August 2011 by Grace & Glory Magazine

2 August 2011 | Grace&Glory

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™

AUGUST 2011

contents on the cover: President David Wilson Office of the President

Morgan State University 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane Truth Hall, Rm. 400 Baltimore, Maryland 21251 443-885-3200 www.morgan.edu

Q&A Interview 8-9

Q&A Interview with President David Wilson

Special Feature • Morgan State University History Pg. 11 • Morgan State University Alumnae Speaks Pg. 12

features 15 MAYOR’S JOURNAL

23 EDUCATION DIGEST Dr. Tim Tooten

17 GOVERNOR’S PAGE 19 WORD ON FINANCES

Understanding the Importance of an “A”

27 NUTRITION & YOU

Dr. Kenneth O. Robinson

Herline A. Knights

“Who Wants to Be a Kingdomaire?” Part Two

Exercise Addiction

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29 BODY BASICS Livestrong.com

Exercise Plan for College Students

31 BOOK SHELF

Brandie Manigault

36 TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH

Carla J. Debnam, MS, LCPC

Keep The Faith

37 WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Donna Williams-Ross

33 TEEN CONNECT

Pastors Greg & Tonya Dennis

Choose Life

In Every Issue Contributors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

35 A WOMAN’S PERSPECTIVE

Cassandra Vaughn-Fox

In The Blink of an Eye

From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Scripture Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Carter’s Comment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

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For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11

Advisory Board

Contributors

PUBLISHER

Jackie Epps

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jackie Epps

EDITORIAL

Dr. Kenneth O. Robinson Dr. Harold A. Carter, Jr. Cassandra Vaughn-Fox Herline A. Knights Charles ‘Chizel It’ Harris Pastors Gregory and Tonya Dennis Carla J. Debnam Donna Williams-Ross Governor Martin O’Malley Ericka Johnson Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Rev. Tim Tooten Brandie Manigault

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mark L. Dennis

GRAPHIC ARTIST

Claire Lesesne www.JandCDesigns.com

WEB ADMINISTRATOR

Arts Period

PRINTING

Chroma Graphics

Chairman — Dr. A.C. D. Vaughn Sr. Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church, MD Vice-Chairman — Dr. Frank M. Reid III Sr. Pastor, Bethel A.M.E. Church, MD Dr. Jerome A. Barber Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple, Hampton , VA Dr. Michael A. Battle Sr., U.S. Ambassador President, ITC Seminary, Atlanta, GA Dr. Timothy Boddie Friendship Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA Bishop John R. Bryant Presiding Prelate of the 5th Episcopal District Dr. Harold A. Carter, Sr. Pastor, New Shiloh Baptist Church, MD Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, U.S. Ambassador Sr. Pastor, Believers Christian Fellowship, NY Dr. WIlliam H. Curtis Mt. Ararat Baptist Church, Pittsburgh, PA Bishop Ralph L. Dennis Sr. Pastor, Kingdom Worship Center, MD Wanda Q. Draper/Media Executive Michele J.K. Epps/Health Sciences Cassandra Vaughn/Out Foxed Media LLC. www.Outfoxedmedia.org Dr. Donte’ L. Hickman, Sr. Pastor, Southern Baptist Church, MD Pastor Timothy V. Manigault Bishop Dennis V. Proctor Presiding Prelate of the Western Episcopal Region AME Zion Church Dr. Kenneth O. Robinson Pastor, Restoring Life International Church, MD Bishop Walter Scott Thomas, Sr. Pastor, New Psalmist Baptist Church, MD Dr. Timothy Tooten, Sr. Pastor, Harvest Christian Ministries, MD

2011 Specials

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6 August 2011 | Grace&Glory

Faith &Education

from the editor

Jackie Epps Editor-in-Chief

This month’s issue spotlights education as we welcome Morgan State University to the Grace & Glory Magazine family. We are pleased and very excited for the opportunity to talk with the new president of Morgan State University, Dr. David Wilson. In addition we were able to get comments from some of our local Morgan State University alumnae to inspire our students, and some of our monthly contributors spoke on faith and education in their articles. Joining in with my colleagues as we focus on ‘Back to School’, I put together a few nuggets of inspiration that I would like to pass along to our students.

Live your life in pursuit of the dream God put inside of you- a dream only you can pursue and only you can fulfill. Today is the day to rise up and claim the promises of God. You must hear God’s voice until it becomes louder than any other voice in your life. You are engineered by God to be a success. God’s Word gives birth to your destiny. The challenges handed to you in life are trying to push you into your destiny. Choice, not chance, determines destiny. Pursue your God-given passion. To hold on to your dream and fulfill God’s plan for your life, you must keep moving forward. That same God who gave you your dream will complete what He has started in you. Life is too short to think small. You must “think big” to do God-sized things. To be disciplined means to do the right thing when you feel like doing the wrong thing. History makers and world changers are mere men and women who followed their dreams. You are more than what you see in the mirror. You are a Designer’s Original . . . created for a purpose. God is in you to produce excellence. God designed you perfectly for the assignment on your life. Never forget that you are where you are today because God has kept you and sustained you. You can do what God says you can do, you can have what God says you can have. Our God is limitless! www.gracenglorymagazine.org www.gracenglorymagazine.org 77

D r. D av i d W i l s o n - M o r g a n S t a t e U n i ve r s i t y G&G: First Dr. Wilson, we would like to welcome you to Baltimore and congratulate you on the appointment as the new President of Morgan State University. Please share with us why you wanted to come to Baltimore as the new President of this Historically Black College? Dr. Wilson: First, I thank you for welcoming me to Baltimore. I’ve been here for over a year, and I feel like I’ve been here for more than ten years. Baltimore is a city of neighborhoods, and I enjoy riding through the neighborhoods and Baltimore is a very easy city to enjoy. I wanted to come to Morgan because I truly wanted to give back to an institution that has given so much to me. I didn’t go to Morgan, but the institution of which I speak is the historically black college. All that I’ve achieved, I wouldn’t have been able to without the foundation at Tuskegee University. These institutions have created some of the most distinguished leaders and visionaries we know in our country’s history, so if there were to be an institution for which I would leave a place where I’ve spent much of my career, the requirement would be for that destination to be a historically black college. G&G: Dr. Wilson, those in the Baltimore/Morgan State University community want to get to know you. Tell us one thing about yourself that isn’t generally known or that only those closest to you would know. Dr. Wilson: When I was growing up, I had a major stuttering problem. I could barely string two sentences together, and I really struggled with it. Right now, I think even some in my family can’t believe that I conquered that, and it wasn’t through any speech therapy, but I knew that I needed to move beyond it and master the stuttering to accomplish what I felt I could achieve in my life. G&G: Dr. Wilson, growing up with nine siblings on a sharecropper farm in Alabama, what was some of your dreams and aspirations? Your biography says you were the first in your family to attend college. Was this a goal early on for you and/or your parents? 8 August August 2011 2011 || Grace&Glory Grace&Glory 8

