No White Flag [Issue 08] by mvmntmag

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ISSUE 08 MAR/APR 2014

INTERVIEW

ANDREW MCCUTCHEN FASHION

IN-TREND HEALTH

CAFFEINE AND ENERGY DRINKS TEEN SCENE

THE PROM EXPERIENCE

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CONTENTS

10 The Prom Experience 10 Caffeine and energy drinks 14 The Homeless and the Aesthetics of a City 15 Picture Your Dream Prom Swag Bag Contest

16 Andrew McCutchen 18 Radical Actions 18 The Easter Story

“I’m extremely passionate about living in excellence. The only way I know how to succeed at this, is to never be completely satisfied by what I’ve done and use that to help what I do next, better. In other words, I’m fueled by my faults and take pleasure in learning from them. It is in this way, that I am able to push through my personal limitations and exceed the world around me.” - Trevor Lee

21 In-Trend 22 Breaking Strong Holds/Curses/ Chains

MVMNT ONLINE BLOG Our blog is an online journal written by young people for young people. Every week new articles are written to encourage you in Christ. Our writers are genuine and in love with Christ. Check us out at mvmntmag.com.

Trevor Lee is a touring recording artist with an extremely diverse audience. He is able to cross through genres as if he lives in each of them. With extremely high energy, he captivates audiences while intriguing their mind, pulling their hearts, and expanding their spiritual understanding. Although his recorded music, available in any digital store, is enough to take you to another plain, Trevor Lee’s performance show is a whole other

experience. He has shared stages with Tedashi, Members of Family Force Five, and more. Bi-lining a festival or other events is just the tip of the ice burg. Trevor Lee has a full worship band and extensive 2 hr interactive show that includes a hip hop concert with live drummer and audio visual accompaniment, live band concert, alter call/prayer time, and more. While being apart of making and starring in local and syndicated television shows, he has been featured on TBN world wide countless times and has hosted his own local radio show in Houston, TX. This brief description is only the past, his future looks even more promising, extravagant, and filled with excellence. One thing we know, is that it is never too late to become apart of a better future. Send all booking request booktrevorlee@yahoo.com

6 MAR/APR 2014

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8 MAR/APR 2014

TEEN SCENE

THE PROM EXPERIENCE Written by Chytonya “Toni” Dupree

I would venture to say that your prom is a monumental event, right up there with winning any major award like a Grammy, Oscar or Tony. Get my drift? It’s a huge situation, this “prom.” That being said, the best place for your foot is forward at this most epic event. The reason it’s so important is this event is all about you: what you chose to wear, whether you will go with a date or group, whether you will drive or be chauffeured, and most importantly, how you will conduct yourself during this special event. Traditionally in the past, it was more socially acceptable for the young man to ask the young lady to the prom. Today we have relaxed those views tremendously, so it is just as acceptable for the young lady to ask the young man to the prom. It’s always a best practice to ask someone with whom you feel comfortable, someone with whom you can hold a conversation, and someone who you don’t mind being arm and arm with because they complement you. If you enjoy dancing, invite a person who can dance or at least likes music. The selection process for a prom date has been known to ruin a few reputations in my day. For example, if you invite someone who is better at being a gamer than interacting with people, look for your rep to be seared Monday morning at school. Make sure to choose your date wisely. Also, ask your date in person, not by text or phone, and the invitation should be extended a month or more in advance. This will allow the person ample time to purchase that perfect dress or tux. Remember, accepting the invitation to the prom means you are committed. Please don’t buy time trying to wait for a better offer. We have all heard those stories before. It’s just bad manners to be inconsiderate. It is socially acceptable to attend the prom solo or in a group, especially if you don’t feel comfortable asking a date. In that case, a group may be the best route to take for you. It’s cost effective and a great way to meet new people. It works, as well, on any shyness, and best of all, it takes away the pressure of a formal date. The most important thing to remember about going to the prom is to have a fun and be safe! 10 MAR/APR 2014

HEALTH

CAFFEINE AND ENERGY DRINKS Provided by Mentor-ADEPIS.org

WHERE IS IT FOUND?

