds you have been healed”. And keep asking, and expect His response. At least ask and see What God will do. Expect YOUR miracle from your God, the Miracle worker. At Least Ask! GEORGE: How is it having Dad as the group leader and manager? DEWITT IV: It’s pretty awesome! Because he is always speaking into my life, and he is very truthful! That’s always good to have someone like that to keep me grounded. GEORGE: So D`Jeniele` you are married to Jeremy, the Music Director of the family group with a baby girl. How important is it to maintain both? D`JENIELE`: First, it’s the Lord that keeps me grounded, being that I get to do what I love. I love being a mother. God has blessed me with a beautiful daughter. I love working with my family and husband. God gives me the grace to do it all. I would not have it any other way. If there are any differences with my husband and I we try to keep it at the work place and not bring it home. We find it important to keep it separate from home life. It is an ongoing life lesson!
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GEORGE: You are the lead vocalist on a few of the hits. Is there any pressure having to carry the load night after night? DOMINIQUE: I would say that sometimes there is a little bit of pressure, but God always gives me the strength to pull through and do what He wants done. My family is so very supportive, and we all do what we need to do to make night special. foreverJONES is such a family effort! GEORGE: As the youngest in the family group and going to school do the kids at your school treat you differently because they see you on TV? MYA JOY GRACE: Not really, because when I get back to school, I get to be with all my friends that I have known since I was 3. And they know me as Mya, not just someone on TV. Then I have to catch up with all my homework. Wow! I'm glad it’s summer.....lol GEORGE: As the drummer do you sometimes feel like you wanna come down front and sing a solo? Or are you most comfortable holding down the beat? JUDAH: Definitely, I would love to come down and sing my song, but I also love holding down the beat. I am the GROVE MASTER...LOL GEORGE: What's next for Forever Jones? Is there another CD or tour? DEWITT: We are working on our next CD. Also we have released our 2nd and 3rd single. "Time to believe” and “Heaven". We are on our way to the East Coast. Not for a tour but for spot dates. We really love what we do! Thank you foreverJONES for sharing your family and ministry with the readers of WOW! Magazine. Your ministry and love for God is evident in your lyrics and worship. Keep writing anointed music and allowing God to be first in your lives. You inspire and encourage many who desire to take their ministry to a level where God is pleased and people who don’t know Him can discover His love. You can “Keep up with the Jones” Songwell Music Group 704-408-0517 booking@songwellmusic.com EMI Gospel: http://foreverJONES.emigospel.com Youtube: http://youtube.com/officialfjm Twitter: http://twitter.com/officialfjm
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The Feel good flavor By Simone Malone I want to talk a little about “You Gained It,” and not I Gained It. Sometimes in life you have to give others credit rather than crediting yourself. It covers that saying, “It’s better to give than to receive…” But here is something more powerful as to why I had you say, You Gained It. You are strong enough to look the person in the eye but you are humble enough to say You Gained It, which you are also building that person’s self-esteem when you embrace those words. They build each other up, not tear each other down. But here is a secret; are you ready for this secret? When you gain something, it’s also good to let others that are around you achieve some type of gain too. This way everyone one is happy. Otherwise, you are happy because you are gaining and they are not, which may lead to some type of jealousy. When someone is jealous of you there is no limit in which that person may go to harm you. So by you telling that person that they gained it, it’s actually letting that person gain something too. Their gain is called self-esteem which is looked at in this case as Confident. With Confident you can conquer the world and its impossibilities. So that is what you are doing when you are crediting that person and not yourself. You see, hard work will let you gain great things in life, but Humility will let you keep it. So I am encouraging you, which is to build your self-esteem aka confident, that today you have gained a precious gem. And I want you to really understand that you have gained a precious gem. What you are gaining today can change your future, not your past; but that change can only happen if you know how to polish the gem and make the best out of what it’s worth. Otherwise, if you don’t know what you have then more than likely you are not going to cherish it. Things that are not cherished tends to lose their value, which means that you just spent your lifetime gaining something valuable and then take one moment to lose it all. So it’s important for you to understand what it is that you have gained and make the best out of it. And if you are making the best out of it; guess what? You have possession of it; you are keeping it. Listen to this quote, “It is harder to maintain progress than it is to gain progress…” Did you understand that? “It is harder to maintain progress than it is to gain progress!!” This is what I mean; it is easier to get married than it is to maintain the marriage; it is easier to get a job than it is to maintain having the job; it is easier to get a house than it is to maintain the house. Therefore, great achievement that you have worked so hard on achieving is going to be a little harder to keep it. As the general manager to an online radio station; it was easy for us to start the station. Keeping the station up and running takes a lot more; finding the right staff, playing the right music, having the right programs, preparing for the programs, getting sponsors or advertisers, scheduling interviews, having the right equipment for the station. These are some of the things that have to be done just to keep what we started; because we are not the only online radio station out there. So if we want our listening audience to grow stronger then we have to maintain what we started. So from me to you, work hard and stay humble. Loads of love and know that the flavor is in you.
