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?
  

Millionaire: Tips to Awaken the Entrepenuer Within

Do you have a business idea locked up on the inside? Have
you desired to launch your business but seem to have no support?
Here's insight from the youngest African American CEO of
a publicly traded company. The interview is brief
but very motivating. Enjoy!

Should Brides Change Their Name?

In the midst of our modernistic and technologically
advanced society a report was recently released to
prove that American's still hold true to traditional
beliefs. The study found that 70 percent of American's
believe that wives should take on the last name
of their husbands. Just 29 percent said that the wife
should keep her maiden name.

"One of the most interesting things is that a lot of people
assume that because language in general is gender-neutral,
that name change would also be one of those things in which
attitudes would be shifting towards being much more liberal."
"...Some studies have found that younger women are as likely
or more likely to change their name when they marry as their
baby boom counterparts. "It's not a straight age trend."

What are your beliefs?

From the Pits to Power: Discovering Untapped Income

Teaneck mom sells apple cakes to avoid foreclosure

Real Housewives of Atlanta coming back July 30th

To many the popular reality show seemed like it never
went off, but Bravo is bringing "Housewives of Atlanta"
back July 30th.

This season there is a change to the cast with DeShawn
Snow off the set and R&B singer and songwriter Kandi
Burruss as the fifth housewife. Many say that this season
will present more fireworks and drama than last season,
and the ratings are expected to sky rocket.

• Does this show cast a negative stigma?
• Are there any positive messages that the show portrays?
• Is this reality show actual reality? Do women really behave like this?
  

Is Racism Still Alive?

The incident with Harvard's professor and scholar Henry Louis
Gates Jr. caused quite a stir this past week. The news of Gates
arrest was even spoken of by President Obama during Wednesday's
presidential address. Check it out...



What do you think about this situation? Furthermore, do you
believe that racism is still alive in America?

Gospel Artist Deny Leading Michael Jackson to Christ

On June 25th the world stood in amazement as it was announced that
pop star Michael Jackson died. Many just could not believe that the
pop icon had actually died, especially just before his newest tour was
about to kick off. To top that, what caused others to stand in
disbelief was the news that was recently shared by two well known
gospel artists.

Andrae and Sandra Crouch announced that despite the rumors
circulating that they led Michael Jackson to Christ before his
death, that it was not actually the case. According to Andrae,
"Andrae and Sandra did in fact visit with Michael Jackson 2 times,
once in the recording studio, and once at his home in the last 2 months".
At that time, "asking for prayer concerning the anointing of the Holy
Spirit, and how he could make his music more ‘spiritual'."

• Do you have any thoughts as it relates to Michael Jackson and eternity?
• Can fame, prestige, and acclaim bring eternal security?
• If an unsaved person could read your post right now, what would you tell them concerning the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus?
  

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?

Got Twitter?

Do you have Twitter yet? It will allow you to communicate with others in a different way than email, blogs, and even the traditional website. After wrestling with the idea for a couple of months I finally gave in and set up an account. It is actually a great thing!!!

The element that makes Twitter really nice is the fact that you can connect it with your FaceBook account and many other applications as well. In addition, you can send messages to Twitter directly from your phone, TwitPic your photos, and even connect Twitter to your google calendar.

Now that you have all that information concerning Twitter, make the move so that you can converse more efficiently. What are you waiting for?

It's Not Too Late: 10 Inexpensive Ways to Get and Stay In Shape

O.K., you didn't get an early start on getting shape, but it's
definitely not too late! Today marks the very first day of
summer and there are something that you can do to get in
shape and become the healthy you, you've always wanted
to be.

It is actually God's will that we exemplify health in each and
every area of our lives (spirit, soul, and body). 3 John 1:2 NLT
says, "Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you
are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit." Remember,
your body is the vehicle that drives your purpose in live. Without a
healthy body, fulfilling God's ultimate purpose for our lives will
be a challenge if not an impossibility.

Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today. It's time to feel
your best, look your best, and be your best. Here are 10 inexpensive
ways to get and stay in shape.

