Donnie McClurkin and Yolanda Adams - The Prayer! Kirk Franklin – Hosanna!

Dedicated to Patricia!  This is for you, my friend!  Kirk Franklin adds his touch, too!

The Prayer

Donnie McClurkin and Yolanda Adams

--Verse (Yolanda)--

I pray You’ll be our eyes

And watch us where we go

And help us to be wise

In times when we don’t know

Let this be our prayer

When we lose our way

Lead us to a place

Guide us with Your grace

To a place where we’ll be safe

--Verse (Donnie)—(Yolanda)

I pray we’ll find Your light (I pray we’ll find Your light)

And hold it in our hearts (and hold it in our hearts)

When stars go out each night (when stars go out each night)

Remind us where You are (remind us where You are)

Let this be our prayer (let this be our prayer)

When shadows fill our day (when shadows fill our day).

(D) – Oh Lord, lead us to a place, oh my

(Y) – Guide us with Your grace (guide us with Your grace)

(D/Y) – Give us faith so we’ll be safe

Both:

A world where pain and sorrow will be ended

And every heart that’s broken will be mended

And we’ll remember we are all God’s children

Reaching out to touch you, reaching to the sky.

We ask that life be kind (we ask that life be kind)

And watch us from above (and watch us from above)

We hope each soul will find (we hope each soul will find)

Another soul to love (another soul to love)

(D/Y) – Let this be our prayer (let this be our prayer)

(D) – Just like every child (just like every child)

Both: (x2)

Needs to find a place

Guide us with Your grace

Gestures Of Love!

I overslept this past Sunday morning so I went to another church instead of my own.  I don’t like attending any functions late.  I usually go to St. Peter’s downtown as my backup or St. Martin de Porres if it’s very late.  The last time I attended St. Pete’s, I noticed that a young married couple in the front two pews ahead of me was pregnant.  This time they had their brand new little girl with them.  It wasn’t anything odd about their attentiveness to their baby but I found it interesting how subconsciously they were always touching each other either by standing, sitting, or kneeling very close to each other.  One can see how much they were in love with each other.  They reminded me of that old feeling.  Sometimes we forget what love means when some of us have had problems with it in the past.  We’re hesitant about starting something that might end in pain.  We might even push love away if we’re afraid of being hurt again.  Then, sometimes, just sometimes, when you thought it was all over, when you least expected it, the dream you put on the back burner comes to life when that someone enters into your life with intelligence, seductive eyes, gorgeous smiles, a fine looking garden and the desire to love you as much as you love them. It’s not that opposites attract but commonality in the same beliefs that can be the magnet.  That young couple displayed a sincere effort to show each other how much they meant to one another.  I like that kind of closeness, loving being loved by the one you love.  Some folks celebrate their life of being single, I don’t knock them.  I want more sharing my life with the woman that loves me.   I wish the new parents and child the best of everything.

Who Am I To Criticize?

Certain words can trigger negative reactions. We’ve all had past relationships and are currently in new ones. We or our loved ones at some time have said something that brought the wrong response. Unintentional statements are the ones most confusing since they were not meant for the explosive results afterwards. No matter how careful you want to be, you still seem to mess up. I’m talking about words that you sincerely thought would not offend anyone. What makes it even more complicated is that it seems unacceptable for you to stand up for yourself. In other words, you can’t explain yourself. Webster online dictionary definition for Explain is: 1 a: to make known b: to make plain or 2: to give the reason for or cause of 3: to show the logical development or relationships of. To me, that does not sound like an excuse. Excuse is: a: to make apology for. b: to try to remove blame from. If I’m wrong, I will accept it. But, at least give me an opportunity to explain myself! Don’t just criticize me for my words and actions. For every action there is a reaction. If you’re eager to point out what I did wrong, do you notice your own wrongs, too? Luke 6:42 (NIV) states, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” We all want our relationships to work and we all have our faults. How can two people who love each other so much overcome their flaws? God must be a part of their lives day in and day out. Otherwise, the enemy’s will destroy anything that is of God. We all have heard of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV); 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. I still get excited when I see and be with the love of my life. I may act childish at times around her but she is still my baby. But we all got work to do.  Remember: It's not all about you or all about me. It has everything to do with us opening the door for God's blessings.

Get To Know Your Potential Mate!

“People who are B blood type have a different set of characteristics than people who are Type O or Type A - they are susceptible to different diseases, they should eat different foods and exercise in a completely different manner. Some believe that personality is influenced by blood type!”, said by Dr. Peter D’Adamo. Interesting. That type of thinking can be related to some beliefs that people who have red hair are quick-tempered. I don’t know if that is factual or not. Studies have shown that Type B’s scored higher in the intuitive, insightful area, some as far as being mystical. For some reason, I tend to think that B blood-types are extremely redder than most. Now how silly can that be? But it also interesting that Type B’s are the balance between the O’s and the A’s and is could produce higher cortisol levels in issues regarding stress. Stress can really through this group off balance. But their recovery time is a lot faster due to the Nitric Oxide molecule mediating in the central nervous system. Even Type-Bs’ diet is much different than others, they can eat goat, lamb, mutton, rabbit and venison but no chicken. Yes, chicken contains a Blood Type B cells which are sugar binding proteins that can attach themselves to other cells preventing them to protect them specific duties for protecting the body. Eating chicken for some people can be very dangerous even resulting in strokes. Here are some tips from Dr. D’Adamo’s lifestyle strategies for Type Bs:

• Visualization is a powerful technique for Type Bs. If you can visualize it, you can achieve it.

