Do You Get It?

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November 7, 2013

And what will ye do in the day of visitation
which shall come from far?
To whom will ye flee for help?
And where will ye leave your glory?

Isaiah 10:3
Submitted by: Victor W. Baugh, Sr., Th.D., Ph.D.

I’m just wondering—do you get it? Do you understand what this verse is saying to you? I don’t know about you, but this verse disturbs me when I think of the way things are unfolding on the political and religious horizon in our country. In fact, around the world. Friends, we are in a mess! I realize I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know, that is, unless you are living in denial of truth. This verse is prophecy that has not yet been fulfilled and Isaiah is asking Israel … “what will you do in the day of visitation which shall come …?” But keep in mind that “all scripture is given by inspiration,” so this is for all of us, right now.
In my last article, I spoke about the Silence of the Church, of the need to awake out of indifference and to come to the truth of God’s Word. We are living in the end times and these are difficult days, but stick around, things are not going to get better. They are going to “wax worse.” I’m not a professor of doom and gloom, “… for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (II Timothy 1:12). But I am responsible for delivering the truth of the Word of God.
The Apostle Paul called these times perilous, and I want to linger in II Timothy 3:1-5 where Paul is predicting the apostasy, which we spoke about last time. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” He gives all the reasons for this prediction, and if you are the least bit attentive, you know this is where we are living—in perilous times, in the times of the apostate church, and many so-called Christians are caught up in the tangible things that have caused this great falling away. Notice in reading all of II Timothy 3, that apostates depart from the faith, but not from the outward profession of Christianity: “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (3:5). In these verses of Chapter 3, we have the definition of apostasy and what you as a Christian must do when you are dealing with “churchy” people who are caught up in this wicked device of Satan—“from such turn away.”
Paul lists the elements of apostasy, so that’s what I am doing.
•   Lovers of self
•   Covetous (envious)
•   Boasters
•   Proud
•   Blasphemers
•   Disobedient to parents
•   Unthankful
•   Unholy
•   Without natural affection
•   Trucebreakers
•   False accusers
•   Incontinent (unrestrained and uncontrolled)
•   Fierce
•   Despisers of good people
•   Traitors
•   Heady
•   High minded
•   Lovers of pleasure more than God
•   Having a form of godliness but denying the power

These are insidious matters, but the Lord never leaves us in situations without instructions on “how to go through.” I say that because He promised “never to leave us or forsake us” (Hebrews 13:5). And, although we are to turn away from the sin of the apostates, we are not to leave them without the message of Christ. Our instructions are to run to the Scriptures. Paul advised Timothy to remember his childhood. “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
We can effectively say this is “perfect” instruction.
You might say to me, “But I’m one of those who is in over my head, caught up in the things of the world, and the Lord and His church don’t mean anything to me anymore.” In my pastoral ministry, I hear this or see this every day of my life. If you are in this condition and state of mind, you were obviously initially fed a satanic lie. I’ll have to say, you are the one Paul told Timothy to “turn away from.” Just maybe you are that one who is “… ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (verse 7). “Like Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith” (verse 8).
I’m not going to leave you dangling and without hope, but I want to make one more important statement. Go to the list again. Are you involved in any of this? Are you proactively engaging in the sins of, specifically, II Timothy 3:3? If so, you need serious biblical counseling.
But don’t lose hope!
Jesus himself said in Luke 19:10, “But the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” And even if you have involved yourself in unmentionable, contemptible sin, God loves you and Jesus died so that you could be “forgiven of your sins and cleansed from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9).
Let God, through His Holy Spirit, draw you to Christ in this very moment. There is no sin for which He did not die. Don’t make a statistic of yourself by refusing His great love and plan for your life and by falling into the activities of a sinner in perilous times, according to II Timothy 3:1-5.
Embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 10:9-10; 13: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation … For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Through His great love,

Victor W. Baugh, Sr., Th.D., Ph.D.
Pastor, St. Luke AME Church
Havana, AL
http://www.thatgracemayabound.blogspot.com/

ASU OPENS SEASON WITH EXHIBITION WIN OVER HUNTINGDON

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Birmingham Times

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November 7, 2013

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: Head Coach Lewis Jackson reacts during a time out against Huntingdon

MONTGOMERY, Ala.—Luther Page led four Alabama State players in double digits with 22 points as the Hornets beat Huntingdon 94-69 in an exhibition opener for both teams.

