ONe of the Many – Be a Citizen of the World

Today is World AIDS Awareness Day, it is important “everyday” that “everyone” knows “everything” they need to not become a victim of AIDS/HIV. Know your status! The impact of this epidemic has devastated communities worldwide and promoting awareness is the number one issue.

It seems that no matter how much is said about AIDS/HIV it continues to claim lives. Ignorance is perpetuated by discrimination and shame.

Don’t be fooled that you are exempt because you are careful all the time and you are not one of “those” people who practice risky behavior. All it takes is one incident of unprotected sex or a blood transfusion that is tainted and you will become one of the many.

Ask yourself, “What do you really know about the people you are intimate with?” As women we make assumptions that all is well when we get involved with someone. Do you ask the question “what is your status?” If you take their word for it without proof or get tested together –“you are risking your very life”.

Even if someone shows you the results of a test that has been recently taken, you must still protect yourself. People in general are too quick to get involved intimately without making sure they are not going to become a victim of an STD. They take it too lightly that it could never happen to them.

While there are women and children dying all over the world from being raped and infected with the AIDS virus with no hope of receiving treatment, here in the US, we have prevention and treatment available to us – but we don’t take it seriously. Some children become orphans when their mothers go untreated and die because they have no means of fighting back.

Please teach each other and the children in your families about the enormous impact of this epidemic. In other countries young women are raped because the men believe that having sex with a virgin will cure them of AIDS. Babies are being raped and infected and in most cases killed.

In the book “Half the Sky” – stories are told of more that the total number of the 80 million killed in the “slave trade” being victimized, infected, killed or left for dead in the “sex trafficking” tragedy.  Don’t think that because these people are a half a world away that it does not affect you. It does! What happens to women and children in the world community also affects us.

As a citizens of the world, it our collective responsibility to do whatever we can to fight the epidemic of AIDS/HIV in the world.

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STOP! LOOK! LISTEN! Revelation, Transformation, Metamorphosis

We all get angry or upset from time to time. Your trigger response to upset can be damaging your health and you may not be aware of it.

Remember the words to the old school tune that went like this, “Your alone all the time, does it ever puzzle you, do you ask why you seem to fall in love and out again, do you ever really love or just pretend, it’s never too late, too late to Stop! Look! Listen to your heart and what it’s saying.”

Well this works in every instance of your life every moment of everyday when the day is leading off a negative direction, you are cranky and your tolerance for drama is nonexistent. A chain of events can start with one incident and your response to it. Once you get and set and go off there is no turning back, you start looking through the lens of negativity at everything, as you move through the moment additional baggage is collected along the way.

It all happens so fast, you begin to sweat, your heart is pumping faster and now something chemical is going on in your body. You reach for caffeine, sugar, or a tobacco because your body is screaming for it.

Stop! Look! Listen! Again now Breathe! Again and again for as long as to takes to gain your composure before you lose your lose your job or damage your relationships maybe hurt someone’s feelings. You know you don’t want to be this way – it is a cycle you have been stuck in for a long time and now it threatens your health.

It does not matter, you could be young or old, rich or old, hot or cold this is the road to ill-health. Your mind says “remember the God in you” and be kind, don’t hurt relationships that you cannot repair. Be kind to yourself and put things into perspective.

Before you abuse yourself and pick a donut, a cigarette or another soda, STOP! Realize the revelation that is in your face at this moment. YOU are in control of your response to everything in your life. You may be taking your life into your hands at this moment! This could be damage that is a “trigger to behavior that will lead you to compound health issues.

Revelation is the process of something being revealed to you – and even if you ignore it – the truth is “in your face” at the moment.

Allow yourself to be “Transformed by what the moment is teaching you, LOOK! at what you are doing to yourself. Take this moment to create a new behavior instead of going into a tailspin like a hurricane uprooting and destroying everything. Allow the punishment to fit the crime by connecting with the part of you that has reasoning and control. In the moment you feel that you cannot the control switch that turns off the anger and frustration spewing forth from you.

