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How I Felt Defeated and Came Out Stronger 
by Lacey D. Northington

It was like I was dreaming the noise of the fire alarm going off and the soft tap on my shoulder. But it was not a dream; I opened my blurry eyes to see a woman standing over me. She was standing there crying, shaking, and her clothes were disheveled.

“I’m so scared.” She said, standing there with her eyes darting around like she was following a gnat around the room. I opened my eyes and looked around the room to try to grasp at what was happening. My mind raced a mile a minute, egging on a major headache from the dead sleep I awoke from.

“It will be okay,” I tried to assure her, but she kept rattling on like a manic that was off her meds.

  “I don’t know what to do! I’m scared,” she said. Still trembling like a leaf on a windy day. I sat up from my bed that was made up of yellow grooved foam, as the mattress, and thin white sheets that were so rough, it felt like a cheap roll of tissue paper. The blaring fire alarm had finally stopped. The nurse entered our room to tell us that it was just a false alarm. My roommate was still in a panicked mood. She walked over to her bed and sat Indian style, with her hands in her mouth, like she was biting her nails.

I’m so scared they are coming to get me.” She continued, “I’d jumped out of my two story window because they were after me.” I was confused, and I just wanted to go back to sleep like I was dead again. Instead, I let her continue to ramble on.

“Look! Look!” she said as she pointed to a freshly made scar on her arms. Quite frankly, it looked like she had a visit from Edward Scissorhands.

 “Aw, it will be okay,” I tried to reassure her to no avail.

 “No, it won’t!” she said.

“Why?” I’d asked. My roommate said these words that had me frightened me the rest of the night.

 “Because I am a Schizophrenic and I haven’t taken my medicine in three days!” With her readily admitting her medical condition, I sat straight up in my bed and vowed that I was not going to go back to sleep. I sat there like a soldier, lying in wait for my enemy to cross my side of the battlefield. Watching roommate rock back and forth, I pondered three things: Why was I given a roommate that was a non-medicated Schizophrenic? Where was the nurse with my roommate’s medicine? And how in the world I’d let my life get so out of control that I was placed in a mental institution?

 Being in a depressed state is like having a dark cloud over your head constantly. I remember that day when I wanted to end it all. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, and I saw a girl that was at her wits’ end. Her clothes were wrinkled from lying in the bed for two days, her hair was cut off, and her eyes were red and puffy. Looking away from my reflection, I looked in my left hand where I had placed pills that I was going to take. The pills would end it all right then, but something was stopping me from doing the unthinkable. I was like a Gemini; I had a good side and I had a bad side. The bad side wanted me to take those pills, but my good side told me to call and ask for help. My good side wanted me to see the brighter days ahead, but the bad side was outweighing the bright side.

 I looked at my reflection again and said a prayer begging God for his grace and mercy to get me past this pain and heartache I was feeling. It was like he answered my prayer because I picked up my phone and called my sister. It was midnight and I feared she was asleep, but I pressed the numbers in my phone and she picked up right away. I could not get the words out of my mouth quick enough; she told me to unlock my door and that she was coming to get me. She wanted me to go to the hospital. I felt relief when I poured my heart out to her. It felt as though my heart was being pulled by a ton of bricks.

When I sat on the couch in the hospital, in what you would call ‘The Living Area’ I saw many faces that were sad just like mine. There were teenage faces, middle-aged faces, and elderly faces. We were all here because we could not handle our lives anymore. What stood out to me the most was a woman who looked like she was in her late-thirties to early-forties. She had curly blond hair and was the same size as me, skinny but shorter in height. She reminded me of a 1930’s Hollywood actress. She was constantly crying, morning to evening, her heart was broken. Her son lost his life to serve our country so we could have our freedom. There was another patient that was with me who experienced a traumatic childhood with sexual and physical abuse. I looked around the room, and I felt that my situation was nothing compared to their stories.

I remember going back to my plain little room and saying a prayer to God that I was going to get through this depression. I consistently prayed day and night, and all the hate, pain, and sadness were slowly removed. This story was two years ago; I can finally say that I am happy with my life. Some people keep stories like these a secret because they are afraid to be labeled as a ‘crazy’ person. I tell my story to give people hope, hope to stay alive because no matter how big you think the problem is, it is smaller compared to others.

Lacey D. Northington
Lacey is a writer, diarist, essayist, and an aspiring screenplay writer. She has been writing in diaries, consistently, since she was ten years old. Her favorite author is Anais Nin, who inspired her to keep diaries and may have them published in the future. Lacey is also a proud mother to her nine year old son and they currently live in Springfield, Tennessee.

HEART AND SOUL
by D. A. Sears

There are approximately 2.2 billion children who live and play in the global village we know as Planet Earth. We are connected to each of them. And they are connected to us. They are our children – the heart and soul of our global village. Their melodious laughter, incessant inquisitive banter, and irrepressible enthusiasm is infectious and inspiring. We feel their joy. The village – our global village – would be a desolate place without them. Can you imagine living in a world devoid of laughter, joy, and irrepressible enthusiasm?

Yet, we allow approximately 1 billion children in our global village to live in poverty.  We allow 640 million children in our global village to live without adequate shelter. We allow 400 million children in our global village to live without access to safe water. We allow 270 million children to be denied access to health services. And every year, death silences the melodious laughter, incessant inquisitive banter, and irrepressible enthusiasm of approximately 1.4 million children – our babies -- because they do not have access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation in our global village. 

How will living in poverty and not having access to adequate shelter,  safe drinking water, and adequate sanitation shape these children’s perception of the world outside of their immediate environment and their place in it?  Will they see a world that offers unlimited opportunities? Will growing up in abject poverty without access to adequate shelter, safe drinking water, and adequate sanitation shatter the souls and break the spirits of these children – our babies – and the global village’s Next Generation of Husbands, Wives, Mothers, Fathers, and Leaders?

Then there is the issue of the education of our children – the heart and soul of our global village. 
The number of children throughout our global village who are not attending school is shocking and tragic. At least 67 million primary school-age children are not attending school. Approximately 45% of these “out of school” children live in sub-Saharan Africa and approximately 24% of “out of school” children live in South and West Asia. Forty percent of “out of school” children in South and West Asia were previously enrolled in school but dropped out of school at some point. 

In Arab states, “out of school” children number approximately 5.8 million; 2.2 million “out of school” children exist in North America and Western Europe; Central and Eastern Europe estimates that its “out of school” children number 1.1 million; East Asia and the Pacific has approximately 8.3 million “out of school” children; and approximately 2.8 million “out of school” children can be found in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is estimated that at least 72,000,000 children of lower secondary school age are “out of school” and approximately 10,000,000 children in sub-Saharan Africa drop out of primary school each year. 

The village suffers when its children – its heart and soul – are allowed to languish in poverty, live without adequate shelter, safe drinking water, health services, sanitation, and not attend school or drop out of school We must rethink how we can provide access to economic opportunities to the parents of the children in our global village who are impoverished. We must build and adequately maintain sewage treatment plants that will pump out unhealthy and deadly waste materials and water treatment plants that pump in water that is safe to drink, cook with, and bathe in throughout our global village. It is imperative that we create accessible and affordable health resources and support services. We must look at why so many of our children – the village’s heart and soul – are not going to school or are dropping out of school. 

Let’s resolve the issues that prevent our children from attending school and staying in school. Let’s rethink how we are educating our children. Are we providing them with the skills they will need to become productive and successful adults in a global marketplace that is driven by information technology? 

Now, take a minute to think about yourself. When you were born, you were the heart and soul of the village. When the adults of the village gazed into your probing and sparkling eyes, they saw hope and the promise of a new day. You were loved. You were nurtured. You were valued. But what if your entire journey from childhood to adulthood had been spent living in poverty, without adequate food and shelter, and no access to safe drinking water, health services, and adequate sanitation. Would you have matured into a purpose-driven, productive, and successful adult? Would you go through life being angry or happy? 

Would you have a sense of direction or would you spend your life wandering around aimlessly? Would you be a vibrant, trusting, forgiving, and loving person? Or would you mature into an emotionally and spiritually detached adult? Would you be an asset or a liability to the village? Would you even exist?!

Shouldn’t our children – the village’s heart and soul – experience the same intense caring, nurturing, and mentoring that you enjoyed during your journey from childhood to adulthood? Don’t they deserve to feel protected, loved, and valued?

Connect with the Author
D.A. Sears, 2012 International Men's Day - United States Coordinator  
Managing Editor - IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD(R)
Website: http://globalfatherhooddialogue.blogspot.com  
Member, International Men's Day Coordination Committee  
Member, University Council for Fatherhood and Men's Studies Program at Akamai University 

Father:  Short Story 
by H.H.Fowler 

“I wish I’d known my father,” she says. She often says it. I observe the longing in her eyes and the slump in her shoulders.

She’s a dear soul who deserves my most compassionate response. But I’m not certain how my words would affect her this Sunday afternoon, as it is Father’s Day – the day the rain falls with a vengeance and adds gloom to her sense of lost. She cries, which breaks my heart, as I listen to her describe what it feels like to be without a father.

I now have a deep desire to identify with her pain, to switch place with her and to carry her load, which drags me through the rafters of my mind and into the attic of my soul only to discover I couldn’t feel what she feels. She had heard me tell my father I loved him and had thanked him for being in my life. 

I conclude in my heart, as I watch her wipe her tears with the back of her trembling hand, that fathers are important and a mighty pillar of strength to their children. Their presence, as well as their absence in the home must have some measure of impact. In my email box this morning I received a succinct message from a friend, which simply says, Happy Father’s Day, Jack, and beneath it was an inscription from Proverbs 17:6, in which I must have read a dozen times. The glory of children is their fathers.

My eyes water as I think about my eighteen-month-old son, who trots behind me from room to room, giggling as his tiny feet endeavors to catch up. He embraces me and says, “Dada”, in that sort of ‘I-really-love-you’ kind of way. In his little mind I wonder how much I mean to him. I wonder as he grows if this fascination would remain. I’m suddenly aware that I can help shape his destiny. I’m suddenly aware he trusts me and that whatever decision I make will somehow affect him. 

I kneel in front of her and gently wrap my arms around her waist, feeling a drop of her tears cascading down my neck. She is pregnant with our second child. I feel a sense of obligation, a sense of pride, and love, which grips my soul so tight I feel as if I’m suffocating. She feels it too. She knows that I will be there for them, come what may, I will not abandon my family.

So kudos to all the fathers who are making it work; despite the odds against them!

© 2010 All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission of the author, H.H.Fowler. This short story is used for promotional purposes only. Do not reproduce, copy or use without the publisher's written permission. Copyright infringement is a serious offense. Share a link to this page or the author's website if you really like this promotional excerpt.

Books by Author  H.H. Fowler

Church Boyz - Book 1 (Rod of the Wicked) by H.H. Fowler
Buy now: www.amazon.com/dp/B007S9ZYH0 

Church Boyz - Book 2 (When Things Go Wrong) by H.H. Fowler
Buy now: www.amazon.com/dp/B008J1X2TI 

The Watchman
by Rachel L. Smith

“But if the watchman see the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood as stated in Ezekiel 33:6.   As a single parent I am sometimes required to wear many hats such as mother, father, doctor, disciplinarian, and watchman. 

WHAT IS A WATCHMAN?

Ezekiel 33:6 describes a watchman’s duties as being one who warns others of impending danger. As parents we are called to ring the warning bell in many different ways. The first way I ranged the warning bell to my son by having the danger talk with him.  “You are going to scare him.” I heard from family, friends, and acquaintances told me.  
“He is going to become afraid of every one he meets!” Someone else said to me. 

But still I had the talk with my son. 

• I warned him against getting in the car with anyone who drives by and offers him candy or anything.
• I warned him against letting someone touch him in any place that his underwear covers.
• I warned him that I do not kiss him on the mouth neither should any one else.
• I warned him against, if he is spending the night with a friend, there is no reason that he should ever sleep in their parent’s bed.

The second thing I warned my son about, as a requirement of my position as a watchman, was to the battery theory. A battery has a positive and negative charge just like a pair of Jumper Cables. However in life the positive and negative charges are teaching children to do the right things or make the right choices. 

For example:  Let’s say that your child rides the bus, school bus, to and from school. One day he or she has to make a choice of helping to taunt another child or go and alert an adult to what was going on and take the risk of being called a snitch. The way that I would tell my son to handle this situation is to use a positive charge and pray about the negative, charge, they he may have to face and hope that he will come and talk to me about which decision he makes.

I have yet to find a job where I can work and still be able to keep an eye on my child twenty four hours a day. However, as watchmen, we can warn them against pending danger, so when they do have to make the choice between choosing a positive or negative charge- they will have mindset to pick the right one.

Meet the Author
Rachel L. Smith is a forty nine year old single mother of an eight year old son. They live in North Carolina. She enjoys both reading and writing poetry. Her poems have been published in Nomad’s Choir and Spotlight on Recovery. She also has an article titled To My Sister’s In Christ appearing in the next issue of Spotlight on Recovery. Rachel also has a blog, about bullying, that you can read at:  triantic.blogspot.com. 

Move Forward! 
by H.H. Fowler 

How did I end up here? Have you ever asked yourself that question? 
Have you ever experienced being between a rock and a hard place? You can’t seem to go forward and you can’t seem to go backward. This implies that neither of your options is pleasant at the moment. In fact, it really doesn’t matter whether you choose the rock or the hard place, there is still going to be some pain involved in your decision. One way looks bad, and the other way appears to be worse.

In the book of Exodus, the Israelites were on their way out of Egypt after being enslaved over 400 years by the mighty Egyptians. They were on their way to freedom. Could you imagine the torture of a people that had been oppressed, mistreated, used and abused, beaten and killed; their identity lost, almost forgotten for 400 hundred years, to be given an opportunity to escape, only to have things go wrong, and having to find themselves locked between the Red Sea and the pursuing Egyptian army? They could have easily turned right or left, providing there were no mountains blocking them. Obviously, this created a panic-stricken atmosphere. The Israelites felt as if their hope had been dashed and their only option was to fold up and die.

At times, life has a way of pushing us into circumstances that will cause us to feel this way. Right now you may seem wedged between a rock and a hard place, but the divine command is to move forward. That was the command God gave Moses for the people. He told them to stop crying, and march forward! Moses said that the Lord will fight for you. 

What does it mean to move forward?  It means to keep on believing in yourself, your dream, your vision, the plan God has for you, despite how despairing your circumstances appear. Despite the odds that have piled against you. It is the purpose of God that you fulfill your divine destiny. God wants to gain glory out of your life. As He’d told Moses, “I will gain glory for Myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.”

I want you to know, my friend that the fight was over before it even started. The fight has been fixed in your favor and the outcome has been predetermined. The Lord of host is strong and mighty, and strong to deliver! The Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever! Just move forward in faith, trusting that God had already worked out everything concerning you.

© 2010 All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission of the author, H.H.Fowler. This short story is used for promotional purposes only. Do not reproduce, copy or use without the publisher's written permission. Copyright infringement is a serious offense. Share a link to this page or the author's website if you really like this promotional excerpt.


About H.H. Fowler
Conceived in the chills of Switzerland, Fowler's parents journeyed back home to the Bahamas where he was born and reared a Caribbean product. A cosmopolitan at heart, Fowler's interest in the power of writing was ignited at the impressionable age of thirteen, awarding him the opportunity to share his furor with his family and close friends. His first poem, inspired by his Literary teacher was published at age fourteen by a recognized publishing company in Washington D.C.

He's a graduate of Remmington College in Tampa Florida and was elected to deliver the graduation speech for the Bachelor program. Most of his reading and writing experiences have been immensely touched by noted prolific writers such as, Agatha Christie, John Grisham, Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim Lahaye. He now introduces his new novel, "Church Boyz".

Fowler's favorite activities, besides writing and reading, include playing the piano, traveling, and meeting new people.  "I am fascinated by storytelling, and how characters develop into people I feel as if I've known all my life."   Visit his website: http://churchboyz.org 


Books by Author H.H. Fowler

Church Boyz - Book 1 (Rod of the Wicked)  by H.H. Fowler
Buy now:   www.amazon.com/dp/B007S9ZYH0 

Church Boyz - Book 2 (When Things Go Wrong)  by H.H. Fowler
Buy now:   www.amazon.com/dp/B008J1X2TI 

Depressed Soul
by Rachel L. Smith

“Deep calls to deep in the roar of the water falls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.” (Psalm 42:9)

Unlike a lot of jobs parenthood does not require any years of prior experience which can lead to a lot of pent up stress. Being a single mother who is trying to hold on to herself-in the process-can adds to your all ready mounting stress level.

I became a mother at the age of thirty nine at a time when I was deep in to practicing self preservation. Working twelve hour shifts five to seven days a week, eating whenever or what ever I wanted to, leaving and coming whenever I wanted to, and had a small nest egg in the bank. 

Then suddenly I had become responsible for another life. This meant that I had went from being only responsible for not only my daily needs but also the responsibility for my sons feedings, diaper changing, mindset, and –the most daunting responsibility- his beliefs and his self assessment.

We have all been in situations like David. For one reason or another we find ourselves feeling sad or in deep depression. We may not be able to change that we are in the midst of an emotional roller coaster. However we can change how we deal with continuing on with our lives and breaking through the fog.

From an early age I was taught how prayer, having a private conversation with God, not only help you sustain yourself, but how it can also help you to sustain your sanity. By letting you release all of your worries and into god hands so that you can begin to see the light or path that you are currently on.

Have you ever thought of having a private conversation with your spirit?  In Psalm 42:11, David asked his soul the following question:  “…Why my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me...?” 

Then, in the same verses, David tells his soul what it needs to do to begin healing itself: “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”  The next time that you began to feel overwhelmed with the stresses of first time parenthood, take a few seconds and have a private conversation with your soul.

About the Author
Rachel Smith is a 49 year old single mother who lives with her eight year old son in North Carolina. She enjoys reading and writing, but not arithmetic. The main goal that Rachel wants to accomplish through her writing is to inform people about the power that prayer can have in everyday life. Her writing has been published in Nomad’s Choir (poetry), Spotlight on Recovery (poetry and article), and The Cleveland (North Carolina) Chronicle (article). She also writes a blog titled The Observer which you can read at triantic.blogspot.com. 

ONLY YOU!


"I know you by name and you have found favor with me." Exodus 33:12 (NIV)

When actors and actresses audition for a part, the director conducts what are known as 'call-backs.'  At that point either the performer gets the part or it goes to somebody else.  You know you've  'got it made,'  when the director offers you the part without even auditioning for it.

Well, God doesn't need to do auditions and call-backs.  That's because He's already designed a role just for you. Nobody else could possibly fill it or meet the requirements. You're a 'designer original' with a PhD in being yourself! Even if others were to study you endlessly, they still couldn't be you.

When God says, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with Me,' it means He's already chosen you for a particular role. So be careful about responding to any other call except the one that comes from Him, because good ideas aren't necessarily God ideas!

Since God designed you with all the built-in qualifications you'll ever need, you don't have to compromise your convictions, pull strings, drop names or do special favors.   The part is yours because you were born for it! That also means you need never be jealous of or intimidated by anybody else, no matter how talented, popular or successful they are. In God's eyes there are no other contenders. You're it! You're the only one who can fill the slot, because He created it with you in mind. Isn't that a nice, secure feeling?


PONDER THIS FOR A MOMENT

Why were you born and created by God?  Can anyone fill your specific role and purpose in His kingdom? What are your unique talents, strengths, and abilities granted by God? Alternatively, are you attempting to be someone other than who God made you to be? Are you twisting and turning yourself inside out until you fit with the "in crowd"? Are your actions causing great detriment to your spiritual and emotional growth?

Saints, only you!  Only you can fill the specific plan, purpose, and will of God. You are custom-built and our Master's greatest work. God ensured that no one but you can fill your shoes. He made you unique, special, and precious in His sight. He foreknew your exact time in history and divine reason for existing on earth. As we grow in the knowledge of God, let's reject the notion that we should be like this person or that. 


Let's embrace the man or woman that God made us to be. Finally, let's praise God for allowing us to be Potter's "clay" so that we ultimately reflect His image in the finished product fashioned by His hand.


Your Sister in Christ,

Author Unknown to Me
(This came to me as an unsigned email forward. The message was so powerful that I had to share!)

Fear of  Yourself
by Rachel L. Smith



Read 2 Timothy 1:7

Thought For Today:   “For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them.”

In 2 Corinthians 10:1,  Paul speaks of his timidness. He says “…even though I am timid when face to face with you, but bold toward you when away.”

This is the exact way I felt through out most of my child hood, adolescent, and part of my young adult life. The thought of having a one on one, face to face, conversation with someone would literally cause my tongue to stick to the roof of my mouth. But, when I was by myself the things I wanted to say would play on a continuous loop inside my mind.

Occasionally it would cause me to ask myself, and sometimes God: “Why can’t the words I that are in my mind come out of my mouth?” I would also ask myself:  “Why do I fear talking one on one with someone else face to face?”

2 Timothy 1:7 revealed the answer to me. It says: “For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them.” 

2 Timothy showed me two things. First: That the fear of confrontation with others was a fear that I held onto because I was comfortable being the shy and quite girl. Secondly it showed me that in order for me to grow I first had to begin letting go of my old insecurities in order for my new self could began to take form.

This topic came up again when my son joined our church youth choir. The first time that he had to stand in front of the church to sing, he literally looked like a deer stuck in the headlights. Although I wanted to run into the choir stand to soothe him and take away his fear. But instead I held back.

Because the fear that I, as an adult has, is completely different from an eight year old boy who is just starting to come into himself.  If I faced his fear for him now he would not know how to handle his own fear or stressful situations. As an example what if one day he has to stand in front of his class to make an oral book report. With him going into the third grade this could occur sooner than later.  By letting him stand on his own in the choir stand one day he will be able to stand on his own in front of a classroom or boardroom.