1. Instead of driving, ride a bicycle whenever possible.
2. Limit eating out, and purposely prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner
3. Take a morning or evening walk with a person(s) that have the same goals
   
4. Drink more water
5. Eat less later in the day
6. Instead of taking the elevator take the stairs
7. Rent an exercise video from the library and workout at home
8. Locate introductory discount coupons or invitation periods at the gym
9. Journal your daily exercise and eating to stay on track
10. Break up your meals into 5-6 smaller meals throughout the day

What are your goals for weight loss? Have you already
began to utilize any of these pin-points? Share your ideas
about how being in shape corresponds with the Christian life?

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?
  

National Eat Out Month

The Houlihan's Restaurants, Inc. has taken the initiative to
declare the month of April as a national holiday 'National Eat
Out Month'. The Vice President said, "69 percent of adults
with children surveyed say purchasing meals from restaurants,
take-out and delivery places makes it easier to manage their
day-to-day lives."

In what many classify as an economic crisis in our nation, statistics
prove that many individuals are still spending big money on
quick meals.

• If you were to estimate how much money you spent every month eating out how much would it be?
  
• How often did you eat out as a child? How does that affect your patterns of eating out in your adult life?
  
• What are some money saving tips you practice that you can share to help save someone else a few dollars at the end of the month?

Technology Sabbath: Take the Challenge!

WARNING!!! This may be one of the most difficult challenges
ever! :>)

Many individuals have grown accustomed to daily interaction
with various forms of technology like: The Blackberry, I-Phone,
Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, text messaging, emailing, and to
continue would take until tomorrow.

According to a survey taken in 2005, "Most Americans including
children, spend at least nine hours a day watching TV, surfing the
web, or talking on their cell phones. Of those hours, one-third of
the time is spent using two or more of those media at once."

So here's the challenge: Take a Technology Sabbath!

1. Give yourself at least 24 hours to get prepared
2. Notify individuals that you will be unplugging for 24 hours (this will eliminate their questions about you not responding immediately)
3. Just DO IT! :>)
   
4. Find alternatives to using technology (take a walk, start writing your book, do a bible study, meet a friend for coffee or tea, go to the library, have a family talk, journal)

*It's going to hurt bad but I will begin my challenge March 30 midnight. How about you? Send this blog to all those you know that would be up for the challenge.

Christian Dating: Is There Such A Thing?

TV anchor Kimberly Kennedy was madly in love with with a
man that she was about to marry when he left her at the alter.
From there a downward spiral of events occurred within her
life as she lost her career, health, and money.

She now has a new book entitled, "Left At the Alter: My Story
of Hope and Healing for Every Woman Who Has Felt the
Heartbreak of Rejection." A common thread within her book is
that she identifies that she put her faith on the sidelines during
her time of dating. Kennedy says, "When you fall in love with
God, you can be assured of one special thing: you will never be
left at the altar. Instead, you will live with him happily ever
after. And the honeymoon will never end."

A few questions for you:

• Do you believe in Christian dating?

• Do you believe in soul mates? If so, is dating necessary?

• What should the boundaries of Christian dating be?

• Is o.k. to date someone that is outside of your faith/religion?

• Is it o.k. to be intimate during Christian dating (kissing, holding hands, sex, etc.)

My Own Mind...?

My wife and I were driving down the street and
passed a church that had this very strange message
on a sign that was on their property. I couldn't believe
my eyes so I stopped right in the middle of the street,
put our vehicle in reverse and said quite loudly, "I
can think of at least 5 reasons why my own mind could
never be my own church!"

Here are the 5 reasons I came up with. I might have missed a few
so I would like to enlist your help.

• I would get a little lonely from time to time.
• With what pops up here sometimes, would it actually be classified as a church?
• What will happen to the church when my physical body expires?
• My church would always be closed due to reconstruction and renovation.
• I guess I would never own the church and always be leasing, because the owner of the church is the one who gave me my mind.
• *I had to add a sixth reason: If the statement on the sign is correct, why is it outside of their actual church building?
  

Anymore?

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?