The Masquerade Ball: Supporting Excellence in Education takes place at the Birmingham Harbert Center
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Classic Pearls, Inc., the nonprofit arm of Phi Iota Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, will host The Masquerade Ball: Supporting Excellence in Education on March 29, at 8p.m. at The Harbert Center in downtown Birmingham. This inaugural event is being organized to provide academic support to Alabama’s youth and features entertainment, a silent auction and mask competition. Event proceeds will contribute to financial scholarships for high school students served in the Classic Pearls school-year academic development program.
“It is common knowledge that the cost of a college education is on the rise, and with a slow-moving economy, there is a noticeable reduction in educational funds,” said Gloria Howard, President of Classic Pearls Inc. “We’re attempting to alleviate some of the financial pressures our students face. The ball is not only a fun, family-friendly means to kick off the Spring season. These funds will bolster the size of our upcoming scholarships and the number of high school students we can serve in our program. It’s a win-win for all.”
Attendees will have an opportunity to bid on sought-after donations during a silent auction that evening. The event also features a “Best Mask Contest.”
Tickets and tables are available for purchase until March 17. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Individual seats for The Masquerade Ball are $60.
For more information about sponsorships or to reserve a seat, please contact a member of Phi Iota Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. or call 205.382.6868.
Your second home is a grand one.
It’s much bigger than the house you live in during the week. No, your second home has huge windows to let in the light, fine linens, and it’s usually filled with music. The furniture might be sparse, the chairs hard and the temperature uncomfortable, but there’s always joy there.
Church is like that for many people. But, as you’ll see in “Writing God’s Obituary” by Anthony B. Pinn, church is just a building to others.
Anthony Pinn was a “miracle baby.”
Doctors had warned his mother not to have another child. She’d already lost one son and was sickly herself (as was Pinn’s father), but Pinn was healthy when he was born into their Buffalo, New York family.
Growing up in a mostly blue-collar neighborhood, Pinn went to church every Sunday with his mother. Her father was a deacon in a small Baptist church, and he made sure Pinn behaved during service and knew God. The church was a comfort to Pinn – so much so, that at around age 12, he told his minister that he wanted to be a preacher, too.
His church leaders seized that childhood wish, and began to teach the boy to preach and minister to a congregation. One of them became somewhat of a mentor and father figure to Pinn, whose own father had left the family. Though Pinn “didn’t enjoy going to Sunday school” and he didn’t like school in general, he says he loved his church and he embraced his future role in its leadership.
And yet, there were things he didn’t like about it: the “fine art of… shunning,” for instance, sexism, and homophobia. That bothered him, and his faith began to crack.
Still, he stuck with it. He matriculated from high school and entered college to study sociology and religion. He learned about other religious traditions and that “The Bible didn’t matter in the same way” at college that it did in high school. He began to listen to worldly music, and started to “unlearn” his fear of life.
“We are screwed-up animals, self-aware, communicative, and evolving,” he says, which didn’t mesh with the wrathful God of his childhood. And so, while studying divinity at Harvard University, he kept asking one question: “Does God exist?”
For author and humanist Anthony B. Pinn, the answer is personally “no” and in this controversial-but-thought-provoking memoir, he explains how he came to that conclusion.
But “Writing God’s Obituary” isn’t just about religion. Pinn recalls his parents and grandparents with warmth and love, telling their stories and savoring the things they taught him. Those reflections make his journey all the more poignant; we can sense pain here sometimes, and an emptiness for what was never experienced and what might have been.
I liked this book, but beware before you pick it up. It may make you fearful, it might make you angry or prayerful, but if you’ve ever wrestled with issues of faith, “Writing God’s Obituary” may be a book to bring home.
Parents encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors by making physical activity an enjoyable part of family life.
Parents encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors by making physical activity an enjoyable part of family life.
(NAPSA) – Today, childhood obesity tops the charts as one of the primary health concerns for parents. In fact, one in five American kids and teens is overweight or obese and, as a result, are at risk for serious health issues such as high blood pressure, asthma, type 2 diabetes, and sleep and hormonal disorders that would typically appear in adulthood.