HOW MUCH IS HEALTHY?

Caffeine naturally occurs in plants such as tea, coffee and cocoa and is also added to energy drinks, and some other substances such as painkillers. It can temporarily ward off drowsiness and restore alertness, and is so ubiquitous we rarely think of it as a drug.

In the UK, there are no clear recommendations for daily caffeine limits, either for children or adults, so we have to look elsewhere. In Canada, the guidelines are that children should have no more than 45mg in a day for 4-6 year olds, 62mg for 7-9 year olds and 85mg for 10-12 year olds.

Amounts in common food and drinks

Other experts have recommended similar limits of 2.5 mg/kg bodyweight for children and 100 mg/day for adolescents.

Can of cola: 40mg

Small (250ml) can of energy drink, or shot of energy drink: around 80mg

Large (500ml) energy drink: around 160mg

ENERGY DRINKS

50g bar of milk chocolate: up to 25mg

50g bar of plain chocolate: up to 50mg

Mug of instant coffee: 100mg

Mug of filter coffee: 140mg

Mug of tea: 75mg

“Energy drinks” have high levels of caffeine and sugar, plus other ingredients for which various health claims are made. The EU requires drinks with more than 150mg of caffeine a litre to be labelled as having “high caffeine content” and the British Soft Drinks Association recommends labelling energy drinks as not suitable for

(depending on how they are made)

exercise (27%) and at parties (26%). They mainly drank them for their taste (60%) and/or as a source of energy (31%). When asked whether they thought that drinking energy drinks was the same as drinking colas, just over half (55%) of consumers said that they were very different, 19% thought they were the same and 23% didn‟t know.

YOUNG PEOPLE’S USE OF ENERGY DRINKS Results were also analysed for young people aged 10-18: About 7 in 10 (69%) of UK teenagers drank an energy drink in the past year. UK energy drink consumers drank more each on average (3.1 litres a month) compared to teenagers in other countries (around 2 litres average) . About 13% of all young people surveyed in the UK drank energy drinks 4-5 times a week or more. About 8% of young people said they drank around a litre or more in a single session (i.e. over a couple of hours). Again, across all countries, more boys than girls drank energy drinks. The main reasons young people gave were taste (40%), the need for energy (21%) and the need to stay awake (17%).

SLEEP IMPACTS Childhood and adolescence is a period of rapid growth and continuing brain development, for which proper sleep is essential. Sleep disruption can also affect concentration and achievement in the classroom.1 Both for children and young people, caffeine drunk has been found to be inversely related to amount of night time sleep.2,3 Young people with a high caffeine intake were more likely to report feeling tired in the morning and having difficulty sleeping. children or pregnant women. However, these drinks are widely available and accessible to children and young people, and their marketing and branding is often likely to appeal to younger age groups. Research suggest they are widely consumed.

CHILDREN’S USE OF ENERGY DRINKS Some of the most recent findings come from a European survey across 16 countries.6 It was found that just under a quarter (24%) of children aged 6-10 surveyed in the UK had drunk energy drinks in the past year. Across all countries surveyed, boys were more likely to have drunk them than girls. On average, these children drank about half a litre per week. A small proportion (16% of consumers or 3% of the all children surveyed) drank them three times a week or more. Most children consuming energy drinks drank them at home (35%), during sport and physical

CAFFEINE INTOXICATION Having too much caffeine can lead to symptoms may include anxiety, restlessness, excitement, stomach complaints or twitching muscles.4 The quantity that would be needed to bring on these symptoms varies as people have different levels of sensitivity to caffeine (and can build up tolerance over a period). This means that one child may experience side effects much more readily than another, even if they have both received the same amount of caffeine. Very rarely, caffeine has been found to trigger dangerous heart arrhythmias in those with a pre-existing condition.