“We have been going for almost 30 days now and it was good to get out and see another opponent,” Head Coach Lewis Jackson said. “We now have something to gauge ourselves by so it was good to get out and play.”

DeMarcus Robinson, making his debut in a Hornet uniform, scored 21 points and also dished out five assists. Jamel Waters scored 14 points and Bobby Brown added 11. Waters had a game-high seven assists as ASU finished the game with 18 assists against only nine turnovers.

Page hit all eight of his field goal attempts and hit five of eight from the free throw line as ASU finished the game shooting 47.1 percent from the field.

The Hornets struggled from beyond the three point line only hitting five of their 21 attempts (23.8%). ASU hit 22 of their 33 free throw attempts for 66.7 percent.

ASU finished the game out rebounding the neighborhood visitors 44-38. Page and Maurice Strong had seven each while Billy Ingram had six.

“Some of the good tonight was we got out and ran hard,” Jackson said. “We got out and had some easy baskets in transition and that is something we have been working on, getting the ball out fast and going. We shared the ball a little bit and had a good number of assists.”

ASU was able to build a 42-33 first-half lead behind the one-two scoring punch of Page and Robinson. Page had 16 in the first half, knocking down all five of his field goal attempts. Robinson added 13.

ASU shot 42.1 percent from the floor and held the visiting Hawks to 37.1 percent. Huntingdon did win the first half rebounding battle 25-23.

“Some of the bad things we know, we are not boxing out, our transition defense and communicating and hedging on the screens,” Jackson said. “Again, it was good we got to play because now we can go back and look at the tape and see some of the things we are not doing well and improve on those things and we can get better as well.”

County Leaders Support Independent Health Care Authority to Manage Indigent Care Fund

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Birmingham Times

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November 7, 2013

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State Representative John Rogers Asks: “Where’s the Money?”

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – State Representative Mary Moore and Birmingham City Councilor Sheila Tyson has announced their support for an independent health care authority to manage Jefferson County’s Indigent Care Fund.
“Dr. Mark Wilson and Will Ferniany are on the right track of straightening out the mess caused by County Commission’s mismanagement,” said State Representative Mary Moore. “Both of these men have dedicated their careers to community health, and we are pleased with the proposals they are putting forward.”
Dr. Wilson, the CEO of the Jefferson County Department of Health, also supports a recommendation to create a health care authority to independently manage the indigent care fund and the institution formerly known as Cooper Green Mercy Hospital. Wilson also proposed a board structure comprised of mostly health care professionals instead of politicians.
“Dr. Wilson worked at Cooper Green for almost 20 years. No one knows the challenges and the opportunities over there better than him,” Tyson said. “The County Commission unanimously voted to have Sandra Hullet create a health care authority plan over two years ago, but never gave her the opportunity to present her findings. This is their second chance to do the right thing.”
Ferniany, CEO of the UAB Healthy System, has discussed with the County Commission a request for proposal that would allow hospitals and managed health care organizations to submit bids to manage the indigent care fund and the former hospital.
“We believe this is a way to get the best and brightest minds in Birmingham engaged on solving this problem,” Moore said. “(David) Carrington, (Jimmie) Stephens) and (Joe) Knight have said from day one they wanted to get the County out of the health care business; well, this is their chance to do that.”
State Representative John Rogers said the County must first tell tax payers how it’s spent the indigent care funds since it shut down inpatient care at Cooper Green.
“I’m laying here in the hospital right now,” said Representative Rogers, who is recovering from hip replacement surgery. “The County still refuses to say what they are doing with our tax dollars. A couple of months ago they said that they had taken in more than $38 million and had spent $34 million, but they haven’t paid a nickel in hospital costs to St. Vincent, Brookwood or Baptist Princeton. So my first question remains my only question: where is the money?”

