By NewsOne Staff

A bus driver in Dayton, Ohio, who was shot twice in the chest at point-blank range, was saved by his Bible, reports KTLA.
Rickey Waggoner, 49, who was also shot a third time in his leg while standing next to his bus, was the suspected target of a gang initiation.
According to police, the two bullets aimed at Waggoner’s chest were stopped by the New Testament Bible he carried in his shirt pocket.
Waggoner had pulled his public transit bus onto the side of the road after it stopped running, police said.
He was trying to fix the problem when the men came along and attacked him, police said.

By Angela Moore
Recently I had the privilege of returning to one of my former jobs, ABC 33/40 to do an interview. I’ve been there many times since my departure in 1999 to do PR interviews and promote things with which I was involved. That day, for some reason as I greeted old friends and shook hands with new people who also understand the connection of this little thing called media I realized an important fact. It’s so important to wrap things up the right way.
As a feisty 27-year-old back in 1999 I had no idea where my career path would lead and certainly didn’t know, or want to know if it would often lead me back to places I’d already been. As a young, naïve little lady I actually paid no mind to the possibility of the notion called “full circle”. With that said, when I quit ABC 33/40 in June of ’99 I left there after having been there since the day the doors opened to go to a great job in Marketing and Public Relations at a local hospital. At that time I was a little burned out with how my simple mind perceived news media at the time. (Ask any newsie or news escapee about media burnout). I’m so glad that, even in the blessing of receiving a new job I didn’t “throw up the deuces”, “run out kicking and screaming”, “blast my boss” or “cabbage patch” out of the door leaving my old job in a way that would have been embarrassing for the now grown woman to return to whenever possible. Back then I thought I knew it all. The likelihood to do any of the above mentioned unmentionables was very possible. (God bless my heart.) I’m so glad my internal frustrations, immaturity, unwillingness to change, or drama with my “at-work” boyfriend and his girlfriends didn’t cause me to do something totally foolish. I don’t know if you’ve worked with people like the ones I’ve worked with, but most of us know of those who have disgracefully left a job, church, relationship or organization with a lot of ranting and ruckus then later on ended up crossing paths with the ones they left.
I’m so glad there was a bit of decorum even back then that I’ve tried to keep with me at all times, especially when it comes to ending a relationship (business, personal, etc.). Not to say that times (and people) don’t try me, but I’m just a firm believer that life is a perfectly woven connection of our past, present and future, and at any time that connection can come together. I want to be able to sashay right on through whatever comes back together with no lingering thought of “do these people think I’m crazy?”.