Dr. Wilson: It was not a goal early on, because there were no role models. Only one person in my community had ever gone to college, so my first five brothers had to drop out of elementary school as they were needed for us to help farm crops. College did not emerge on my horizon until I was in the seventh grade. It was then that I started attending school full time and I began to realize the power in education. Education, I realized, was the great equalizer, and I told my father that I didn’t want to grow up to be a sharecropper, and that I wanted to go to college. I saw college from that point as a means to move myself out of poverty. G&G: Who has most influenced you? Did you have a role model or mentor? Who deserves the most credit for your success? Dr. Wilson: It’s not one person. When I look back on my life, it’s like a tree with so many leaves and limbs. My parents were loving, supportive, and we saw a whole lot of love and nurturing in our home. I owe my brothers and sisters everything, as they put their lives on hold for me. They sacrificed a lot to make sure I capitalized on opportunities that came my way. My brothers would go out and make money and share that money with us, and one of the ways I got through my undergraduate education was my siblings sending me money from jobs they were able to work. Two teachers, the late Mrs. Beatrice Jones and the late Mr. Hansel Charlow, had an immense impact on my life. Mrs. Jones was an elementary school teacher and the only college-educated person in our community, and she would go before church congregations throughout Alabama instilling confidence in me and in children throughout communities. Mr. Charlow is singularly responsible for me choosing the college I attended. In ninth grade, he took me and three other students from my high school to a Farmer’s Conference at Tuskegee. I learned the legacy of Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver and decided that Tuskegee was the place for me because of him.

the president speaks G&G: Dr. Wilson, I understand you hold four academic degrees. How did your education prepare you for this position as President of MSU? Is this job in line with your career goals? Dr. Wilson: I am very thankful that I went to the institutions I attended, and that I took those positions seriously. I’ve not gone into any professional position feeling like I was not well prepared for them. At Princeton, my education prepared me well for that experience, at Rutgers, I felt extremely well prepared. At Auburn, I felt ready to provide the leadership the school needed and the same was present at Wisconsin. The sheepskins and the worldwide experiences I’ve had have prepared me to help Morgan to become more global, and to help create solutions for issues facing the city of Baltimore and the state of Maryland. I’m fortunate that I grabbed hold of education, and that I had the experiences to help me work with others and help take Morgan forward.

50 states and welcome scores of international students from Asia, the Caribbean and many other places. Morgan is a place that is beginning to closely resemble true American diversity.

G&G: Dr. Wilson as president, what short-term goals and objectives have you established for yourself? Can you describe your long-range goals and objectives for MSU? If you could change or improve anything about MSU, what would it be? Dr. Wilson: Long range, we want Morgan to be the premier public urban research institution in the State of Maryland. That means that Morgan can’t run away from urban problems, and we will not. We will help K-12 education to thrive in Baltimore. We will grow research opportunities in Northeast Baltimore and create jobs for our community members. We see Morgan growing larger in enrollment, upwards of 12,000 students, and the level of grants and contracts doubling over the next ten years. And at the end of the decade, I see Morgan being the premier institution in the state and hands down, and this may upset some of my colleagues at other HBCU’s, that when you discuss HBCU’s, Morgan will be the premier research HBCU in the country.

G&G: Dr. Wilson, how do you get the students, who are rightfully self-interested in pursuing their education, to be interested in doing more than coming to school and leaving. How do you insert your leadership into their daily lives and how do you use your leadership position at the University to impact the community at large? Dr. Wilson: I started at Morgan a series of town hall meetings, and used those to promote a richer student experience, and to deliver to students our expectations. We expect them not to just see their way through Morgan, but to be engaged and to understand that preparation is not just making the ‘A,’ but connecting what they learn in the classroom to real life issues and solutions. They have to be prepared, when they leave Morgan, to live in a larger community and to be contributing citizens. Civic responsibility and engagement are the tenets of the college experience at Morgan.

G&G: Dr. Wilson, what can Morgan State University offer perspective students that another college can’t? If a young person asked you today why they should attend MSU for higher education, how would you respond? Dr. Wilson: Students should come to Morgan if they desire a world class education that will challenge them, put them in a nurturing environment with rigor and an expectation to be prepared. The world is evolving in front of our faces, and Morgan will provide them with that kind of experience to help them understand and appreciate a diverse climate in which their education will unfold. Our majority is African-American, but we have students from all

G&G: Dr. Wilson at MSU what do you see as the most challenging aspects of an increasingly diverse academic community, and what steps have you taken to meet such challenges? Dr. Wilson: One of the challenges that we typically see is along the lines of faith. Within a diverse academic community, a faculty from a faith standpoint believes in Christianity, Islam, some are Agnostic, some are Buddhist, etc. One of the things that we are cognizant of is that diversity in faith. We want our students to deepen their understanding of this climate, and religiosity around the world. We encourage the respect of that diversity and seek ways for the campus community to feel comfortable with it.

G&G: Lastly Dr. Wilson, Morgan State University was founded in 1867 as the Centenary Biblical Institute by the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. I believe it is safe to say that MSU has a faith-based foundation. Would you close this interview with your thoughts on faith and education? Dr. Wilson: Morgan was founded as a result of visionary Methodist ministers, and was private until 1939. There is a strong foundation of faith, and we are making investments in the university chapel, because students actively attend chapel and are increasing in numbers in their attendance. We want that experience to be fulfilling for them. Like many HBCU’s, Morgan was established as an outpost of the church, and we’ll never stray from our roots and we will use that strong foundation to propel us into the future.