Subjected to Vanity

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Birmingham Times

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November 7, 2013

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Love Story #2 – Love never fails. Nothing works without it; and, there can be no failure because of it. When you live by it, God sees that you succeed. The natural mind cannot understand it because he and his world are not ruled by it, but by selfishness and that which seeks after its own. As long as you stay in love, God the Father seeks your own. No weapon formed against you shall prosper because of it.
True love is revolutionary. It delivers and it sets free! It empowers with the ability to restore all things! I used to wonder why we do not see more of the power of God operating among us than we do. We articulate the Word of God with great eloquence. We pride ourselves in our ability to deliver the message of salvation profoundly. Yet, in all of our efforts of outward display, the two most powerful attributes of Christ which emanates from the inward man are hardly manifested, love (not tolerance) and forgiveness, (not covered malice).
That said: Romans 8:20-21 (paraphrased) … Man was created subjected to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of God who subjected him in hope, because the creature itself should be delivered from the bondage of corruption. Inevitably, man would sin against his Creator. But, the love of God prepared, at the foundation of the world the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus the Christ, to restore him: not just the pardon of sins, but the restoration of all things pertaining to him, the creature; including fellowship. Man is flawed. Therefore, he will offend and will be offended; but in all things, at the end of the day, we must forgive and restore fellowship.
We must determine to end the rehearsals of the drama which has happened, and we must decide to no longer relive, revisit, retry the case day after day or year after year. Yesterday is gone! Because we rehearsed diligently the yesterdays of our lives, we are unable to forget the pain, the hard places or the deeds done. Forgiveness is a choice we must make. Embrace this truth: every human being has a past and every single person has three major enemies:
ignorance, yesterday, and self. Among these three, according to how each individual views them, one of these can prove as detrimental as the other. We can learn and grow from yesterday; you get the victory and God gets the glory. Or, you can remain bitter and angry; you lose twice. Your soul, your future, and your health are destroyed, and Satan gets the glory!
So rise and be healed! Love purchased it for you, by the Blood of the Lamb.

Electra Adams
1024 Ethel Ln. B’ham, Al 35235
electra.gethsemaneministries@yahoo.com

New grant to broaden exploitation of promising immunotherapy to many blood cancers

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Birmingham Times

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November 7, 2013

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HOUSTON – Researchers from the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital and Houston Methodist Hospital have received a $6.25 million, five-year grant from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to extend their promising work with T-cell immunotherapies beyond lymphoma to other types of blood cancers including myeloma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
T-cells are white blood cells that boost the body’s immune response to infection and disease. Investigators at the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy have had significant success treating patients with lymphoma using specially engineered T-cells.
Their work has led to an orphan drug designation (developmental drugs that are granted special status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of rare diseases) for the treatment of post-transplant lymphomas, and the development of advanced stage studies of lymphoma and nasopharyngeal cancers.
Led by principal investigator Dr. Helen Heslop, professor of medicine and pediatrics at BCM, the team of researchers including projects and core leaders Drs. Cliona Rooney, Malcolm Brenner, Leonid Metelitsa, Gianpietro Dotti, Barbara Savoldo, Carlos Ramos, Stephen Gottschalk, Adrian Gee, Ann Leen and Zhuyong Mei all of BCM and Catherine Bollard of Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. will seek to modify and extend the use of these immunotherapies beyond non-lymphoma blood cancers and overcome remaining obstacles to broader applications of these cell therapies including efficacy, simplicity, safety and accessibility to a broader range of patients.
“Our team is grateful to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for supporting these studies that will extend these successful immunotherapies to other blood cancers such as myeloma and acute lymphoblastic lymphoma,” said Heslop. “The collaboration with Dr. Bollard in the Program for Cell Enhancement and Technologies for Immunotherapy (CETI) at the CNMC will also provide a paradigm for multicenter cell therapy studies.”
In addition to the project leaders, Bambi Grilley, Dr. Karen Rabin, Dr. Rammurti Kamble and Swati Naik all of BCM will serve as investigators for the grant.
Heslop is also director of the Adult Stem Cell Transplant Program at Houston Methodist Hospital.
The BCM investigators are also members of the NCI-designated Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center at BCM, Texas Children’s Cancer & Hematology Centers and The Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute.