Pray! Laugh! Breathe! Repeat your favorite affirmation! Go into another room or outside and breathe! Get your heart rate under control! This could be a life and death situation for you because the way you deal with emotion and the upsets that show up in your life can be killing you. Make this a healing moment that can resolve these upsets so they do not continue to be a repeat performance of the same thing over and over again.

The LISTEN! part means to experience a metamorphosis to a new state of mind. This profound moment of change will be the new behavior you will develop and reduce the damage to you biologically speaking.

It will work if you give it a chance to change how you have programmed yourself to react instead of respond gently to life’s challenges. Remember the acronym “RTM” and you can stop the triggers that may be damaging your health.

Give it a try! You will begin to feel better and have more energy for the things that really matter. I am a living testimony of “RTM” because I love myself and I love my life so I want to be around to enjoy it. I am not ready to be “sick” and “disabled” by my own behavior. If you want your life to work and to feel good everyday make a new choice to STOP! LOOK! AND LISTEN!

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Filtering Life through Substance Abuse

We love, we laugh we sleep
We work, we cry, we eat,
Life is challenging enough just to get through the “everyday” routine and “rhythm” of living with joy and gratitude without filtering life through the use of alcohol and drugs.

Drugs and alcohol seem to cloud and confuse issues and magnifies things to extreme proportions to the point of spiraling out of control. When children are in the picture this makes it even more difficult to put things in perspective.

The recent interview with Whitney Houston on the Oprah Winfrey show revealed some interesting aspects to me about being rich and famous.  I have often wondered how people who have fame and fortune cope with life when they have all the resources available to them.

If they seem depressed, they can get help; If they use drugs or alcohol, they can get help; If they do anything in excess, they can get help…they have resources. Now the privacy thing is another problem because they cannot do anything without it being leaked by some money grubbing nobody in their camp or an aggressive journalist stalking them.

Resources, meaning money and access to whatever they desire to do or see on any given day. When you have “money” the illusion is that all of your problems are solved and life is great.

Recently we have witnessed that even very wealthy people use “pedestrian” methods to cope. Life id challenging no matter how much money you have and how you deal with life on life’s terms determines the outcome.

The number of deaths caused by drug overdose and/or a combination of prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs is over whelming.  The illusion is that they can afford the best medical care and could be really healthy if they chose to be.

Drugs and alcohol seem to be the coping mechanism for a large majority of people in spite of access to the best care. The antics of Kanye West was, in my opinion fueled by alcohol and probably a few blunts in the limo as a prop to party or to cope with anxiety and depression.  Personally I believe that Kanye is still grieving the loss of his mother and will be grieving for some time. How he grieves is what we witnessed when he jumped up on stage recently after swigging Henny straight from the bottle.

Whitney and Bobby as a couple became a “train wreck” fueled by drugs and alcohol; Michael Jackson’s life was it seems held together with the use of prescription pain medication and drugs that were too powerful for everyday use; Gerald Levert and his brother both used a combination over-the-counter drugs and prescription drugs.

So how does an “ordinary person”  cope with life’s challenges? What is the glue that holds our lives together? What do you do to get through the day or a challenging week? A challenging day? A challenging moment?

When you stay up too late watching cable; eat the wrong foods; try to get the kids off to school; get the laundry done; cook dinner; pack lunches; pay bills with no job; cope with losing your home and your job; fight with your spouse/partner; wonder where you teenagers are after midnight; not want to hear your neighbors fight; have no food in your house; no transportation; not feel like catching the bus or walking; get tired of the media picking apart the President; want your grown ass children to get together; put your husband/man/woman out; stop getting your ass kicked by an abusive partner; get the homework done for yourself and your kids; stop listening to gossip; deal the illness of a parent/spouse/sibling/child; etc, etc etc.

How do you cope: take the poll…

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It Takes Courage to Raise A Child

Happy Fathers Day

Every Day!

