On Sunday, November 9, 2014, the family of the late Mr. Howard Johnson, Sr. honored his memory by making a donation in the form of a new fence to the parking lot of his home church, St. Matthew AME Church, Oxmoor.
In addition, the family donated the framed original copy of his baptismal certificate, dated December, 1943, for the church archives.
A life long member of St. Matthew, Mr. Johnson was a long time trustee of the church. An original founder of the Johnson Memorial Funeral Home in Bessemer, Mr. Johnson expired in August of this year.
Attending the gathering in the parking lot were his beloved widow, Mrs. Odessa Pitts Johnson, his sister, Mrs. Mattie J. Carrington, daughters Mrs. Eunice Rogers (Bernard), Ms. Cassandra Y. Johnson, son, Mr. Howard G. Johnson and grandchildren.
The Reverend Roland Brown is Pastor of the church.

JACKSON, Miss. – SRT ENTERTAINMENT is proud to announce the release of the new Holiday single, “Can’t Wait For Christmas” performed by Mario J. Brown featuring Stellar Award winning artist Maurette Brown Clark. (Available Online November 18, 2014)
 Written by Mario J. Brown, Pierre Medor, Greg Collier and Chad Roper, “Can’t Wait For Christmas,” has a warmth and soothing sound that awakens the senses and embodies the all-embracing spirit of the Christmas season. This song is sure to become a modern day Holiday classic for years to come.
 Maurette Brown Clark, affectionately known as “The Princess Of Praise & Worship,” is currently in the studio recording new material for her 5th solo project scheduled for 2015 release.
 To connect with Maurette Brown Clark and for more information on her latest appearances, please visit: Official Website: http://www.maurettebrownclark.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Maurettebclark
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MaurettebrownClark http://www.facebook.com/MaurettebrownClarktoo
Instagram: http://instagram.com/Maurettebclark
Mario J. Brown
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mjbmusik
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Mariojbrown
Instagram: http://instagram.com/Mariojbrown

by Jerry Kingery

The beauty of holiness

For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods,
Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

from Psalms 96 – 97

For a free Scripture packet, please write From the Bible, BIBLE FOUNDATION, PO Box 908, Newberg, Oregon 97132; email: bf@bf.org.

by Angela Moore

How does forgiveness look? That’s a good question. It’s also one that I, as I’m still trying to wade through the sometimes muddy waters flowing from the fountain of forgiveness, look to find the answer to, to help myself and others.
While getting dressed recently I was standing in the mirror applying my “Wet n Wild” eye shadow when a thought crossed my mind which made me feel guilty the moment I stopped letting it linger there. I wasn’t specifically thinking about anything someone had done to me, but rather a borrowed reaction that still didn’t belong, especially since the situation was slightly none of my bees-wax. (Don’t even ask me to share what it is because I have forgiven myself and am sure the Lord has done so as well.) The thought of what I’d actually thought made me think of what God must think of me. I felt bad, so I was certain He did too, and I was well on my way to resting in that condemnation. Then, like a cool breeze which often flows from a fountain I felt forgiven. It was pretty cool, pretty cool indeed. That’s why God is so good, and forgiveness as a giver and receiver is too.
So what is the look of forgiveness. I’m still not absolutely certain and I’m sure the list below will continue to grow, but here are some things I know.
Forgiveness is when:
•    We can look at the persons we feel are at the heart of the pain square in the eyes and choose to focus on the good which has come out of the situation, not the pain they caused.
•    We can use our pain as a platform to help others with absolutely no hint of cynicism or intent to throw shade. (Google it.)
•    We know we may never forget but can remember the situation, and not have to constantly or ever remind the perpetrator or the public of the memories we still hold.
•    We don’t spend time in our minds crafting what we’re going to say or do to hurt the ones who hurt us.
•    We don’t allow ourselves to be the carrier of the mistakes of others like a Diddy-style umbrella from his Bad Boy days in the Hamptons, just using what we know happened to hover over the heads of those we once knew and likely loved.
•    We don’t have those “where in the world did that bad thought come from” moments when the person’s name is heard, presence appears, or simply when the wind blows.
•    We can sincerely pray for those who hurt us.
•    We can see any fault we might have had in the situation if there was any to be had (which sometimes is absolutely not, but sometimes can be).
•    We aren’t defined by the look, sound, or stifling emotion of our pain.
•    We can actually laugh with them rather than at them.
•    We know we know that we absolutely know that we wish them no harm.
•    We don’t hold ourselves in unforgiveness for any role we played (or think we played) in being hurt.
•    We hear word of their calamities, or trials in life and don’t break out into a mean running man dance on the inside.
•    We simply just aren’t consumed with the person or pain in thought, word, action or reaction.
•    We can remember ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL the times God has forgiven us, even for those pesky little thoughts that pop up in the mirror while applying make-up, and choose to be grateful for the present and look to the future rather than holding on to the past…regardless of who did what, what happened and how it hurt.

