Song of the Day by Ricky Dillard and New G - Oh How Precious

Easy Recipe for the Day: Betty's Sister's Lasagna Recipe

What Is The New Religion Chrislam?

Written by Faithful Forum on November 25, 2011 11:00 am

Founded by Tela Tella in the 1970s,the sect predominantly exists in Lagos, Nigeria. Its followers recognize both the Bible and the Qur’an as holy texts, and practice “running deliverance,” a distinctive practice of spiritual running which members liken to Joshua’s army that took Jericho, or the Muslim practice of walking around the Ka’aba.

Top 5 Destinations For Outdoor Lovers

“Chrislam”, as the name suggests, is a growing movement wherein some Christians are seeking to find common ground with Muslims,” explains theologian Bill Muehlenberg of the doctrine that began in Nigeria in the 1980s. “Indeed, it actually seeks to combine Christianity with Islam.”

Has Fred Price Jr.’s Crenshaw Mega Church Fallen On Hard Times?
Chrislam has gained significant momentum since the seed was planted nearly three decades ago. Earlier this year Christian communities in Dallas, Chicago, Washington, D.C, and other cities placed Qurans in church pews–right alongside Bibles–and preached about the Prophet Muhammad.

Chrislamists use similarities, such as the monotheistic elements of Christianity and Islam, to unite believers under a common banner. For example, Chrislam advocates point to the mention of Jesus 25 times in the Quran, as well as congruent teachings on morals and ethics. By identifying these supposed parallels, proponents believe they are drawing a spiritual sword to battle atheism and polytheism and solving a deadly conflict in the West.

Psalm 27 Gives Us Strength To Carry On

Bible-believing Christians are rejecting the movement. Tim Forsthoff, senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in Highland, Mich., is one of many speaking out against it. “We are not brothers with those who reject Christ. We are not part of the family of God with those who deny the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,” he stresses.

Some have criticized Chrislam, citing irreconcilable differences between its two component religions, Christianity and Islam. According to Stephen Ellis, who wrote the book, Movers and Shakers: Social Movements in Africa, the fusion of Christianity and Islam, says the religion is “rather exceptional and increasingly so.” According to Sidney M. Greenfield, who wrote the book, Reinventing Religions: Syncretism and Transformation in Africa and the Americas, Chrislam is a logical product of the Yoruba people because they want to be able to work out their own destiny. Because the people of Nigeria are struggling in all areas of life and Chrislam offers miracles and deliverance they see this as a good spiritual way to help them get through every day living.

Could Chrislam the religion of the future?

What is Advent?

posted by faith forums on elev8.com

Advent (from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming”) is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday, called Levavi. The Eastern churches’ equivalent of Advent is called the Nativity Fast, but it differs both in length and observances and does not begin the church year, which starts instead on September 1.



The progression of the season may be marked with an Advent calendar, a practice introduced by German Lutherans. At least in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Methodist calendars, Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25, the Sunday from November 27 to December 3 inclusive.



Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming of Christ. For Christians, the season of Advent serves as a reminder both of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting of Christians for Christ’s return.



The theme of readings and teachings during Advent is often to prepare for the Second Coming while commemorating the First Coming of Christ at Christmas. With the view of directing the thoughts of Christians to the first coming of Jesus Christ as savior and to his second coming as judge, special readings are prescribed for each of the four Sundays in Advent.

Daily Bread: Just Do What's Right

November 28, 2011 — by Joe Stowell on odb.org


 
 
On a trip out of the country, I happened to meet an attorney who was from my hometown in New Jersey. We were surprised at how much we had in common. In the course of the conversation, he asked, “Did you say your name was Stillwell?” I said, “No, it’s Stowell.” He then mentioned that he had a client named Stillwell. “Is it Art Stillwell?” I asked, and, to my surprise, he said yes. Art Stillwell attended my church and was an influential businessman in the community.




The attorney admitted that he had no client quite like Art. He explained that most of his clients want him to do whatever it takes to get them out of their problems, but Art was different. Whenever he asked Art what to do in any given situation, Art always replied, “Just do what’s right!” Obviously it had made an impression on the attorney.



Yielding to Christ in all of our desires and decisions regardless of the outcome is what sets us apart in a world full of people consumed by their own interests. When we live blameless lives “without fault”—courageously reflecting the integrity, love, and grace of Jesus—we clearly “shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15).



So, if you want to light up your world in a compelling way, just do what’s right!

Dim not, little candle,

Show Jesus through me!

Glow brightly till others

The Light clearly see! —Adams

Light up your world by reflecting the light of Jesus.

How To Shop Safely On Cyber Monday

posted by elev8.com

Cyber Monday is approaching and we think you should be extra careful hitting the ‘Submit Order’ buttons during the all too-tempting Cyber Monday sales.

Here are some safety tips:

1.Shop trustworthy websites. If a store sounds shady, it is worth the extra time and effort to check them out. Search for their name on Amazon and see if they have a seller rating. Is their website clean and efficient or thrown together and hard to maneuver? That is another huge red flag- reliable sites usually LOOK reliable. Keep that in mind before pulling the trigger on a purchase.