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The Non-Traditional Pre-School Environment By Donna Rouse A parent or Guardian should not compromise on their Childs early years of education. When a child reaches the age of three, parents and guardians go on an extensive search for the perfect school/day care for their child. During this search one may look for many qualities such as safety, curriculum, student teacher ratio, and other personal requirements. Every child is unique in their own way rather its personality, interest, and most importantly academically. Some parents and guardians may excuse or fail to recognize the options they have in regards to the types of Learning available to them. The Traditional learning environment is not only the most popular but the most prominent in our country. This gives parents and guardians the false indication of the only choice available. The traditional learning system may not be comfortable for every child especially in the early stages of development and learning. When a child is of the age three to five years of age they are eager to learn and are more absorbent of what they learn at this age. There is one way of learning that adheres and coincides with the development at this age. This Learning method is called Montessori. Montessori learning was not only founded but developed by Maria Montessori. Maria Montessori was a physician as well as an educator. She developed her interest and philosophy in 1897 while attending classes in Education at the University of Rome. She also researched and studied the educational theory of the previous two hundred years. By 1907 she opened her first class room called the Children house in Rome. Her practices came to the United States In 1911. Her philosophy was education was based off of human development. She believed children and developing adults learned by self-construction by means of interaction and children from birth to six years of age innately develop psychologically. There are many planes to this Philosophy. The first Plane is the most essential in importance due to the rapid growth of a child from birth to six years in age. At this plane a child is explorative with their senses curiosities and eager to learn. Within this plane they learn to work independently. Their brains are like sponges where as they absorb what they learn. At this stage the child chooses their educational work of interest. This interest could be language, culture, senses, and mathematics. This plane is crucial due to a Childs interest in learning is at its highest peak but fades by the age of six. During Plane one (ages 3-5 specifically) a child discovers their five senses and has an urge to learn more about them and from them. At this age they have a tendency to be inquisitive about different things through their senses. The Montessori Method takes that interest and uses it as a learning tool. A child will not only tap into their senses but learn letter recognition and sounds (aids in beginning reading), number recognition and name, and increase physical motor skills as well. Being responsible and independent is essential in life to succeed as a child grows. Being able to recognize your interest and seek out it out is one step ahead in the learning process. This increases confidence and self-assurance upon learning new lessons and applying them to new lessons learned. Children pick up things and absorb them early in life and with Montessori they will develop their natural strength by choosing what peaks their interest. There are many other methods to choose from besides the traditional setting and Montessori Learning for preschoolers. The Montessori learning just coincides with a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development to promote better 33
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learning, self-assurance and increase confidence upon learning. In order for a child to learn effectively he or she must be confident and comfortable in what they learn. Though other methods have proven to be just as effective one should not discount this revolutionary training. Montessori will not be for every child but every child can benefit from Montessori Education. Information Cited from Montessori.edu, montessori.org, montessori.com and being a co teacher at Philadelphia Montessori charter school
God's Accuracy! And some people say there is no God! Author unknown God's accuracy may be observed in the hatching of eggs. For example: -the eggs of the potato bug hatch in 7 days; -those of the canary in 14 days; -those of the barnyard hen in 21 days; -The eggs of ducks and geese hatch in 28 days; -those of the mallard in 35 days; -The eggs of the parrot and the ostrich hatch in 42 days. (Notice, they are all divisible by seven, the number of days in a week!) God's wisdom is seen in the making of an elephant. The four legs of this great beast all bend forward in the same direction. No other quadruped is so made. God planned that this animal would have a huge body, too large to live on two legs. For this reason He gave it four fulcrums so that it can rise from the ground easily. The horse rises from the ground on its two front legs first. A cow rises from the ground with its two hind legs first. God's wisdom is revealed in His arrangement of sections and segments, as well as in the number of grains. 34
