Grace & Glory March 2015

www.gracenglorymagazine.org 1

2 March 2015 | Grace&Glory www.gracenglorymagazine.org 3


36 TEEN CONNECT www.livestrong.com Church & Teenagers

™

46 MAN TALK Dr. Charles Barrett

A Lenten Meditation

pgs 8-11 Q&A Interview with Dr. Karen S. Betheapgs 24-25 National Women’s History Month

26 SINGLE LIFE Dr. Monique Flemings Single & Parenthood

42 BOOK SHELF Brandie Manigault (Siobhan Saulsbury) I Am A Church Member (Thom S. Rainer)

Feature Articles

22 WOMAN’S PERSPECTIVE Tiffany Bethea Virtuous Women Principles- Part 2

38 BODY BASICS www.grandparents.com Exercises You Can Do Sitting

32 EDUCATION DIGEST Dr. Tim Tooten Don’t Panic

Special Feature

Healthy Body28 NUTRITION & YOU Herline A. Knights, RD, LD Family Health- March Calendar

34 UNTITLED Brandy Kwakye

Waiting

MARCH 2015

on the cover:Pastor Linwood E. Bethea,

Dr. Karen S. Bethea & FamilySet the Captives Free Outreach Center

Administrative Offices7200 Rutherford Road, Suite 140, Baltimore, Maryland 21244

Church & Food Pantry7111 Windsor Blvd., Baltimore, Maryland 21244

410-265-6800 • www.stcfoc.com

c o n t e n t s

18 MAYOR’S JOURNAL Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake

Walking in the Light

16 YOUR BEST YEARS www.mayoclinic.org Caregiver Stress: Tips For Taking Care of Yourself


In Every Issue

Contributors ........................................... 6

From the Editor ...................................... 7

Scripture Page ..................................... 12

44 GOSPEL INDUSTRY NEWS Ericka Johnson

pgs 8-11 Q&A Interview with Dr. Karen S. Bethea

pgs 24-25 National Women’s History Month

Healthy Mind

Entertainment

30 TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH Carla J. Debnam, (Founder, Renaissance Christian Counseling Center)

What’s Next

c o n t e n t s


PUBLISHER/ Jackie Epps EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

EDITORIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY Mark L. Dennis, Alan L. Jones GRAPHIC ARTIST Claire Lesesne-Nalley www.JandCDesigns.com

WEB ADMINISTRATOR Andre Felipe for Arts Period www.artsperiod.com

PRINTING Roebuck & Son Printing www.hgroebuck.com

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Psalm 84:11

Contributors Chairman — Dr. A.C. D. Vaughn

Sr. Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church, MD

Vice-Chairman — Dr. Frank M. Reid III Sr. Pastor, Bethel A.M.E. Church, MD

Dr. Michael A. Battle Sr., U.S. Ambassador President, ITC Seminary, Atlanta, GA

Dr. Timothy Boddie Friendship Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA

Bishop John R. Bryant Presiding Prelate of the 5th Episcopal District

Dr. Harold A. Carter, Jr.Pastor, New Shiloh Baptist Church, MD

Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, U.S. Ambassador

Dr. WIlliam H. Curtis Mt. Ararat Baptist Church, Pittsburgh, PA

Bishop Ralph L. DennisSr. Pastor, Kingdom Worship Center, MD

Wanda Q. Draper/Media Executive

Michele J.K. Epps/Health Sciences

Cassandra Vaughn/Media Executive

Dr. Donte’ L. Hickman, Sr.Pastor, Southern Baptist Church, MD

Pastor Timothy V. ManigaultHealing Voices Ministries

Dr. Kenneth O. RobinsonPastor, Dream Life Worship CenterWord on Finances

Bishop Walter Scott Thomas, Sr.Pastor, New Psalmist Baptist Church, MD

Dr. Timothy Tooten, Sr. Pastor, Harvest Christian Ministries, MD

Advisory Board

Grace & Glory Magazine is published monthly by JE Media, LLC, a Baltimore based, independent publisher. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction without expressed permission is prohibited.

Dr. Kenneth O. RobinsonHarold A. Carter, Jr.Cassandra Vaughn-FoxHerline A. KnightsPastors Gregory and Tonya DennisCarla J. DebnamDonna Williams-RossGovernor Martin O’MalleyEricka JohnsonMayor Stephanie Rawlings-BlakeRev. Tim TootenBrandie ManigaultTiffany BetheaDr. Monique Flemings

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Chairman — Dr. A.C. D. Vaughn Sr. Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church, MD

Vice-Chairman — Dr. Frank M. Reid III Sr. Pastor, Bethel A.M.E. Church, MD

Dr. Michael A. Battle Sr., U.S. Ambassador President, ITC Seminary, Atlanta, GA

Dr. Timothy Boddie Friendship Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA

Bishop John R. Bryant Presiding Prelate of the 5th Episcopal District

Dr. Harold A. Carter, Jr.Pastor, New Shiloh Baptist Church, MD

Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, U.S. Ambassador

Dr. WIlliam H. Curtis Mt. Ararat Baptist Church, Pittsburgh, PA

Bishop Ralph L. DennisSr. Pastor, Kingdom Worship Center, MD

Wanda Q. Draper/Media Executive

Michele J.K. Epps/Health Sciences

Cassandra Vaughn/Media Executive

Dr. Donte’ L. Hickman, Sr.Pastor, Southern Baptist Church, MD

Pastor Timothy V. ManigaultHealing Voices Ministries

Dr. Kenneth O. RobinsonPastor, Dream Life Worship CenterWord on Finances

Bishop Walter Scott Thomas, Sr.Pastor, New Psalmist Baptist Church, MD

Dr. Timothy Tooten, Sr. Pastor, Harvest Christian Ministries, MD

Follow us on facebook at facebook.com/gracenglorymagazineand twitter @gracenglorymag

Check out our website at: www.gracenglorymagazine.org

from the editor

Editor-in-Chief

This month Christians all over the world will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We will trace the steps and events that led to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. We will remember the seven last utterances of Jesus from the cross. We will tell the story of how Jesus died on the cross on Friday, how he was buried in a borrowed tomb and how on the third day, early Sunday morning, He rose from the dead with all power in His hands. We call this the “Good News” of Jesus Christ! As believers, can you imagine a life without Jesus? What would life be like if Jesus had not got up from the grave? It would be a life without hope. We would be most miserable. In the times of trouble we would not be able to go to the throne of God boldly with our petitions. And more important, we would not have Jesus sitting at the right hand of God as our intercessor. But, because He lives, we have hope and we have a peace that the world does not understand. But the story does not stop there. We as believers have the responsibility to keep the story alive. As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ there will be many who will not be celebrating because they do not know or have not heard the “Good News”. When was the last time you shared this “Good News” with anyone? There is a line in a song that says, “Said I wasn’t gonna tell nobody, but I couldn’t keep it to myself.” When was the last time you had some news you just couldn’t keep to yourself, you couldn’t wait to tell somebody? We don’t seem to have a problem with talking about the latest headlines in the news; which most of the time is not good news. We also spend a good amount of time talking with friends, co-workers, and family members about our problems and hardships. Maybe the next time someone wants to tell you about their trials and tribulations take this

opportunity to tell them, “I’ve got Good News!” This is the perfect season to give those who are without hope a hope. It would be a shame if we as believers did not take this awesome opportunity to share the “Good News” with non-believers. This is a perfect time to let those who walk in darkness know that Jesus is the light of the world. Someone needs to know that Jesus came so that we would be able to live a victorious life. Someone needs to know today that Jesus is our Savior, and that today is their day of salvation. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13 ‘Resurrection Sunday’ is the highest celebration in the Christian life. How awesome it would be to share the “Good News” during this season and see lives changed by the salvation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The best news is that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8) and God loved us so much that He gave His only son as a sacrifice for us (John 3:16). All we have to do to have eternal life is to believe that Jesus died on the cross, rose from the grave, and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. (Romans 10:9). Now that’s “Good News” worth sharing! Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Jackie Epps www.gracenglorymagazine.org 7


Q&A

Dr. Karen Stanley Bethea

INTERVIEWWITH

G&G: Dr. Bethea, it is so good to have this opportunity to talk with you, I have been

an admirer of yours for many years! There is so much going on in your life right now to talk

about. First and foremost April will mark the 15th church anniversary of the Set The Captives Free Outreach Center. Have those fifteen years been like a fast moving train for you? If you had to sum up this journey in one sentence what would it be?Dr. Bethea: To sum up this 15-year journey up in one word I would have to say “Faithful!” God has been faithful. He has done everything that He promised me, and then some. I honestly have experienced what it means to be blessed exceeding and abundantly above more than you could ask or think. It is hard to believe that 15 years have passed. Time flies when you are in purpose! I feel like I am on vacation everyday!

