What is Important?

Settle

Be careful who you allow in your upper room.wmv

Get rid of FEAR

U Can Turn This Around Initiative

Home Grown Terror

Has our children dying in the streets become normal?

We live in a world of explosions, guns, cat fights, violence is all around. Being exposed constantly to violent acts can make one desensitized to it. Every time you open a newspaper or turn on the news some child has been injured or lost their life in the streets. Some crying parent is begging the murderer to come forward and some minister is trying to rally the troops to march against violence. The feeling of anger and disgust last temporarily and then it fades away. Why are the members of these communities not in constant outrage? Why aren't they demanding their elected officials to do more to help the community? Why aren't parents and families taking to the streets to fight for their kids? Why are there those in the community that protect known murderers? Why has this become a normal way of life? I encourage the readers of this blog to say this is NOT normal. I encourage the readers of this blog to say that I will NOT live this way. I encourage the youth of today to say I will be an active participant in TURNING THIS AROUND!

Domestic Violence plants the seeds of violence in the mind of a child.

Our brains are like sponges the minute we are born we begin soaking up information. The information that is collected does not just stay there sooner or later the sponge needs to be squeezed and that information is released into the life of someone else. Many children on a daily basis witness volatile situations in their homes. Most children are not emotionally mature and do not know how to process the acts that they are witnessing. Allowing children to witness violent acts in the home plants seeds of violence. For a young boy seeing his father attack his mother sends the message that this is what a man does and this is how he take controls of those in his house. A young lady witnessing violence in her home can process that as the need to allow her spouse to beat her when he is angry or upset. This is not always the case however, many children that witness these acts at a young age re-enact them later on in life. This out of control behavior can lead to homicide in the life of the young person. Homicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in young adults. Each year 1500 murder victims are children and adults. http://ezinearticles.com/?Teen-Crime-Statistics&id=4007570 Modeling effective communication techniques to our children at a young age can be a matter of life or death.

Mchenry Images & Media, Called2Serve NFP and Splitcybernality.com have joined forces to combat teen violence in the lives of teens and young adults. You can join us in attacking this problem at www.splitcybernality.com in the community section just look for U Can Turn this Around. Create a splitcybernality account and post a video or start or join a discussion to add to the campaign. If you want additional information about this initiative email me at antwanm@sbcglobal.net

Make sure you breathe.

Life is filled with many ups and downs, peaks and valleys. There are many individuals that want to go through life problem free too bad that's not possible. We are here for only a short time and in that time there will be lots of trouble (Job 14:1) Since we know that life is going to be a roller coaster we might as well prepare for the ride. Whenever you are engaged in any form of exercise its important that you breathe properly. Life is an exercise yet many people are not breathing as they should. When you don't take a breathe you get tired quicker and often times cannot complete your journey. When the first man was created he was lifeless until God breathed into him the breath of life. Our survival still depends on taking that breath from God to fill our lungs and issue oxygen to our hearts. If you feel yourself getting faint or buckling under the pressure of life look to the heavens and breathe.

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The Truth

Speak unto me smooth things and prophecy lies and deceit. The prophet Isaiah spoke similar words in the book that bears his name in the Holy Bible chapter 10 verse 30. We live in a world where lying is the norm. It comes very natural to some people. We teach children how to lie when they answer the phone and have them tell the person we are not there. Politicians lie to get in office and once they are there they back peddle on their promises. LIE LIE LIE. No one wants to hear the truth. If someone is trying on a particular article of clothing that they are iffy about they say that want the truth but if you give it to them they are sad or depressed. You can't go through the day without hearing a lie. No matter how dark you make the room the truth will always shine. No matter how much you ignore the issues the flicker of light will reveal them. The truth frees us! It allows us to grow and to move on. You can shut the truth up temporarily, but it will always resurface and when it does many wish they would have dealt with it in the first place.
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Are you playing your part on the team?