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-Each watermelon has an even number of stripes on the rind. -Each orange has an even number of segments. -Each ear of corn has an even number of rows. -Each stalk of wheat has an even number of grains. -Every bunch of bananas has on its lowest row an even number of bananas, and each row decreases by one, so that one row has an even number and the next row an odd number. -The waves of the sea roll in on shore twenty-six to the minute in all kinds of weather. All grains are found in even numbers on the stalks, and the Lord specified thirty fold, sixty fold, and a hundred fold - all even numbers. He has caused the flowers to blossom at certain specified times during the day, so that Linnaeus, the great botanist, once said that if he had a conservatory containing the right kind of soil, moisture and temperature, he could tell the time of day or night by the flowers that were open and those that were closed!
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Technology vs. Time By Carl C. Gable III History tells us that the turn of the twentieth century was a time of great discovery with regard to science and new inventions. In the span of only 50 years, the electric light bulb, the airplane, and the automobile were invented thereby making possible the continued enjoyment after sunset of many activities that could previously be enjoyed only during the day and the accomplishment of a cross country trip in a matter of days or hours instead of weeks. Imagine for a moment the excitement and sense of accomplishment among those who lived during that time period. So in awe were many who witnessed these events that some such as Charles Duell, a former commissioner of the U.S. Patent office during that time purportedly exclaimed “everything that can be invented has been invented.” Today, more than 100 years after the aforementioned inventions, technological advancements continue to be made by leaps and bounds. In my lifetime alone, the traditional method of sending a letter by mail via the postal service has largely been replaced by email, a method that is literally thousands of times faster and much more convenient. The bulky cellular phones of the late 1980’s and 1990’s with their accompanying roaming fees have been replaced by devices that are often thinner than a newsstand magazine with the added ability to watch movies, play video games, and send text messages. Public libraries, once considered a wealth of printed information, are on the brink of extinction due in large part to the wealth of information now available at our fingertips through the use of laptop computers and the internet. Finally, cassette tapes and compact discs have all but been replaced by digital music that is available to us by way of computers and mp3 players that easily fit within the palms of our hands. Given the historical and current technological advances, it would be easy to assume that our lives today are lived with much more comfort and convenience that those of our grandparents and great grandparents; and in some respects, that is true. But could it be that at the expense of our technical gadgets and modern marvels, we have lost a few of the intangible comforts and conveniences that those of previous generations enjoyed? Have microwave ovens, though they have significantly increased the speed with which we can prepare a meal, largely replaced the activity of families cooking together and subsequently eating together at the same table? Have text messages taken from us both the desire and the patience to sit face to face with our friends and families for an evening conversation? Have email messages with their frequent brevity of content and speed of delivery, robbed us of the ability to express genuine thoughts by way of the nearly ancient ink pen and paper?
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At the risk of sounding like someone born around the turn of the twentieth century, we must be careful that the technologically advanced devices and products we have nearly become dependent upon do not replace quality time spent with family, friends, and our God. Like many of you, I thoroughly enjoy the convenience and productivity of gadgets made possible by modern technology. Occasionally, however, I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but think that we would all do ourselves a favor if we replaced television time with talk time; a good old fashioned face to face conversation with a family member or friend. Occasionally, we would do well to replace time spent on the computer with a long walk reflecting on the events of the day. Occasionally, it might be beneficial to substitute the five minute microwavable meal with a slowly prepared home cooked meal shared at the stovetop and table with someone else. As long as humankind continues to occupy planet earth, there will always be new technologies that lead to new gadgets that will compete for our time and attention. However, let us not allow those things to totally replace the beneficial activities of yesteryear; a time devoid of our so called great technological advancements. May the message always remain more important than the mode of communication, may conversations always remain more important than computers, and may time spent with others remain more important than television. Our wellbeing and that of our children and grandchildren may very well depend on it.