Angela Scott Moore has sported many hats in her lifetime. Some were cute, some not by choice and others brought a little chaos. All in all, each hat has helped her become the woman she is today and hopes to be in the future.
She’s a former broadcast anchor, reporter and producer, as well as a trained motivational speaker, fundraiser and marketing/public relations expert.  Careers in Civic Service, Social Justice and Human Resources have recently been added to her list of “been there, done that” duties. She’s also a former pastor’s wife of nine years, having worked in full-time ministry, where the majority of her time was spent empowering women and girls. She’s overcome life-threatening and life-altering illnesses, divorce, loss of job, death of close loved ones and too much to post, all while purposely trying to maintain a smile, positive outlook, encouraging word and faith in God.
Angela is an avid inspirational blogger at http://www.angelamooreblog.wordpress.com and also a philanthropic community supporter who has served with more than 25 local and national organizations over her nearly 20 year professional career. Currently, as a hobby, she operates the blossoming, full-service public relations venture Amazing Kreations, offering media and event planning assistance at low, or no cost to small organizations, ministries and businesses. She also hosts a Facebook page devoted to divorce called I’m More Than What Happened.
Taking lessons learned from each phase of her ever-evolving life, Angela’s now donning the hat of a single woman on a single mission to use spoken and written words to remind others that Life Gets Better and it’s possible to look and be their best in the process.

by Electra Adams

There is a song in the heart of the believers that resonates worship and thanksgiving:  “Give thanks with a grateful heart, Give thanks to the Holy One, Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ His Son! And Now, let the weak say I am strong, Let the poor say I am rich because of what the Lord has done, Give thanks!”
The church is defined as a gathering, the Body of Christ, Believers, the Saints, Christians, and the Bride of Christ. When we relate each one by definition, “the Bride of Christ” takes it to another level. Christ is the Groom as it relates to the church being the Bride. The connotation here reflects a natural marriage. My thought for today is: Does God ever satisfy His wife? The natural marriage in the twenty-first century deals with enormous issues of dissatisfaction! Nothing that the husband does satisfies the wife and nothing that the wife does satisfies the husband. God gives us a great home; satisfies our mouth with good food; we drive a Mercedes, Bentley or Lamborghini; we have  great jobs! Yet, we are not content, and struggle within for true unconditional thanksgiving.
We bless Him from a platform of things, gifts, or carnal heart’s desires. III John 2…Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers. According to the will of God, prosperity is as a two faced coin, such that it is designed to render you complete and whole. Most often the soulish realm is forced into dieting or starving. It is impossible to give thanks with a grateful heart unto God without a wealthy soul. The soul is where actions are determined, reasoning is made and where knowledge and your will live. At some point, through knowledge of who God is, we must will to be thankful beyond things.
In 2014 as we gather at the table, let us allow our minds to reflect only Him.
Have a happy Thanksgiving! Electra Adams & Family. electra.gethsemaneministries@yahoo.com PO Box 39004 B’ham, AL 35208.