Dr. Shelley Ar
mstrong, faculty member in the School of Health Sciences at Walden University and a certified health and physical educator, says, “Obesity is a very serious health and well-being issue and we can eliminate many of our kids’ physical, social, emotional and even academic challenges by keeping our kids fit. When parents put a value on health and physical activity, kids are more likely to emulate that.”
Know Your Numbers
It’s important to become knowledgeable about the baseline numbers for each of your family members, such as body weight, body mass index, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Ask your doctor to write these numbers down. Knowing these numbers will help you set goals for your family and work toward them.
How To Get Started
Fortunately, there are many ways parents can build fun physical activity into their family’s routines, says Dr. Armstrong. Here are some tips:
• Schedule family walks or bike rides several times a week.
• Create family-friendly fitness competitions like family boot camps, exercise
scavenger hunts, pickup basketball in the driveway, or touch football.
• Be young again. Get your young children outside for a game of tag or to
climb trees to get their heart rates moving.
• Go for a run. Running is one of the most convenient and inexpensive options
for exercise and also one of the best forms for weight loss.
Dr. Armstrong also recommends setting exercise goals that follow the SMART method: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-oriented. For example, set a goal that by the end of three months your family will work up to walking briskly for a half hour after dinner three nights a week.
For more ideas on how to build fun physical activities into your family’s routines, visit www.WaldenU.edu/gethealthy.
(NAPSA) – While paying for college can be a challenge, for many students, thousands of dollars in scholarships are available each year. In fact, according to a national study by Ipsos, more families use grants and scholarships to fund college than any other source of funding.
Why To Find Scholarships
After all, scholarships are “free money” that doesn’t need to be repaid, which means fewer out-of-pocket costs and the potential to graduate with less student debt.
Where To Find Scholarships
A common misconception about scholarships is that they are meant only for class valedictorians or star athletes. In reality, there are thousands of different scholarships available for students with all types of skills and hobbies. Organizations that offer scholarships can include:
• Employers
• Companies
• High schools and colleges
• Religious groups
• Professional associations
• Foundations and nonprofit organizations.
There are even such fun and unique scholarships as the “Stuck at Prom” Scholarship Contest by Duck brand, awarding students with the most creative duct tape prom outfit.
Here’s another useful fact: Students need not wait till their senior year in high school; younger students should research scholarships and educate themselves on the requirements. Students will be most successful searching for scholarships if they start early, stay focused and do their research.
Also, it’s important to remember to apply for a scholarship for every year you plan to attend college.
How to Find Scholarships
Families can research scholarships online and through their school. Another great resource is the free scholarship search tool at www.SallieMae.com/ScholarshipSearch. That database represents over 3 million scholarships totaling $16 billion.
The Mt. Pilgrim District Congress of Christian Education invites you to a symposium entitled, “Family Conference 2014” hosted by Rev. Dr. Jonathan McPherson, Sr. Theme: “Families Coming Together to Assist One Another.” (Ephesians 5: 22-25; 6: 1-4) This event will be held at the Mt. Pilgrim District Baptist Association, 2500 – 35th Avenue North, Birmingham, Ala. 35207, March 29, 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Keynote speakers will be Rev. Reginald Calvert, Rev. E. Baxter Morris, Montgomery, Ala. and Sis. Agnes McPherson. There will also be a College Workshop for the youth. If you have any college questions, here is what you will get, college answers. Representatives will be on site from Lawson State, Oakland City University, UAB – Birmingham, Miles College and Birmingham Southern. You are encouraged to participate and attend. Free admission.
Sir Albert Einstein once said that every man has a level of genius, but if a fish judges himself by his ability to climb a tree, he will live his life thinking himself stupid. I love witty and thought provoking sayings; God knows that there is absolutely nothing wrong with good preaching. Of all three mentioned here, I do declare to anyone that if you teach me, you will reach me. It is when we are too confident in self-ability and text knowledge; when we are the “head man” in charge, or, the main manager of all things, that He stands off at a distance. When our hearts have been tested and tried to be loyal, then the Lord our God stamps His approval on us. When we are able to carry this treasure in earthen vessels, see His power flowing to the earth, and yet surrender glory to Him! There is absolutely nothing good in us, but, if you will, the Holy Spirit!