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NEVER PAY FOR ANOTHER MUSIC LESSON What if you had a piano teacher robot there with you 24 hours a day breaking songs down, rewinding on demand, slowing stuff down to turtle speed never complaining never saying Times Up
Meet the Song Teacher Robot http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-FSx0_msyM Part II – demonstrates the Robot’s features http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gIcgJzvsKU Let’s face the facts No teacher is going to sit with you and transpose ONE lesson into all 12 keys and slow down each one the same amount of time each and every time. It’s just impractical and at $30 per half-hour lesson, extremely expensive.
MY PAYLOADZ – AD AND PAYMENT LINK http://store.payloadz.com/go?id=934454 questions? mary.apprise@gmail.com
BACK POCKET BAND What if you could pull a real-sounding band out your "back pocket?" (...so to speak). Sounds crazy but with the power of technology, I'm going to show you how to finally make practicing fun, productive, and effective. (I only wish I had this little magic tool when I was young!) I call it "Back Pocket Band" because it literally puts a band at your fingertips. I've put together a full video demonstration at: http://www.hearandplay.com/go/?w=backpocketband&p=apprise&a=Mary Daniels
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Here's what it does: * It gives you access to over 350 realsounding backing tracks. * Practice and live performance files are played in all 12 keys. * You can choose between multiple speeds: slow, medium, and fast. * 3 different sections, 9 styles of music, & drums-only option. * Instant streaming playback and automatic downloading to your system for burning to cd, transfer to iPod, and editing. * And much more...
http://www.hearandplay.com/go/?w=backpocketband&p=apprise&a=Mary Daniels
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Book of the Month Jayda Cabbell, Author The Storm Chaser - Synopsis - Hurricane Katrina will be etched in our minds forever and the Haiti earthquake and the Tennessee floods touched our hearts deeply. Have you ever wondered what happened to the survivors and evacuees afterward? Truth is; many have become far removed from the pain, despair and horror of those storms. For Hurricane Katrina evacuee Jayda Cabbell, it is a day and time in her life she will never forget. She offers readers a first-hand account of her emotional roller coaster through the 'Storms' following the hurricane. After being knocked down and thrown off balance, Jayda Cabbell tackled the storm's aftermath head-on with resilience, while gearing up for the next storm. This is not another selfhelp book with a simple autobiographical twist. No, this book reads like an Oscar-nominated movie. Hurricane Katrina, jail, adultery and homelessness was no match to stop the favor and redemption on the author’s life.
About the Author Jayda Cabbell’s storm did not come when the levee’s broke; she’s been fighting and defeating storms since her youth. Jayda is a Wife, Mother, Community Servant and founder of Divva.Biz. Jayda hopes to inspire readers to embrace their storm and know that a blessing shall soon come from the trials. The book is available online through Barnes and Noble & Amazon.com. Personalized copies of the book can be purchased at www.imastormchaser.info
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Music Charts - Billboard Gospel Top Ten Songs 1. I Smile – Kirk Franklin 2. Over & Over – Trinitee 5:7 3. My Heart Says Yes – Troy Sneed 4. Nobody Greater – VaShawn Mitchell 5. Well Done – Deitrick Haddon 6. He Has His Hand on you – Marvin Sapp 7. I Give Myself Away – William McDowell 8. I Need Your Glory – Earnest Pugh 9. James Fortune & FIYA 10. Walking – Mary, Mary R&B Hip Hop Top Ten Songs 1. Motivation – Kelly Rowland 2. I’m On One – DJ Khaled 3. Sure Thing – Miguel 4. My Last – Big Sean featuring Chris Brown 5. How to Love – Lil Wayne 6. She Ain’t You – Chris Brown 7. Unusual – Trey Songz featuring Drake 8. Super Bass – Nicki Minaj 9. Far Away – Marsha Ambrosius 10. Man Down - Rihanna
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All cakes customers in GA delivery charges apply except for pick up. Cakes Available for shipping include:
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