About the Author Rachel L. Smith
Rachel L. Smith is a 49 year old single mother who lives in the Carolinas with her eight year old son. You can read her blog The Observer at triantic@blogspot.com.  She has an article and poem that has been published in Spotlight on Recovery. She has also had a poem published in Tribe magazine. 

FINDING LOVE ON THE SPIRITUAL PATH TO GOD

First Things First: Learning to Love God & Self 

I have seen far too many African American women emotionally wrecked because the love relationship they've invested so much of themselves into—ended. The reason being, it started out on all the wrong reasons. The contemporary single woman of today is armed with the wrong thoughts, actions and second-hand information on how to have and keep a love relationship that will hopefully blossom into a marriage. (Sadly, too many single black women are given baby showers and not enough bridal showers).

Taking a brief look at history, we learn that women have suffered from the atrocities of a dominant male society from practically every culture in the world including the U.S. These atrocities gave birth to misogyny which without a doubt planted seeds of low self-esteem, insecurity and self-exploitation in young and mature women alike. 

Again, with just that brief examination, it is imperative that women are nurtured to love themselves and to TRULY love themselves, they must accept God into their souls. When we enter into a relationship—a love affair—with Spirit (God), we embrace ourselves thereby embracing the Divine Feminine. (Anyone, men and women alike, seeking a spiritual path to God must embrace the Divine Feminine). But for now the focus is on emotionally and psychologically wounded women who need to understand the wisdom and beauty of the Divine Feminine within them-- these are the daughters of the living God. 

One of the many attributes obtained through prayer, meditation and growth on the spiritual path to God is knowing how to discern the difference between a healthy, exhilarating and humble love of self versus a vain, conceited self-indulgent love which is not really love but an insatiable lust to fill a void. We must do some serious soul searching, introspection and reflection...and that may require opening up some old wounds and letting them bleed for a moment. This symbolic “bloodletting” is forgiveness. 

Some of us feel that if we refuse to forgive certain individuals, they will reap their karma much sooner. We could never be further from the truth. The spiritual law of Karma will prevail—you need not worry yourself about that. When we engage in healthy introspection and reflection, we seek to learn from our past mistakes and experiences, our souls are cleansed and with that cleansing comes a peacefulness—the peacefulness Jesus Christ spoke of that 'transcends all understanding.' But until we honestly forgive ourselves and the pain inflicted on us by others, we will NEVER be able to give or receive wholesome love. 


Meet Magdalena Allen
Magdalena is a spiritual/motivational coach and writer.  She is a TV/print commercial model. She lives with her husband and two children in Maryland. She can be contacted via email at:  magdalena9196@gmail.com 

I Am Not a Christian Author
I'm an Author Who Happens to Be Christian 
by  D. Lamar Jackson

Since becoming a professional writer 6 years ago I have always thought of myself as a Christian author/playwright. A few weeks ago I was informed by my publicist that I should not call myself a Christian writer anymore but instead call myself a Contemporary Author. I was confused because I make it a point to put Christ in everything I write. The goal with my writing is to uplift and inspire my audience. I want my audience to have a closer walk with God. Also, if they are not saved that my words will touch their heart so they will want to give their life to Christ. 

The publicist informed me that because I have some cursing and a few intimate scenes in my upcoming book "Winters' Summer" that I could not call it Christian Fiction. That's the bad. The good is that if I call it Contemporary Fiction that it broadens my audience bringing both Christian readers and non-Christian readers into the mix. She's told me that it doesn't mean I can't put Christ in my books which is a huge relief. I love Christ and am grateful He died for my sins. 

I'm also a realist and want to be true to life for Christians in today's world. I hope that through my books my audience will see how we can still live a Christian life in today's sinful world. I also want to show how we are all tempted to things we shouldn't and sometimes we fall prey to temptation. Even if we fall prey to temptation it doesn't mean we are condemned and heading to hell. It just means we failed a test and we will have to deal with the consequences.

After my conversation with the publicist I know realize that I may not be a Christian author I am a Christian who just happens to be an author. Which is fine with me as long as I can reach souls for Christ.

Meet the Author
D. Lamar Jackson was destined to be a successful author from a young age. His mother saw something special in him when she saw him acting out stories by himself, playing every character. She told him to write his stories on paper and that’s where his journey began. After taking his mother’s advice he began writing short stories. In his teenage years he wrote poems, songs, stage plays and screenplays. However, his first love remained novels. His stories deal with temptation and forgiveness. His passion for writing comes out in all of his stories. Writer is not what he does it’s who he is.

Connect with D. Lamar Jackson online: 
Website: www.dlamarink.com 
Twitter Link: http://twitter.com/#!/dlamarthewriter 
Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/dlamarjackson 

RETHINK!   REBUILD!    RENEW!
Submitted by D.A. Sears


Editor of In Search of Fatherhood®: Transcending Boundaries

Close your eyes. Tap into your imagination. What do you see? Do you see your street, your neighborhood, or your city? Vacant lots once filled with unhealthy and unsightly debris have been transformed into gardens that yield colorful and fragrant flowers and an astounding variety of edible vegetables. During the week –- on school days – the doors of every church, synagogue, mosque, and temple are open at seven o’clock in the morning.  Members of the congregation are busy preparing and serving a healthy breakfast to children who would otherwise go to school on an empty stomach.

No longer are the children on your street, your neighborhood, and in your city going to school hungry and unable to concentrate on their studies. And members of the congregations escort the children to school to make sure that they arrive there safely and on time. 

Weekly community council meetings bring together neighbors, concerned citizens, health care professionals and providers, social services professionals and providers, Fatherhood Practitioners and Advocates, ward leaders, block captains, legislators, legal professionals, law enforcement professionals, educators,
school administrators, grassroots community organizations, business and religious leaders, and social entrepreneurs to discuss and resolve issues of public safety, economics, education, Fatherhood, positive male role models, and physical and mental health. 

*What do you hear?*  Listen closely. Men and Women on your street, in your neighborhood and in your city are talking about how the rehabilitation of boarded-up and abandoned houses and storefronts have helped to eradicate blight, reduced crime, attracted jobs and businesses, and created a nurturing and safe environment that is conducive to positively shaping the minds and souls of our children – the future – our bridge to the future. Do you hear the songs of happiness that the children on your street, in your neighborhood, and in your city are singing – songs that replace the nightmarish sounds of deadly gunfire? 

*And what do you feel?*  Hope? Love? Compassion? Tranquility?   Is this a dream?  It should be a new reality for you, your children, your neighborhood, and your city. While it is true that communities and cities throughout our global village are beset with a plethora of challenges, these challenges are actually opportunities in disguise. The Universe is tapping each of us on the shoulder and whispering: 
“Rethink! Rebuild! Renew!”

We must "rethink' how we are preparing our children – the Emerging Keepers of the Planet – for their future.  Are we programming our children for success or for failure?  Are we teaching them, through our words and deeds, how to channel negative energy into positive energy; peacefully resolve conflicts; and constructively deal with anger, pain, fear, disappointment, and rejection? 

Do we teach them simple arithmetic and how to read and write before they are enrolled in pre-school education classes and regular school?  Are we introducing them to foreign languages, music, and art? What life lessons are we teaching our children about compassion, decision making, collaboration, loyalty, and integrity?

Contrary to popular opinion, our children –our future– our bridge to the future – listen to everything we say. But they are also watching us to see if we are “walking the talk”, particularly when it comes to what we say our expectations are for them. For example, we expect our children to go to school and learn and to excel academically. That’s what we tell them. We also tell them why they need to do this: If they go to school, learn and excel academically, don’t drop out of school, and graduate from high school, they will have a future – they can get a job or go to college. 

But are we attending the PTA meetings, going over our children’s homework every evening, making sure they are studying for tests, arranging for tutoring of our children in subjects they are struggling with, motivating them and engaging them in daily conversations about what is going on in school, and making sure that the School Board and our children’s principals and teachers understand that we are holding them accountable for providing our children with a quality education and a learning environment that is free from bullying and violence? If we are not doing any of these things, what message are we really sending to our children about how much we care about their education? 

More importantly, are we giving our children something to aspire to?   When they travel to and from home and school, do they have to worry about being the victim of random and deadly gunfire? As they look around the streets and the neighborhood business corridors, what do they see? Do they see thriving communities and an economic oasis that will supply them with careers and jobs? 

Can they say to themselves, “Okay, if I continue to get good grades, learn as much as I can in school, and stay in school and graduate, I can work in one of the neighborhood businesses – I can work in and be successful in my own neighborhood. Or I can start my own business right here where I grew up and provide jobs for people in the neighborhood! I have a future here. I can see it. I can even raise a family of my own in the neighborhood where I grew up – where people mentored me, nurtured me, and loved me. I don’t have to leave to be successful.”  Now isn’t that what we really want? Isn’t that what the village really needs?

Doesn’t the village need its children – whom it nurtured, mentored, and loved – to return or remain in the village to care for and protect its most vulnerable members – our babies and our Elders?

We must rebuild the village. Let’s create Community Councils that bring together key stakeholders – you, your neighbors, health care professionals and providers, social services professionals and providers, Fatherhood Practitioners and Advocates, ward leaders, block captains, legislators, legal professionals, law enforcement professionals, educators, school administrators, grassroots community organizations, business and religious leaders, social entrepreneurs, and our youth. 

Community Councils can identify and work to resolve the key challenges that exist in the village –blight, housing, education, economics, health – physical and mental, crime, violence, Fatherhood, and positive male role models. They would create and  implement action plans and partnerships that would set in motion, for example, the rehabilitation of abandoned houses and vacant storefronts;   attraction and retention of responsible homeowners and business owners to the neighborhoods; mandatory academic enrichment programs and anger management and conflicts resolution training for all children; equal access to preventive health care and medical and parenting resources and support services; and the monitoring and enhancement of the quality of education provided by educators and school administrators in neighborhood schools and
the academic performance of children attending these schools.

We must renew our faith in each other; our ability to make the impossible possible; and our commitment to our children – our future –our bridge to the future.

About the Author
D.A. Sears, United States Coordinator, 2012 International Men's Day 
EDITOR, In Search of Fatherhood®: Transcending Boundaries 
FOLLOW ON TWITTER: www.twitter.com/dasears 
CHILDREN'S CORNER BLOG: http://buildingabridgetothefuture.blogspot.com 

BOOK: In Search of Fatherhood: Transcending Boundaries
International Conversations on Fatherhood 
D. A. Sears (Author) 

Book Description
In Search of Fatherhood®: Transcending Boundaries is a "straight no-chaser" exploration of the issues and questions that Married Fathers, Single Fathers, "Stay-At-Home" Fathers, "Long-Distance" Fathers, Divorced Fathers, Custodial Fathers and Non-Custodial Fathers throughout our global village struggle to resolve on a day-to-day basis. 

Through essays and interviews, Stephen Baskerville, Ph.D., Muhammed Nasser Bey, Randy L. Collins, Leonard Dantzler, Warren Farrell, Ph.D., Dale Fraza, Thomas R. Golden, LCSW, the late L.T. Henry, Thomas Hoerner, Gary A. Johnson, James Kennedy, Thomas Lessman, Alvin F. Poussaint, M.D., Martin G. Ramey, Almas Jamil Sami' and Joep Zander speak from the depths of their souls about the roles and responsibilities of Fathers and the universal search for answers that Men who are Fathers from all walks of life have embarked upon. They suggest to us what our young men need as they make the journey from childhood to manhood.

In Search of Fatherhood®: Transcending Boundaries also identifies organizations that provide Men and Fathers in Australia, Canada, France, the United Kingdom and the United States with resources and support services.  In Search of Fatherhood®: Transcending Boundaries also contains a "Recommended Reading" section that identifies books that explore a myriad of issues directly and indirectly related to Fatherhood.

Purchase In Search of Fatherhood®: Transcending Boundaries 
ISBN-10: 141343777X
ISBN-13: 978-1413437775

Message From D. A. Sears the Author
In Search of Fatherhood®:  Transcending Boundaries is a reaffirmation of Fatherhood. It is also the reaffirmation of a vision of a Forum For Fathers that was conceived by my mentor -- the late L.T. Henry, an author, classically trained jazz musician, photojournalist and sales and motivation trainer. 

It was Mr. Henry's belief that Men and Fathers were engaged in a silent and never-ending search for answers about raising children, moving their families forward and the significance of their roles in our families ... in our communities ... and in our world.    Mr. Henry died before he could transform his vision into a reality -- a vision that I have resurrected through In Search of Fatherhood®: Transcending Boundaries. It was the least that I could do for a Man who had done so much for me. 

Learning to Tap Into Personal Power 
by Kerri Herndon

Kerri Herndon, affectionately known as Coach Kerri, is a Life Transformation Coach and Christian Counselor. Through her weekly podcast, books, and seminars, Kerri gracefully shares spiritual insights to assist others with discovering the spirit-soul-body connection to live emotionally balanced lives.  Her witty tips and simple truths provide transforming power that will guide readers and listeners toward making consistent, purposeful choices.

This morning as I cleared my family room removing the remnants of last weeks celebration, I began to reflect upon this past year and the phrase “Personal Power” whispered in my spirit. The whisper turned into an echo which began a stream of thoughts which resulted in a simple truth; each of us were born with power to conquer and fulfill. A power that enables us to not only create goals, but to accomplish with extraordinary success for whatever we put our minds to do. 

A power so great, that if harnessed produces personal success to do works beyond our limitless imaginations. 

The poet Hafiz beautifully delivers the message of the “birth gifts” provided:
There are so many gifts still unopened from your birthday. There are so many hand-crafted presents that have been sent to you by God. The Beloved does not mind repeating, “Everything I have is also yours.” There are so many gifts, my dear, still unopened from your birthday.

Between taking care of family, social obligations and the steady demands of our careers, it is easy to become overwhelmed and find there is little time to discover your own personal power. Once this delegate balance begins to dissipate, stress and feelings of being overwhelmed can gain entry access into your soul. 

These fugitives drain your desire, ambition and drive to begin the journey of developing your power of potential. They stealthily enter leaving traces of thoughts that suggest one or more of the following:

* I can’t
* I am too stressed
* I am not intelligent enough
* I’m to tired
* I have no energy
* No one will listen to my ideas
* I don’t know my purpose
* What should I do with my life
* Maybe I’m just not good enough
and unfortunately more.

One of the many oracles of God that provides hope and refutes any thought that is contrary to us having “personal power” to accomplish is found in Exodus 35:35.   The writer informs us that, the Lord has provided wisdom to know how to make all kinds of “things”, and to devise all kinds of new “things”.  I highly suggest reading the Wycliffe Bible version of the passage of this scripture.

Personally, I have embraced the truth that from birth, a seed was deposited within which has the mechanics for success, prosperity, joy, happiness and completion for all manner of tasks and work. When we find ourselves “stuck” unable to clarify our goals or finish tasks that would keep us on target with completion dates, it is vitally important to begin to uncover what core thoughts are corrupting your personal success.

This “uncovering” begins with surveying your heart to identify the real culprits of your feelings of being overwhelmed or stressed. Your heart has it’s own nervous system, or brain in the heart, containing around forty thousand neurons.  This heart-brain can sense, feel, learn, remember, and process information (Armour 2003; Armour and Kember 2004). 

Research has found that there are more nerves going from your heart up to your brain than from your brain to your heart (Cameron 2002). When you feel worried, frustrated, or stressed, your heart’s rhythmic pattern becomes irregular and chaotic pulling your heart brain out of sync. So what does this mean? Your thoughts have the ability to create internal havoc and chaos which will manifest in self sabotaging behavior and a host of unwarranted physical symptoms. Acknowledging core thoughts and perceptions will assist you and be a guide to restructuring your beliefs to bring sync to heart and life.


Gateway to Your Personal Success

What have you allowed in and not taken the time to throw out?  Could it be other peoples perceptions of you personally and professionally which has caused anxious thoughts and behavior? Or is it the unsatisfying feeling of unfulfilled dreams and desires that have created the “it’s too late syndrome” which need to be thrown out. Traumatic experiences and events can also trigger painful memories for some leaving them emotionally unstable to receive the gift and promises of transformation for personal success.

Have you truly cleared the debris and the packaging that at one time may have been beautifully wrapped, but now has expired and must be thrown out due to contamination?

I do know that all of us have a force of power inside that is tremendously great, yet many people are not living the life that was promised to them to fulfill. This could be a direct result from allowing your soul to become toxic thus clouding your ability to fully recognize your birth gifts. For others, it could be a lack of balance and not taking the time seek and develop your gifts. Remember, there is always danger in comparing your gifts with others and under estimating the value of your personal gifts. Both of which result in never attaining the fullness of the power within.

Before the new year begins, let’s determine to unwrap your gifts and develop each one with intention and determined focus. Begin by applying three simple truths that will revolutionize the way you think, you act, and what you will do next in your life.

Keys to Unwrap the Power Inside:

1. Principle – Who are you? What do you stand for? What does your character say about you?  Your mouth can say anything it wants but your actions, tell the truth. That brings me to my next point, actions. What are you about? What is your attitude, does it reflect the opposite of who you say you are? In order to begin to tap inside of yourself, you must do some self reflection and discover the principle things you stand for.

Gal 5:22-23, psalm 15:1-5, Micah 6:8, 1 Timothy 4:8, Proverbs 28:6, Romans 5:3-4, Psalm 1:1-3 

2. Purpose – Why are you here? What makes your existence different than mine or anyone else? What is your personal mission, if you could change anything in this world, what would it be? Discover yourself through your own eyes, not someone else – and allow your purpose to shine to lead you to the path of self discovery which ultimately will assist you in tapping into your personal power source.

Exodus 31:3, Ecclesiastes 2:26, Romans 11:29, 1 Corinthians 1:5, Romans 12:6-8, James 1:5, Romans:8:28, Jeremiah 29:11

3. Performance – How do you conduct yourself? Are you a high achiever? Or are you stuck in between? In between what – the halfway point of failure and success. The halfway point is called Mt. Mediocrity. How many of us get stuck there and feel as if we are caught? Begin to visualize through writing down who you are and except the fact you are a designer original and you were created with a principles, values, and purpose, which through your performance places you in the crowd of effortless high achievers. The I can, and I do crowd, the soaring eagles, not slothful pigs.

Psalm 20:4, Proverbs 6:3, Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 48:17, Psalm 32:8, Exodus 15:13

Begin each day with the end in mind. Start  the day with being accountable to yourself. Read each key and thoughtfully meditate upon each one of the scripture references. Spend time meditating each day and affirm powerful truths to your heart to regain balance and alignment. 

Remember this simple truth, you already posses the power inside of you to propel you into destiny. Unwrap your gifts today and receive a harvest of an abundant future.



About the Author
Kerri Herndon, affectionately known as Coach Kerri the Life Transformation Coach is a Motivational Speaker, Radio Talk Show Host, Entrepreneur, author, and founder of one of the fastest growing organizations dedicated to empowering women of all ages.    Her B.A. Biblical Studies and M.A. in Christian Counseling coupled with an unflinching and honest understanding of today’s woman, enables her to skillfully assist others with indentifying the root causes of their personal dilemmas.

Coach Kerri's  specialty lies in assisting women with breaking the barriers of limitations and achieving emotional wholeness.   Living by the mantra of "Create the life you love", Coach Kerri implements this truth into powerful coaching programs that equip women with eliminating fear and stress and bridging passion to purpose.

Remaining true to her powerful message of transformation, in her recently published book, "Simply Me - Taking Off the Mask Through Effectual Prayer",  she provides practical self-help tools along with spiritual insight that explains how traumatic experiences such as depression, rejection, abortion, attempted suicide can alter the course of destined purpose.  The book poetically illustrates the personal life experiences of Kerri additionally providing powerful deliverance prayers and accountability exercises.

Coach Kerri's testimony and life-transforming messages share the miracle working power of God and how He is able to use all our baggage for His greater purpose. She is a walking representation of the WORD at work and has made it her life mission to allow the Holy Spirit to use her to impact the lives of others. Her inspiring stories and personal reflections have made her a highly respected and sought after speaker with women’s groups, conferences and churches.   Website: www.coachkerri.com 

Coming Home 
by  Stacy Hawkins Adams

Award winning author, columnist, speaker and writing coach Stacy Hawkins Adams has released her next novel, Coming Home. 

If forgiving your ex-husband was easy, everybody would do it.  Brent had cheated on Dayna and coldly said goodbye to her seven long years ago---dashing her hopes of having children or growing old with the love of her life. Working hard to make herself successful as a hospital executive, Dayna has moved on, finding comfort in a new dating relationship with a faith-filled colleague, Warren. But when Brent resurfaces on her doorstep at just the wrong time, Dayna's heart threatens to come unglued. Why is Brent asking for forgiveness now? 

And why are he and his new wife, Tamara, interested in reconciliation with Dayna?  The unbelievable answers in Coming Home begin to surface as Brent boldly asks Dayna to support him at the most crucial time of his life. While Tamara's heart brims with guilt, both women will discover what it means to reach beyond pain and baggage to love unconditionally, leaving the consequences to God. 

To learn more about Stacy's exciting new book, please visit http://stacyhawkinsadams.com/books/coming-home/index.html 

Purchase Coming Home 
Series: Winds of Change 
Christian Fiction & Literature 
ISBN-13: 9780310333982 


Meet the Author
Stacy Hawkins Adams is a prolific writer, whose works include both fiction and nonfiction books and contributions to several anthologies.  Stacy's six nationally-published women’s fiction novels weave social issues and themes of faith and personal growth into creative plots. Her nonfiction book gives women practical tips and inspiration on how to connect more deeply with God.

