What's Your Opinion?

History With No Meaning

2012-01-30T21:45:00.000-08:00

I admire and envy the courageous actions of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I wish that one day I could embody the characteristics that King had as a leader.

I wish that more people today would base their lifestyles on his principles he shared with the world to live by.

These thoughts are not only on my mind because Dr. Martin Luther Kings birthday was this week.

These thoughts are on my mind because of a horrifying video a friend shared with me this week.

In this video seven teenagers were brutally beating a helpless 17-year-old Asian male.

These teenagers weren’t beating this man because they were driven to do so for any significant reason.

These teenagers were beating this young man because they had nothing else better to do!

As they inflicted bodily harm to this innocent man, they yelled out racial slurs such as “nigger”.

In the back of my mind as I watched this video, I thought to myself, “We are in the year of 2012, and this harsh racial discrimination still exist.

If Dr. King were alive today, he would probably shed tears and wonder if his courageous acts had done anything to improve interactions among different cultures in our day of living.

To be honest, I was furious after watching this video for the first time.

My immediate reaction was to come to blows with the teenagers in the video – to give them the same pain they gave the helpless boy.

Then, I had to think. King wouldn’t have done such a thing because it is these types of reactions that perpetuate the cycle of racial discrimination and violence.

This video touched my heart because at the age of 16 I filled the shoes of the helpless Asian boy. I know what it feels like to be out numbered and defeated.

I know what it feels like to want to ignore history and just want to fight back.

However, today is definitely a time when we have to encourage each other to fight to keep the meaning in history.

Dr. Martin Luther King didn’t do the things he did for no reason.

He did what he did for us to have a better lifestyle.

People need to learn that history deserves to have meaning in our society today.

Events such as the one that I wrote about in this column occur because people ignore the meaning that history has.

One for the week: Exodus 31:3: “And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills.”

Ghost Parents

2012-01-20T19:00:00.001-08:00

The Grand Rapids Times
1-20-2012

I was going to write about politics this week but someone spoke to me about a topic that is very close to my heart; so I had to put politics on hold.

If you’re a reader that has kids, then you should be able to relate to this article pretty well.

If you’re a reader that is expecting children, then view this article as a gift from me because soon you will also experience the things I bring up in this article.

Some days I dread changing my son’s diapers and I get headaches from his high pitch cries.

Some days when I can’t figure out why he is crying, I get irritated and impatient.

Sometimes, I shake my head at the checklist that I am now forced to live by: bottle check, diapers check, burp cloth check, wipes check, bumbo check.

Sometimes it seems like the list never ends.

However, no matter how tired I get or how impatient I am at times, I would not trade any of this for the world.

My son deserves this and more.

I’m not here to place judgment on anyone.

I am writing this to inform parents that, when they are absent, they’re missing out on so much.

I don’t see how some of us can make babies all over and not spend time with any of them.

I don’t see how some of us have to be forced by the state to at least invest financially in our children.

To my brothers out there: how could you live knowing that another man is enjoying the gift of your child; the gift that you created?

To my sisters, I ask you the same question. Are jail and prison more important?

Is that next high you’re on your way to get from your supplier more important?

Is sleeping with everyone you meet more important?

Why would a person want to throw away raising a generation of doctors, lawyers, musicians, teachers, preachers, and future law enforcement?

What is wrong with us?

I don’t care how many times I have to get up in the middle of the night with my son I will never give away such a precious gift.

Last week I got to hear my son laugh for the very first time.

I feel sorry for all of the parents out there who missed that opportunity.

I feel sorry for the ones who will miss their Childs first word, walk, first day at school.

I feel so sorry for many of us.

One for the week: People, let’s make one New Year’s resolution — to stand up and accept our responsibilities.

Chance Of A Lifetime

2011-08-26T22:47:00.001-07:00

Many people are denied opportunities because others deny them chances.

When I say people, mainly I am referring to younger individuals; our leaders of tomorrow.

Giving young people chances lately has been an idea that has been close to my heart.

Recently, I have become a music manager out of Grand Rapids, Michigan called Young Stand Up Boys.

Young Stand Up Boys is a versatile group that does Hip Hop, R&B, and Pop music.

However, the group’s goals reach beyond becoming famous and wealthy even after their recent accomplishment of signing under Universal Records.

I have decided to manage this group, not because of the skills they have with music, but because of their passion to help others.

To many others looking outside in they just see another Hip Hop group.

People don’t know that Young Stand Up Boys stands for something positive.

They don’t know that the group is in the midst of creating two foundations to provide guidance to misguided youth and young single parents.

They don’t know that this group is not only fulfilling their dreams but also working hard to be able to give back to their communities.

Due to others such as the mothers of the group members, and myself giving Y.S.U.B a chance of a lifetime and believing in them they are inspired to do the same for others.

Unfortunately, this can’t be said about some other Hip Hop artist in the industry.

We all have to give people chances of their lifetime because it truly makes a difference.

This isn’t only the case within the field of music; this is the case in any profession.

If you are a doctor, just by allowing a younger individual shadow you for a day who knows what inspiration, you may give to this young person.

If you are a teacher and you talk to a younger individual about your daily schedule, who knows what interest you may spark.

We all have to provide these chances to raise successful people who are encouraged to pass the chances of a lifetime down.

People, we have to remember that there once was someone who provided us with these chances for these opportunities as well; so let’s give back and do the same.

We need more pastors, positive Hip Hop artists, doctors, and lawyers in the world.

We need more construction workers, police officers, and stockbrokers in the world.

