Monday, October 31, 2011

Home Improvement Tip: Extend the Life of Your Washer and Dryer

Post from Lowes.com




Washers and dryers are some of the most hardworking appliances in your home. As much as we demand from them, they only need a little care in return to keep running strong. Follow these quick tips for extending the life of your washer and dryer, and you'll help ensure they perform at their best and last longer.

Tips to Increase the Life of Your Washer and Dryer

1. Peek for leaks. Washing machine hoses should be replaced every five years. Checking and replacing hoses will help protect your home from flooding due to leaks.

2. Don’t overload it. When washers and dryers are overloaded they perform inefficiently. Break big loads up into smaller piles to extend the life of the motor and use less energy. As a general rule of thumb, most front-loaders wash better with larger loads, and most top-loaders wash better with smaller loads.

3. Use it or lose it. If you’re not planning to use your washer for an extended period of time, turn off the water flow to the washer. Otherwise, constant water pressure may cause or exacerbate leaks.

4. Give it some air. Over time, even small amounts of stagnant water can lead to mildew and odors. Leave the washing machine lid open between washings to let the drum air dry, especially if your washer is in a basement or an area that’s prone to humidity.

5. Get the lint out. To get the maximum airflow to the dryer and ensure its best performance, clean your lint filter after each use. Also, check and clean the duct vent twice a year to prevent lint buildup.

6. Soap is for washers, not dryers. If you spill laundry soap or other products on the exterior of your dryer, wipe it up quickly. Most dryers are painted with synthetic enamel and can be damaged by chlorine bleach, ammonia, solvents and other chemicals.

Our Daily Bread: Surprise!

October 31, 2011 — by C. P. Hia

A writer for The Washington Post conducted an experiment to test people’s perception. He asked a famous violinist to perform incognito at a train station in the nation’s capital one January morning. Thousands of people walked by as he played, but only a few stopped to listen. After 45 minutes, just $32 had been dropped into the virtuoso’s open violin case. Two days earlier, this man—Joshua Bell—had used the same $3.5 million Stradivarius for a sold-out concert where people paid $100 a seat to hear him perform.

The idea of a person not being recognized for his greatness isn’t new. It happened to Jesus. “He was in the world,” John said, “. . . and the world did not know Him” (John 1:10). Why did people who had been expecting the Messiah give Jesus such a cold reception? One reason is that they were surprised. Just as people today don’t expect famous musicians to play in railway stations, the people in Jesus’ day didn’t expect Messiah to be born in a stable. They also expected Him to be a political king—not the head of a spiritual kingdom.

The people in the first century were blinded to God’s purpose in sending Jesus to this world. He came to save people from their sins (John 1:29). Receive God’s surprising gift of salvation that He offers freely to you today.

Amazing thought! that God in flesh
Would take my place and bear my sin;
That I, a guilty, death-doomed soul,
Eternal life might win! —Anon.
God broke into human history to offer us the gift of eternal life.

To Hell and Back at Greater Grace Temple-Detroit [Videos]

 Posted on Elev8.com

“To Hell and Back,” an illustrated sermon that takes the audience on a journey to hell to meet those who have been condemned, has been a staple event of Greater Grace Temple in Detroit for over a decade.


On Friday evening, thousands will watch the scary and insightful message yet again, and just in time for Halloween. Bishop Charles H. Ellis hold the popular well attended event each year.

Ellis says the event, which has been held on the Friday before Halloween for the last 13 years, isn’t a drama but is an illustrated sermon composed of dramatic elements. “To Hell and Back” features an angel who guides Ellis through hell, where suffering sinners share their testimonies about how they lived their lives apart from God.

The bishop says the concept for the sermon came from another pastor, Tommy Barnett of Phoenix First Assembly of God in Arizona, who allowed him to adjust the script to make it more relevant to a primarily urban, African-American crowd. Among the characters who share their testimonies from hell are biblical names such as Judas Iscariot, Cain, and “the rich man” who treated Lazarus poorly, along with more contemporary individuals including “gang bangers,” a false prophet, a drunkard, a fornicator, homosexuals and an internet predator.



Watch a few snippets below:





What do you think? The subject matter is really contemporary. It hits the hell that our families have been going through.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Song of the Day by Karen Clark Sheard - He Knows ft. Dorinda Clark Cole

Song of the Day: TIA PITMAN & DA' T.R.U.T.H. - Here I Am To Worship

Our Daily Bread - Father of Lies

Satan’s sway over mankind began when he turned the minds of Adam and Eve against God. In order to pull it off, he had to lie to them about God—and they had to fall for it. In that defining moment, he lied to them about God’s goodness, God’s Word, and God’s intentions (Gen. 3:1-6).

Satan is still up to his old tricks. Jesus said that when the devil “speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar” (John 8:44). It should not be surprising, then, that when trouble interrupts our lives, the father of lies whispers in our ears and suddenly we are questioning God’s goodness.

