V.O.I.C.E. VICTORY OVER ISSUES AND CHALLENGES EVERYDAY
SPRING 2016 | digital edition
Change... Ending the Cycle
Transformation of the President
It's time to get a little uncomfortable
The narrative has never been more obvious
#02
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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Sandra Shares The state of transformation is forever evolving, growing and changing.
CONVERSATION VOICE OF CORNER DR. HODGE
VOICE ON LIFE
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What does transformation mean to you?
We are a ministry of excellence and are in hot pursuit of impacting the globe for Jesus Christ.
Refuse to be held hostage by your scars.
Question of the Day
18
Tell Us What You Think
The Voice of Dr. Hodge
We want to know your thoughts about every issue of V.O.I.C.E. Please share and let others know too!
Breaking Free From the Pain
13
Un-Become Don’t get stuck in the “become mode."
FEATURES
Ending the Cycle 08
Transformation of the President 16
SHOUT OUTS
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LPCC SHOUT
VOICE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
VOICE ON MINISTRY
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Before You Post PRAY Are you hooked on social media?
Empowerment Seminars Transformed from the inside out.
Find out what's happening at Living Praise Christian Center -- Outreach events and in the surrounding community at large. Follow SHOUT to stay in the know!
VOICE ON THE NATION
16
Transformation of the President The narrative has never been more obvious.
FROM THE EDITOR
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hat does it mean to transform? It may mean various things to different people. For a formal definition, we can always go to the dictionary. Let’s see… The word transform is a verb that means to alter, change, convert, or renovate. There are always things we can alter, change, convert or renovate. Right?
we then move into the transformation phase. Transformation is a noun that means: alteration, a complete change, conversion, or a makeover. Transformation is when we’re in the middle of our makeover or change. We’re in the process. We’ve realized we need to do something, change our way of thinking, speaking or acting.
Once we make up our minds that we need to transform,
After we decide we need to change… that’s to transform.
We start the process… that’s transformation; and when we’re done… we are TRANSFORMED! Transformed is a verb meaning altered, undergo a total change, converted, or renovated. Pastor Hodge has declared 2016 the “Year of Transformation”. “Be ye transformed by the renewing of our minds”, says Romans 12:2. God has placed this theme on our Pastors’ hearts that we
are to be in a state of transformation, forever evolving, changing and growing in our personal lives, business lives and spiritual walk. To change, alter or convert ourselves can be painful. Growth is painful. To shed off the old and embrace the new ways would be like a caterpillar that transforms into a beautiful butterfly. This is our year to soar, because this will be the best year of our lives! Sandra Allen (Editor In-Chief)
CONTRIBUTORS Editor In-chief Sandra Allen Creative Editor/Design Artist Kynia Starkey Copy Editor Ava Teherani Contributors Ava Teherani Frank Williams LaTisha O'Neal Brenda Robinson Keoni Carew Niki Davis Sandra Allen Photographers Damion Bryant Online Support John Sibley Marketing Niki Davis EDITOR'S OFFICE Living Praise Christian Center 9200 Owensmouth Avenue Chatsworth, CA 91311 Phone: (818) 709-LPCC voice@livingpraisechurch.org ONLINE SUBSCRIPTIONS Issuu Digital Publishing for Online Magazines www.issuu.com/lpcc_voice
V.O.I.C.E. - VICTORY OVER ISSUES AND CHALLENGES EVERYDAY
EDITORIAL STAFF
SANDRA ALLEN Editor-in-chief
KYNIA STARKEY Creative Editor, Design Artist, Social Media
AVA TEHERANI Copy Editor, Writer
FRANK WILLIAMS Writer
KEONI CAREW Writer
BRENDA ROBINSON
Writer
LATISHA O'NEAL Writer
NIKI DAVIS Writer, Marketing
JOHN SIBLEY Online Support
ADVERTISING Shanan Henry Phone: (818) 709-LPCC shenry@livingpraisechurch.org SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: www.facebook.com/VOICEMagazine Twitter: www.twitter.com/lpcc_voice Instagram: www.instagram.com/lpcc_voice Email: voice@livingpraisechurch.org
CONVERSATION CORNER QUESTION OF THE DAY:
"WHAT DOES TRANSFORMATION MEAN TO YOU?"