Lets continue to create these chances.

I want to give a special thanks to Linda Clanton and Darlena McKinnon.

One for the week:
“In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.”
Exodus 15:13

Humble Heart

2011-07-30T08:33:00.000-07:00

Success is great, but success has the capability to transform the lives of people.

For some reason many people forget the meaning of being humble when success alters the way they live.

Success may bring nice cars, but success doesn’t mean a person needs a car for every day of the week.

Success may bring lavish houses, but it doesn’t mean a person needs a house in 3 different area codes.

Being humble is what keeps a person blessed and successful.

Not once did Jesus ever boost about his gifts and talents.

Not once did He ever brag about his capabilities to heal the weak and bless those in need.

It’s difficult to get anywhere in life when people live on pedestals and believe they are on higher levels then everyone else.

It must be difficult to live life when people forget how to be humble.

Without the ability to be humble, what does success mater?

Success doesn’t mean a thing when a person has no one to Humble Heart share it with.

Success is pointless when a person is separated and alone in the world from forgetting to be humble.

Just because someone’s bank account may increase doesn’t mean they have to change with it.

Just because they crowd you hang around changes, doesn’t mean you have to forget about your old friends.

One lesson I had to learn and one piece of advice that I would like to share with others is just because success comes your way doesn’t mean that a person has to alter their entire lifestyle.

People please don’t get what one of my mentors would call big – headed; just live life and have fun.

One for the week: Genuine people help others out of the goodness of their hearts like Jesus did, and in return don’t need recognition.

Missing Report

2011-07-22T16:37:00.000-07:00

After the events I witnessed just the other day outside of my house, I have no choice but to want to file a missing persons report.

I want to file a missing persons report because it seems that not only are many concerned parents missing, the number seems to have significantly decreased.

I say this because yesterday I didn’t see any concerned parents when 12 girls were brutally beating one girl in the middle of the street in the middle of on going traffic.

Some housemates and I were trying to break it up but I didn’t see any parents.

The whole time when all of this was happening, I wondered, “Where are the parents of the 15-year old girl who was beating her victim with a belt?”

I was wondering, “Where are the parents of that teenage girl who was ripping hair out of the head of her victim? Where were the parents of the girl who continuously yelled out derogatory terms? Where were these girl’s parents? Why were these girls acting like street thugs instead of the young ladies that I know they are capable of being?"

Accountability has to be placed somewhere because things are going terribly wrong with some of the youth within the inner city communities.

I want to file a missing report because unquestionably there are many concerned parents missing.

Someone should be there to inform these teens and other teens that there are other solutions besides fighting and shooting each other.

Someone should tell them that they have been deceived as well – that whenever they think it’s gangster to out number someone, they should re-evaluate their personal definition of gangster, because that is far from it.

Gangster is being the bigger individual who actually assesses an issue before getting physical.

Gangster is handling your own; if you have a problem with a person then you go talk it over with that person by yourself, you don’t bring your cousin Pookie, and your friend Rae Rae.

Jumping people only transforms little problems into bigger problems because everyone’s families get involved; and then what was once a little issue, becomes a never ending story.

Concerned parents if you aren’t missing, you should inform your children of these things.

I don’t only feel sorry for the girl who was beaten yesterday, I feel sorry for all of the girls.

Missing reports need to go out to a majority of their parents.

I’m not going to say all of their parents are missing because that’s not the case.

I say to all parents – become aware of what your children are involved in.

One for the week: Psalm 7:4 – “If I have done evil to him who is at peace with me or without cause have robbed my foe then let my enemy pursue and overtake me.”

Fast Lane

2011-07-15T14:30:00.001-07:00

After being caught in a traffic jam a few days ago on the expressway many drivers became restless and frustrated.

They were frustrated about two things; first they knew that they weren’t going to reach their destinations on time, and, two, there were other cars driving slow in the fast lane.

The fast lane gives cars that feel the need to go fast the opportunity to do so.

However, when there is a driver going slow in the fast lane, fast drivers don’t have any choice but to go slow.

I believe that if you don’t want to go fast, and you feel comfortable going slow, then stay in the slow lane; don’t make everyone else move slow because going slow is your preference.

If you’re the type of person that wants to be grown but can’t handle responsibilities, then you shouldn’t be in the fast lane.

Don’t try to fool people and make them think that you are fast by going in the fast lane because most individuals will be able to see right through you.

It’s okay to drive in the slow; if you aren’t sure about some things in life, stay true to yourself.

From time to time I myself drive in the slow lane.

Some men need to get out of the fast lane when they tell women that they are a good father and they have some children that have never even seen their face.

Some women need to get out of the fast lane when they claim to be good mothers but won’t invest in their children’s education but will invest in $200 Gucci shoes.

Some teens need to get out of the fast lane when they take on adult responsibilities such as having children and can’t handle them.

There are plenty of people who shouldn’t be in the fast lane who are in it every day.

However, there are also plenty of people who are in the slow lane who need to turn their signals on and adventure to the fast lane.

We can’t be scared to make progress in life.

We also just can’t stay in the slow lane because we view it as a safe place to be.

Some people are scared to have children because they aren’t where they want to be financially.

What if you aren’t ever where you want to be, are you just going to miss out on the opportunity to have children?

Some people are scared to move out of the house with mom and dad where they have been secure for their entire lives.

How will you ever start your own family when you’re still being nurtured by your own?

We all have to choose which lane we are comfortable in but we also have to choose which lane we should be in.