Stacy's novel, Dreams That Won’t Let Go, was a 2011 Library of Virginia Award finalist, with the likes of books penned by John Grisham and Jan Karon.   Stacy’s fourth novel, The Someday List, maintained a steady presence on the Essence bestseller’s list throughout 2009, and soared to #7 on the Kindle bestseller list.

Stacy’s first nonfiction book, Who Speaks to Your Heart?, serves as a devotional guide for busy women from all walks of life seeking to deepen their faith.

Before becoming an author and freelance columnist, Stacy served as a newspaper reporter for fourteen years, primarily at the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia. She currently writes a freelance parenting column for the Times-Dispatch and received the 2011 Media Award from the Virginia Association for Early Childhood Education for the informative and insightful subjects she tackles. She also pens a faith-based column for an online teen girls’ magazine, www.SusieMag.com. 

Stacy Hawkins Adams is a member of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA), James River Writers and CAN (Christian Authors Network).

She operates a group coaching service for aspiring authors called Author In You, through which she provides personalized motivation and guidance to fiction and nonfiction writers seeking to complete a manuscript. She also teaches writing courses as an adjunct professor at the University of Richmond.

When she is not writing, speaking or coaching, Stacy devotes considerable time to promoting child advocacy as a writing and marketing consultant, and community volunteer. Among the honors she has received for these heartfelt endeavors are the YWCA of Richmond’s 2011 Outstanding Woman Award and Style Weekly magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 recognition in 2010.  Stacy, lives in a suburb of Richmond, VA. with her family.

Introduction to Lessons On Church Folk
Volume 1 & 2


by Antoinette Marie Davis

Lessons on Church Folk Volume 1  is a fictional book packed with quotes and stories that tell of the various attitudes and behaviors of many fictional church members. Even though these stories are fictional, each scenario can occur at any church. No church is exempt from any of these situations. This book will make you laugh, cry, smile, frown, and it will make you more aware of your surroundings as you attend church. 

Overall, Lessons on Church Folk Volume 1  was written so that people are able to see that every church has issues and troubled people with personal character flaws. Even when you switch churches, you will see some of the same issues that you saw at your previous church. In any event, the church is a hospital where people come to get help for their issues. Only God can free us from the things that constantly stress us out. Life will be stressful but giving your stress over to God will allow you to be free to experience the love and happiness that he desires for all of his children.

This book will discuss issues such as:
* Love
* Gossip
* Death
* Cheating
* Marriage problems
* Parenting
* Abuse
* Divorce

Purchase Lessons On Church Folk - Volume 1 
by Antoinette Marie Davis
ISBN-13: 9781936780938 

---------------------------------

Lessons on Church Folk Volume 2
by Antoinette Marie Davis

Lessons on Church Folk - Volume 2  is the second installment in the Lessons on Church Folk series. This fictional book follows various church members as they experience many emotions and feelings in their everyday life. All of these stories are fiction but any church member can fit into one or many stories. In any event, this book is an interesting read because it will give you a chance to follow these characters as they went from experiencing hard times to experiencing triumph in Christ. 

Lessons on Church Folk - Volume 2  was written so that people can see that church members of any faith are the most unique group of people around. These members come to church with various issues and they aim to let go of their issues through prayer within the community of believers. 

But the question is:  Do they hand their issues over to God?   Do they hold on to them so that they can handle them on their own? In life, it is always better to hand over your issues to God because you cannot handle your issues on your own. Overall, we need to accept the fact that we are humans and we all make mistakes. But even when we make mistakes, we have to know that God is always ready and willing to forgive us of our sins.

This book will discuss issues such as:
• Hatred
• Emotional Abuse
• Suicide
• Physical Abuse
• Depression
• Illness
• Marriage
• Teenage Pregnancy
• Church Leadership
• Lifestyle Changes
• Relationships
• And much more!

Purchase Lessons on Church Folk Volume 2 
ISBN-13: 9781936780969 

Purchase both Lessons on Church Folk Volumes from Antoinette Marie Davis
ISBN#:    Volume 1: 978-1936780938,     Volume 2: 978-1936780969
Vol. One- www.lessonsonchurchfolkvol1.com  and  Vol. Two - www.lessonsonchurchfolkvol2.com 

Lessons on Church Folk Volume 1 & Volume 2  are books that are packed with quotes and stories that tell of the various attitudes and behaviors of many fictional church members. Even though these stories are fictional, each scenario can occur at any church. No church is exempt from any of these situations. These books will make you laugh, cry, smile, frown, and it will make you more aware of your surroundings as you attend church.

Genre: Fiction, Christian.   Primary Subject Matter:  In the books, I wrote about suicide, depression, marriage problems, divorce, hopelessness, love, dating, trust, etc.   I write about these issues because these issues are going on in our churches.   Sometimes, people do not know how to handle them when they come along.   People should buy this book because it will help them to see that God can bring them through any and every situation that they will encounter.

About the Author
Antoinette Marie Davis is a native of Michigan.  As a child, Antoinette enjoyed working with math problems and she often spent lots of time so that she could figure out the solution to the problems.  Over time, this love for math led her to pursue a career in mathematics.  She has had many role models who have encouraged her to pursue her goals and dreams of becoming a Mathematics Professor. 

In any event, Antoinette enjoys teaching mathematics because it gives her a chance to show students that they can learn math in a way that they can understand it.  Teaching helps her to expound on the math lessons that she has learned throughout her college years.

She is an alumnus of Lake Michigan College, Oakwood University, and Wayne State University. She has earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Secondary Education, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics, and a Master of Arts Degree in Applied Mathematics. Davis currently serves as a University Instructor while she pursues Doctoral study in the area of Instruction/Administration with a specialization in Mathematics Education.

THE POWER OF OUR WORDS
by D.A. Sears

Words evoke images and emotions. Words have energy and power. They fire up our imagination and have the capacity to shatter our souls and break our spirits. That is why we should choose our words carefully. So, why am I talking about words?

One evening, after completing an 11-hour day at the office, I jumped on a bus and headed for a dinner meeting. A woman, in her early 20s, and her son, who appeared to be a little over a year old sat next to me. The little boy looked up at me with curious eyes and gently tugged the sleeve of my coat with his small hands. I smiled and greeted him with a warm “Hello.” His mother admonished him for bothering me. I smiled again, this time at his mother, and said “It’s okay.” The little boy squirmed in his mother’s lap and again gently tugged at the sleeve of my coat. “Your son is adorable,” I commented to his mother.

She glanced down at her son, and then informed me: “He likes to fight. He fights all the time”. Was she issuing a warning or simply making an observation? “He does? Really?” I responded. The little boy’s mother remarked: “Yes. He’s evil!” And she was not joking when she dropped that interesting piece of information on me! For a moment, I was stunned. If she was describing her son as “evil” to me – a stranger – and in public, what was she saying to him behind closed doors? When I looked at her son, I saw a little boy who was curious, highly intelligent, playful, and keenly intuitive.

Although her remark seemed innocent on the surface, the young mother did not understand that by uttering the word “evil” to describe her son – especially, in his presence – she was inadvertently programming her son for failure. More importantly, her words will subconsciously determine how she nurtures and shapes his mind and soul. Yes, what she says about her son also affects her, too! Think about it! If you are defining your child to a perfect stranger as “evil”, just how much unconditional positive nurturing can you give to someone whom you feel is “evil”? 

Now, don’t get it twisted. I am not judging this woman. I am sure she loves her son. But certain questions do come to mind. Does she understand the power of her words? Does she understand that her son desperately needs positive affirmation and that she is her son’s first female role model? 

Is there a direct connection between the little boy’s propensity to fight and his mother’s constant description of him as being “evil”?  The woman’s son decided to get my attention again. He stretched out his hands in my direction and looked at me. Just for the record, I did not call out the young mother on her parenting skills. I smiled, looked directly into her son’s chocolate brown eyes, and in a warm and soft voice told him: “You are a good little boy, aren’t you? You are going to be a good little boy, aren’t you? You are going to be a good little boy for your Mother, aren’t you?” 

I was quickly approaching my destination. As I rose from my seat, excused myself, and exited the bus, I wondered if the power of my words had subliminally provided the little boy with the positive affirmation he so desperately needs. Did he understand that I was really telling him that he is not “evil”? Had I illustrated to his mother how she can utilize the power of her words to program her son for success?

We must use the “power of our words” to build bridges of understanding, heal broken spirits and shattered souls, inspire the uninspired, and strengthen and empower our families and our communities. Let’s resolve to use the “power of our words” to positively shape the minds and souls of our children – our babies – and the Emerging Keepers of the Planet. Our children – our babies – are our future – our bridge to the future. It is a bridge and a future that we are building through the “power of our words” every day. Think about it!

Power of Words Update:
This article received so much praise from the Black Pearls readers! Here is the author's response to all the wonderful comments:

From D.A. Sears:   I cannot take credit for how I handled the situation or my understanding of what was really going on with the young mother and her son. The credit goes to my mentor, the late L.T. Henry, Queen Mother Falaka Fattah, the CEO and Founder of the House of Umoja, Inc. who has positively transformed the lives of over 3,000 African American male youths in the City of Philadelphia. 

Queen Mother Falaka Fattah who with her husband negotiated a peace pact among 400 gang leaders in the City of Philadelphia in 1974 which ended years of bloody and deadly gang violence (the peace pact is known as the Imani Peace Pact.) 

All of the young men who signed the Imani Peace Pact in 1974 kept their word -- they never picked up a gun and committed an act of violence. Since 2006, I have worked with Queen Mother Falaka Fattah as a member of the House of  Umoja, Inc.'s Faith of Fathers Peace Campaign Steering Committee and I have learned so much from her. 

Then there is Almas Jamil Sami' of Sohaja Publishing Company who helped me answer a burning question that I had in 2000. And that question was: How is it that so many of our young men who are 17, 18, 19, and 20 are being taken out of our community and housed in juvenile and adult correctional facilities in such startling numbers and there is no outcry from our community? Jamil schooled me. 

There was also my Uncle -- my eldest and favorite Uncle who amazed me for so many reasons. His brilliance, his pride in being a Man of African descent, his deep knowledge of African and World History, his wisdom of the ages, patience and unconditional love coupled with the fact that all of the young men in our community respected him -- whether they had any close personal interaction with him or not. What really amazed me was the fact that the young men in the community who were known as "hoodlums" or "thugs" who had a reputation for assaulting and robbing people, respected him. 

What was even more amazing about my Uncle was that he could speak their language -- he was up on the "slang" that they talked. So, when the would walk up to him with respect and say, "Hey, what's happening Pop?" He would break out in a slight swagger and say, "Hey, ain't nothin' happening, Jim". And the "hoodlums" and "thugs" would talk to him and say among themselves, "Wow, Pop is cool!" I am able to "The Power of Words" because of these individuals.

My heart, my soul, and my spirit tells me that we can and we will rebuild the village! I am witnessing some amazing things in our community in Philadelphia!  Despite the difficult days that we find ourselves in, I have hope. If our Ancestors had hope despite the degrading and horrendous conditions they had to endure, I can have hope, too.

Written by D.A. Sears, 2012 International Men's Day - United States Coordinator 
Member, University Council for Fatherhood and Men's Studies Program at Akamai University 

Author/Editor of IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD® 
P.O.  Box 3885,  Philadelphia, PA   19146-0185 USA
E-Mail:  insearchoffatherhood@gmail.com  

Managing Editor - IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD®
TWITTER:   www.twitter.com/dasears 

IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD® BLOG:
http://globalfatherhooddialogue.blogspot.com  

CHILDREN'S CORNER BLOG: 
http://buildingabridgetothefuture.blogspot.com  

Home Is Where the Hell Is
By Alicia Singleton

“Mom boozed it up a lot. She didn’t care. We’d get into it a lot. It seemed like it would be easier on my own.” “My mom does meth. She kicks me out every morning and tells me not to come home until after dark. I’d rather be about anywhere than home.” 

“My grandpa started touching me when I was young. It kept going to more serious stuff. I told, but nobody believed me so when I was old enough, I bailed.” These aren’t lines from a movie or dialogue from a novel. These are real life accounts of youth and teen runaways. These are their daily nightmares. These are the reasons they run. 

•  Between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth runaway per year.

• 46% of runaways and homeless teens indicated that conflict between them and their parents or guardian was a  major problem.

• Over 70% of runaway and throwaway youth were estimated endangered. Physical and sexual abuse at  home or fear of abuse upon return were the most common endangerments experienced by youth.

• The Child Protective Services Agency reported an estimated 872,000 children to be the victims of child abuse  or neglect.

• 22-44% of runaways and homeless youth’s parents abused drugs or alcohol leading to domestic violence and  conflicts.

The suspense thriller, Dark Side of Valor, delves into the harrowing world of teen homelessness. The novel’s heroine, Lelia Freeman, runs away from her alcoholic, verbally abusive mother. Lelia’s fictitious life of homelessness and tragedy are the real life experiences of many American teens. 

Sexual abuse and violence related to parental alcohol and drug abuse are two of the most common reasons youth and teens run. Many organizations, such as the National Runaway Switchboard, Children of the Night and Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity, aid runaway and homeless youth and teens with life skills, job training, counseling, college assistance and safe living environments. 

Meet Author Alicia Singleton
Alicia M. Singleton, an award winning author, was born and raised in Philadelphia. The Howard University graduate embraced the written word at an early age. She credits this to her loving older. Alicia resides in Maryland with her wonderful husband and son. Still an avid reader, Alicia is currently at work on a new novel. Visit her website at www.aliciasingleton.com. 

Living with a Spirit of Gratitude
By Dr. Daryl D. Green

William Banks went to a black college. William's college had a rich tradition of graduating outstanding citizens. His professors were highly respected in their fields. He had a wonderful social life, surrounded by black college football, fraternity parties, and late night breakfast at Denny's with friends. After graduating from college, William got a great paying job with lots of responsibilities. However, William never gave anything back to his university. Why? He only thought about a) being cursed out by rude admission workers, b) the number of times the financial aid office lost his loan information, c) the numerous scandals by college administrators, and d) the hassle associated with trying to graduate on time. William never got over those negative college experiences. He never returned.

Sadly, our society has forgotten how to be appreciative. The holidays are no exception. Many people are too busy running the rat race to say, "Thank you." I remember sitting in a Sunday School class of young students during my college experience at Southern University. I remember one student saying how ungrateful he had been toward his parents. I also felt guilty. My parents bought me my first car while I was in high school; most students did not have cars. I had envisioned receiving a brand new car. Well, I didn't. I got an old 1973 Dodge Charger. I was disappointed. 

But, I fell in love with that old car which I later called "The New Wave Cruisemobile." My car was far more dependable than most automobiles. I remember never having said "thank you" for my car - I had also taken my parents for granted. Our society doesn't teach us that being appreciative is a virtue.

Gratitude
Developing a spirit of gratitude separates an individual from the rest of the pack. This attribute is all about character. Gratitude can be defined as the quality of being thankful; it is a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. In the fast pace of industrial living, people aren't saying "thank you" to anyone. Most people feel they deserve any kind act done for them. In fact, a selfish society creates a generation of ungrateful children. Consequently, our children grow up with this huge expectation of social pampering. Why else would a) waiters expect tips without good service, b) students expect good grades without the effort, and c) couples want great relationships without any communication. All of these unrealistic expectations make "thank you" less important.

A New Attitude
It is easy to see how people such as recent college graduates, can be discouraged with the current economic recession. According to the U.S. Labor Department, only 47.6% of people aged 16 to 24 had jobs last August. 
In the current economic climate, individuals need a spirit of gratitude for a competitive advantage. Some young people may call this strategy too old-fashioned. 

Yet, fools shun wise counsel. In my book, Don't Be An Old Fool: Common Sense & Gratitude, I mock popular culture which provides solutions that don't make common sense. In my world, I define a fool as an individual who is unwilling to listen and heed wise advice. When you show someone some gratitude after they assist you, that individual will likely continue to help or do more for you. However, if you are ungrateful, many times people will not do any more for you. 

Here are some things you can do to help produce this act of kindness:

1) Count your blessings one by one. Give God thanks.
2) Tell your parents "thank you" for their support.
3) Give back financially to your university.
4) Visit past teachers who have contributed to your good character.
5) Support high school and college alumni organizations.
6) Send your church Sunday School teacher a greeting card.
7) Thank the person in your community who serves as your role model.
8) Thank the public servants in your area (such as garbage collectors, police officers, postal workers, fire fighters, etc.).
9) Recognize and praise past coaches who have helped you.
10) Say something positive to your minister who contributes to your spiritual growth.

Conclusion
As the economy continues to spiral downward, people are looking at various ways to differentiate themselves from the competition. The holiday season is the perfect time to add some gratitude into the character-building process. If a person is honest, he or she can probably think of at least one person who has helped him or her in some way. It's easy to get into a trap of only looking at the negative side of life. Can you afford to acknowledge these acts of kindness, no matter the size? Make your holidays the best ever! Spread your appreciation across your community. Showcasing a spirit of gratitude can be very rewarding and can transform an individual's situation.

© 2011 by Daryl D. Green

About Dr. Daryl Green: 
Dr. Daryl Green provides motivation, guidance, and training for leaders at critical ages and stages of their development. He has over 20 years of management experience and has been noted and quoted by USA Today, Ebony Magazine, and Associated Press. For more information, you can go to nuleadership.wordpress.com or www.darylgreen.org.  

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION:
The Contributor has no connection to nor was paid by the brand or product described in this content.

Throwaway Kids: A Shameful, Human Tragedy
By Alicia M. Singleton

Throwaway Kid (thro ?-wa' kid) n  1. A child or teenager rejected, ejected or abandoned by parents or guardians and lives on the street. No one likes the term. The definition is more repugnant. The reality of children coming home from school to find their parents and younger sibling have moved out, youth dropped off at the mall, still waiting, days later, for their parents to return, teens aging out of foster care only to be tossed out onto the streets, is more common place than once thought. 

• Over 50% of youth in shelters and on the streets reported that their parents either told them to leave home or  knew they were leaving but did not care.

• 50% of adolescents aging out of the foster care and juvenile justice systems will be homeless within 6 months  because they are unprepared to live independently, have limited education and no social support.

• Over 25% of former foster children become homeless within 2 to 4 years of leaving the system.

• Most throwaway teens reported being forced out because of extremely high levels of conflict with parents, the  family’s lack of money or room, the teens’ pregnancy or the teens’ homosexuality. 

The suspense thriller, Dark Side of Valor, delves into the harrowing world of teen homelessness. At the age of 17, the novel’s heroine, Lelia Freeman, is homeless and surviving the deadly streets of Los Angeles. Lelia’s fictitious life of homelessness and tragedy are the real life experiences of many American teens. 

Many organizations, such as the National Runaway Switchboard, Children of the Night and Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity, aid homeless youth and teens with life skills, job training, counseling, college assistance and by supplying safe living environments. 

Meet Author Alicia M. Singleton
Alicia M. Singleton, an award winning author, was born and raised in Philadelphia. The Howard University graduate embraced the written word at an early age. She credits this to her loving older. Alicia resides in Maryland with her wonderful husband and son. Still an avid reader, Alicia is currently at work on a new novel. Visit her website at www.aliciasingleton.com.

Intimate Conversation with Evangelist Tiffany Easley

Tiffany Easley a born administrator and leader is from Lexington TN. She earned her Baccalaureate degree in May 2002 from Tennessee State University and her dual MBA from American InterContinental University in August 2006. Tiffany was licensed as a minister January 8, 2006 under the leadership of Howard E. Jones, Jr. and ordained in December 2009. 

As Tiffany continues to walk out her God-ordained purpose she has began to embrace the scroll anointing that God has placed upon her and has released Psalms of My Spirit (2002), a collaborative work in 2009 entitled Victorious Living For Women with her chapter entitled, Refreshing Wind in the Midst of Your Storm. She is currently working to release her second personal literary work entitled Victorious Affirmations for Women (December 2010) and her second collaborative literary work entitled Victorious Living for Mothers (May 2011). As an evangelist Tiffany embraces the opportunity to share/teach others about their ability to “reign in victory” with God as their commander-in-chief. 

She is a visionary who takes a hold of the need to see the best in everyone and help them identify their god-given gifts/abilities and unfold their divine purpose. Tiffany’s personal mission can be summed up in the following statements: Fearfully and wonderfully made, created in the image and likeness of God. I have been charged to impact the world with the message of Victory, one life at a time! I have been empowered to touch the lives of others by embracing their area of brokenness (assisting them to birth new life from their brokenness). 

Tiffany will encourage and empower women to Reign in Victory through encouragement/empowerment sessions, book projects, and workshops/conferences development, operating under the auspices of (TRE renee’, LLC) and Pursuing Victory Ministries, a non-profit entity; instructing all people that it is the Lord their God who goes with them to fight for them against their enemies to give them victory (Deuteronomy 20:4). Tiffany is sharing the message that “We are destined to win” with everyone that she comes in contact with. Be sure to follow Tiffany!

BPM: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? 
I am a powerful person because I was created by God and fashioned in His image. My writing is a reflection of God’s anointing on my life.

BPM: Who are your mentors? Where do you find your inspiration?
God has blessed me with many mentors. My mom serves as my mentor in many facets. She has always encouraged me to dream, to love myself and others. God has also blessed me to develop a mentor/men tee relationship with Minister Celeste Kelly. This awesome woman of God nurtures and encourages me on a weekly basis. She has helped me to navigate through the journey of truly developing a writing lifestyle. 

I find my inspiration in “life” and through my relationship with my creator Jesus Christ. I often look at the difficulties I face as an opportunity for the gifting of God to me made complete in and through me. 