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morgan state university

President David Wilson, Ed.D. Morgan’s New President Dr. David Wilson brings a wealth of skills and a long trail of accomplishments to his new position as the 12th president of Morgan State University. Dr. Wilson holds four academic degrees: a B.S. in political science and an M.S. in education from Tuskegee University; an Ed.M. in educational planning and administration from Harvard University and an Ed.D. in administration, planning and social policy, also from Harvard. He comes to Morgan from the University of Wisconsin, where he was chancellor of the University of Wisconsin Colleges and the University of Wisconsin–Extension. Before that, he held numerous other administrative posts in academia, among them: vice president for University Outreach and associate provost at Auburn University, and associate provost of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. President Wilson has published more than 20 books and articles on education and diversity issues. In 1998, he was named one of the nation’s top 100 leaders in higher education by the American Association of Higher Education — one of many honors and recognitions he 10 10 August August 2011 2011 || Grace&Glory Grace&Glory

has received for his work. In February, President Barack Obama appointed him to his 11-member Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Dr. Wilson’s credentials to lead Maryland’s Public Urban University are clearly strong, but it’s the character he brings, a character shaped by the intangibles of his background, that is perhaps most impressive of all. Dr. Wilson grew up with nine siblings on a sharecropper farm outside the small town of McKinley, Ala. Through hard work, tenacity and the encouragement of his father and his teachers, he became the first person in his family to attend college. Dr. Wilson’s educational philosophy is to put the students’ experience first. As a leader, he is a consensus builder and a strong believer in transparency of process. His goal is to make Morgan a leader in producing the next wave of innovators in the U.S. “I’ve always tried to create an atmosphere where I work so people don’t see what they do as a job,” he says. “It’s a calling.”

morgan state university

Morgan State University History Founded in 1867 as the Centenary Biblical Institute by the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the institutionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original mission was to train young men in ministry. It subsequently broadened its mission to educate both men and women as teachers. The school was renamed Morgan College in 1890 in honor of the Reverend Lyttleton Morgan, the first chairman of its Board of Trustees, who donated land to the college. Morgan awarded its first baccalaureate degree to George F. McMechen in 1895. McMechen later obtained a law degree from Yale and eventually returned to Baltimore, where he became a civic leader and one of Morganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strongest financial supporters.

The 1968 plans for the MSU library.

The current MSU library.

In 1915 the late Andrew Carnegie gave the school a conditional grant of $50,000 for the central academic building. The terms of the grant included the purchase of a new site for the College, payment of all outstanding obligations, and the construction of a building to be named after him. The College met the conditions and moved to its present site in northeast Baltimore in 1917. Carnegie Hall, the oldest original building on the present MSU campus, was erected two years later. Morgan remained a private institution until 1939. That year, the state of Maryland purchased the school in response to a state study that determined that Maryland needed to provide more opportunities for its black citizens. From its beginnings as a public campus, Morgan was open to students of all races. By the time it became a public campus, the College had become a relatively comprehensive institution. Until the mid-1960s, when the state's teachers colleges began their transition to liberal arts campuses, Morgan and the University of Maryland College Park were the only two public campuses in the state with comprehensive missions. As Maryland's teachers colleges began to broaden their objective, Morgan and other like institutions, were placed into a state college system governed by a Board of Trustees. However, in 1975 the State Legislature designated Morgan as a university, gave it the authority to offer doctorates, and provided for it to once again have its own governing board. In 1988 Maryland reorganized its higher education structure and strengthened its coordinating board, the Higher Education Commission. The campuses in the state college system became part of the University of Maryland System. Morgan and St. Mary's College of Maryland were the only public baccalaureate-granting institutions authorized to have their own governing boards. The legislation also strengthened Morgan's authority to offer advanced programs and designated the campus as Maryland's Public Urban University. www.gracenglorymagazine.orgâ&#x20AC;&#x192; 11

MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNAE SPEAKS Bishop Heber M. Brown II

Pastor, Shiloh Baptist Church - Baltimore, MD Pastor, Brown’s Chapel FWB Church, Newark, NJ MSU Class of 1977 Morgan State was always at the top of the list within the Brown family’s household when it came to considering which college to attend. With two older siblings having graduated from Morgan, at the age of 16, I too began my academic journey at Morgan in 1970. In some ways Morgan and I grew up together. During my tenure; MSU became a university, initiated the WEAA radio station, and engaged in an aggressive expansion effort. Subsequently, I grew through; my involvement with Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, my participation in the music ministry of First Mount Olive Free Will Baptist Church, and my working experiences which helped to financially undergird my education. Ultimately, I grew in my faith in God. Understanding that God was preparing me for a purpose-filled future and MSU was His instrument to that end!

Rev. Johnny R. Calhoun, Senior Pastor Mount Olive AME Church, Baltimore, MD MSU Class of 1977

Morgan believed in me from the very beginning and gave me a full academic scholarship. They gave me the confidence, along with my faith in GOD, to be able to assume several leadership opportunities, including: President of Groove Phi Groove, Editor of the Yearbook and Student Government President. As president of the SGA, I was blessed to have Procter & Gamble to call me in the SGA office and offer me my first job after college and then with the LORD’s help, graduated as an accounting major. The LORD blessed me to attend Morgan and I’ll forever be thankful for the opportunity. Hallelujah.

Elder Curtis M. Brown, M.B.A.

Pastor C. Guy Robinson, B.A. Music

Jones Tabernacle Baptist Church-Baltimore, MD MSU Class of 2003 “I am fully convinced that my Morgan experience was part of a divinely arranged process to further prepare my mind and heart for ministerial service. I am grateful for every instructor who challenged me to pursue academic excellence, every motivational speaker who urged us to remain focused and every inspirational melody rendered by the world renown Morgan State University Choir. Morgan’s historical roots are in the Church, and that harmonious combination of spirituality and erudition still resound across the campus.”

Pastor Duane V. Simmons

Simmons Memorial Baptist Church MSU Class of 1983 & 1984 As a freshman – football practitioner, I crossed the threshold of Morgan State University in 1979 with many pre-conceived notions. These notions fooled me into thinking that I knew exactly what I wanted to know. Unfortunately, what I wanted to know was not what I needed to know. It didn’t take long for my professors and coaches to reveal to me that the primary purpose of knowledge is to expose – without fail – what I didn’t know, and that learning is a lifelong journey. I discovered that the truest test of a successful institution is not its size, stature or endowments, but rather its ability to ignite within its students a fire to know more. There at Morgan, I was nurtured by great minds – with patient hands. Hands which their names are too numerous for this page; names that bear a permanent place in the halls of my memory. I am blessed to have Morgan as an entry on my resume.

Pastor Tyrone M. Thomas

Charity Community Church of God - Baltimore, MD MSU Class of 2003 In 2003, I graduated from Morgan State University at which time I was awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. “I am a proud graduate of Morgan State University!” My experience at MSU was a powerful, prolific, and polished one that will always be remembered and cherished. While matriculating at this historic black university, I received the tools necessary to make me the well-rounded, sound thinking, and balanced individual I am today. This journey of experiences introduced and exposed me to some of the greatest professors of our time. I was taught to be the very best and to pursue greatness, not mediocrity. Each day I thank God for my Morgan experiences that afforded me the opportunity to study and network with some of the greatest minds in today’s world!