When we are told to follow His commands, we wonder if His Word is really true in the first place. When Jesus tells us things like, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth” (Matt. 6:19), Satan tells us that the good life is about piling up things here, causing us to doubt God’s good intentions.

Our problem is that we, like Adam and Eve, believe Satan’s lies. And when we do, our loyalty to God is compromised. Then our enemy slithers off to his next assignment, leaving us alone to face our regrets and the realization that his lies have seduced us away from our truest and dearest Friend. Who have you been listening to lately?

Satan can catch you by surpriseAnd stop you in your tracks,So keep on guard and trust God’s Word,Resist his strong attacks. —Branon

The power of Satan is no match for the power of God’s Word.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Song of the Day: God Donald Lawrence & The Tri City Singers Feat. Erica Bratton McCullough

Our Daily Bread - The Right Ingrediants

Although my culinary skills remain undeveloped, occasionally I use a box of premixed ingredients to make a cake. After adding eggs, vegetable oil, and water, I stir it all together.

To bake a palate-pleasing cake, it’s vital to have the correct balance of the right ingredients. That helps me picture the relationship of the greatest commandment (Matt. 22:36-38) and the Great Commission (28:19-20) as we spread the gospel.

When Jesus told His followers to go and make disciples of all nations, He did not give them permission to be rude and uncaring as they did so. His own citing of the “first and great commandment”—to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind—was quickly followed by the call to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:37-39).

Throughout the New Testament, we find this model of compassionate, respectful living restated many places, including “the love chapter” (1 Cor. 13) and Peter’s instruction to give a reason for the hope within us “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV).
In our eagerness to share Christ with others, we must always include a healthy balance of those two ingredients—the true gospel and godly love. This wonderfully sweet cake bakes best in the warmth of God’s love.

Lord, help me to love with both words and deeds,To reach out to sinners and meet their needs;Lord, burden my heart for those lost in sin,With mercy and love that flows from within. —Fitzhugh

They witness best who witness with their lives.

Resources to Help Teach Your Kids About Financial Literacy

Most forward-thinking adults – particularly those of us with children or anyone who routinely interacts with youngsters – want our young people to develop good financial habits.

But if you’re like the typical American, you may also struggle when it comes to being a good financial role model for our youth.
A study by Northwestern Mutual revealed that 71% of parents feel that children should begin learning about money no later than the 1st grade. Yet, five in 10 parents say they do not set a good example when it comes to handling money, and that they are not capable of properly teaching their children to manage money.

Fortunately, you don’t have to rely on your own background and training – or the mistakes you may have made – as your only source of information. Here are a few other resources that can help you spread financial literacy to the youth you know.

Ever Heard of NAOI, NEFE or NCEE?
To boost your financial literacy, enroll in an adult education class on personal finances. To educate yourself about investing, join the National Association of Online Investors (NAOI), which has great online study courses.

For resources, fun games, tips and ideas for teaching youngsters about money, log onto http://www.nefe.org/ or call the National Endowment for Financial Education at 303-741-6333.
The Northwestern Mutual survey found that less than 40% of parents talked about credit cards, loans and debt, and their own family finances with their kids. Fewer than one in four parents (23%) talked to their children about how to invest.

When asked why each topic was not raised for family discussion, most responded, “Children have no business knowing this.” Others said they “didn’t think of it” or that they considered their children too young to broach these issues. But researchers also suggest another theory.

“It is almost certainly lack of confidence with their own financial management skills that keeps parents from discussing some of the more complex, and key, money issues with their children,” says Mark Schug, professor and Director of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center for Economic Education.

If you are a parent or educator who would like more information and free materials on personal finance education, another source to check out is http://themint.org/. That web site, jointly run by Northwestern Mutual and the National Council on Economic Education, offers practical tips, lesson plans, newsletters and interactive challenges to help teach kids of all ages about money.

Teaching Kids About Choices With Money

There are a few other companies and initiatives that I consider enormously helpful for any parent, educator or adult who wants to teach kids about money – or even improve their own financial knowledge.

One of them is a fabulous web site, http://www.moneysavvygeneration.com/, where you can get a special four-chambered piggy bank for kids. I consider this a 21st Century piggy bank, because instead of having just one slot, this Money Savvy Pig has four slots where youngsters can put coins or dollars.

Each slot is labeled “save,” “spend,” “donate,” and “invest,” in order to teach kids about the choices they have with money. I have these educational piggy banks for my kids and they love them. Susan Beacham is the co-founder of Money Savvy Generation. She and I have co-authored The Millionaire Kids Club, a series of four money-management books for children between the ages of five and 12.

Citigroup has one of the most comprehensive financial education programs I’ve encountered. For adults, there’s Citi Cards’ “Use Credit Wisely” program, as well as its “Hablando de Credito” or “Let’s Talk About Credit” education effort for Spanish-speaking consumers.

Both offer a wealth of personal finance tools, help and information. In 2004, Citigroup launched a 10-year, $200 million campaign to support financial literacy programs around the globe.
Additionally, its Smith Barney unit has a great Young Investors Network that’s good for middle school and high school students. The youngsters in the Network are taught fiscal responsibility, they learn how to calculate their college expenses, and they participate in a stock-portfolio contest, among other activities. To learn about the full range of personal finance initiatives sponsored or run by Citigroup, visit the company’s web site at http://www.citigroup.com/.