BPM: Success leaves clues, whose clues did you follow on your journey?
I have followed the clues of many on this journey. My mother (Virginia), my Spiritual father (Pastor Howard Jones), my spiritual big sister, Rev. Sondrea Tolbert, and my spiritual mentor Reverend Celeste Kelly.

BPM: What have you realized about yourself since becoming a published author?
I have realized that I was born with the gift of writing which was placed within me by God. Through my writing others are impacted, encouraged, and empowered to live victoriously.

BPM: What is the most rewarding aspect of your career?
The most rewarding aspect of my career, is the ability to write with freedom while shifting paradigms.

BPM: Do you have any advice for people seeking to publish a book?
My advice for people seeking to publish a book; is simply Just do it! Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.(  Philippians 4:13)

BPM: Finish this sentence- "My writing offers the following legacy to future readers..." 
"My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... embrace life’s journey for it is the beginning of your story.

BPM: Introduce us to your book and the main characters.  On Kindle or Nook?
“Victorious Affirmations For Women” (VAW) raises awareness to God’s daughters that they are victorious in ALL things. This book encourages and empowers its readers through 25 affirmations that will become God’s rhema (living word) as they speak each one of them into the atmosphere.

 After reading and speaking the affirmations and receiving them by faith, the book provides reflective questions for its reader to serve as a faith/spirit activator. It is the desire of the author that women will be empowered to impact their world as a victorious woman living a life a Kingdom Lifestyle. The main characters of VAW are the readers as the book gives personal affirmations to speak over your life. VAW’s genre is spiritual encouragement and at this time it is not available on Kindle or Nook.

BPM: What specific situation prompted you to write Victorious Affirmations For Women?
This book came into existence after participating in a group collaborative project entitled, “Victorious Living for Women; shortly after penning my chapter, entitled, Refreshing Wind in the Midst of Your Storm, God gave me a personal scripture about my life testimony. He simply said, For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory, Deuteronomy 20:4.5. 

BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
It is my prayer that I reach the heart of women and encourage them to ignite the flame of victory that is burning within each of them.

BPM: What are some of the issues addressed in Victorious Affirmations For Women?
Victorious Affirmations for Women addresses positive self-esteem, individuality, and personal empowerment.

BPM: Share with us a quote from one of the most powerful chapters.
You are called, get up and answer the call of God for you never know where it will lead you.

BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
It is my desire that readers will gain the understanding that they have been affirmed by God and have the ability to speak victoriously over their lives and the lives of others.

BPM: How can our readers reach you online? 
Readers can reach me on-line at one of the following: 
Follow us on twitter:    http://twitter.com/pursuevictory10 
Like Us on Facebook:   http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pursuing-Victory-Ministries 

Tiffany Easley: Evangelist, Visionary, Author
E-mail:   livinginpurpose2010@yahoo.com 
Visit  http://www.pursuingvictory.org  to blog with us 

Intimate Conversation with Riisa Renée 

Grounded by a strong faith, Riisa Renée is passionate about inspiring others and believes that her primary duty is to love - in words and action. Through challenge and triumph, Riisa’s history and education enable her to combine training with personal experience in this pursuit. Daily, Riisa grows to understand how every stage of her journey was carefully designed to equip her for her present ministries as a mother, author, speaker, minister and an entrepreneur.

BPM:  What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? 
The power of my words flow from the strength of my passion and the depth of my love. I write from my heart and I speak from my heart with passion and conviction. I always endeavor to be transparent and sincere in my writing and in my life because I have come to understand that it’s not about me. 

If I can help one person with my willingness to share the lessons I have learned in life and love, then I have come one step closer to fulfilling the purpose for which I was created.

BPM:  Who are your mentors? Where do you find your inspiration?
Though it may sound cliché, my greatest mentor is my mother. She has always been such a beautiful example of grace in the face of adversity, unwavering faith and unconditional love. I admire her strength and her gentle spirit and the way they coexist without any dissonance or pretense.

My two children are my greatest source of inspiration. In teaching them I learn so much about life, about love, and about myself. They have an uncanny knack for making the most unwittingly profound statements that completely transform my appreciation of simple truths that I have previously only half-heartedly acknowledged. These three relationships are a huge catalyst for my constant pursuit of growth and positive transformation.

BPM:  What is the most rewarding aspect of your career?
This one is easy! Words cannot describe the deep sense of gratitude I feel whenever someone contacts me to tell me that my book or some words that I have spoken have impacted their lives. Since Breaking the Silence was published, I have had a number of people approach me to say “Thank you for telling my story!” I have had many more inform me that the book inspired them to: forgive themselves; to have conversations with loved ones that they had been too afraid or ashamed to have, ultimately leading to healing or a restored relationship; to feel like they were not alone in their experience or in what they were feeling.  I often say, “no pain without purpose”. There is no greater reward than knowing that my words have been a blessing or encouragement in the life of another – for that is the purpose for which my work is intended.

BPM:  Do you have any advice for people seeking to publish a book?
Do your homework: There are many publishing options out there. Make sure the one that you choose is the right fit for YOU.

Network: There are many published authors out there who have successfully gone through the process and are surprisingly gracious to neophytes like myself. Use their experience and wisdom to make an informed decision. 

Persevere: Delayed does not mean denied. If you are passionate about your purpose and confident in your calling; work to pursue your dream with excellence, guard against dream-killers and be confident that “in the fullness of time” your dream will be fulfilled.

BPM:   Hot Seat- Share with us ONE detail about you or a hobby readers would enjoy.
Since childhood, I have harbored dreams of being on Broadway. In fact, I came close to majoring in music in college only to chicken out in favor of something “more practical” , fearful that I wouldn’t “make it”. I revisited my singing dreams briefly in the late ‘90’s and actually appear on an album produced by a Grammy-winning recording artist/writer/producer including lead vocals on one track. Perhaps one day I will feel inspired to revisit that dream once more; but for now, I will stick to the Praise Team at church and reserve my Broadway-inspired performances to the privacy of my shower and the confines of my automobile.

BPM:  A Legacy is something that is handed down from one period of time to another period of time. "My writing offers the following pearls to future readers..." 
It’s all about LOVE! A life of LOVE is a life worth living. You, by virtue of being born are exceptional and worthy of love. Despite any shortcomings or shortfalls that life inevitably brings, love allows us to forgive ourselves, learn from our mistakes, and move on using our mistakes as an opportunity to help someone else. A life of LOVE is a life worth sharing. There is no greater demonstration of love than to forgive ourselves enough to share our lives with another. There is no greater gift than LOVE. 


BPM:  Introduce us to Breaking the Silence. 
On Kindle or Nook?
Breaking the Silence is a compilation of lessons that I have learned in my quest to love and be loved. I speak from my heart and detail some experiences I have had in relationships, the choices that brought me to critical decision-points in those relationships and the consequences of those decisions. 

I make no attempt to rationalize or justify my decisions, nor do I pretend to understand the thought processes, motivation or intent of the other parties whom I describe in the book. I do however, try to give the reader a glimpse into my heart and the emotions I experienced in each situation described. I am also very intentional about bringing a Biblical perspective to every lesson that I have learned. The lessons I share are simple and powerful because they are rooted and entrenched in the timeless wisdom and principles of the Holy Bible.

As for genre, Breaking the Silence has been described as an “inspirational memoir”. It is a non-fiction account of snapshots of my life paralleled with Biblical principles taught through snapshots of the lives of prominent Bible characters. Breaking the Silence is also available in e-book format on Kindle. 

BPM:  Take us inside the book. What are two dramatic or major themes covered?
A dramatic and major theme in my life as described in Part I of the book centers around my decision around remaining celibate or embarking in relationships that challenged the foundation of my belief system. These experiences challenged my faith and forced me to confront the what and the why of my personal faith.

Another dramatic theme and without question amongst the most dramatic events of my life is detailed in Part II of the book where I discuss my thoughts, emotions and decision-process through the experience of unplanned pregnancy. Here again I offer a glimpse into my heart and mind as I grapple with my principles and my faith on my continued journey to love and forgiveness.

BPM:  Is this a actual portrayal of real people or experiences?
Breaking the Silence is non-fiction, the characters are real, though the names have been changed to protect the privacy of those mentioned. The experiences are mine. Each story that I describe in Breaking the Silence  is my lived experience, with the exception of course of the Bible stories that I use to make illustrations.

BPM:  What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book?
I actually get this question a lot. As I mentioned before, I frequently say, “no pain without purpose”. Throughout some of the most difficult moments in my life, many of which are described in this book, there were people who were standing in the shadows, unbeknownst to me, watching my struggle and rooting for me in silence. When I eventually emerged on the other side of my trial battered and exhausted – yet victorious – I would hear comments like “I was praying for you” or “I saw you going through, I knew you would make it”, or my personal favorite, “I went through the exact same thing. I was hoping you would be alright”. 

In those moments I would always wonder, where were these people in the midst of my struggle? Why couldn’t they have offered these words of encouragement when I actually needed them? Better yet, if you saw me headed for destruction – why not give me a heads-up in the event that I would listen to your words and avoid the situation altogether?

Bottom line, we all have our own reasons for keeping our private battles to ourselves. I get it. But I have experienced enough heartache to know that I wouldn’t wish the emotional pain I have felt on another human being. It was following what I still refer to the darkest period in my life that I vowed that I would not be “that person”. I made a vow to the Lord that I would not keep silent if ever I had an opportunity to share my heart as a means of helping another. My pain would not be without purpose. When I first felt compelled to write Breaking the Silence, I wasn’t certain if it was just for me, or if I would attempt to publish the book. The more I opened my mouth, the more people began to express the impact of this testimony and the need that existed among their family and friends. With that I began to feel an increasing sense of urgency to share this message of forgiveness, healing, hope and LOVE with as many people as possible. And here we are today, one step further on a journey of love and purpose.

BPM:  Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
Breaking the Silence is written for young women who have not experienced the pain and pitfalls of counterfeit love out of season. I candidly share a first-hand account of what can potentially happen when something so beautiful is distorted as a means of providing information needed to make an informed decision.

I write to women who have experienced heartbreak and made choices for which they are finding it difficult to forgive themselves. I share my experience and my journey to love and forgiveness to demonstrate that you do not have the right to hold yourself hostage when in fact you are loved and forgiven.

Beyond that, Breaking the Silence is for anyone who knows people who fall into one of the above categories – male or female. I write from the female experience because that is the only perspective I know. I have been instructed however by several men who have read the book that Breaking the Silence speaks to men and women alike. That said, I hope to reach anyone who could use some encouragement in their quest to love and be loved.

What BPM:  are some of the specific issues, needs or problems addressed in this book?
Breaking the Silence rips the cover off of the taboo topics of sex, single-parenthood and abortion among saved singles. It is a story of hurt and hope, failure and redemption, self discovery and the power of LOVE.

Share with us a quote from one of the most powerful chapters.
“I even found myself on the outside of a one-sided relationship before I understood you must love yourself enough to recognize that you are worthy of the love you seek. When we allow our hearts to be trampled in the hopes that we will one day win the affection of the one we love, we are giving permission to others to treat us poorly. We are saying to the object of our affection and reinforcing within ourselves that we are not worthy of the same level and quality of love that we are willing to give. When we develop the habit of suppressing our misgivings and pushing aside our feelings for fear that we might come across as “holier-than-thou,” when we extinguish our light so that its brightness does not offend others, we continue to reinforce this behavior, not only in ourselves, but also among others who learn from this example.

I encourage each of you to take the time to discover who you are and the greatness that lies within you before you begin to seek out a romantic relationship. Take the time to become a woman of excellence before trying to find a good man. Spend at least as much time developing your character as you do your curves. For those of you who do not believe that you are excellent and that power, passion, and purpose reside within you, you don’t have to take my word for it:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake I am still with you. (Psalm 139:13–18)

This is what your Heavenly Father, your creator—the creator of ALL things—thinks about you! I encourage you to reflect on this and allow this to be the measure by which you compare any other message—internally or externally generated—about yourself. Again, my sisters, in all love I admonish you to LOVE: Learn your Own Values and Excellence.” (from Chapter 5, Let’s Talk About Love, p.63)

BPM:  Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
No matter who you are or what you have experienced, God desires to arrange the story of your life in such a way that the end will be far greater than anything you could ever have imagined. Why? Because of His incomprehensible love toward you. It’s all about LOVE! It always has been – before the foundations of the earth – and it always will be – throughout eternity. The answers you seek are found in love, the healing you need is found in love. The love you desire and so desperately long to give is enabled, empowered, and actualized by His Divine Love. After reading Breaking the Silence my prayer is that you would be so assured of your Creator’s love toward you that you experience an overflowing demonstration of love that compels you to openly share it with others.

Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.
Breaking the Silence was featured among the top 100 non-fiction books of 2010 in the Conversations LIVE book club and magazine! To hear audio clips of radio interviews and for upcoming engagements, connect with me online.

Breaking the Silence is also available for purchase through all major online retailers.
ISBN-13: 978-0984196579
Cover design by Rakeda Rianna Sharber
www.papillonperspectives.showitsite.com  

How can our readers reach you online? 
You may reach me through either of my websites, or connect with me on Facebook or via my new blog: Single, Saved, Sexy, Celibate!

For ministry, booking and contact information: www.laughter-reborn.com  
Official website of Breaking the Silence: www.riisarenee.com  
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LaughterReborn 


Interview hosted by Ella Curry, Black Pearls Magazine
Visit our website today for more author interviews: www.blackpearlsmagazine.com

My Prayer For You 
by Doris Washington

I pray His Love will shower upon you each day. 
May His arms surround you,
To encourage you through your travels,
To comfort you when you need a friend,
To guide and sustain you through the most difficult times.

May you find joy as the morning comes.
And may it stay with you as the sun goes down, 
To hold you to the new day at the break of dawn.
I pray His Love shower upon you each day 
Of your life.
May His Love be with you always.


My Prayer For You copyright (c) Doris Washington, April 2008. All rights reserved. 
(Excerpt From Faith, Hope & Love Poems of Inspiration By Doris Washington) 

About the Author/Poet
Doris Washington is a spiritual writer, author, poet, and disability advocate who resides in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with her husband and son John. Doris takes the inspiration from her poetry from an unfortunate incident that involved her 18-year-old son with autism, and two police officers in December 1993. This incident impacted Doris' life greatly. She was empowered to advocate for a statewide program for police officers to be aware of and recognize persons with special needs. And it was through this period of Doris' life her writing began. 

Her son is her inspiration to write. She has written over 450 poems about her closeness with God, spirituality, autism awareness, inspirations, positive thinking, social issues in our world, and greetings. She is an entrepreneur of DORIS' POEMS. She does poetry readings at nursing homes, and residential home facilities, churches, and the community. Her poems continue to inspire many. 
Her desire hopes that her poetry will be an inspiration for the world. Visit her website, here.

Connect with Doris Washington
Poet/ Spiritual Writer/ Autism Disability Advocate 
Author of A Blessing, Caring & Sharing and Faith, Hope & Love 
Email: Djeanw831@aol.com 
Website: www.poetdoriswashington.com 

Intimate Conversation with Jacqueline Moore

Jacqueline Moore is a Christian author who offers spiritual words of encouragement daily on her website at http://www.jacquelinedmoore.com  She has contributed to several anthologies and is the 2009 African American Literary Show romance author of the year for her first novel, “Serving Justice” under the Peace in the Storm imprint.

"Serving Justice" by Jacqueline Moore -- Christian Fiction 
What happens when a prominent and successful Chicago Judge falls in love with her driver? Angela Jenkins decided as a child that she would become a lawyer. Fighting injustices perpetrated against those who could not or would not fight for themselves ran like passion through her veins. Growing up, Angela was taught that putting God first in her life, respecting the rights and choices of others, and working hard, were the most important things a person should strive for. While in pursuit of her law degree, Angela meets Rhonda, Theresa, and Darlene who are there reaching for the same goals. Over the next two decades, an unbreakable bond forms and friends become sisters. 

Angela finds the more successful she becomes, the more she begins to lose her connection with God and starts conforming more to the world, than to the word of God. When love enters her heart, she must decide if having a relationship is more important than what others, including her friends, have to say. Angela is forced to look at what’s important in her life and has to choose between allowing others to shape who she is or conforming to what God wants her to be. 

Ella:  Jacqueline, tell us a little about your main characters. Who was your favorite?   
I would say Tony. Tony is the epitome of what I believe most women look for in a man. However, I do show that Tony is flawed as we all are. He made some really crucial mistakes in his past but rather then succumbs to the errors of his past; he overcame them and learned to move on. I believe when we look for relationships we tend to overlook someone because they are not perfect and I want the reader to ask themselves are they too judgmental and can they learn to move on and look at those things in their lives that are most important. 

Ella:  What inspired you to write this story? 
A question a very good friend once asked. “The question was “Why is it that professional women won’t even give me the time of day?” Now this friend just happened to be a very successful business owner who dressed like his employees, blue collar. Women took one look at him and made assumptions about him and what he did for a living. Had they taken the time to get to know him, they would have discovered so much more about him instead of automatically assuming that he was beneath them. That and I got tired of women saying that they couldn’t find a good professional man. How about just a good man? 

Ella:  Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp and share? 
There are actually several. The foremost lesson is that we have to stop listening to the world around us and seek out that still small voice within; the voice of God. Success is futile when it’s not tempered by the word of God. We all make mistakes but we serve a God of a second chance. Finally, each of us needs to examine our reasons for believing in the things we do. Do we serve the greater good, our friends or ourselves? 

Ella:  What sets your book apart from other books in your genre? 
My book is a love story that just happens to have several Christian messages. People can relate to the characters because I don’t color them holier then thou. I write from the heart and from the emotional frame of mind of the characters and I relate my stories to real live situations. 

Ella:  What is the best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author? 
If writing is your dream; don’t stop, keep going. Perfect your craft and find outlets for your work. Don’t let rejection or criticism deter you. Keep in mind that everyone won’t like your work but that’s okay. When you find your niche, you will find your acceptance. 

Ella:  Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases. 
2009 was a whirlwind year for me. “Serving Justice” is available at several bookstores including borders where I did several signing and met so many wonderful readers. I had the pleasure of going on my first cruise this year “Cruising for Christ” with Kendra Norman – Bellamy and participating on my first authors panel as a result. 

In  September 2009,  I traveled to New York for the first time to attend the African American Literary Show award ceremony where I won an award in the romance category for “Serving Justice.” I am currently working on my next novel “Caught in the Middle” which will be available from Peace in the Storm Publishing in May of 2010. 

You can find me online at Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogger.com and on my website http://www.jacquelined.moore.com  and  http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com   I can also be reached via email at  jackiemoore@virtuousliving.com  and at mamajacq618@yahoo.com 

Prayer Still Works
Help Heal the World 

I am a child activist and I am about to put prayer back into public schools across the country. One little lady took prayer out of public schools all over our country and I am the little lady that is going to put it back. 

I volunteered in the Newark public school system for nine years. I know that our children need some serious protection, from themselves in many cases. I am going to appeal to the hearts and minds of the parents. My children are all grown and I have no grandchildren as yet. People ask, so why do you care about the schools? 

These children are our future. The way things are going, we are not going to have much of a future if someone doesn't do something. Everyone is standing around waiting for someone else to do something. I am getting old and I don't have anymore time to wait on someone else, I have got to do something.

When they took prayer out of public school, I was 12 years old. I was a hurt little girl, because I did not believe it was going to happen. I felt like the great leaders of the time would not allow this to happen. Then I realized that they were to busy to think about the children and how they felt. Through many years as an adult I can not understand how a democratic country that is now 85% Christian, and probably more then, could allow this to happen. The fact that an Atheist, that is now not even the whole 15% and was probably even less then was allowed to do this, that makes it even worse.

People of God we have got to let this country know that prayer still works, because it does. 
Any one interested in helping me can call me at, 201-776-9872. Missionary Caroline McGhee.

Article originally produced for Inspirational Insights Newsletter, published by Sharon R. Wells, Founder & Editor of Angel Wings Publications, LLC, view the Newsletter here. 

Note from the Editor:  Inspirational Insights is a free monthly subscription that provides positive energy through spiritual articles, books, poetry, music, events and information to our readers. It is our goal to inspire, empower and encourage you to live your very best life.  

We guarantee that you will be motivated and encouraged!  Life's challenges can be discouraging and weigh you down. Inspirational Insights will feed your spirit and lighten your load. I hope that you will allow us to be a valuable source of inspiration and a beacon of light. Thank you for your support and always be inspired!

Sincerely,
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Angel Wings Publications, LLC
www.angelwingspublications.com 
angelwingspub@yahoo.com

Shackled for Life by Shelia E. Lipsey

Molestation, sexual assault, mental abuse, emotional abuse, rape-all subjects that many of us hate to talk about. We don’t want to think about it; we don’t want to say the words. We certainly don’t want to discuss it over dinner. But when is enough enough? When can it be brought out in the open? Why do some people blame the victim as if it’s their fault for being violated?

I know the subject is tender. It’s heart wrenching to hear about especially if it’s happened to someone you loved, or worse – if it’s happened to you. In the first book of My Son’s Wife trilogy, Francesca Graham has been shackled for life mentally, emotionally and physically because of the dirty secrets she has carried around since childhood – that of being molested and sexually assaulted. Because of what happened in her life, Francesca reinvents herself into a person that is not liked by many, judged by all and condemned by the church, including her own mother. Life is like that sometimes. 

There are people walking around every day in this world who are shackled for life because of the evil actions of another individual forced upon them. Because of their hurt whether physically or mentally, the victims often feel ostracized and unable to deal with what has happened because they are too afraid to bring it up for fear of being looked down upon.

