Despicable Slaughter of the Innocent in Newtown, Connecticut

This weekend my husband and I spent time with my sister and brother-in-law who brought a group of kids from their church and a few in the community to see the show “Medieval Times” at Broadway on the Beach. Right after we finished having lunch, one of the patrons at the restaurant told us about the tragedy that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School this morning. As with any decent human being would feel, our hearts dropped and we began to pray for the victims and everyone affected by this unspeakable act.

As we talked about the kids who we were with this weekend, watching the excitement and awe in their faces, our hearts ached for the horrific news about the innocent lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School this morning. Whether at Columbine High School, Virginia Tech or the deadliest school massacre in U.S. history that occurred in 1927 at Bath Township Elementary School in Michigan, lives will never be the same.

“Why” is always the resounding word that comes after the initial shock of such a horrific occurrence. However, nothing dispels the fact that evil is evil and there is no proper way of putting it. You can’t label it, you can’t comprehend it and you can’t explain the perpetrator’s motives . We ask this day and all the days of our lives that we shall put on our whole armor of God, be diligent in our prayer life and strengthen our relationship with God! We can’t walk around in fear each day, but we must walk in faith and believe in our protection from The LORD.

We pray for God to grant encouragement, comfort and hope in each of the lives affected by this morning’s tragic events. These killing sprees must end. God’s power conquers the Devil’s powers. We have access to God’s powers or the Devil’s curse. It’s up to us to choose which one to relate to and embrace. As long as we live we may not ever be able to eradicate the presence of evil, but we have the ability to bring down and destroy it with the power we ask God to give us. 

The End of a 12-Year Run!

Well, we have seen the arrival of 12/12/12, which if some of you remember when Y2K arrived, there were vast predictions of the impeding “doomsday” scenario among many conversations around the world! A coworker of mine brought up an interesting point that made me reflect differently about number-related dates as we have witnessed over the course of the past 12 years. How interesting these comparisons are.

January 1, 2001 – 1/1/1

February 2, 2001 – 2/2/2

March 3, 2003 – 3/3/3

April 3, 2004 – 4/4/4

May 5, 2005 – 5/5/5

June 6, 2006 – 6/6/6 (Wonder if this day put the fear of God in some people’s hearts)

July 7, 2007 – 7/7/7

August 8, 2008 – 8/8/8

September 9, 2009 – 9/9/9

October 10, 2012 – 10/10/10

November 11, 2011 – 11/11/11

December 12, 2012 – 12/12/12

One thing is for certain, we will not see this type of occurrence again in our lifetime that would happen in 12 consecutive years. But wait, what about other similar numerical incidences during the last century? They only cover a scope of 9 years, but not successively. They were all 11 years apart!

September 9, 1999 – 9/9/99

August 8, 1988 – 8/8/88

July 7, 1977 – 7/7/77

June 6, 1966 – 6/6/66 (Bet this day scared the crap out of a few people)

May 5, 1955 – 5/5/55

April 4, 1944 – 4/4/44

March 3, 1933 – 3/3/33

February 2, 1922 – 2/2/22

January 1, 1911 – 1/1/11

Of course, we can continue to go back further into history to find numerical similarities among certain months, on certain days, in certain years. However, from 2001 to 2012, this is the only time in my lifetime where I will see a consecutive 12-year mono-numerical significance, which gave me an intuitive moment to pause. I was aware of our 12-year pattern of fixated numbers, but I never stopped to take all of this in!

Now this was certainly a “things that make you go hmmmm….moment!" Not quite the end of the world!

Attitude, Gratitude and Overall Thanksgiving

Although we will celebrate the national holiday of Thanksgiving Day on Thursday November 22, 2012 may we always be reminded of giving thanks every day of the year. Many people expressed their beliefs about not celebrating Thanksgiving Day, because this particular day is not in the Holy Bible. If they were to read their Bibles however, and ask God for revelation and understanding, then they would know that “thanksgiving” is clearly defined in The Word.

Unfortunately, the comprehension of what thanksgiving means has been overshadowed by much commercialism. We have our meals with our families, but by the time we finish with our deserts, then we are off to other activities where those heartfelt moments of thanksgiving are lost before the day is done!