G&G: Dr. Bethea, let’s reflect back a little. Take

us back to square one, how did this ministry

begin? Tell us about the vision to pastor your own church; was it a divine assignment from the Lord? Dr. Bethea:

Absolutely it was a divine assignment. You don’t call yourself to pastor. I don’t

think you can do it effectively unless it

is a divine call. I was very happy being an

evangelist since the 12th grade but He shifted me into the pastorate. The

call came in 1997 but it took three years to prepare and we planted the church in April 2000. It has been an incredible journey.

G&G: Dr. Bethea, when the doors first opened for Set The Captives Free Outreach Center do you recall your first message? Dr. Bethea: I am a series preacher. I love series. People seem to retain more when the messages are connected in a series leading to some final point. When we first opened I preached a three part series entitled ‘The Character of the Word’ from Psalm 119. We took a look at all the things that the word of God does and is capable of doing in our lives. My foundation has always been and will always be the Word of God. From the very start I encouraged people to live the Word.

G&G: Dr. Bethea, since the ministry began what has been your proudest and most memorable achievement as pastor of the Set The Captives Free Outreach Center? Dr. Bethea: Seeing lives changed will always be my motivation but having my family engaged in the ministry is the highest for me. To do what I do and not have my family would have been very empty. Also having Bishop Jakes come and dedicate our first building when it was finished was a joy for me. Bishop Jakes ordained me as a pastor and I was a part of P.H.I.P.A (The Potter’s House International Pastoral Alliance) when I started out. I still absolutely love his ministry. We changed our covering four years ago because we needed more hands on. Out of respect for Bishop Jakes’ busy schedule, I refused to make unrealistic demands on his time. He has such a global mandate so we still glean from him and love and respect him. At that point in our development four years ago we just needed more hands on guidance. It would have been unfair to ask that of Bishop Jakes but he still is an integral part of our ministry. My covering now is Bishop R.C. Hugh Nelson of Brooklyn, New York. He has been with us from the beginning as well and he pastors the Flatbush Church of God of East Flatbush in New York. These two bishops have helped to shape our very foundation. Their wisdom has saved us countless hours.

8 March 2015 | Grace&Glory

SET THE CAPTIVES FREE OUTREACH CENTERWindsor Mill, Md

Pastor Linwood E. andDr. Karen S. Bethea


Q&AG&G: Dr. Bethea, being faced with the awesome challenge to lead God's people, and though society has become more receptive to female pastors, during your tenure as pastor have you ever been criticized for any of your work in this ministry? How do you handle the criticism? Dr. Bethea: I don’t. I let God deal with my criticizers and I stay focused on the vision. You may deny my call but you cannot deny the fruit. Like the old song says, “May the works I’ve done, speak for me.”

G&G: Dr. Bethea, what things are currently happening at Set the Captives Free that you are thrilled about? Dr. Bethea: Expansion! Our children’s church ministry, which is headed up by two retired principals and a retired teacher, grew to the point that we had to give up our office space at the church to build new classrooms for our two to eleven year olds. As a result we now have a new building. Our first building still houses the church, food pantry, classrooms, recording studio, chapel, etc. Our new building houses our offices, conference room, more classrooms, and our new youth center! On Wednesday nights 52% of our church is now enrolled in bible study and we have 14 bible study classes. I designed a bible study program called The P.A.T.H (Pointing All Towards Heaven). This new building gave us additional classroom space for The P.A.T.H. We also just completed our youth center. My son named it the BOOM ROOM! (Bringing Others Our Message); they named it that because they have declared that they will make a “sound” in their generation. Now the 12-17 year olds have a junior sanctuary to have bible study every week, a space of their own in which to develop their God given talents and abilities and a safe place to socialize. In the mean time we are also seeing a great influx of 18-30 year olds so now they have a home; they have a fully furnished classroom. They were having bible study once a month and informed me that they wanted a Wednesday night class as well. When young people ask you to increase their bible study sessions, you increase their bible study sessions! We have named our 18-30 year olds the Joshua’s Journey or the JJ’s (www.jjjourney.org). Young people need to shadow us the way Joshua shadowed Moses. Our senior’s ministry (60 and over) spends

quality time with the JJ’s. They have really connected as the senior’s ministry called L.E.G.A.C.Y (Letting Each Gift Accentuate Coming Youth) mentors them and passes down skills in areas such as parenting. Now every age range is well represented in our congregation and it is just an exciting time watching people faithful in Sunday attendance and then out to study the word mid-week. I am about to target our singles in a whole new way.

◆ ◆ ◆

G&G: Dr. Bethea, let’s shift back to the present, I understand something truly exciting is about to take place in your life and ministry; you are being elevated as an Apostle. Would you share with us how this all came about? Would you also explain what it means to be elevated to the office of an Apostle? What will be your specific duties?Dr. Bethea: Apostles are sent ones. They plant and oversee churches. They are establishers. We

have churches in Nashville, Charlotte, Chicago, Bermuda, and now three in Baltimore. I have been mentoring pastors since 2004 and we have been overseeing

churches since then. I never thought about the title. I was just enjoying the work. My bishop noted the works and said it was time to affirm me. I am already doing what I will be doing after

the formal ceremony. I love encouraging and pouring into other pastors. In December of last year I held a retreat for pastors. It was powerful. My bishop, my staff, and I poured into pastors. From that I have developed quarterly sessions to pour into and build up pastors. We have tough jobs and need to share and encourage each other. This is not a competition. We are all on the same team and a part of the same body. We need to be open and honest and share what works and what doesn’t with each other. We are stronger together than we are apart.

G&G: Dr. Bethea, tell us about the upcoming events planned to celebrate the 15th Church Anniversary of Set The Captives Free Outreach Center and the affirmation of your Apostolic elevation?Dr. Bethea: The festivities are a surprise. My staff had begun planning last year but we added the affirmation to the banquet recently because it was

Q&A

Continued on page 10


The "BOOM ROOM"


scheduled at the same time Bishop Walter Thomas is having his 40th anniversary celebration and Bishop Jakes will be preaching. I want to be there to support him so I moved it to the day before. The banquet and affirmation will take place on Saturday April 18th from 2-6 p.m. at the Turf Valley Conference Center. That’s all that I know. On the following Wednesday April 22nd Bishop William Murphy will join us for a continued celebration!

◆ ◆ ◆

G&G: Dr. Bethea, this month is Women’s History month, in the past there have been many women who have been trailblazers that paved the way for the female clergy of today. What female in ministry would you say you most admire and why? Dr. Bethea: Two ladies. There are two people that I really admire and look up to. They challenge me and each have poured into me and helped to shape me. Dr. Ann Lightner Fuller of Towson, MD and Dr. Claudette Anderson Copeland of San Antonio, TX. These two women have poured into me in ways that they know and in ways that they are unaware of. Their advice has saved me time, energy, and embarrassment. There were things I simply did not know starting out and they held nothing back in helping to groom me. They advised me concerning family, marriage, and ministry. They were both insistent that I develop the character to go with my gifting. You need mentors that are not so impressed with your gift that they forget to sharpen you. They have been transparent with me and provided the friendship and sisterhood that I needed coming into this thing called pastoring. The good thing about mentoring is that it does not have to be done one on one all the time. Long before I met either of them I was already watching them and listening to their messages. You can be mentored from a distance. God did grant me the desires of my heart and I eventually met and connected with them both. I am still in contact with both of them to this day. They are one text away!

G&G: Dr. Bethea, I believe there is one more historical event that is on the horizon for you. You are also going to be consecrated to the office of a Bishop, is this correct?

Dr. Bethea: Yes, I will become a Bishop-elect this year as I undergo training with my bishop, Bishop Ralph Dennis and others. I will be consecrated next year.

G&G: Dr. Bethea, everything that is going on in your life right now is so phenomenal and exciting; we know women are phenomenal creatures (we are just made that way). You are a wife, mother, grandmother, visionary for the Women Who Soar and the Female Clergy Support Group of MD and pastor of the Set The Captives Free Outreach Center; we want to know how do you handle all of this?Dr. Bethea: Being a wife and mother are the highest and most fulfilling things I have ever done in life. We just celebrated 34 years of marriage on February 14th.