There is a saying that goes Teamwork makes the dream work. Whether we voluntarily join a team or not we are all on a team of some sort. The first team that we all become a part of is our immediate family. When we join the work force we become part of the team of a company. If you worship collectively with a body of believers that is a team. Everyone is expected to share their particular expertise to make sure that the organization remains healthy and grows. What happens to an organization where all members of the team do not contribute? When all of the members of the team do not contribute simply put someone else has to pull their weight! First let's start with the family structure, more than likely everyone has chores or something that they must do so that the family can live the lifestyle they want to live. What happens when the dish washer no longer wants to wash dishes? What happens when the person who does laundry decides that someone else can do it? What happens when one of the breadwinners decides they want to sit down? The family begins to suffer and the house goes in disarray. What kind of church do you have when many of its members want to be pew warmers? You know pew warmers are those who want to have their emotions tickled every Sunday but don't want to be involved in any ministry, won't attend events, and think that an hour and half on Sunday is all that God is owed. When people fail to play their part on the team in church they stifle the gospel and someone else has to not only carry their cross but drag the one of the person who is happily sitting down on the pew. Finally let's talk about the workplace. Have you ever worked in a team at work and the other person does not pull their weight but if someone doesn't pick up the slack everyone suffers? Many of us have and its a horrible feeling to know that they are still being paid yet doing no work! We are all expected to do our parts whatever structure we are in. There will come a time when our work will be examined whether we did our parts or not. Are you one of the team members who sits on the sidelines and complains about how things are done yet you are too lazy and trifling to contribute or are you one of the people who has to pull the weight of the person who has their heels kicked up sitting on the seat of do nothing? Decide today that you will play your part on whatever team you are a member of.

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Releasing the Giant

Mankind was the highlight of God's creation the. He was to subdue the earth and have dominion over every living thing that moveth on the earth( Genesis 1:28). Something happened, man disobeyed the will of God and it was a game changer. He became entangled with sin and it took his attention away from becoming what God intended him to become. Many people have become entangled with their pasts, their present, and are facing uncertain futures. When we become entangled we lose focus and we extend a lot of energy trying to get free. There is however a method to becoming untangled. First one must remain calm, becoming distressed while entrapped only makes the situation worse. While you are in a calm state you are able to think freely and plan your escape. Being entangled keeps us from going forth and conquering. We are giants! We were created to make moves! When entangled in issues or people that are stopping your dream STOP, REMAIN CALM, AND COME UP WITH A STRATEGY AND EXECUTE IT. I encourage you today to get on the path to release the GIANT and claim what is yours.

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Work your talent!

The United States is currently going through one of the biggest financial fallouts that it has ever been through. Millions of individuals are out of work, food pantries are feeding many people, violent crimes have increased and doom and gloom seem to be broadcast everyday. As I look at countless individuals that have thrown their hands in the air I think it seems as if the well has gone dry but God has still provided us with a source of water. Years ago Americans were not as dependant on jobs as they are today. Many individuals baked cakes, sold arts and crafts, and anything they could do to bring in some extra cash. Where has that spirit of entrepreneurship gone? Where has hope gone? Where have the individuals gone that said I can't find a job so I am going to make one for myself? Mankind is the most intelligent of the life forms that God created yet many people are stumped in regards to what to do in these trying times. Jesus spoke about talent in one of his parables. To some he gave 5 others he gave 2 while others received one. The key factor is he expected the individuals to grow their talents and put them to use. Have you found your PASSION yet? Just maybe one door has closed and you need to unlock what God has already gave you. If we all identify and put our talents to work we will see a drastic change in your personal lives and in this economy. I challenge every individual to find out what their talent is and as Mary J Blige says in one of her songs WORK THAT THING!

Guard your hearts

Have you ever heard someone say the phrase my head is in the clouds or I'm head over hills in love? Those phrases are used to describe the feelings that one goes through when they feel like they have made a match. Its also possible to have that kind of love for a friend. Sometimes we believe everything that our friends say without questioning it at all. We must be careful to Guard our hearts with all diligence for out of it spring the issues of life. When we fail to protect our hearts it is easy for dishonest people to creep in sell us a pipe dream and rattle our faith. One of the biggest problems that many people have is letting their emotions be their guides. Emotions have led to many falling outs, unplanned pregnancies, wars, and even death. We should never enter into any relationship based on our emotions. The heart is at the center of our being so it must be protected at all costs. Not guarding your heart can lead to bitterness and a hard heart. Bitterness leads people to make statements like "there are no good men" or "no one can be trusted" You can see someone who has not guarded their heart from a mile away because they drag a ball and chain around called misery. We should pray to God for a spirit of discernment so that we can see all the signs of someone that will hurt our hearts. Decide today to let Christ Guard your hearts.

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Sunflower Among Weeds

I was driving along doing errands when I saw a beautiful sunflower. Now I know that some might say that is just a flower not a miraculous thing. The thing that captivated me about this flower was its environment. I proudly stood high among the weeds and across the street from the garbage dump. All of its radiance and glory created a bright spot in an area that was overgrown with crab grass weeds and smelled of garbage. We too can decide to be the sunflower among weeds when we make the decision not to let our environment dictate how we behave and who we are. Many scholars were born into poverty. Many geniuses were born in ghettos. Even Christ came from Nazareth which was not considered the Beverly hills of the time. We become a Sunflower among weeds when we decide that what the crowd is doing is not necessarily the way we need to go. Everyone wants to be popular but at what cost? When the herd is going in one direction go in the opposite direction. We become the sunflower among weeds when we stand up and speak up for what is truthful and honorable when everyone else would rather sit down and let things be or even listen to lies. Will you become the sunflower in your world or will you let the stench of garbage and weeds overtake you?