2.Protect your personal information. Again, if the site is not secure, or just looks plain sketchy- don’t give them your personal information. This really speaks for itself.

3.Confirm that your purchase is secure. When you start the checkout process, look at the URL. Most trusted sites start with https. This means that the transactions will be secure. While this is not a foolproof method, it is a great way to quickly check whether or not your information will be secure.

4.Pay with a credit card. Credit card fees can be disputed. If the company you purchased from turns out to be fraudulent, you have the right to dispute the charges.

5.Keep all records and confirmations. This should go without saying. Always print your confirmation numbers and receipts. Or take a screen shot and save it to your computer. The best way to dispute issues is with evidence. If you have the paperwork to prove things, you’ll feel more secure.

What is your must have item this year?

Song of the Day by trin-i-tee 5:7, gonna get myself together

Our Daily Bread; Feeling Poor

In one way or another, we can all relate to Psalm 86:1 where David says, “I am poor and needy.” Even the richest among us should understand that poverty and need relate more to the spirit than to the wallet. When billionaire Rich DeVos speaks to groups he often says, “I’m just a sinner saved by grace.”

Psalm 86 tells us that the help God provides is not measured by a monetary ledger sheet. When we acknowledge that we are poor and needy, it’s not so God will lavish material riches on us. No, we do so to open the door to other, more valuable treasures.

Here’s what God does for the poor and needy. He will “preserve” our lives and “save” all those who trust in Him (v.2). He will be “merciful” and “ready to forgive” (vv.3,5). He will listen to and answer prayer (vv.6-7).
But we’re not to take God’s blessings without giving back. We have a responsibility to learn God’s ways, walk in His truth, “fear [God’s] name,” praise the Lord, and “glorify [His] name” (vv.11-12).

Do you consider yourself among the “poor and needy”? If so, welcome to the club. Let’s not forget all the spiritual blessings God has for us and the godly response we should have toward His generosity.

We’re thankful for the blessings, Lord,You give us day by day;Now help us show our gratitudeBy walking in Your way. —Sper

The poorest man is he whose only wealth is money.

Our Daily Bread: Singing Bowl

Artist and scientist Michael Flynn designed a singing bowl for display in ArtPrize, an international art competition held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The bowl requires no electricity but it does require something that is in short supply: cooperation.

As I observed people trying to make the bowl sing, I was surprised that none of them bothered to read the directions about rocking it gently. Instead, impatient to make music, they kept trying their own ideas. After a few minutes they walked away frustrated and disappointed, as if the bowl was defective.
How many times, I wonder, do we become frustrated that life isn’t working the way we think it should? We keep trying ways that seem right, but things keep turning out wrong. Instead of following God’s Word, we continue trying to find our own way.

The singing bowl reminds us that we can’t expect life to go well if we ignore the instructions of the Designer (Deut. 4:40). Failing to obey divides us from one another and separates us from God. To fulfill His plan for the world and make the way of salvation known (Ps. 67:2), we need to follow His instructions about living and working peacefully together. When life doesn’t go well, it may be that we’ve stopped following God’s plan.

Sure it takes a lot of courage to put things in God’s hands,To give ourselves completely, our lives, our hopes, our plans;To follow where He leads us and make His will our own;But all it takes is foolishness to go the way alone! —Kline

Life is a beautiful song that God is teaching us to play.

Song of the Day: "I'm Still Holding On" (1984)- Luther Barnes, Red Budd Choir

Our Daily Bread: Verse of the Day

Verse of the Day

“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” Hebrews 12:28 KJV

Song of the Day: I Love the Lord (feat. The Georgia Mass Choir)

Sweet Potato Pie Recipe: How to Make Easy, Southern Sweet Potato Pie

What Are You Thankful for This Thanksgiving?

For the Christian, every day should beThanksgiving Day. We should even be thankful in the midst of problems. TheApostle Paul said, "I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation" (2 Corinthians 7:4). He knew that God was working all things together for his good, even though he was going through trials (Romans 8:28).

Problems will come your way. God will see to it personally that you grow as a Christian. He will allow the storms, to send your roots deep into the soil of His Word. We pray more in the midst of problems, but it's been well said that you will see more from your knees, than you will on your tip toes.

A man once watched a butterfly struggling to get out of its cocoon. In an effort to help it, he took a razor blade, and carefully slit the edge of the cocoon. The butterfly escaped form its problem ... and immediately died.

It is God's way to have the butterfly struggle. It is the struggle that causes its tiny heart to beat fast, and send the life's blood into its wings.

Trials have their purpose. They make us struggle—they bring us to our knees. They are the cocoon in which we often find ourselves. It is there that the life's blood of faith in God helps us spread our wings.

Faith and thanksgiving are close friends. If you have faith in God, you will be thankful because you know His loving hand is upon you, even though you are in a lion's den. That will give you a deep sense of joy, and joy is the barometer of the depth of faith you have in God. Let me give you an example.