In My Son’s Ex-Wife: The Aftermath, and the second book in the My Son’s Wife trilogy, Francesca Graham still lives with the pain of her past in more ways than one. Yet, Francesca, like many abused people tries to live her life in spite of the damage that was inflicted on her life. 

Many victims don’t make it. They end up doing to others what was done to them. Some people in the church seem to believe that it’s something that can be ‘shaken off’ and a person can just forgive and forget. But it’s not that simple. God understands the hurt and the pain. I believe God understands that it takes time for healing to take place in a victim’s life. It takes time to regain strength to move forward. It takes time for the shackles that have been placed around the victim’s life to be released. What choices will Francesca Graham make as she tries hard to deal with her hurtful past? Will she find the strength to move forward like some victims of sexual assault manage to do, or will she continue to be shackled by hurt and heartache over her life like still some other victims do? 

It’s not always easy being the person you are, and when you have been victimized and criticized and judged because of something that was not your fault, it makes it even harder for the shackles to be released. It takes love and understanding. It takes compassion and acceptance. It takes the love of God to bring forth deliverance.

---
Read Author Shelia E. Lipsey’s second book, My Son’s Ex-Wife: The Aftermath, at a bookstore near you and available now at online  e-tailers, including www.perfecstoriesaboutimperfectpeople.com, bn.com, amazon.com and more.


Meet the author
Shelia E. Lipsey is a multi-award winning Christian fiction author of four novels and one nonfiction book. She is the founder of The Word According to Shelia, a monthly column featured in a variety of formats and blogs online. www.shelialipsey.com   Email:  shelialipsey@yahoo.com   Her latest Christian fiction novel, Beautiful Ugly is  available nationwide.  Check out the books by Shelia  on Amazon today.

If I Could Go Back In Time 
by Electa Rome Parks

 “Life gives us brief moments with another...but sometimes in those brief moment we get memories that last a life time...”

I have always heard and been told that one should never live life looking backwards. It's not productive. Never live in the present, looking towards the future, with woulda coulda shouldas  pulling you back. Always embrace your future and live in the moment. That's where your energies should go.

However, I must admit, sometimes when just the right oldies song comes on the radio, I become nostalgic and remember when. In that moment, I am taken back. It's amazing how a song can take you there---back in time---where you remember, and can almost feel what you were doing and who you were with at a moment from your past. And you smile because the memory makes you happy; it's almost like reliving it. 

I've experienced a normal, middle class existence, just like most people, and sometimes I wonder, if even for a few seconds, what it would feel like to revisit my past. Even if it was only for an hour, or a day, with the knowledge I have now, to revisit various events and significant moments from my youth and young adulthood. 

Wouldn't that be absolutely amazing?

I've had my share of good, bad, joyous and tragic moments and they have all blended together and made me the person I am today. I have learned many life lessons. I'm the conclusion of all the moments and events I've experienced in my past. We are all products of our past. A summation of events.


If I had a magical wand and the ability to time travel, I would go back to these major points in my life.

• a day when I had terrific fun with all my female cousins that I grew up with
• the day I turned 13 (finally a teenager)
• the day I turned Sweet 16
• a visit with my mom
• I'd revisit the moment I fell in love for the first time
• the first time I became a woman
• turning 21
• college graduation
• first day on a real job
• my wedding day
• birth of my son
• birth of my daughter
• reunion with all my deceased relatives
• first book deal
• ???? (the ones yet to come)

The really great thing is that with God willing, I'll have many more special moments in my life.  Life goes by so quickly.  It's a shame that some people don't embrace it before it's too late.  Memories. . . the fabric of life.


About the Author
Electa Rome Parks lives outside Atlanta, Georgia and is the best-selling author of seven acclaimed novels, The Ties That Bind, Loose Ends, Almost Doesn't Count, Ladies' Night Out, These Are My Confessions (anthology), Diary of a Stalker and her latest release True Confessions. 

Dubbed a "book club favorite," avid readers have embraced Electa's true to life characters that tackle prevalent and heavy hitting issues that take them on an emotional roller coaster. Electa is currently following her passion and working on her next novel and first screenplay.

To find out when and where Electa will be in your area, check out her website at: www.electaromeparks.com,  www.myspace.com/author_chick  or www.facebook.com/electaromeparks.  

To share your thoughts with Electa regarding her work or to schedule an event, 
please e-mail her at novelideal@aol.com.  


Check out True Confessions by Electa Rome Parks
Preview at Amazon.com
ISBN-13: 978-1601622396 

How to Overcome a Dysfunctional Family Legacy

By Dr. Daryl Green

Are you dealing with negative vibes in your family? Do you feel like your being held hostage by your family dysfunctional behavior?  Unfortunately, no one has a perfect family.  In fact, there’s probably some dysfunctional behavior in everyone’s family tree; most people are too ashamed to admit it.  Confusion can destroy a close-knit family.  In this situation, the word “family” primarily refers to your extended relatives (brother, sister, aunt, cousin, etc.).  Communication usually breaks down--feelings get hurt.  Disharmony can happen to any family. In fact, this situation can be created either by individual choices or by the decisions of others.  You can see it created through many ways:  selfish sibling, drugs taking control, dependent relatives, money-stricken friends, or toxic relationships.  Can you think of others?

Many issues can cause family confusion.  Many people tend to react to their gut feeling without thinking through the consequences.  Don’t believe these personal decisions only impact you.  No, short-term choices can leave a legacy of total disasters.  Do you need examples?  Take someone else’s loved one?  Threaten to kill someone?  We live in a society where no one wants to wait and develop a real relationship.  People prefer to generate quick “soap opera” relationships to shield their insecurities.  There are unintended consequences.  In 2000, former NFL star Derrick Thomas died from injuries suffered in an auto accident. Thomas had fame, fortune, and a bright future.  He probably hoped to leave fans a legacy of outstanding memories. Unfortunately, this was not the case. It stands as another American tragedy. He left seven children from five different women and no will.  While Thomas earned more than $30 million in his football career, his children will long remember the legacy of dysfunctional family memories. Therefore, individual actions can contribute to the level of dysfunctional behavior in families.

Some family members can also create family disharmony. A small dose of confusion can spread like a wild fire in a family.  You can always find at least one person looking to generate “mess” in a family.  What will start it this time?  Family property?  Money?  This person will not let the problem die down; he is not content until there is a big explosion.  The results are generally not positive.  In our own family, we have seen family members fight over property.  There is generally lots of anger and hurt feelings.  Often kids are caught in the middle, left to carry on this confusion (even when they don’t understand the cause).  While many involved in these types of situations are left empty, some people thrive on this negative energy and seem to get enjoyment from it (the more trouble, the better).  They celebrate disharmony.  We call these folks “troublemakers” or “instigators.”  Here are some suggestions for improving these situations:

· Recognize the potential problem.

· Deal with the problem immediately.  Don’t wait.

· Determine the root cause.  What is the situation really about?

· Determine who really needs to get involved.  Do you need to broadcast the problem to everyone in the family?

· Find common ground and create a win-win situation, if possible.

· Keep your cool.

Building a strong family bond takes commitment.  It’s easy to get sidetracked by “he said, she said” ordeals.  It takes courage to look beyond the surface problems to determine the real root cause.  You have to be stern in your beliefs…and committed.  You need to focus on what’s critical for your family.  Make every attempt to live at peace with everyone.  Determine to make yourself a peacemaker and don’t allow yourself to be conquered by negativism.  Stand Tall.  Embrace your relatives with positive vibes. Effective individuals want to build harmony in their families. Start today before it is too late!

© 2009 by Daryl D. Green

Dr. Daryl D. Green writes on contemporary issues impacting individuals, businesses, and society across the globe.  With over 18 years of management experience, Dr. Green’s expertise has been noted and quoted by USA Today, Ebony Magazine, and Associated Press. For more information, you can go to http://stores.lulu.com/darygre  or  http://www.darylgreen.org. 

Blacks: Our Kingdom, Our Power, Our Glory

There's a portion of the  black race which faces severe  financial struggles, but they don’t have to suck the life out of our lives; causing us to hate our entire existence as black people.  We need great support systems in place to help us maintain our physical, emotional, mental and moral, spiritual health.  It’s necessary that we continue to keep the faith and work, work, work doing something to help ourselves.

Hopefully, there can be business connectors, business minded people with common interests, who desire to work together to make improvements for the betterment of all concerned.  Businesses need more Black Inclusions Without Other Races’ Exclusions.

We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.  If the haves can spend a few dollars more and provide for someone else, or to drive an extra mile to patronize small businesses, their presence and numbers will count, where small business people won’t succumb to helplessness and hopelessness.

Can we get blacks to face the truth of how we have been targeted for extinction, then to declare wholeheartedly that extinction won’t be happening?  Some people are happy when blacks murder blacks.  Then there are killers in gangs.  Other destroyers that work slower are: fattening foods, liquor, drugs, sex, diseases, high interest credit cards, and etc.

Blacks are stereotyped_ prejudged, pre-numbered, pre-labeled, and ready for fingerprinting to be put in prepared cells at any given moment.  The truth is, some of these actions are prejudices related.  Still, we cannot feed from the hog pens and wallow in do-do, then expect to be accepted as if we are pure in heart.  Respect comes with a high price tag, but blacks can afford to pay it, if we want do.

Regardless of the belief that, “If it ain’t white, it ain’t right,” there are some blacks who live their lives according to another more prosperous  rule, believing that “Being Black is a Good Thing.”

Blacks’ weaknesses and strengths are being laid out in the open where they can be viewed for self- examinations, for the remodeling and renewing of the old.  Making connections with the Spirit can help to get to the root of blacks’ purposes for being here on earth.

Oh, if the black race would only seek to understand just how rich our people were, and still are today!  Blacks have always been smart, rich, and strong.  Slavery poured out its stench and covered the truth, causing blacks to feel like they were nobody, who are inadequate, unless they are under the yokes of somebody whose skin is white.  “Being Black Is A Good Thing!” Yea! Yea! Yea!

Blacks have “SOME” buying power, but the need further teaching on what to spend money on. So many of them are following the ways of old, buying cheap to have more to see, eating the fattest and cheapest meats, paying for the lowest and getting the least.  Putting quality down, cause it does cost more.  It’s time to ingest daily, large doses of Knowledge and Power that only comes from the Truth.  Truth brings Freedom. 

 Where cometh the Financial Power that is needed to dispel the darkness of night and turn the light switch to “ON,” to reveal the excellence and giftedness of the waiting dreamers crying out to be known?  Won’t somebody provide the financial backing and be back supporters, to shield against falls, or to carry the weight as seed sowers to reap good, ripened fruits?

Just how well do blacks communicate financially?  Money does talk, but how many blacks are taking part in the conversations, understanding the language?  Money’s language is best heard through sowing and reaping.  Don’t spend everything.  Pay tithes, save and invest. 

Planting seeds into Black’s futures can help them jointly reap harvests multiplied, to relinquish dependence on handouts.  Help them to be instrumental in financial balancing, and to move out of the shadows, to become masters and rulers of their own lives to become leaders instead of followers.  Won’t you incorporate blacks with character into your businesses, and give them the opportunity to succeed and reproduce?

Without the help to rise up, who will give definition to black lives?  What doors will be slammed in their faces?  What will be the measuring stick to qualify or disqualify them in jobs, status, strength, and value to society? 

 You are invited to become mountain climbers and mountain movers—by daring to dream big, set high goals, and take risks.  Enlist the help of other mountain climbers who are knowledgeable.  People who can’t stand heights can help to provide the equipment.  Learn what your capabilities are, and fill them.  You can be a lifter upper, even if you speak words of encouragement and the power of prayer. 

God’s making a call for the Black Illuminated Visionaries to report to duty with your flashlights.  However, you need to get connected up to the True Power source, “The Light,” isn’t battery powered.  You’ll receive an anointing to be twinkling stars, to light the path for travelers who are yet immature. Won’t you help them to come closer to “The Light,” for the future illuminated visionaries, to proclaim by examples that “Being Black Is a Good Thing?”  God didn’t make a mistake in his creation, because some of us will fulfill our God given purposes on this earth. 

 Whomsoever will endure the temperature of this detoxing message, may feel welcome to use it for tasting, eating as a snack, or served as a meal.  I DO NOT speak EXCLUSIVELY to blacks, but EXPRESSIVELY to blacks. I hope that MY people will have an ear to hear, to be first partakers in correcting our wrongs, trashing our garbage, and passing on our inherited strengths. Let my people be there for the demolishing of the ruined-down, the up-building and rebuilding of lives on lasting foundations. We can turn the negatives into positives, adding something worthwhile to be multiplied and divided back into society.

Hopefully, the words from a black person will help them to take notice, believe that “Being Black Is a Good Thing,” and behave accordingly.

It’s time for black’s to strive to live financially debt free.  But there is a much larger debt that the black race owes, which can never be marked, “Paid In Full.”  This debt is to black families and to the race as a whole.  This day is the day to RE-REMEMBER that “Charity begins at home and spread abroad.”  We do owe each other!!!

Many black people believe that the white race  robbed us of our kingdom, our power, and our glory, and that it cannot be replaced by man.  I believe that we must forgive to heal, to move forward, and say goodbye to the pain.  We will continue to remember OUR history that we created together.

 Our prayer is as Jesus taught:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For THINE is THE kingdom, and THE power, and THE glory, forever.  Amen.

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:9-15)

What say you?  Share with the author  your thoughts and opinions on this article by emailing us here.

Written by author Lola M. Booker.  Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

10 Greatest Novels for Nurses

Guest Contributor Roxanne McAnn

My name is Roxanne and I work for a company that maintains a website on Nursing schools called Nursingschools.net. We recently published an article called "10 Greatest Novels for Nurses"  that I thought would fit perfectly with readers who love medical themed stories and for nurses who want to relax with a good book. I would like to share the 10 books below.

One great way to escape the pressures and stresses of nursing school (http://www.nursingschools.net/blog) or work is to read a great novel. These literary works, featuring nurses and health care facilities, will provide you with a much-needed dose of fun and fantasy while reminding you why you chose the profession in the first place. So if you want to re ignite your passion for nursing or just spend a wonderful evening kicking back, check out one of these amazing novels.

1. The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje. 
This prize-winning novel was made into a prize-winning movie, but that doesn't mean the literary version still isn't worth checking out. In it, readers will find a story about four entangled lives during the last weeks of WWII. At the center of the drama is the mysterious English patient being cared for by nurse Hana, a man whose memories slowly reveal a tale of love, betrayal and redemption.

2. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway. 
If you've never read this literary classic, it's never too late to start. Set in WWII, the story follows a young soldier named Henry, based loosely on Hemingway's own wartime experiences. When he becomes injured he finds himself falling for the elusive nurse Catherine, a complicated and tragic figure. If you're looking for happy endings, this might not be a good choice, but if you want a moving portrayal of men and women coming to terms with life, both the good and the bad, then pick up this read.

3. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. 
This book is an incredibly popular read among nurses. Why? The main character, Claire Randall, is a nurse herself serving in the British Army during WWI. But this is no traditional novel, as it blends elements of fantasy, romance, historical fiction and legend to tell Claire's tale. In it, the happily married Claire finds herself suddenly transported back in time where she meets and falls in love with another man. Torn between her two loves and two centuries, Claire's story is one of passion, pain and intrigue that's sure to keep you reading page after page.

4. The Thin White Line by Craig DiLouie. 
While the panic associated with avian and swine flu turned out to be overblown, the reality is that a pandemic illness could hit and wipe out entire communities at any time. This novel takes a look at what could and quite possibly would happen if such an epidemic were to hit Canada. It is a fascinating takes on both the personal and political ramifications of such a disaster and is a great read for any nurse with an interest in infectious disease.

5. The Healer's War by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough. 
Drawing on her own experiences, Scarborough creates the fictional Kathleen McCulley in this novel, a nurse on a tour of duty at China Beach in Vietnam. Dealing with not only healing the battle wounds of soldiers but her own ambivalence towards the enemy, the racism of her charges and her own personal battles. While the novel is set on the field of battle, nurses in any profession will recognize the courage it takes to keep it together in such a stressful situation.

6. The Glory Cloak: A Novel of Louisa May Alcott and Clara Barton by Patricia O'Brien. 
If you were inspired to become a nurse by historical greats like Clara Barton, you'll love this fictional take on her life and work that unites her with the author of the classic novel Little Women. The story follows Alcott and her fictional cousin Susan as they help join the war effort by becoming nurses, encountering the battlefield legend Barton in the process. Blending love, history, friendship and betrayal, the novel is at once engrossing and enlightening about life and work during the turn of the century.

7. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. 
Think you've got a real piece of work for a coworker? He or she is likely nothing compared to the tyrannical Nurse Ratched in this classic novel. Kesey's portrayal of a fictional insane asylum garnered him international acclaim and numerous awards, and the book is still worth a read today. The story centers on Patrick McMurphy, a mental patient who antagonizes his nurse and upsets the daily routine of the other patients, but not without just cause. It is a frank look at the state of institutional care and a must-read for anyone working in psychiatric nursing.

8. My Name Is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira. 
Set in the Civil War, a young midwife leaves home in this novel to seek out the medical experience she wants in order to help her become a doctor. Readers will find that she gets what she wished for, with vivid descriptions of medical treatments common at the time that would seem like torture or mutilation today, showing just how far we've come with medical advancements.

9. Cherry Ames Nursing by Helen Wells. 
This collection of novels was geared towards young girls when it came out in the 40's through the 60's and meant to inspire them to a career in nursing. The young girl the stories center on is at first a student nurse but later becomes a full-fledged professional, all while she solves mysteries, stands up for herself and is a fully independent woman. The novels are surprisingly feminist for their early publication date, and while they contain some nursing stereotypes are still fun, inspiring and entertaining reads for anyone working in the field.

10. No Other Medicine by Gail Ghingna Hallas, RN PhD. 
Titled after the quote, "the miserable have no other medicine but hope," this book takes a harsh look at the corruption, ineptitude and downright cruelty that can take place in the medical profession. The author is a nurse herself, which helped her create a nice variety of fictional characters that are richly developed and true to life. While the story was written in the early 70's, many nurses will sadly recognize that many of the issues she addresses are still prevalent in hospitals across the nation. A riveting, compelling (though depressing) novel, it's a great read for anyone with a passion for health care and patient rights.


About the Guest Contributor
Roxanne McAnn, is a freelance Writer and Blogger. Roxanne regularly contribute to the http://www.nursingschools.net/blog  which discusses about topics on Medical Education, Nursing Students life, College life, Career, Research, and Medical Technology.  Roxanne would love to connect with the readers who have enjoyed these books or would like more info. Please feel free to send her your questions, comments or suggestion to: rmcann83@gmail.com. 

WALK LIKE YOU HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO
From Mental Welfare to Mental Wealth
By Lucille O’Neal; Foreword by Shaquille O’Neal

Lucille O’Neal was born into a Christian home in Dublin, GA. She spent her childhood, adolescent years and early adulthood in the Central Ward of Newark, New Jersey. She often speaks of the spiritual foundation and lessons taught by her mother and grandmother as the source of her courage and inspiration for parenting. Lucille refers to them as two of the most humble and strong women she has ever known. As an active mother in the lives of her four adult children and a grandmother of fourteen, she takes her role of parenting and grand parenting very seriously!


WALK LIKE YOU HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO  speaks to women of all ages who have struggled to understand how she fits into the world. Lucille courageously tells the deeply personal, at times heartbreaking, journey of the girl who experienced the pain of being an outcast and the stigma surrounding being an unwed teen mother. Yet, in due course, that same girl evolved into a woman of immeasurable substance, faith and spirit…and with no regrets. Says Lucille, also lovingly referred to as Big Lou: “These days, when I go to bed at night, I sleep on the sheets of satisfaction, the pillows of peace, and the cushions of confidence…I am rich in so many ways that have nothing to do with money, which only serves to explain the happiness I have regarding my mental wealth today.”


Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go
Excerpt from  Chapter Three -- Man About Town 

Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. -Psalm 112:4 (ESV) 


My grandparents, Cillar (Mama) and Hilton O'Neal (Papa), were like a wrestling tag team in my life and in the lives of all my relatives and anyone else who knew them. They could deliver a serious one-two punch that could blindside you and knock you out before you ever knew what hit you. Although they worked quite effectively as a pair, it was without a doubt my grandfather's hovering presence that kept us all honest and on track. To know Hilton O'Neal was to respect him. He was a man who carried himself with a purpose and a plan no matter where he was. A physically striking man at a little over six feet tall, his deep, dark, chocolate complexion was as smooth as a newborn baby's skin, and boy, could he dress. Spectator shoes, perfectly pressed zoot suits, and fedora hats were his signature pieces, and he wore them with style and pride. My grandfather was one bad brother! 

As a child, I viewed my grandfather with both awe and fear, never fully comprehending what it must have been like to be a black man full of confidence and swagger in those trying days. This was a time when African Americans were considered less than human, attacked by police dogs, and forced to sit in the back of the bus. Looking his best was the one way he could consistently show the world that he was a proud, full-fledged human being-no matter if the law disagreed. Many African-American males did the same during that time in an attempt to prove to the outside world that they were worthy of respect. It saddens me to see many of our young men today dress so sloppily, with sagging pants and an overall unkempt appearance. I often wonder if they truly understand how their ancestors, like my grandfather, took so much pride in looking their best and what it meant to them to be viewed as respected citizens. Presenting a well-kept look afforded them the chance to be at least recognized in a world where they were often dismissed. 