Pastor Tonya Dennis

Kingdom Worship Center- Baltimore, MD MSU Class of 1992 My years at Morgan were indeed some of the best years of my life. It was during this time that I developed a passion for event planning. I was honored to be crowned Ms. Morgan State University (1991-92) and successfully initiated DREAM (Determined to Revive Excellence at Morgan). This program afforded MSU to receive over $200 million dollars in capital improvements and funding. I knew then that I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. My relationship with Christ was also deepened while attending Morgan. I believe that if it were not for Prof. Shirley K. Russell and Alpha Nu Omega, Inc., I would not have been fully prepared for my assignment now. At MSU I met and ultimately married my college sweetheart and we both serve in ministry together.

“I’m So Glad I Went to Morgan State…” As I sit around my closest friends, I am reminded that I would not know any of them if I had not attended Morgan State University. A native New Yorker, I made my way to MD in 1988 to attend a school of which I had never heard. “And what is an HBCU anyway?” I thought. I quickly embraced Morgan State, HBCUs, and Maryland. It wasn’t just college. It was family. It was a connection to my history and a pathway to my future. At Morgan I experienced independence, interdependence, leadership, and servitude. While at Morgan that I started my relationship with my wife and with Jesus Christ. Beginning this Fall, my eldest child follows her parents’ footsteps as an Honors Scholar at MSU. I am at peace knowing that Morgan will nurture her and provide her a sense of family away from home. She too will build lifelong memories that she can trace back to Fair Morgan!

CFO/Kingdom Worship Center,Balto., MD MSU Class of 1992

12 August 2011 | Grace&Glory

scripture page

Proverbs 4:5-13 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

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14 August 2011 | Grace&Glory

mayor’s journal

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16 August 2011 | Grace&Glory

governor’s page

STATE OF MARYLAND OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

MARTIN O’MALLEY GOVERNOR STATE HOUSE 100 STATE CIRCLE ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND 21401-1925 (410) 974--3901 (TOLL FREE) 1-800-811-8336

TTY USERS CALL VIA MD RELAY

A MESSAGE FROM GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY Dear Friends, An analysis done by the independent Hilltop Institute at the University of Maryland Baltimore County found that Maryland can save over $850 million and cut the number of uninsured in half by 2020 through effective implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). This administration has made great strides in health care reform, including establishing Maryland’s health benefit exchange, creating the Governor’s Office of Health Care Reform, and enacting federal consumer protections on the state level. We have initiated reforms that expanded health coverage to over 280,000 Marylanders. Through Executive Order, I created The Health Care Reform Coordinating Council, co-chaired by Lt. Governor Brown and Health Secretary Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, to advise us on how ACA reform legislation may be incorporated efficiently and effectively. As co-chair of the Maryland Health Quality and Cost Council (HQCC), Lt. Governor Brown also oversees a new health disparities workgroup that will design strategies and initiatives to address health disparities. A 2006 report by the Maryland Healthcare Commission found that African Americans in Maryland are nearly twice as likely to be hospitalized for such treatable conditions as asthma, hypertension and heart failure, costing Medicare an additional $26 million. Addressing health disparities among Maryland’s racial and ethnic communities is a moral imperative. We must seize the moment and use the tools provided by the ACA to expand access, eliminate disparities and make Maryland the healthiest state in the nation. Sincerely,

Martin O’Malley Governor

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18 August 2011 | Grace&Glory

word on finance “Wine and luxury are not the way to riches!” Proverb 21:1

Who Wants to Be A Kingdomaire? Part II In my last article “Who Wants To Be A Kingdomaire?” Part 1, I defined a kingdomaire as a millionaire whose primary purpose as a millionaire is to supply resources for the advancement of God’s kingdom. They understand that God has blessed them to reach this economic milestone to be a blessing to others. Additionally, it is my descriptive word for millionaires who use their resources wisely, constructively and judicially. After many years of pastoring a successful church, I am convinced that it takes money to do ministry. I have discovered that the church leaders, who truly understand this truth, usually are the most successful. It is unfortunate that only until recently the term “millionaire” has even been acceptable in the Body of Christ. Yet the scripture emphatically says that it is “He (God) that gives us power to get wealth to establish His Covenant…” (Duet. 8:18) The word establish in this passage is an interesting one. It literally means to manifest the covenant. The covenant that God makes with his people must be seen by all of mankind in the earth. God uses wealth (resources, money, possessions, goods, men, land and property) as an exchange to make visible what he is doing in the earth. When I looked back at every major advancement we have made in ministry; the purchasing of 33 acres, a 27,000 sq ft facility, a Christian book store . . . it all required a wealth transaction to expand our ministry. Let me say, I am fully aware that there are those who are using the pulpit to only enrich their personal lives but that does not nullify God’s purpose for using millionaires to finance the gospel of His kingdom. One of the reasons I felt so inspired to write this article is because there has been so much deception concerning the lifestyles of most millionaires. All that glitters is not a millionaire’s goal. In my previous article, Part 1 of “Who Wants to Be a Kingdomaire?”, I described the moderate lifestyle that most millionaires live. Also, I pointed out that there have always been millionaires and rich people in God’s Kingdom. That is why the Apostle Paul had to give specific instructions to those who are rich in this world. (I Timothy 6:17) Let’s just say, many of you reading this article, are probably not millionaires yet!

Perhaps, many of you will never achieve that economic milestone. However, as a believer, your relationship to money is still very important to God as well as to the advancement of His Kingdom. God uses money as an exchange to develop and bring health to the nations of the world. I would like to spend the next few paragraphs writing to those of you who believe you are called and destined to be a Kingdomaire. There is a “Kingdom dream” in you that is big and it will require millions of dollars to fulfill it. Here are some steps you can begin to take to develop a millionaire mindset that will subsequently propel you to be a Kingdomaire. 1. Know you must “think” like a millionaire, before you can be a MILLIONAIRE. Prov. 23:7. Read books and listen to the tapes of millionaires to capture their thinking patterns. 2. Millionaires think long-term instead of short-term concerning money. Millionaires do not seek to gratify their needs for short-term pleasure but understand they must sacrifice today for what they desire tomorrow. 3. Millionaires do WHAT THEY LOVE, and WHAT THEY LOVE rewards them. Start working and serving in areas that you are most passionate about, even if you don’t get paid right away for what you do. Get started!!! 4. Millionaires embrace CHANGE. Don’t be afraid to do something NEW. My greatest financial breakthrough came in my life when I left my field of professional and embraced a business position I had never done before. Don’t be afraid to take a calculated risk. 5. Millionaires have MULTIPLE SOURCES of income. Begin to explore other businesses that will generate a residual income for you. Millionaires find things that can be done once and they get paid from it, year after year after year. Start working for profits, not just wages.

