Haiti: Devistation and Devilment?

A couple days after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit
the nation of Haiti, its inhabitants are yet in grave
and increasing devastation. There is still a limited
amount of medical supply, violence is increasing, and
the bodies of the deceased fill the streets.

In the midst of this disastrous situation a prominent
televangelist made the following statement,
Many years ago, the island's people "swore a pact to
the devil." They were under the heel of the French...
and they got together and swore a pact to the devil.
They said, 'We will serve you if you'll get us free
from the French.'" "True story. And so the devil said,
'OK, it's a deal.' They kicked the French out. The Haitians
revolted and got themselves free. Ever since, they have been
cursed by one thing after the other."

During the crisis that Haiti is suffering such statements
over this platform are unnecessary and do not promote the
purpose of God sending His Son into the world. When social
darkness is apparent and crisis can be identified, isn't the
responsibility of a Christian to be a light? That requires
putting down political agendas, racial differences and even
religious hang-ups though.

• What are your views concerning the televangelist's statement?
• What advise would you offer to an individual that wants to be
  involved in helping with the humanitarian efforts in Haiti?
• Do you have any words of comfort and love for Haiti?
  

Whitney Houston: Honesty The Best Policy?

In a recent interview with Oprah Winfrey, Whitney Houston
discussed her very private struggles with her relationship
with Bobby Brown and the battle with her drug addition.

With Whitney's resurgence and recent CD release many are saying
that the private information that she shared on the Oprah
Show may alter the public's view of her. Oprah shared throughout
and after the show that it was the most powerful interview
that she has ever done.

Being captive all those year's in an abusive marriage and living
life on the edge with her drug abuse; doesn't she deserve to
sweep out her closet? It may be true that good news isn't celebrated
and bad news is often heralded!

Let's hear it from you:

• Should Whitney have fully exposed her past?
• Can she rebound from her broken past?
• Have you been through something similar? Can you relate?
  

Obama: A Liar?

During a recent Presidential speech on the topic of
health care, South Carolina representative Joe Wilson
shouted at the president "you lie"! On Thursday, Wilson
offered a apology, but then turned around and released a
YouTube video defending what he did saying "On these issues,
I will not be muzzled, I will speak up and speak loudly..."

Of course, in America we have freedom of speech but...

• Should this kind of behavior be allowed?
  
• Should Wilson have some kind of consequence?
• What do you think about Obama's health care proposal?
  

Angels, Demons & the spirit world

The recent release of the movie "Angels and Demons"
featuring Tom Hanks has again sparked an interest in
the possibility of an invisible world.

In a recent survey, "40% of those interviewed strongly
agreed that satan is not is not a living being but is
a symbol of evil.” 19% said they “agree somewhat” with
that perspective. A minority indicated that they believe
Satan is real by disagreeing with the statement: one-quarter
26% disagreed strongly and about one-tenth (9%) disagreed
somewhat. The remaining 8% were not sure what they believe
about the existence of Satan."

Do you believe that satan exists? Have you went to see the
movie "Angels and Demons"? If so, what did you think about
it? Any other comments about the spirit world?

In Love... or Fresh Out of Love?

Yesterday, the news program I was watching reached a commercial, and as I began to flip through a few channels, one of the courtroom shows caught my attention. The episode that I tuned into was a divorce case between a husband and a wife that had been married for just under a year. The reason for filing for divorce was "We just weren't meant."

In new statistics just released, "One out of three Americans have been divorced at least once." George Barna, who directed the study, noted that Americans have grown comfortable with divorce as a natural part of life. We must ask ourselves the question: has this contentment always been a part of our society? It's almost impossible to partake of some type of media these days and not hear of a relationship on the rocks or a marriage that has ended in shambles.

"There no longer seems to be much of a stigma attached to divorce; it is now seen as an unavoidable rite of passage....Interviews with young adults suggest that they want their initial marriage to last, but are not particularly optimistic about that possibility. There is also evidence that many young people are moving toward embracing the idea of serial marriage, in which a person gets married two or three times, seeking a different partner for each phase of their adult life."

So, where do we go from here? What are your views on divorce?

• What effects do divorces have on society?
• Is it biblical to divorce? If so, on what grounds?
• Do you believe in soul mates?
• A divorce can be quite devastating. Is there life after divorce?
  

Fear of the Flu?

For the past week now, the media's top story all across the world has been what is known as the "swine flu." As of yesterday, there were 2500 suspected cases of swine flu in Mexico and 159 suspected deaths. The U.S. has reached 64 suspected cases of the swine flu with just 1 death reported.

To place things in proper perspective, 20,000 people die from flu related illness each year. Many media sources are suggesting that this outbreak has the potential to unfold into a major pandemic; but does it really? What many media sources will not take the time to say is that many Americans lived through the 1968 "Hong Kong flu" which was very mild and the 1976 "swine flu," for which the vaccine did more damage than the flu itself.

President Obama recently commented on the swine flu, saying that the outbreak warrants concern, but not panic. With that being said, how do you feel about the way the nation is processing the outbreak?

• Are the media and public officials presenting the world with a dramatization of the flu, where facts and fear are beginning to intermingle?
• What does the bible say about fear, and how can we implement God's word in times like these?
• Have you taken any precautions since you heard about the flu outbreak?
  

The New Abortion Trend

There seems to have arisen a new trend concerning the topic of abortion in our nation. Just recently, in an Associated Press report, a woman arrived "in flip-flops and in tears" at an abortion clinic after walking for over an hour to get there. She was there to have her fourth child aborted after her boyfriend lost his job. It was reported that the woman originally desired to have the child, as she had previously received prenatal care, but in review of their budget and expenses, they decided not to have the baby.