My grandfather also had other talents that went against the grain of what African Americans were supposed to be capable of doing in those days. Though he worked in construction during the day, laying bricks and dry-walling alongside his brothers and other family members, he had a sharp mind for business and owned several properties, even a neighborhood tavern and bar. His keen business savvy meant there was always food on our table and that we never went without-even during the days of profuse poverty for blacks. While my grandfather was too humble to talk about his own endeavors or his advanced entrepreneurial skills, his middle brother, Chappell, enjoyed nothing more than sitting in a big chair and detailing the early exploits of the O'Neal family for hours on end. "Uncle Chap," as we affectionately called him, was the self-appointed griot (African storyteller) of the family, and while his tales kept us quite entertained, we weren't always certain they were completely true. 

(Continues...) 


Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go by Lucille O'Neal 
ISBN-10: 159555307X | ISBN-13: 978-1595553072 
http://www.amazon.com/Walk-Like-You-Have-Somewhere/dp/159555307X 

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Excerpted from Walk Like You Have Somewhere to Go by Lucille O'Neal and Allison Samuels Copyright © 2010 by Lucille O'Neal. Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Lucille O’Neal is the President of the Mothers of Professional Basketball Players, Inc. and the Southeast Director of the Odessa Chambliss Quality of Life Fund. She has appeared on numerous television shows, including Oprah, Live with Regis and Kelly, Good Morning America, and The View. Lucille returned to school as a woman in her 40’s to earn a bachelors degree in business administration at Bethune-Cookman University and a masters degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix. She is the mother of four children and 14 grandchildren.

Allison Samuels is an award-winning Newsweek national correspondent who has been with the publication since 1996. Samuels is the author of Off The Record (Amistad/HarperCollins), which details the behind-the-scenes stories of her interviews with celebrities such as Denzel Washington, Kobe Bryant, Halle Berry, Michael Jordan and Bill Cosby. Her first book Christmas Soul (Jump At the Sun/Disney) was released in 2003. Samuels has been a frequent contributor to National Public Radio, CNN, MSNBC, and many others.

Intimate Conversation with Connie May Fowler

New York Times bestselling writer Connie May Fowler is an essayist, screenwriter, and novelist. She is the author of five novels, most recently The Problem with Murmur Lee, and a memoir, When Katie Wakes. In 1996, she published Before Women Had Wings, which became a paperback bestseller and was made into a successful Oprah Winfrey Presents movie. She founded the Connie May Fowler Women With Wings Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to aiding women and children in need. Connie lives in Florida.

Ella: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your new book, How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly?
I was reading up on pre-Civil war Florida history and discovered that when Florida was a Spanish territory, women could be property owners and slavery was outlawed. But Spain and the United States signed an agreement that would change all of that. The Florida Purchase Treaty of 1819 guaranteed that the United States would lay claim to Florida in 1821. With a stroke of a pen and strike of a clock, suddenly all women and blacks would have their rights stripped away. That haunted me and I walked around with that kernel in my head for a few years before I sat down to write the novel, which takes place in 2006 but is populated with ghosts. 

Ella: Take us inside the book. What are two major events taking place?
The book tracks a day in the life of Clarissa Burden, a woman who wakes on the Summer Solstice with the knowledge that her life must change because she is wracked with spousal death scenarios and writer’s block. Concurrent with her story is that of Olga Villada. Villada and her family are ghosts, their souls unable to move on from the place where they were brutally murdered. Their stories converge, resulting in a startling and life-changing chain of events.

Ella: Who do you want to reach with your book, How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly, and the message within?
I think this book will have a broad appeal. The book, at its core, is about freedom—individual and universal—and it’s wrapped up in a story that is both comedic and dramatic. I think readers of many ages and races will identify with the struggles of Clarissa Burden and Olga Villada.

Ella: How will reading your book shape the readers lives?
One, I hope it will make readers laugh even amid a few tears. But if there is one message I want readers to gain, it’s that how easy it is for the course of history—the course of one person’s individual day—to go suddenly very, very wrong. There are bad people in this world—sometimes bad people have all the trappings of kindness—and they are capable of terrible things. So we have to be vigilant for ourselves and for one another. Casual prejudices and ordinary meanness can, in the blink of an eye, become lethal. So we have to learn to be pro-actively kind and relentless protective of our rights.

Ella: What are some of their specific issues, needs or problems addressed in this book?
Women’s issues, race, personal empowerment, marital relations, Florida history.

Ella: What was the most powerful chapter in, How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly?
I think that once Clarissa decides—in a fit of rage—to kill her husband, this book takes a major turn and all the chapters that follow are highly entertaining, shocking, and ultimately satisfying.

Ella: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.
I recently wrote a story for Slate’s online women’s site DoubleX about how the Haitian earthquake has severely impacted their women’s movement. How Clarissa Burden Learns to Fly will be in stores April 2, 2010.

Ella: How can our readers reach you online? Share with us your online contact info.
My website is www.conniemayfowler.com.  I blog at http://blog.conniemayfowler.com/ Readers can also follow me on Twitter and friend me on Facebook, where I’m very active.  There is also a Facebook fan page for How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly.  In March, in honor of Clarissa and those pesky spousal death scenarios that haunt her, I am launching the Clarissa Burden Postcard Project in which I will be asking readers to anonymously send me one secret they cannot tell their spouse or partner.  The secrets can be silly or serious, and will be posted on my website.


Purchase How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly today 
ISBN-10: 0446540684 | ISBN-13: 978-0446540681

Intimate Conversation with E. Marie Sanders

Having been born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, E. Marie Sanders claims to be a mixture of southern hospitality with northern know-how. The stories she told in classroom grabbed her reluctant readers’ attention and guided her toward putting the stories on paper. 

She seeks to grab the reader in the very beginning and continues to build momentum throughout the story in order to make the reading experience a joy. 


BPM:  What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? 
To be completely honest, what makes me powerful as a person and a writer that I acknowledge that I’m just a vessel God blessed with various gifts, including writing. I’m walking in my purpose, and there’s no greater feeling, nothing more powerful than doing what one knows one was created to do. 

BPM:  Who are your mentors? Where do you find your inspiration?
In regards to writing, I have no tangible mentors within the profession, but I admire writers such as Walter Dean Myers, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and August Wilson, just to name a few. As for finding inspiration, the students I had the privilege to teach inspire me. The youth I get the chance to minister to on a weekly basis inspire me. God, who gives me all of my ideas and drives to do all that I do, inspires me. Real life situations that plague our various communities inspire me. 

BPM:  Introduce us to your book, To K(no)w Avail and the main characters. 
To K(no)w Avail  is a fictional tale of two young people, both Christians, who struggle with a mutual attraction to one another while striving to do their best in all areas during their freshmen college year.  Avail’s experience with the opposite sex never proved to be what she felt she needed in life, but it never stopped her from hoping for better. Shortly before she begins college, she starts dating Donovan, a high school senior who possesses every endearing quality that she desired in a suitor; he even agrees to wait to engage in sexual activities until they married. 

Not realizing the power of attraction and the difficulty with long distance relationships, Avail goes to Whitaker with wide eyes full of hope, eventually seeing the breathtaking Kyle. Also from Pittsburgh , Kyle attended a private boarding high school out of state. With all that freedom, he took advantage of it with the ladies even though he had Celeste, his long-term girlfriend waiting for him at home. He always questioned his shaky dedication to her and wanted to break up with her, but Kyle never did. Once he experiences the culture of Avail, he decides it's finally time to break up with Celeste and move on to a greater quest. 

Eventually, Avail and Kyle acknowledge their feelings, both privately and to one another, and attempt to deal with significant others waiting at home. Interference in various forms serves Avail and Kyle problems that they may not be able to face together. 

BPM:  What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book?
A reason I started writing novels has to do with the literature/classics that we teach in school. I appreciate what's included in most standard high school state curriculums. However, the average student who is not thinking about college, who does not have a clue about the difference between a Montague and a Capulet, gets into the classics. It takes an extraordinary teacher to pull rival gang members into reading Romeo and Juliet in the same classroom and get them to see the result of the fighting families and have them apply it to their situation. I did it for 12 years... but I also told them stories of things that happened to me in high school and college, connecting it to the literature. 

Of course, I used dramatics to draw them into the stories, but all were authentic and true. One day, one of my students told me (in addition to the thought that I need to go to Hollywood and become an actress!), "Mrs. Sanders, you should write books. I don't even like to read, and I'd buy your books! What a push that was! If I remember correctly, I went home and wrote that night clear through the next morning... and I took the next day off from work. I finished the first part of  To K(no)w Avail that quickly and decided to start using what I wrote as lessons for writing in the classroom and to teach critical literary elements my students had to master for the state test. In the beginning, I had no idea how the story would shape up, but eventually, it began to evolve into what it is now.

BPM:  Who are your favorite characters? Are your characters a portrayal of real people?
I don’t know if I can pick favorite characters because, really, I love them all! Each offers their unique personality to the telling of the story. Avail strives to do the right thing but finds keeping a vow more difficult than she thought. Kyle wants to leave his doggish behaviors behind in order to step up to a new conquest but struggles with his former ways. Though Celeste is mental, her past violent outbursts are really twisted expressions of love. Donovan’s kind heart won’t allow him to hurt anyone’s feelings. Camden ’s flirtatious ways proves her persistence and Grey remains honorable though he wants to make a move that could destroy a couple. 

When it comes to the possibility of these characters being a portrayal of real people, I have to laugh at myself! As I wrote the book, of course I “casted” people in my life as those characters, and the characters I mentioned above have been shaped and formed around them. With that being said, I do want to emphasize that  To K(no)w Avail is a fictional work. There’s too much imagination in here for it to be nonfiction!

BPM:  Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
From an educator’s point of view, I want to reach reluctant readers of all ages. Sometimes, I feel like reading for enjoyment is going out of style, but recently, electronic reading devices have renewed the pastime, at least it has for me. From a general point of view, I hope the book speaks to those who can identify with Avail and Kyle’s story and, perhaps, offer some guidance. Sex does not have to be an automatic part of a pre-marital relationship, but so many people have the notion that it’s necessary. 
If I had to guess which groups would enjoy this book the most, I would have to say 16 to 30 year olds, those who may be able to reminisce about their college years, and any Christian who may experience or have experienced similar struggles Avail and Kyle encounter. 

BPM:  How will reading your book shape the readers lives? 
Every character in the book has some type of trait that may confront the reader about his/her behaviors, be it positive or negative. I would like to think that the characters in my book are relatable, and that through one or two of them, the reader will be able to pick up something positive and, just maybe, drop something that’s negative in his/her life. 

BPM:  Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
It is my hope that youth and adults alike will get the idea that sex, especially pre-marital sex, does not have to be a requirement of a social relationship. I want readers to know that self-control can keep them out of trouble. I think there are too many stories out there that display that we should give into our desires and indulge in whatever we want to at the moment. Where are the stories for those who want to hold off from sex but have to deal with a sexual past? Where are the stories where lusts don’t dictate what a person does? There are a few out there, but they are outnumbered by the pieces that promote sex. 

BPM:  What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject?
I believe the story’s relevance and realistic nature distinguishes it from other books. It’s one of those reads that moves quickly enough to keep the reader engaged even though it’s long. Also, To K(no)w Avail is written from two different first person point of views instead of a third person omniscient or singular first person point of view; that way, the reader sees two sides of one story.

BPM:  Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases. 
It’s my sincere hope that To K(no)w Avail will be available for print and digital purchase via Amazon.com, Amazon Kindle and all its digital applications by mid August 2010. I’m in the process of finishing up minor corrections that I’m catching here and there. 

BPM:  How can our readers reach you online? 
The readers can stop by www.emariesanders.com  anytime. There, they will find a free preview of chapter one of the book! I encourage everyone to sign the guest book, join my mailing list, and, if you do, click on the Facebook Like button.  Periodically, people on the mailing list receive messages from me about the book before I update the website.  I look forward to hearing from everyone, and thank you in advance for your support.

Connect with author E. Marie Sanders
Skype: emarie.sanders
Facebook: E. Marie Sanders
Blog: https://www.createspace.com/en/community/blogs/feeds/users/EMarie

To K(no)w Avail by E. Marie Sanders 
ISBN-10: 1451538588 
Website: www.emariesanders.com 

Intimate Conversation with R. Jenkins-Oliver 

R. Jenkins-Oliver was born and raised in McIntosh County Georgia. She is the oldest of four children, and is a graduate of Todd-Grant High School , Margaret M. Washington, and Brunswick College . She has worked for the FBI, as a health care professional, and was an entrepreneur. She has appeared in several industrial and feature films. 

BPM: Introduce us to your book, 1878 the Life and Times of Henry Forest. 
1878 is based on the life of Henry Forest, who lived during the late 1800’ until the mid 1900’s. The fourth son of a farmer, Henry was born in 1878 on a farm in Georgia . He and his brothers were raised to be hard-working and responsible men, to marry and raise their own families. 

Henry married a young woman named Mollie, with no farm of his own; he decided to work for another farmer in Dexter. Shortly after Jack Johnson won the heavy weight championship of the world in July, 1910, racial tension ignited around the country. Henry gets involved in a fight with a number of white men who made racist comments about blacks with the rise of the Klu Klux Klan. Wanted by the FBI and afraid of getting killed, he moves to Eulonia and assumes the name Robert. He spent the rest of his life living in fear for his life and the life of the family he left behind. 

The main characters in the book are Henry, John, Joe, Viola and Hettie. The book is written in a mixture of Geechee and Gullah dialect which is still spoken in the area today and almost entirely in dialogue. 


BPM: What make you powerful as a person and as a writer?
I think what makes me powerful as a person is that I’m proactive, an empathic listener, respectful, I’m willing to support and network with others. I plan ahead and I always have more than one plan. I welcome criticism because there is always room for improvement. And most of all I commune with the Holy Spirit every day of my life.

I consider myself a powerful writer because my writing was inspired by a higher power. I would have never thought in my wildest dreams that I would have ever written a book and become a published author because I have never challenged myself to be a creative person.

BPM: Who are your mentors? Where do you find you inspiration?
I find my inspiration in my faith. My mentors are people who encouraged and inspired me to trust in my faith and to stay focused on my goals in life. 

BPM: Take us inside the book. What are two major events taking place in the book?
The book depicts what life was like for Henry and his family in both the early and later years of their lives. The stories talks about faith and the trials, tribulations that the family went through, and how they pulled together to survive the hardships in life. Henry’s distrust of the justice system, and his fear that he and his family would be killed was a major issue.

BPM: Who were your favorite characters in 1878 the Life and Times of Henry Forest?
My favorite characters are Henry, Ben, and Joe. Henry was a hard working man who lived for his family; he was determined to survive. He made a decision that haunted him for years, but through it all he never lost his faith in God.

Ben grew up before reconstruction, and he knew that a colored man only chance for survival was to keep his opinions to himself and to stay out of trouble. He loved his grand children and he told them stories about what could happen if they didn’t stay in their place.

Joe was a man who opened his home to Henry while he worked as a sharecropper to earn a living for his family. Over the years Joe became fond of Henry and treated him like a son. 


BPM: Are your characters from the portrayal of real people? 
Yes the story was based on facts. Most of the characters are the families’ real names, however, there are a few fictional names in the story used to portray real characters. 

BPM: Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... 
My writing offers the following legacy to future readers...My writing offers the reader a glimpse of what life was like for so many African Americans before us, and what they had to endure in their lives to survive the injustice they received. 

BPM: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write the book?
The Holy Spirit placed it in my heart to write the story. I think the reason the Holy Spirit gave the vision to me to write the story was because there were whispers about Henry’s life as a young man, but in later years at a family reunion, the secrets came out that he had a different life and identity before he came to Eulonia. 

Once I received the missing parts to the story, I had no idea where to start the story. That’s when I started having the dreams about people that I never knew. In the dreams I heard their voices and saw their faces. That’s why the story is written almost entirely in dialogue and in dialect.

BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
I think the story sends a message to Americans that we as a people have made many achievements together in racial relations and we have freedom of speech in the 21st century especially when compared to the era when this event happen in the early 20th century. However, we can be encouraged that improvements are being made in spite of what’s going on behind closed doors. 

BPM: How will reading your book 1878 shape the readers life?
I think the story invites the reader to experience a vivid and engaging bird’s eye view of what life was like for African America during the dark period in American history. The experience can stir up personal feelings of joy, pain, suffering and despair as the reader enters in to the world of the characters. 

BPM: What is the most powerful chapter in the book 1878?
The most powerful chapter in the book is when Viola and Hettie met while working at a motel in Eulonia, and the two of them discovered that they grew up hearing the same story about one of their family members. 

BPM: What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject? 
I think that Henry’s story is unique because there were so many who found themselves in a similar situation and didn’t survive because they were murdered before they could get their day in a court of law to tell their sides of the story before a jury of their peers. 

BPM: How can readers reach you online?
Readers can reach me via email    l_rolivercorpllc1@yahoo.com 

Buy books:  http://www.Blackbookplus.com  or web page http://www. authorsden.com 
Also,  readers should be able go into bookstores and order the book.

Intimate Conversation with Barbara Peters

Barbara Peters is a Follower of Christ since 1992. She is a native South Floridian, and the fourth of six children. She graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree in Nursing in 1982 and 1992 respectively.  She married Patrick in March of 1983. They have been blessed to parent their two sons, Adam and Bryan, into adulthood.  Her book, Adulterous Heart, was released in July of 2009. 

Ella:  What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? 
As a healthcare provider for over 28 years, I see some of the extremes of life close up – disease, illness, death, sadness, psychosis, etc. It gives me the perspective of not skirting important issues too much and worrying about being politically correct. People are dying from very preventable causes. Why avoid the issues just because they are “hot,” if addressing them compassionately will save lives?

Additionally, I have seen and heard of people dying whether young or old, sick or well. Life is too short to focus on the trivial. There is an urgency to wrestle with the important complexities of life. Someone’s quality of life may depend upon it.

Ella:  How much of what you write reflects on your outlook on life?
A great deal of what I write does reflect my view on life. For instance, Adulterous Heart is about intimate relationships and the thoughts we may have that precede them. The book is a direct reflection on my philosophies regarding life. It shows many of the ideas I believed and acted upon. The twist comes when my beliefs are pitted against, or go head-to-head against God’s perspective on the same ideas. The often stark difference between what I believed and what God says is true, is also presented. Though it was very uncomfortable writing the book, I understand that intimate relationships affect all of us profoundly. My hope is that what I learned, will give someone out there a solid foundation on which to build intimate relationships that thrive. 

Ella:  Who are your mentors? Where do you find your inspiration?
The Holy Spirit is my most faithful mentor. There have also been genuine Christian friends (a couple of handfuls) who have come along side me during this journey in life and have been faithful to speak truth, encouragement, and repeatedly lift me up in prayer to God. 

My brother Daniel wrote and self-published his first book before me. He definitely inspired me to not just rely upon the conventional press if I wanted to get this work into print. He walked me through much foreign territory in self-publishing.

My biggest inspiration is definitely God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, and His awesome Word, He has turned my world upside down. Conversely, news reports of families falling apart, people dying, seeing first-hand the proliferation of voluntary diseases spurs me on toward initiating the uncomfortable dialogue about what we believe and what is true. 

Ella:  What do you think of the increasingly fortuitous sex in  literature? 
While I cannot address this question by referring to a specific work, I would like to address it from the standpoint of a topic discussed in the book. If by fortuitous we refer to accidental or by chance, then we perpetuate the belief that life is always being done to us, and we have no control over certain voluntary events. 

While there are cases of people being forced to participate in sexual activity, being intimately involved with someone is usually not accidental. As discussed in the book, there are many thoughts, beliefs and ideas that precede the scenario that we may manipulate into reality or allow to be manipulated into reality. 

Entertaining the thought that it was accidental or happened by chance may increase the aura of romance (and makes for great fiction), but it also increases the lack of responsibility for one’s part in something that usually proves to be unhealthy emotionally and physically. It perpetuates the deception of self in the area of intimacy I wrote about in Chapter Seven of the book.

Ella:  Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... 
It points the reader to the one true source of life and health in matters of the heart, God and His Word.


Ella:  Introduce us to your book, Adulterous Heart,  and the main characters. 
Adulterous Heart is about the hidden thoughts that precede our intimate relationships. While the book focuses mainly on affairs of the heart played out in the mind, it addresses the thoughts and desires that compel us to respond.


Ella:  Who are your favorites? Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
My favorite characters in the book are the faithful ones like Daniel featured in Chapter 21; and Isaac and Rebekah featured in Chapter Five. They are real people spoken of in the Bible that lived in amazing surrender to God.

Ella:  What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write Adulterous Heart?
After realizing that I was repeatedly struggling with obsessive thoughts in emotional relationships, God began opening my eyes to the roots of my thoughts and feelings. A recurring and frightening thought came to mind—write about it. As I fought against the idea for months, God continued showing me the truth and transforming my heart and mind. I relented when I realized that I may not be the only person struggling with the issue of relationships of the mind, and what God was teaching me might also be a lifeline for someone else. Though sharing my “hidden” imperfections is most uncomfortable, what my healing may do for someone else is more important. All writers are not experts in their topic of interest; some are just sojourners sharing the paths they have traveled.

Ella:  Take us inside Adulterous Heart. What are two major events taking place? 
The book has three main foci.  First,  it presents some of the extreme outcomes of unhealthy relationships taken from real news stories, personal journals, and the Bible.  Secondly, the thoughts behind those deadly outcomes are put on the table, dissected and analyzed.  Thirdly, a more excellent way to heal and create healthy relationships is laid out as plainly as the writer was able.

Ella:  Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
The book is written to women—college aged; young adult; middle-aged; and old-aged. It is written to mothers and grandmothers who influence what their children and grandchildren think and pursue. The book is written to those who say they believe in God and yet oppose Him on what He directs for our lives. It is for those who think that the Bible has nothing to say about life and love in our current culture and time.