CAFFEINE WITHDRAWAL Caffeine withdrawal symptoms are relatively common in adults. About half of regular caffeine users get a headache if they abstain, and other symptoms can include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability and anxiety.4 Some

adolescent heavy caffeine users have also been found to get these symptoms.3

CAFFEINE DEPENDENCE Linked to withdrawal can be caffeine dependence. Signs of this might be: continuing with a high intake despite being aware that it is causing a problem; persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down use; withdrawal symptoms; a high tolerance which can result in using more to get the same effect. Studies have identified this in some teenagers using caffeine heavily.3

CAFFEINE AND SUGAR Both colas and energy drinks contain significant quantities of sugar. On average, soft and fizzy drinks provide 16% of their sugar intake for children aged 4–10, and 29% for 11-18 year olds:5 another reason why these are not a healthy option for children and young people.

ENERGY DRINKS AND SPORT Of UK teenagers who drank energy drinks, twothirds (65%) said they used them during sport, a, higher proportion than in any other country. Across all countries surveyed, this was more common among 10-14 year old consumers than 15-18 year olds. Young people may either use highcaffeine drinks during sport deliberately to improve performance or because they don‟t differentiate between these and „sports drinks‟ like Lucozade. A report from the American Academy of Pediatrics stated clearly that „energy drinks‟ should not be used by young people during sport, and that unless during „prolonged, vigorous sports participation or other intense physical activity‟, water was a more healthy option than sports drinks.7

CAFFEINE AND ALCOHOL A third of UK young people (aged 10-18) who drank energy drinks said they had mixed them with alcohol, implying a much higher proportion among older teenagers. This is concerning, as combining energy drinks and alcohol has been found to lead to getting more drunk and being more likely to engage in risky behaviour. Caffeine makes people feel more alert and less drunk, despite the fact that it doesn‟t actually improve their reaction times or coordination. This means people are less likely to stop drinking, they are more active and they are more likely to take risks because they feel less drunk.8

To read the full article visit http://bit.ly/1kKl6i0. 11

12 MAR/APR 2014

CURRENT EVENTS

THE HOMELESS AND THE AESTHETICS OF A CITY Written by Daniel Johnson San Francisco appears to be the home of a rapidly growing movement to displace homeless people from a developing part of the city. The logic behind the movement states that homeless people affect the perception of that part of the city, which prides itself as a hub of the new wave of technologically driven imports into San Francisco. There are eye-witness accounts that confirm this phenomenon, including “Victoria,” who claims that she witnessed Department of Public Works employees warn a group of homeless people before spraying them with high pressure hoses and that she heard people screaming as a result of feeling the pressure of the hoses against their skin. Three years ago, the city initiated a tax break program intended to lure technology developers into the heart of the city, and the same area where DPW employees are allegedly engaging in this type of abuse in order to “clean the streets up.” Supporters of the cleanup initiative, such as DPW spokeswoman Rachel Gordon, dispute the idea that the clean-ups are designed to move the homeless people out of the area. Instead, she assures that the movement is meant to clean the actual streets literally, not to displace anyone living on the streets. This issue brings to light current issues of gentrification; defined as “the buying and renovation of houses and stores in deteriorated urban neighborhoods by upper- or middle-income families or individuals, thus improving property values but often displacing low-income families and small businesses.” It also brings to light the incompetence of American cities when it adequately serving their homeless and/or low-income populations, especially if their primary focus is on making the streets look cleaner rather than helping the people who reside on the streets get off of it. Proverbs and most of the first five books of the Bible spends a lot of time talking about the responsibility of those who have to give to and assist those who have not. This is no accident or happenstance. It says a lot about a culture’s, nation’s, or person’s values by how they treat and care for the poor. Will we put our prosperity over our fellow man, or will we honor our fellow man by sacrificing?

