August 27 - September 2, 2010

Lithonia's New Birth a finalist for nation's best church choir

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Choir in Lithonia, pastored by Bishop Edie L. Long, is competing this weekend for America's best church choir.

LITHONIA – New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Choir is a finalist for the Glory Foods Best Church Choir category at the Eighth Annual Hoodie Awards hosted Saturday Aug. 28 by nationally syndicated radio personality Steve Harvey.

The New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Choir is competing against three other churches to win national recognition, prizes and shouts of "GLORY!" for having America's best voices of praise, officials said.

"To know that you're one of four choirs in the entire country to contend for this honor is humbling," said New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Choir Director Anthony Randolph.

"We are excited to go to Las Vegas and have the opportunity to let everyone know about Atlanta's – and, hopefully, the nation's best – church choir," he said.

Bishop Eddie L. Long is pastor at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.

This is Columbus, Ohio-based Glory Foods' second year as a sponsor of the popular awards show weekend in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.

"Glory Foods applauds the efforts of local organizations and groups that are committed to uplifting their communities through service, inspiration and support," said Jacqueline Neal, President of Glory Foods.

"Glory Foods has always given back to African American communities, and supporting Steve Harvey with his community awards initiatives was a natural fit," Neal added. "We are pleased to join Steve in giving honor where honor is due."

Harvey started the Hoodie Awards in 2001 as a way to honor the nation's best independent community-based small businesses, educators and community leaders for their contributions to the areas they serve.

Categories include best high school, car wash, soul food place, nail shop, barbershop, fried chicken, high school teacher, barbecue place, beauty salon, church, church choir and community leader.

Glory Foods, an industry leader in Southern-style, heat-and-serve products, will showcase their Sunday Dinner Mobile Tour, created to resemble and elicit fond memories of a grandmother's dining room. Samples of Glory Foods' delicious soulful, Southern-style recipes also will be served.

LisaRaye McCoy of "The Real McCoy" on TV One and Susan G. Komen for the Cure Circle of Promise will join Glory Foods during the Freedom Friday Party at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino on August 27.

Glory Foods is a private, minority-controlled business based in Columbus, Ohio.

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August 27 - September 2, 2010

Spiritually Speaking……
When God knocks, you'd better answer

You know God has a history of using people in the strangest ways. Or is it that He uses the strangest people to carry out His divine will?

After all, isn't it the Bible that tells us that those who feel quite strange about it are chosen by God to carry out heavenly tasks here on earth? Moses was a murderer. Paul (Saul) killed a few Jesus-lovers in his time. Rahab was a "ho" and Jacob was – well, we all know about Jacob's issues. And David – I'm not going to even talk about this guy.

The point is that God uses the least of us (by our definition) to carry out His plans in spite of what we think we're capable of, or what we think we're worthy of.

Most of the prophets were reluctant participants at best as implementers and vehicles of God's message to His people and those around them. As a matter of fact, most wanted nothing to do with their assignments because either they didn't think anyone would listen, they weren't worthy, or someone else was better suited for the challenge.

Whatever the reason, we should all be mindful that the Hand of God is at work where He deems it will do the most good, regardless of what we think. Anyone and everyone is a candidate for greatness in the eyes of the Almighty, including you and yes, including even me.

I used to think that only those called to preach had the gift of ministry. Try telling that to anyone who has accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and watch how quickly you get corrected.

Slowly and reluctantly, I've accepted that we all have a ministry according to the gifts given to us by God. Neither economic status, academic achievement or social standing means anything if God says "tag" it's your turn.

One thing is certain. You cannot refuse to hear when God comes knocking. Just ask Moses, Ezekiel, Isaiah or Jeremiah. More importantly, ask yourself – as I have lately – what are you reluctant to do in the name of God? Only you know if you're in denial. Only you know if you're trying to convince God to choose someone else.

The question is this: How long will it take you to realize that eventually, you're going to do what God is telling you to? I think you might want to get to that conclusion before God stops asking. God is apt to stop asking, abandon you and accept your "no" as a final answer.

The prospect of that gives a whole new meaning to "When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die.' And you do not warn him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sins and I will hold you accountable for his blood." Ezekiel 3:18.

I now believe that the measure of your life and mine is how we respond to God's call and not how hard we work even if we judge that work as beneficial to others. According to what we're called to do, the question is, how do we know when God is the one doing the talking?

I believe God doesn't confuse us. I also believe He's talking all the time. The key for us is to make a conscious and deliberate effort to listen and hear Him. That requires persistence and prayer. Combined, listening then becomes habitual.

All I'm trying to say is try – each and every day – to hear God. In my case, I realize that my calling – and my job – may be to accept this platform as a blessing, use it as but another wonderful conduit for God's will, and continue to say loudly and publicly that Jesus is Lord. I'm obligated, I think, to share that with you.
And if you believe this, too, then you probably should tell somebody. May God bless and keep you always.

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August 20 - 26, 2010

Spiritually Speaking……
Passport to peace—know God's love

A beautiful thing about being a Christian is understanding that wherever you go, your past goes with you. It's all part of recognition, confession and acceptance of the sinner in you.

The fact that "God so loved the world" (John 3:16) gives us the truth that He means us, flaws and all. Once this occurs and we begin to try and live out our faith, salvation and its reality become more plausible. It does, however, require an understanding that whatever you've been through, whatever you've done or whatever has been done to you is an integral part of God's plan to bring out the best in you.

A real man or woman of faith has been through stuff that they aren't particularly proud of: Been there, bless that. Honest Christians will share their faith with you from this perspective. It's called testimony. Their truth is based on knowing that God has been faithful to them, in spite of the hell they raised and the heaven they ran from.
I know this from experience, not rhetoric.

My testimony includes having a first-class ticket to hell, with a welcoming committee and band prepared for my arrival. Then, as most of us who finally get it, through God's mercy and grace, I came to know that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all righteousness." (John 1:19)

At first, I wouldn't accept this; I couldn't accept this. I couldn't believe anyone, let alone God, would see all of my flaws and faults and love me unconditionally anyway. Wrong! It is those flaws and faults – and yes, sins – that allow me, force me to ask God for forgiveness and to know without a doubt that He will forgive, even before I ask (ed).

It's not my job to bury my past for the sake of outward appearances. If I do that, then I can't help someone else who is perhaps going through the same thing I did and can't find peace or a roadmap to the truth.
From one sinner to another, it's now very simple for me. Trust and obey. Trust God's love and obey His direction for you. It's because of where He brought me from, that I'm able to see, in part, where He's taking me. His belief in who I am is so much more than my belief in who I can be.

There is a certain degree of freedom in being true to yourself and God. There is, or ought to be, great joy in understanding one's past as a great prelude to a glorious future.

It all begins with recognizing the "you" in God's rearview mirror. It sounds simple enough, but, as a Christian, you can't get where you want to go until you swallow where you've been. God already has and Jesus was His antacid.

"…though your sins be scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land." (Isaiah 1:18-19).
May God bless and keep you always.

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