6. Millionaires TALK about IDEAS, not just things and other people. Surround yourself with people who are going where you want to go financially. Your continuing education and relationships are keys to changing your financial STATUS. Millionaires understand that money comes from ideas first, not people. 7. Millionaires are GENEROUS. Increase your giving. Start with your tithes and offering at your church. Millionaires believe in the principle of sowing and reaping. They know you must GIVE MORE, TO GET MORE. These are just a few of the things you can start doing right away; now that you understand that God’s purpose for the millionaire is to become a kingdomaire.

Economic Empowerment Seminar with Dr. Kenneth O. Robinson II and Church Financial Experts from IWC/Church Capital, Inc. on August 20, 2011 - 9am-12pm at Greenbelt Marriot, Greenbelt, Maryland THIS FREE SEMINAR AND CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST IS FOR PASTORS, CHURCH ADMINISTRATORS, EXECUTIVES AND TREASURERS. You must register at www. kennethorobinson.com. Seats are limited. FIRST 50 REGISTRANTS THAT ATTEND WILL RECEIVE A FREE COPY OF DR. KEN’S NEWLY PUBLISHED BOOK “KEYS TO UNLOCK YOUR FINANCIAL DESTINY” FOREWORDED BY DR. MYLES MUNROE. To book Dr. Kenneth Robinson for a financial seminar in your area or at your ministry, please call 410.415.6400 Dr. Kenneth O. Robinson, II

Pastor & Certified Estate Planner www.gracenglorymagazine.org 19

20 August 2011 | Grace&Glory

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22 August 2011 | Grace&Glory

Understanding the Importance of an Thousands of students are enjoying the final leg of their summer vacations and looking forward to the start of a new school year. The grades of last school year are in the record books and it’s time to prepare for fresh academic beginnings. Parents and guardians alike send their children off to school or college with these words, “Try and get an A.” A student’s ability to obtain an A is based in part on how they perform on Aptitude tests, such as the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) and a number of other State mandated assessments. The results from tests assist colleges in predicting how well a student will perform in higher education.

“A”

education digest

I believe a positive attitude is just as important in predicting a student’s success in the classroom and in the real world as the results from aptitude tests. It turns out that attitude and aptitude come from the same Latin word aptitudo, which means fitness. It’s important that our children are academically Dr. Tim Tooten, Sr. fit when they leave for school. I want to say more about attitude. A student’s attitude can be either positive or negative. I believe attitudes are taught and modeled. They also start with adults. It’s no secret that children model much of what they see and hear in their homes and communities. The Bible has plenty to share in this regard. In Philippians 4:9 (New Living Translation), the Apostle Paul says to the church at Philippi, “Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.” We should make it one of our challenges as members of the Faith community to display positive attitudes in our actions and our decisionmaking. I have listed below a few tips to help each of us to positively inspire our children. This resource is courtesy of familyeducation.com.

• Be a good example. Provide the kind of moral model you want your children to copy. Your child needs someone to look up to. • Be present. Be here now. Don't let work and other distractions interfere with remaining in the moment in direct contact and communication with your child and other loved ones. • Be positive. Things often turn out on the basis of your way of looking at it. If you're optimistic and hopeful about the future, it may turn out to be self-fulfilling. • Be persistent. Life is a long-distance run. Perseverance pays off, so never give up, especially when it comes to helping your kids. • Be believing. Every human being needs something to live by: a set of guiding principles, a sense of right and wrong. You need to be clear, conscious, and consistent with it, so your child knows where you stand and has the opportunity to follow. I believe we should not only focus on our children’s report cards, what academic degrees they’ll receive, or how much money they'll make. We must also continue praying and believing that it’s the kind of life they live and the manner in which they live it that counts the most. Rev.Dr. Tim Tooten, Sr. is the Education Reporter for WBAL-TV (NBC) and the Pastor and founder of Harvest Christian Ministries in Baltimore, County, Maryland

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26 August 2011 | Grace&Glory

nutrition & you

Herline A. Knights, RD, LD

EXERCISE ADDICTION Exercise addiction occurs when individuals lose perspective of the purpose of exercise and become obsessed with it, to the exclusion of other activities that they used to enjoy. They often pass up a chance to socialize with others, to sleep, and sometimes to work, just so that they can spend more time exercising.

Runners are particularly vulnerable, as are people with perfectionistic tendencies. Many people have questioned whether the release of beta-endorphins during exercise is what leads to the addiction. However, most people now agree that it is most likely caused by underlying psychological conditions, such as extremely low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression. Most people with exercise addiction are women between the ages of 35 and 60. Excessive exercise often is paired with bulimia nervosa and sometimes with anorexia nervosa. Some people with exercise addiction suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Symptoms of exercise addiction

Solving the problem

The following are symptoms of exercise addiction:

The following recommendations can help individuals with exercise addiction:

• Exhibiting social isolation. • Continuing with an exercise regimen during times of illness, injury, or exhaustion.

• Find a good counselor.

• Becoming very upset—irritable, anxious, or depressed—when forced to miss exercise.

• Stop all exercise for 1 month (recommended by many experts).

• Repeating the same exercise routine every day, even going so far as “needing” to use the same machine each time. • Exercising for at least 2 hours/day, and feeling the need to “double up” the day after a missed routine. • Needing to “burn off” any food eaten by exercising for a specified amount of time. • Doing mostly cardiovascular exercise—resistance to strength training is common. • Wanting to exercise alone, sometimes in the middle of the night, etc, when no one else is around. • Seeing pain as a sign of doing a “good job” or making progress. • Keeping meticulous records of time spent exercising, heart rate, etc.

• Try to work with a certified athletic trainer to help plan routines.

•F ollow these tips when it is considered healthful to begin exercising again. – Count all exercise—stretching, walking, etc—as part of your time for exercise. – Have your counselor and trainer help you set the amount of time for exercise, and do not exceed that time. – Change emphasis from quantity to quality. • Focus on other hobbies or activities that were likely put aside at the initiation of your addiction. • Start paying attention to how you feel during physical activity—a major component of healing is learning to pay attention to yourself again.