My husband is such a manifestation of God’s love to me. He is an unconditionally loving person, a great friend, an excellent listener, has such strong character, and is extremely focused. I might be the pastor but he has those reigns in his hands and he is guiding me as I guide Set the Captives Free. My children have sacrificed a lot sharing their mother with so

many people. They are both very faithful in the ministry. My joy is that they both have their own relationship with the Lord. My pain is that they are both divorced. As a family we have had to regroup and keep it moving, but in the end of the thing, we are FAMILY. I am so glad that the church started when they were in high school. I could not have done it when they were young. They are my

first priority. Ministry is exciting and can be addictive so I have to continuously fight to maintain my balance because I love what I do. My grandchildren help me with balance. I love being a ganny! My time with them is refreshing. I have a great team and a lot of wonderful and competent people that help me! Everything is about teamwork. My staff at Set the Captives Free is nothing short

Q&AContinued from page 9


Dr. Claudette AndersonCopeland and Dr. Karen Bethea

Dr. Karen Bethea and Dr. Ann Lightner Fuller

The Bethea Family


of amazing. They make it happen. I see it, they embrace it, and they run with it. I don’t always know how they get it all done but they make it happen. Delegation is the key. You have to staff your weaknesses because you cannot do it all. Find someone who is better than you at what you need done and let them run with it. In this season, I am definitely called to support and train other pastors and ministers so the Female Clergy Support Group of MD (www.femaleclergymd.org) was burning in me five years before I birthed it out. It has been a phenomenal journey working with such greatness. Every lady in that group is a gift and a blessing to my life. We have a great time ministering to women and men and being examples. Life is more about being than doing; and the Women Who Soar is a great experience for me as well. The Women Who Soar (www.thewomenwhosoar.com) is an international traveling women’s conference. We travel all over doing conferences. Instead of churches trying to put a women’s conference together we come and provide the entire conference. To date we have done conferences in: Greensboro, NC; Albany, NY; Toronto, Canada; Nashville, TN; Hamilton, Bermuda; Baltimore, MD; Seattle, WA; Chicago, IL; Milwaukee, WI; Milton Keynes, England UK; Group tours to Israel, Rome, France, Italy, and most recently Berlin, Germany. Our 2015 schedule is posted at http://www.thewomenwhosoar.com/conferencesschedule.html. We just added three new soaring ladies, Minister Tiffany Bethea (my daughter), Pastor Sarai Crain of Oakland, CA, and Evangelist LaTrice Ryan of Memphis, TN. They begin traveling with us this year. Our biggest joy last year was doing a women’s conference in Berlin, Germany; we got to visit Poland while we were there. It was just awesome; we will

be returning. As with the other endeavors and divine assignments, there is a WWS executive team and they handle everything from travel arrangements to inventory to our Facebook page. You can’t do it all, you just can’t.

G&G: Dr. Bethea, you are an awesome gift to the Kingdom. We are rejoicing with you, praying for you, and thanking God for you.Dr. Bethea: His grace is sufficient for me. Thank you for the opportunity to share parts of my journey and to be a part of the Grace & Glory family

hosting the women’s segment on the second Sunday morning of each month. I also enjoy being the featured preacher on the third Sunday of each month. You are about a great work here and I thank God for you as well. Be richly blessed Jackie always and in all ways.

Q&A


The JJ's

Women Who Soar in Berlin, Berlin Bear

Bishop R.C. Hugh Nelson, Dr. Floyd Flake, Dr. Karen, and Pastor Linwood.

Assistant pastors of STCF


Luke 24:1-7 (NIV)

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had

prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when

they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about

this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright

the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you

look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you,

while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of

sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”

Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV)

18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in

earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and

of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have

commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.


scripture


bio

Dr. Karen Stanley Bethea is a Wife, Mother, Friend, Author, Teacher, Psalmist, Recording Artist, and Senior pastor of Set the Captives Free Outreach Center. She is known for the deliverance mantle on her life. Under her anointed teaching and preaching, many people have been set free from past addictions, pains, wounds, and negative lifestyles and have been brought into a spiritual and wholesome lifestyle. Dr. Bethea firmly believes that “she can do all things through Christ which strengthens her!” Her eagle mentality is contagious to those around her.

Dr. Bethea gave her life to the Lord at the early age of 15 and began preaching at the tender age of 17. She is a graduate of Belmont Elementary, Calverton Middle School, Western High School, Coppin State College/Coppin State University, and Saint Mary's Seminary/and University. She also earned her Doctorate through the Graduate Theological Foundation completing her coursework and defending her dissertation at Oxford University in Oxford, England.

She is a member of the West Baltimore Clergy United, Women Who Soar International, Female Clergy Support Group of Maryland, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated-Baltimore Alumnae Chapter, the International/Association of Women Ministers, and the Foundation Board at Coppin State University.

She was initially ordained in June of 1988 and has taught and preached the Word of God extensively at Seminars, Conferences, Revivals, Workshops and Meetings throughout the United States, Africa, Bermuda, Canada, and England.

Perhaps her greatest challenge came in April 1997 when she was called to the pastorate. After three years of preparation, the church was planted and opened on April 9, 2000. Set the Captives Free Outreach Center, which has grown to over 2,000 members, is a center for healing and an incubator to discover and birth destinies. She is the author of Foundational Steps, an interactive Bible-based children's church curriculum through which children ages 2-14 learn Biblical concepts in a systematic manner. Many churches are using it successfully in their children's ministries. She has also written “Doors,” (May 2011) and co-wrote “Testimonies From Overcomers” (Nov. 2010) and “Grow Wings” (Nov. 2012) with the Women Who Soar.

Dr. Bethea is under the spiritual covering of Bishop R. C. Hugh Nelson, D. Div. He is the pastor of the East Flatbush Church of God in Brooklyn, New York. She also serves as the apostolic covering and mentor for several churches and ministries in the United States and Bermuda.

In addition to being a minister, she is a wife and mother. She is married to Pastor Linwood E. Bethea, with whom she co-pastors. They have two beautiful children: Tiffany and L. Jamaal Bethea and two grandchildren Natalie and Jordan. As of February 14, 2014, they have been married for 33 years.


bio


your best years

Caring for a loved one strains even the most resilient people. If you're a caregiver, take steps to preserve your own health and well-being. With an aging population and changes in health care, such as shorter hospital stays, more and more caregiving is being provided by people who aren't health care professionals. A caregiver is anyone who provides help to another person in need, whether that's an ill spouse or partner, a disabled child, or an aging relative. Indeed, more than 65 million Americans provide care to a loved one.Caregiving is rewarding but stressfulCaregiver stress is the emotional and physical strain of caregiving. Individuals who experience the most caregiver stress are the most vulnerable to changes in their own health.Many caregivers fall into the trap of believing that they have to do everything by themselves. Don't make that mistake. Remember, if you don't take care of yourself you won't be able to care for anyone else.Signs of caregiver stressAs a caregiver, you may be so focused on your loved one that you don't realize that your own health and well-being are suffering. Watch for these signs of caregiver stress:• Feeling tired most of the time • Feeling overwhelmed and irritable• Sleeping too much or too little • Gaining or losing a lot of weight• Losing interest in activities you used to enjoyToo much stress, especially over a long time, can harm your health. As a

caregiver, you're more likely to experience symptoms of depression or anxiety. In addition, you may not get enough physical activity or eat a balanced diet, which only increases your risk of medical problems, such as heart disease and diabetes.Strategies for dealing with caregiver stress• Accept help. Be prepared with a list of ways that others can help you, and let the helper choose what he or she would like to do. For instance, one person might be willing to take the person you care for on a walk a couple of times a week. Someone else might offer to pick up groceries or even to cook for you.• Focus on what you are able to provide. Don't give in to guilt. Feeling guilty is normal, but understand that no one is a "perfect" caregiver. You're doing the best you can at any given time. Your house does not have to be perfect, and no one will care if you eat leftovers three days in a row. And you don't have to feel guilty about asking for help.• Get connected. Organizations offer classes on caregiving, and local hospitals may have classes specifically about the disease your loved one is facing.• Join a support group. A support group can be a great source for encouragement and advice from others in similar situations. • Seek social support. Make an effort to stay emotionally connected with family and friends. Set aside time each week for socializing, even if it's just a walk with a friend. Whenever possible, make plans that get you out of the house. • Set personal health goals. For example, set a goal to find time to be physically active on most days of the week, or set a goal for getting a good night's sleep. It's also crucial to eat a healthy diet.• See your doctor. Get recommended immunizations and screenings. Make sure to tell your doctor that you're a caregiver. Don't hesitate to mention any concerns or symptoms you have.Respite careIt may be hard to imagine leaving your loved one in someone else's care, but taking a break is one of the best things you can do for yourself as well as the person you're caring for. Most communities have some type of respite care available, such as:• Adult care centers. Many adult care centers are located in churches or community centers. Some care centers provide care for both older adults and young children, and the two groups may spend time together.• Day hospitals. These hospitals provide medical care during the day. In the evening, your loved one returns home.• In-home respite. Health care aids come to your home to provide companionship, nursing services or both.• Short-term nursing homes. Some assisted living homes, memory care facilities and nursing homes accept people needing care for short stays while caregivers are away.The caregiver who works outside the homeTwo-thirds of caregivers work outside of the home. Juggling work responsibilities and caregiving isn't easy, and employed caregivers experience high levels of caregiver stress. If you're in this situation, try these strategies for balancing your work and personal responsibilities:• Learn to delegate. Share your work — and home — responsibilities with others. Don't be afraid to ask for help.• Investigate support services. Ask your human resources department about resources your company offers, such as support lines or referral services. Then make use of these assistance programs.• Keep information flowing. Keep an open line of communication with your supervisor and co-workers.You aren't aloneIf you're like many caregivers, you have a hard time asking for help. Unfortunately, this attitude can lead to feeling isolated, frustrated and even depressed. Rather than struggling on your own, take advantage of local resources for caregivers.