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Signs

Signs appear all throughout the walk of life. Green normally means go, yellow caution, and red stop. Sometimes we obey the signs while other times we don't. Disobeying signs sometimes work out positively but most of the time they don't. I got the inspiration for today's blog from a Do Not Enter Sign. Simply put there are places that we have no business going and some relationships and friendships that we have no business entering. Why do we enter into covenants that we know are fickle or dangerous? Maybe the danger of being with a bad boy or girl excites us at the time or maybe we are just rebelling but we have clearly seen the DO NOT ENTER SIGN. There are rules all around us. God has rules for us but we do not always follow them! When we fail to ignore the signs that we come into contact with we must accept the consequences that come with it no matter how big or small they are. Do you stop at that red light or do you try and sneak through it hoping no one will come speeding from another direction and total your car?

Put a little Wisdom in your walk.

The first steps of a new child are one of the pivotal points in their lives. Learning to walk unleashes new adventures that crawling simply cannot deliver. When we learn how to walk we must also learn how to be observant of our surroundings. We need to be able to differentiate things and people that are helpful as well as those that are dangerous. I often term this living with your eyes WIDE OPEN. If we pay close attention to the signs that are being to us they will steer us clear of trouble. To be circumspect means to be cautious and discreet. So when you are walking you need to be cautious noticing your surrounds all around you and the people that are in them. Once you get a sign that this activity or person is not for you, you can leave them behind. Ephesians 5:15 states See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Walking circumspectly will get you a lot farther and you will make it to your destination quicker.

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Walking together in the Rain

Today I did as I normally do trying to tackle the 30 Day breakthrough. What made today different was that I was running and walking with a group of friends particularly my sisters in Christ. We all walked at different paces as most of us do in life. There were times that we passed each other as well as times when we walked together. During the course of this 2 mile walk it sprinkled and eventually rained yet we kept walking. We were persistent because we knew that this was crucial to getting us to that next step in life. When you are trying to make it over there are times when you are going to have to walk in sprinkles, drizzles and sometimes downpours but you have to remain persistent and make sure that you take good friends along for the Journey Kudos to you Michelle Byrd, Meredith Stevenson, Barbara Hunt, and Ladonna Bowdry for walking in the rain together and showing me a painting of teamwork.

The Company You Keep

There is an old saying that states "birds of a feather flock together" A statement even closer to home says tell me who your friends are and I can tell you who you are! One very important aspect of going through life and creating success is partnering with the right group of people. Your Mastermind group should consist of people who have the same vision as you and you are all going in the same direction. This group of people should be comfortable with being brutally honest as well as be available to help build and or pick up the pieces of a dream. I am very blessed to have met a WONDERFUL of people who are focused and are of the same mindset and are going places. Have you formed your mastermind group yet?

Do you have an Upside Down Kind of Love?

Diana Ross sung about a love that she had that turned her upside down, inside out and round and round. THAT'S A LOT OF PASSION. Christians in the first century church were called "these that have turned the world upside down". You have to stop and think, Do I have anything that I am that passionate about ? Is there something in my life that is driving me to the point where I it literally turns lives upside down? We all are passionate about something. Some people love to cook, others are dedicated to helping others and some are CRAZY IN LOVE! What would life be without passion? Living a life without something that drives you can be rather mundane and overall uninteresting. We have all been blessed with gifts and we are expected to use them They are like an investment that we are expected to grow. Is there some fire that consumes you that you have not had the courage to pursue? Do you have an idea that you think the world would love. Facebook, Twitter, ITunes, to name a few were all ideas that became passions that changed the world and turned its perspective fields UPSIDE DOWN! Start today by pursuing something that you love to day and share it with others. Live, Love, and Learn


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Push through your circumstances

Life is filled with many ups and downs. Many people describe it as a roller coaster ride. Some people survive the ups and downs as well as the swift curves while others don't. In order to successfully make it through life one must be able to push through their circumstances. You must be able to push through that spouse that broke their marriage vows so that you can heal and move on. You must be able to push through sitting in the bankruptcy office when you have to declare that you have nothing in order to save the scraps that you do have left. You must be able to push through the fact that you were not prepared for that loved one to pass away so soon. Life is all about PUSHING your way through. Your circumstances will change many times throughout your lifetime but if your spirit remains strong you will overcome. Live, Love & Learn