Imagine if I said I would give you one million dollars if you ripped out the last page of today's newspaper, and mailed it to me. Of course, you don't believe that I would do that. But imagine if you did. Imagine if you had knowledge of more than 1,000 people who had sent in the page, and every one received their million dollars—no strings attached. More than that. You had actually called me, and I had assured you personally that I would keep my word. If you believed me, wouldn't you have joy? If you didn't believe me—no joy.

The amount of joy you have would be a barometer as to how much you believed my promise.

We have so much to be thankful for. God has given us "exceeding great and precious promises" that are "more to be desired than gold." Do yourself a big favor—believe those promises, thank God continually for them, and "let your joy be full."

An old farmer once had an ungodly relative visit him. After the farmer had bowed his head and thanked God for the food they were about to eat, the relative rudely said, "What did you do that for? There's no God. We live in an age of enlightenment." The old farmer smiled and said, "There is one on the farm who doesn't thank God before he eats." The relative sat up and said, "Who is this enlightened one?" To which the farmer quietly replied, “My pig.”

http://www.christiananswers.net/q-comfort/growing-thanksgiving.html

Dance of the Day: How Great Is Our God

Financial Tip : How to Organize Bills

Dance of the Day: Awesome God (He Reigns) - By Kirk Franklin - By Promise Treasures

Should Chistians have Plastic Surgery?

As I watched the final tear-jerking moments of Extreme Makeover, I couldn’t help but feel envious. While the latest recipient of a plethora of cosmetic enhancement procedures walked into a room full of amazed family and friends, revealing her new “identity,” I sat on my sofa feeling fat, lumpy, and old.

Granted this woman had already won my heart with her life story of rejection, abuse, and poverty. She was a deserving candidate for an all-expenses-paid radical makeover if ever there was one. But as I watched her successfully undergo breast augmentation surgery, I was reminded of my own struggle to even “fill out” my bathing suit each year. As she revealed her sparkling new smile, I became more conscious of my medicine-stained teeth. And as this mother of six lost her belly with a simple incision, I bemoaned the crunches I would need to do before bedtime to stay in a matronly size ten.

Life Lesson: Time management
Are you still growing spiritually?: Check your compass and let God lead you

I turned off the television and headed for the track to work off my fat the old-fashioned way. With pride oozing from my pores, I ran, contemplating the recent fascination with extreme makeovers. Quickly I decided that such radical measures to improve one’s appearance were pure vanity, and, therefore, strictly off limits for godly women such as myself. But things tend to change as I run. All too often God has gently changed my prideful heart as I have pounded the pavement. While I gloated over my conclusion that cosmetic surgeries, cosmetic dental procedures and treatments such as collagen injections were basically a combination of vanity and poor stewardship, I was reminded of a few points I had overlooked.

What about the $80 I had spent last month to have my hair highlighted? And the $25 I had spent on a pedicure? Or the $20 I had spent on over-the-counter teeth whiteners? I had spent large sums of money for purely cosmetic reasons without ever questioning the spiritual implications. Why was I now questioning the integrity and maturity of people who had simply done the same, albeit on a larger scale? As I finished my final lap I realized that I had been too quick to form an opinion about something I had not put adequate thought into, prayed over, or checked out in God’s Word.

The cultural trend

As with most reality-based television programs, Extreme Makeover does not actually reflect the reality of today’s culture. This ABC primetime show has enjoyed success because it offers an altered reality. However, according to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the reality of the cosmetic makeover trend is that extreme is “out” and subtle is “in.” ASAPS’ November, 2003, survey of 1,000 American households revealed that 39 percent of women are dissatisfied with at least one facial or body feature and 25 percent of the women surveyed would consider cosmetic plastic surgery. Still, among those who would contemplate surgery, only 27 percent would favor an extreme change.[i]

While only one quarter of American women may choose to alter their appearance through surgery, an ever-rising number of women are deciding to have other types of cosmetic procedures done. According to ASAPS, approximately 5.28 million non-surgical procedures were performed in 2002. These purely cosmetic treatments include Botox and collagen injections, microdermabrasion, laser hair removal, and chemical peels.[ii] Women of all walks of life are suddenly in a position to contemplate more appearance-changing procedures than ever before. Today these procedures are widely available, tested and proven safe, financially attainable, and socially acceptable.

The dilemma

While most contemporary Christian women have no qualms about wearing cosmetics or acrylic nails, fewer of us have seriously contemplated such invasive procedures as augmentation mammaplasty (breast enlargement), abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) or rhytidectomy (facelift). Until recently, only movie stars and millionaires considered these surgeries.

But with the cultural trend of going to more extremes for appearances’ sake, it is normal to ask the simple question, “Is this okay?”

To accurately evaluate the issue of cosmetic enhancement, I must put all the cards on the table, side by side. When I honestly look at the issue, I come to the conclusion that while some procedures may be more costly, invasive, risky or drastic, ultimately they are all similar in nature: artificial and unnecessary. (I am only addressing surgeries and procedures done for primarily cosmetic reasons, not those done for medical reasons.)