Building Trust Between Baltimore Police and the Communities They Serve

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake publishes her “Walking in the Light” column each month in Grace and Glory Magazine.

Walking in the Lightby Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake

Last month my Administration released our proposed legislative package for the General Assembly. Overall, the package includes very balanced and achievable legislation that will address many of the key issues I hear about every day as mayor, including the need to continue building trust between the community and police. Since taking offi ce, I have personally worked very hard to improve these relationships, because I understand that there is no way for Baltimore to become a safer city without a strong partnership between police and the communities they serve.

Through a series of key reforms put in place over the past several years, Baltimore is moving forward. Specifi cally, my Administration has disbanded the plainclothes offi cer unit responsible for the majority of police misconduct allegations. Lawsuits against the city are down. Police discourtesy complaints are down. Trial board convictions for offi cers who act out of line have increased. More than 50 percent of the Baltimore

City Police Department’s strategic plan for improvement has been implemented. A fully vetted and legal police body camera program will be announced soon. We have successfully recruited the Department of Justice’s COPS program to assist the department with additional reforms, and last year Baltimore City saw overall crime and homicides decrease by double digits, with even more residents providing tips to help police solve crimes. These reforms have been years in the making. They have helped to improve the relationship between police and the community, far above and beyond where I found it when I became mayor.

But we have more work to do, and the legislation my Administration will be pursuing is designed to help us continue moving forward. Specifi cally, the legislation we are proposing will provide the police commissioner with greater authority to discipline bad cops, and respond to concerns from the community that police offi cers are allowed to play by a diff erent set of rules than everybody else. This legislation would create a new felony of misconduct in offi ce, to include any misdemeanor that carries a maximum possible sentence of over one year in prison, when it is committed by a police offi cer on duty. If passed into law, the police commissioner would be allowed to immediately suspend any offi cer without pay the moment they are charged with a qualifying crime. In short, if a police offi cer commits an assault in uniform, they could receive the same punishment as a civilian who did the same thing, and the police commissioner will be empowered to act more swiftly to hold that offi cer accountable.

A key goal of my Administration is growing Baltimore City by 10,000 families over the next decade. In order to grow a city, you have to attract new residents, but most importantly you have to give those residents already here more reasons to stay. We cannot grow Baltimore without making our city a safer place, so that new residents see our city as a safe destination to raise a family, and families already here see their communities getting better each and every day. This legislation will move us closer to achieving that goal.

These reforms and successes didn’t happen by accident. They occurred because we have hundreds of dedicated, hardworking men and women in the Baltimore City Police Department who put their lives on the line every day to make our city a better place. They are worthy of our gratitude, and our focus remains on addressing the few bad apples whose unlawful actions hurt the entire organization. The overwhelming majority of our offi cers are doing their jobs the correct way and I am grateful for their service.

I love this city, and I believe in its ability to grow and build for the future. But I will not be satisfi ed until we fully mend police–community relations, eliminate violent crime, and can pride ourselves on being the safest big city in the nation.

mayor


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woman’s perspective

Tiffany BetheaAuthor | Speaker | Mompreneur

Founder & CEO/ The L.I.V.E. Circlewww.tiffanybethea

www.livecirclecommunity.com

Series Continued

P R U D E N C E Happy LOVE month ladies! We are going to continue in our series on Virtuous Women Principles. Last month we talked about Rare Value. Every virtuous woman knows that she is fearfully and wonderfully made and that her value is far above rubies. This month we will look at our next Virtuous Women Principle: Prudence. Several verses in Proverbs Chapter 31 let us know that as virtuous women we need to be prudent, sensible, or wise. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7) We can see the heart of this passage described as we look at the illustration of the Virtuous women description. When we talk about wisdom, we are talking about good sense and judgment, accumulated learning, and the ability to understand things that most other people cannot understand. Not only in Chapter 31, but all throughout Proverbs we can see insights that help us develop prudence and cultivate wisdom. God’s thoughts truly are higher than ours. It is evident all throughout Proverbs when God instructs us in practical daily living. His methods are greater than ours and yield much greater results. In order to be the virtuous godly women we desire to be, we must take on His ways and cultivate His wisdom in our hearts. One example can be found in verse 26, “She opens her mouth with wisdom. And on her tongue is the law of kindness.” Seemingly simple at first glance, this passage reveals a strong insight into the prudence we should strive for as virtuous women. The power to bridle our tongues and master when, what, and how to speak will have a major positive impact on our lives. Having the law of kindness on our tongues can change conflicts that we encounter and bring much more peace into our space. Have you ever been in a conversation or disagreement that wasn’t going so pleasant and then you decided to say something sweet or pleasant? More than likely

it diffused the situation and helped you to move to resolution. It is amazing how simply being kind can change things. It is when we tap into the wisdom of God that we learn to bridle our tongues and wisdom comes out. Even more interesting is the reality that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So to take it a step further, not only are we developing prudence when we master our words but really when we master our hearts enough so that only godliness comes forth. This is fruit that we have taken on His wisdom and cultivated prudence. Proverbs speaks a great deal about wisdom and its rewards. When we accept the call as virtuous women to be prudent, we can expect to yield much fruit. Proverbs 3:1 tells us that length of days and peace will be ours. It sounds wonderful doesn’t it? “How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold.” Those are just the beginning. I challenge you my sister to do an in depth study on wisdom. When you discern God’s heart and understand the high value that He has placed on wisdom, you will desire it above all else. As strongly as we seek out those new shoes or handbag we will begin to seek out wisdom. Let us spend enough time in the presence and word of God to develop the prudence that will cause us to shine my sister. In our quest to be all that we are called to be, wisdom will open up the journey and add much to our lives. We are virtuous women. We have rare value and we are prudent. Until next month my sister, let’s continue to grow!



Series Continued

P R U D E N C E


N A T I O N A L W O M E N ’ S H I S T O R Y P R O J E C T

WritingWomen Back into History2015 Theme: Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives

March is National Women’s History Month. Every year the National Women’s

History Project selects a unifying theme to be shared with all who want to promote women’s history. This year’s theme presents the opportunity to weave women’s stories – individually and collectively – into the essential fabric of our nation’s history. Accounts of the lives of individual women are critically important because they reveal exceptionally

Polly Welts Kaufman (1929-Present)Writer, Teacher, Activist

“By connecting with the lives of your figurative sisters, mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers in all the diversity of the backgrounds they represent, you gain strength from the challenges and successes of the women who came before you. If she could do that — if she could overcome that — if she could create

that — so can I!” Polly Welts Kaufman Polly Welts Kaufman is a writer, teacher and above all an activist for equality. Her path to writing women’s lives began with the sound of a door closing, heavy as it was with gendered prejudice. Graduating from Brown University in 1951 with a degree in American Studies, she planned to teach high school in Providence, Rhode Island, only to be asked, “Are you married or going to be married?” Answering “Yes,” she was told to look elsewhere for employment.

strong role models who share a more expansive vision of what a woman can do. The stories of women’s lives, and the choices they made, encourage girls and young women to think larger and bolder, and give boys and men a fuller understanding of the female experience. Knowing women’s achievements challenges stereotypes and upends social assumptions about who women are and what women can accomplish today. There is a real power in hearing women’s stories, both personally and in a larger context. Remembering and recounting tales of our ancestors’ talents, sacrifices, and commitments inspires today’s generations and opens the way to the future.2015 is also the 35th anniversary of the Women’s History Movement and the National Women’s History Project. We are proud that, after decades of dedicated research and technological advances, the stories of American women from all cultures and classes are accessible and visible as never before. Numerous scholars and activists helped shape the Women’s History Movement, and also provided the research and energy which created and sustains the National Women’s History Project. During 2015, we recognize and celebrate the many ways that women’s history has become woven into the fabric of our national story. In celebration of this landmark anniversary, we have chosen 9 women as 2015 Honorees who have contributed in very special ways to our work of “writing women back into history.” Together, these 2015 Honorees have written, co-authored, or edited more than 60 books. Holly Near has produced 30 CDs. Collectively, their creations reveal the depth and breadth of the

Eleanor Flexner (1908–1995)Historian and Independent Scholar

“In the end all women and all men can only benefit from the more truthful and balanced image of women which will emerge from history where they are shown to have been actively involved in shaping their own destiny and that of the country.” Eleanor Flexner

Eleanor Flexner’s groundbreaking 1959 book Century of Struggle: The Women’s Right Movement in the United States marked her as a pioneer in the field of women’s studies.In this landmark publication Flexner relates women’s physically courageous and politically ingenious work for the vote to other 19th- and early 20th-century social, labor, and reform movements. Most importantly, she includes the importance of the campaigns for equal education, the abolition of slavery, and the advocacy of temperance laws.

women's history month


Delilah L. Beasley (1867-1934) Historian and Newspaper Columnist At her memorial service, which was a testament to her life-long crusade for justice, all attending stood and made the following pledge—“Every life casts it shadow, my life plus others make power to move the world. I, therefore

pledge my life to the living work of brotherhood and material understanding between the races.” Delilah L. Beasley was the first African American woman to be regularly published in a major metropolitan newspaper and the first author to present the history of African Americans in early California.