14 MAR/APR 2014

Picture Your Dream Prom Swag Bag Contest

Are you heading to prom this year? You’re going to need an awesome dress, the perfect shoes, and tons of fun beauty products to help you get ready for the big night! Enter MVMNT Magazine’s Picture Your Dream Prom Swag Bag Contest and YOU could win everything in our swag bag that you need to have the perfect prom! We want to see what you already have or what you want to buy and look like for this years prom! You can post inspiration of prom pics from anywhere with the #MVMNTMAGPROM Contest runs from April 1, 2014 at 12:01 AM (ET)- April 30, 2014 at 11:59 PM (ET) go to Instagram.

How to Participate

1) Follow MVMNTMAG on Instagram! 2) Post pics of your desired shoes, dress, hair, make-up and anything else related to prom using the #MVMNTMAGPROM hashtag 3) The winner will be randomly selected to receive their MVMNT Magazine Swag bag and announced on Instagram May 1, 2014!

Etiquette & Style by Dupree www.etiquettestylebydupree.com 832-407-3117

“Improving me adds value to the way I see you” Chytonya Dupree, President, CEO Etiquette Coach 15

ANDREW MCCUTCHEN Pittsburgh Pirates | National League MVP 2013 Interviewed by Melinda Mier

16 MAR/APR 2014

CONGRATULATIONS ON MVP. THAT’S REALLY AWESOME! HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE WON MVP AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU THIS WHOLE SEASON? Ah man, it feels good to have that prestigious award, National League MVP. Roughly, out of 750 people in baseball, and you cut that in half I guess, you can do the math. That’s .375 or something like that in the National League, and I was able to get that award out of all those people. That is saying a lot. It speaks multitudes, and it’s really a great award to have. I’m really, really, really grateful to have that award, and to the second question, it definitely means a lot. You look back at it, like I said, 375 people. Given one out of those many people, it’s amazing. I love to have that opportunity and to be able to have something for the rest of my life.

AT WHAT AGE DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE GOOD AT PLAYING BASEBALL AND WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WANTED TO PLAY PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE? I really don’t know. It didn’t stand out to me as far as when I felt I was really good at it. I loved playing the game, and I felt like it showed on the field. But going into my junior year of high school was really when I started to see that it was something I could do past high school, college and maybe professional baseball. When the scouts would come out, they would come talk to you. There were more scouts than actual people at my games sometimes. It used to get to that point to where, I was like, this is something I could maybe make a career out of. That was just the beginning of it.

SO YOU GOT TO MEET THE PERSON YOU IDOLIZED! IS THERE ANYONE ELSE YOU WOULD WANT TO MEET OR HOPE TO MEET LATER ON BESIDES WHO YOU’VE ALREADY MET? Well I always said when I’m dead and gone, I want to meet Jackie Robinson. That’s my top person I’d love to meet, but I was able to finally meet Hank Aaron who broke Babe Ruth’s record back in like ’74. At the MVP awards, he was there. I was able to talk to him. He’s about to turn 80, and I mean he looks amazing for 80 years old. You know, it was great just to be able to say, “I’m actually talking to this guy who I idolized and someone who you can see way back in the day.” It was great.

YOU EXCELLED IN BASEBALL BUT WERE THERE OTHER SPORTS THAT YOU WERE GOOD AT THAT YOU MAYBE WOULD HAVE WANTED TO GO PRO IN? I really love football and loved playing it. This town is small, but it’s really known for its football more than any other sport. I played that a little bit, and I had some pretty good success in that. I went down with a knee injury my sophomore year, so I missed that year of baseball as well. After that, I gave it up. I would rather be in a sport where I can really take care of my body and not be injured so much, and the longevity of football is pretty slim. I think the average for football is 4 years as opposed to baseball being 7, so I really wanted to stick to something that I could play for a longer amount of time. So I stuck with baseball, but I ran track and field as well.