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Bound and Chained by Hurt

Chained and Bound by Hurt

There is a saying that goes hurt people hurt people. In a nutshell that means that people who have been hurt in the past tend to hurt other people that come into their lives. There are different encounters that cause us to hurt. Relationships that end on a bad note leave us hurting especially when the proper closure is not given. Instead of letting go of something that never was meant to be many individuals allow hurtful feelings to fester and carry on to their next relationship. Once those feelings enter into the new encounter like poison they slowly kill the relationship. The emotions and pain from the past relationship are transferred to the new person. For this reason many people never find "The One" they self sabatoge their relationships because they cannot move on. Hurt also destroys ties with family members and friends. Those that are closest to us many times are the ones who hurt us the most. Many people are of the mindset that if you can't depend on family who can you depend on. There are occasions when family members betray your trust. Betrayal can come in the form of sharing information that you have shared with them and asked them to keep to themselves, stealing, lying, etc. The hurt from a family member is a deep wound. It does not heal with time but if you don't take steps to repair it, it can turn into a cancer and destroy you. In order to grow and move on from the hurt of the past these steps must be taken: 1. Acknowledge that you are hurting. 2. Ask God to give you the strength to move past the hurt. 3. Talk to the person that you feel has hurt you. You must be open and honest but at the same time let love be your guide. In order to live a healthy life we cannot be chained and bound by hurt. Live, Love, & Learn

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INVINCIBLE

When we enter this world we have the gift of innocence. We are untainted and unharmed. We trust wholeheartedly, we love unconditionally but something happens to us throughout the course of our lives. Seeds are sown. The sowers sometimes come in the form of parents, family and friends. They sew seeds of doubt in our lives and that oh so perfect picture that we have of the world begins to lose some of its luster. That invincibility that we once had starts to subside and we begin to question ourselves. We ask ourselves am I good enough? Do I have what it takes to get me to the next level. Am I a loveable person, the kind that people want to be around? Those seeds of doubt are like cancer and the take root and choke the spirit that we were born with. In order to get back to that place we must revisit that childlike state. We need to revisit what we were before the seeds took root. Only when we remember how innocent and invincible we were can we take our lives back. At that point the storms will clear and we will be returned to our former state where we believe that we can do all things. We will once again be INVINCIBLE.

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Have you ever walked into the restroom and were attacked by the stench of waste that someone left behind; Even worse had to view their remains because they did not flush the toilet? Sometimes our lives resemble toilets that have not been flushed or that are so filled with our problems and issues that they are backed up and are stinking up our lives and the lives around us. In the Holy Bible specifically the book of Titus 3:-11 Paul wrote that believers were once foolish, disobedient, serving various lust and pleasures, living in malice, envy, and hateful to one another. Through the blood of the Savior they were washed, renewed and regenerated. Once you start out on your journey of self improvement you will start to accumulate more waste. Waste can come in the form of a bad relationship, being lied to, cheated on, taken advantage of and a host of other things. If you forget to flush the toilet of this new accumulation you risk clogging your life up and will be no good to God, yourself , or anyone else for that matter. When your life has gotten dirty again, when you have revisited those old habits that you put to rest, behaving in such a way that people have to question whether they can trust you or not its time for a cleaning. As children of the most high we have been washed (Revelation 1:5) Sanctified (Ephesians 5:26) and Justified (Galatians 3:24) All of these agents are like comet cleaner, tidy bowl and disinfectant. Gods word is a plunger that helps unstop the junk in our lives and get it flowing again and a rodder to help us when our life has become so backed up that that its unproductive. Tackling a backed up life takes a couple of steps: first you must acknowledge that something is wrong. A dishonest person cannot move forward you must accept the fact that something is wrong before you can fix it. Secondly you must identify those issues that are clogging up your life and that you are struggling with. Finally you must ask God for his help to help you remove these issues and enlist the help of a support system because two are better than one and we are all in this together. Our lives need to be kept clean and clog free so that we can effectively help those around us.

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Friendship

What about your friends?