One for the week: Don’t let anyone choose for you which lane you should be in, stand up and make that decision on your own!

Alone

2011-07-09T07:04:00.000-07:00

She is all alone; I wonder how many young men realize that?

I have seen her cry everlasting tears that will never leave her face.

I have seen her hold on to hope as if hope is her life support and only means to live.

She is all alone; I wonder how many men actually care?

I have seen her mother a child while waiting hours for a manly shadow to enter a dark and narrow doorway.

I have seen her resent her child – the blessing from God – because of her hate towards her child’s father.

Most of all, I have seen her disrespected in ways beyond anyone’s belief.

I have seen her alone.

Why is this woman alone; why is she left alone to raise a child by herself?

Why is this woman disrespected?

A woman should be shown the utmost respect if she respects her self.

A woman has the capability to do what any man can’t do and that is bringing life into this world.

A woman has the capability to do what’s mentioned previously and then some; so why is she left alone?

Why is she left to cry everlasting tears that will forever stain her beautiful face?

It upsets me to know that there are millions of women all over the world who are left alone.

For all of the fellas out there who left a woman alone, you all are missing out on blessings that will never be given back to you in life.

However, you’re sorry for telling her that you loved her, when knowing all along that you didn’t know how to love in the first place.

You’re sorry for creating a baby with a woman and leaving another man to fill your shoes when it comes to fathering.

You’re sorry for leaving one of the greatest creations from God all alone.

This goes out to all of the women who are alone today and to all of the women who have been alone for years.

I dedicate this to a strong woman who is all alone; a woman whom I have seen shed tears, recently.

I just want to let you know that you are not alone, and you never will be.

One for the week: The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18

No Value

2011-07-02T15:03:00.001-07:00

It’s no secret that America is in serious debt.

Some fear that soon our currency will be meaningless; it won’t have any value.

My thought is that if we are in jeopardy of being trapped in an everlasting debt, what does that mean for civilians all over the world?

There is no doubt that everything would drastically change.

If money were to have no value, then everyone would have the same social status.

No longer would there be CEOs of companies making salaries of $600,000 while the salary of a common individual remains at $30,000 yearly.

No longer would people have lavish things to flaunt to the rest of the world.

Everyone would have similar houses, similar cars, and similar jobs.

Could we all live in a world where everyone is on the same level?

What will happen when people finally realize that money doesn’t rule the world and at the end of the day God is ruler over all?

What will happen when there are no longer superior and inferior groups of people?

Where would we be left once we discover that money has no value?

We would be stripped of all materialistic things just as Jonah was to obtain clear visions of God having authority over all.

America being in debt can be a wake up call for us all.

However, before our country was in so much debt, we all should have had the capability to take value away from money.

Today, if God were to come to me and tell me Marcel get rid of the shiny rims on your car in order to see me more clearly, I would do it without thinking twice.

If God were to tell me, Marcel, get rid of all the sneakers you love so much in order to see me more clearly than I would do it.

We should all like our materialistic items, but we shouldn’t be in love with them in a way to where we place a higher value then what we place on God.

One for the week-Proverbs 8:10: Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold.

Attack Of Obesity

2011-06-18T22:08:00.001-07:00

People crack jokes about individuals who are overweight; but, in all reality, many of people in the U.S. are overweight and just don’t realize it.

Unfortunately, a majority of us face obesity because we aren’t active and we eat over our daily portions.

As an American citizen myself, I believe it’s safe to say that many Americans shift their attention on so much other worldly issues that we have the tendency of forgetting about the importance of our health.

Society doesn’t seem to help this issue. Instead, many communities should be at fault for the increasing number of obesity victims each year.

In my community alone, there are 5 fast food restaurants that are within less of a 5 - mile radius from each other.

I have noticed that this is only the case in inner city neighborhoods.

The fact that many fast food restaurants are placed within inner city communities should raise questions about what statements are being made.

What demographic of people and what social classes are fast food chain restaurants targeting?

Are a majority of the fast food restaurants placed in the inner city because inner city residents don’t manage their money well when it comes to fast food?

Are fast food restaurants placed in the inner city communities because people in the inner city are attracted to and love fat and greasy foods?

Whatever the case may be, we can’t be blind to the fact that obesity is a growing epidemic.

We have to think about the amount of calories we are consuming on a day - to - day basis when we visit McDonald’s and Burger King frequently.

We have to hold ourselves accountable for having appropriate diets to maintain our bodies’ health.

Sadly, we are killing ourselves and we don’t even realize it.

We can’t sit on our front porches and let the days pass us by without some type of physical activity.

God gave us our bodies as gifts and we should take care of them.

One for the week - Psalm 16:9: Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure.

Crop The Image

2011-06-12T10:19:00.001-07:00

Millions of people take photos everyday and decide upon which ones are worth placing in photo albums.

There are reasons for some photos making the cut of being in albums and reasons that some photos do not.

Some photos might not make the cut because they have a glare in them.

Some photos are not placed in an album because they are duplicates.

There may be thousands of reasons that some photos are chosen and some aren’t.

I understand that not everyone is familiar with computer software that alters photos; but most people should become familiar with the phrase, “crop the image.”

Our actions are what others remember vividly, and our actions are among the photos that do make the cut for the photo album.

Others are like to remember the drinking and the careless actions that came with it.

Some people will remember your dancing and exposing your body to collect money from men and women.

While other people will remember the blunt in your mouth and the gun in your hand.

Or they might remember the time you raised your hand to inflict pain on a Or what about the time you couldn’t count on one hand, the number of sex partners you have been with.