It's a heart-wrenching story, but it is the latest trend in our country. As pro-choice and pro-life advocates are at different ends of the spectrum concerning their stances on abortion, could anyone have seen this coming? The recent trend is that individuals are having abortions because of the turn in the nation's economy.

Just the other week, there was a British official named Jonathan Porritt, who said it was his desire to cut his country's population in half for the sake of the environment. Even though there might be a scarcity of economic resources, is it o.k. to delete the lives of humans to ensure a better quality of living?

• How does this new trend affect your stance on being pro-life or pro-choice?
  
• What are your views concerning abortion?
  
• What measures do you believe need to be enacted to bring closure to this new trend? Or is it something that should take place in our nation?
  

Same-Sex Marriage: Is It Here To Stay?

Recently, there has been a resurgence of the topic of
same-sex marriage in various forms of media. Just
last evening there was a very heated discussion on
Larry King live featuring Perez Hilton debating issues
relating to same-sex marriage.

In addition, there is controversy surrounding what Miss
California said about same-sex marriage in Sunday's Miss
U.S.A. pageant. Her answer included the phrase that same-
sex marriage was not "biblically correct". Many people
speculate the reason she lost the pageant is specifically
connected to what the Miss U.S.A. judges classify as a wrong
answer to the question relating to same-sex marriage.
Should she have just communicated a politically correct
answer to preserve her win as Miss U.S.A?

Within the last month the Iowa state Supreme Court ruled that
same-sex couples have the right to marry, and Vermont has
followed the same ruling. The District of Columbia has also voted
to recognize same-sex weddings done elsewhere as official, and
in New York the governor has consented to sign legislation
legalizing same-sex marriage.

• Is same-sex marriage here to stay?
• What are your feelings about same-sex marriage?
  
• What is the connection between same-sex marriage and politics?
• What should be the churches stance concerning same-sex marriage?
  

God-Proofing Schools?

The Lakeview Elementary
School in Nashville,
Tennessee is the latest
example of God-
proofing within the
school system.

In a yearly event,
"See You at the Pole"
there were hand drawn
posters created by the
students and their families,
that school official ordered
to be altered. The school
officials ordered for the
messages on the posters
"Bless God in the U.S.A"
and "In God We Trust" to
be covered up before they
could be displayed
throughout the hallways.

The Alliance Defense Fund Attorneys
filed a lawsuit on the behalf of the parents
and students at Lakeview Elementary
School there in Wilson County. The lawsuit
states that the schools actions violates the
14th Amendment due process and the
Establishment Clause.

It was not many years ago that Madalyn Murray O'Hair
said that she didn't want prayer in the schools and the
world witnessed that in 1962 prayer was abolished from
the School System within the United States of America.

What is your stance on this subject? Should the words
"In God We Trust" and "Bless God in the U.S.A." be
allowed to be posted within our schools?

Still Teaching Leadership: John Maxwell Goes To Jail

Leadership guru John Maxwell was arrested this past
Thursday at the Palm Beach International Airport for trying
to board a plane with a concealed weapon. In his blog,
Maxwell says that someone gave him a handgun as a gift and
he made the mistake of not taking the gun out of his bag.

I have to say that I love the transparency that John Maxwell
displays concerning this mishap in his life. Despite the
sensitive nature of this situation and the swarming reports of
the media, Maxwell still takes time to share leadership principles
from his downfall in his blog. Thanks John Maxwell for
exemplifying true leadership!

What are your thoughts?

A New Revelation: Gay Inclusion?

Once at the forefront of a major christian movement
and classified as a mega church, Chapel Hill Harvester
Church has been through more than its share of issues
within the past few years. Similar to many individuals all over
the country and even internationally, I too in the later 90's
would watch the Sunday morning broadcasts of this ministry.
I would often stand amazed at the power of God sweeping through
the sanctuary, and the masses of multicultural worshipers that
filled the auditorium week after week. Now the congregants have
diminished from over 4,000 to under 1,000 in weekly attendance.
You may ask the question, why?

Recently, the newly installed pastor of just three years D.E.
Paulk began preaching a doctrine called, "Gay Inclusion". Just
7 or 8 years ago Christendom was rocked by Carlton Pearson's
announcement of him leaving the message of biblical Christianity
to herald the message of the gospel of "Inclusion". Unfortunately,
the doctrine of "Gay Inclusion" takes it to the next level. Paulk says
this persuasion is a "creation of groups of people all looking for the
answers". He goes as far to say that he believes that in several years
those that are following him probably won’t be called a church
anymore, but will be classified as a community.

Is this going too far? What can be done to bring restoration
at this point?

Celebration Time is Here!!!

This week Glory Center International will celebrate 4 years of
ministry. Kicking off the celebration on Thursday March 5th
is Bishop Larry Trotter and the Sweet Holy Spirit choir of Chicago,
Illinois. There will be many, many more guests all week long.

We're looking forward to a great time of celebration. Hope to see
you there!

'Start the Year Off Right' Reflections

The exciting line up of events entitled 'Start the Year Off Right' is officially over at 'The Glory Center', but the fire from the month of January has leaped into February. This annual event which attracts thousands every January was a life changing event again this year that those in attendance will never forget. There are a few insights that I believe served as the common thread for this year's 'Start the Year Off Right' month of empowerment:

1.) Every strategy must have practical application. Without a realistic plan of action, good intentions will exist without achievement. Habakkuk 2:1-4 makes this very plain.

2.) Great achievement occurs by great teamwork. Multiply anything by one and there is never any increase. The only way that you can yield greater increase will occur through strategic teamwork.

3.) Major in the majors, and minor in the minors. By really taking inventory of our lives we can easily discover that from time to time we place insignificant things in top priority. When it's all said and done Matthew 6:10 must ring within our hearts, "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done..."

Wow... this had to be the best year yet!!!