John Goodwin Earns Academy Honor

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Birmingham Times

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November 7, 2013

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John Goodwin, an 11th grader at Wenonah High School, has been chosen October’s Student of the Month for the school’s Academy of Hospitality and Tourism. John enjoys cooking and has played for Wenonah’s junior varsity and varsity basketball teams. When he graduates, he plans to attend the Art Institute of Atlanta’s Culinary Arts program to prepare to work as a chef.

Crime Report

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Birmingham Times

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November 7, 2013

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Attempted Murder Investigation Arrest

The Birmingham Police Department reports that detectives have arrested and charged a suspect in connection with an attempted murder investigation. The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at approximately 5:45 p.m., at 3925 9th Court, Wylam.

Officers from the West Precinct responded to the incident location to investigate a call of a person shot. Officers arrived to find two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Both victims were transported to UAB Hospital for treatment of their injuries. Both victims are expected to recover from their injuries.

Upon further investigation, BPD Homicide detectives were able to identify the suspect as the person responsible for the shooting. Detectives learned that the victim was asked to leave the store because of his behavior and shortly after a fight arose between the suspect and store owner. Moments later the suspect shot the store owner and his brother.

The suspect has been identified as:
Randall Gooden, B/M, 38, of Birmingham, Alabama. Two Attempted Murder warrants with bonds totaling $120,000.00 have been obtained against the suspect. The suspect is in the custody of the Jefferson County Jail.

Huntsville Man Sentenced For Tax Evasion

HUNTSVILLE — A federal judge has sentenced a Huntsville man to five years probation, including eight months home detention, for tax evasion and ordered him to pay $3.7 million in restitution to the government, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Special Agent In Charge Veronica Hyman-Pillot.
U.S. District Judge Abdul K. Kallon sentenced Paul Bracy, 71, on one count of tax evasion. The U.S. Attorney’s Office charged Bracy in July. According to court documents, the IRS was about to determine Bracy was personally responsible for $60,995 in unpaid taxes associated with businesses he owned, when Bracy conveyed four pieces of real property, via “sham transactions,” to others in order to avoid IRS seizure of the properties to satisfy the outstanding tax amount. As part of his plea agreement, Bracy agreed to pay the $3,747,650 in restitution to the government.
“Most citizens diligently pay their taxes,” said Vance. “The willful failure of others to do so is patently unfair and criminal. We will aggressively seek to investigate and prosecute those individuals.”
“Individuals who earn income should accurately report their income to the IRS,” stated Veronica F. Hyman-Pillot, Special Agent in Charge with IRS Criminal Investigation. “The sentence today, should reassure Americans, that those individuals who willfully and intentionally violate their known legal duty of filing and paying their fair share of taxes will be prosecuted.”
The IRS-CI investigated the case, which was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama.

Homicide Investigations

The Birmingham Police Department reports that detectives are conducting a homicide investigation. The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at approximately 9:45 p.m., in the 900 block of 46th Street North.

The victim has been identified as:
Maurice Lee, B/M, 38, of Birmingham, Alabama.

Officers from the South Precinct responded to the incident location to investigate a report of a vehicle that struck a power pole. Upon arrival, officers located the victim inside his vehicle. The victim stated to officers that he was on his way to buy a pound of marijuana when he was shot in the back of the head.
Birmingham Fire and Rescue responded to the scene and transported the victim to UAB Hospital where he underwent surgery for his injury. Following surgery the victim remained on life support until Wednesday, October 30, 2013. Hospital staff pronounced the victim deceased later that day.
Investigators later found that the vehicle the victim was driving was stolen out of Huntsville in January.
There have been no arrests made in the case.
If there is anyone who has information pertaining to the case, they are encouraged to contact the BPD at 254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 254-7777.