It’s all about Dad it our turn to celebrate the fathers and dads for being so vitally important to the strength and well-being of the family.

Without them we are missing something that cannot be replaced which transcends the boundaries statistical labels and stereotypes.

Today in the African American community the statistics are discouraging about fathers missing in action and also in the household. Family values are implanted through the strength of the father in the family unit.

Thankfully there are many men that do their absolute best when it comes to the being a role model and leader in the family. Not all families resemble a mom and dad living in the same household with their children. Some families are blended, some families live in separate homes and children shuffle back and forth to spend time with both parents.

These are the men that are not always acknowledged for their moral fiber and commitment to demonstrating a work ethic and teaching by example. They remind us that being a good father goes beyond statistics or societal labels.

Some parents can live apart in partnership and work together for the benefit of the child or any children they have. Separation does not have to mean drama and chaos for the children because the most important objective is the well-being of children.

Dad’s are working it out and doing their part to be available by setting up a household that provides the same or similar comforts the child would have at home with mom.

It is everyone’s responsibility to reduce the absence of fathers in the home by being supportive and patient. It takes courage to raise a child for anyone man or woman in these challenging economic times.

The report is spread over the airways that black men are not responsible, have negative attitudes and self destructive behavior.

The Spoken Word Blog;

In the black community, fatherhood is endangered and this crisis is one of the most important issues of this generation.

Unemployment leads to poverty and frustration which can lead to abuse or domestic violence, crime and incarceration. It resembles a domino effect for a child in this cycle which contributes to the struggle of single parent homes.

The statistics state that it is a social crisis in the black community that over fifty percent of households are women.

Not every child fails in a single parent household with an absent father; President Barack Obama stated during his campaign;

“I know what it means to have an absent father, although my circumstances weren’t as tough as they are for many young people today.”  “. . . We must also admit that programs alone can’t replace parents; that government can’t turn off the television and make a child do her homework; that fathers must take more responsibility for providing the love and guidance their children need .”

It takes courage to raise a child to be a father that instills family values positive character and confidence. Fathers show in our lives in our grand fathers, uncles, brothers and extended family members that provide male leadership.

Fathers, keep doing what you do because I am on your side. I raised my children with the help of my family. Their father was around just not in the same household and they all turned out as descent people.

Support is important, so let us all support fathers today and every day. They are a valuable source of strength in our community.

Happy Father’s Day to all dads!

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Judge Sotomayor – Shaped, not Defined by Ethnicity

Of course our heritage shapes our perspective, isn’t that what makes up the diversity of the world?  While skimming through the articles, sound bites and pouty commentary of the “talking heads” of the networks, I see the same scenario that has played out for decades since the origin of government.

A strong confident woman in a profession historically dominated by white males, Judge Sonia Sotomayor is described as domineering, demanding and exacting, with some lawyers over the years criticizing her as outspoken and temperamental on the bench because her demeanor is not the typical description of what role a woman holds in society.

Growing up in the South Bronx to a working class family in the Bronxdale Houses, a massive brick housing project with a diabetic condition requiring her to take insulin injections most of her childhood. What kind of demeanor would you have if your have been taking injections most of your life?

When we picture a housing development or projects as it is called, we imaging run down buildings with dark hallways that smell of urine and inhabited by drug dealing gang members. Most public housing was built in the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s, to provide a decent place to live for the working class family in a community with a sense of pride.

From the projects of the South Bronx to the dormitories of Princeton and Yale Law School is a stark contrast and a world apart, “I have spent my years since Princeton, while at law school and in my various professional jobs, not feeling completely a part of any of the worlds I inhabit.”

Next to her Princeton yearbook photo, she chose a quote from Norman Thomas, a prominent socialist who ran for president six times: “I am not a champion of lost causes, but of causes not yet won.”

Should judges decide cases purely on close readings of facts and law, excluding their own frames of reference?