I was listening to a Thanksgiving message this morning, “Overflowing with Gratitude” by Dr. Charles Stanley, that put into perspective the reason why we should be thankful and give thanks every single day we breathe! Being thankful is being grateful. He outlined the characteristics and evidence of a grateful heart, which made me do a self-examination of my gratitude. I would like to share those points with you.

1. Positive attitude
2. Aware of God’s presence
3. Have a humble spirit
4. Have a sense of peacefulness even in the midst of a storm
5. Be thoughtful of others
6. Have a generous spirit
7. Be unselfish
8. Be expressive about your gratitude and feel free to share your story
9. Be friendly
10. You will be contagious. Your heart will connect to the heart of others.
11. Be motivated to give, serve and share.
12. Have a servant’s spirit
13. Have a high level of faith
14. Have the spirit of fruitfulness
15. Be joyful

Last year, I made a commitment to keep a Gratitude Journal for an entire year and posted it: "What Keeps You Grounded." This made me stop and avoid sweating the small stuff. When I did this, I found the beauty of the things that were right, instead of harping on the things that were wrong. When I found things that were wrong, I tried to find a solution to making it right, instead of making a big deal about how wrong and crazy it was. If it was not in my power to make it right, then I had to walk away and not allow it to take away my joy and gratitude.

So yep, I will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day this year as I always do, because I do it naturally every day of the year anyway. There was a song we used to sing in church when I was growing up that was called “Count Your Blessings, See What God Has Done!” There were far too many for me to name and far too many for me to count one by one. I will never be able to keep up with them, because the blessings are happening even when I am not aware that they are. The blessings are infinite and until it’s time for me to depart this life as I know it here on earth, I will continue to keep an attitude of gratitude and truly know from where my help comes from. This keeps me grounded, humble and gives me peace! 

This Thanksgiving Day, it’s not all about the food, the Native Americans or the Pilgrims, but about how sincerely grateful I am! Have an awesome Thanksgiving Day everyone!

“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.”

- 2 Thessalonians 1:3 (NIV)

The Veterans by Rudyard Kipling

"The Veterans"

By Rudyard Kipling

To-day, across our father’s graves,

The astonished years reveal

The remnant of that desperate host

Which cleansed our East with steel.

Hail and farewell! We greet you here,

With tears that none will scorn,

O Keepers of the House of old,

Or ever we were born!

One service more we dare to ask,

Pray for us, heroes, pray,

That when Fate lays on us our task

We do not shame the Day!

May we never forget the sacrifice that so many military personnel gave for our country. May God bless them and their families for enduring such a sacrifice. Our hearts ache with those families who lost love ones, who fought on the battlefields. May we be better and more united because of this. We salute our veterans and we thank you for your service!

*This poem is in public domain.

Storms Do Not Discriminate

According to Wikipedia, a storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical body’s atmosphere especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather. It may be marked by strong wind, hail, thunder and/or lightning, heavy precipitation, strong winds or wind transporting some substance through the atmosphere. Storms generally lead to negative impacts to the lives and property, such as storm surge, heavy rain or snow, lightning, wildfires and vertical wind shear.

Tragically, we do not give credence to the fact that everyone will experience some type of storm(s) during the course of their lives, whether it is physical, materialistic, weather related or spiritual. Some type of conflict can invoke a storm, which can intensify to various levels of a storm. This intensity depends on the updraft that will either ignite chaos and confusion, or stir up the will to band together and create a community of people rebuilding for the common good.

As we witness with the post tumult of Hurricane Sandy’s furor, we find that many victims are consumed with rage, turning them into monsters instead of supporters. Terror and desperation from the lack of food, gas and electricity, (some of the those necessities that we take for granted) is causing people to fight, turn on each other and even to commit horrific crimes just to survive.

As we look at the path of destruction that Hurricane Sandy, along with other natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Hugo, the major tornados that struck areas that usually do not get tornado activity, as well as the tsunamis that hit Japan and India, we see that these storms did not discriminate. Young and old, rich and poor, male and female, educated and illiterate were hit with the agony of feeling defeated due to the pattern of storm activity that surround every individual.