I also have to admit that all cosmetic enhancements share these defining qualities, including acrylic nails, tanning lotions and teeth whiteners. The tint I put on my hair, the makeup I won’t do without, and the pedicure I get at the beginning of each summer are all artificial and unnecessary.

Then why do they seem more extreme?

In honesty I must admit that my inclination to deem some cosmetic procedures acceptable and others extreme really has an ugly root: envy. If I can’t afford the procedure or I am nervous about the surgery or my husband doesn’t want me to have the treatment, then I may arrogantly label what I can’t have as extreme.

Still, once I have put all of these cosmetic procedures on a level playing field, I need to make some decisions about their validity. Certainly opportunities for physical enhancement will only become more readily available and feasible. It is not unlikely that one of my friends, family members, or fellow church members could have what I might consider an “extreme makeover” in the near future. The conclusions I reach now about these enhancements will determine how I treat these people after they have had their teeth professionally whitened, their breasts enlarged, or their wrinkles erased. Will I talk behind their backs out of jealousy or will I be glad for them? Will I silently condemn them or rejoice with them? At the same time, perhaps I need to re-evaluate even the low-cost, non-invasive, cosmetic procedures I undergo on a regular basis.

The Biblical perspective

The subject of cosmetic enhancements is only vaguely mentioned in the Bible. Fortunately that absence of direct instruction does not leave us helpless. As with every other area of life, God has provided the necessary principles that will guide me through my personal decisions about cosmetically enhancing procedures—extreme or otherwise.

1. Principle #1 – My body does not belong to me, but to God.
   Any time we consider the body and how to treat it, we must begin with the fact that, as Christians, our bodies belong to God and are to be used only to bring him honor. Because my body no longer belongs to me, I need to treat it as if it were a precious item on loan from a friend. That means I will consult the Owner before I do anything to change it.
2. Principle #2 – With my focus on pleasing God, I can make confident choices concerning my appearance.
   With my self-esteem anchored in who I am in Christ, I can proceed forward in making wise choices about my appearance as well as other personal decisions. I can know that my efforts to beautify my face and body are not attempts to gain worth and value, but simply to be the best I can be.
3. Principle #3 – God graciously allows me to make personal choices, but I am expected to make wise and godly decisions that distinguish me from the world.
   The Bible teaches that as a recipient of God’s grace I can make personal decisions with a clean conscience. I need not fret over displeasing God if I happen to “mess up.” But in Titus 2:11-12, I am reminded that God’s grace is the very thing that teaches me to “say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live [a] self-controlled, upright and godly [life] in this present age.” This principle leads me to see that while I have freedom in Christ, that freedom is never to be used in a way that will tarnish my Christian testimony. That is not to say I will have to decide against certain cosmetic procedures, but it does mean I must consider how some procedures may affect my relationships and my effectiveness as a witness.
4. Principle #4 – My focus should be on my inner woman.
   The Bible makes it clear that God is more interested in a beautiful heart than a beautiful head of curls. In 1 Samuel, David is anointed king rather than his tall, handsome brother because David has a heart for God. And in 1 Peter, women are reminded to put more effort into developing a gentle and quiet spirit than an outward beauty. Still, both of these passages go on to indicate there is nothing wrong with a lovely appearance or external grooming. David is said to have had “a fine appearance and handsome features” (1 Samuel 16:12) and Peter indicates that some outward adornment is the norm. The principle here is while outward adornment and beautification are fine, they should never become what drive me. If I spend more money, time, and effort developing my outward beauty than my inner woman, I need to rethink my priorities.

The bottom line

Now that I have identified envy as the root of my criticism of some of the cosmetic enhancement procedures I have often deemed as extreme, and now that I have searched the Bible for God’s authoritative word on the issue of outward beautification, I must admit that my opinion on the matter has changed somewhat. While I still am not planning to go under the knife myself, I no longer feel decisively superior to those who do. And my husband and I have talked a little more seriously about saving money so that I can have my teeth professionally whitened.

I know that my greatest source of beauty is a thriving and fruitful relationship with Christ. I know that a daily diet of his Word and the consistent exercise of prayer are what will ultimately enhance even my physical countenance the most. Still, I want to look and feel my best so that I can represent my Lord well. Therefore I am at peace with my personal decisions to tint my hair, wear cosmetics, and even indulge in the occasional pedicure. I also am at peace with the choices others make. I have learned that I cannot judge motives, nor can I arbitrarily decide what is extreme and what is acceptable.

Daily Bible Verse

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 NIV

Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas

Thanksgiving Recipes

Create a crowd-pleasing feast with top-rated Thanksgiving recipes for turkey, stuffing, side dishes, desserts and everything else you need to host your best Thanksgiving dinner yet from Alton, Bobby, Paula and more.


Visit Food Network for recipes.

A New Calling! Dr. Cornel West To Leave Princeton To Return To Seminary Teaching

Posted by praisedc.com

The New York Times is reporting that Princeton professor Cornel West will leave his post in the summer to return to Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where he started out as an assistant professor in 1977.




