The Grand Rapids Times
6-27-2008
By Marcel Gamble
People spend most of their lives thinking about things that they believe should have happened or could have happened. Personally I believe people waste too much time pondering about the past and not thinking about the future.
If the past is unchangeable why do we bring it up all the time?
The past can bring up good and horrible memories. Lately the past has only become an excuse for individuals to hold grudges that have been leading to deadly disputes.
We have to learn that we can’t turn back the hands of time no matter how bad we want to.
We can’t bring loved ones back who have left earth to be with God. We can’t spark up old relationships that have continuously lost their flare. It can be challenging at times but we have to learn how to move on with our lives.
For some time now many of us have been letting our past overlook our future.
Some of us have been throwing our futures away by making poor decisions to pick up firearms. A number of us have been throwing our future away because we have been allowing revenge to be the solution to our problems.
It is time for us to let our future overlook our past and stop giving our past the privilege to overlook our future.
It has been a difficult lesson for me to learn, so I’m not saying that leaving the past behind is easy.
There are so many of us that have to realize that God allows certain things to happen for a reason. Some things he allows to happen because He wants us to make changes in our futures.
There should never be a reason why one should let their past overlook their future.
I’m going to leave you all with these words of wisdom, “Your past is unchangeable so don’t give it the ability to freeze your future.”
Friday, June 27, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Teens Talk - Just Another Contact
By Marcel Gamble
The Grand Rapids Times
June 20, 2008
Throughout life I noticed some of the strongest people fall from insecurities. I saw individuals who were so insecure of their abilities that slowly they allowed life itself and others take control of their images and who they were individually.
When people continue to doubt themselves unknowingly they leave others with ammunition to take advantage of them.
A lot of people allow themselves just to become another contact.
There are two different types of contacts in life. There are the contacts that are used only when something is needed and there are the contacts that are used frequently for numerous of reasons.
Lately people have been setting themselves up to become contacts that are only used when something is needed. Young ladies are usually victims of this type of contact.
Not only young ladies but everyone should watch who they give their trust to and most importantly who they become sexually active with. Everyone should be secure about who they are and their body before they trust someone else with their bodies.
If you are someone’s contact make sure that you are not just a contact. Make sure that you are their only and number one contact.
Don’t be a person that an individual calls when sex is needed. Have more respect for yourself. Don’t just become a contact that people call when they are too lazy to use their mind and would rather use yours.
Don’t set yourself up to become someone’s personal bank either. Don’t let people just call you when they need money. Stop yourself from becoming just another contact.
Have respect for yourself to not become just another contact.
I’m going to leave you all with this, Deuteronomy 24:6, “Do Not take a pair of millstones—not even the upper one—as security for a debt, because that would be taking a man’s livelihood as security.”
The Grand Rapids Times
June 20, 2008
Throughout life I noticed some of the strongest people fall from insecurities. I saw individuals who were so insecure of their abilities that slowly they allowed life itself and others take control of their images and who they were individually.
When people continue to doubt themselves unknowingly they leave others with ammunition to take advantage of them.
A lot of people allow themselves just to become another contact.
There are two different types of contacts in life. There are the contacts that are used only when something is needed and there are the contacts that are used frequently for numerous of reasons.
Lately people have been setting themselves up to become contacts that are only used when something is needed. Young ladies are usually victims of this type of contact.
Not only young ladies but everyone should watch who they give their trust to and most importantly who they become sexually active with. Everyone should be secure about who they are and their body before they trust someone else with their bodies.
If you are someone’s contact make sure that you are not just a contact. Make sure that you are their only and number one contact.
Don’t be a person that an individual calls when sex is needed. Have more respect for yourself. Don’t just become a contact that people call when they are too lazy to use their mind and would rather use yours.
Don’t set yourself up to become someone’s personal bank either. Don’t let people just call you when they need money. Stop yourself from becoming just another contact.
Have respect for yourself to not become just another contact.
I’m going to leave you all with this, Deuteronomy 24:6, “Do Not take a pair of millstones—not even the upper one—as security for a debt, because that would be taking a man’s livelihood as security.”
Friday, June 13, 2008
Teens Talk - Put Some Interest On It
By Marcel Gamble
The Grand Rapids Times
June 13, 2008
It is not about how much money you make, in the end it’s about how much money you keep.
Economically times are hard and as they continue to get harder people are not making it easy for themselves to live. An individual’s expenses should never exceed their income.
Statistics and media constantly display African American communities, as struggling communities, when it comes to managing income. We need to put some interest on our money instead of spending it.
I say we because I too struggle with poor spending habits. I know that I should be putting money in the bank for my college education but instead I choose to spend money on the hot new pair of gym shoes that are about to come out.
It’s time for me to cut my spending habits and begin to put some interest on it.
Honestly, at a young age it is complicated to understand the concept that the name brands that we wear aren’t making us any money, they are making a rich person richer. As a youth we need to make ourselves rich and put our money in the bank so that it can gain interest.
I’m not saying that we can’t buy the things that we love, I’m simply saying that we have to begin going about buying those things in a smarter way. Instead of getting the brand new gym shoe as soon as it come out, you can wait until the shoe goes on sale.
Instead of blowing the remainder of your paycheck away on miscellaneous things, be responsible and take out at least 25 dollars and place it in the bank. As it was stressed to me, by the adults in my life, we never know when we are going to need emergency money.