Another thing that is not discriminatory is God’s love. So often we lack the ability to see His love when we are in the midst of grieving and suffering. When we seek God’s guidance and direction in situations that look grim and hopeless, it is then that He will grant us peace to get through these tough situations and circumstances, so that we could lend a helping hand to others who may really need it.

Psalm 119:81-83 (NIV)

My soul faints with longing for your salvation,

    but I have put my hope in your word.

82 My eyes fail, looking for your promise;

    I say, “When will you comfort me?”

83 Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,

    I do not forget your decrees.

Is Beauty Really Skin Deep?

Recently, I saw a report on television about a new trend in beauty that is exploding and becoming a multibillion-dollar industry in the Asian market. This particular trend is nothing new, but poses great concern to a stereotype that continues to be disturbing and deemed acceptable among certain ethnicities for centuries. This common thought process has and can continue to create resentment among cultures, a false sense of success, a coerced attraction to the physical appearance, while at the same time, lowering the self-esteem and status of many people.

I worked in the fashion and beauty industry at many levels for 28 years. During that time I saw people go to extremes to either cosmetically enhance their bodies or lighten their skin for all of the wrong reasons. As I continue to watch the growing trend of many people (particularly women of darker skin tones) who buy into the belief that the lighter your skin is, the richer, prettier, purer and more successful you are, I also see an increased element of depression, self-destruction, resentment and remorse that can result in deep regrets.

While it is important to improve the areas that you feel you need to in your life, whether spiritual, mental, physical or emotional, you should always embrace the beautiful creature that God created you to be. As an African American, I understand how such misconceptions can cause people to delineate the part of their history that shaped who they are. I understand the significance of why many people are attracted to the physical attributes they feel will add greater validation to their lives. At the same time, it also adds to the stress of upkeep, while trying to fit in and be accepted in a world that will not recognize or accept them…the great pretenders. All too often, when we are caught up in the game of pretending, we can become entrapped in a dark place and find it increasingly hard to either let go of or to escape from.

I think about my all time favorite, classic movie, “Imitation of Life” and realize how tragic it is to try to be someone else, while you are missing all of the beauty and blessings that can abound in your life, if you would only embrace who you are. If such physical enhancements are done for corrective or reconstruction purposes, then I think that is completely acceptable. However, to change your physical appearance to take on a false identity to try to force your square peg to fit in a round hole will only add greater heartache to an already fragile situation. Do not lose your born identity unless it is for self-improvement and not based on a preconceived idea or notion by someone else.

Be true to yourself and be yourself. Beauty is in the heart and spirit. Regardless of how much you pay for aging or skin lightening creams, if you are blessed to live a long life, then there is no potion that can change your age.

Celebrating National Custodial Worker Day

One of the most under-appreciated professions in existence is that of a Custodian. Today is National Custodial Worker Day in which we recognize individuals who clean and maintain residential or commercial buildings.

Thank You to all of our Custodial Workers everywhere!

It is unfortunate that many people believe that custodial workers are uneducated, poor people and that by all means is far from the truth. By speaking to many people who work in this field, you learn that there is something awe-inspiring about the humbleness this position can bring. Many years ago, a friend of mine asked if I would like to help clean up a building with her, because she did not have enough manpower to finish the job in a given time allotment. I happily obliged, although people at the time thought I was demeaning myself, because I was working in an upper level management position that required me to be dressed to the nines every day. On the contrary, the thought really didn’t occur to me, because this was not something that I was above.

No doubt, custodial work is laborious and not the most appealing job at first sight, but it is unquestionably vital to public presentations, health regulations and spiritual groundedness. Each time you go into a public restroom, please be cognizant of the fact that you should not recklessly create a mess and expect someone else to clean it up, just because they are paid to do so. While it is true that someone is paid to clean up, try putting yourself in their shoes if you had to clean that area up.

If everyone responded in a manner of respect for the position of a custodian when they use public restrooms in particular, they would embrace the compassion that comes along with human respect and dignity. Don’t ever turn your nose up or look down on positions like sewage workers, waste collectors, house cleaners or janitors. They are not castaways, but ordinary people making an honest living, and unbeknown to others, many of them are financially wealthy. Unless it is a book, never judge people by their cover. They may be an angel in disguise!

Happy World Gratitude Day!