A friend loveth at all times and a brother is born for adversity Proverbs 17:17. As early as the womb mankind benefits from communication and interaction. Many doctors suggest that you talk to your child while in the womb and babies respond to music emotions and other stimuli. I don't think I am going out on a limb by saying that God created us to interact with one another. Of course there are individuals like me who are introverts who can get along fine alone but I too like to interact with others. There is a saying that says show me the people that you are closest to and I will tell you who you are. The people who we surround ourselves with tells the world who we are. Life can be hard but when we have others to help us carry our burdens it can be much easier. True friends are honest with you. They won't allow you to do something that is dangerous they will tell you the truth whether you get mad or not. True friends want the best for us. They will push you in a direction that will benefit you and will tell you when you are wasting your time doing something that is not for you. True friends do not envy the applaud for you with your triumphs and they applaud loudly. True friends are sacrificial. People who carry the title of friend will give you the shirt off of their back. They believe in having all things in common like the Christians in the early church (Acts 2:44). True friends will be with you when your soul is in despair and they have your back at all times. In the book of Ruth when Naomi lost her family due to death her daughter in law Ruth stuck by her side when others went their own way and said where you go I will go, your God will be my God, your people my people! We must seek out those who love us enough to tell us the truth, support us when we are down and celebrate us when we achieve.
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In the Valley

When we are in the valley

Have you ever felt like you have been down trodden? Do you feel like you back is against the wall? Sometimes our circumstances are so draining that they suck the life out of us. Many times it seems like trials come one after another. Many people have experienced a death in the family only to be followed up by another death sometimes in the same month or even week. Compounded trials must be combatted by mountains of faith. When one is in the valley it's hard to see the light. The days are often overcast even when the sun is shining brightly. Without the sun everything on the earth would die. The absence of light in our lives can cause them to seem like we exist in the valley of dry bones. The valley smells and looks of death. When we are down and out it sometimes seems like there is no hope or escape. However in every dark corner there is a ray of light. The prophet Ezekiel in a vision was led to a valley full of dry bones and was asked could the bones live again.Ezekiel was told to prophesy the word of God to the bones and that they would live again. In this miraculous vision the power of Gods started a resurrection and the bones remembered the state that they were in before devastation and were restored. When you are in the valley and the light seems to be absent let God's word give you a resurrection and from that you can start a revolution in your life.

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We are constantly on the move continuously on a journey. Some of our destinations are within walking distance while others take many days. Whenever we decide to try something new we should take into account the challenges that we may encounter on the way, I call it "The Climb" Some climbs are like like a flight of stairs while others are like a mountain. In order to be successful on the climb you have to make sure that you have the correct equipment. One of the tools that you will need is persistence. The stairs could be wet, steep or weak. You may encounter a fall or it may require a little more leg muscle than you think. The stairs may also not be strong enough to support you and you may fall through. If the individual is not persistence he will not be successful in the climb. You will also need to make sure that you are in shape. We normally think that being in shape always means physically but you have to be mentally ready to scale that mountain. How many times have individuals attempted to climb a mountain only to turn around because they could not endure the challenge? Focus is another piece of equipment that will be needed to make the climb. If you are not focused on the goal you can get easily thrown off course.
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Transformation

Transformation

Webster's dictionary defines transformation as the act of changing the condition nature or function of. In the Book of Romans 12:2 Paul encourages us to be transformed and to renew our minds not to conform to the status quo. We should aspire to be people that dance to the beat of a different drum. Every individual must take constant care to continue to evolve. It is easy for us to become satisfied and set in our ways but it is in those times that progress stops. The butterfly is a beautiful example of a dramatic transformation. Who would think a butterfly would come from something like a caterpillar? Just like the caterpillar must go inside its cocoon to develop we too must take time to develop, grow and mature. Some people go through this faze without a glitch while others tend to get stuck in patterns that are not healthy and sometimes destructive. The become stuck in their cocoons and their cocoons which are the circumstances that are created to enhance them become prisons which trap them. While inside of the cocoon we must take special care to equip ourselves with the tools that will help us get to the next level. Have you ever noticed that some people never change? There are individuals that are the same as they were 20 years ago. They have the same mindset, same attitude, and hangups that they had when they were younger. When we continue to struggle with the same problems we have not successfully emerged from our cocoons of development. Our transformation is what sets us apart from the rest of the world. Have you become the butterfly? Are you stuck in your cocoon? Are you still the caterpillar?
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What is a Real Man?