THERESA KIRK
CHARITY ELLSWORTH To me, transformation is translating the Word of God and the Spirit of God so deeply into your life that it produces a total change from the inside out. Starting with the mind being in harmony with every word and thought that the Father expressed about you (even before creation) and moving throughout the body causing our behavior to shift and bring forth complete change of mind, body, and soul.
Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. (KJV)
MARCUS ZIEGLER Transformation, to me, means letting go of the chains of your old self and transforming into the DNA that has been recently unlocked within your own self to emulate God, Jesus, and everything the Bible stands for. That’s being transformed.
My thoughts on this are in order to transform you must be willing in heart and mind. Accept the change that I'm destined to be. Being confident that the transformation was necessary to allow me to live in complete peace. The fact that a change took place meant there was a change needed.
Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (KJV)
KALIES LEWIS Transformation is a makeover. I completely change from who I once was to a renewed and refreshed new being.
FROM THE DESK OF DOCTOR HODGE WELCOME TO THE YEAR OF TRANSFORMATION!
Hello Church Family!
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elcome to the New Year! I am so excited about the journey of transformation and growth we have embarked upon for 2016. Our New Year’s Eve service told the story of overcoming personal challenges and returning to what really matters most. And, that is our purpose for being born. We are created for the sole purpose of executing what we have been equipped and given grace to do, which is to please God by giving Him glory through serving Him in our call. The Father, God, has
given each one of us an assignment to fulfill while we are in the earth. He has endowed us with talents, skills, and anointings to complete divine destiny. God has set us in the church, so we do not have to do life alone. Instead, we are to fulfill His purpose together as one body. God is a God of purpose and order, Living Praise. Our existence during this dispensation was no accident, but orchestrated by God to use us to make a lasting impact upon the generations. Let’s embrace it: we were born for such a time as this. The truth
of this statement supports the fact that He has given us all things for success and godliness in this day of great challenge. We are the chosen generation that will fulfill the Father’s plan to impact humanity in this dispensation with His mercy, grace. and love. Just like Abraham was called to greatness to be a blessing to the generations, we have been called to greatness to impact our generation. Through one man’s obedience, a nation was born and the future of mankind was transformed by His faith.
I believe we are chosen to make a great impact that will transform the regions we have been assigned. God has given us marching orders to Move Forward, to take the gospel of His love to the dying and the lost. It is a great task, but we are equipped to succeed. Through our faith, love, and partnership, we will launch into the next phase of vision. Get ready Living Praise! This is our defining moment. This will be the greatest year we have ever lived! Dr. Hodge
VOICE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
BEFORE YOU POST...
PRAY
Psalms 19:14 – “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.”(KJV) Social media is a way of life nowadays. It typically starts with, “I’m posting a selfie”, or “I’m going to look at one thing”; and my favorite line, “It’s just business”. In some cases, it can be just business, but in reality, it turns into countless hours of wasted time. Peering into the lives of others or Facebook-stalking is a way to validate where we are in life. WHY? Possibly because we refuse to believe what God has given to us is good enough. Wasting time on social media is a good way to be distracted of your divine purpose. I’m not saying that you should delete your accounts, but while you’re posting, why not post things that honor God? How can we love Him with our hearts when we are too busy loving our profile pic and wondering how many likes or followers we get? If this sounds like you, maybe it’s time to transform your mind. Who has been guilty of watching the monitor (after a new post), waiting for the
bubble or the box to pop up—looking for approval—or for someone to tell us we look hot? Really?! We don’t need validation from others when our Heavenly Father is loving and forgiving and accepts us for who we are. If we put all of our effort into cyber relationships, we are not living, but doubting our self-worth. God said we are fearfully and wonderfully made! If we’re not careful, we’ll find ourselves rekindling past relationships with ex-lovers (that’s a no-no if you’re married), speaking to people we shouldn’t give the time of day, or viewing something inappropriate. In some cases, we become a moving target for the enemy to trick us into worshipping idols and creating altars in the fake world of social media.