“Our gender and national origins may and will make a difference in our judging,” Sotomayor told the audience at the University of California at Berkeley that day in October 2001. “Personal experiences affect the facts that judges choose to see. . . . I wonder whether by ignoring our differences as women or men of color we do a disservice both to the law and society.”

Driven by her own ambitions and unexpected great generational timing, Judge Sotomayor represented woman as an accomplished Latina lawyer during a time in our history when bureaucrats sought to diversify the white power structure by promoting more blacks, Latinos and women.

The following are a few comments about Judge Sonia Sotamayor from supporters and critics;

The Manhattan district attorney, Robert M. Morgenthau, who recruited her from Yale Law School, said the comforts of corporate law held no great attraction for her. And Ms. Sotomayor’s lifelong struggle with diabetes lent a sense of urgency.”It made her think, ‘I’m not going to be around forever, I have to keep moving,’ ” Mr. Morgenthau said. “I remember talking with her about how much time each day, about an hour, she spent giving herself shots of insulin.”

And Senator Imhofe (R) is concerned that she may not be able to resist the “undue influence” of her race and gender.  Is it like demon possession or something?  The goblin of Hispanic womanhood threatens to render her a hapless zombie conjuring from the spirit world glamours of quotas, hostile workplaces, and bilingual education.

The argument of conservative legal thinkers is that Sotomayor, is an able lawyer, but not “not that smart and kind of a bully on the bench,” as one former Second Circuit clerk for another judge put it. “She has an inflated opinion of herself, and is domineering during oral arguments, but her questions aren’t penetrating and don’t get to the heart of the issue.”

In 1995, for example, she issued an injunction against Major League Baseball owners, effectively ending a baseball strike that had become the longest work stoppage in professional sports history and had caused the cancellation of the World Series the previous fall. She was widely lauded for saving baseball. Claude Lewis of the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that by saving the season, Judge Sotomayor joined “the ranks of Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson and Ted Williams.”

Circuit judge Jose Cabranes, who would later become her colleague, put this point more charitably in a 1995 interview with The New York Times: “She is not intimidated or overwhelmed by the eminence or power or prestige of any party, or indeed of the media.”

Her life story represents the great promise of the American dream –

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Take the Health Analyzer – learn about the nine systems of the body

Health Analyzer

It is time to get our health status in order and under control. It is not too late to make an effort to cleanse, eat better and exercise.

There are nine body systems that work interdependently in balance unless we neglect our health. When one system is out of balance, it affects the other systems.

Take the Health Analyzer (THIS IS A SAMPLE)

Answer the questions honestly and click on (view results) to go to the site where you will answer the questions and get the (sample results) shown here in step two.

Like the musicians who make up an orchestra, the body systems-digestive, intestinal, circulatory, nervous, immune, respiratory, urinary, glandular and structural-must all work in harmony. When a concern in one body system arises, other systems are affected. Total health requires that all body systems be balanced.The majority of NSP’s products are categorized in nine body systems to allow you to easily select the products that will help you achieve your personal health goals. This Lifestyle Analysis will help you target your body systems most in need of nutritional supplementation. Step 1 – Complete the Analysis Answering the following questions will help to determine your health profile. You will then be able to choose those Nature’s Sunshine Products that will help you strengthen your weakest body systems. When you have finished click “view results” to calculate your results.

Step 2 – Review Your Results The following results were calculated based on your answer to the previous health questions. Click on the system name to view products available in each system. Here are my sample results System Rating Digestive Good Intestinal Very Good Circulatory Good Nervous Good Immune Fair Respiratory Fair Urinary Good Glandular Good Structural Good Rating Explanation Very Good Congratulations! You appear to be leading a lifestyle that will help you maintain a balance of health and well-being. Good Your lifestyle and diet profile appear to be sound, but you may want to consider certain changes to achieve better health. Fair Lifestyle, food choice, and nutritional changes are recommended. Poor Lifestyle, food choice, and nutritional changes should be made immediately. Step 3 – Choose Products For Your Weakest Systems Note the systems in which you are good, fair, or poor, then carefully consult the product descriptions for your weakest systems. To view the products available in each system, simply click the system name next to your results. If you are unsure which products would be best, consult your NSP representative.