Today is World Gratitude Day. Today is an opportunity for everyone to stop, celebrate and show your gratitude and expressions of Thanksgiving. Today reminds me of a special project I did last year, What Keeps You Grounded? that made me stop and focus on things regardless of how great or small, that I had to take the time to be grateful for. Even with something as simple as breathing, I am eternally grateful for the chance to get up and make a contribution for the good of man and womankind!

Make this a great and awesome day everyone!

We Fall Down, But We Get Up!

Remembering 9/11

A Day We Cannot Forget

A Time We Rose From the Ashes!

Happy Labor Day!

You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.
- Psalm 128:2

Labor Day occurs on the first Monday in September. Each year, this holiday gives us the opportunity to pay tribute and honor the contributions workers made to the strength, well-being and prosperity of the United States of America. Let us take pride in doing an outstanding job, no matter what that job may be, in a manner that is pleasing in God’s eyes and a testament to your character and dignity.

Happy Labor Day everyone! Peace & Blessings to you and your family on this day and every day throughout the year!

They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them.
- Isaiah 65:23

The G Series

When walking or working out, an athlete friend of mine recommended that I drink Gatorade to quench my thirst and to avoid cramping that sometimes come from exercising. Gatorade developed the G Series, a drink designed to rehydrate, replenish and refuel, for athletes and high performance activities. Gatorade works in three stages:

1. Prime
2. Perform
3. Recover

This drink contains electrolytes and carbs. It is tagged “The Thirst Quencher!” Indeed while walking, working out in my Zumba class or when I need an energy boost due to dehydration, I whip out my favorite flavor of Gatorade and drink away.

The good folks at Gatorade probably did not intend for their “G Series” to have any spiritual significance to it, but metaphorically speaking it gave me a special message. My personal “G Series” is my God Series. When I get spiritually thirsty, I have to rely on the Living Water to quench my parched spirit. I am reminded of this verse from John 4:14:

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

The parts of my G Series are (1) Gratitude, (2) Giving and (3) Glorifying God. I learned throughout my years of continued spiritual growth that whenever I want to quench my spiritual thirst, I go for my “G Series” bottle to satisfy my thirst.

Inspirational Quote by Mahatma Gandhi

"Learn as if you were going to live forever. Live as if you were going to die tomorrow."

- Mahatma Gandhi

Brutal Senselessness That Traumatized Many

It never ceases to amaze me that in the thick of our daily trials and tribulations, there is always some horrific event that shatters our world and communities. In the interim of trauma, suffering and healing, how we approach and embrace life is forever changed.

What happened in Aurora, Colorado two nights ago during the premier of “The Dark Knight Rises,” cannot be justified one iota! A 24-year-old man went on a shooting rampage, declaring that he was the character “The Joker” portrayed in the movie. There were innocent people bringing their families to see a movie for goodness sakes and many who would never walk out of that theater again.

I listened to some doctors on TV, who are giving the shooter (and I am intentionally not mentioning his name) a label for his behavior! What? I think this is a problem! When people do horrific and evil things like this, they are “EVIL.” Yes, I do believe that some things we deal with in life can make us snap and behave in an inappropriate, depressing or dehumanizing manner at some point. However, sometimes I also feel that when people are given labels describing certain patterns of their behavior, this gives them the green light to act the way they do or to be as brutal and insulting to others, all due to that “label” an expert gives to them.

Let us pray (and yes I did say PRAY) for God to grant strength and peace to every victim, directly and indirectly targeted and affected by this mass murderer. The bullets that sprayed from the assault weapon this guy brought into the theater did not care whether the victim was a Democrat or Republican, Christian or Agnostic, Anglo-Saxon or Biracial, rich or poor, young or old.

It seems rather obvious, that the damage this assassin inflicted on so many innocent lives was premeditated, because he also had his apartment methodically booby-trapped to wipe out law enforcement and possibly other residents in his apartment building. Evil will always be prevalent, but that does not make it acceptable to shatter thousands of lives and livelihoods regardless of where, when or why!

Happy Birthday America!

The sheer poetry of who we are and what our country represents is of historical proportions. Commemorate this day remembering our past, celebrating our present and building a healthy, prosperous future. Happy 4^th of July!