Angela Scott Moore has sported many hats in her lifetime. She’s a former broadcast anchor/reporter/producer, a trained motivational speaker, fundraiser and marketing/PR expert. She spent nine years as a pastor’s wife working in full-time ministry before than union ended in divorce. A majority of her time in ministry was spent empowering women and girls. She’s an avid inspirational blogger and also a philanthropic community supporter who has served with more than 25 local and national organizations over her 15+ year professional career. Currently she’s working in the fields of Social Justice and Human Resources and operates the blossoming, full-service events planning venture Amazing Kreations with her business partner, offering media and event planning assistance at low or no cost to small organizations and businesses. 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 motivate others to “thrive while they survive”.
Contact Angela Scott Moore about speaking engagements at amazingkreations2@gmail.com, follow her blog at www.angelamooreblog.wordpress.com, on twitter at @AngelaMMoore316 or check out her facebook page for people experiencing separation or divorce at I’m More Than What Happened.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two seniors with GPAs near 4.0 and scholarship offers from over 15 colleges have been named Valedictorian and Salutatorian of Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Ensley.
Khayla Jones, 17, of Birmingham will address her fellow seniors as Valedictorian, while Elijah Brown, 18, of Bessemer, will give the Salutatorian address. Graduation will take place on Saturday, May 24, at St. Paul’s Church downtown.
Holy Family Cristo Rey’s unique work-study program allows students aged 14 and up to offset much of their tuition by working in more than 85 businesses across metro Birmingham one day a week. The high school’s college preparatory curriculum, small class sizes, and safe learning environment allow students like Khayla and Elijah to thrive.
Inquiries to the school, one of 26 private Catholic high schools nation-wide affiliated with Chicago-based Cristo Rey Network, have jumped in the past year as parents with students in failing school systems seek alternatives. The Alabama Accountability Act provides tax incentives and scholarships for students to attend private schools like Holy Family Cristo Rey.
Khayla, in her fourth year at Holy Family Cristo Rey, intends to be a physical therapist and has over $218,500 in scholarship offers from over 15 colleges, including Miles, Talladega College, Alabama State and Alabama A&M. She credits the spirit of healthy academic competition as a motivator. “You don’t have to feel different because you’re smart here.”
Elijah, a junior-year transfer from Bessemer City, will study to be a biological scientist, and has over $358,500 in scholarship offers to 17 colleges, including Miles, Alabama A&M, Alabama State, and Talladega College. He credits Holy Family Cristo Rey with creating possibilities for his future. “Before I came to this school, I knew what I wanted to do as an adult, but didn’t see a path that would get me there. Now I’m on my way. Knowledge is power.”
Since affiliating with Cristo Rey Network in 2007, 100 percent of the school’s seniors have graduated and been accepted into college. As of Feb. 6, the 41 seniors in the Class of 2014 have received $2.37 million in scholarship offers from over 45 colleges across the nation. Pamela Cowan, Holy Family’s college counselor, predicts they will surpass last year’s records of $2.5 million. “I’m very proud of these seniors,” Cowan said. “The best is yet to come for the students at Holy Family Cristo Rey.”
Located at 2001 19th Street Ensley, Holy Family Cristo Rey is currently enrolling students for the 2014-15 school year. For details, call Director of Admissions Beverly Dixon at (205) 263-0133, email bdixon@hfcristorey.org, or go to www.hfcristorey.org. Follow the school on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Better Basics, a  nonprofit agency dedicated to improving  literacy through school-day, afterschool, and summer learning programs for at-risk children, commemorated its twentieth anniversary with the Celebrate 20 in ’14 dinner on Thursday, February 20, at The Club in Homewood.
Almost 400 people attended the event which honored the people, agencies, corporations, and foundations that have played significant roles in the growth of Better Basics in the organization’s 20 years history.
The Celebrate 20 in ’14 event raised almost $70,000 to support Better Basics’ full range of literacy programs in area public schools. Last year, Better Basics served more than 19,000 students and gave away almost 40,000 books to children who might not otherwise have books in their homes
“We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of community support we received for the 20 in 14 event,” said Karen Kapp the Executive Director for Better Basics.  “It was a wonderful evening celebrating the achievements of the hundreds of thousands of children Better Basics has served throughout the past 20 years.”
Former NBA and University of Alabama basketball star, Ennis Whatley was the featured speaker.  Ennis is a graduate of Phillips High School in Birmingham who led The University of Alabama’s basketball team to a Sweet 16 appearance in the 1982 NCAA Tournament before playing 10 seasons in the NBA. Now an inspirational speaker, he struggled through school until college, when he discovered the importance of reading and education. His message of overcoming illiteracy truly resonated with the mission of Better Basics.

Better Basics provides literacy intervention, enrichment programs and educational opportunities for elementary- and middle-school students throughout Alabama. These programs empower students as they progress along the learning continuum, from reading to comprehension to retention, while infusing literature into their homes and exposing them to multi-cultural arts and enrichment programs. Based in Birmingham, Ala., Better Basics is a recognized authority on childhood literacy.  For more information, please visit www.betterbasics.org.