Lack of energy	Illness more than twice a year
Body odor and/or bad breath	Difficulty digesting certain foods
Eat meat more than 3 times a week	Monthly female concerns
Recent or frequent use of antibiotics	Regular consumption of alcohol
Frequent mood swings	Food allergies
Bags under eyes	Smoking
Poor concentration or memory	Poor resistance to disease
Belching or gas after meals	Stressful lifestyle
Skin/complexion problems	Cravings for sweets, salt or junk foods
Regular consumption of dairy products	Feeling low, uninterested or depressed
Too little sleep or restless sleep	Menopausal concerns
Frequent urination or urinary concerns	Hair loss
Sore or painful joints	Difficulty in maintaining ideal weight
Low endurance/stamina	Lack of a balanced diet
Slow recovery from illness	Less than 2 bowel movements per day
Lack of appetite	Low sex drive
Brittle or easily broken fingernails	Dry, damaged or dull hair
High-fat diet	Unsettled, apprehensive, pressured
Low-fiber diet	Muscle cramps or spasms
Exposure to air pollution daily	Caffeinated beverage (16 oz.) daily
Feeling out of control	Food/chemical sensitivities
Recurrent yeast/fungal infections	Weak bones, teeth or cartilage
Suffer from anxiety or worry	Easily irritated or angered
Don’t exercise regularly	Respiratory, sinus or allergy problems

“Take the Health Analyzer Now!”

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What are you doing to prevent teen pregnancy?

Young women are making the choice to become sexually active at an alarming rate and even more disturbing as young as age nine.

We live in a sexually charged society with messages of sexuality threaded into every media outlet possible and what is intended for adult entertainment is viewed by children and teenagers. Children and teens imitate what they see in popular culture.

Family values can have a positive impact on the choices that teens make when it comes to sexual activity.  Decoding the sound-bites and image for teens is important.  Watch what they watch and listen to what they say about it. Don’t think they are not exposed, everyone is exposed.

How can a young person make a decision to not become sexually active when the images they see daily and hear in music, commercials and advertisements say that to be accepted, popular and beautiful you must be sexually attractive?

Puberty is age 7 to 11 when girls and boys are shaking off the identity that has been defined by their connection to parents and family group.  Innocence fades, the magical begins to disappear and they begin to identify with their own responses by the defining themselves through their connection with others outside of the family group.

The magical way that children think up to age seven begin to disappear or overshadowed by the biological changes in the body from puberty to the state adolescence. The old saying in the black community “you are smellin’ yourself” means that you are attempting to act in grown up ways when your are still just a child that does not understand grown up things.

I watch the six-graders on the playground at my grand-daughter’s school kiss, touch and grope each other with not attempt to hide it. They are very interested in sexual activity or at least what they can get away while waiting to be picked up by mom or dad. The parents stop and blow their horn, they seem to be pre-occupied and never notice the huddles in the corner.

We are in a desperate situation with teen pregnancy in the African American community. In a recent article on Black America Web it was stated that the United States has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and birth in the entire developed world and that 3 in 10 girls will get pregnant at least once by age 20?

How man young women do you know personally that has gotten pregnant before their 20^th birthday?

This is everyone’s problem and we all must get involved actively to advocate abstinence and caution. Mothers and fathers need to talk to their teens about the critical time to make the right decision before they have sex. The consequences are too great and when you are caught up in the moment, it is difficult to STOP and consider the consequences.

Information is powerful if you have the right information. This is Teen Pregnancy Prevention month and the end of the academic year just as we go into the summer months, talk to your children about making intelligent choices before they make a mistake.  There are many things to consider, like STD’s, HIV/AIDS, Herpes, Mono and the most severe consequence, an unwanted pregnancy.