Recognizing the Hidden Lord
Rev. J.A. Reid

A preacher was an avid golfer. Every chance he got, he found himself on the golf course swinging away. It was an obsession. One Sunday was a picture perfect day for golfing. The sun was out, no clouds in the sky, and the temperature was just right. The preacher was in a quandary as to what to do, and shortly, the urge to play golf overcame him. He called an assistant to tell him that he was sick and could not do church, packed the car up, and drove three hours to a golf course where no one would recognize him. Happily, he began to play the course. An angel up above was watching the preacher and was quite perturbed. He went to God and said, “Look at the preacher. He should be punished for what he is doing.” God nodded in agreement. The preacher teed up on the first hole. He swung at the ball, and it sailed effortlessly through the air and landed right in the cup three hundred and fifty yards away, a picture perfect hole-in-one. He was amazed and excited. The angel was a little shocked. He turned to God and said, “Begging Your pardon, but I thought you were going to punish him?” God smiled. “Think about it – who can he tell?”
“No matter where we go or what we do God sees us but sometimes it’s hard to see God. We only see the impossible in life by recognizing the hidden Lord, and recognize Him by witnessing God in everything and discover Him within. The problem is many of us who claim to be following Jesus miss the Christ that can only be found within. If we don’t learn how to recognize the hidden Lord within we will go through life thinking and acting like we know God and miss Him.
An old man met a man coming from Detroit. They talked. The man from Detroit asked the old man, you are coming from Atlanta. Please tell me something about the people there: what manner of people are they, what are they like?” The old man asked the man, “First you tell me what type of people is there in Detroit.” The man said, “Very disgusting, nauseating, violent, quarrelsome.” And all these qualities flashed on the face of the man. The old man said, “I am sorry. You will find the people of Atlanta just the same.”
Later on, he met another man who was also from Detroit, and he also asked the same question: And the old man again asked, “First tell me what manner of men are there in Detroit and the man became aflame with nostalgia… a very loving memory of the people of Detroit. His face shone and he said, “Very pleasant, friendly, kind, and good neighbors.” The old man said, “I am happy to tell you that you will find the people of Atlanta just the same.” This story is beautiful. It tells a very basic truth about us: wherever we go, we will always find ourselves; wherever we look, we will always encounter ourselves. The whole world is nothing but a mirror, and all relationships are mirrors. Again and again we encounter ourselves – and again and again we misunderstand. We never realize the point, that it is our own face that we have looked at, that it is our own mood that we have come across. In life we meet no one but ourselves. God is hidden in these experiences because God is concealed our hearts! Our work in this life is to find Him.
There are two ways of recognizing the unseen Lord. One, we recognize the Hidden Lord in our life when we see ourselves in everything. We can recognize Jesus only if we have recognized something of the beyond in ourselves. We recognize Jesus only if a part of us has become like Jesus; otherwise we cannot recognize Him. We cannot recognize that which has not happened to us. If we are dark, only darkness can be recognized. If we are light, then we become capable of recognizing light. Our eyes can see light because they are part of the sun, because something within us has become the nature of light. A deep transformation has happened within you. We now are able to see the hidden Lord when we see God in all things.
Two, we recognize the Hidden Lord in our life when we discover God within. The Bible says, “And Simon Peter answered and said, thou art the Christ, the son of the living God.” Very significant words – try to understand them. Thou art the Christ. What does the word “Christ” means? The word means that which attracts. When we discover God within ourselves we become capable of attracting Christ, the Son of the Living God. It means a drop of the ocean has become capable of attracting the ocean. Christ is a meeting-point of the drop with the ocean, of the finite with the infinite, of the horizontal with the vertical. Where the horizontal and the vertical meet, that point of meeting is Christ. Here is the point, when Peter said, “Thou art the Christ,” he was saying in Jesus we witness the finite and the infinite coming together. In Jesus we perceive the Son of man and the Son of God. In Jesus we can make all boundaries dissolve and find ourselves. In Him we distinguish time and eternity meeting, life and death meeting.” This is the meaning of Christ: where the opposites meet and become one.
Today, we recognize the hidden Lord in ourselves as Christians! We are transformed by this acknowledgment into what God intended us to be.
John 8: 6-