Which social networking site is your crack?
years. Some social mediaites have walked away feeling inadequate because they’ve wasted endless hours fantasying about someone else’s life. If we’re not careful, too much voyeurism could possibly leave us with feelings of depression and selfhatred. Prayerfully we will not fall into this trap. Here’s my advice, while online socializing, be content in who you are. Don’t succumb to the pressure! Facebook, Instagram or Twitter will have you creating a false persona or wearing a mask appearing to be something you’re not. Posting that perfect selfie, sharing photos of your new car and your job, you can create any image you like. I’m not judging anyone who enjoys connecting on these sites. It’s okay to be social on social media. As believers, we could use this medium for the right thing, not the wrong things. Do people see the light in your posts? It’s a great platform to witness, testify or just post Bible verses. What the devil meant for evil, we can turn it around for our good! If you have something to say, be sure you pray and then post away.
1 Corinthians 10:31b – Is it tweeting, posting photos, pinning, uploading videos or dating? We can love being on social media too much. I compare it to being in a bad relationship. Sometimes you just need to break up. Take a break and shut it down for a few months… or
“Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God”. (KJV) by: Keoni Carew
ENDING THE CYCLE IT’S TIME TO GET A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
This is the “Year of Transformation” as proclaimed by our Pastors, the question becomes: How do we position ourselves to answer the call and allow for a life-enhancing transformation to take place? “Every new day is a chance to change your life.” Years ago, one of my most favorite theologians and talk show hosts, Dennis Prager, was challenged by a listener on a subject he was discussing. I do not recall the particulars, but what I recall is when he was asked whether he was open to change his mind about any particular subject matter, his response was (I am paraphrasing), “I am willing to change my mind on a longheld belief if you provide me with additional information I had not considered before.” He later shared with his listeners (I’m paraphrasing), “I’m not stuck in my long-held beliefs. I’m willing to change my mind if offered new reliable information.” WOW! How many of us are willing to do that really? I’m serious! Okay, let’s take my story for example: I was born into a non-traditional, nonpracticing Muslim family. Born in Iran and moving to Germany at the age of 7, I recall my dad telling me, “Study the religions of the world and when you’re 18, make your own decision as to your faith.” Well, this called for a rather confusing stage in my life for obvious reasons. Although, having been given the choice, now looking back, it appeared that I was thrown into the middle of the ocean surrounded by sharks and asked to swim to a nearby shore. I
can’t say I blame my dad; he was unable to bring me up in a faith he was born into, one he could not relate to, which he despised to be exact. To make the long story short, I did investigate and chose to give my life to my Savior Jesus Christ 6 ½ years ago. Praise the Lord! Could this transformation have taken place if I had not challenged my long-held beliefs? What if I had said, “I was born into a non-traditional, non-practicing Muslim family and I shall die in such!” By the way, I have heard many Iranian Muslims say, “I was born a Muslim and I shall die a Muslim”, most of whom not even knowing and understanding the Quran, their holy scriptures. Sad, isn’t it? What if I had not taken the challenge by a friend of mine to visit his (now my) church, Living Praise? I made the decision to get a little uncomfortable and that led to a lifechanging transformation with respect to my faith walk. If you want to change, you have to be willing to be uncomfortable. If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you. "If we are not a little bit uncomfortable every day, we're not growing. All the good stuff is outside our comfort zone." Jack Canfield Let’s talk politics as it relates to transformation. I promise I will spare you a fullblown discussion on the current issues. I’m very open about my politics and where I stand on any given issue just as I’m about my faith in Jesus. It is my belief that we as a people, having the privilege to live in a free nation, should have open dialogue about our different positions and different issues facing our nation. When I first started openly discussing issues on social media (and to this day), I received mixed emotions from the readers. One person called me and said, “I can’t believe you’re in my church and you hold these beliefs with respect to your politics.” Several others approached me after service and said, “We believe the same as you do, but if we were to openly discuss our position, we would be ostracized in our circles.”