WHAT ATHLETE DID YOU IDOLIZE GROWING IS THERE SOMETHING YOU DID DIFFERENTLY UP, ESPECIALLY IN BASEBALL? GROWING UP THAT GOT YOU WHERE YOU Ken Griffey Jr. is definitely someone I idolized and ARE TODAY? I looked up to as a kid. Watching him, he could do everything--hit, run, throw. Didn’t matter what it was, he could do it all. That’s just a person that I really loved to watch and really wanted to be like. I finally had the opportunity to meet him when I was probably a couple years into being drafted. I was around 19, and I met him when he played for the Cincinnati Reds. It was crazy that someone I idolized growing up as a kid, I was on the same field as him, playing on the same field as him. That was unbelievable for me, and he actually hit a home run that day. I developed a relationship with him, and now I know him more on a personal standpoint. I mean it’s crazy to be a little kid watching T.V. and to now be with someone I idolized growing up. It is definitely incredible.

Well, you know, everyone works hard towards the things they do, but baseball is a sport where you fail more than you succeed, so you really have to deal with failure more than you deal with success. I think I dealt with the failure part of it a little better. That basically keeps people from getting into the majors and the minors. That’s just the difference. I think something that really helped me with failure is being strong in my faith. Through every situation, I always look at it and say all things work together for the good to those that love God (Romans 8:28). When I’m going through something bad, I know that God is helping me as far as letting me know that it’s ok, because I know that I’m putting a smile on a kid’s face just being out there on the field performing. It’s not always about performance. It’s not always about how well you do. It’s just being

happy that you’re on the field and that you’re playing the game. The quicker I accepted those things, my eyes were opened and it helped me kind of relax and play the game a little more. I really think my faith helps me on the field and helps me perform better and just have a lot of fun with it.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST TRANSITION FOR YOU FROM PLAYING HIGH SCHOOL TO THE MINOR LEAGUE AND NOW BEING MVP? The biggest thing is being consistent. That’s the biggest key for me. I mean, even starting in high school, you get older and older, and the more consistent you are, the higher the level you go, but you only get so high. When you’re at that point in the professional league, if you don’t stay consistent, then someone else is going to take your job. It’s hard to get there, but it’s even harder to stay there. That’s the biggest thing, and the biggest transition for me is being consistent and knowing that there is an 18-year-old that’s looking and watching the game. He’s playing the same position that I play, thinking, “I can’t wait to be up there playing, and in the position that Andrew is playing.” I did the same thing. I was 18, and said, “I can’t wait to be there!” Just knowing there are people like that, hungry, that want to get the same position as I have. So the main thing is being consistent with my game, and just trying to flourish in that area continually.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO GROW UP AND BE LIKE YOU? Well I always tell people to not try to be like me, but try to be better than me. That’s something that I learned a long time ago. You know, it’s great that I have kids who idolize me. It shows that I’m setting a good example for kids. I think the biggest thing if they want to be in the position I’m in is just to continue to keep working at what you have. Continue to keep working for what you want. Nothing is going to be given to you. Just keep striving to get what you want. You’re going to lose friends in certain things, but it’s all for the better. Remember, everything you do is for the good. Do it for the glory of God, and you don’t do it for anything else. You keep Him the center of your attention. As long as He’s the center, that’s all that matters. He’s the person to run to, He’s the person to fall back on and He’s the person that has your back. Continue to look towards Him with tunnel vision, and He’ll direct you in the right path. A special thank you to Petrina McCutchen (Andrew’s mom) for getting us in for this interview. 17