Ella:  How will reading your book shape the readers lives? 
My own words will probably have little effect. My prayer is that the multitude of pointing to and incorporation of applicable Scripture will pull up weeds and plant good seed that will bear good fruit. 
Only God can do that.

Ella:  What are some of their specific issues, needs or problems addressed in this book?
The book addresses some of the popular false philosophies many of us believe and teach to others. They are philosophies like:  follow your heart;   love is…;    good girls don’t…;   my sexuality is my business or reproductive rights; and a host of other ideas that are untrue and have not stood the test of reality. Regardless, they sound good, and have been passed down to many even though they produce disease, illness, and death.

Ella:  Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
I would like the reader to gain the understanding that there is a best way to live and love; to gain the insight into an intimate relationship with God above all else; to gain the ability to rest while getting to know God; and to gain the skills to be an instrument of blessing to others (family, friends, and strangers) instead of a stumbling block or instrument of destruction.

Ella:  What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject?
Many writers portray themselves as the expert on a topic and present their nonfiction works in a somewhat detached manner.  The Achilles’ heal is not theirs to grapple with, they are there to help you as an unaffected observer.  The issue of affairs of the mind was mine to grapple with during the writing of the book. I was led to write about the topic not as an over-comer, but as one who was being walked towards victory. I could not assume the smug detachment that I felt many writers have about matters of the heart. God called me to share the process, not just the finished product.

Ella:  Share with us your latest news  or upcoming book releases.
In the next few months, I will be available to initiate the dialogue with audiences around the country on these sensitive matters of the heart. I want to ask and explore through Scripture—what do we believe regarding love and desire? Why do we believe those things? What have been the outcomes of these beliefs? Do they agree or disagree with Scripture? And, will we take the opportunity God is giving to help us and heal us?

Also, I am working on a children’s book, slash parent guide on Head Lice that should be out by the end of the year.   I have also begun setting up a small, independent publishing business to publish not only my writings but also those of family members under the name of Hiawatha Books. It is named after my dad who definitely introduced to us a love of reading and learning, and introduced us to God.

Ella:  How can our readers reach you online? 
Currently, I can be reached by email at  heartchronicles@gmail.com   Additional information about the book can be located at  https://www.createspace.com/3385214  ; at www.Amazon.com; as well as www.BarnesandNoble.com  and www.Booksamillion.com  by searching the title,  Adulterous Heart. 

Intimate Conversation with Ammanuel Moore

New to the world of fiction, acclaimed writer and communications professional A.C. Moore brings unique, exciting and tasteful stories to reading lovers.  A.C.  likes to describe his writing style as fresh storytelling with a keen ability of building intimacy and interaction between his readers and his characters. As a Christian, husband, and father, he prides himself on including plenty of detail, yet keeping his stories free from obscenities and unnecessary pursuits.

Growing up and now working in the Baltimore / Washington DC Metropolitan area, A.C. discovered his dream of becoming an author early in his childhood. A fan of creative writing courses and assignments, he flourished in school and began to apply his talent in the work force. 

Countless published writings and awards followed him throughout his education and career.  A.C. graduated from Morgan State University in Baltimore and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications. He has since worked in several writing, public relations and marketing environments.  Currently, A.C.  is pursuing a Master’s degree in Communications from Johns Hopkins University.

BPM: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? 
What makes me powerful as a writer is that I can create an entire world from thought. I spoke at a conference once and talked about the spiritual side of writing. Writing gives me a sense of how God must operate. To be able to create a world, characters (with flaws and all) for a reason, purpose and story, is God-like. Also, to know the outcome, when the characters obviously do not and when they go through struggles that ultimately benefit them or work toward a larger good, it makes you wonder if perhaps we struggle from time to time or deal with our shortcomings because of a story that’s being written. Think about it. 

BPM: Who are your mentors? Where do you find your inspiration?
I’ve been fortunate to land jobs after college that have allowed me to write and publish my works in various channels. Currently, I write a newsletter for more than 1.2 million customers. Before that, I worked as a Marketing Director for a weekly newspaper I would write for that publication all the time and prior to that I worked for a nonprofit Communications Department, where I wrote everything from newsletter articles to press releases, speeches and other correspondence. My mentors have been all the people throughout my career. My inspiration is Tyler Perry, President Barack Obama, Joel Olsteen, 
Jay Z – they have reached the top of their game and are still pushing forward. I love that.

BPM: Finish this sentence - My writing offers the following legacy to future readers ... 
The legacy of honorable success. I am a self-published author, but have been offered the chance to be picked up by an agent and potentially a publishing house if I made my book more “ethnic” by that they meant more cursing, more sexual detail. I chose not to take that path. I have three daughters, a wife and mentees that look up to me for various reasons. I want to make this climb without sacrificing my character and values. I don’t knock those that write more graphic novels, but I believe there are other stories to tell and there is an audience that really want authentic stories without choice words and descriptions. So the legacy I want to leave behind is honorable success. 

BPM: Introduce us to your book, Even Angels Need Miracles.
Even Angels Need Miracles is a Christian Fiction that centers two main characters Aalon, a guardian angel and Erin Crawford, an attorney from Baltimore.  While the book has some Christian references and overtones, it’s not religious or preachy. It’s actually written to be entertaining and fun. 

Aalon has served as a guardian angel throughout his entire existence. He’s experienced and wise, yet his latest human assignment proves to be a difficult challenge. Crime, substance abuse and mistreatment of others have put his human on a very destructive path. Daily, Aalon watches over him and protects him from dangers seen and unseen – but not without frustration. When his human assignment sets out to murder his girlfriend, Aalon tries to stop him and actually causes his death. This is the first time in history an angel – guardian angel no less – has ever “killed” his own human assignment. To make matters worse, the devil stumbles upon the aftermath and decides to bring Aalon to trial and have him sentenced to the same fate he suffered millenniums ago. While just about every angel has turned their back on Aalon, a few angels stand by his side – one in particular, Athyna, travels to Earth to seek the help of a human. This is where Erin comes into the picture.

Even Angels Need Miracles is a mystical journey that takes readers from Earth to heaven and hell, and through a rare plot, explore the complexities of sacrifice, redemption and values. Through the lives of these main characters and others, readers should be able to see bits of themselves and ask questions such as what kind of character do I embody when faced with a difficult situation? Can my values ever change without the feeling of compromise? And are the lives and well-being of the unknown ever worth a steep sacrifice? 

BPM: Who were your favorites? Are your characters from the portrayal of real people? 
My favorite writers include Walter Mosley and James Patterson. I also like Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel, for their creation of Superman, who is one of my favorite characters in literature - if you consider comics to be a part of the literary world. One of my goals in writing is to create characters that readers fall in love with, idolize and have the ability to outlive me and my writing. I’m sure my characters portray qualities of real people in my life, but a bit here and there. 

BPM: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book? 
This is my second novel. In 2004, I wrote a romance entitled Always Room for Dessert. It was a romance novel that dealt with a woman marketing consultant and her client who was a chef/restaurant owner. In the book he cooked for her as a way to court her and I thought it would be interesting to share the recipe with readers. It was an idea I had way back in high school and wrote it in my late 20’s. The response was very welcoming. Many people asked me for another and I decided there were plenty of romance novels out there, but not Christian Fiction from a black male author. So let’s see.

BPM: Take us inside the book. What are two major events taking place? 
The death of the human at the hands of his own guardian angel and the engagement between the angel and Erin. Two others that have to be mentioned however is the exchange between Aalon and the Devil and the Devil and Erin in court.

BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
I want to reach readers who have ever thought they made a mistake so bad that they thought there wasn’t a solution. This angel has made what is considered the ultimate mistake and while there are consequences that come with the mistake, there is also a solution to the matter- albeit difficult, a solution nevertheless. I also want to reach anyone who is interested in reading a unique story. A story written by an author that values clean literature without sacrificing authenticity.

BPM: How will reading your book shape the readers lives? 
This book will shape readers lives in that it will give them an opportunity to see how real problems that are bigger than the reader can actually be solved with a little help. And sometimes that help comes in an unexpected form. Furthermore, it’s possible that help can come from someone who normally should be receiving help.

BPM: What are some of their specific issues, needs or problems addressed in this book?
Again, the importance of sacrifice – even if to benefit unknown beneficiaries; after all, we are all connected in some way. The book also really teaches us that even the impossible can be overcome with help and faith. 

BPM: What was the most powerful chapter in the book? 
Probably right around chapters eight and nine. In eight, Erin is approached by the angel, desperately trying to convince her of the magnitude of the situation. As a reader you can see how difficult this will be. In chapter nine, the devil receives Aalon in hell to be held there until the end of the trial. Every angel in heaven just knows that the devil is going to torture and maim him to his heart’s content, but instead the devil does something out of character –by the end of the chapter readers can see just how smart and cunning the devil is, which shows just how much of an uphill battle Erin has if she is going to face off against him in the court.

BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book? 
Ultimately, an entertaining story - one that will encourage them to tell others about the book.

BPM: What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject? 
In most angel / human relationship books, it’s usually the angel providing help to the human. In Even Angels Need Miracles, the help is coming from the other direction. It’s unique. While it passes along some moral sprinkles to readers, it does it not through preaching, but clever storytelling.

BPM:  Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases. 
I’ll be participating in book fairs and conventions across the country over the next several months. Check my web site, www.MooreNovels.com  for details, but also – this book ends in a way that begs for a sequel and I plan to introduce the guardian angel again. 

BPM:  How can our readers reach you online? 
MooreNovels.com, Twitter.com/authr_a_c_moore, and I also have a fan page on Facebook. 

A.C. Moore,  Author of Even Angels Need Miracles and Always Room for Dessert
Information about my books can be found at www.MooreNovels.com 

Intimate Conversation with Jewell R. Powell

Jewell R. Powell, affectionately known as ‘the Marriage Coach’ is an entrepreneur, inspirational teacher, and author of  Marriage 101: Building a Life Together by Faith. Jewell is passionate about helping couples have a ‘happily ever after’ marriage. She graduated from VCMI Ministerial Training School and is working towards a Masters of Divinity degree from Regent University . 

Jewell R. Powell shares her spiritual journey and shows you how to have a ”happily ever after” marriage, in her book Marriage 101: Building a Life Together by Faith.  “Till death do we part.”  These words are said about 2.5 million times each year. But, despite couples’ best intentions and attempts to stay true to those vows, many—almost half!—end up in divorce. What’s going wrong? 

That’s what author Jewell R. Powell asked when she found herself four years into marriage, sitting in a bedroom alone and on the brink of divorce. Desperate for answers, Powell dove deep into her faith. She searched the Scriptures for instruction on how to save her own marriage—and was surprised by what she found. 

That was nine years ago.  Today, her marriage with her husband is better than ever—thanks to the eight surprising truths she uncovered during that period of intense study and soul-searching. Her book Marriage 101: Building A Life Together By Faith digs into those eight biblical truths and reveals how applying them can transform even the worst of relationships. 

Ella:  Hello Jewell. Tell us about your passion for writing. What drives you?
My passion is not for writing. My passion is for helping people. Therefore, I am driven to write. 

Ella:  Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... 
Faith, Hope and Love. I want people, whether adults or children (I am a children’s writer as well) to experience God in a greater way after reading my books. 

Ella:  What motivated you to write this book? What can readers expect?
I share a story many know all too well. Whether in their own lives or in those of close family and friends. It’s a story about a marriage in trouble. I take you on my spiritual journey—of how my husband and I went from being engaged and enthusiastic to being frustrated and separated. I share the real issues that plague most marriages and the many challenges we faced. I share the disappointment I felt, looking at what was supposed to be “happily ever after.” But I also share how Lewis and I were able to rebuild our relationship and the lessons learned along the way as I implemented biblical truths from searching the Scriptures. 

Ella:  Who would this book really "speak to" and why? 
Marriage 101 is not for everyone. I believe it is for those who desire to go to the next level with God. It is time for Christians to stop just going to church and become the church – people experiencing God through you no matter where you are. 

Ella:  Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book? 
The story is a parable of Sleeping Beauty. As you know, Jesus spoke in parables hidden messages. I want the readers to understand that the message is not so much about marriage, but more about how to become like Him. It is a transformational process. Once you become a better Christian, you will be a better wife, mother, friends, etc. 

Ella:   Name 3 things that it takes to have a successful marriage, in your opinion? 

1: Renew YOUR mind – you can have a better relationship. Think on the positive things about your spouse and do not concentrate on the present situation. 

2: Change YOUR behaviors and perception – to have better relationships requires YOU to do something different. Doing the same things but expecting different results is INSANITY. I know most of you have heard the saying, “You can’t change others, but you can change yourselves.” Therefore, you must be the change you want to see in your marriage.

3: Work YOUR marriage.  In other words, marriage is work. Successful couples understand that they have to make their marriage a priority and they do something everyday to acknowledge it. You only get out of it what you put into it – deposit love daily. 

Ella:  What can we expect from you in the future? 
Traveling and teaching the eight biblical truths the Lord spoke to me. Holding marriage conferences and seminars to not only help those who are having trouble but helping keep those who already have great marriages strong. 

Ella:   Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases. 
Marriage 101 was the Award-Winner in the Religion: Christian Inspiration category of the National Best Books 2009 Awards, sponsored by USA Book Best Books and the Marriage 101 Journal was a finalist.  Marriage 101 is also listed as the #1 Bestseller list on Mosiacbooks.com.  I have a four (4) book mini-series coming out in December 2009 that covers marriage topics we all face:  Sex & Intimacy, Communication, Parenting, and Finance. 

Contact Info & Links for Jewell R. Powell 
E-mail:  jewellrpowell@gmail.com  
Personal website:  http://www.marriage101.us  

Marriage 101 Radio Talk Show 
http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/Marriage-101  

Intimate Conversation with Paulette Harper

Paulette Harper is a bestselling author, Christian Inspirational Speaker, Licensed Minister and workshop facilitator. Paulette is a sought after speaker with a passion to lead people to a clear and precise understanding of how life challenges can become one’s ultimate source of victory. Paulette Harper’s literary achievement includes her first published non-fiction inspirational book: That Was Then, This Is Now This Broken Vessel Restored (Tate Publishing & Enterprises) Co-Author for Victorious Living for Women, (Suber & Pullins Publishing) Paulette resides in Northern California.

Ella: Introduce us to your book That Was Then, This Is Now .
How could God have a purpose for me amidst this mess? Why do such bad things happen to good people? If you’ve recently asked yourself these questions, Paulette Harper’s That was Then, This is Now has the answers. Struggling to recover from a broken marriage and disappointed dreams, Paulette Harper gropes for meaning and understanding, and through her searching, God reveals Himself to her in ways she never before imagined possible. By sharing her struggles with transparency, she illustrates how a heart attitude of surrender allows God to use a broken vessel for His ultimate plans of glory.   (Genre: Non-fiction Inspirational; ISBN-13: 978-1604625547 )

What was your primary quest in publishing this book?
My primary quest for publishing That Was Then was out of a desire to share with the masses that life’s problems no matter how difficult can be overcome and conquered by having a strong spirit to endure. I wanted my life to be an example of a survivor. Although everyone will not read my book, it is a book full of inspiration, encouragement and one that will empower the reader. 

Who should read this inspirational book and why?
My book That Was Then, This Is Now was written for those who are facing some of life challenges. Those readers who are having a hard time coping with changes in life from divorce, the lost of a love one, financial hardship, unemployment and so forth. That Was Then, This Is Now will minister to the hearts of readers by sharing how one can overcome those difficulties by trusting and having faith in God. 

What was the most powerful chapter or scene in the book for you?
I believe chapter three Identifying Strongholds is the most powerful chapter in That Was Then, This Is Now. I say that for several reasons. First, in that particular chapter I’m open, honest and transparent about the issues I faced while going through my divorce. Some of those issues almost cost me my life. Suicide, depression, oppression and low self esteem greeted me everyday for almost two years. The desire to die outweighed my desire to live many days. I had to recognize that what I was experiencing could only be conquered by faith and the Word of God. I give biblical examples with supporting scriptures that helped me turn what I considered a tragedy to triumph. 

What is the best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?
One of the tips I would give new authors is to be patient. Connecting with your audience and branding yourself will take time. Especially for new writers the market is flooded with books for readers to choose from so by keeping this in mind you must be able to patiently wait your time to shine. If writing is your passion you will continue promoting and marketing your books even when it appears like no one is buying. 

Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases. 
I have one title coming out in the summer of 2010 called “Completely Whole”. Completely Whole will be release through my own publishing company Thy Word Publishing. I’ll be working on another anthology with Victorious Living for Women entitled “For Moms” will be released right in time for Mother’s day. “For Such a Time as This” is set to be released in 2011. I will be conducting workshops beginning in Jan.  Keynote speaking engagement, book signings and all events will be posted on my website. 

Awards for That Was Then, This Is Now This Broken Vessel Restored 
That Was Then, This Is Now This Broken Vessel Restored (Tate Publishing & Enterprises) has been ranked consecutively for months on the Top 50 Black Christian Book Distributors Independent Publishers Bestsellers List for Non-Fiction, a finalist in the Religion/Religious Non-Fiction category of the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

Contact information for Paulette
E-Mail:  paulet_harper@yahoo.com 
Website:  http://www.pauletteharper.com 
Website:  http://www.victoriousliving4women.weebly.com 

Social networks:
http://www.pauletteharper.blogspot.com 
http://www.facebook.com/paulette.harper2  

International Women’s Literary Festival

In celebration of international women’s literature,  five women writers from various regions of the globe discuss the voice and role of women past, present and future, on the page and living life as only women can.  The International Women’s History Literary Festival is sponsored by Enoch Pratt Free Library and the Antigua & Barbuda International Literary Festival.  Listen to the panel discussion here today.  Click here to open the player.

FEATURED PANELISTS AND  AUTHORS:

Elizabeth Nunez, Anna-In-Between
 (Akashic Press)

Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Wench 
(Amistad/HarperCollins)

Tiphanie Yanique, How to Escape From a Leper Colony (Graywolf Press)

Connie May Fowler, How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly (Grand Central Publishing)

Iris Gomez, Try to Remember 
(Grand Central Publishing)

Linda A. Duggins, Director, Multicultural Publicity
Hachette Book Group (moderator,  in photo)

Righteous Pride 
by Stanley Hasegawa 

As men, our righteous pride begins with our pride in God. We don't want to be proud of God just in our hearts, we want to let everyone know how proud of God we are. I believe that the Psalms 44:8 passage also shows that there is some kind of connection between being thankful to God and boasting in him. It seems to me that boasting about ourselves and being thankful to God tend to be mutually exclusive:

"But the one who boasts must boast in the Lord." (2 Corinthians 10:17)

"...so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'" (1 Corinthians 1:31)

"In God I boast all day long, and we will continually give thanks to your name." (Psalms 44:8)

"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth." 
"Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips." (Proverbs 27:1-2)


Scripture shows that there is a place for pride in the life of a Christian. There is such a thing as doing good work and having righteous pride in ourselves. Galatians 6:4 explicitly calls each one of us to examine and evaluate our own workmanship. By implication, Galatians 6:4 also calls for us to do excellent work and take pride in our work. God just doesn't want us to compare ourselves to others in order to feel superior to them. Such comparing and judging lead to sinful pride and sinful boasting. Righteous pride in self pertains to spiritual matters (progress and joy in the faith), as well as earthly matters. 

"Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else." (Galatians 6:4)

"And since I am sure of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for the sake of your progress and joy in the faith, so that what you can be proud of may increase because of me in Christ Jesus, when I come back to you." (Philippians 1:25-26)


Finally, we are to take pride in each other. We have to be careful here. We are to take pride in each other, not because of outward appearances, but because of what is in each other's hearts. The stereotypical ideal for a "trophy" spouse just won't cut it. We are to take pride in our spouses and friends, not because of their beauty, intelligence, fame, possessions, or accomplishments, but because of what is in their hearts. What we can be proud of in each other must pass this litmus test: is it something we will be able to boast of to Jesus Christ when he comes again? 

"We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart. (2 Corinthians 5:12)

"For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you?" (1 Thessalonians 2:19)

About the author Stanley Hasegawa 
I am richly blessed in my marriage. I have two grown children. I am semi-retired. I have been a computer programmer, systems analyst, househusband and home school teacher. I love to walk, talk and eat, and write short articles about devoting our lives to Jesus.   >> Original Article Reprint Source 

There’s Character in Your Words

Proverbs 23:7a  For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: This is such a powerful scripture found in the Bible in the book of Proverbs. Read or speak it slowly: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. 

Our words are powerful. They are like a two edged sword. They can spout forth positive words over our lives, and the lives of others, or the most vile and negative words, so much so they can surprise even us when they pass through our lips. Our words can build up or tear down. Our words have the power to destroy minds or to give hope when others feel hopeless. They can speak victory or failure into a person’s life. Words, once said, can never be taken back. That’s powerful! 

Words can reveal what is in our hearts. Not only can words have a profound effect on others, but the words you speak over yourself can have a profound effect on you. I have been guilty numerous times of speaking negativity over my own life. I am saddened when I think of precious time I lost thinking and speaking that I was less than the woman God created me to be. My words often were fulfilled in my life, thus I took unnecessary turns and made unwise decisions because of what I spoke. Many of us don’t realize that what we speak has ramifications and repercussions. I have seen it too many times in the lives of others, as well as in my own life. 

I thank God that I have come to understand that I am worthy. That I do matter to God. I have come to fully realize that God truly does not make junk! Everything He does is good. Every good and perfect gift comes from God, my friends! That means that I am good because I have been created in the image of God. It also means that you too are good because you are also made in His image. Therefore, speak goodness into your life and into the lives of others.