Gladys Tantaquidgeon (1899-2005)Mohegan Medicine Woman,Anthropologist, and Tribal Elder “In my early years, I wasn’t aware that time was going so rapidly …later I realized many of our old people were dying and their knowledge went with them. Something had to be done to preserve a record of their way of life. My goal has always been that this information …be passed on to

future generations.” Gladys Tantaquidgeon Gladys Tantaquidgeon’s life spanned the entire 20th century. She grew up in the Mohegan community (Uncasville, Connecticut) learning traditional practices, beliefs, and herbalism. She only completed grade school but at age 20 she took the opportunity to study anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania. She completed extensive field research on east coast Indian tribeal cultures and herbal medicines and published several books based on her research. In 1931, she co-founded Tantaquidgeon Museum with her brother and father; it remains the oldest American Indian owned museum in the U.S.

Holly Near (1949-Present) Singer, Songwriter, Social Activist “I am open and I am willing. For to be hopeless would seem so strange. It dishonors those who go before us. So lift me up to the light of change.” Holly NearHolly Near has inspired generations with music that chronicles progressive activism of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. During the war

against Indochina Holly began to write songs based on historic and current events that were challenging progressives in the United States. She wrote about the killings at Kent and Jackson State, the struggles of The United Farm Workers and the frightening consequences of nuclear war. Her work with women in the military as well as women in countries occupied by the US military led Near to rethink the role of women in the world and the policy that challenges women in a very particular way. Near began to write songs specifically about women’s lives both in a global and personal context.

Darlene Clark Hine (1947- )Historian and Educator “Receiving the 2013 National Humanities Medal… was both a blessing and a profound moment in the history of Black Women’s History because it represented acknowledgement and appreciation of the work that I and my generation of scholars did to include the

contributions that black women have made to our nation’s progress and to the global struggle against social injustice,and economic and gender inequality.” Darlene Clark HineAs an historian Darlene Clark Hine sought not only to explore African American history, but to expand the discipline of history itself by focusing on black women “who remained at the very bottom of the ladder in the United States.” A leading expert on the subject of race, class, and gender in American society, Hine is credited with helping to establish a doctoral field in Comparative Black History at Michigan State University.

Lynn Sherr (1943- Present) Broadcast Journalist and Author “The modern women’s rights movement has brought about the greatest social change in our lifetime. It woke me up, gave me purpose focused my energy…I joined a growing number of twentieth-century feminist determined to set the record straight and prove definitively that the same bold women who had lazed the trails deserved our

unmitigated thanks.” Lynn SherrLynn Sherr, an American broadcast journalist and author, began her career at Conde Nast, when she won the Mademoiselle Magazine Guest Editor Competition in college. She soon moved on to the Associated Press, then WCBS-TV, PBS, and ultimately ABC, where she covered politics, space and social change for more than 30 years. As a correspondent for the ABC news magazine 20/20, she received many honors, including the George Foster Peabody Award in 1994 for “The Hunger Inside,” about anorexia.

Judy Yung (1946-Present)Oral Historian, Author, and Professor “The personal is political for me… inspired by the Asian American and women’s liberation movements in the 1970s, I began researching, interviewing, and writing about Chinese American women in an effort to reclaim my history as a Chinese American woman, refute mainstream stereotypes of the China Doll and Dragon Lady, and set the historical record

straight. And I haven’t stopped since.” Judy YungJudy Yung is best known for her groundbreaking work in documenting the immigration history of Angel Island and the life stories of Chinese American women. As a second-generation Chinese American born and raised in San Francisco Chinatown, Yung embarked on a lifelong mission to reclaim the history of Chinese Americans and to educate Americans about the lives, struggles, and contributions to this country.

Vicki L. Ruiz (1955 – )Educator and Pioneer in Latina History “For me, history remains a grand adventure,one which began at the kitchen table listening to the stories of my mother and grandmother and then took flight aboard the local bookmobile.” Vicki Ruiz

The first in her family to receive any advanced degree, Vicki L. Ruiz earned a Ph.D in History at Stanford in June 1982. Two months later she showed up for her first teaching position with a baby on her hip and another on the way. Over the course of three decades, Ruiz has been a major force in shaping the field of Chicana history.

women's history month


single life

Single&Parenthood

Dr. Monique FlemingsMonique Flemings Ministries,

Chicago, Illinois

The joy of being a part of the birth of another human being is an indescribable journey that comes with such joy and plenty life lessons. Welcoming a little precious life into your world and into your arms brings a rollercoaster of emotions. What a blessing it is to serve as a parent and provide guidance for another human being. The responsibilities of parenting are endless. There are a multitude of responsibilities from school meetings, homework , housework, doctor’s appointments and providing emotional support just to name a few. You can say that parenting is a full time 24/7 ministry!!

Now couple all of the beauty of parenting with the life of a single parent and sometimes the mixture is a juggling act and overwhelming. A single parent may be the only parent involved in the life of the child or the primary parent responsible in child rearing. Co- parenting is the shared responsibility of parenting by two parents that are not in a marital relationship. Co –parenting is very different than single parenting in that there are two parents involved in the development, care and well- being of that child, and single parenting involves one parent.

Children being raised in single family home have increased dramatically in the last twenty years for many reasons. Most single family homes are headed by the Mother, but there are single Fathers in the role as the primary parent as well. While the single parent is focused on the needs of their children, they are one person, and require rest and respite to replenish themselves. Because the role of the single parent is so multi-faceted, these individuals are at risk for stress related diseases, depression and burnout. The single parent must have a break , but often they are limited in their resources and their ability to reach out beyond their world of school meetings, carpooling and all the other extra -curricular activities that their children drag them into from day to day to gather the assistance that they need and deserve.

The life of the single parent may have its challenges but it’s not an impossible assignment. Here are a few common questions that are unique to single parents

Q: I want to date, when should I introduce my child to the person that I am dating?A: This is a very common question. When the person that you are dating has moved to the person that you are engaged to marry; now you are ready to introduce your child to this person. Often we introduce our children to people that we are dating which means we are still getting to know this person. Why would you introduce your precious child to someone that you are still learning their character, discerning their motives and just trying to figure out for yourself? So now you have exposed your child to this person and when things don’t work out as you expected, you have to deal with the trauma of removing this person from your child’s life. Think of dating as the interviewing process, you are still reviewing the candidates. Wait until you are engaged before you introduce your children to potential mates.

Q: My children and I are a “package deal”, so when a person is interested in me , they must have a relationship with my child as well.A: When a person dates a person with children, they recognize that there are additional people involved in the equation HOWEVER, the person is dating you and not the children. If they learn to love you, they will learn to love your children. Trust God in cultivating love in the hearts of all involved at the appropriate time.

Q: I co-parent and do not approve of the people that my child is exposed to when they are in the care of the other parent. How should I address this concern?A: As a co-parent address your concern from the prospective of the best interest of the child. Try to keep the emotion to a minimum and focus on the facts and how those facts affect your child. Try not to threaten, belittle or berate the other parent. Speak in love, you both have the best interest of the child and you both have your thoughts on what is right. See the big picture which is the impact of things on your child. Is it a success if your child witnesses you disagreeing or handling adult issues as adults?


Join me next month as we continuemore on this discussion ….

Save the date…. Beautiful You Singles… Women’s Conference – May 1-2, 2015.

The DoubleTree Downers Grove IL.Registration $50. Secure your room today!!


MARCH CALENDARFOR FAMILY HEALTH

By Herline A.Knights, RD, LD

nutrition & you

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Know how much fiber you need. Men younger than 50 years of age need 38 grams (g)/day, women younger than 50 years of age need 25 g/day, and children need their age + 5 g/day.

Try this snack. Mix Neufchâtel cheese and drained roasted red peppers together. Spread on whole-wheat crackers. Top with smoked turkey breast.

Track how many grams of sugar you consume in a day. The goal is to consume no more than 40 g/day for women and no more than 50-60 g/day for men.

Have a special treat today!

Shut off the television, put down your book or newspaper, and turn off the computer when-ever you eat. This includes meals

Realize that energy bars and drinks are no better for athletes than any other food containing an equal amount of calories and carbohydrates.