People don’t have to remember anything we all just have to learn how to crop the image; we all have to learn how to change.

We don’t wan tour kids to open our photo albums and see our before images.

We want then and others to see our cropped images; we want to showcase the progress of our change.

We can’t keep allowing young folks to see us as un-cropped images; because if we do, they will think that it’s acceptable to place the same images in their photo albums.

One for the week: “Respect yourself and others in return will respect you.”

Trick Of All Trades

2011-06-03T13:57:00.001-07:00

A mind is a terrible thing to waste according to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This statement that was once made by the great leader is one that is brought to life through many people today.

Yes, there are many people who take education for granted, but there are also many people who appreciate the right of having an education and go above and beyond.

There are individuals who spend large portions of their lives achieving their goals of attaining many academic degrees.

There are people who devote hours and hours to receiving an education in order to secure a certain status within society.

Different people strive for higher levels of an education for various reasons; but will higher levels of education always ensure people the stable incomes they need to survive and provide for their families?

Sadly, in the recession of our economy, stable incomes aren’t really promised to anyone and because of this people have to learn what the trick of all trades is.

The trick of all trades is what most people identify as a hustle.

I’m not referring to the practice of illegal hustles such as drug dealing and prostitution.

When I talk about the trick of all trades, I am referring to people having the ability to use the gifts that God has equipped them with to provide more income.

None of us should be afraid to showcase our talents, especially when they are blessings from God.

If God has blessed you with the ability to take words and create unbelievable rhyme schemes, then don’t hesitate to share poetry or lyrics with others.

If God has blessed you with the talent to dance, don’t be afraid to audition for shows or compete in dance competitions.

If God has blessed you with the talent to create remarkable art ,don’t be afraid to place a price tag on your hard work.

The time of getting by with one job is slowly coming to an end.

We all should learn about the trick of all trades and find out what are hustles are.

The point is that with all the talents that God has blessed us all with we all have no reason to fail even when there is a recession.

Just as Martin Luther King Jr. stated that a mind is a terrible thing to waste, I want to state that the talents that God blessed us all with are also terrible things to waste.

Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. Job 8:13

Power In Decisions

2011-05-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

Everyday all of us make decisions that we are pleased with and decisions that we regret.

Some of these decisions are minor; many of them are major with long lists of consequences.

For instance, if President Obama decides to go to war tomorrow with another country, we all would be potentially affected by his decision.

When making decisions, I believe that it’s important to remember that we not only have to look out and have discernment to protect ourselves; we also have to look out for others.

This week I want to inspire individuals throughout the inner city streets in which I live and have lived my entire life.

I want to direct my inner city peers into having the right perspectives when it comes to making decisions.

For example, why are some of us making the decisions to place so much money into buying new cars and purchasing cosmetic things for cars when our houses are in need of so much improvement?

Due to this decision, our children don’t have a safe environment to live in.

Why are many of us putting so much money towards designer clothing for our kids and not placing a dime into their education?

Due to this decision, our children are fly but they remain illiterate.

Why are some of us going out each weekend and throwing away so much money?

Due to this decision, our children are left with no college funds.

People we have to make the right decisions.

I’m not suggesting that we shouldn’t enjoy life.

I’m saying that we have to be mindful of others because the decisions we make affect them.

Words of wisdom for the week: Be wise in your decisions.

New Mission

2011-05-20T21:58:00.001-07:00

It is that time of year summer is here once again.

The birds are chirping, the sun is shinning, and it is beginning to get a lot warmer outside.

Because it is getting close to summer, we are all due for a public service announcement: Parents please don’t set your kids free and just allow them to do anything and everything during this time of the year.

I know that it’s so easy to say since my child is out of school I can take a break from my parenting duties for three months.

However, not being a parent for three months can cause a lifetime of failure for some children.

Parenting is a job, and it isn’t easy.

Realistically at a job, if a person decides to take a twenty minute break and everyone else continues to work, this person will be left behind to play catch up – resulting in slow production for his/her company.

Children are the same way.

Once people stop supporting them and stimulating their minds with academic tasks, the progress they make throughout the school year begins to diminish.

When it comes time to file taxes each year in order to receive tax refund checks, people don’t have a problem with finding motivation to do that.

The same motivation we all have to get out and figure out what we need to do for our taxes is the same motivation that we all need to encourage us to get out and figure out what we need to do for our children this summer.

Some people don’t view their children as investments.

However, children are investments.

Older generations need to realize that we are bringing up leaders of tomorrow.

We need to realize that we have the opportunity to raise little soldiers of God; and it’s sad that we aren’t taking advantage of this opportunity.

There are plenty of programs hosted by schools, churches, and non - profit organizations for all children this summer.

These are programs that are informing all that none of us have to set out on this mission alone with our children.

What’s really a shame is that some of these programs are free and some people still don’t have their kids enrolled in them.

“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

Stop It!

2011-05-07T08:33:00.001-07:00

Bin Laden is dead.

Bin Laden is dead has been the latest news craze all over the Internet and through media sources on television.

Why are people devoting so much attention to the death of someone?

I understand that the Osama bin Laden made bad choices as a person and inflicted pain upon others; but why are we all glorifying his death?

Judging him for his transgressions should be a task for God to handle and it shouldn’t be a task for the rest of us to worry about.

Stop it: is what I want to shout because many of us are ignoring issues that should matter and glorifying things that don’t.

As an adolescent I was mischievous and I made some bad decisions.

One day I pulled my pants down and exposed myself on the school bus because someone dared me to do so.