CURRENT EVENTS

RADICAL ACTIONS Written by Daniel Johnson

In June 2012, Megan Rice, 84; Michael Walli, 65; and Gregory Boertje-Obed, 58 were all prosecuted and sentenced in the aftermath of a break-in to one of the nation’s nuclear weapons facilities, the Y-12 National Security Complex. Rice was given 35 months, Walli and Obed were given 62 months, but Rice pleaded with the judges to give her more time and less sympathy in order that she would be allowed more time to serve the other female inmates at the federal prison where her incarceration will take place. According to Rice, Walli also spends his time with the inmates, instructing them on the sanctity of life, and the three of them know that they are victims of the profiteering by the elite. Rice also asserts that top leaders of the corporations within the nuclear power industry take advantage of its employees, and that money that is denied human services should be the primary focus of any government. The judge could not give Rice the time she initially requested because he took into account her decades of good works, but suggested that she find more conventional ways of affecting change such as getting involved in Washington. Interestingly enough, the Catholic leadership in America (including the Pope) has been deathly silent on this matter, despite an outpouring of public support for Rice, Walli and Obed. We know that Scripture says that we as Christians are to be “subject” to government, but there comes a time when the government must be subject to the laws of God more than we should be subject to an unjust government. I believe these three individuals are not only conscious of that, and that this is what drove them to act as they did. They have done in action much what Martin Luther King Jr. did in words with his much disparaged speech on the War in Vietnam, which commented on the hypocrisy of the American government, and its efforts to set itself up as the moral and democratic leader of the free world, while behaving as immorally as any other nation that it vilifies and violates.

THE EASTER STORY Written by Mary Fairchild

RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST - SUMMARY After Jesus was crucified, Joseph of Arimathea had Christ’s body placed in his own tomb. A large stone covered the entrance and soldiers guarded the sealed tomb. On the third day, a Sunday, several women (Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Joanna and Salome are all mentioned in the gospel accounts) went to the tomb at dawn to anoint the body of Jesus. A violent earthquake took place as an angel from heaven rolled back the stone. The guards shook in fear as the angel, dressed in bright white, sat upon the stone. The angel announced to the women that Jesus who was crucified was no longer in the tomb, “He is risen, just as he said.” Then he instructed the women to inspect the tomb and see for themselves. Next he told them to go inform the disciples. With a mixture of fear and joy they ran to obey the angel’s command, but suddenly Jesus met them on their way. They fell at his feet and worshiped him. Jesus then said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see me.” When the guards reported what had happened to the chief priests, they bribed the soldiers with a large sum of money, telling them to lie and say that the disciples had stolen the body in the night. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to the women near the tomb and later at

18 MAR/APR 2014

least twice to the disciples while they were gathered at a house in prayer. He visited two of the disciples on the road to Emmaus and he also appeared at the Sea of Galilee while several of the disciples were fishing.

POINTS OF INTEREST FROM THE RESURRECTION • There are at least 12 different appearances of Christ in the resurrection accounts, beginning with Mary and ending with Paul. They were physical, tangible experiences with Christ eating, speaking and allowing himself to be touched. • Jesus’ resurrected body was different from his physical body. It was no longer subject to the same laws of nature. He could transcend locked doors, and yet he could still be touched and he could eat. • Before Jesus ascended into heaven he gave the Great Commission, telling his followers to go and make disciples of all nations. • The stone was not rolled away from the tomb so Jesus could get out. He was able to walk through walls (John 20:19) in his resurrected body. The stone was rolled away so that everyone could see that he was risen.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES Matthew 28:1-20 Mark 16:1-20 Luke 24:1-49 John 20:1-21:25

TAKE THE PLEDGE The fight to end distracted driving starts with you. Make the commitment to drive phone-free today. Distracted driving kills and injures thousands of people each year. I pledge to: • Protect lives by never texting or talking on the phone while driving. • Be a good passenger and speak out if the driver in my car is distracted. • Encourage my friends and family to drive phone-free.