WOW… I just could not relate. My family has always openly discussed politics and each of us having a rainbow of opinions of any given subject. So, does that mean that if someone comes from a family who has been traditionally affiliated with one political party, that every generation that follows must be branded with the same? How so? How can transformation and growth take place if we’re not even willing to listen to the other positions? To me, the word transformation is synonymous with “growth”. We can’t grow/transform if we sit on outdated information. I never want to be in a place in my life where I have reached the end of my growth. What about you?
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw Take the areas of health and nutrition for example. For years and years we have been brainwashed to believe that cow’s milk is good for us and makes for strong bones. As I have learned from a good friend of mine, Dr. Lamar Price, who is an iridologist, herbalist, nutritionist, and naturopathic doctor, that dairy causes mucus, which in due time causes
plaque to form, which is the cause of most illnesses and diseases facing the people of this country. Of course, I’ve slightly simplified his explanations. Taking dairy out of our daily diet significantly reduces and in most cases eliminates and reverses diseases and illnesses. I recall a recent visit to my children’s pediatrician. When Stefan, my 7-year old was asked how many cups of milk he consumed each day, his sister Adia, my 13-year old, answered on his behalf with confidence, “None, we don’t drink cow milk because it’s not good for us.” The pediatrician nearly had a heart attack as you can imagine. “Don’t say that!” he responded in a rather harsh tone. Imagine how many hundreds or thousands of kids in his more than 40 years of practice he must have advised to drink milk. In order for him to now advise differently, completely against what he had been advising for all those years, it required him to renew his mind with new information. There is fear in that for some or perhaps for most of us. “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.”
vicinity. Hosea 4:6 reads, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” How very true… literally! Dan Millman, in his book Way of the Peaceful Warrior A Book That Changes Lives wrote, "The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new." I recently read the following quote, which I find profound, “Nothing happens until the pain of remaining the same out weighs the pain of change."
Instead of fighting our transformation/ change/growth, let’s embrace it! “It’s okay to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress.” by: Ava Teherani
The fact that he wasn’t even willing to ask questions and inquire how we arrived at that conclusion, he chose to fight it; but at what and whose expense? Shouldn’t he, a prominent physician, constantly evolving and growing and learning in his field or is he supposed to hold the same beliefs about nutrition as he did over 40 years ago? Our failure to undergo a transformation can have a devastating impact to the lives of people in our direct and indirect
AD SPACE
VOICE ON LIFE...