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28 August 2011 | Grace&Glory

body basics

Exercise Plans for College Students As a college student, your schedule probably includes classes, homework, studying, exams, extracurricular activities, social obligations and perhaps even a part-time job. With such a hectic lifestyle, it’s sometimes difficult to find time for a workout. But finding time to exercise can improve your focus and concentration, keep you healthy and prevent the pounds from packing on. If you have a full schedule of classes, you may not have the time or money to commit to an expensive gym membership. And if you’re eating all of your meals at a dining hall, it may be even more challenging to stay in shape. Instead of falling victim to the freshman 15, start a fitness program that you can maintain in your dorm room. Consult a doctor before starting a new fitness routine. Read more: www.livestrong.com

Types of Exercise - Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise per week. Moderate intensity exercises include brisk walking, while vigorous intensity exercises include jogging, cycling or playing sports. Along with aerobic exercise, squeeze in at least two strength-training sessions per week. Your strengthening sessions should include exercises for all major muscle groups including the legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest and arms. Aerobic exercises protect your heart, while strength training keeps your muscles and bones strong. Be sure to stretch gently before and after every workout to avoid injury and improve flexibility. Weights - Resistance training by lifting weights helps tighten and build your muscles, as well as improve your overall strength. Beginner college students with limited space in their dorm can easily stash a dumbbell under the bed. Use the dumbbell to perform upper body and arm workouts, such as the bicep curl. This involves standing or sitting while lifting the weight straight up toward your shoulder. To get your shoulders working, hold two weights and lift them up above your head when standing. If you can’t get hold of dumbbells, bottles of water make a handy alternative. Cardio - Exercises that work your heart, lungs and circulation are known as cardio training. Dorm room cardio workout ideas include the high knee run. Keep your head pointed up and your back straight, then lift each knee in turn as far up to your chest as possible. Two minutes of this as part of a longer workout is enough. Some home cardio also works on your strength. Leg squat thrusts start in the push-up position with palms on the floor. Pull one leg up so that your foot is near your abdomen and knee near your shoulder. Smoothly bring your other leg up and bring your first leg down. Three minutes of this will get your heart and legs working.

Flexibility - Beginner college students face long periods sitting at a desk or in a lecture theater. Working on posture and flexibility helps to keep your spine, shoulders and ligaments loose and supple. Simple stretching includes sitting on the floor with your legs spread wide. Carefully reach forward, touching the floor until the stretching sensation runs up your lower back and down your legs to your hamstrings. This works some of the core ligaments and lower back muscles that keep you loose and flexible. Extra Tips - Building workout and exercise into your routine when in your college room doesn’t have to mean getting out the weights and sports gear. For example, household chores such as cleaning your windows or vacuuming your carpet burn calories and work some muscles. Always take the stairs instead of the elevator if you’re in a large dorm. Short bursts of activity, such as performing abdominal crunches or doing some leg lunges while you’re watching your favorite TV shows, also quickly add up to a lot of daily exercise. Fitness Ball - Buying a fitness ball is an effective way to maintain your figure on a budget. Replace your desk chair with a fitness ball to work your abs and core while you’re doing homework. Balance your butt on the fitness ball with your feet on the floor and do crunches to strengthen your core and improve your balance. Take the Long Way - When you’re heading back to your dorm after class, walking over to the dining hall or meeting a friend at the library, take the long route. You’ll squeeze in a little extra exercise and also have the opportunity to get more familiar with your school’s campus. You can also sneak in exercise by climbing stairs instead of taking the elevator, parking at the far end of the lot when you have to drive to class or pacing while you’re studying for a test. To make your exercise more comfortable, keep a bottle of water and comfortable shoes in your backpack.

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30 August 2011 | Grace&Glory

book shelf

Book Shelf

by Brandie Manigault

This edition of Grace and Glory Magazine is a unique one. It is the kick off issue to all things “back to school”. So in the spirit of the theme, I wanted to do something a little different this month. Instead of giving you my monthly pick, I want to provide a “survival book kit” for all you returning students. Parents and loved ones… if you want to know what books (besides the text books) to give your college students as a continual use resource, here are my top 4 picks. THE BIBLE - by God Did you really think there would be a different #1! This book alone is the manual for life. It contains everything you will need to know from walking in the favor of God, to dealing with peer pressure, to pushing beyond your flesh in order to finish the race and so much more. My personal favorite is the Spirit Filled Life Bible for Students. It contains an introduction and an outline for all 66 books, sections within the text that breakdown certain words of importance to that chapter, and my favorite … sections that show you how to apply the principles that are being taught in that chapter. Another good Bible for students would be the Life Application Bible. It is just that. It teaches you, within the chapters, how to apply what you are reading in your everyday life. Dare to Dream - by Paula White Everyone faces adversity. There will be multiple times when you as, a college student, will want to pack up your books and go home. You may become overwhelmed by the overall experience of balancing school work, a social life, and a possible job. Or you just may get home sick. Dare to Dream is an inspiring book that keeps reminding you that there is something bigger for you beyond your current situation. Just keep pushing. Paula White reminds the reader that God has a BIG plan for you and it is attainable. It is conquerable. It is bigger than you could ever image. You just have to keep moving forward and dream. Dream a dream bigger than you think you can handle. You will have to embrace the challenge of believing in yourself, and daring yourself to dream a big dream. The Purpose Driven Life - by Rick Warren With all the reading that students have to do, this book is a perfect daily devotional. It contains 40 days worth of information that will point and guide individuals in a direction that is purpose filled. It challenges the reader to live with intention not making haphazard decisions. It emphasizes the importance of living on purpose. Rick Warren has given the reader tools to answer life’s biggest question: “Why am I here?”. This book will help students to discover their purpose in life as God has designed it, and help them to stay focused. The Fabric of a Woman - by Pamela Hines Though I know this book will only be helpful to women, I, through my bias as a woman, thought it very appropriate for all female college students. Every woman needs to know her worth. In an environment such as school, there will inevitably be times of self evaluation and reevaluation. Images will be portrayed of what a woman “should” and “should not” be. The Fabric of a Woman helps build a foundation for woman of all ages to stand on so that foreign ideas do not invade their minds and alter what God has intended them to be. Pamela Hines offers practical advice from healthy living and caring for your body to how to feed your spirit and self esteem. The wisdom within these pages can be applied daily to help keep a woman’s mind, body and spirit in balance. This book is all about being the best woman that you can be. www.gracenglorymagazine.org 31

32 August 2011 | Grace&Glory

s young people sometimes you’ve probably thought it or at least heard being saved is not easy. However, the Bible declares that Jesus came to give us life and that more abundantly. He came to heal, set free and deliver. He preached deliverance to captives; he helped those who could not see to recover their sight, he pushed back all the haters. Being saved and living holy is about freedom, release from prison, release from bondage. It is about escape from the restrictions of sin and misery. It’s about living life! Stop trying to do things outside of who you really are! You are God’s chosen and He loves you so much. One writer said, “Christians are supposed to be heroes, escape-agents, the actual good-guys, not the fly-by-night gangsters of TV and the movies. We are real”. As such, live holy and be different. Set yourself apart and walk in freedom. Being a Christian has its privileges by God’s grace and mercy. You do

teen connect Pastors Gregory & Tonya Dennis Kingdom Worship Center 6419 York Road, ownson, MD 21212

410-377-3500

not have to party, drink or smoke weed to have a good time. Good times come when you are in your right mind and you know that if Jesus was to come back today he would not find a joint between your fingers. Why take the risk? Never forget this. We have the key to the best adventure in life! And when you are tempted to think otherwise, know that Satan is trying to hit you hard (with his dumb self). He wants to destroy you. And the decision, the pathway, the choice, is yours whether you will choose life or death. CHOOSE LIFE!