There were consequences to my actions, and I was suspended from school for a few days.

Now, if my story of exposing myself is still the gossip of today, I would say stop it because that would be an example of people giving attention to a small event that doesn’t matter and ignoring worldly events that should be in the spotlight.

I would say stop it because world hunger should be on everyone’s mind.

I would say stop it because sex trafficking and child slavery should be on everyone’s mind.

I would say stop it because child abuse and domestic violence should be on everyone’s mind.

I would say stop it because saving the generations of tomorrow should be on everyone’s mind.

While we are spending weeks discussing Osama Bin Laden’s death like I know we will, there is going to be a young teen out there somewhere learning how to load a gun for the first time.

While we are spending months covering pointless stories, there is going to be young people in neighboring cities dying of starvation and suffering from neglect.

There is nothing wrong with being educated about worldly issues all I am saying is that we can’t forget to come back to our own back yards.

My words of advice to those who are so ecstatic about Osama Bin Laden’s death is, “Stop It!”

Redirect your focus on an issue that matters.

One for the week: But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice. Philippians 1:18

Throw a Beat On

2011-05-02T19:23:00.000-07:00

After watching some of my old home videos with my friends and free styling to beats that we use to create by beat boxing, I realized how much I miss those beats.

I miss the time when we all use to circle up and share rhymes about experiences we were undergoing in life.

I miss it when somebody would throw a beat on.

Sure there were times when we would rap about each other and when we had battles.

However, at the end of each session, competitors would shake hands and go on about their day.

I miss the days when love was shown through music — when music was all about sharing stories with the world and an opportunity for artist to display their artistic abilities.

Some music today is like the music that I miss; but, unfortunately, a majority of it isn’t.

Many of the songs of today have nice beats, but the lyrics have no substance.

I miss Tupac “Keep Your Head Up” and “Dear Mama.”

I miss Nas “I Know I Can.”

I miss songs that had the capability to inspire listeners to want to better themselves — songs that inspired their listeners to place value on their lives.

Today I throw old beats on because I’m still waiting on new ones.

I don’t want my kids growing up listening to Wacka Flocka “Bustin at em” or “Hard In The Paint.”

I don’t want my kids to have to search for inspiration in Niki Minaj track “I Did it On ‘em”.

These are songs with great beats, but the beats aren’t anything if the lyrics mean nothing.

I’m not attacking the artist that provide the music because they are only making their living by providing listeners with what they want to hear.

I am saying that we all need to realize that we live in a misguided and troubled society when we believe that it is cute to film a two year old reciting all of the lyrics to a song that talks about shooting people.

We need to wake up, especially when we can no longer throw on a beat without it’s having negative connotations attached to it.

I miss the days that we people were able to just throw on a beat.

One for the week: Now write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them. Deuteronomy 31:19

Back To The Basics

2011-04-22T21:59:00.001-07:00

For those of you who don’t already know my major is media production; and one of the tasks that I slightly despise as a production student is editing.

Recently, I have had a project that required more than 16 hours of editing time.

Each time that I thought that I was completely done with the project, something would show up as being wrong.

I couldn’t figure out what the problem was until I directed my attention back to the very beginning.

I discovered one problem that had thrown off the entire timeline of the project.

Although, this project caused much frustration for me, it helped me realize that sometimes when people experience errors in life we need to take it back to the basics.

Sometimes when things are going really well for people and they hit rock bottom, many are left clueless on how to get back up again.

Many are left clueless because they Back To The Basics forget to go back to the basics.

People forget to revert back to the time when they didn’t have much.

Some get so wrapped up in their accomplishments that they lose the capability to remember when they experienced a rough beginning.

A majority of individuals also forget that once you are so far up, there is only one direction to go and that is right back down.

A friend of mine shared with me that valuable advice of remaining humble, no matter what your status is.

By staying humble, people recognize that they are capable of making mistakes no matter what there status may be.

This is a good thing because instead of continuing to make the same mistakes, people can adventure back to the beginning and fix mistakes before they have the chance to grow into bigger problems.

One for the week: "My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end without hope." Job 7:6

Cupid’s Arrow Is Broken

2011-04-15T18:32:00.000-07:00

Over my years of evolving as a young adult, I have experienced good relationships, bad relationships, and relationships that were destined to fail upon their beginnings.

All of these relationships are what I identify as results of Cupid’s broken arrow.

Although, my relations from the past with other women didn’t work out, I am thankful for Cupid’s broken arrow.

This arrow helped me grow and construct the being that I am today.

This arrow helped me develop discernment.

This arrow gave me the tools I needed to find the one — my soul mate, my everything, and Mrs. Right.

None of us are perfect; we live and we learn. This is exactly what Cupid’s broken arrow did for me and helped me learn a valuable lesson — everything isn’t always what it seems to be and our plans that we have for our lives are in God’s hands.

My advice to everyone who is currently dating others is to not force relationships that aren’t meant to be because what’s not meant to be is done by Cupids broken arrow and what’s meant to be is done by the hands of God.

It took me a while to learn this lesson, but now that I am married with the love of my life I realize that it is real talk.

So many people force themselves into broken relationships and forget that there is a reason for everything, which could be that God has something better for you down the line.

I’ve known people to cry over relationships ending, and even go as far as harming themselves over relationships that don’t work out. I believe it’s because they forget that it’s not up to us to decide who we share our lives with.

I usually don’t play Dr. Love, but this week I had a good reason to.