BREAKING FREE OF THE PAIN I call Heaven and Earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life that both thou and thy seed may live” (KJV)
Oftentimes after we emerge out of the fog of a painful situation, we find ourselves at a crossroad. Do we hold on to our faith, trusting in God’s Word or do we cling to the pain of the past? Nursing our wounds with each stroke of pity, we stand paralyzed as opportunities float by like leaves in the wind. Too often we breathe life into dysfunction as we rehearse the series of events that have knocked the wind right out of us. All of a sudden, we find ourselves stuck and depressed as our faith is being challenged by the lies of the enemy. How do I know? Because I’ve been there. Held hostage by my scars, I felt like an eagle chained to the ground. With all the potential in the world, but no courage to break free. In moments of desperation when my soul was thirsty for hope, when my heart cried, "just give me something to hold on to", something to quench my thirst for an answer, there it was: a pseudo comfort, waiting to see what I would choose. Deuteronomy 30:19 says “ I call Heaven and Earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life that both thou and thy seed may live” (KJV) You see, we have to understand that spiritual activity is always taking place. Whether
for you or against you, the spiritual realm is never silent. But please know, the faithfulness of God goes deeper than our deepest hurt. Your experience may be losing a loved one, the ending of a relationship, a promise that seems to be taking an eternity to come to pass or being in a constant state of "not-enough". Whatever your "painful experience", we've all been hurt. But we can not afford to put our trust in God on the shelf! Yes, sometimes in the waiting process, tears fall as anxiety wrestles with patience. But God is faithful! Every promise that He gave will come to pass. He can’t and won’t go back on His Word. Too often the questions of “What if?” run ramped through our minds like a kid on a playground. Fear of making a life-changing choice keeps you bound, breathless and trapped. But as we stop and gaze into the distance, hoping for a glimpse of the future (as if standing there will conjure
up some innate ability to see into the unknown). We wait… heart beating, palms sweating, knees buckling. Yet in the fog we fail to realize time is passing. Just as a snake sheds its skin and keeps moving, so should we shed our past and keep progressing. You are worth so much more than your pain! We have to get to a point where we can “Be still” and not flinch in faith. We have to come to a place where we are confident in God’s ability to come through. He has a consistent record of faithfulness that should calm even those quiet fears. It’s not always easy to trust God, but for your very survival, your faith, and your sanity… You must! by: LaTisha O'Neal
UN-BECOME AND BE “MAYBE THE JOURNEY ISN’T SO MUCH ABOUT BECOMING ANYTHING. MAYBE IT’S ABOUT UNBECOMING EVERYTHING THAT ISN’T YOU SO YOU CAN BE WHO YOU WERE MEANT TO BE IN THE FIRST PLACE.” - ANONYMOUS This is a simple statement packed with dynamic truth. It is time to dismiss life experiences, social influences, and cultural traditions that have hindered and delayed so many from reaching their full potential and purpose. It requires a mindset transformation, a return to the “anything is possible” outlook of a child. Don’t get stuck in “become mode”. It’s the things we feel we’re lacking that we think we need to become. In other words – what we want to become is what we already believe we are not. How do we turn this around?
Un-become and be! Un-become the person who has no confidence and has low self-esteem. Un-become the person who doesn’t believe in himself. Un-become the person who wallows in self-pity and depression. Un-become the person that lets fear dictate thoughts and actions; the person who is double-minded, unable to make decisions, and has no direction. Un-become the person who settles in relationships, career, and finances. Un-become the one who finds bliss in ignorance and pretends not to know. Un-become the person who will believe a lie over the truth. Un-become the person who backs down from a fixed fight. When we un-become these things, we are then free to be. Be the person who walks in authority, strength, and confidence. Be the person who loves himself and others. Be the person who exudes excellence, greatness, and integrity. Be the person who expects victory. Be the one who never gives up; the one who speaks what he seeks until he sees what he said. Be happy. Be prosperous. Be fearless. Choose truth. The truth of abundant life and divine health. The truth of conquering mountains. The truth of the power of the tongue and imagination. The truth of prosperity. The truth of Christ. We are already these things. We possess this truth. Accept it. Be it. Un-become and Be.
By Niki Davis
VOICE ON MINISTRY
EMPOWERMENT SEMINARS TRANSFORMED FROM THE INSIDE OUT! The purpose of the Empowerment Seminars is to jump- start our year for advancement and productivity as we listen, learn and are being "Transformed from the Inside Out” through weekly teachings, instructions, and comradery with our WOVEN sisters. These seminars provide the motivation and tools for living our best life now and are held at both locations at the same time. So, what have those who attended these seminars captured so far? Well…
Pastor Linda (North/South) conveyed transformation through “Your Life is NonNegotiable” "You have to get in a place where YOUR LIFE is non-negotiable!"