Being a Man and a Male are two different things! To be considered a male all one needs is to be anatomically equipped but being a man is much more than having a penis. There are certain characteristics that a man has and a certain way that he carries himself. He is not defined by having a certain swagga or street credibility. You cannot tell if a person has the characteristics of a man by simply looking at him. There is a major misconception of what a man is these days. Many people rely on the outward appearance and most of the time that is what gets us in trouble. The media has sold us the image of a hyper masculine guy oozing with testosterone, ready and willing the knock anyone down that gets in his way. The man that is being sold to the masses has no trouble spreading his seed however he places very little if no priority on taking care of it. This media creation is not looking to commit and is a bad boy by all means. The problem lies in the fact this is the man that many seek to be and to be with. I cannot count the times I have heard women say they need someone who is rough and can handle them or they didn't want to date a guy because he was "too nice" I also have ran into many women who fell in love with the bad boy, had lots of children and depend on the state to either help them take care of their children or enforce child support from that "rough"man that they fell it love with. In addition I see a plethora of young men who are imitating styles, mannerisms, and other behavior that they think is associated with being a man. Being a man in an urban area often equates with wearing ones pants hanging off of their butts, serving time in prison, dying or killing do prove ones manhood and the list goes on and on. A genuine man works to provide for his needs and the needs of those that belong to his household.
In the book of Genesis Chapter 2:15 we see that the first man had a job. His duties consisted of tending to the habitat in which God placed him in. EVERY man that is physically able should work if at all possible. A real man is not looking to be taken care of. He uses what is within his resources to make a living Secondly a real man will take care of what belongs to him that includes his offspring and the person he chooses to be in a covenant relationship with. A real man does not walk away from his responsibilities as a father and provider. He is careful to look out for the spiritual, physical, and emotional care of his family. Thirdly a real man will stand for what is right and his willing to defend it. Have you ever been in a situation where you were surrounded by males and a MAN was needed to stand up but no one did? Mankind was God's Greatest creation he was created to lead, subdue, and be righteous. The absence of men that are equipped and prepared to lead has led to the downfall of the family and communities. His absence has made it possible for imposters to take his place and mislead the masses and take advantage of many. Men that are really doing their jobs have been clumped together with those that are not by bitter parties and have been labeled no good. The strange thing about that is close examination more than likely has not been done and what looked like a man has been accepted instead of the real thing. In order for us to truly know what a man is we need to examine the scriptures, refer back to a time when men knew their roles as fathers, husbands, leaders, and mentors and accept no imitations.
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Emotions Doubt &Fear

As God's SPECIAL creation we are Spiritual, Physical and Emotional. We fight a constant battle
trying to maintain balance in our lives. Sometimes
the flesh is victorious while other times our spiritual
selves is the guiding force within our life. What happens when our Emotions take over? Think back to all the decisions that you made and closely examine the ones that were made in the heart of the moment when your emotions were running wild. Did you notice that those decisions were not made with much care and that the outcome more than likely was not the best for your situation. Emotions can be tricky at times, they do not always guide you in the way that you should go. Emotions have two cousins that often get us into trouble especially if we are trying to conquer a problem defeat an enemy that is in our lives. The first cousin of Emotion is doubt. Websters dictionary defines doubt as being uncertain and not sure. How many decisions have we made when we had that gut feeling that it wasn't right? Whenever you are in doubt you need to stop and consult the creator to make sure that the decision is the correct one. There is however a bad side to doubt. There are things that children of the most high are promised. We are told not to worry because God tells us he will take care of everything YET how many of us have worried ourselves into the hospital? When God gives us his guarantee on something we need to go forth like we already have it because his promises are firm and unquestionable. The second cousin to emotion is fear. II Timothy 1:7 in his letter to Timothy a young minister in the Gospel Paul tells him that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. It is natural to be afraid however letting fear rule your life is contradictory to the word of God. Fear should not govern our decisions or send us cowering. When we dwell in fear we discount the trust that we should have in God. Trust God and don't lean on your emotions when making life changing decisions or be led by doubt & fear. LIVE LOVE & LEARN

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Make It Happen!

How many of us have uttered the words I wish I could get my BIG break? There are millions of people sitting and waiting for the dreams to come true but that's just the problem all they are doing is waiting. James 2:20 states that faith without works is dead. That BIG BREAK is going to require a lot of hard work sacrifice and sleepless nights! Personally I have spent the last 7 months on my life pursuing a Masters Degree in a field that I really have no interest in because I thought it was safe.I spent many long nights writing papers for classes while I could have been putting that same time and energy into building my Dynasty. We are currently in one of the worst financial states of the history of our country yet millionaires are still being made. While the regular man or woman is sitting scratching their heads leaders are MAKING IT HAPPEN! The people who are going to be on top when the rough times are over are the ones who are working day and night. The biggest organizations will be the ones who are continuing to build. Now is the time to WORK TOGETHER. We need to be combining our resources and pushing one another ahead. This is not an easy task because one has to walk away from the ME syndrome and embrace the US mentality. Who is in your circle of influence? Who are you working with? Who has a dream that you can align yourself with. The best way to move forward is to help someone else attain their goals. ITS TIME TO MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!
LIVE LOVE &LEARN
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Watch, Remember,Teach