SIGNATURE: ________________________________________________________ DATE: _____________________________________________________________

www.distraction.gov

20 MAR/APR 2014

IN-TREND Written by Myles K. Wren

So I am starting this new project with a genius friend of mine that will be about restyling our friends. We’re going into their closets and we’re taking what they already have and recreating new looks for them. I think that we all get so caught up in the tedious strains of our day-to-day that it becomes easier for us to just wear things that are A) comfortable for the continuous action we have going on and B) easy for us to pair together without much effort. I’m not alluding to this being a bad thing, because believe me, I understand being constantly busy and finding ways to make life easier for myself. However, I do truly believe that taking time out to daily prepare yourself mind, body, and soul is essential to how you will face your day and end your day. Unfortunately in some cases, we are prejudged by how we look, and how we present ourselves is actually important to your future. If you want success, you need to dress for success. If you want respect, you need to dress for respect. Taking time to know who GOD has called you to be helps you define who you will present to the world. It’s like dressing yourself with the armor of GOD. You prepare yourself knowing that there will be daily attacks on you,

and in the same like manner, you dress to prepare for open possibilities. My mother often told me when I was younger that someone is always watching you. I’ve learned that this means that GOD is always watching me, the younger women that I’m surrounded with are always watching me, the enemy is always watching me, and my future is always watching me. All eyes on you! That may be a little intimidating if you think about it, but this is what GOD is calling you to as a believer, as a follower; to be an Ambassador for Him. This means that we not only represent Him in Spirit but in Truth as well. The people He has surrounded us with need to see us prepared for whatever comes our way in the Spirit and in the natural, despite the fear or doubt we feel on the inside. That’s what the Holy Spirit is there for; to aid us with any questions or concerns that we may have, and to remind us of Who and what we’re made out of! Anyway, I said all this to say that confidence is always in trend. You’ve got to know living this life that being bold and free to be who you are meant to be is never out of trend. Get up daily with the mentality that you will dress for success!

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Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in Heaven.” Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. Matthew 16:13-20

CRIS’S CORNER

BREAKING STRONG HOLDS/CURSES/CHAINS

Written by Cris © Can Stock Photo Inc. / stevanovicigor

Through revelation by God the Father, Peter was enlightened as to the identity of Christ. Jesus asked Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter responded, “You are the Christ!” Many are called but few are chosen. Unfortunately, many people in our society are unaware of the identity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, not flesh and blood but My Father revealed this to you”. In the Greek, the original language of the New Testament, Christ is Christos, which means “the Anointed One.” Blessed in Hebrew, the original language of the Old Testament, means empowerment. Why is this important? Through His anointing, Jesus Christ empowered Peter. Through His anointing, He empowered you. Through His anointing, He empowered me. It is the anointing that breaks the yoke [heavy burden]. The Bible says in Isaiah 10:27, “…and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.” A holy anointing breaks strongholds. This is great news because Matthew 11:30 states, “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. It is the anointing that break strongholds; It is the anointing that break curses; It is the anointing that break chains. Christ is not Jesus’ last name, nor is it His official title. In Hebrew, Anointed One means “burden-removing power” and “yoke destroying.” He is the Christ. Gentiles have known about Jesus Christ for the last 2,000 years, and what good has it done them? It’s not what you know that makes you free. The knowledge of the truth makes you free. Truth is not something; it is Someone. 22 MAR/APR 2014

Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” In John 8:32, Jesus stated, “and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” To know about Jesus is one thing, but to have a revelation and relationship is another thing. Christ did not die on the cross for you to live a defeated life. He died on the cross to remove curses and destroy yokes. The Bible says in Galatians 3:13, He became a curse for me. The curse of fornication has been removed; the curse of drug addiction has been removed; the curse of poverty has been removed. He took your curse. Galatians 3:13 reads, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse… being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is every one that hangs on a tree.” Break the chains. Your chains maybe related to pornography. Your chains could possibly be an incurable disease. Because of the cross, all curses are removed. All chains are broken. I have a message for the opposition. Satan, you are walking on blood-bought territory. The cross constrains you from touching any area of my life, my family life, and my friends’ lives. You were defeated at the cross! Powers and principalities were defeated at the cross. Demons in high places were defeated at the cross. I read the end of the book. Devil, you lose. By the authority of the blood of Jesus Christ, I break every chain of addictions, I break every chain of homosexuality, I break every chain of generation curses, I break every chain of domestic violence…I break every chain in Jesus’ name!

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24 MAR/APR 2014