Make sure you and your teens have the right information by doing the questions on the web sties dedicated to teen pregnancy prevention.Sit down with your teens and discuss the myths and misconceptions they may have about sex and relationships.

The follow questions are a sample of what is available online;

Myths About Getting Pregnant

MYTH: A girl can’t get pregnant/ a guy can’t get a girl pregnant if:
1.you have sex standing up
2.you have sex in a hot tub or a swimming pool
3.you jump up and down immediately after sex
4.It’s your first time
5.the girl pushes really hard on her belly button after sex;
6.the girl makes herself sneeze for fifteen minutes after sex

Get Serious about discussing the facts and don’t assume that they already.  It is a mistake to allow your teens get their information from misinformed teens like them.

This problem is everyone’s responsibility.

Check out the following web sites for more information.

http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/national/

http://www.seventeen.com/

http://www.stayteen.org/quiz/widget.aspx

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Advancing In God by Featured Author Karmen A Booker

by Featured Author Karmen A Booker

God’s desire is for us to grow.  This is clearly indicated through the Bible.  Some scriptures that reflect this are:

(II  Peter 3:18) But grow in grace and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah).  To him be all glory (honor, majesty and splendor) both now to the day of eternity.

(Ephesians 1:17) . . . the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

Hebrews 5:13-14 says:

Strong meat are principles that are beyond the foundational principles of the doctrine of Christ.

Hebrews 6:1-2 outlines these principles.  It reads:

Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of Eternal judgment.

The Greek word for “perfection” is telesphoreo, which means to be a hearer to completion; maturity.

God wants us to strive for maturity in the knowledge of Him.

How Do We Strive for Maturity?

By reading, studying, and meditating on the Word of God.  II Timothy 2:15 admonishes us to study.  It says:  Work hard so God can say to you, “Well done.”  Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work.  Know what his Word says and means.

The Greek word for “spoudazo” means to make effort, be earnest, be diligent, labour.  So we must seek to make time to read the word with understanding, on a consistent basis.  We must be consistently consistent, not consistently inconsistsent.  It is not only important to read and study the Word of God, but to meditate on the Word of God.

Joshua 1:8 reads:  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shall meditate on it day and night, then thou shall have good success, and thou shalt make thy way prosperous.

The Hebrew word for meditate is “haw-gaq” which means to ponder; to think about carefully; deliberate.

After using the R=reading, S=studying, M=meditating method, we must obey the Word of God.  This requires:

A. Walking by Faith – Habbakuk 2:4; Hebrews 11:6

B.  Fulfilling our God-given obligation  Ecclesiastes 12:13; I Samuel 15:22

C. Walking in God’s footsteps – Jeremiah 7:23-24 and

II Thessalonians 2:15

When you attach yourself to God, you follow (obey) where he leads.   God becomes the leader, instead of you.  However, you can detach yourself from God by disobeying his Word.  Disobedience causes one to digress (go backward).  As long as you are going backward, you cannot walk forward.  The two directions are diametrically opposed.

Once you start going backwards, you open the door for Satan to wreak havoc in your life through deception and confusion. James 3:16 says:  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.  However, there is a way to turn and go forward and get back on the straight and narrow path that leads to life – eternal life.  That way is REPENTANCE.

Benefits of Maturing in Christ Are

1.    Discernment between things of God and the things of the Devil.  I once heard a pastor say this on the radio, “Once you know the truth, you can recognize a lie.”

2.    Greater Revelation

3.     Wisdom

Definition of Wisdom

Wisdom is knowledge and understanding.  (Proverbs 2:6 and Proverbs 1:5 and 7)

Purpose of Wisdom

• To be able to walk uprightly in honor to God.  God is pleased and greatful when you follow His commandments (Proverbs 4:5-6 an Benefits of Wisdom are

• Avoid a lot of problems and negativity in your life by making right choices

• Bless other people through the wisdom you have gained through counseling and praying with others.