We are constantly in a battle of that which is spiritual against that which is fleshy or carnal. Without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we are almost, to 100 percent fleshy; a good thing against a God thing. Know your enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be defeated. When you are ignorant of the enemy, but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If you are ignorant both of your enemy and of yourself, you are sure to be defeated in every battle. If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know earth ( fleshy/carnal and spiritual things), you make your victory complete!
In conclusion, you must discover who you are. Without this piece of info, you will find yourself being or trying to become everything to everybody. Secondly, every man’s greatness is locked in his ability to walk in the Spirit of God, not leaning totally on human instincts or abilities. Greatness is seen, not as ability alone, but stability in Him: no more childish being tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the deceit or craftiness of other humans, even those who say they are Christians.
Most great men never perceive or know that they are great. Greatness is recognized in those who know that Christ (the Anointed One) is head over all: from Him the whole Body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love: submitting ourselves one to another in the fear of God, our Father.
Lent has been known as an observance of the Catholic Church and a few Protestant churches for many years. Today, it is growing in popularity among Baptists and many other groups, though they avoid the use of the traditional terminology of liturgical churches.
Lent is a season of forty days before Easter, not counting Sundays. Lent has been observed by Christians at least from the early second century. The word, “Lent” is from the Anglo-Saxon “Lencten,” meaning spring. For hundreds of years, it has been observed as a period for the deepening of the devotional life of faithful Christians by looking forward to the joyous triumph of Easter, the victory of spirit over matter, of life over death, and of God’s creating and renewing love over the worst that human cruelty and blindness can do.
In the church, Lent has been observed by preaching and worship which are centered in the life, teaching, and sacrificial death of Christ. The importance of Lent to the church is evidenced by special noonday services, prayer meetings, and studies. Individual Lenten practices are biblically based and consist of participation in church worship services (Matthew 18:30), self-examination (2 Corinthians 13:5), prayer and reflection (Matthew 6:6), fasting (Matthew 9:15), the study of the scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15), and the doing of good deeds and charitable giving (Matthew 6:1). If we will do these things, we will be blessed and we will gain a closer walk with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Lenten observances have been sustained by churches over many centuries of time in order to develop true disciples and not merely superficial believers. For the individual desiring a closer walk with God, Lent and its practices offer an opportunity for repentance and renewal that can be very rewarding. What are you doing for Lent?
Dr. Robert Wilkerson is a minister, writer, and founder of People for the Christian Way, an organization whose mission is to encourage all people to practice Christian principles in business, politics, and every area of life. drbobwilkerson@bellsouth.net, www.peopleforthechristianway.com
Strength of Personality and Powers of the Spirit
Rev. Joseph R. Reid
In the beginning came England’s Pop Idol, followed by unless you’ve been living in a cave, American Idol, the dominant television hit of the past decade. Later we heard a senior hit wonder, Susan Boyle on Britain’s Got Talent and the 62 million hits that a singing homeless Korean boy got on You Tube on the show Korea’s Got Talent. Another show by Simon Cowell, creator of American Idol, called X Factor has been on TV with a popular following. There has been a string of copycats, “Dancing with the Stars”, “The Voice” and even a Gospel Music idol, “Sunday’s Best.” We can’t seem to get our fill of wannabe talent to keep our hope of becoming a star alive or to just forget ourselves for a few minutes. The problem with all of this stargazing and “forgetfulness” is at the end of the day it does nothing for our soul salvation. Seeking and serving God is just the opposite of forgetting. To seek God we must find ourselves. And to find ourselves we must discover the limited strength of our personality and the power of the Spirit of God. Here are two weaknesses of the personality: One, its ability to fool others into thinking one thing while doing something else and two, the personality’s desire to always be on top.