Then click on the “Financial Education” button found in the “Corporate Citizenship” section
Finally, “Hands on Banking” is a wonderful program by Wells Fargo that teaches money skills for four age groups, ranging from fourth graders to adults. The curriculum is fun to use, free of charge, and available in both English and Spanish. A bonus element of this curriculum is that anyone can use it, because it’s designed for self-paced, individual learning, as well as for classroom and community groups. Get more info at http://www.handsonbanking.com/.

I could mention tons of other organizations and initiatives, such as the impressive YourMoneyCounts.com educational site funded by HSBC, and the terrific financial literacy work being done nationally by the JumpStart Coalition or the New York-based WorldofMoney.org, which is planning to take its mostly African-American students to China in 2013.

So this list of resources is not meant to be all-encompassing. The important thing to know is that there are reputable, quality sources of information and advice to put your children – or the youth in your sphere of influence – on the path to financial literacy.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Only Ex-Convicts Need Apply: Detroit Hosts Special Jobs Fair

DETROIT - In a city where over a quarter of its residents are unemployed, and almost 30,000 of them are either on probation or out on parole, Detroit is looking to put ex-convicts back to work. On Wednesday, the city held an "Offenders Only" Job Fair at the East Lake Church.

Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh organized the job fair, along with Wayne County Community College and Kelly Services. Pugh, a former television and radio personality in his first term on the council, has been advocating for job opportunities for convicted felons since he took office in 2010.
The city council has even gone as far as trying to get the question 'Have you ever been convicted of a felony?' removed from job applications in Detroit.

"That group (ex-convicts) has difficulties finding jobs," Pugh said in an interview with Detroit Public Radio on Thursday. "A lot of times, folks who come out (of jail) and get roadblock after roadblock and door closed, they give up and some of them re-commit crimes because they feel that's their only option."

The job fair featured up to 200 potential job openings from employers, and the only people allowed a shot at the jobs had to have a felony on their record. Pugh feels that the lack of job opportunities for felons, including violent felons, leads to recidivism.
"In this tough job market, we know that it is difficult, regardless of whether you have a felony or not, to find a job," Pugh said. "But we feel that population needs just a boost of confidence and some hope that there are employers out there who will give them second chances."

A Pew Center survey on recidivism found that it actually declined in Michigan by 18 percent between 1999 and 2004 because of a dramatic drop in the return of technical violators. However, returns to prison for new crimes jumped by almost 21 percent during the period.
Since 2007, the Michigan Department of Corrections' numbers show that parolees are returning to prison 33 percent less frequently. One of the organizations that offered assistance at the job fair was the Detroit-based non-profit organization Focus: HOPE.
Founded in 1968 as a way to ease the racial tension in the aftermath of the Detroit riots, Focus: HOPE provides educational and vocational training options for people with low incomes as well as assistance with food for those who are struggling.

"Our primary courses of study would be advanced manufacturing, which helps individuals to train to become computer numerical control machinists and the other is information technology," said Julian Pate, the Director of Education at Focus: HOPE since 2002. "These paths can ultimately end up with a Bachelor's Degree."

Focus: HOPE also has machinist training and medical assistant programs that are open to anyone, regardless of their criminal history or education. They have recently launched a program in conjunction with the "Earn & Learn" programs that is centered on black males ages 18-24 who have recently been incarcerated or chronically unemployed.

"What we're doing is trying to prepare people for the workplace," Pate said. "It might be janitorial services, or individuals who are trying to put themselves on a sustainable footing and be trained along the way.

"It's what we call 'work readiness training.' For four weeks we will be exposing them to the broad range of what it means to be a customer service worker, as well as to help them identify the course of study they may be interested in."

What do you think? In today’s tough job market, is it fair to have a jobs fair for convicted felons only?

The program will work with potential employers to supply subsidized employment for the former offenders that will allow them to keep training and make money at the same time. The hope is that the offender is able to get hired on at the business after the training period ends.
Detroit is not the first city to hold job fairs for ex-convicts. In Cleveland, similar job fairs have been held, led by an organization named Breaking The Cycle.
"It is disheartening because this community is in need of jobs, and there are plenty of people who want to work," said Michael Jones, the head of Breaking the Cycle. "But then no one wants to give a shot to someone with a past."

The group has held yearly "Offenders Only" job fairs since 2009. Breaking the Cycle even sends attendees' resumes to businesses that did not attend the events.

In Detroit, Focus: HOPE's partnership with Earn & Learn will be a two-year program that will help up to 1,100 young black men in southeast Michigan. Any companies associated with the program would be bonded so any liability that could come from bringing a former felon in to their business would be minimized.

"Individuals that have been involved in violent crimes (including sex offenses), crimes against children, and homicides will not be considered for entry," Pate said. "Only one of our programs (IT) has a requirement of having no felony convictions on your record. That's primarily because of the IT industry's rules on security."