Pass up foods that contain ingredients that you cannot pronounce.

Stop eating when you are full. Membership in the “clean plate club” does not of-fer any benefits.

Stay honest about how much and how hard you exercise. A stroll around the park does not necessarily count as exercise.

Find a recipe thatcalls for eggplant. Eggplant is very filling and low in calories, and it makes an excellent meat replacement. It also is high in fiber and contains antioxidants. Try a recipe for eggplant lasagna or sandwiches.

Try to eat a small handful of nuts five times this week.

Add lemon, lime, or orange zest to some of your favorite recipes. This is an excellent way to add flavor to many dishes, everything from meat and poultry to steamed vegetables and low-fat desserts, such as angel food cake.

Use evaporated skim milk in place of heavy cream in recipes and save yourself 600 calories and 80 g of fat per 12 fluid ounces (fl oz).

Limit the amountof juice that children drink to 4-6 fl oz/day. Juice inhibits the appetite and contributes to tooth decay.

Understand that you should lose an average of 2 pounds (lb)/week, if you are trying to lose weight, after the initial loss of water weight. Some weeks you will lose 1 lb, and other weeks you might lose 3 lb.

Remember that side dishes often are not accounted for in the nutritional analysis on menus. In one study, these “free” side dishes contained an average of 471 calories!

Use athermo-meter. Somedishes look underdone when they actually are done, and others appear cooked through when they really are not. The only way to know for sure is to use a reliable thermometer.

Mix low-fatpancake mix according to package directions, but add a few handfuls of bran cereal and fruit before cooking.

Help children keep track of their consumption of fruits and vegetables from every major color group. Record what colors they have eaten each week (red, orange-yellow, green, blue-purple, and white), using crayons or colored stickers for younger children.

Make it yourgoal to choose active games or toys that promote activity for at least three-fourths of the gifts you give.

Get your children off to a good start with breakfast. Research shows that students who eat breakfast have greater attention spans and improved concentration, and perform better on spatial and cognitive tests.

Wear a heart monitor if you plan to do intense cardiovascular exercise. Look at it frequently to make sure that you are staying within your target range.

Avoid reachingfor chocolate or potato chips every time that you have a stressful day. Your brain eventually will begin to scream, “Stressful day, get the chocolate, get the chips—hurry!”

Consume wheat germ for extra fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Try it in fruit and yogurt parfaits, mixed into cooked cereal, stirred into hearty muffin batter, or added to oatmeal cookie dough.

Have aspecial treat today!

Establish“want to” goals. Studies have shown that “want to” goals are much more likely to succeed than “have to” goals.

Know that at age 30, and each decade thereafter, the average person’s metabolism slows down by 2% to 3%.

Use cautionwhen considering the purchase of “all natural” foods. Salt and sugar are natural.

29 30 31Experiment with eating smaller meals more frequently.

Consider making a recipe with whole-grain pasta. If you are not already using whole-grain pasta, try some tonight. It may take you a while to get used to, so consider mixing whole-grain with regular pasta at first.

Do notoverdo it on the portions of meat you eat. A serving of meat is roughly the size of the palm of your hand.



MARCH CALENDARFOR FAMILY HEALTH


to your good health

Carla J. Debnam, MS, LCPCFounder,

Renaissance ChristianCounseling Center

There are so many things we could be doing that can further our position in life, in relationships, in ministry and in our careers. It is possible to explore so many options that we become overwhelmed and not complete any of the goals we originally planned to work on. This creates worry and sometimes leads to depression because of the constant dialog we have within ourselves regarding what’s next in our lives. Moses experienced this mindset with the Israelites who questioned every decision Moses made. They also questioned the manner in which God ordered their steps. Instead of trying to figure out what’s next on our agenda. We need to inquire about what is next on God’s agenda. Many times we stress over things we have no control over. Instead of allowing circumstances, situations and people take our joy, we need to trust God and praise Him. God has us in His hands, knows the plans He has for us and has made the greatest sacrifice to ensure we have the abundant life. When we worry we are telling God that we do not trust Him or His provisions. It is okay to make plans and to prepare for our future endeavors. It is not the planning that is the issue but the fear, the fretting, the complaining and the worry about our plans.

As people of faith, we need to start getting our priorities in order and our first priority is God. Seeking the will

of God and obeying God’s word is our most important assignment. One of the main reasons we struggle with our destiny and question our future is because of the memory of our past. We base our future on the things that have already happened instead of embracing what is to come. There is a song by Deon Kipping with the lyrics ‘what’s coming is better than what’s been’. We must begin to embrace what’s next not in fear but in faith, not in doubt but in confidence not looking back but pressing forward. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:12-14). Stop worrying about what’s next and learn to appreciate what you have now. Do what you can while you can and leave the future in God’s hands.



Dr. TimTooten, Sr.

education digest

On this particular morning, I didn’t feel the need to write down my to-do list. I was convinced that everything I needed to accomplish was within a 3-mile radius of my home. I had planned to make a few quick stops here and there and then head toward work. I take great pride in completing multiple tasks. This discipline grew out of lessons I learned while in seminary. It was a time that required me to juggle ministry, home, work and teaching. But on this particular morning, I had an encounter with anxiety. I almost panicked. As I grabbed my bags and headed toward the door of my home, I couldn’t remember where I had placed my wallet. This was not good for a person who counts himself among the so-called creatures of habit. I try and put important and essential items like my wallet and keys in the same place every evening. But on this particular morning, I panicked. It was not beyond me to think, at least for the moment, of the worse. Maybe I left my wallet in the eating establishment I visited the night before. I don’t remember all of the details of that night, but as usual, I tried to speak to everyone in the restaurant. My dinner guest had actually picked up the check. I just remember pulling out my wallet to pay but did not recall putting it back into my pocket. I was near panic stage.

This should not have been a big deal. All I had to do was to cast my anxiety upon the Lord because He cares for me. It’s exactly the kind of advice I would have given someone else. It sounded very similar to the messages I preach on Sunday morning and the words I share with children in our congregation and the ones I visit in local schools. However, at the moment, I had to tell myself, don’t panic. I returned to the restaurant I’d visited the night before. I walked briskly through the front door and into the waiting area. The waitress assumed I was coming in for breakfast. She couldn’t see the anxiety on my face. I spoke with the restaurant manager. He checked the office and came back to report that no one had turned in a wallet. As I was leaving the restaurant in a near panic stage, I extended my right hand alongside the pants I was wearing that morning and there it was, my wallet. I felt ashamed, but certainly relieved. How could I justify all of this anxiety? These were pants I only wore in the winter and only on the coldest days of the year. They were thick and had side pockets that hung low. Needless to say, I was thankful to find my wallet and I vowed to pay closer attention to the small details the next time I wore those pants.

We all have moments of anxiety. We all place our hands near the panic button of life. It could be in a classroom right before a big test when we draw a mental blank. Anxiety can show up in the midst of a major work project. I’m convinced that anxiety is a part of everyday living. The larger question is what should we do with our anxiety and our worries? We should cast them upon the Lord. Why? He cares for us. He cares about the simple things, like misplacing a wallet or keys. He cares about misplaced feelings and emotions. He cares about misplaced friends and loved ones. On this particular morning, anxiety almost got the best of me. It almost caused me to panic.

Dr. Tim Tooten, Sr. is an Emmy-Award winning journalist with WBAL-TV (NBC) In Baltimore, Maryland. He’s the pastor and founder of Harvest Christian Ministries in Baltimore County, Maryland



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We all want our fairy tale life to begin and end how it was described in fairy tale stories, such as Snow White and Cinderella. In adolescent years, we all have an idea of when we will have children, buy our first car, and home, but when we step out into our lives everything is different. Paths begin to look crooked and far from how it’s described in the books.

Waiting and believing for things to happen in our life can be painful. I’ve learned that when things don’t happen as quickly as I think they should it’s for a reason. It doesn’t always mean that the devil is blocking the blessing from manifesting. He doesn’t have that much power as we think he does. It has often meant that it’s not God’s timing. As stubborn as I can be, I’ve had to accept God’s timing in many situations. The story of Hannah in 1 Samuel Chapter 1 reigns true in my own life. She has opened a full revelation on how to persevere and simultaneously wait on God.

In Biblical times, women were expected to be fruitful as soon as they wed even more than the demand of women today. Hannah never anticipated any complications with barring children. Year after year she would go to the temple with her husband [I would think in great expectation] and would return

empty. I can imagine Hannah bringing daily sacrifices to God and in exchange God would give divine strength to continue on.

Meantime Active Waiting I have learned that our waiting period must be active. Active not trying to make it happen ourselves, but actively pursuing God’s intentions for the meantime. There are even instructions in this time that may groom you for the other side. I often think about the period I didn’t have children and what I could have gotten ‘accomplished’ and now that I have children there seems to never be enough time for those particular things. I am sure all of us have had a reflective moment where we questioned why we didn’t do this or why did we waste so much time doing that.