Church has also become a forum for entertainment and the preachers filling the seats are the ones who look, sound and act like entertainers, as in “Sunday’s Best,” for preachers. Here is the real problem; if we don’t begin to take our soul salvation seriously we will miss the Kingdom of Heaven. There are ways we can avoid falling into the trap of seeking the entertainment value in everything, even our search for God. The Bible says, “But all this was done, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” What was the prophetic meaning of the spectacular betrayal of Jesus by Judas? The coming for Jesus with swords and clubs was predicted; the betrayal of Jesus was also predicted. The Scriptures of the prophets refer to the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. Judas took Jesus in secret and in a violent manner which was predicted in the Old Testament. Through it all Jesus remained meek, calm, and submissive. He did not blame Judas because he knew who Judas was and what he had to do. The Bible says, “Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.” Not only did they go away quickly, they went away and left him alone, as He foretold they would, (John 16:32 ). They literally ran from Him like nervous sheep knowing the shepherd was about to be killed; fearing they would suffer or be crucified on a cross, they scurried away. Why? First, they had developed the ability to fool others into thinking one thing while believing something else. The Disciples of Christ were not yet true Believers. They were personalities and followers, not Disciples. They had created a persona or mask that allowed them to be with Jesus but not to stand with Him in time of trouble. This was especially true of Judas. Judas taught us something about personality; we cannot depend on it to stand in the face of trying times. If we are to become Disciples of Christ we will need to move beyond our personality and uncover the presence of God that lies within us. When we truly discover God for ourselves, we will be ready to receive the powers of the Spirit.
Second, the disciples fled Christ because of their egos’ desire to remain on top. Ego is another word for personality. Judas had a huge ego. Judas was Jesus’ own disciple. He managed the money and was most trusted. He betrayed Jesus. Those 12 disciples of Jesus were very simple people, except for Judas. They were uneducated people, common people of the earth. You would not have recognized them anywhere in a crowd. Only Judas was not ordinary. He was polished, educated, cultured, and sophisticated: that’s what the ego is. Ego is nothing but a sophistication of what we love. Only love can betray, because to betray somebody, we have to come close to them. To hate somebody, we have to love them. Whenever we love somebody, a part of us goes on hating because love requires surrender, and our ego resists giving in to anyone or anything. Judas is nothing but a representation of the ego. There is a Judas in us all, the ego is the Judas. Judas has to be rooted out. Ego is nothing but the part which has become extraordinary in us and a barrier to receiving Christ. The ego will always betray Christ in service to our desires, wants and perceived needs. We tame the ego through prayer and meditation. We tame the ego through repentance and baptism. We tame the ego with humility and the powers of the Spirit.
Here is the deal, knowing how to get what we want is one of the greatest strengths of our personality. It is also our greatest weakness when what we want is in conflict with God’s will. A strong personality is needed for the affairs of this world but when it comes to spiritual matters our ego will flee and hide. It has no courage. We need the powers of the Holy Spirit to stand in the face of evil.
IF MY PEOPLE PRAY
I just want to speak to you today in regards to prayer. The reason, because of an article I read that tore at every heartbeat in my body. I can handle many things, with the Lord’s help, in fact with all of Him. The system in which we live is so unfair until it tears at the heartstring of every sensible person, and sends every born again believer to their knees. Rich versus the poor. How can that be, you may be thinking. Well, I want you to know, the poor has the Power, if they know Jesus. You see, He is the Man who has the whole world in His Hand. HE IS on their side. The God of this Universe, the Maker and Creator of the earth – the Master of every living soul, who has the whole world in His Hand, locked the lion’s mouth, for Daniel when he was locked in with hungry lions and cooled the heat for three friends when they were thrown into a fiery furnace. HALLELUJAH!
You may read in Psalm 34:6 that says, “This poor man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.” I want you to know there is no plan of unfair dealing, no clandestine force of darkness is working beyond the Almighty “EYES” of the Lord. I want to tell you He sees and He knows, and He cares. You see He has already defeated “Satan” and all his plans. If you pray, He will answer. Call on Jesus, I tell you He will fix every situation that thinks it has you pinned in. I been in the furnace, but the heat is cooled, because I am still there. I’ve been in the lion’s den, but their mouths are locked, and I am still there.
The poor man cried and the Lord heard him. GET BACK ON YOUR KNEES. II Chronicles 7:14 says, “If My people who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, seek My face, says the Lord, turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” If you commit yourself to the Lord, and call on Him, He will answer. I am a witness. www.thealmightyeyes.com