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34 August 2011 | Grace&Glory

a woman’s perspective

I N

T H E

B L I N K

O F

Have you ever felt like you were losing it all? One day everything is fresh and the next you feel like you have been hit by a ton of bricks. You may not have, but me, I have felt my life slip away in an uncontrollable spiral on a downhill journey. Recently, I found myself on what I considered to be the beginning of a very busy summer. I knew everything I had to do graduation, travel, work, festival . . . and I thought I was very well prepared. It wasn’t until I was faced with the most devastating news in my life, my rock, best friend, buddy, mentor, strength had a heart attack. That was the longest twenty minute drive to the hospital. I didn’t know whether to turn left, right or sit still. So I began to pray, I asked God to use his healing power to lift my dad.

A N

E Y E

In the middle of my prayers I began to wonder WHY this was happening. I began to question GOD, why would He do this to me. The answer came to me so clear. God spoke and said remember, “It’s not your will but my will be done.” He said you have to hold to my hand, my unchanging hand. It wasn’t until then that I completely turned my existence over to God. Friends and family surrounded us, prayers from across the world traveled in, but it wasn’t until my dad said, “It is well with my soul,” did I understand that as my life changed in a blink of an eye that God showed me what ‘Truth’ is all about. Cassandra Vaughn-Fox

As you read t his remember, tomor row isn’t promised. Live, Love, and Laugh like it ’s your last moment.

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to your good health

Carla J. Debnam, MS, LCPC

any times as we mature and grow in wisdom and knowledge we Executive Director, feel the need to shed the traditions of our families and communities. This Renaissance Christian may take shape in the way we talk, wear our hair or in how we dress. For Counseling Center many it is a time to shed our spiritual upbringing for a more inclusive, all paths lead to God framework. This is evidenced in our behaviors, our interactions with others and our overall attitudes. This is especially true for persons entering college or venturing out from their context in the world to a new environment. When young adults find themselves in transition from childhood to adulthood, they embrace their new freedoms wholeheartedly. The choices made during this time of growth and exploration are sometimes positive and sometimes negative.Whether it is the choice to attend a party or study for tomorrow’s exam or the choice to partake in using drugs and alcohol or to find healthier ways to entertain yourself, your foundation of faith can help in sorting out these options. Instead of taking time out from God while in college or pursuing your career, this is the time to keep your faith at the forefront of your life. This is a critical time in your life and the guidance you receive from other believers and through your personal relationship with God is an important part of making the best decisions. Sometimes young adults may feel like they are invincible and have time to pursue their faith when they are older and start a family. This is a misconception. King David developed his relationship with God as a young man and it carried him through the victorious times and the challenging times in his life. In Psalm 40 David has the following testimony, “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along”. His walk with God was not after he became king, but he pursued a relationship with God throughout his life. Keeping the faith is not always easy but it pays off in the times we need it most. In times of transition from one stage of life to the next, having God to depend on gives you stability, peace of mind and the promise of ordered steps, the promise of a future, the promise of unfailing love and the promise to never leave you or forsake you. These assurances from the Bible are a source of strength and can affirm the choices you make when God is the center of your life and not on the back burner. Keeping God first and holding on to your faith is essential to survival on college campuses, in corporate America and in the other areas where life-changing options can arise. Choosing friends, affiliations and extracurricular activities are all influenced by your faith. Stay connected by reading the Bible, praying daily and attending worship or viewing it on the Internet. There are so many options for keeping and growing your faith. Websites, blogs, podcasts and You Tube are all avenues for worship opportunities when you cannot make it in person. There is no substitute for a personal relationship with the Lord in early adulthood. Keeping the faith is the best choice you make during this critical time of life.

36 August 2011 | Grace&Glory

The Greater One lives on the inside of you. Do not be moved by facts, walk by faith.

word of encouragement Donna Williams-Ross

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. [1 John 4:4 - New International Bible] Jesus [the Greater One] lives on the inside of you. It is in the saints that God dwells in. He that is in the world means (1) the devil, (2) the prince of the air and the god of this world system. God comforts the elect with a most sure hope of victory. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, the Spirit of God dwells in you, and that Spirit is mightier than mankind who continually yields themselves to the powers, principalities and wicked spirits in heavenly places. The Holy Spirit has framed your mind for God and heaven to be a blessing to others. They that are of the world, the spirit of the deceiver prevails in them and leads them to continue in the things of this world; their hearts are addicted thereto; they study the pomp, the pleasure, and interests of the world. Notice, the writer is saying that the born again person has overcome all the things of the world because the Holy Spirit dwelling on the inside of them is greater than anything that is in the world. It is the wicked one that brings sickness, disease, lack, rape, sexual perversion, unforgiveness, anger, etc. Greater is the Spirit of Christ that is in you than the spirit of antichrist that is in the world. Superior, bigger, larger, better are all meanings of the word “greater”. Superior, bigger, better is the One living on the inside of you than –anything that is in the world. God is greater than any outside circumstance. Know that because the Holy Spirit is in you He is greater than sickness, disease, lack, worry, and everything else that would come up against you. As you hear of wars and rumors of wars, greater is He that is in you as your protector because He has promised that He will never leave you nor forsake you (Joshua 1:5). As you go through financial challenges and it seems as though your needs are not going to be met, remember how Jesus caused Peter to take the coin out of the mouth of a fish (Matthew 17:27) – and know that God can provide finances for you from places

that you would never expect. He truly can use anything or anyone to meet your needs. As your marriage is being challenged, know that He instituted marriages (Genesis 2:4) and can bring renewed love and understanding in your marriage. When doubt and confusion comes -- know that if you lift your eyes unto the hills (Psalms 121:1) -- God is your helper. If your body is under attack (Isaiah 53:3) lets you know that by Jesus’ stripes you are healed. Whatever your challenge this very day know that God is greater than any challenge that may come your way. I encourage you to see God as your shield – the one who protected you from everything that would come against you today. Whatever your situation today -- see Him as greater than that situation. He is your banker in a financial lack. He is your Comforter when you need comfort. He is your doctor in the time of sickness. He is your map when you need direction. HE IS [presently] all you need. I encourage you to call on Him. Prayer: Father in the name of Jesus I need the revelation of how much greater you are than anything in this world, Amen.