We are sometimes too hard on ourselves. As for me, I have finally been coming to terms with the lack of forgiveness I’ve had over my past mistakes and mishaps. God is not a God of condemnation. He is a loving and forgiving God. Why then have I beaten up on myself, talked about myself, belittled myself and then not forgiven myself when I messed up? It doesn’t make me a heroine when I do such things. It only makes me feel that much worse. But when I see myself the way God sees me, then I can forgive myself like He forgives me. Knowing this, I now refuse to think less than highly of myself. 

I now refuse to look down on myself. I am formed, shaped, created, in the image of God the Father. I am His girl. I am His creation.  I believe in my abilities. I believe in my strength. I believe in my God given talents. I believe that good things are coming my way. I believe that greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.   I believe that God has made me special. 

If you don’t already, then start right now believing that you are God’s best.  You are God’s special creation. Don’t focus on your imperfections, your mess ups, your hang-ups, but focus on the wonderful, special, kind, anointed, loving, compassionate person God has called you to be. Believe that all you seek to do will prosper. Believe that you will reach far and that you will excel even farther. Believe that all you do will be done for God’s glory. Believe that you are an over-comer, that you are victorious, that you are beautiful, handsome, loving and loveable. Believe that anything you set your mind to do, if you seek God, believe that you will have what you ask. Let your heart hold good thoughts toward yourself. Let your tongue speak greatness about yourself. I’m not talking about boasting and being overly conceited. I’m talking about having faith that the good that pours from your mouth shall come to pass. 

Matthew 12:34-37  states, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

God is not playing around when He speaks! His words are exact and true. I don’t know about you, but I want to bear good fruit. I want to be known for my good reputation, for good character, for speaking good over people’s lives, including my own life. I want God to look on me and see that the fruit that has come forth from me is God-driven, not self driven.

I sincerely ask you to take a look at yourself. Examine yourself. Examine the manner in which you treat yourself. Have you noticed that God’s word says, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself?” How can you, me or anyone do that if we do not have love for ourselves? I don’t know about you, but I desire to love others and that means that I must start by loving myself. Love yourself. Treat yourself well. Encourage yourself. Speak victory over yourself. Speak good things over yourself. Let your light then shine so men may see your good works and magnify God. After all, There’s Character in Your Words!


Meet the author
Shelia E. Lipsey is a multi-award winning Christian fiction author of four novels and one nonfiction book. She is the founder of The Word According to Shelia, a monthly column featured in a variety of formats and blogs online. www.shelialipsey.com  Blog http://www.shelialipsey.blogspot.com 
Email:  shelialipsey@yahoo.com   Her latest Christian fiction novel, Beautiful Ugly is  available nationwide.  Check out the books by Shelia  on Amazon today.

You Are What You Eat-A Little Humor
by  Rhonda Herring Dent

As a mature woman, I can really relate to, “You are what you eat.” I can remember not to long ago I could eat whatever I wanted to eat and never got bigger than a size 8/10. If I gained a pound or two it was never in the mid section area. Grant it, I did not have a completely rock solid stomach after my last child, but it was nothing to worry about. I would always get, how do you keep your stomach so flat and your weight down so nicely? I would smile, remembering my secret, my little pooch, and say, “I must have a high metabolism or something.” What I ate didn’t matter even in most of my forties. It didn’t matter what time of day I ate or that I ate a huge piece of chocolate cake after dinner. It didn’t matter if I went for seconds on any dish. It was wonderful. It is over. Now at my current age, the new forties, I’ll say, I have to watch everything I put in my mouth. I can look at a piece of cheesecake, two pounds.

Can you imagine what a woman that has never had to diet in her life is going through at this time of my life. This food war has been going on for almost a year now. With all the other things going on with me, premenopausal issues, I must say it has been extremely hard. I am dealing with hot flashes, night sweats and possible mood swings, well I shouldn’t say possible, just check with my husband to confirm that. The hardest thing for me is this food/eating thingy. Just thinking about not eating makes me want to eat. Having to eat right makes me want to eat all the wrong things. Some days are better than others. It doesn’t help that my doctor keeps telling me the importance of eating right, at my age. I know all that and believe me I know he means well. I looked at the list of health problems he said I could possibly avoid just by eating right. I know and I agree with him. But, someone needs to tell my mind. 

The thing that puzzles me the most is that the older I get the more connected to eating I become. I have discussed this with my girls and even with random women on the street, in the malls, in restaurants and even in elevators. It seems that I am definitely not alone and most women are so eager to talk about it. It doesn’t make it easier knowing that other women are going through the same thing. Bottom line, the older I get the more I enjoy eating. Several years back and beyond I ate to live and know it seems I live to eat. I know, it sounds cliché right? It’s true. Before I never desired textures, crunchy, smooth or desired salty, spicy, etc. I just ate because I knew I needed to. Now I am graving things that I have never graved before. I am worst than any pregnant woman. 

The funny thing about it is I do not remember anyone warning me about this. So, I make it my business when ever it is appropriate and whenever I see a younger woman with her nice small waistline to “warn her” about what she has to look forward to when she gets “my age.” I am sure I need to check my motive in doing this. They always look at me with disbelief and laugh. That was probably me back then and I dismissed it with disbelief and a smile, as well. 

Now everything is about my weight and health. I hear things like shop on the outside of the grocery store because the majority of grocery stores are set up with the whole, unprocessed foods on the outside of the store and the processed items are on the shelves on the inside of the store. My cart automatically head for the inside isles. There are new programs like the Smart Choice Program that aim to highlight foods in stores that are healthy and the Life Time Fitness Nutrition Philosophy that say that the majority of food people consume should come from whole foods. I won’t even mention the countless diets out there. It is confusing, stressful and it makes me hungry just trying to keep up with it all. 

Don’t get me wrong, I know the importance of good nutrition and learned that early in my life. Previously, I’ve never been on a diet in my life. This year I have tried two already. Just when I think I have made up my mind to leave sweets alone, eat more fruits and veggies, we have a pot luck at work or my husband says, “Hey honey, let’s go out to dinner tonight.” It is a conspiracy, I know it, I know it….to get me to give up my girlish figure……Okay, Uncle.

Seriously, we are what we eat and we definitely need to eat right, get plenty of rest and exercise. Our health is one of the most important things we should be concerned about these days. So, eat right, get plenty of rest and exercise (now that’s another story all in its self). 

I’m getting there and soon and very soon I will get to my proper BMI. 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author Rhonda K. Herring is releasing her new book, Ever Changing. She gives a bold account of spiritual development and growth that led her to look within herself for the strength and courage to make a difference in her life and in others. Her journey takes her readers from childhood, to adulthood, to purpose.

Rhonda Herring lives in northern Virginia and is a Senior Program Analyst for the Department of Defense. She has been with the Department of Defense for more than twenty-two years. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration.

Ever Changing is the story of how one woman submitted herself to God’s will and how He sustained her in her darkest moments. She describes the intimate details of her relationship with God and how He transformed her life. Based on the beloved  “Serenity Prayer”  that was instilled in the author as a young child. How she learned the true meaning of the prayer and how it sustained her through her trials and tribulations. She finds the courage to change the things she can and the “wisdom” to know the difference. 

Ever Changing was written for those who do not understand why they are going through difficult times and experiencing constant changes in their lives. It is for those who are seeking the wisdom to identify the things they can change and to be wise enough to leave those things they can not change to God. This testimony teaches self-acceptance, acceptance of others and the acceptance of change with the understanding that unless God sails the ship we are afloat.


Ever Changing: Inside Outward by Rhonda K. Herring
Author's Website: http://www.e-rhonda.net 

Fight the Good Fight by Shelia E. Lipsey

As I thought about the two main things we focus on during today- Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence, I trembled. They are two horrific events that can transform the lives of women, men, spouses, children and families. 

Breast cancer attacks the human body of mostly women.  It has specific purposes which include an aim to take us out, to put us down, to make us feel ashamed, to wreak havoc in our bodies until we give up and give in. It causes our immune system to weaken and sometimes it saps our strength and frightens us like nothing else ever has done before. It forces itself upon us; it doesn’t ask permission to enter and take up residence inside of our breasts. It even has the audacity to move outside of our breasts and into our lymph nodes with a vengeance. It is cruel and it even disfigures many of us. Oh my! What a wretched attack. Breast cancer was reduced by 2% in 2009 but that’s not enough. The flip side of this is that African-Americans are still 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women in the U.S.  (Daniel J. DeNoon, WebMD Health News). 

There is not an actually known cause for breast cancer but studies show that it happens mostly in women over age 50. There is also a greater risk of a woman developing breast cancer in a family where a sister, mother, daughter has battled breast cancer. Breast cancer can also occur in men.

 There are also studies that reveal breast cancer is higher in women who drink alcohol regularly, obesity, and diets high in fat. I learned these contributing causes after my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago.  Since then, I have had an aunt and two first cousins to succumb to breast cancer, four cousins are still battling breast cancer as I write this. It is a serious disease. It is time for more people to stand up, speak out, take care of their bodies, and take out this dreadful, sometimes deadly disease. To those who are breast cancer survivors, I commend you for your courage. To those who have died because of breast cancer, I commend you for fighting the good fight. 

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.   1 Timothy 6:12 (NIV)

The next horrific event that we bring awareness to is domestic violence. 
Wikipedia defines it as follows, “Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, child abuse or intimate partner violence (IPV), can be broadly defined a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, friends or cohabitation. Domestic violence has many forms including physical aggression (hitting, kicking, biting, shoving, restraining, throwing objects), or threats thereof; sexual abuse; emotional abuse; controlling or domineering; intimidation; stalking; passive/covert abuse (e.g., neglect); and economic deprivation  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_violence).” 

Being a domestic violence survivor, it is one of the most debilitating, the most inhumane offenses that exist. It can destroy a person’s self-image, self-esteem, and self-worth.  Domestic abuse can ruin the futures of all that it touches. I am one that is a survivor, one that can testify to its terrible, lifelong effects. There are others who did not get that chance because domestic violence can also kill.

Domestic violence continues to rise. It does not care where it strikes or whom it strikes. It occurs to women and men, children and infants. It can be found in the homes of the richest and those who are poverty stricken. It has no racial barriers and therefore Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Native Americans and all races are privy to its vial and vicious attacks. It murders and maims. It destroys families and scars children for life. Like breast cancer, domestic violence has one main objective: to destroy.   He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight. Psalm 72:14 (NIV)


Meet the author
Shelia E. Lipsey is a multi-award winning Christian fiction author of four novels and one nonfiction book. She is the founder of The Word According to Shelia, a monthly column featured in a variety of formats and blogs online. www.shelialipsey.com  Blog http://www.shelialipsey.blogspot.com 
Email:  shelialipsey@yahoo.com   Her latest Christian fiction novel, Beautiful Ugly is  available nationwide.  Check out the books by Shelia  on Amazon today.

Teaching Your Teen Independence 
By Audrey Okaneko

Many children leave home when they hit the age of eighteen. They may be going off to college, entering into the military or they might even be taking a gap year and leaving home to explore the world.  Whatever it is your children plan to do when they graduate college, it's up to us as parents to work with them during their teen years to teach them independence.

Both of my girls learned to do laundry at a very young age. It was actually their mother turning clothes pink or shrinking them that led to them learning this skill. However they did both come away learning how to use both the washer and dryer and knowing what the various cycles meant. They both even know how to troubleshoot stains.

Both of my kids also learned the art of cooking. When kids are young they can begin helping out in the kitchen. As they get older they can be responsible for creating entire meals. My older daughter very often said, "Mom, come watch me make this and make sure I'm doing it right."

Since we've always had family dinners and holiday celebrations at my house, both of my kids have learned to cook for just four, but also how to cook for twenty-four. They can plan out a menu, shop and then prepare a meal.

Money management is another skill I believe teens should have when they hit eighteen and leave home. Money management can be taught by example but also by showing your kids the choices they have through their childhood. Kids and teens can make choices. Do they want to go to the movies with friends or buy a new CD? There's only enough money for one or the other.

If your child is in school, he/she will have friend problems. Someone will be mad at them or they'll be mad at someone else. Teach them the skills to solve these problems. Use "getting involved" as a last resort only if you feel harm may come to your child. Both of my kids changed friends, had spats and had their feelings hurt over the years. When these things happened, we'd discuss and problem solve.

Teaching your children how to make decisions is a skill that they'll use throughout their entire life. They'll use this skill to become independent and then to continue growing in that independence. Truly a gift that will last them a lifetime.

About the Author
Audrey Okaneko is mom to two girls. She can be reached at audreyoka@cox.net  or visited at http://www.todays-parent.com    Article Source  

Key Symptoms of Teenage Depression and Teenage Stress 
By Kinjal S. Shah 

Increasingly common problems that teenagers face are teenage depression and teenage stress. Whilst a lot of the problems like drug abuse, eating disorders and teenage problems like ADHD, learning disorders, short height etc can ultimately result in depression; there are other factors, which can cause depression. 

These factors could be related to family or personal relationship stress, excessive academic pressure at school or home, bullying at school or even depression caused due to hormonal changes in the body. It is extremely important to recognize this problem at an early stage as teenage depression and teenage stress are the biggest reasons for teenage suicides or self-harm. In some cases it could also lead to reckless behavior  or violence on part of your teen. In most cases of depression the sufferer experiences low teenage self-esteem or a lack of confidence, which can severely impair a teenager's future growth and success.


Below are some of the symptoms that can help you recognize if your teenager is suffering from teenage stress or teenage depression.

Physical Characteristics: You can tell that your teenager is suffering from teenage depression or teenage stress if they often feel hopeless and angry, cry a lot more than usual, are constantly worried, lack energy and always feeling tired, suffer from insomnia, lack appetite, feel restless, show a complete lack of motivation or enthusiasm and stop doing things they used to enjoy. Similarly if they constantly complain of unexplained aches and pains like stomachache or headache, without any medical cause, it could also indicate stress or depression.

Social Habits: Another common symptom of teenage depression is avoidance and withdrawal from relationships and friends. Your teenager might try to avoid going to school as the teachers are too strict, or they do not have friends, or others make fun of them. They may also try and avoid other social gatherings and prefer to spend and increasing amount of time alone. Teenage stress can also be manifested in the form of reduced overall communication and introvert behavior.

Performance: Your teenager could also show complete lack of concentration and try to find reasons not to do their homework or avoid school when they are suffering from teenage stress. In these circumstances it is crucial to probe if they are having a bad experience at school which is causing them excessive stress.

In most cases teenage depression is either the trigger or a result of some of the other teenage problems. Hence you need to understand the symptoms of all other teenage problems like eating disorders or drug abuse to understand the root cause of depression. When looking out for symptoms it is therefore important to look at all of them together, rather than individually, so you can get the best understanding of the state your child is in and can take corrective action if necessary.

In the book "Solving Teenage Problems" all the possible teenage problems, their causes and symptoms have been discussed in detail. Along with this exercises are provided so that parents can understand the severity of problem they are facing and then work through various tips provided to deal with these problems.

About the Author Kinjal S. Shah
The author is a successful marketing executive in a large consumer goods company and a mother of two boys. She has had a rough ride in the past two years and has successfully saved her family from the brink of disaster by working on her parenting techniques.   She specializes in parenting tips. 

You can access her free report "New Parenting Style" or buy her book "Solving Teenage Problems" on http://www.teenageproblems.newparentingstyle.com  or check your "Parent Stress Intensity Quotient" on http://www.stressmanagement.newparentingstyle.com   >> Original Article Reprint Source

Are We Poisoning Our Kids?
A Synopsis on Children Health 
By Shashank S 

Take a look at this scenario- Parents promise their child that if he/she gets good grades, they will reward him/her with a 'Large Hamburger' or an extra-large pizza.

Let us be honest. How often do we parents feed our children with Colas, burgers and pizzas? Since generations we have been poisoning our children with these food stuffs. Did I say poisoning? In my conversation with parents, I have come across excuses such as 'they love desserts', 'my child craves for pizzas' and so on. Children are not born with love for pizzas or donuts. They learn about these only when we expose them to TV commercials and/or munch on such items in their presence.

It is not quite possible to completely avoid children from developing interest in unhealthy food stuff like French fries and pastries. However, with a little guidance and patience, we can control the eating habits of our kids. Remember healthy breakfast is the first step towards improving children's health.

By gorging on junk food, elders foster unhealthy eating habits in their offspring. 
No doubt that the American Journal of Pathology, in one of its articles, claims that kids consuming American diet show early stages of atherosclerosis by the age of three. For those who are not familiar with the medical term atherosclerosis, it is artery damage caused by fatty streaks. Don't you think that by allowing our kids to eat such fatty diets, we are slowly killing them?

We become what we eat. If we eat fatty foods we become obese. At present, the United States is reeling with Obesity Epidemic. Obesity, especially among the teenagers, is growing at an alarming rate. More and more kids are falling prey to heart diseases. What is the reason behind this? Our carelessness? Or our ignorance?

The concept of balanced diet needs to be brought back. We must teach our kids the importance of eating healthy. There is no shortage of information pertaining to healthy food and eating habits. The need of the hour is to expose our children to such positive information instead of letting them watch commercials of colas and pizzas. TV commercials, on one hand, develop craving in our kids for junk food, and at the same time, show them beautifully sculpted bodies of celebrities, and develop frustration in them.

Look around and you will see that most healthy children eat healthy food. Parents and teachers should work towards educating children with the numerous benefits of a healthy breakfast. What can we do to save our children? Parental involvement is the answer. Ensure that your child leaves home only after consuming a healthy breakfast. Educate children about the harm done by junk food.

Our ignorance has poisoned the taste buds of our next generation. We never miss a TV commercial of McDonalds or Pizza Hut. But do we pay attention to the articles that claim how harmful can such food be to the health of our children? The irony is that we tend to ignore articles backed by scientific evidence, and believe in marketing gimmicks having no 'science' in them. We do not have any right to take 'health' away from our kids. We are parents, not butchers!

About the author Shashank  S
The Author brings over 6 years of e-learning and online tutoring experience. Having a deep understanding of pedagogy and child psychology, the writer has developed numerous strategies to improve e-learning and online tutoring for Grades K-12 and higher through various techniques that question the conventional ways of instructing. 

Website: http://www.brainquotient.com    Article Source   

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. This is taken from a well known passage of scripture, Ecclesiastes 3:1 King James Version to be exact. I have found this verse to be true with each moment that passes in my life. There was a time when I felt like I would never reach the pinnacle of success that I have achieved in my literary career. There were times I would cry and ask God, “When is my time?” I have learned through living that there is a time for everything, even when it comes to the ordinary things of life. Even when it comes to my writing, there is a time for everything. 

I often dream of doing great and marvelous works. I have a desire to help others achieve their dreams and provide the resources they need to help them accomplish greatness. I believe that my time has arrived. It is my season to see the desires of my heart come into fruition. Not only has God blessed me to be a writer, but he has blessed me to be an award winning author of Christian fiction books. The desires of my heart are constantly being met, but not in my time. They are being met because it is my season. My season is now. I see doors opening and I see pathways being stretched before me. I am closer than I think. 

If you are an aspiring author, I encourage you to remain full of hope. I encourage you to keep moving in the direction of your dreams. I encourage you to learn and study the craft of writing. Read what you want to write. If you desire to write fiction, read fiction. If you desire to write nonfiction, read nonfiction. If you desire to speak, listen to successful speakers. Learn your craft. Many of us ask for certain things to come forth in our lives, but we don’t want to do the work that is required to bring dreams into the state of reality. 

Your desires, your dreams, your life’s goals, your hopes, are achievable if you first of all: Believe. Believe that what you desire is possible. Believe that your day is coming. Believe that you are closer than you think. 

Next: Work. Work toward achieving your dream. Research, learn, study and do not give up. Work hard at what you want. Work hard for what you want. Network with others who are willing to share information with you. Work on your dream as often as possible. Work on being the best that you can be. Work. Work. Work.

Have Passion: Passion is what will drive you to never give up. Passion will push you toward seeing your dreams and the desires of your heart come to pass. Passion will ignite the fire within you to move in the direction that leads you on the road to success. Without passion, your dreams, your desires and goals will die. Keep Passion in your life, even when you don’t see anything happening. 

Applaud. Applaud others for their accomplishments. Do not be envious or jealous of those who are already at the place you’re trying to reach. Applaud them because that means you have a chance to make it too. When I see someone else who has ‘made it’ then I know that God will do the same for me. If I am jealous and angry, mad or envious over the success of others, then I null the chances of my success. Always seek good for others and good will return to you.

Your desires may not come when you want them to, and that’s all right. They may not come when you expect them to. So what? All you have to do is believe that to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Believe, work, have passion and applaud others because your day is coming. As a matter of fact: "You're closer than you think."

Website: www.shelialipsey.com 
Website: www.perfectstoriesaboutimperfectpeople.com 

The Black Pearls Magazine family wants to take the time to thank each of you for joining us monthly in celebrating the best in literature and the arts.  Our team of writers, bookclubs and authors are so humbled that you have allowed us entrance into your life. It amazes me each month as I check our subscribers how many of  you deem us worthy of your time and support.  We appreciate each of you for telling 10 people about the magazine and for driving people to this site. YOU make Black Pearls the magnificent publication that it is, by sharing the gift of knowledge!

Please know, as we prepare each issue for you, we look for those stimulating conversations, the most thought provoking articles and most of all the best books on the shelves. We want each page of this magazine to add value to your lives!  Your comments and feedback are welcomed. Join our blog and share your news, advice and wisdom with the other readers. Tell us what you want to read too!

As we take off in this new decade we hope to bring you more provocative topics and life empowering books to shape your lives. We have contest for the readers and more interactive sections added to the magazine. Let us know what you think of the fresh new content by emailing us here.  Thank you!

Ella Curry, President of EDC Creations
Founder & Editor In Chief Black Pearls Magazine