You cannot allow others to be the momentum, the focus, the determination, the fuel, the passion that drives your vision. It wasn't given to them! We spend so much time looking for a consensus for what we were purposed to do and end up spending more time defending what and who we inherently are. Eventually, we end up abandoning who we are because of someone else's opinion. Someone who didn't instill the purpose in you in the first place; your vision is not impossible. Don’t stop just short of your victory simply because others can’t see what was given to you only. It’s within reach! You can’t blame
anybody if they can't see your vision . . . “the vision belongs to you!”
Minister L’Tanya James (North) imparted transformation by examining Esther, in “Women of Purpose” Orphaned at birth, Esther was raised by her uncle Mordechai. Through her transformation, Esther later became queen of Persia. We learned, because of Esther’s teachable spirit, her obedience to instructions, and having a strong prayer and fasting time, she saved the lives of the Jewish people.
Minister Tamara Joy Scott (South) shared transformation through “The Imagination”
The Word of God says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 1:2) In order to receive from God, you have to have seen that thing that you want to receive. You have to have a vision of what that thing is. You “see” the thing in your IMAGINATION. Imagination is so important that the Bible says, “… cast down every imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.” Now, imagination in itself is not bad. The Bible doesn’t say, “Cast down every imagination,” or “Don’t imagine.” The evil ones are the only ones we should cast down. In other
words, He wants us to meditate (think about) His Word until we can see ourselves doing it . . . See ourselves living it . . . See ourselves having it! Your imagination brings the thought or word together to form an image. There are no limits to what you can imagine. You can have as far as you can imagine or see. Minister Theresa Kirk (North) communicated transformation through “The Power of the Blood, Forgiveness & No More Blood” Our insurance policy is the Holy Spirit; our policy # is the same John 3:16; our insurance plan is while on the path to the cross Jesus saw our face. Our reconciliation with God was sealed because Jesus’ blood cancelled out all sin. We were empowered and transformed; we received a double blessing.
CLOSING NOTE TO THE WOVEN WOMEN Ladies, these seminars in the North and South are simultaneously transforming women's lives and the impact is obvious and worth talking about. Check us out on our various websites and see for yourselves. After all, your life is non-negotiable; you have purpose and you can have what you imagine, because there are no limits, because on the path to the cross, yours was the face Jesus saw! Come out and join us, attend, share, and receive everything these Empowerment Seminars have to offer. If you missed the first sessions, there’s still time for you to attend the second session. So plan ahead and we will see you in October. by: Brenda Robinson
NEXT EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR: OCTOBER 7, 2016 - PALMDALE, CA AT 7:30PM
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THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE PRESIDENT “WITHIN THE COVERS OF THE BIBLE ARE THE ANSWERS FOR ALL THE PROBLEMS MEN FACE.” – PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. – Romans 12:2 AMP In 1982, the 40th President of the United States of America, after being shot, in a failed assassination attempt just a year earlier, stood on national TV and delivered a speech. I was 8 at the time, so I had a marginal understanding of the events surrounding the assassination attempt. Today what I keenly recall and surmise, with help from old videos, YouTube clips, and journalists from the 80’s, was how he seemed quick to show us he had completely recovered. President Ronald Reagan’s shoulders were enormously padded; the double-breasted suit he wore suggested a bulky healing pad underneath. His hair tint seemed more believably natural as compared to the photos taken of him, greying at the temples. He wasn’t wearing glasses as he read from the teleprompter. While Mr. Reagan had his staunch defenders and detractors from 1981 to 1989, the fact remains, his impactful legacy left behind still shows just how much change has taken place from 1981 to today. In the
U.S. in 1981, AIDS was recognized, turkey was 55 cents a pound, a gallon of gas was priced at $1.25, the average cost of rent was $315/month, Iran released 52 American hostages from their 444-day prison-term, boxer Muhammad Ali retired from boxing with a record of 55-5, the successful debut of the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark was seen in the U.S., the Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated, and the term INTERNET was mentioned for the first time, just to name a few. More than 20 years of change has lead the United States in electing the first EVER black president to lead in the free world. In growing up in Western New York, many of my family members often discussed what the world would be like if a black person was to be president of the United States. The concept was foreign, yet toetapping, interesting rhetoric for those who wanted different. I remember being in the presence of my parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts as they shared their experiences, stories about voting, and why they voted the way they did. They made learning about history, not just black, fun and engaging, as best as they could. Moving on, after President Obama’s first election, hitting the ground running, he signed into law an economic stimulus legislation to combat the Great Recession, which began in 2007. Within his first term, he had a number of initiatives introduced to law, including affordable healthcare, aka “Obamacare”. In addition, he oversaw the military operation that lead to the death of Osama bin Laden.