The author of 19 books tells the Times that he will teach philosophy and Christian practices at Union and will take a significant reduction in pay.



"I don't have that much time, and I want to be able to do precisely what I'm called to do," Dr. West, 58, said. It will also be nice, he said, to be within walking distance of the Apollo Theater.



Unlike his departure from Harvard in 2002 after a dispute with the then-president, Lawrence H. Summers, Dr. West's departure from Princeton is on good terms. He will remain an emeritus professor there.



Princeton's president, Shirley Tilghman, said that Dr. West had helped create "one of the world’s leading centers for African-American studies" at Princeton.



Perhaps the move will give him more freedom to continue his evolution into social activism. He has surely moved in that direction recently with his ardent opposition to corporate America and his critiques of the Obama administration. We wish him luck and look forward to seeing what's in store for the next chapter of his career.

Mary Mary Gets Reality TV Show On WeTV This Spring!

Posted by elev8.com


The show, tentatively titled “Mary Mary,” is scheduled to premiere in March and will follow the gospel-singing sisters as they balance career and family.


“Erica and Warryn are expecting their third child in February, and Tina and Teddy are raising a blended family of four. The sisters also have a very large, extended family of seven siblings to deal with—one of which is the group’s stylist—and their parents, who have been married and divorced three times to each other,” according to a WE tv announcement.

Daily Bread: The Craftman's Touch

November 21, 2011 — by Dennis Fisher on odb.org

I recently saw a documentary about the making of a Steinway piano. It traced the meticulous care that goes into crafting this fine instrument. From the cutting of trees until the piano appears on a showroom floor, it goes through countless delicate adjustments by skilled craftsmen. When the year-long process is complete, accomplished musicians play the piano and often comment on how the same rich sounds could never be produced by a computerized assembly line. The secret to the final product is the craftsman’s touch.

When the tabernacle was built, we see that God also valued the craftsman’s touch. He chose the craftsman Bezalel and said of him: “I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood” (Ex. 31:3-5).

Today God dwells in the hearts of believers. Yet the call to craftsmanship has not ended. Now each individual believer is God’s “workmanship” (Eph. 2:10). The Master Craftsman is the Holy Spirit, who chips away at flaws in our character to make each of us like Jesus (Rom. 8:28-29). And as we yield to His workmanship, we will find that the secret to the final product is the Craftsman’s touch.

The Spirit is the Craftsman
Who makes us like the Son;
He’ll mold and shape our being
Until His work is done. —Sper

The Father gave us the Spirit to make us like His Son.

Congregation Gives $100 Bills To Members At Sunday Service

Posted by Elev8.com

Dozens of congregants at a western New York church received a little something extra while attending services this past weekend.


Envelopes each containing a $100 bill were handed out to about 85 families and individuals older than 18 near the end of Sunday’s service at The Vine Wesleyan Church in Depew (deh-PYOO’), in suburban Buffalo. The cash was accompanied by a letter telling recipients that the money could help them meet a need in their lives or the lives of someone else.

The Rev. Christopher Baldwin told The Buffalo News ( http://bit.ly/uLJwnx) that the church’s leaders decided to give to its own congregation rather than collect Christmas Eve offerings that typically have been donated to places recovering from natural disasters.

Song of TheDay: Jennifer Hudson - Wonderful Change (Changed)

OUr Daily Bread: A Family Trait

There’s an old Sunday school song that periodically comes back to my mind. Its words testify to the blessing of the peace that Jesus so generously gives: “I have the peace that passes understanding down in my heart—down in my heart to stay!”

There is something missing in that well-intentioned song, however. The peace of God is truly a gift we enjoy in our hearts as we fellowship in His presence (John 14:27; 16:33). But He never intended for us to keep all of that peace to ourselves. Peace is a gift to be shared with those around us. As Christians, it should mark our relationships and characterize the environment of our churches.

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matt. 5:9), which indicates that we are to be intentional about bringing peace to our relationships. Since we are prone to be troublemakers instead of peacemakers, this is important advice. So, what does peacemaking look like? Peacemakers are those who turn the other cheek (v.39), go the extra mile (v.41), and love their enemies while praying for those who persecute them (v.44).

Why should we do this? Because God is a peacemaker, and when we make peace we are “called sons of God” (v.9). Peacemaking is a family trait.

Lord, thank You for the peace we have down in ourhearts. And that we can be peacemakers with othersthrough our attitude, words, and deeds.Help me to show Your mercy and peace. Amen.
Because of the peace of God and peace with God,we can be peacemakers for God.

Are You Ever Too Old to Start a 401(K)?

Whether it's you or your grandma, here's what you need to know about saving for retirement

A reader of AskTheMoneyCoach.com wanted to know whether or not it’s a smart decision for them to launch a 401(k) or 403(b) investment plan later in life. The person asked me simply:

Q: “Should I start a 401(k) or 403(b) investment plan at 63 years of age?”