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Deuteronomy 4:9 Moses speaking to the children of Israel reminded them to be obedient to God and to keep his statues. He encouraged them to remember the GREAT works that God had done for them and how he rescued them from their enemies. He encouraged them to remember that there were those who were with them that did not make it because they chose to follow other Gods. Three things that I want to talk about in his speech are how he said they should WATCH, REMEMBER and TEACH. I am often chastised because people say that I am too quiet. I admit that I am an introvert but I believe that it is important to be aware of your surroundings and the people in them. As I look out into my community I see many things; crime, neglect, depression, hopelessness. I also see trust, sincerity and love in the faces of the children that I work with every day. One thing that is scarce is strong warriors that are watching over the village. Where are the watchmen? Who is guarding over the city? Some people may say that the police do a good job of keeping us safe but normally they come after the law has been broken and many people are not cooperative with them. There was once a time in our communities where men protected the village, everyone knew each other, strangers were scrutinized and enemies were locked out and flushed out. It seems that these days no one is watching the borders and anyone can go in and out of the city without being noticed.

We need to be more observant of the people that are in our village/city. The watchmen know who are in their city and they alert the people when an enemy is in their midst. Fear has stopped the watchmen from doing his job as well as partnering with the enemy to sell the people out. If enough havoc is brought unto a person that is not willing to die to protect their own he will cave and cower. If you dangle enough carrots in front in front of the donkey he will eventually walk to your beat. Remove the watchmen and you are open to all sorts of danger. Moses also encouraged the Israelites to remember. Remember how far you have come from, your triumphs, and how you were rescued from your enemies. I am saddened when I ask children about their history and they have no idea of where they came from. The trials of their ancestors seem to be something that was simply put into a history book for them to study. They have no idea that the blood of their ancestors have allowed them to have many of the privileges that they take for granted. There as others that simply don't want to remember the pain that they have experienced so they submerge it and others want to be seen as perfect and spotless so they don't share any of their shortcomings or or faults that they have triumphed over. If we fail to remember we will repeat the mistakes of those before us. Finally we need to be teachers. We teach every day of our lives! You don't have to be certified to lead someone in the path that is safe for them. You don't have to have a doctorate to educate someone.All of us are teachers whether we embrace it or not! If we fail to prepare our children they will fall and they will fall HARD! We need a new breed of watchmen. Who will accept the challenge?

Live Love&Learn

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belmertwan@twitter.com

Back in the Dayz

I remember sitting with my grandmother who I affectionately call Ma Ma and listening to her and her brothers and sisters talk about the transition from Mississippi. They recalled memories of how many made the journey to Chicago in hopes of a better life. A vivid point of their memories was the fact that there was one house where everyone would journey to, a sort of transitional place that you could stay and save money so that you could get on your feet and make it on your own. Listening to these historical accounts taught me the importance of loving and supporting each other. They showed me the importance of the extended family and how it is important to help each other get on their feet. That was back in the day. As time progressed families got smaller, people attained more education, values changed and the income level of many increased. As a country many of us have more than our relatives ever had yet we have lost the loving relationships in our families and our morals continue to take a nose dive. What happened to the days where we supported each other in EVERYTHING that we did? What happened to the traditions and stories that the elders passed down that made us better people? Have they been replaced with the every man for himself mentality? There was a time when three families could live in the same house until they could all could afford to have a house of their own but that doesn't happen too much. There was also a time when people could pool their money together and buy real estate that the entire family could benefit from. WHAT HAPPENED? Could it be that some people were more concerned with being on top than the health of the family as a unit? What happened to the days when EVERYONE looked out for each others children? If you got out of line any adult that your parents were cool with could straighten you out. These days parents don't want ANYONE to say ANYTHING to their precious little darlings but when they raise hell and end up in a bind they are quick to ask the family, the church and the school for help. WHAT HAPPENED? We need the MaMa's, Auntie's ,Uncles and the family friends that are not afraid to tell the truth and put you in your place. We need to love each other enough to support each other in all our endeavors. We need to have sense enough to pool our resources together to weather the storm. We need to be loving one another, encouraging one another, and building one another up. Bring the good old days back we certainly need them!