God blessed me with a beautiful wife, and I have come to realize that he blesses everyone with somebody.

Don’t be discouraged by cupid’s broken arrow just wait for Gods hands.

One for the week: But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Psalm 13:5

Captivity or Freedom

2011-04-09T17:27:00.001-07:00

The truth will set you free is something that took me a while to understand.

Life isn’t easy when a person finds him or herself constantly living behind a lie.

When people that live behind a lie are choosing to incarcerate themselves.

When I was living behind lies, the advice that I received from others around me was to get out of captivity; this is the same advice that I would like to share with some individuals that may be facing this same problem.

People living a lifestyle that they aren’t proud should take the first step – to acknowledge that he or she is making some mistakes.

The truth will set you free.

We are all human and none of us are perfect.

If we acknowledge that we make mistakes, we can’t worry about what our families and friends may think because the longer we live behind our lies the longer the time that we stay incarcerated.

As my personal testimony, I recently got out of captivity and I want you all out with me.

If you slang drugs and you’re tired of the risky occupation, then quit living behind your lie and get some help.

If you need a lie from drugs to get through your daily routines and you want to experience a natural high then get from behind your lie and seek some help.

If you have been using your body as an attraction device to get members of the opposite sex to display love and affection to you, it’s not too late to get out of captivity.

God blessed us all with many features that exceed beyond our physical appearances.

We all have to be real with ourselves.

If we are aware that we aren’t happy with our lifestyles, then we have to stand up and get help when we are tired of living behind lies.

This article is for everyone, but I want to direct it towards my younger people because it’s going to be a hot summer this year.

As young people, we all have decisions to make –stay in captivity and witness our friends fall to bullets and drugs, or we change ourselves to encourage others to change.

One for the week: “Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth.”(1 Kings 17:24).

Rewind

2011-04-09T14:55:00.001-07:00

I’m sure that we all ponder about memories that we would like to hold onto forever – times that we wish we could relive.

Some of us forget that these times are memories for a reason, and they are meant to stay in the past.

If we don’t let go of the past, we aren’t able to thank God for present and future blessings.

The past is good, but we have to let go to make the future better.

This applies to good and bad memories.

For example, if a person made choices in his or her previous years that he or she isn’t proud of, he or she shouldn’t allow the past to past to hinder them from accomplishing goals in the future.

If in the past I choose to only obtained my high school diploma and now in the present I want to further my education I’m not going to create endless excuses as to why I am not capable of doing so.

If in the past I made choices to participate in illegal activity and now I have the desire to be an activist leader for troubled youth, I’m not going to allow my past to hinder me from doing so.

The past is the past for a reason and we all have to remember that.

This applies to good memories as well.

We all can’t harp on the past because the future filled with opportunities will pass us by.

God blesses us all, and sometimes the past stops us from realizing this.

We think about how we didn’t have sufficient income in the past.

We think about how we were hurt by a past significant other.

We ponder about things we could have done instead of changing things now.

To be successful, many of us have to stop rewinding to the what ifs and could have beens.

We should all strive to make to best out of our current situations.

One for the week: Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” Exodus 4:10

We Plan, He Plans

2011-03-19T08:39:00.001-07:00

For years I have had a specific plan for my life, and I am sure there are other people who can say the same thing for theirs.

I planned to finish college and land a job that involves me doing something that I enjoy doing that generates a lot of income.

In better terms I had plans to become successful through a stress free journey.

By understanding the concept “we plan and God laughs” I’ve drawn up the conclusion that I was cheating myself when I wanted life to be a simple task.

Throughout my journey of finding success, God has strategically placed roadblocks in my path.

These roadblocks have slowed me down on my mission, but they have also made me a wiser and a stronger individual.

A dream or goal that’s not worth fighting for shouldn’t be a dream at all.

If something that a person wants badly is at easy access, then that person should wonder if that something that he or she wanted was meant for him or her.

As I was growing up, my parents taught me a valuable lesson — everything that I wanted to own I had to work for it; nothing in life should just be given to me.

In some way I believe that God tries to teach us all a similar lesson.

We can’t make specific plans for life and get angry when they are altered a little bit by God’s vision for each of us.

There maybe someone out there who is meant to become a successful lawyer, someone that God gives the blessing of a child to.

God isn’t telling you to stop your mission. He is just telling you that you now have to work harder.

There may be a struggling artist or actor out there that hasn’t had luck with finding jobs.

This doesn’t mean you aren’t meant to be an entertainer; God maybe telling you that you are looking in the wrong places.

We can’t give up when are agenda are changed because it is God’s way of telling us that he has something better in store for us.

One for the week: A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11

Play Me

2011-03-12T11:40:00.000-08:00

In the history of music there has only been a few CDs that have been good enough to be played in entirety.

There are other CDs that would have only three good songs and there would be some that would have only one.

Well, I want people to play me like a good CD.

I want to speak out for the people that are too afraid to voice their opinions.

I want to speak out against injustice issues.

I want to be the CD that is able to play over and over again and I want other CDs in the disc changer with me.

I know I probably won’t get more plays than Niki Minaj or Wocka Flocka Flame.

I know I probably won’t hit the billboard charts like Kanye West or Lady Gaga; but that doesn’t matter to me.

What matters is that others and I are heard.

Too many good CDs aren’t being played enough.

It seems like they are only played after something tragic happens, and then they are thrown out of windows again.

This is a problem because by not recycling good CDs, no one is keeping good messages alive.

I want to be played everyday all day, and I know that there are others that feel the same exact way.