A: Yes! Actually, I think it can be a good idea to start a 401(k) plan at any point during your working years. You may know that a 401(k) or 403(b) is an employer sponsored retirement savings plan. But you may not know the full range of benefits associated with these plans.
For starters, you get three primary advantages with saving for your Golden Years using a 401(k). The first advantage is that you can set aside retirement funds on a pre‑tax basis; this lowers your annual tax bill. The second benefit is you get the potential for get capital appreciation when you invest your 401(k) funds in investments such as individual stocks or mutual funds. Finally, a third benefit of a 401(k) is that you may receive matching funds from your employer – which helps turbocharge your savings.

A 401(k) also gives you a more disciplined approach to investing for retirement, because you’ll be consistently contributing to your retirement assets – every pay period – regardless of what the market is doing. Such consistency also helps takes emotion out of the investing equation – making you less likely to be driven by fear or greed when the stock market swoons or surges.
Even if you wind up retiring in a few short years—say, at the age of 65 or 70, it’s still worth it for you to put aside more money into that nest egg and help to build your savings cushion.
That way, when you do leave the work place, you are not simply dependent upon your own savings that you might have had, which may be limited. You also won’t be solely dependent upon government funds such as Social Security.

Currently, the average Social Security recipient is only receiving roughly $1,000 per month. That’s not a lot of money to live off of.

If you’re 63, you’re probably at a higher level of earnings power, so you have the option to go ahead and put aside more money.

And here’s a bonus for you: The IRS recently announced that starting in 2012, the maximum amount you can sock away in a 401(k) plan is being raised to $17,000 for those under 50 and to $22,500 for those 50 and older. That’s a $500 increase over 2011 levels. (That $22,500 figure includes the “catch up” contributions that individuals 50 and older are permitted to contribute to a 401(k), as a way to help Americans who may have started saving for retirement later in life).
So let’s assume you did sock away at least $17,000 a year for five years. Well, that’s $85,000. If you saved $22,500 a year for five years, you’d amass $112,500, not assuming any increases (or losses) to your savings.

Hopefully, though, the funds you put aside for your retirement will grow and collect interest. Also, as I mentioned, you may even get some form of an employer match as well. It might not be dollar for dollar, but even if it’s $0.50 cents on the dollar or $0.25 cents for every dollar that you put in, that’s an additional kicker that you can look forward to.
All of this means you have many great reasons, even past age 60, to save in a 401(k) or 403(b) plan—and I would encourage you to do just that.

Our Daily Bread: When God Cleans House

God did some fall housecleaning this week. He sent a mighty wind through our neighborhood that made the trees tremble and shake loose their dead branches. When it finished, I had a mess to clean up.
In my own life, God sometimes works in a similar way. He will send or allow stormy circumstances that shake loose the “lifeless branches” I’ve been refusing to release. Sometimes it’s something that once was good, like an area of ministry, but is no longer bearing fruit. More often it’s something that’s not good, like a bad habit I’ve slid into or a stubborn attitude that prevents new growth.
The Old Testament prophet Jonah discovered what can happen when one refuses to get rid of a stubborn attitude. His hatred for the Ninevites was stronger than his love for God, so God sent a great storm that landed Jonah in a giant fish (Jonah 1:4,17). God preserved the reluctant prophet in that unlikely place and gave him a second chance to obey (2:10; 3:1-3).
The lifeless limbs in my yard caused me to think of attitudes that God expects me to dispose of. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians lists some of them: bitterness, anger, and evil speech (4:31). When God shakes things up, we need to get rid of what He shakes loose.
Lord, give me a listening heart and help meto cooperate with You when Youpoint out changes that need to be made in my life.I want to honor You and please You. Amen.
Christ’s cleansing power can removethe most stubborn stain of sin.

Song of the Day: Kelly Price For Every Mountain (For This I Give You Praise)

Song of the Day: Tye Tribbett & G.A. | Everything Part I,Part II / Bow Before The King

OUr Daily Bread: Becoming Bilingual

Is it possible—in a society that seems increasingly indifferent to the gospel—to communicate the Good News to people who don’t share our faith?

One way to connect with people who are unfamiliar with the things of Christ is to become culturally “bilingual.” We do this by communicating in ways people can easily relate to.

Knowing about and discussing music, film, sports, and television, for example, can offer just such an opportunity. If people hear us “speak their language,” without endorsing or condoning the media or events we refer to, it could open the door to sharing the timeless message of Christ.

Paul gave us an example of this in Acts 17. While visiting the Areopagus in Athens, he spoke to a thoroughly secular culture by quoting pagan Greek poets as a point of reference for the spiritual values he sought to communicate. He said, “In Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring’” (Acts 17:28). Just as Paul addressed that culture by knowing what they were reading, we may have greater impact for the gospel by relating it to people in terms they can readily embrace.

Are you trying to reach a neighbor or a co-worker with the gospel? Try becoming bilingual.
To earn your neighbor’s earAnd prove you really care,Use terms he understandsTo show you are aware. —Branon

The content of the Bible must bebrought into contact with the world.