STATE OF EMERGENCY

The village is burning! Every time you
turn on the news some innocent person
has been shot. Unemployment is at
an all time high. URBAN TERRORIST
are killing men, women and children
via crack cocaine, kush, meth, and
gunfire yet nothing substantial is
being done about it! We have a
black president who many thought of
as their savior but when they realized
they had to be part of the solution
they said he didn't change anything.
we are in a STATE OF EMERGENCY and the capital is currently burning. When teachers are looked at as the main reason children are failing its a STATE OF EMERGENCY. Education starts in the womb not once children can be shipped off to an all day school program. When sex tapes are the way to become a celebrity we are in a STATE OF EMERGENCY. Sex is suppose to be something special between people in a covenant not shared on a browser. When a young girls goal is to be a video vixen we are in a STATE of EMERGENCY. Young ladies used to be groomed to be doctors, lawyers, homemakers etc but these days they settle for being the item of the week for a cheap meal and a bargain basement purse! When a welfare check is a way of life we are in a STATE OF EMERGENCY. II Thessalonians 3:10 states that if a man doesn't work he should not eat. The free mentality has destroyed our country and communities. When political correctness has replaced truth we are in a STATE of EMERGENCY. Soothing lies slowly poison the nation.
Today is the day, the hour is NOW! There will be casualties in this war! It's time to rise up and start the revolution! Will we get up and fight or will we continue to let our communities burn, our families be destroyed and our future held in bondage? We need soldiers that are ready to mount up and do battle! We need people who are willing to be light that cast out darkness!

Rise up and be VICTORIOUS part 2

Buried by your past
"Don't allow your past to be your grave"

If the past is not dealt with it can be used to bury
you! How many times have we seen celebrities
have their names dragged through the mud
because they didn't deal with issues from their past?
Many individuals are tormented by experiences
that they have gone through early in life. Some
issues can range from neglect as a child, rape,
abandonment, and the list goes on and on. We all
have had to deal with a mountain at one time or
another but when pieces from that mountain begin
to crumble and bury you it is a different ball game.
How many young men that end up incarcerated
have laid the blame on their absent fathers? They
have buried themselves and their futures with
the lack of guidance from a strong make figure! How
many women pick no good men to marry and have
children with because any man will do? They have allowed
the lack of LOVE from a man bury their love lives and cloud
their decision making progress! These illustrations happen
everyday. Many people are buried alive and suffocating!
They would rather drown in dirt than deal with hurt. There
comes a time when you have to reach out of the grave and
begin to claw your way out. Emerge like a ball held under water!
Genesis 26:15 mentions that the wells of Abraham that were
covered by the Philistines. Water is essential to survival when
you allow the Philistines of your life to cover/bury you, you
risk drying up and being eternally BURIED. Make a decision
to break free from the past because its a brutal task master!
Live Love and Learn

Rise up and be VICTORIOUS part 1

Burial typically symbolizes the end of the mile.
Its a time when the family gathers to say its last goodbye.
Its also a time when those that are emotional get VERY
emotional. Some people even go as far as to scream take me with you! Normally people that are that overcome with grief like that fall into two groups: they have not made peace with the person of they do not understand death however there are some exceptions. A Burial is not always a bad thing. In the Christian faith believers are said to be buried with Christ in Baptism (Colossians 2:12) and are promised that they will rise and live again eternally. Throughout this life there are many ways we can be buried in a bad way. For the course of this discussion I will talk about them for a few post. Many people become lost in their past which is very dangerous. Listed are some ways that we can become buried in our past.
Many people are buried by the absence of a mother or father figure in their lives.
Others are buried with the abuse and hurt of their past.
Failure buries and prevents people from moving forward.
Many people miss GREAT opportunities and are buried because
of it.
People become buried with the mistakes that they have made in
the past and cannot get over them.
These are just a few things to examine tomorrow I will address a strategy for tackling some of these issues until then LIVE, LOVE and LEARN.
In Love
Antwan

Me Myself and I loving yourself enough to be comfortable alone!

If you don't love yourself be assured that no one else will but GOD. All of us have quirks that we don't like I have a scar that I got from high school a bump on my lip that I got from falling when I was young but that's nothing that a quick session of photoshop can't fix LOL. Loving myself is the most valuable lesson that I have learned while growing up. People who do not fit the status quo are often tormented throughout their school careers and I was no exception I simply did not fit in. My individuality and the words of my paternal grandmother who stated "Don't try to be like anyone else helped me to stay true to myself. I encourage everyone to fall in love with yourself. Smile at yourself! Walk by the mirror and wink. If there is something that you truly do not like that can be adjusted make a plan to change it. Our quirks are what makes us unique. Remember God did not make any mistakes. Live Love and Learn!

Don't Let Fear Paralyze you!

Fear
Fear is a paralyzing force that makes you come to a standstill once it has thrown its anchor down.

• Fear is the cause that many great wars have been lost.
• Fear is at the root of many dreams being crushed.
• Fear is the chain that keeps many locked into relationships that are unhealthy.
• Fear must be abolished in order to step into your destiny.