   On Sunday, February 23, at 3 p.m. Mr. Roe Bonner (a former radio disc jockey personality for WENN 107.7 FM) held a book signing at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) promoting his book entitled “Behind The Mic – The rise and fall of personality radio.”
Included at the book signing was a panel of former radio personalities with panelists ranging from Tracy Cunningham to Doug Steel. Roy Wood Jr., made an appearance on behalf of his father Roy Wood, Sr. on the panel (Reginald Green was asked to fill in for Roy Wood Jr., after he excused himself due to him having to attend another engagement).
The discussions surrounding the book brought forth tons of information which benefited those in attendance; at one point I felt that I was in a college classroom taking a course in Radio Broadcasting! We were given knowledge pertaining to the business aspect of running a radio station, basic rules and regulations, and the science it takes to manage a broadcasting signal, as well as the obstacles that Black owned radio stations had to overcome. A lot of the questions people had regarding the sale of WENN, the confusion that took place after Dr. A.G. Gaston’s demise and the role the FCC played in some of the problems that WENN faced were answered.
According to Mr. Don Steel, today’s Black radio stations purposefully do not have radio personalities because it was realized that they held too much influence over their Black audience.
In the Questions and Answer (Q&A) segment a question was asked that was very profound and it was, “What does it mean to have a Black owned media?” To which Mr. Roe Bonner made an eloquent reply, “Black owned media is important to the African- American community because it provides a strong and influential voice in their communities.” He also wanted to encourage African Americans to support their locally Black owned media services, because without their voice they would never be heard.

Submitted by:
Brendia Lewis

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?” a young rich man asked Jesus. “You know the commandments: Do not murder, do not commit adultery, and do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.” “Teacher,” he said, “All these I have kept since I was a boy.” “One thing you lack,” said Jesus. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this, the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth (Mark 10:17).
Everyone was shocked upon hearing what Jesus said about money. It went directly against the teachings of the rabbis and the idea frequently found in the Old Testament that prosperity was a blessing for the righteous, and a sign of God’s favor. Today, it refutes the “prosperity gospel” preached by some and believed by many.
Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:25). In spite of all the man-made rationalizations about the meaning of the word “needle,” the verse means exactly what it says.
Jesus had a sense of humor. Can you imagine a large shaggy camel standing in front of a sewing needle and trying to go through its eye? Ridiculous isn’t it? Equally ridiculous is the idea that you can give money the first place in your life and still be right with God. “You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

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

SELF-ESTEEM-PART 2:
Should we all not have self-esteem? Of course we should, but self-esteem alone is not adequate, and just why, you asked? Well, in order to build self-esteem in you, you need the Power of the Holy Spirit. You see, the completion of self-esteem in you is in the Holy Spirit. You see, He is the highest order of self-esteem. Therefore, in my quest for the Lord to help me to show the parents what they needed in order to help aid their children was the Lord Jesus-Himself.  Everyone needs to know the Lord sees all actions. Nothing escapes the EYES of the Lord. He is at all locations. There is NO hiding place; He sees you on your bed as He saw me when He gave me the “EYES” Vision. He will give you knowledge in every area you ask Him. You see, He knows your Need and He knows your Problem. He is waiting for you to ask Him; He will not intrude upon your will. HE IS QUITE A GENTLEMAN. Yet, He came low – into this wicked world to save you. He died on His Cross for you; He took all your sins away. Will you please ask Him into your heart today?  HE LOVES YOU DEARLY.
You cannot hide from The Almighty “EYES” of the Lord, He knows the thoughts and intent of the heart [Jeremiah 17:10]. He knows the raging thoughts in your mind. If only parents would love themselves and their children enough to fall on their knees and ask the Lord Jesus into their hearts, the Lord Jesus will make matters better for you. You see, He is the fixer of everything. You must first honor Him as Lord – because He is. Whether you honor Him or Not – He is Lord, and He will always be Lord. HE IS COMING SOON – WILL YOU BE READY?
www.thealmightyeyes.com