"America the Beautiful"

Written by Katharine Lee Bates,

Melody by Samuel Ward

O beautiful for spacious skies, 

For amber waves of grain, 

For purple mountain majesties 

Above the fruited plain! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

And crown thy good with brotherhood 

From sea to shining sea! 

O beautiful for pilgrim feet 

Whose stern impassioned stress

A thoroughfare of freedom beat 

Across the wilderness! 

America! America! 

God mend thine every flaw, 

Confirm thy soul in self-control, 

Thy liberty in law! 

O beautiful for heroes proved 

In liberating strife. 

Who more than self their country loved

And mercy more than life! 

America! America! 

May God thy gold refine 

Till all success be nobleness 

And every gain divine! 

O beautiful for patriot dream 

That sees beyond the years 

Thine alabaster cities gleam 

Undimmed by human tears! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

And crown thy good with brotherhood 

From sea to shining sea! 

O beautiful for halcyon skies, 

For amber waves of grain, 

For purple mountain majesties 

Above the enameled plain! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

Till souls wax fair as earth and air 

And music-hearted sea! 

O beautiful for pilgrims feet, 

Whose stem impassioned stress 

A thoroughfare for freedom beat 

Across the wilderness! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

Till paths be wrought through 

wilds of thought 

By pilgrim foot and knee! 

O beautiful for glory-tale 

Of liberating strife 

When once and twice, 

for man's avail 

Men lavished precious life! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

Till selfish gain no longer stain 

The banner of the free! 

O beautiful for patriot dream 

That sees beyond the years 

Thine alabaster cities gleam 

Undimmed by human tears! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

Till nobler men keep once again 

Thy whiter jubilee! 

Happy Middle of the New Year!

NEWSFLASH!!! As shocking as it may seem half of the year 2012 is over! So what about that New Year’s Resolution that you boldly declared was going to happen before 2012 rolled in? This resolution was one you obviously thought about changing or accomplishing, but where do you stand with accomplishing your resolutions? Did you abandon them or are you proud to say that you will be able to mark them off your list by December 31, 2012?

If you find that you abandoned those resolutions, then why? What happened to that excitement of ringing in the New Year with expectancy and hope of making a change that would positively change your life or that of others? What happened to that resolution? Is it half-empty or half complete? If you have yet to do anything, then what are you waiting for? Do not allow your energy, enthusiasm and discipline to wane! If we run into an unexpected and harrowing roadblock or setback, we must realize that these are only a setup for a blessing and an opportunity. However, that will only happen if you do not give up.

From Homeless to Harvard – Disadvantaged High Schooler Beats the Odds

Posted By Dave Halliday

Beliefnet.com

Original Post -

http://blog.beliefnet.com/goodnews/2012/06/from-homeless-to-harvard-high-school-whiz-beats-the-odds.html#ixzz1xQOy6vEp

David Boone is both smart and charming. If you see him now, you’d never realize that he’d been homeless through part of high school. But against the odds–including having to sleep on the streets some nights–he has excelled at math and science, earning him a spot at Harvard.

“I promised myself I wouldn’t cry at Graduation. But then I realized that what’s everyone says before they start crying,” he said. Watch his touching story below!

Students Walk For The W3 Project

The students from Indian Trail Elementary School took the W3 World Water Day Challenge and made a difference by donating the miles they walked, in order to give clean drinking water to people around the world who do not have access to it. These kids are amazing and an inspiration to us! Thank you administrators, parents, teachers and most importantly these courageous students who stepped up to the plate to contribute to a worthwhile cause!

Remembering Our Fallen Heroes

Today is not just another day that many people have off from work and school. Today is not just another day for cooking out or shopping for some great deals. This is a day to remember our fallen heroes, who served in our armed forces for this country. If it wasn’t for the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for us to enjoy the freedoms that we often take for granted day in and day out, we would resemble many war-torn regions that we see in the news today.

May we be reminded that if it was not by the grace of God, freedom would be only a mere thought instead of a constant reality. Thank you to all of our military personnel who served in the past, present and future. We salute you and honor you, not only just on this day, but every day throughout the year!

Happy Memorial Day!

Claire Lomas Makes A Lasting Impression In The London Marathon 16 Days Later!