Even Millionaires Have Budgets. Two Reasons You Should, Too

Two rules to help you create a successful budget

If you’re operating without a normal monthly budget, that’s a huge financial mistake.
In fact, the lack of a budget is a big part of the reason that the average American household now has more than $10,000 in credit card debt. (To get rid of your credit card bills, read the free online version of my book, Zero Debt).

Of course, many people have mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and other consumer debt too.
But it’s possible that you can have tons of bills and still exist in a state of denial about your finances. I know, because I did it for a very long time before waking up and deciding to fix my debt problem once and for all.

For a lot of people, “budget” is a four-letter word because they often picture a budget as something that restricts them—something that says: you can’t have this, you can’t buy that, or you can’t do this.

Well, that is the wrong way to look at a budget.
A budget is really a part of your personal prosperity plan. It’s the financial blueprint you’ll use to help you get where you want to go in life.
Without a budget—without a clear sense of exactly how many dollars are coming in the door and how many dollars are really going out each month—you’re doomed to constantly live paycheck to paycheck.

A budget helps you manage your cash flow so that you can more readily achieve your personal and financial goals, including paying off those student loans.
Unfortunately, statistics show that about 70% of all Americans don’t operate with a basic monthly budget.

That’s a real shame because a lack of a budget explains, in part, why so many people don’t know where their money goes.
Have you ever been in a situation where you thought “Gosh! I just got paid last week and now I’m broke” or “I don’t know what happened to my money; it seems to have vanished just as quickly as I got it”?

The simplest way to identify and fix the problem is to come up with a realistic budget to operate from on a regular basis.
Believe it or not, even millionaires have budgets. In my book, The Money Coach’s Guide to Your First Million, I talk about my own transformation, and how I went from debt to wealth. I also highlight tips from many other people—including other financial experts and millionaires.
And all of them agree that having a budget as the basis for your spending plan is a smart way to exercise control over your dollars—instead of letting your money control you.
No matter how you configure your budget, to have a proper, successful budget, you need to conform to two rules:

1. Your spending cannot exceed your income.
Sounds basic, I know, but most people don’t stick to this one little rule. In fact, the average household in the U.S. spends $1.22 for every dollar that it earns, according to a study from Northwestern Mutual. Even though Americans have began saving more cash amid the Great Recession, people still generally spend more than they make.

2. Your budget must include a savings component.
Without some level of savings worked into your budget, you’ll always be behind the proverbial eight ball. I don’t care how much or how little you earn, you absolutely must “pay yourself first” and save money (for emergencies, the long-term, etc.) if you want to successfully budget.

If you’ve tried and failed in the past when it comes to budgeting, it’s probably because you didn’t create a realistic budget—one you can live with and one that isn’t overly restrictive. Or perhaps you’ve let certain budgeting mistakes get in the way. To fix either of these problems, and to learn more about budget, read these tips on how to create a proper budget.

Trust me, when you get your finances in order, you’ll find that budgeting is not only the smart thing to do – it’s also a healthy financial habit that can help propel you to millionaire status.

Old School Song of the Day by Adoration 'N Prayze - Give Me A Clean Heart

Fruit For Thought: Marang

Marang (Artocarpus odoratissimus) is not only as exotic as it sounds but also as it looks and tastes.

This tropical fruit tree that wouldn’t thrive in regions where temperature falls below 32° above zero looks like jackfruit and seeded breadfruit, but it is superior in quality to either of these. It’s indigenous in the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao where it is popularly grown especially from July to September.

Marang tree is medium-sized to large. It grows to about 25 meters with a trunk diameter of 40 cm. It could grow in a wide range of soil types-from light to heavy soils-but it will grow better in deep, loamy soil with a pH ranging from 5.5-8. It also yields best in places that are elevated at 800 m above sea level.
It is propagated by budding, grafting, and marching. The seedlings are allowed to harden for at least two months when these are at least 1 foot tall with three pairs of leaves each. The ideal distance between seedlings in an open field is 6 m x 6 m in a square system. It can be intercropped while it is still unproductive. It starts to bear fruits at 4 to 5 years of age.

Its fruit is 16 cm long, 13 cm in diameter, and weighs about 1,000 to 1,800 grams. The thick, fleshy rind is thickly studded with greenish, yellowish, blunt spines. Inside it is a white, soft, sweet, and aromatic flesh from which many whites seeds easily separate. The fruit is also highly perishable that’s why it is carefully harvested by cutting its peduncle and then placing it in woven baskets or boxes.

Marang is a popular fruit dessert in Mindanao. After all, it is nutritious; it contains protein, fat, carbohydrates, crude fiber, ash, calcium, phosphorus, iron, retinol, beta-carotene, vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and ascorbic acid. The fruit has also a strong scent especially when it is ripe. Once opened, it should be consumed immediately or in just a few hours as it easily loses flavor and oxidizes. The seeds are also edible; these are boiled or roasted and can be processed into flour.

These are just some of the reason why marang has market potential. Its short shelf life, however, limits its uses but studies on postharvest and processing of marang are already undertaken to extend its shelf life.