I feel that some believe that because people aren’t facing the same turmoils as they did in the past, they don’t have to speak out.

However, I also believe that this is where people are mistaken.

We do face the same turmoil; we are just in a different time.

I want somebody to play me.

I want to maintain a spot in the disc changer.

It’s 2011, but there is still an abundance amount of work that needs to be done.

One for the week:

“A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.” Proverbs 19:11

Outlet With No Power Source

2011-02-23T13:19:00.000-08:00

In order to run some of our favorite electrical appliances, we must have the proper power source.

A person cannot plug an appliance into an outlet that doesn’t have a power source and expect it to work.

I am not educated on the topic of electricity, and I am not familiar with the logistics of the duties of an electrician.

However, I am knowledgeable enough to know that an outlet with no power source has no capability to work.

In today’s society with the privileges and opportunities that people have there shouldn’t be any non - operating outlets.

There shouldn’t be people who are left without the proper knowledge needed to pursue goals and life- long dreams.

These individuals who can be identified as the non-working outlets shouldn’t exist because our world should be saturated with electricians who are ready to work.

Although I am using the term electrician to symbolize a devoted individual, this article shouldn’t be viewed as being foreign to anyone.

From the time of being an adolescent to the time of becoming a grown man I must admit that there has been great improvement when it comes to the idea of success within minority communities.

Sadly, there are still people left without the source of power.

There are young people who choose to throw away their gifts and talents and run to the act of violence because they don’t obtain knowledge for other avenues.

There are people who run to drugs because they don’t have mentors who may have gone through similar issues to provide wisdom to steer them in an opposite directions.

There are people who only get the opportunity to experience their dreams for a short amount of time because of poor money management.

Then there are people who are left to only dream because they lack the leader they need in their life to show them how to properly showcase their talents.

This week as I thought of the many non-working outlets we have within our minority communities, I wanted to give these outlets some source of power; some sense of hope.

There are electricians out there, there are individuals that are ready to give you a source of power.

There are individuals ready to help they just need to know who to help.

It takes effort from both ends, people with no power source need to speak up and the electricians need to reach out.

One for the week:
Ecclesiastes 7:8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride

Valentine’s Day

2011-02-15T15:36:00.001-08:00

On Valentine’s Day many people choose to spend time with their significant others.

Some may go to fancy restaurants or out to various different romantic outings.

This Valentine’s Day I want to do something different; I want to give out roses to women around the world.

This Valentine’s Day I want to apologize to my girl because I want to give flowers to some women around the world.

I want to give a rose to the girl who tries to eat away her issues.

No longer should she have to be consoled by Kleenex and tissues.

I want to give a rose to the girl who is constantly beaten by her boyfriend.

I want to let her know that she is special and the nonsense she is in should come to an end.

I want to give a rose to the girl who has no value for life.

I want to give a rose to the girl that believes that in order to be loved she has to be every man’s lover instead of one man’s wife.

I want to give a rose to the girl that was taken advantage of, and I want this rose to be the representative of authentic love.

I want to give a rose to the girl that’s thinking about taking her life; this rose should tell her that God will help overcome her strife.

I want to give a rose to my mother Mrs. Oascette Hendler for guiding me throughout life.

I want to give a rose to Dr. Patricia Pulliam for proving an avenue for me when I was misguided.

I want to give a rose to my grandmother Dr. Barbra Gamble for being an unbelievable mentor.

I want to give a rose to Mrs. Sally Calloway for giving me great advice.

I want to give a rose to my aunts Yvette Gamble and Minette Gamble for always keeping things realistic with me.

I want to give a rose to my girlfriend Jessica Spearman for being so understanding and patient with me.

I want to give a rose to my grandmother Mrs. Doris Bordeux for keeping all of my articles and being one of my biggest fans.

I want to give a rose to my stepmother Angela Sharif for always showing me love.

This Valentine’s Day I have so many roses that I want to give out.

I want to close this article out with a Happy Valentine’s Day to all you readers!

One for the week: “…but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandment.” Deuteronomy 5:10

Things We Don’t Talk About

2011-02-08T00:12:00.000-08:00

We have a problem within society with not having enough courage to openly discuss issues that are imperative for us to be educated about.

One issue that is prevalent within today’s society is the issue of homosexual’s living undercover lives.

There are various different reasons to why some gay men choose to live double lives.

Statistics show that a majority of gay men who live on the “down low” are ashamed to be representatives of their sexual preferences.

To hide their secret lives from the greater population of society, these men take drastic measures such as getting married to straight women and some even go as far as having children with women.

The issue of men living on the down low is problematic but sadly is an issue that is swept under the rug.

According to writer David Alport the idea of gay men living double lives can be harmful in society because of the deadly disease of Aids.

Gay men under cover only add to the many ways of how the disease is spread.

Alport elaborates on the idea of the spread of aids by introducing a few different ways on how the spreading of aids has become the epidemic that it is today.

Men having sex with other men and rape in prison play a huge role in the epidemic.

However, gay men having sexual intercourse with women occurs so frequently that it is combative with the activity that happens in prison.

Alport stresses the importance of homosexuals taking ownership of their sexual preferences because the number of individuals that are affected by aids is growing rapidly.

How can we as a community put forth an effort to construct solutions for this issue?

Unquestionably, tackling this issue is not going to be an easy task.

We have to first reach out to try and understand each other, and realize that none of us have the authority to judge anyone.

We have men that are homosexuals that are afraid to be open about their sexual preference because they are heavily criticized by the rest of society.

Then there are people that don’t accept the homosexual community at all.