Claire Lomas Finishes the London Marathon



They call her the Bionic Woman. I say she has amazing dedication, determination and is an inspiration. Claire Lomas, who became paralyzed from the chest down during a fall from a horse riding accident in 2007, completed the London Marathon 16 days after the race began. Although she will not receive the type of fanfare that the winner of the London Marathon received, nor will she appear in the official results to qualify for a metal, since you have to finish the course on the same day as the marathon to qualify, there were scores of supporters cheering her on when she crossed that finish line on the 16th day.

Claire became paralyzed when she broke her neck, back, ribs and punctured a lung during the Osberton Horse Trials in Nottinghamshire, when she was thrown from her horse. She wore a ReWalk suit for the marathon, designed by Amit Goffer, which enables people with lower-limb paralysis to walk, stand or climb through motion sensors and an onboard computer system. She is on a mission to raise money for Spinal Research, a charity funding global medical research to develop reliable treatment for individuals suffering from paralysis. Claire is the first person to complete any marathon using the ReWalk Bionic Suit.

When I read stories about the fighting spirit that people who face extremely tough obstacle courses, refuse to falter and take each part of the course one step at a time, then with the ability to use all of my faculties without the use of a ReWalk suit, I have no excuse but to strive to be my best!

Hats off to you Claire Lomas, for being an inspiration to those who want to give up due to their spinal injuries and challenges those of us who use the word “can’t” too liberally. Thank you!

Happy Mother's Day!

Today we celebrate Mother's Day! What an incredible day to celebrate and honor women and mothers! The Ten Commandments reminds us to honor our mothers, but what are you doing to honor your mother, aside from Mother's Day? Regardless of whether your mother is living or passed away, we cannot forget to pay homage to what  the memory and importance of "mother" means to us!

Happy Mother's Day!

Poetry Readings, Events and Symposiums for Week of May 13

What a lovely time to enjoy the essence of poetry this month. May is a time when the flowers start to burst in their colorful spring kaleidoscope practically every where we turn. The spirit of the great outdoors and drinking in the power of poetry for the spring is music to one's ears! Check out a festival or poetry reading near you this month!

May 13, 2012

Kay Ryan

Katonah Village Library

Katonah, NY

katonahpoetry@gmail.com
http://www.katonahpoetry.com

May 16, 2012

MAY DAY with Chris Robin

Taza de Café

New York, NY

212-283-6018
renemtk@gmail.com 
http://tazadecafeny.com

May 16, 2012 

Poetry Feature & Open Mic

Harwood Art Center

NW, Albuquerque, NM

michal_kro@hotmail.com
http://outerchildpoetry.com

May 17, 2012

Vijay Seshadri on W.H. Auden

Poets House

New York, NY

212.431.7920
alex@poetshouse.org
http://poetshouse.org

May 17, 2012

Poetic People Power - 10th Annual Show

Helen Mills Theater

New York, NY

1-800-838-3006
info@poeticpeoplepower.com
http://www.poeticpeoplepower.com 

www.brownpapertickets.com

May 17. 2012

SlamBoo: Middle School Poetry Slam

Lane Middle School

Portland, OR

503-706-9045
charlesdsanderson@gmail.com

May 18, 2012

Circumference Web Launch: HEIM + NOVEY + ROHRER + WEINBERGER

A Public Space  

Brooklyn, NY

http://circumferencemag.org/

May 18-21, 2012

Poetry off the Page Symposium

University of Arizona Poetry Center

Tucson, AZ

520-626-4310

guthrie@email.arizona.eduhttp://poetry.arizona.edu

Team Church Zumba Dance in the Fight Against Domestic Violence

Dania Mazier Tschirhart, Certified Zumba Instructor for Team Church, located in Matthews, North Carolina led Cinco de Mayo Zumba class outdoors to support the victims of domestic violence for Turning Point. Everyone wore purple in solidarity.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Team Church Zumba Supports Turning Point of Union County

PRLog (Press Release) - May 08, 2012 - 

On Saturday May 5, 2012, Team Church Zumba members gathered together to bring gently used clothing, shoes, toys, household items, jewelry, books, furniture and other assorted items to donate to Turning Point, a cause that is near and dear to their hearts. Turning Point is a mission located in Monroe, North Carolina that is committed to providing victims of domestic violence and their dependent children with safe shelter, while they learn how to break free from the oppressive grip of their abuser.