• Find healthy ways to express your nonconformist side.

• Spend at least twenty minutes a day involved in some creative task that requires your complete attention.

• Go to bed no later than 11:00PM and sleep for eight hours or more. It is essential for B's to maintain their circadian rhythm.

• Use meditation to relax during breaks.

• Engage in a community, neighborhood or other group activity that gives you a meaningful connection to a group. Type Bs are natural born networkers.

• Be spontaneous.

• As they age, Type Bs have a tendency to suffer memory loss and have decreased mental acuity. Stay sharp by doing tasks that require concentration, such as crossword puzzles or learn a new skill or language.

Are you presently dating a Type B person? I don’t usually write about things like this other than my colonoscopy some years ago. But this is really about knowing that person who might be a potential part in your life.

Summary From FactCheck On A Health Care Reform

This is an excerpt from FactCheck.org on the case of Healthcare Reform Law as destroying jobs.  Too bad so many don't take the time to read.

When it comes to truth in labeling, House Republicans are getting off to a poor start with their constantly repeated references to the new health care law as "job-killing."

We find:

• Independent, nonpartisan experts project only a "small" or "minimal" impact on jobs, even before taking likely job gains in the health care and insurance industries into account.

• The House Republican leadership, in a report issued Jan. 6, badly misrepresents what the Congressional Budget Office has said about the law. In fact, CBO is among those saying the effect "will probably be small."

• The GOP also cites a study projecting a 1.6 million job loss — but fails to mention that the study refers to a hypothetical employer mandate that is not part of the new law.

• The same study cited by the GOP also predicts an offsetting gain of 890,000 jobs in hospitals, doctors’ offices and insurance companies — a factor not mentioned by the House leadership.

There’s little doubt that the new law will likely lead to somewhat fewer low-wage jobs. That’s mainly because of the law’s requirement that, generally, firms with more than 50 workers pay a penalty if they fail to provide health coverage for their workers. One leading health care expert, John Sheils of The Lewin Group, puts the loss at between 150,000 and 300,000 jobs, at or near the minimum wage. And Sheils says that relatively small loss would be partly offset by gains in the health care industry.

Analysis

Attaching misleading labels to legislation is a well-worn tactic in Washington. Conservatives got rid of most of the estate tax after labeling it a "death tax," as though it taxed death instead of multimillion-dollar fortunes. And liberals once won passage of an "assault weapons ban" that didn’t really ban fully automatic military assault rifles, which were already illegal for civilians to own without a very-hard-to-get federal license. Now House Republicans are seeking to repeal what they call "Obamacare: A budget-busting, job-killing health care law." That’s the title of a study issued by the House Republican leadership Jan. 6.

And the GOP is clearly pushing the "job-killer" claim. House Speaker John Boehner used the phrase "job-killing" to describe the health care law seven times on Thursday, January 6, 2011, in a press conference that lasted less than 14 minutes — that’s once every 2 minutes. He also used the phrases "destroy jobs" and "destroying jobs" once each when talking about the law. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Republicans named their bill to repeal the health care law: "Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act."

But is the health care law really "job-killing" as claimed? We find that to be another case of exaggerated and misleading labeling.

Free Speech...

Walter Bagdasarian, from Southern California was arrested over two years ago after posting a late-night tirade against then presidential candidate Barack Obama in October 2008.   He was convicted in 2009.  According to court documents, Bagdasarian's made online comments such as "Obama fk the niggar, he will have a 50 cal in the head soon," and "shoot the nig country fkd for another 4 years+, what nig has done ANYTHING right???? long term???? never in history, except sambos."  The law also covers presidential candidates, too.  Bagdasarian excuse at the time was that he was drunk.  Alcohol loosens the tongue and that helps some people to say what’s really on their mind.  I believe if you got a good attorney, they’ll get some people to believe it, too.  What’s worse, this guy did own a .50 caliber rifle and had the ammunition, he also had other weapons, too.  Keep in mind that racism no longer exists in America.  So bigots can use any opportunity to say that they don’t like the President’s policies as an excuse that they just don’t like the black man.  Unless…they’re drunk and kidding.   Most of the time these threats put you behind bars but last week July 19-20, the Federal Appeals Court overturned the conviction with a 2-1 decision.  The judges ruled that Bagdasarian was engaging in free speech.  So when do we take these type of racists’ threats serious?  Look around and notice the wealth gap between the minorities is widening.  The unemployment rate is higher among blacks.  But none of that seems to matter because even blacks aren’t appreciating and encouraging our President to continue the good fight for all Americans.  What a shame. Now partisan politics have drawn the line enough to cause the country to collapse.  Rush Limbaugh is now considered the King of the GOP & the Queen is Sarah Palin.  Don't we have a lot to look forward to.

Caught Up In The Rapture - Anita Baker