• Help others to change their lives.

Continue to Seek Wisdom

A.   Stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to righteousness and peace.  If you don’t you’ll veer off the path, and on to the path of darkness, that leads to much trouble and total destruction.  (Matthew 7:13-14)

B.    Seek wisdom like you would a hidden treasure.  Keep searching until you find it, and once you do, apply it in your life daily.  (Proverbs 8:10-11 and Proverbs 4:7)

NOTE:  All scriptures are taken from the Amplified Version of the Bible.

Karmen A. Booker has been called by God to exhort and teach others the Word of God.  She is the founder of Wings of Love Ministries (WOLM), which is a teaching and evangelist ministry whose vision is to encourage and inspire people to accept and commit their lives to Jesus Christ so their lives will be transformed into righteousness, and they will experience unceasing love, joy, and peace.  WOLM offers resource products that are designed to encourage you to grow in your personal relationship with Jesus Christ and take you to higher spiritual heights of knowledge and understanding of the Word of God!!!

Please Request Your Catalog by contacting us at: Wingsoflove8@yahoo.com www.empowerment-thru-entrepreneurship.net

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PRO”s “Performance Rights Organizations” regulate Urban Radio

Black radio is the most significant channel of urban culture and family values in the African American community.

It serves as an important source of news for black families from the black perspective and entertainment for audiences in every ethnic group. Everyone listens to black radio for the drama and buffoonery and to catch up on hot topics.

A rally to “Save Black Radio” is scheduled to take place May 13 in front of Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) office in Detroit.

Representative Conyers is an 80-year-old African American congressman who is the sponsor of the Performance Rights Act.

The Performance Rights was originally introduced in February earlier this year designed to collect royalties on local radio for airplay. Commercial radio will have to pay the same fees as Satellite radio.

In a segment on the Tom Joyner Morning Show with Roland Martin and Cathy Hughes, she said that during a meeting in Conyers’ office with opponents of the measure, the congressman “turned up his CD player so loud that we could not hear anyone talk … It was turned up to teenage volume.”

It is unbelievable that a Senator would stoop to such a tactic as to turn up the volume on CD player in the middle of a meeting to avoid hearing what citizens have to say about legislation that affects so many others.

The following is a excerpt from theUS House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary  Press Release February 04, 2009 http://judiciary.house.gov/news/090204.html

The legislation would amend an inequity in America’s copyright law that exempts over-the-air broadcasters from paying those who perform the music that we listen to on AM and FM radio. Webcasters, satellite radio providers and cable companies are presently required to pay for music they broadcast.

“All those in the creative chain of musical production – the artists, musicians, and others who enrich us culturally – deserve to be justly compensated for their work,” said Conyers. “We have introduced the Performance Rights Act to ensure fairness so that any service that plays music pays those who create and own the recordings – just as satellite, cable and internet radio stations currently do. Working with the Senate, I hope that Congress may act quickly to pass this important legislation to level the playing field between different technologies and ensure rightful compensation to performers.

What is going on? Why are they trying to destroy the one medium that is really the pulse of the black community?

Radio is not only about the music; it speaks the same language and conveys the message in the way that it can be heard effectively by those that choose to tune in.

When I was a child black radio was a rare jewel in the community and served to bridge the gap in communication where communities were cut off or excluded from mainstream media.

As Cathy Hughes stated, it is the responsibility of the record executives and companies to pay the individuals that sing or perform in any way on a song why should the radio stations pay residuals anyone other than the writers who hold the copyright to the song?

Performance royalties are tracked and paid out by the performance rights organizations like ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and SoundExchange.

The royalty process begins once a song is registered with one of the three performing rights organizations.

Once a song is registered, it becomes part of that PRO’s (performing rights organization) collection and is available to all of its users. Most of those users have a “blanket license” to use any or all of the PRO’s music, however some users license on a per program basis and only pay for the music they actually use.

The PROs  performing rights organizations deduct money for their operating expenses and the rest goes to the songwriters and publishers.