Dania Mazier Tschirhart, Certified Zumba Instructor for Team Church located in Matthews, North Carolina led Saturday’s Zumba class outdoors to lift up their voices for the voiceless victims. Donations came pouring into the parking lot drop off point one car at a time. Zumba members wore the color purple to show their solidarity to raise awareness and help end the horrors and tragedies resulting from domestic violence.

For many Team Church Zumba attendees, these vivid reminders are all too real. Victims often face guilt, fear and shame. Far too many victims succumb to this horrendous epidemic every single day. Many people ask why these victims do not simply leave. More often than not, leaving is not as simple as grabbing a few things and taking off.  Clearly, it is hard to understand what these victims are going through, unless you have walked in their shoes. Abusers often instill fear in their victims and ultimately use that fear against them. According to the Domestic Violence Resource Center, the following statistics clearly indicate that domestic violence is out of control, unacceptable and deadly. 

•   Women accounted for 85% of the victims of intimate partner violence and men accounted for approximately 15%.

•   Between 600,000 and 6 million women are victims of domestic violence each year, and between 100,000 and 6 million men are victims.

•   Women ages 20-24 are at the greatest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence.

•   Nearly 74% of Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence.

•   On average, more than three women and one man are murdered by their intimate partners in this country every day.

•   Among American families, 50% of the men who frequently assaulted their wives also frequently abused their children.

•   Studies suggest that between 3.3 and 10 million children witness some form of domestic violence annually.

Turning Point is working to turn our community away from domestic violence. To learn more about Turning Point, visit their website at http://www.unioncountyturningpoint.org.  The location of this shelter is not publically shared due to the safety for their clients. For more information on Team Church Zumba, join their social circle https://www.facebook.com/groups/zumbateamchurch/?ref=ts.

Photo:

http://www.prlog.org/11867946/1

Earth Day: From the Beginning

The Holy Bible paints a heavenly portrait of the creation and the reason why we celebrate Earth Day today and every day! Starting with Genesis 1, in the beginning, we see how God strategically created a sustainable and perfect world. God gave humankind dominion over the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air and every living thing that moved upon the earth.

Sometimes, little thought is given to our day-to-day surroundings. We tend to think of our environment, whether personal or communal, as always existing in its undisturbed state. Unless something like a natural disaster occurs, we may not think about the importance of our surroundings.

Thus, we must ask ourselves, how did we manage to literally destroy our habitat and gift from God? How did we allow wastefulness and carelessness to inhabit and deteriorate our environment? How do you feel when you drive to an intersection and see a mound of cigarette butts covering the median like miniature ornaments? How do you feel when you see litter sprawled over the sides of the roads, or where wooded areas become the dumping grounds for things like old toilets and stuff no one wants to dispose of properly?

What can you do to improve your personal and public environment? Have you ever thought that with all of the unexpected climate changes and sudden natural disasters that this may not really be natural, but triggered by our carelessness and thoughtlessness? What can we do make our world more sustainable and safe from the abuse that we put it through day in and day out?

The environmental movement is here and now. We must be mindful that it is up to us to secure a healthy future for the next generation and ourselves. How can we teach and expect responsibility from them, when we are behaving irresponsible ourselves? On this Earth Day, let us stop asking such questions, but start implementing positive and doable solutions.

April is Holy Humor Month

There is something captivating about hearing the laughter of children and admiring the innocence expressed on their faces. With passion, they enjoy and embrace the gift of life! Holy Humor Month recognizes the healing power of Christian joy and celebration. Humor is contagious and according to many, laughter is the best medicine for your mind, body and spirit. Humor helps to strengthen your immune system, diverts depression, relieves stress and pain, as well as boosts your energy levels. A good laugh is medicine for your soul.

Humor helps to heal and renew. It promotes happiness, fun and inspiration. Humor and laughter is associated with an overall sense of well-being. Humor and lightheartedness begets positive emotions. It buffers against negative feelings.


Recognize the power of joy and celebrate Holy Humor Month! Have a good, positive and healthy laugh! No one can steal your joy, although that does not stop him or her from trying!