There were over 1,200 people in attendance, with 500 being pre-registered and interviewed. Pugh said that there were 200 jobs given out at Wednesday's job fair, a startling number considering that many job fairs in Detroit geared toward non-offenders and college graduates often do not hire or offer any employment.

"It was a huge success because over 200 people got jobs," Pugh said. "There were people from transportation companies, cleaning services, the City of Detroit was there with job opportunities. It was an opportunities to give people who have had difficulties a second chance."

These job fairs have not been universally well received. The city has insisted that it is trying to lure and keep college graduates in Detroit, yet has not made any efforts as aggressive as these to host job fairs for students and recent grads who make up a large percentage of the new unemployed in the city and in the state.

"Simply put, if the city can do this for convicts -- which, I think, they shouldn't have done in the first place - then they can certainly do this for recent grads," said Ann Harris, a Detroit native who holds a Bachelor's Degree from Wayne State University."I've had to struggle for every job I've ever had, and yes, I've been passed up over someone who's less educated than me."
Michigan has seen a mass exodus from the state of college graduates in the last decade with two of the state's largest schools, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, pumping out largest numbers. Chicago is home to the largest concentration of MSU Alumni in the country, while 53 percent of Michigan grads leave the state after graduation due to the lack of opportunities here.

"Just because someone says they have reformed doesn't mean that they have," said Harris, who works as a department specialist for the city of Dearborn's Public Libraries and is currently pursuing her Master's degree. "They need to go through the same job seeking process as the rest of us--if someone doesn't hire them because they've spent time in jail, oh well."

"Back in 2002, it wasn't hard for me to find a job," said Courtney Smith, 31, a 2002 graduate from Wilberforce University, who is currently finishing her Master's Degree in social work at Wayne State. "What was difficult for me was finding a job in the field of communications. I could not find one at all."

"It was difficult or me to find the part time job that I have now, but I think it will be easier for me to find employment once I get my Master's. But this is Michigan and jobs are scarce so it will be very competitive."

Focus: HOPE picked up 60 applicants to their programs at the job fair. They will be given the same testing processed that anyone would receive, with their criminal history being irrelevant to their entering.

"Our programs are open to anyone," Pate said. "Even though we're located in Detroit, we're not geocentric. We have had applicants in the past from out of state. Because we're in a highly African-American community doesn't mean we're restricted there either."

"We are open to providing opportunities to anyone that is looking for them. We really say that fundamentally, the only restrictions that we have is that you have a highs school diploma or GED, and that you are drug-free. That's where the conversation starts."

Pugh says that the city is organizing a second Offender's Only Job Fair that is tentatively set to take place in January. There has been no word yet on whether there will be any similar job fairs for college graduates -- who city officials have made a point of saying they are trying to lure back to Detroit -- and non-offenders looking for work in Detroit.

"In the meantime, there will be job readiness fairs that will help people to be employed," Pugh said. "I have heard employers, and ex-offenders say this is a second chance and they don't want to mess that up. Compared to people who don't have felonies, they realize that the job market is slim for them...even slimmer."

"There are tax breaks and incentives to hire people with felonies. I hope that employers will become educated about the benefits to their business for hiring somebody who used to be in prison or has a felony on their record. It could help your bottom line."

Song of the Day: Let Go - DeWayne Woods

Our Daily Bread Bible Verse




Verse of the Day

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1 KJV

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Is Reality Destroying Young Girls?

basketball wives cast

Maybe the genre should be called “Fantasy TV.” Without question, today’s crop of “reality” TV shows appear to be negatively impacting the behavior and perspectives of young girls who tune in regularly – according to a study released by The Girl Scout Research Institute.
The recent Girl Scouts Study, ‘Real to Me: Girls and Reality TV,’ is yet another wake-up call for parents everywhere,” said Teresa Tomeo, bestselling author whose newest book is EXTREME MAKEOVER. “When it comes to media and young people, less is definitely more.”
The research firm TRU surveyed a national sample of 1,141 girls ages 11-17. Forty-seven percent identified themselves as regular viewers of reality programming; 30 percent said they watched sometimes; and 23 percent rarely or never watch a show in the genre.
“Reality shows promote bad behavior” is a unanimous finding of the study.
Other highlights:
  • More than 70% of regular viewers spend a lot of time on their appearance, and 38% think a girl’s value is based on how she looks (vs. 28% of non-viewers);
  • Almost 30% of regular viewers would rather be recognized for their outer beauty than their inner beauty (vs. 18% of non-viewers);
  • Almost 40% of regular viewers believe “you have to lie to get ahead” (vs. 24% of non-viewers).
“Adults, at least for the most part, are savvy enough to realize that ‘reality’ TV is anything but real life” Tomeo said. “The genre gains viewers by sensationalizing and dramatizing every day activities and providing a shock value.
“It’s different for impressionable children who can’t distinguish between fact and fiction,” she added. “This study shows that girls are particularly impressionable as those who watch Reality TV regularly readily see the antics often highlighted on these shows such as fighting, gossiping, and in general treating people badly, as perfectly normal and acceptable. This means parents and guardians should get serious about setting media guidelines for young people and sticking to them.”
This is nothing new. The rise in video taping subway fights can be attributed to the “see me on you-tube” craze.