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carter’s commentary Carter’s Commentary

Dr. Harold A.Carter, Jr. Pastor, New Shiloh Baptist Church Baltimore, MD

“CHURCH BOY” Pastor Carter, Jr. and son, Daniel Nathan. Daniel’s Prayer Breakfast Fellowship message, Dec. 2010.

A reflective tribute to my oldest son, Daniel Nathan.

I am truly delighted to share with the readers of Grace and Glory that on Sunday, August 7, my oldest son; Daniel Nathan Carter is scheduled to deliver his Initial Sermon at our church, New Shiloh. Daniel, who will be 23 on September 9th, was born 26 weeks into gestation, weighing 1 lb. 13 oz. His expected arrival date, in 1988, was on or around December 14th. After being in two hospitals, having survived against medical odds for over three months in a neo-natal unit, his mother and my wife, Rev. Monique T. Carter and I, were allowed to bring him home to Reading, PA, from the St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, in Philadelphia, PA, literally, on Christmas Day, of that year. Subsequently, I wrote a reflective sermonicarticle about that experience and entitled it, A Son Is Born (available upon request) detailing some of the miracles within the miracle of his birth. As parents, we discovered a whole new appreciation for medical science and technology; but, even more, we were able to bolster our own faith and prayer-life, even as we continue to be tremendously grateful to God for our family and all who supported us and prayed for Daniel. There is nothing quite like seeing/experiencing what God can do… in real time. Today, Daniel is a thoughtful and respectful young man who will be entering into his senior year at the University of the Cumberlands, a small Christian school in the hills of Williamsburg, KY. Throughout his formative years, he has been able to “beat the odds” typically associated with “preemies” with, perhaps, the exceptions of asthma and the normal challenges of classroom learning. Early on, however, two aspects of his persona began to be quite evident: 1. Daniel looked forward to going to church, and 2. Daniel had a gift as a drummer (percussionist) and, subsequently, the bass guitar. A third aspect would soon become apparent, as well, being that although he had (has) a somewhat shy demeanor and was not necessarily a friend to all, he had (has) a fierce devotion for family. As maturity has ushered him into young adulthood, it has been interesting to, also, observe that one should not take his seemingly shy or passive nature for weakness, or as an opportunity to “get over on him.” He is rather intuitive and can “hold his ground” with the best of them. Preacher’s kids or “PK’s” have often been negatively stereotyped and made fun of. My experience has brought me into contact where 38 August 2011 | Grace&Glory

such has not been anywhere near a preponderance of those I’ve known, or even in my own family, who deserve such labeling. There is a percentage who rebel and act-out, but I would assert that it’s nowhere near the percentage of us who go through the normal struggles of adolescence, teenage years, peer pressure, etc., only to have maintained some semblance of making our families, our respective churches and faith communities, and the God whom we’ve grown up learning and knowing about, proud. Daniel gave his life to Jesus and was baptized (under, humbly, my hand) at the age of six. However, maybe as early as four or five, he went with me, along with his mother, and members of the church I was pastoring in Petersburg, VA, to fellowship with a church in Rocky Mount, NC. As I was “closing” the message, there was this little toddler who’d worked his way free from his mother and into the center aisle, sanctioning me (the preacher), like an ‘ol time deacon. You talkin’ ‘bout making a mental note… obviously, that picture has always stayed with me. His love for worship and the Word have, since early on, been innate. As parents, we have never (I repeat, never) had to make Daniel go to church. My late mother observed this about her grandson and has been credited with calling him “church boy,” a thought that was more than likely first shared with her from my wife and my mother-in-law. The factof-the-matter is if we needed Daniel to do anything, like chores or homework, all we had to do was say to him, “If you don’t get it done, you’re not going to church.” Then, add his desire to be a church musician into the mix and you get… “Church boy.” Daniel’s love for music, especially religious music, had much to do with his going to the University of the Cumberlands, inasmuch as they have an excellent music program. During his freshman year, as a Music major, he participated in the marching band, a jazz ensemble, and continued his individual lessons. He was, also, greatly influenced by his late uncle, Dr. Nathan Carter, Jr. It was, however, about two years ago when he began intimating that he was thinking about changing his major to religion (and was even forecasting his desire to further his studies by going to seminary). And, so, Daniel’s “call story” into the Gospel ministry began. I dare not go into the details that are his first to tell regarding his “call,” suffice it to say that, like most, if not all, of us, he had a healthy attempt at “running.” Needless to say, once the Lord has laid His hand(s) on you….

Quite frankly, in my initial draft of this commentary, I’d included much that had to do with the Biblical history and nature of a “son.” Without a doubt, the role of the son throughout Biblical history, and history in general, is profound, especially as relates to first born sons. A son is the progenitor, inheritor, and carrier of the family name. But, as the drafts evolved, I felt constrained to simply share a brief, biopic salutary overview of my (our) first born son (we, also, had a son who died shortly after birth, in 1990, named Joshua. And, of course, there’s our youngest son [age 15], Timothy) as he moves towards this pivotal and poignant point in his life, as a tribute. Daniel will “stand” as our family’s 4th generation proclaimer of the Gospel (a smile and tears emerge as I write), even as he bears the name of his great grandfather, Dr. Nathan M. Carter, Sr., on my father’s side. (Note: my maternal grandfather and Daniel’s other great grandfather, Dr. T. Robert Washington was, also, a preacher.) He will “stand” with a grandfather, Dr. Harold A. Carter, my father, bearing witness. Of further interest, his mother and my wife, an aunt on his mother’s side and three uncles (one who recently passed) on my side, are all proclaimers of God’s Word, including my sister’s husband. The roots of God’s call upon the lives within our family are varied and broad. On two occasions, the Gospels tell how God, the Heavenly Father, gave special, familial tribute to His Son, Jesus Christ. The first was at Jesus’ baptism, and the second at the time of Jesus’ transfiguration. Essentially, the words from God, the Father, were the same to Jesus: “And lo a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (St. Mt. 3:17). When I was privileged to be ordained, my father, used as his text and sermonic title for the ordination message: “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” I felt that such usage of scripture was such an honor; that my father would take the same words the Heavenly Father used for His Son and use them for me,… as undeserving as I knew I was, still humbles me, even 31 years later. On this the eve of my oldest son’s initial sermon, I lift the same salutary words of unconditional love as he prayerfully goes forth in the tradition of apostolic succession and in this the greatest work of all—the glorious preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”

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40 August 2011 | Grace&Glory