Just like Hannah in 1 Samuel 1, some of our meantime will consist of having to deal with sickness of the heart, provocations of the enemy, constantly being agitated by circumstances and nay-sayers, but there is the other side of the pain. During the meantime, we get stronger. Stronger in discernment, stronger in seeking the Lord, weaning out the good and bad. You learn to appreciate the little things that keep you going from day to day.

Meantime ViewThe meantime is simply the period of time between two things. I can imagine Hannah constantly crying day after day as Peninnah tormented her with ill words and displayed her children in front of Hannah, but then Hanna would get in the Lord’s presence to gain strength time after time. In the meantime, be careful that your view of God is not tainted. He still is Sovereign, Holy, Righteous, and Mighty in Battle. His promises remain true. Every inch of your path was preplanned. We all handle waiting in so many different ways. Some become distracted and get off course, others internalize everything and become depressed. However, it takes a mature person to gain strength out of these painful stages.

Brandy Kwakye lives in Herndon, VA with husband and their two children, Nathan-5 and Rachel-2. She is a graduate of Oral Roberts University.

Brandy Kwakye


Photo Credit: Mr. Kyakye


teen connect

By Shellie Braeuner

Step 1- Encourage your teen to attend church with you -- and then actively start a dialogue with him about what you heard at church. Listen to what he has to say and show him that you take his thoughts seriously. Don’t hesitate to share where you might disagree with a sermon or even a tenet of your faith. Listen as your teen talks about his own struggles with understanding or acceptance of his faith. Help your teen explore the relationship of spirituality beyond the rules of your church.Step 2- Ask your teen if he questions your church's teachings and/or his faith if he doesn't want to attend church or makes church a low priority in his/her life. It's important for him to share his questions and doubts with you so you can help him find answers. Together, you can look to the scriptures, explore writings of faith, talk to a spiritual director or go on a church retreat together to find answers to your teen's questions. You might also share your own questions and explain how you found peace with the church.

Step 3- Walk with your teen through his/her spiritual journey. If your teen expresses an interest in another faith or church, explore that church with him. You can still expect him to attend service with the family, but you can also attend the service of his choice with him at a different time. If your teen comes to you with a nontraditional religion, explore the tenets of that religion with your teen. Don’t make him feel as though he should keep his spiritual journey a secret.Step 4- Recognize that there are many reasons your teen might want to explore a new church. A November 2006 article in "Time Magazine" discusses that a poll conducted by the Barna Group, a research organization that tracks teen religious activity, indicates that the top three reasons teens attend church are to connect to God, volunteer and spend time with friends. If your teen talks about making a change regarding his church or his spirituality, discuss the reasons behind the change. Together you might find a way to meet his social and spiritual needs.

As your child matures into a teenager, he goes through a wide range of biological, social and emotional changes.During this time, he might also examine his spirituality.

How to Lead Teenagers to JesusBy Karen Hollowell

Step 1- Talk to your teen about God and Jesus; don't overtly preach and recite Bible verses if they have been disobedient. The best approach is to talk about Jesus in daily conservations. For example, when you are outside with your teen, remark on the beauty of nature and remind him that God was the creator of the world. If a loved one dies, be vocal about Jesus' role as comforter in the midst of sadness.Step 2- Share your conversion experience. One's testimony is a powerful tool when leading others to Christ. Tell your teen about your life before you accepted Jesus. If you were a child at the time, then describe what it was like growing up knowing Jesus -- how you went through bad times, but He was always there. If your testimony is one that includes times of rebellion, you might not want to share every detail. The important element is how Jesus changed your life.Step 3- Explain the Gospel with simplicity. Teens need to know in straightforward terms about the need for Jesus in their lives. Instead of

using preachy phrases, explain the steps involved in accepting the Lord. Begin with acknowledgement of one's sins and awareness that no one can do anything to pay the debt for sin. Then talk about God's love for us, which was demonstrated by sending His son into the world to die for the sins of mankind. The last steps are to believe that Jesus died and was resurrected.Step 4- Help your teen understand how to pray for salvation. This prayer doesn't have to be elaborate. Give your child an example of what is commonly called The Sinner's Prayer. You can write it down or print a copy from a Christian site. Ask him whether he would like you to pray with him, but emphasize that he can pray in his heart and still be accepted by Jesus.As Christian parents, you want your child to share in the salvation that Jesus provides. If your child is a teenager, it might be harder to lead him to Jesus. Be patient and pray. As your teen watches and listens to you, God can work in him through the Holy Spirit.

Source: www.livestrong.com


Tone muscles and increase flexibility at work or at home with these safe and simple chair exercises.

Got a chair? Then you're ready for this sit-down, total-body workout! Tone and strengthen with the first five exercises from personal trainer Jessica Smith, a certified wellness coach and co-author of The Thin in 10 Weight Loss Plan.To alleviate aches and pains, try the final three exercises from Tracey Porter, a personal trainer, certified sports nutritionist, and student of the posture therapy method, Egoscue.

Safety precaution: Pay attention to your body during the movements — if anything hurts or causes pain, stop immediately. And check with your doctor first before beginning this, or any, exercise program.

**************Posture Check Simply sitting up straight in a chair tones a variety of muscles in your torso. Turn straight posture into an exercise by pressing your knees together to engage your inner thighs, squeezing your buttocks, sitting tall, and pulling in your belly button (abdominals) toward your spine. It's important to press your shoulders back and down and to keep your neck neutral, while doing this exercise. Try to maintain this posture as long as you can while sitting.

Seated Jumping Jacks Get in a little cardio, without any impact on your joints, by doing modified, seated jumping jacks. While sitting on the edge of your chair, open and close your arms and legs as you would during a normal jumping jack, and move your limbs, as quickly as you can, in and out. Start slowly and work up to 3 sets of 20 reps.

Abs Twister Not only do strong abdominal muscles make you look great in clothes, they also help stabilize your torso, which reduces aches and pains in your lower back and hips. Sit tall on the edge of your chair and cross your arms over your chest. Inhale and squeeze (flex) your abdominal muscles lightly. Without relaxing your stomach muscles, exhale slowly, squeezing your abs in tighter and turning your

upper body to the right. Inhale and twist back to center. Then repeat to the left. Work up to 3 sets of 20 alternating reps.

Seated Leg Extensions To strengthen the thigh and hip muscles, you need only extend your leg. Sit on the edge of your chair with your arms by your sides. Extend your right leg out straight and flex your foot so that just the right heel is on the floor. Lift your leg up as high as you can without rounding your back. Keeping your foot flexed engages the muscles in the shins and ankle. Hold for three counts and then lower. Work up to 3 sets of 10 reps on each leg.

Seated Press-Ups Engage your shoulder and triceps muscles with this joint-friendly move. Sit on the edge of your chair with your arms by your sides, palms over the edge of your seat. Press down with your arms as if you were going to try to lift yourself off the chair (you don't have to lift up). Hold for three counts and then release. Work up to 3 sets of 10 reps.

Work Out with a Water Bottle People who sit hunched at desks all day often develop pain in their back, shoulders, and neck. To alleviate pain, Porter recommends a series of three exercises done in a chair, using a plastic water bottle. To get into position, sit halfway off your chair keeping your back straight and shoulders down and pulled back. Place a plastic water bottle between your knees, lining up your ankle with your knee, so that your thighs and calves are at a 90-degree angle. Make sure your feet are about 4 inches apart. Turn this into an exercise for your thighs by squeezing the water bottle 30 times.

Sitting Elbow Curls To open up your chest and shoulder muscles, try these elbow curls. Raise your arms at your sides and bend your elbows, so that your knuckles are at your temples. Bring your elbows together and then all the way back to the starting position at moderate speed about 30 times.

Arm Circles Increase flexibility and improve posture with gentle arm circles.

Raise your arms straight out to your sides and press your shoulder blades together. Extend arms with palms down, thumbs facing forward, and do 20 forward circles with your arms. Then flip your palms up, thumbs facing behind you, and do 20 backward circles with your arms.

Smith says doing each of the previous exercises 3 to 4 days a week will have you seeing results, but there's also no downside to doing them daily.

Easy Exercises YouCan Do Sitting Down8

www.grandparents.com

body basics



Dr. Tim Tooten, Sr. is an Emmy-Award winning TelevisionReporter for WBAL-TV (NBC) in Baltimore. He’s also the pastor and founder of Harvest Christian Ministries in Baltimore County, Md.


by Brandie ManigaultBook Shelf

Dear Readers,

“Enjoy this review of Thom Rainer's I Am a Church Member by my friend Siobhan Saulsbury. This review will make you want to read the book!”