Fruit For Thought: Monstera deliciosa

Monstera deliciosa

Song of the Day by Laura Story - Blessings

Awesome song, with awesome words. Listen, enjoy, and be blessed today.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Breast Cancer Awareness: I Promise

Hometown Hightlight: Baltimore City and National Food Day

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Baltimore is joining the countrywide push for healthy eating on nationalFood Day.

Andrea Fujii has more on how the city hopes to encourage residents to make smarter eating choices. 

The city is receiving more than $2 million to promote its message of healthy eating.

Getting Americans to eat fresh, healthy food is the goal of national Food Day, and Baltimore is joining in on the effort.

“Having access to healthy diets in combination with reducing things like diabetes and smoking in the end will have people living longer,” said Dr. Oxiris Barbot, city health commissioner.
There is also a $759,000 federal grant to put a new grocery store in Howard Park, which is now considered a food desert. That means there isn’t a grocery store for residents within a mile.National Food Day is a grass roots movement spearheaded by the Center for Science and Public Interest to encourage Americans to eat healthy food grown in a sustainable and humane way.
“This is a great example of how a grocery store can increase communities’ access to healthy food as well as spur job creation,” said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. 
The Whitelock Community Farm in Reservoir Hill is trying to provide just that.
“Growing it in a way that is environmentally friendly and also socially just, so trying to take care of the people who are growing the food and the people who the food is grown for,” said Elisa Lane, Whitelock Community Farm.
It’s a major step toward getting good food into young mouths.
That new Howard Park grocery store is expected to open next year.
Food Day is being observed in more than 2,000 events across the country.

Are Christian Films Saving Hollywood?

Are Christian Films Saving Hollywood?


Written by Faithful Forum on October 18, 2011 1:30 pm

courageous

The recent success of Christian films like “Seven Days in Utopia” and “Machine Gun Preacher” has movie industry insiders asking the question, “Are Evangelicals Saving Hollywood?” Or better yet, what does the mainstream acceptance of recent Christian films say about the faith-based movie business?
In the last few years we have had huge successes inThe Grace CardFire Proof and Courageous. All of these movies made double their budget. Does some of it have to do with the fact that the budget are low.  The redal truth is that people  will see quality. They will go and view good films.
Morse writes, “The new kind of Christian film is partly about a growing sophisti
cation among Christians carving out film careers after half a century of the Church rejecting everything Hollywood stands for.”Erik Lokkesmoe, co-founder of Different Drummer, a film-marketing company that mobilizes fans and audiences told the National Review Online that it’s a shift within the Americanization of Christianity.
“This audience is looking for honesty and storytelling, and they’re looking for characters they can identify with,” he notes.
“They’re looking for films that end with no nicely wrapped-up solutions; they want ambiguity – the type of films they can have a conversation about with their friends,” he said in National Review Online.
What do you think? Have you noticed  the  change in films?

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Bible Verse of the Day

Verse of the Day

“speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:19-20 NIV

How You Can Help Your Heart By Fasting

African Americans are key contenders for heart disease. A new research study has now pointed out one step that is simple enough for us all to try. Fasting. Fasting has long been associated with religious rituals, diets, and political protests. Now new evidence from cardiac researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute demonstrates that routine periodic fasting is also good for your health, and your heart.

Research cardiologists at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute are reporting that fasting not only lowers one’s risk of coronary artery disease and diabetes, but also causes significant changes in a person’s blood cholesterol levels. Both diabetes and elevated cholesterol are known risk factors for coronary heart disease.

The discovery expands upon a 2007 Intermountain Healthcare study that revealed an association between fasting and reduced risk of coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death among men and women in America. In the new research, fasting was also found to reduce other cardiac risk factors, such as triglycerides, weight, and blood sugar levels.

You can read the full study by visiting  the website for Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center.

BeBe & CeCe Winans Get A Star!

posted by neechy.com

BeBe and CeCe Winans‘ were recently honored with the 2,452nd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The ceremony took place on Thursday, October 20.

I’m so proud of what God has allowed them to do. They’ve been singing professionally since 1982. Since then, we’ve been blessed by songs like HEAVEN, ADDICTIVE LOVE, and IT’S OKAY.
Check out the video below. BTW, I LOVE CeCe’s jacket!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Christian TV Show Gives Money Away & Will Give Away More!

Posted on elev8.com

A Christian TV show that’s giving money away instead of asking for it. Do you know scripture? Do you know the 10 Commandments?  This might be your lucky day!