So to my fellow teens, I’m sharing wisdom with you all this week that was shared with me. Put your money up and put some interest on it.
I’m going to leave you all with this, Romans 15:30. “I urge you brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.”
We are all at times going to struggle with something. All we need to do for each other is pray and stay strong.
The Grand Rapids Times
June 13, 2008
It is not about how much money you make, in the end it’s about how much money you keep.
Economically times are hard and as they continue to get harder people are not making it easy for themselves to live. An individual’s expenses should never exceed their income.
Statistics and media constantly display African American communities, as struggling communities, when it comes to managing income. We need to put some interest on our money instead of spending it.
I say we because I too struggle with poor spending habits. I know that I should be putting money in the bank for my college education but instead I choose to spend money on the hot new pair of gym shoes that are about to come out.
It’s time for me to cut my spending habits and begin to put some interest on it.
Honestly, at a young age it is complicated to understand the concept that the name brands that we wear aren’t making us any money, they are making a rich person richer. As a youth we need to make ourselves rich and put our money in the bank so that it can gain interest.
I’m not saying that we can’t buy the things that we love, I’m simply saying that we have to begin going about buying those things in a smarter way. Instead of getting the brand new gym shoe as soon as it come out, you can wait until the shoe goes on sale.
Instead of blowing the remainder of your paycheck away on miscellaneous things, be responsible and take out at least 25 dollars and place it in the bank. As it was stressed to me, by the adults in my life, we never know when we are going to need emergency money.
So to my fellow teens, I’m sharing wisdom with you all this week that was shared with me. Put your money up and put some interest on it.
I’m going to leave you all with this, Romans 15:30. “I urge you brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.”
We are all at times going to struggle with something. All we need to do for each other is pray and stay strong.
Teens Talk - There's Electricity in the Water
By Marcel Gamble
The Grand Rapids Times
June 6, 2008
Everyone should know that the collaboration of water and electricity only leads to danger.
My question is that if a number of people are already informed of what the outcome of electricity and water is, why do individuals continue to mix the two?
Why do people continue to instigate drama when they know, eventually drama will lead to someone’s death?
My peers, tell me why so many of us are encouraging others to inflict pain upon are Brother & Sister when they are in arguments? Do we not know that we are mixing electricity with water?
Some of us need some serious smack right.
Electricity in water this month alone has caused death amongst teens due to arguments that could have easily been settled.
It is time to leave electricity out of water and stand up to be leaders not followers. It amazes me how some of us get amused by the loss of other teens. Why are we mixing electricity with water?
All of us, including myself, we all need some serious smack right.
Yes, so many of us want the mixture of electricity and water to end but to be truthful sometimes we just shrug our shoulders and say what a shame. If we allow violence and ridiculous slayings to happen then we are not standing up and fighting against those few individuals that are tearing our society apart.
There are ways to help put an end to electricity in water just by voicing your opinion diplomatically. You can stand up and fight without getting involved in the conflict.
Many of us have friends and family members, who are involved in gang violence, and it hurts to lose them. Education needs to start at home.
If we reach out to our loved ones there will be no more electricity in water. Some of my peers just need a stable caring mentor in their life to make better choices. You can be that mentor, I am that mentor.
Wisdom and guidance can come from you! Start at home. I know that I am starting with my younger brothers and sisters. Your parents are really clueless to what’s happening in the streets or at school. But you aren’t.
Stop and make a stand to be determined to not let the streets electrocute your siblings.
I’m going to leave you all with this, Numbers 1:16 “These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel.”
When God appoints us to be leaders, He expects us to lead.
The Grand Rapids Times
June 6, 2008
Everyone should know that the collaboration of water and electricity only leads to danger.
My question is that if a number of people are already informed of what the outcome of electricity and water is, why do individuals continue to mix the two?
Why do people continue to instigate drama when they know, eventually drama will lead to someone’s death?
My peers, tell me why so many of us are encouraging others to inflict pain upon are Brother & Sister when they are in arguments? Do we not know that we are mixing electricity with water?
Some of us need some serious smack right.
Electricity in water this month alone has caused death amongst teens due to arguments that could have easily been settled.
It is time to leave electricity out of water and stand up to be leaders not followers. It amazes me how some of us get amused by the loss of other teens. Why are we mixing electricity with water?
All of us, including myself, we all need some serious smack right.
Yes, so many of us want the mixture of electricity and water to end but to be truthful sometimes we just shrug our shoulders and say what a shame. If we allow violence and ridiculous slayings to happen then we are not standing up and fighting against those few individuals that are tearing our society apart.
There are ways to help put an end to electricity in water just by voicing your opinion diplomatically. You can stand up and fight without getting involved in the conflict.
Many of us have friends and family members, who are involved in gang violence, and it hurts to lose them. Education needs to start at home.
If we reach out to our loved ones there will be no more electricity in water. Some of my peers just need a stable caring mentor in their life to make better choices. You can be that mentor, I am that mentor.
Wisdom and guidance can come from you! Start at home. I know that I am starting with my younger brothers and sisters. Your parents are really clueless to what’s happening in the streets or at school. But you aren’t.
Stop and make a stand to be determined to not let the streets electrocute your siblings.
I’m going to leave you all with this, Numbers 1:16 “These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel.”
When God appoints us to be leaders, He expects us to lead.
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