– Brandie

I Am a Church Member By Thom Rainer

How do you feel about going to church? Do you have a clear understanding of what it means to be a church member? Does giving to the church regularly come with certain privileges? I recently read I Am a Church Member by Thom Rainer and all of these questions are answered.

This book helps the reader take a good, hard look at what type of member they are within their church. It is a fact that traditional church attendance is on the decline in our country, with more and more people feeling that going to church isn’t a necessary part of their relationship with God. However, for people who still consider gathering with like-minded believers for instruction, encouragement, guidance, etc. this book will give you a clear path to follow in order to be the best member you can be. In I Am a Church Member, Rainer gives six pledges to commit to that

Thom S. Rainer is the president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. He served at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for twelve years as the founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism. He is a 1977 graduate of the University of Alabama and earned

his Master of Divinity and Ph.D. degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Rainer led Rainer Group, a church and denominational consulting firm, from 1990 to 2005. The firm provided church health insights to over 500 churches and other organizations over that period.

He is the author of twenty-four books, including Breakout Churches, Simple Life, Simple Church, Raising Dad, The Millennials, and Essential Church. His recent book, I Am a Church Member, was #1 on the CBA best-seller list for several months and Autopsy of a Deceased Church was just released in May 2014 by B&H Publishing Group.

About the AuthorThom S. Rainer

all boil down to loving and pleasing God, loving and serving others and

denying ourselves. We all know that getting along with people has its ups and downs, but what we are reminded of in this book is that we have to be willing to let things go, understand people make mistakes and do what’s necessary for

unity. Of course, that is easier said than done, but with God’s help and lots of prayer it’s possible! In order for the church to get back to what it should be in the world it has to be made up of functioning members.

Rainer’s book gives a clear understanding of what it really means to be a member, not only of a church but of the body of Christ. The first few pages of this book are filled with testimonials from pastors and ministries all over who use it to help their new people understand what membership is all about. This is a wonderful book for everyone to take a look at- from new believers, seasoned saints, and even those who’ve left “church” because of past hurts. God has called us to be His bride and a functioning part of His Body. I Am a Church Member will aid you in seeing how you can step in and fulfill your roll.

bookshelf


gospel industry news


WOW 2015The 2015 Edition of WOW Gospel 2015 is NOW available! This year’s compilation features Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Israel Houghton, Donald Lawrence, Lacrae, Mali Music, Tameka Mann, Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Sapp, The Walls Group, Tye Tribbett, Hezekiah Walker, Ricky Dillard, and more!

LisaMcClendonShe's back! Lisa McClendon has returned with a new project! I personally thought about her a few weeks ago, I love her

style and flow of music, only to find out she's returning with a new project and a new outlook on life and her music.She took time off to be a wife and mother, her husband Maurice started a ministry and she needed to be free and clear to assist him in starting and building the ministry.She's been working on this project for about 3 years. "This wasn't a 3-6 month project," says Lisa. When asked why, she says, "My story wasn't done." While most people would shy away from it, she openly admits to battling depression. "I share my truth about depression because, truth sets you free. I was truthful and honest with myself.” Her new project 5AM she says is "her best work to date". The 12 track project chronicles her journey from breaking to breakthrough!

Lonnie HunterStellar Award Winner, Lonnie Hunter has joined the Tyscot Record Family. His new project

#GetItDone which was originally inspired by a clothing line, turned into a musical hash tag for Gospel Music lovers. His single "Forever I Will" written by Dave Moore will be released to radio this month.


Follow me on twitter,www.twitter.com @MissEricka J, facebookwww.facebook.com/ErickaJohnson, or viaemail [email protected]


gospel industry news

Top 5 Gospel Albums1. WOW 20152. Pray: LIVE – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir3. Grace – Tasha Cobbs4. WOW 20145. I Will Trust – Fred Hammond

Preachers of Detroit

Whelp! The "Preachers Of" is now in Detroit. Last month (Feb 20) was the premiere of "Preachers of Detroit" on the Oxygen Network; featuring in this reality series is Bishop Charles Ellis III, Bishop Colette Vaughn, Pastor Tim Alden, Pastor David Bullock, Bishop-Elect Clarence Langston, Pastor Don Shelby, and last but certainly not least Evangelist Dorinda Clark-Cole. Check it out!

BeverlyCrawfordBeverly recorded her live 12 track project at Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas, TX.

The first radio single will be a Sunday morning

church styled song, "Sweeping Through the City" a revamped all-time favorite by the Caravans, which is currently in rotation and moving on the charts. The next single will be the title of the album, "Thank You for All You've Done", which is also being released to radio this month.

Tasha Cobbs

Top 5 Gospel Songs1. For Your Glory – Tasha Cobbs2. Fill Me Up – Casey J3. Every Praise – Hezekiah Walker4. Amazing – Ricky Dillard & New G5. I Am – Jason Nelson

‘Til Next MonthExpecting Greater Things in 2015.


man talk

Charles Barrett


Beginning on Ash Wednesday, countless men, women, boys, and girls embarked upon a 40-day journey of penitence culminating on Resurrection Sunday. Although this time of self-sacrifice, which at times might seem nothing more than ritualistic, often involves abstaining from guilty pleasures, more importantly, the Lenten Season should be centered upon the individual’s commitment to drawing closer to the person of Jesus Christ. Brothers, rather then avoiding the indulgences of chocolate, burgers and steaks at the local sports bar, caffeine, and our favorite ESPN programming, the posture of our hearts ought to be one of becoming more like Christ. In looking at the first 15 verses of the 51st Psalm, there are three simple truths that can help to place this season in the proper perspective.

POINT NUMBER ONE: I NEED MORE THANFORGIVENESS OF SINS Psalm 51 is one of the most familiar prayers recorded in scripture. Written by King David in response to his adulterous sin, it begins with a focus on forgiveness. Later, however, he shifts his attention to restoration and cleansing. In reading these passage, we are voyeurs into the intimate, personal, and private devotional thoughts of a man—in spite of his imperfections—who is described as being after God’s own heart (see I Samuel chapter 13-14). Through all of his misfortunes, mishaps, and mistakes, David’s desire to be close to God remained central to his existence. In verses 1-6, his principal message is, Lord, I’m sorry! After all, because the Spirit of God operated in David’s life, he was able to experience the conviction of his sin. And, it was this conviction that led him to be uncomfortable until he sought the mercy of God. But David did not stop with simply asking for forgiveness. For David, I’m sorry was just the beginning.

POINT NUMBER TWO: I NEED TO BE MADE ANEW In verses 7-12 David concentrates on what must happen after we ask for forgiveness. In other words, “Lord, I’m sorry for what I’ve done, but that’s not good enough. I need to do things differently by being made different.” It was this cry that characterized true repentance—a sincere turning away from sin and changing of his mind and purpose. But lest we overlook a profound theological truth, let’s pause for a moment at verse 10: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Of all the Hebrew words for create, bara, which is used in the original text, is particularly meaningful because it is the only one that implies God as the subject. In other words, it is God who creates. But not only does God create; he creates out of nothing! Also used in Genesis 1: 1, when God made the world from nothing, this same God can create something new in us from the chaos, confusion, and

complications of our sinful lives!

POINT NUMBER THREE: NOW WHAT? Verses 13-15: Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. After David confesses his sins, asks to be restored and made anew, his response to God is not only of worship and praise but also ministry to others. His experiences, therefore, were not designed to make him miserable, but rather served as a catalyst for change within his life and the lives of others. Not only does Matthew 4: 1-11 serve as the Biblical foundation and precedent for the present-day Lenten Season, it also preceded Christ’s three-year miraculous and life-changing ministry. And, similar to David’s prayer, Jesus’ spiritual journey was meaningful not because he abstained from food and water, but more importantly because he took on other things. The Bible says that Jesus was fasting and praying. Symbolically, fasting might be likened unto not doing certain things, and praying might be viewed as actively talking to God and drawing closer to him. Both were necessary. Behavioral psychologists would say it this way: To change an unhealthy behavior, it is not enough to simply stop doing it. It is equally important to develop an appropriate replacement behavior to take its place. So, brothers, what is Lent really about? Romans 12: 1-2: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Offering our total selves to God will only be accomplished by having a renewed mind that thinks differently about what we do. If we no longer want to sin, we must learn to think differently about sin. Spiritually speaking, we must be made anew in our minds, thoughts, hearts, and spirits. In the midst of this 40-day spiritual journey, remember that it is more than temporary abstinence. This year, let us be changed from the inside out by the continual renewing of our minds. And, may we be sensitive to what The Lord would say to each of us that has far-reaching and life-changing implications for the world.

Dr. Charles Barrett is a school psychologist with Loudoun County Public Schools. He also serves as Ministry Leader for Worship Ministries at Heritage Fellowship Church in Reston, VA.

Grace & Glory March 2015

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Transcript of Grace & Glory March 2015