The new Prayer Stop TV show (Airing Thursday nights at 7:30 EST on The NRB Network – Direct TV Channel 378) is giving everyone who watches their show a chance to win $300.00! Entrepreneur, founder and former owner of the World’s largest newspaper circulation sales and marketing firm, Darrel Rundus is known for giving his money away. In 2009, he gave away $20,000.00 to the first person he called who could list all Ten Commandments in order and do it in 20-seconds or less.

See the 10-minute video of the call with the winner here:


In a recent interview, host Darrel Rundus was quoted as saying, “God loves a cheerful giver and it’s better to give than to receive. So we thought instead of asking others for money we should use this show as a way to be a blessing to others both financially and spiritually.”

In short, the contest works something like this. Every Friday morning, Prayer Stop posts 5-simple, easy to answer questions about the previous night’s episode on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/PrayerStop) that can only be answered if you watched the show as it airs. The first person to e-mail them at contactus@prayerstop.org with all the correct answers to all five questions wins the $300.00 award.

Here’s a short summary of the TV show as found on their website. Prayer Stop TV Show Summary: Join us for the first season of a new and exciting show as we take you on “The Journey of Joe” and let you vicariously experience his pain, shame, fear, training and triumph. Each week, we will walk down the road Joe’s traveling as we help Christians to learn how to face their fears and effectively share their faith with friends, family members, co-workers and even strangers.
Well, are you in?

Daily Bread: Stuck In The Mire

posted by October 24, 2011 — by Dennis Fisher on odb.org

Jeremiah has been called “the weeping prophet.” He may have had a sensitive and melancholic disposition that was compounded by his heartbreak over God’s judgment on disobedient Israel. His capacity for sorrow is amazing: “Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night!” (Jer. 9:1).

As if sorrow for his nation were not enough, Jeremiah was persecuted for his prophetic message of judgment. In one instance, Jeremiah was imprisoned in a cistern filled with mire (Jer. 38:6). Opposition to his ministry had gotten the great prophet stuck in a place of despair.

Sometimes in our attempts to serve the Lord, we can feel stuck in painful circumstances and surprising heartache. But the prophet’s resilience should inspire us to persevere. Jeremiah’s sense of divine call was so strong that he could not be deterred from serving the Lord. “But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not” (Jer. 20:9).

Have the results of your service for the Lord been disappointing? Ask Him to renew your heart by His Spirit, and continue to serve God despite your setbacks.

Be not weary in your serving;
Do your best for those in need;
Kindnesses will be rewarded
By the Lord who prompts the deed. —Anon.

No service for Christ is insignificant.

New Birth Church Members Sue Bishop Eddie Long [VIDEO]

posted by elev8.com


New Birth Missionary Church members are suing  Bishop Eddie Long for bad money management.


Ten church members lost more than a million dollars after investing in a company Bishop Eddie Long endorsed back in October 2009. A lawsuit was filed Wednesday in DeKalb County state court.


According to court documents and our previous posts, a three-day investment seminar was held at Long’s church in 2009, and church members were encouraged to invest in a company named City Capital Corporation. The company’s then-CEO, Ephren Taylor, attended and was heralded by Long.
Do you remember Bishop Long arrogantly stating to his congregation:

“I am responsible for everyone I bring before you and what they say,” Long said at the seminar, according to the lawsuit. “The gentleman that I am going to bring before you is an ordained minster. That gives me great pride to bring him for you.”

Our friends over At “Toast To Wealth” have raised the flag on this. Could it be true on this quote?


Let’s not forget the video Bishop Long released to the public as if to show Mr. Ephren Taylor whose boss and redirect the blame off himself. Visit our friends a Toat To Wealth to see Eddie Long beg for money

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Fruit For Thought: Mamey Sapote

Song of The Day: Israel & New Breed - No Limits (Enlarge My Territory) Take The Limits Off

Saturday, October 22, 2011

3 Mistakes Singles Make With Their Money



If you’re among the more than 99 million single people in the United States, it’s vital for you to have your finances in order. Without a spouse to pick up the slack, you could be left in a financially vulnerable position if you were to lose your job. As we head into National Unmarried and Single Americans Week (held from Sept. 18 to Sept. 24), here are three mistakes singles make with their money.


Mistake 1: Having inadequate insurance—or none at all. Just because you haven’t had a cold in five years doesn’t mean you don’t need health insurance. Your health could change at a moment’s notice. Why take the risk of having a major accident or unexpected health issue and then being saddled with a hospital bill that could take years to pay off? In addition, singles should have long- and short-term disability insurance. If you are unable to work due to a disability, you’ll need to have your salary covered.


Mistake 2: Not having emergency savings. While married couples need to have at least six to eight months stashed in an emergency savings fund, singles need to have at least 12 months of expenses saved. Why? Because you alone are responsible for your financial survival, and the impact of not having enough saved in case of an emergency could be much more serious. For example, if you’re married and can’t find steady employment after an extended period of time, you’ll still have some financial support from your spouse when it comes to basics like groceries and mortgage payments. If you’re single and run out of money because you can’t find steady employment, you’re in a much tougher spot. It could get to the point where you can no longer feed yourself and keep a roof over your head. Prepare for the worst case scenario—just in case.