Homicide Investigation Update

The Birmingham Police Department reports that detectives have arrested and charged a suspect in connection with a homicide investigation. The incident occurred on Sunday, November 3, 2013 at approximately 5:05 p.m., at 6100 Court O.

The victim has been identified as:
Carlos Davis, B/M, 48, of Birmingham, Alabama.

The suspect has been identified as:
Joseph Barnes, B/M, 36, of Birmingham, Alabama. A Murder warrant with a $100,000.00 bond has been obtained against the suspect. The suspect is in the custody of the Jefferson County Jail.

Detectives are also conducting a second homicide investigation. The incident occurred on Thursday, October 31, 2013 at approximately 8:40 p.m., at #74 6th Avenue South.

The victim has been identified as:
Tywaun Theon Perkins, B/M, 33, of Birmingham, Alabama.

Officers from the South Precinct responded to the incident location to investigate a report of a person shot. Upon arrival, officers located the victim inside the store suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced deceased as Birmingham Fire and Rescue prepared to transport him to UAB Hospital.
Investigators received information that a suspect approached the victim and began to fire as the victim prepared to pump gas. The victim managed to make his way into the gas station after he was shot.
There have been no arrests made in the case.
If there is anyone who has information pertaining to the case, they are encouraged to contact the BPD at 254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 254-7777.

50 YEARS FOWARD

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Birmingham Times

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November 7, 2013

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The Carlton Reese Memorial Unity Choir will be hosting their Eighth Annual Music Scholarship Banquet on Friday, November 22, 7 p.m. at the Double Tree Hotel, 808 South 20th Street, Birmingham, Alabama 35205. There will be performances by the scholarship recipients and special guest.
For Tickets please contact any member of the choir.

Local Family Appears on Family Feud

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Birmingham Times

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November 7, 2013

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The FAMILY FEUD, stated a local Irondale, Ala. family, the Blandings will be appearing on Friday, November 8th (check your local listings).

UAB to host Lincoln Week

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Birmingham Times

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November 7, 2013

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Alabama at Birmingham College of Arts and Sciences will commemorate the life and legacy of 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln with a week of events Nov. 15-21.
On Nov. 19, 1863, nearly 150 years ago, Lincoln gave his historic “Gettysburg Address,” which is still being taught and recited today. As the nation reflects, UAB will host “Abraham Lincoln: Image and Reality,” a week featuring lectures, a musical performance and a film screening, and then culminating with a talk by one of this country’s most prominent historians, Eric Foner, Ph.D.
Foner, the DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University, is one of only two persons to serve as president of the three major professional organizations: the Organization of American Historians, American Historical Association and Society of American Historians. He is also one of a handful to have won the Bancroft and Pulitzer prizes in the same year. Foner has written scores of books, including his most recent, “The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery,” which won the Bancroft Prize, Pulitzer Prize for history and The Lincoln Prize.
All of the following events are free and open to the public:

Nov. 15 – Daniel Siegel, Ph.D., associate professor of English, will present a talk on “Lincoln and American Cinema” as part of the Haddin Humanities Forum from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Heritage Hall, Room 524, 1401 University Blvd.    Nov. 19 – On the anniversary of the “Gettysburg Address,” the Alabama Symphony Orchestra will present “An Evening of Lincoln Music” featuring Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” and guest narrator Earl Hilliard Jr. from 7-8 p.m. at the Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall, 1200 10th Ave. South.    Nov. 20 – UAB Student Activities will screen “Lincoln,” directed by Steven Spielberg, at 7 p.m. in the Chemistry Building, Room 101, 901 14th St. South.    Nov. 21 – The Department of History will present “Lincoln’s Legacy with Dr. Eric Foner” at 7 p.m. in the Alumni House, 1301 10th Ave. South.