One of these is the ongoing study titled “Improved Postharvest Technologies and Techno-Transfer for Marang”, which is funded by the High Value Commercial Crops and the Bureau of Agricultural Research of the Department of Agriculture. It is being conducted by Dr. Emma K. Sales, Dr. Nicolas A. Turnos, and Prof. Josephine G. Tangonan of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM).

Recipes for marang are also formulated, and among these are marang jam, paste, marmalade, jelly, concentrate, brittle, and flour. These are formulated and tested by retired USM professor Virgilia Tacardon Paclibar.

MARANG JAM
1. Cook 1 cup flesh of mature, ripe marang fruit (seeds removed) with 1 cup white sugar until thick.
2. Add 1 teaspoon lemon juice to improve appearance and flavor.
3. Fill the jam into a jar.
4. Exhaust for 10 minutes then process for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

What Can We Do to Keep City Rec Centers Open for our Youth?

Baltimore City Children to Lose Rec Centers

by Melissa Jones

Baltimore City recreational centers are facing drastic budget cuts that may force a large number of centers to close. For fiscal year 2012 the city faced a $60 million deficit for the cost to maintain city services. In budget documents, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said “lower revenues and rising costs have created large budget shortfalls over the last three fiscal years.” While the adopted budget fully funds the mayor’s initiative for aggressive police hiring and the operation of 538 crime cameras, some of the city’s recreational centers may face the chopping block. 

In July 2010 the mayor created a Recreation Center Task Force, charged with evaluating and rating the current programming and facilities at area centers, as well as a short term and long term plan of action for addressing the needs of Baltimore’s citizens.

“The city has had to learn to do more with less. We needed to change the way we’ve been doing things and instead of just cutting funding, we wanted to find a way to improve our services,” said Ian Brennan, a spokesperson for the mayor. “We can’t continue the status quo of dilapidated buildings with depleted staffing and inferior programming. That’s why we asked the task force to look at what every rec center is doing, find out what kind of standard we should hold ourselves up to and see where we can do that.”

Under the Task Force’s plan the Department of Parks and Recreation would fund and operate 30 centers, including three new community centers at Morrell Park, Clifton Park and Cherry Hill and the expansion of the Virginia Baker Center into a larger community center; a $14.8 million commitment over the next two years.

The remaining 25 centers would be run by charter, collaboration or partnership programs. According to the Task force’s report, the plan would save the city $300,000 to $400,000 per year in operating costs. Those funds would go back into repairs and improvements at existing recreational centers. 

According to the Mayor’s Office only seven partnerships have been identified to date through the Request for Proposal process. “Without partners that can step up and help transform the remaining centers, they will close. We want to have very good programming at the remaining recreational centers,” said Brennan.

Councilman Bill Henry (4th Dist.) has called for an end to the RFP process as dismal returns on submissions has left those remaining centers to an uncertain fate.

“My hope is to encourage them to move from an RFP in terms of staking partnerships and move to a more negotiated individualized process of trying to find groups or institutions that would like to help the city keep the other centers open,” he said.

“Rec centers are a priority. Nobody would be taking this seriously if the Fire Department was proposing to close half of the fire houses and move their staff to the other half that they are keeping open. You want to have a fire house near your house so that they can respond to emergencies. Recreation centers work the same way.” 

Henry said that if the centers were forced to close due to a lack of viable partnerships, city children would bear the burden. 

Bishop Douglass Miles, co-chair of the community organization Baltimore United in Leadership and Development told the AFROthat the organization will take the mayor to task to ensure that all of the city’s recreational enters remain open and operable.

“The real problem is that she broke a commitment that she made to the BUILD organization on our accountability night in August, where she committed to 55 quality recreation centers. Now she’s saying she only committed to 30,” said Miles.

“There’s never enough money when it comes to our children but there is always enough money when it comes to developers. If you look at the tax breaks that developers in Baltimore are getting, particularly those getting $9.4 million a year in tax breaks at Inner Harbor East while the city cries broke. Half of that money would enable recreation centers to be maintained at a quality level. That’s why we’re challenging her, to make sure that she upholds her commitment. A strong, quality recreation presence must be maintained in our communities.”

Brennan called Miles’ assessment disingenuous. “What she said was ‘yes, I have a plan to keep all 55 open. But the city is only going to do 4, 10 and 16.’ We need partners to step up because keeping all 55 open the way we did last year is not doing the kids any service,” he said.

Miles was also a member of the mayor’s Recreation Task Force in 2010.

“The city should expect to spend money on things that are important. All we’re doing by closing half of the recreation centers is putting half of our kids out of the equation,” said Henry.

The councilman said he hopes to convince the city to keep the centers open while other options are explored.

“The mayor doesn’t want to go back to the way we used to do things. That’s not an option anymore because we are not doing our kids any good by continuing to provide them with poor programming, minimal staffing and dilapidated buildings,” said Brennan.


http://www.afro.com/sections/news/baltimore/story.htm?storyid=72972