Mistake 3: Not having an estate plan. Estate rules vary depending on your state of residence. However, in most cases, if you’re single with children and die without a will (dying without a will is known in legal terms as intestate), your estate would be split evenly among your children. But if you’re single wit no children and you die intestate, your estate would be automatically distributed to your parents (if they are still alive). However, you may not want this arrangement. Perhaps you want your estate distributed to a favorite uncle or aunt who really needs the money. If you didn’t specify that in your will, you’re out of luck. There’s no guarantee that your parents will distribute the money as you had intended. Depending on state laws, if a married person dies intestate, all of their property could go to their spouse. So regardless of marital status, it’s important to clearly outline your wishes after death so that your property is passed on to the appropriate people.

Topic of the Day: When a Relative Dies & You Can't Afford the Funeral

The Money Coach tells you what to do if a relative passes away and the burial costs are out of your budget
by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox

When Apple co-founder Steve Jobs passed away this month, he left behind a huge legacy – and a huge financial fortune too. Since Jobs was one of the richest men in America, his family undoubtedly had no problem paying for his funeral and putting Jobs to rest.


Unfortunately, that’s not the case with many other Americans. It’s a sad reality that many families and individuals have to deal with, but the truth is that when many people pass away, their family members or close friends struggle to afford the funeral.
Knowing what to do when you can’t afford to bury a relative can help to relieve some of the stress and heartache of this difficult time.

According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the national average cost of a funeral with a vault was $7,775 in 2010. The cost of a burial without the casket was about $4,265 that same year. For many grieving families, paying thousands of dollars to bury a relative just isn’t economically feasible.
If a loved one passes away and the burial and funeral costs are out of your budget, here’s what you need to do:

Analyze the individual’s life insurance policy
Determine whether some or all of the burial and funeral costs are covered under the deceased’s life insurance policy. Talk to an agent in person or over the phone to go over all of the details, limitations and stipulations associated with the policy so that you understand what is and isn’t covered. You may find that a good percentage of the funeral costs are already covered based on life insurance the individual had on the job or a life insurance policy they bought on their own.

Review low-cost burial options, cremating someone is usually less expensive than burying the individual in a casket or vault. If your state doesn’t require embalming the body, consider a “green burial” where you don’t have to pay for a vault, headstone or expensive caskets. You can also shop around to find an affordable casket online.

Consider getting a loan if you have good credit and are comfortable with taking on a personal loan, consider applying for financing from a local bank or credit union in order to pay for the burial. Avoid taking out a cash advance on a credit card because you’ll be responsible for paying very high interest charges and could end up carrying that debt for several months, even years.

Ask other family members to chip in you may not have to shoulder the responsibility of paying for the burial all by yourself. Consider asking family members to pitch in and help with the costs. Be specific and candid with relatives about how much the funeral costs; ask everyone involved how much they can reasonably contribute; and put together a cost sheet or budget to help you keep track of all of expenses.

Talk to your county coroner’s office if you simply can’t come up with the money to pay for cremation or burial costs, you can sign a release form with your county coroner’s office that says you can’t afford to bury the family member. If you sign the release, the county and state will pitch in to either bury or cremate the body. The county may also offer you the option to claim the ashes for a fee. But if these also go unclaimed, they will bury the ashes in a common grave alongside other unclaimed ashes. Obviously, when a person dies it’s a terribly emotional time for that individual’s family members and friends. But it needn’t cause financial turmoil too.

You can do yourself and those you care about a favor by planning ahead and making sure you at least set aside money or have enough life insurance to cover your own burial costs in the event of your unexpected death.

Song of the Day: William Murphy - Let It Rise

Our Daily Bread: So Long

My grandfather refused to say “goodbye”; he felt the word was too final. So, when we would drive away after family visits, his farewell ritual was always the same. Standing in front of the green ferns that lined his house, he would wave and call out, “So long”!



As believers, we never have to say “goodbye” to the ones we love, as long as they have placed their trust in Jesus as Savior. The Bible promises that we will see them again.



The apostle Paul said that we should not “sorrow as others who have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13), because when Jesus returns, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves and—together with the believers who are still alive—will meet the Lord in the air (vv.15-17).






We have confidence that one day in heaven there will be “no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying” (Rev. 21:4).






It’s in that wonderful place that “we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:17).
Christians have the hope of an eternal reunion with Christ and with believing loved ones who have passed away. That’s why Paul exhorted us to “comfort one another with these words” (v.18). Today, encourage someone with the hope that allows us to say “so long,” instead of “goodbye.”



Beyond the sunset, O glad reunionWith our dear loved ones who’ve gone before;In that fair homeland we’ll know no parting—Beyond the sunset forevermore. —Brock



At death, God’s people don’t say “Goodbye,”but “We’ll see you later.”

Mary Mary Kick Off Do Something Big Contest Rules

Friday, October 21, 2011

Our Daily Bread: One Heart At A Time

Quaker John Woolman was an itinerant preacher who waged his own personal campaign to end slavery in colonial America.