Every since the writers strike in the television industry people have become greedy and money driven about how much money they are not getting through every available medium.  It is my understanding that when you agree legally to participate in producing music you cross your “i’s” and dot your “t’s” to ensure your compensation.

What happened to fuel this performance tax and why does someone like Conyers have an axe to grind with urban radio? Who has been affected by this that it has become another form of racism to black radio?

While the resolution will be framed in terms of preventing a ‘tax,’ ‘fee,’ or ‘burden’ on local radio stations, in reality, the only payment broadcasters would be required to make would be for the use of someone else’s property.” http://hiphopnews.yuku.com/topic/1015

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“Missing The Mark” by Featured Author Karmen A Booker

by Featured Author Karmen A Booker

The (Greek) word for sin is “harmartano”, which means to miss the mark not share in the prize); to err due to faults; offend; trespass.

The (Hebrew) word for sin is “chata”, which means to miss; forfeit; lack; to cause to lead astray.

When a person sins, they miss the mark.  That is, they miss the blessings of love, joy, peace, and fulfillment that come with obeying God’s Word.

In I Timothy 3:16, it says that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Therefore, the Word of God is your Instruction Book for Life.  It leads and guides you along life’s journey.  “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path.”

(Psalm 119:105)

The key to this powerful Instruction Book for Life is that you must have faith in it.  Faith means more than just believing. It means totally trusting, depending upon and being confident (assured) of the Word of God.

(In John 1:1), it says that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God, and the Word was with God Himself.” He was present originally with God.  All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.  In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men.

God admonishes us to love the Lord (Word) with all your heart, mind, and soul.  We show that we love the Lord (Word) by obeying it.  “. . . obey His voice according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your mind and heart and with all your being.” (Deuteronomy 30:2) We should not just be hearers of the Word, but doers also. (James 1:22)

When you obey the Word of God, you live a life of prosperity, good success, and wisdom.

“This book of the law shall not depart out of my mouth, but I shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it.  For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.”

(Joshua 1:8)

“So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them (obeying them) will be like a sensible man who builds his house upon the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)

Another key to the Instruction Book of Life having operation in your life and yielding results is to deny your will and emotions.  You must deny your desires (to sleep in rather than go to church), emotions

(to maintain anger rather than forgive), and will (work a job, rather than start the business God wants you to start), and Make a Decision to Follow God’s Will.

You must deny the self life – self seeking; self pleasing, self confidence, and self satisfaction.   You must be liberated from the self life.  Only then, will you be able to experience the fullness of God – the abundant life that comes from reading, studying, and meditating and applying the Word of God in your life.  Thereby, pleasing and glorifying God.

The denial of self is a daily process that requires a daily decision of denying self and accepting God’s will for your life.  Your life will be constantly renewed (changed) to conform to God’s way (attitude, emotions, and actions) of living.  As your mind is renewed and your actions conform to the Word of God, then you will experience love, joy and peace and good success.

God desires for his children to enjoy life on an ongoing basis.  Not just 3 years, 5 years, or 10 years, but throughout their life.

“I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance to the full, till it overflows.” (John 10:10)

“The Lord is my strength and my impenetrable Shield:  my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him. The Lord is their (unyielding) Strength, and He is the Stronghold of salvation to His anointed.” (Psalm 28:7-8)

Karmen A. Booker has been called by God to exhort and teach others the Word of God.  She is the founder of Wings of Love Ministries (WOLM), which is a teaching and evangelist ministry whose vision is to encourage and inspire people to accept and commit their lives to Jesus Christ so their lives will be transformed into righteousness, and they will experience unceasing love, joy, and peace.  WOLM offers resource products that are designed to encourage you to grow in your personal relationship with Jesus Christ and take you to higher spiritual heights of knowledge and understanding of the Word of God!!!

Please Request Your Catalog by contacting us at: Wingsoflove8@yahoo.com www.compuperfect.net

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