“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”
- Proverbs 31:25 New Living Translation

Commemorating Good Friday

The Friday before Easter is when we observe Good Friday. It is known as a day of mourning, somberness, the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Some people observe this day through silence, fasting, praying or worshipping.

May the peace, joy and celebration of this Holy Week be a blessing to you and your family on this Good Friday observance!

Today is Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday is the day before the commemoration of Good Friday. It is called Holy Thursday, which is the beginning of the 3-day celebration of Easter. “Maundy” is of Latin derivation and means “mandatum” relating to a commandment. Jesus commanded his Disciples at the last supper to love each other as He loved them. This act of love was displayed in Jesus’ servanthood when he washed the feet of His Disciples and shared the Last Supper, which is the final meal consisting of bread and wine with His Disciples.

Generally, on most calendars we only see Good Friday and Easter labeled, but Maundy Thursday is not. On the night of Maundy Thursday, Jesus is betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Disciples may not have understood the true significance of these events that took place during this period, called The Triduum, but during the course of this time, they came to understand it better by and by.

As we reflect on the this moment in time that affected the lives of everyone then and our lives now, we must look within and ask if we are truly following that last commandment that Jesus instructed His Disciples to do:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another’ as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” - John 13:34 (NKJV)

So often, we revisit this poignant time in Biblical history and have to ask ourselves today, just how different our behavior is compared to that of Judas, the other Disciples or Jesus’ tormentors? This season of watching, waiting and anticipating should make us examine the journey we are walking. In the science of Reflexology, various points in the feet affect various organs and other vital parts of the body. What part of your feet affect the love generated from your heart?

Happy National Cleaning Week!

This week we are celebrating National Cleaning Week, which always occurs during the fourth week in March. This is a time where we get our environment clean…where we live, where we work and anywhere we spend most of our time.

Since we just celebrated the first day of Spring last week on March 20^th, typically everyone is in the mood to toss out, give away or tidy up to make that transformation from Winter to Spring.  We are ready to get out of our winter dormancy and spring forward into newness and action!

Spring is a time of revitalization and letting go of past weights that seem to put you in a state of complacency and pull you into depression! Don’t allow the blues of Winter to drench your spirit and your environment with gloom and despair. Throw in some vibrant colors, whether it’s in your wardrobe, home or outdoor living spaces. You will be amazed just how a dab of color can change the mood of any environment it is introduced in!

Happy National Cleaning Week and Happy Spring Season!

Saluting Derreck Kayongo: Saving Lives with a Bar of Soap!

What do you do with that tiny bit of soap that has melted away with each shower or bath? Have you thought about donating it? Yes, donating your used soap!

Derreck Kayongo, a top ten 2011 CNN Hero, has an Atlanta-based Global Soap Project that collects used hotel soap from across the United States. The soaps are cleaned and reprocessed to be shipped to areas like Uganda, Kenya, Haiti and Swaziland. More than 2 million children die each year from diarrheal illnesses due to poor hygiene. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), these deaths occur primarily among toddlers living in poor countries.

Each year in the United States, hundreds of millions of soap bars are thrown away and end up in landfills. With the support of his wife, friends and many Atlanta-based hotels, Derreck began his Global Soap Project in 2009. Three hundred hotels nationwide have joined the soap collection effort and so far generated 100 tons of soap! The hotel soaps are collected and shipped by volunteers from across the United States, to the group’s warehouse in Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta volunteers assemble at the warehouse on Saturdays, to clean, reprocess and package the bars of soap. A batch of soap bars will only be released once the samples are tested for pathogens and determined to be safe by a third party lab.

Derreck is very familiar with the stress created by poverty and displacement. He fled Uganda with his parents almost 30 years ago due to the mass torture and killings by former Ugandan military dictator Idi Amin. Derreck’s work was recognized by the Atlanta City Council and they declared May 15 as Global Soap Project Day in Atlanta.

We salute you Derreck Kayongo, not because you were chosen as a CNN Hero, but because of your humanitarian effort to make sure that poor children get something as simple as a bar of soap to keep them from dying due to the lack of access to basic sanitation. Find out how you can help with the Global Soap Project. http://www.globalsoap.org/. “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure!”