Obama took the presidential podium and stated that through allies, partners, government Intel, and strategies, he felt the world was more stable than the prior 5 years. Unfortunately, just one year later, that hope seemed to diminish when stated by him regarding the world, “… is now at risk of being pulled back by an undertow of instability.” Being the President of the United States is arduous, stressful, and full of highs and lows. It requires responsibility, accountability, and the ability to stand amidst extreme scrutiny. Each day has its demands for his time, energy, patience, knowledge, appetite, understanding, and with lifealtering decisions that hang in the balance on an hourly basis, with each passing day, he ages drastically. We see on a constant and unforgiving stage, the traces of youthful demeanor giving way to wrinkles, signs of gray, and thinning hair.
During his second term in the Oval Office, President Obama signed off on domestic policies that related to gun control after the horrific shooting events that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and has called for a greater inclusiveness of LGBT Americans. Overseas, he ordered U.S. military aid in Iraq, an end to combat ops in Afghanistan, and normalizing relations with Cuba. Around 2011, he showed great optimism that war was ending and that American troops who served in Afghanistan and Iraq would be coming home. However, the following year, the President’s tone changed. In September 2012, heavily armed Islamist militants attacked a U.S. diplomatic compound and a CIA annex in Benghazi, Libya. The terrorists killed Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans in the violence. This was the first time since 1979 that a U.S. ambassador lost his life in the line of duty. By 2013, hope seemed to have returned.
The narrative has never been more obvious. Change has a sweeping and lasting affect that all must acknowledge. Jesus encourages us with this truth, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” – John 14:27 NLT Despite what you and I may think of President Obama, like President Regan, he will also leave a legacy; and both men have transformed the office of the Presidency. The fact remains; we must not allow what we see to shift our focus from the Lord God Almighty. We must remain ardent in our prayer life, dedicated and committed to seek the face of God in order to know what we are to do in this constant metamorphosing age. We must be bold in the face of adversity, to embrace the Word of God, and apply His Word to our everyday lives because, “Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.” by: Frank Williams
SHOUT OUTS Be Transformed Conference
WOVEN
Chatsworth Campus, May 16 - 17; Palmdale Campus, May 26 - 27 (7:30pm nightly each campus)
The Vision Board Party 6:00pm, $10PP, April 10 (Chatsworth) Mother's Day Brunch, 10:00am, $15PP, May 7 (Palmdale) Just Us Girls, 6:00pm, June 12 (Chatsworth)
Young Adult Ministry
MOVE MOVE Discipleship @ Chatsworth Tuesdays 7:30pm--April 5, 12, 19, 26, May 3, 10, 17 @ Palmdale Wednesdays 7:30pm-- April 6, 14, 20, 27, May 4, 11 MOVE Fathers Day Breakfast $25PP, June 18, 10:00am Palmdale
Grief Share
(YAM)
Saturdays 10:00am, Palmdale Campus, June 18, 25.
The Lounge 7:30pm Friday, June 24 (Chatsworth Campus)
ROCK NOW
Upcoming Ministry Activities
Barbecue Outing June 11, 12:00pm
Wives Support Group Chatsworth Campus Mondays 7:30pm April 4, 11, 18, 25, May 2
Missions
Book Collection Drive May 1 - 7 (Childrens Mental Health Awareness Week) May is Mental Health Awareness Month
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK?!
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TS
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