Woolman met with slave-holders to speak of the injustice of holding other human beings as property.

Although Woolman did not eradicate slavery completely, he did persuade many masters to free their slaves. His success was due to individual, personal persuasion.

The book of Philemon contains a similar one-on-one appeal. Onesimus was a runaway slave who had escaped from his Christian master Philemon. Onesimus had come to faith through Paul’s ministry, and now Paul was sending him back to Philemon with these words:

“Perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother” (vv.15-16). Although we don’t know if Onesimus was set free from slavery, his new faith in Jesus had changed his relationship with his Christian master. He was now also a brother in Christ. Paul was influencing his world one heart at a time.

By the transforming power of the gospel, people and situations can change. Like Woolman and like Paul, let’s seek to influence our world one heart at a time.

If I can help some wounded heart, if I can by my love impartSome blessing that will help more now—Lord, just show me how. —Brandt

The kindest thing you can do for another is to show him the truth.

Song of the Day: Holy - Israel & New Breed

Tip of the Day: How To Beat The Mid-Afternoon Energy Slump

If you’re like us and work on a computer all day, you’re already familiar with the following scenario: You’re desperately trying to get through your work before the end of the day but by 2pm the mid-afternoon slump starts to set in.Here are 7 tips to reboot your mental engines to re-motivate yourself to end the rest of the day on a high note from shine.com:


1. Make a specific and exciting project or plan after your work hour that you can look forward to. Make it as specific as possible so you know you will do it for sure. (“I am going to go shopping for recipes and try cooking a new vegetarian meal after work around seven o’clock” as opposed to “I am going to cook after work.”)

2. Take a scheduled mental break to slack off and be lazy. If you are feeling your mind wandering, use a kitchen timer or a cell phone alarm to schedule a 10-minute do-whatever-you-want min-break where you can organize your desk, e-mail a friend, stalk someone on Facebook or look at your favorite shameless celebrity gossip blogs.

3. Make yourself a nice cup of hot green tea. Drinking coffee or black tea might be too much caffeine for the second half of the day, which will disrupt your sleep schedule. Green tea has just a little bit caffeine, and also contains antioxidants that are good for you.

Coming Soon to Theaters: The Bully Project Trailer

18 Million Kids will be bullied in the U.S. this year.


3 Million students are absent from school each month because they feel unsafe at school.


What can we do to help solve this growing problem today........


How can we teach our Kids to be part of the solution and not the problem?


Watch this trailer - I pray that we take our children to see this when it hits theaters this year. Post your comments.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Song of the Day by Sounds of Blackness ~ Fly Again OFFICIAL HD MUSIC VIDEO, featuring Jamec...

Breast Cancer Awareness: Who is Susan G. Komen

                                  SUSAN G. KOMEN

                                                              by: Ally from Eden Prairie



When you hear the name of a charity you don’t really think about the story behind it. Most people either donate or say "stop calling me." You might have heard of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. You might just say cool and donate 5 dollars. Some people look deeper, and Ask questions like who was she? Why does she have an organization named after her? Is she even a real person or just some fake name? I wanted to know more about this heroic Susan G. Komen. This is what I found. 
I found out that Susan G. Komen is a real person and as a kid her last name was Goodman. She had a fairly normal childhood, playing and having fun. She and her sister Nancy were very close, even when Susan went to college and married Stan Komen. Meanwhile Nancy went to college in Texas. All through this they still stayed very, very close. They stayed as close as they were when they were young. 
In the mid 1970’s Susan G. Komen was 33. That was when she received devastating news. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. In that time period people normally didn’t talk openly about breast cancer or any cancer really. To treat it she received a subcutaneous mastectomy. She thought that her trouble was over, and it was for 6 months, but after those 6 months the cancer returned. 
After the cancer she went to the Mayo Clinic instead. It was there that she learned that the cancer had spread to one of her armpits and one of her lungs. She continued radiation but the cancer still spread. She became a stage IV patient (the worst kind, and when you think about how horrible cancer is that’s really, really, bad) because the cancer had spread to, along with the previous places, distant organs in her body. She traveled to the Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. There she received chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is what makes your hair fall out, not cancer. It also makes you vomit and overall weakness. While she was here she told her sister Nancy that she wanted to start a fundraiser to help find a cure for others with this disease. Nancy promised that she would do everything she could to help. 
Three years after she was diagnosed Susan died, her body that is. Her determination to find a cure lives on in her sister Nancy. Nancy founded the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation in 1982. Since then it has raised almost 2 billion dollars for breast cancer research. It has partnerships in more than 50 countries and more than 100,000 volunteers. Susan G. Komen is a hero because in my mind because even though she knew she was probably was going to die she wanted to help others before herself. Only a handful of people have those qualities: determination, persistence, and bravery. People may think that they have these qualities and boast about it. But if you actually have these qualities you don’t have to tell anybody, they just know. Susan G. Komen might have only lived from 1943-1980, but her dream lives on forever. 

Nancy Brinker accepting the medal of freedom. (nakedthanks.com)