Nothing will be solved if we in all remain on two different wave lengths.

Polka Dots Among Stripes

2011-01-29T20:36:00.001-08:00

The adolescents of today are the innovators of tomorrow.

This is an idea that we all must remember when we showcase our images to upcoming generations.

We should sit back and take the time to honestly think.

How much of what we call our time should be their time?

Unquestionably, without a lot of our knowing, there is a generational battle going on.

Everyone is heading for success. Sometimes, we step on others to get there.

Many of us are so concerned with being in the limelight and receiving our 15 minutes of fame that we don’t notice when there is a polka dot in stripes.

There are mothers too busy chasing the pretty boys down the block to notice that their children are failing miserably in school.

Some of these mothers are so involved in altering their images to attract the dope boys that run the block that they don’t realize when their children are crying out for help.

We also aren’t seeing the polka dots that are buried under the stripes.

Many individuals are fascinated by the concept of “getting on” and reaching stardom beyond the so-called American dream.

They are so captivated that they forget about things that are truly important in life.

What happens when they reach the top; what happens once they are on?

Do they come back to their hometowns to help the polka dots that are lost amongst the stripes?

Some so, but a majority of don’t.

We have to realize what could result if we leave the polka dots in stripes, if we leave younger individuals alone when they have no future aspirations.

If we continue to allow some youth to settle as being failures in life, then who will construct the blue prints for tomorrow?

We have to pull the polka dots out so that they may have a promising future.

We must remain dedicated to all of the children that need help and haven’t been discovered yet.

One for the week: In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed.

In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. Exodus 15:13.

Family Ties

2011-01-23T00:09:00.001-08:00

One saying that seems to never disappear is “blood is thicker than water”.

Usually when it comes to family, ties are strong and the action of being supportive is innate amongst family members.

For family, people typically go the extra mile to ensure safety for their loved ones.

For family, people sometimes do things that they don’t want to do to get loved ones where loved ones need to be.

With family, there is a bond created – the sort of bond that someone would only expect to see between family members.

However, some people have been having family ties without the necessity of their families.

Some people have ties with their car, but they forget a car isn’t capable in participating in a mutual relationship.

Some people have ties with their home, but they forget that a home is nothing without anyone to share it with.

The sort of family ties that have been really bothering me lately are the ties that some individuals lack the control to break.

We all are showing love to materialistic items that can’t show us love back.

One 17- year - old boy died today because of the family ties he had with the name brand of Coogi.

He loved Coogi so much that he would do anything to get the money to buy it.

One night he was found dead wearing his Coogi; Coogi couldn’t love him unconditionally.

Also most likely the creator of Coogi won’t be attending the young mans’ funeral.

It sounds ridiculous for us to be in love with things that can’t love us back so much into the point of our losing our lives or taking the lives of others.

It just makes me wonder what young man will be murdered because someone has family ties with the Air Jordans on his feet?

What teen girl today will be molested because an older man has family ties with her innocence?

When we decide to create family ties, we should all remember the saying that blood is thicker than water.

Real family is the blood, and everything else that we may idolize or yearn for is the water.

One for the week: “Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights.” Deuteronomy 33:29

Goodbye 2010

2011-01-16T11:27:00.000-08:00

I know it has been a few weeks since we have all been blessed to see a new year, but I wanted to wait to publish this article for a very important reason As a ritual, whenever it’s a New Year there are millions of people that set New Year resolutions.

For the year of 2011, I wanted to be patient and become a witness to the various different resolutions of which I heard many.

In the year of 2011, I’m going to manage my weight and work hard to loose 100 pounds.

This year I’m going to do right by my kids and be a stronger parent.

This year I’m going to get out of debt by planning a weekly budget.

Every year millions of resolutions are set and millions also lack follow through.

We should all hold ourselves accountable to accomplish our goals.

The year of 2011 should be different; instead of speaking goals into existence, goals should be placed into existence.

2010 is behind us now so whatever was hindering us from accomplishing new things last year shouldn’t even be used as an excuse this year.

If constantly being broke was an issue last year, then fill out some applications and get a job this year.

If a dream is to further your education, then contact a school and check into setting up a
financial aid package.

If drugs were your outlet in 2010, then let the testimonies in Gods word become your outlet in 2011.

If negative people were the only kind of people that you were surrounded by last year, then surround yourself around some positive individuals this year.

2011 is the a new year so its time to place some new goals.

Don’t let 2011 be the twin of 2011; don’t say what your going to do and then fail to do
anything.

Yes, there are going to be obstacles that stop us along the way from getting where we want to be.

These are only challenges to test us to see if we really want to accomplish our goals or no.

If getting where you want to be is an easy mission, then maybe where you want to be isn’t where you should be at all.

One for the week: “For a long time now—to this very day—you have not deserted your fellow Israelites but have carried out the mission the LORD your God gave you”. Joshua 22:3

Jesus: My Home Boy

2011-01-10T23:58:00.000-08:00

Everyone has friends that come and go.

We all have people that are expendable in our lives that we can afford to address in common ways.

Some of us become friends with others because of their connections with other people.

Some of us become friends with others out of the need of companionship.

My point is that friends, for the most part, are easy to come by.

However, one friend that isn’t expendable; that we are sometimes too common with is Jesus.

I feel that we forget and we ignore how good of a friend Jesus really is.

How many of your friends on Facebook allowed themselves to be humiliated for you?

How many of them have been spat on and beaten senseless for you?

How many of them have carried your sins lately so that you may be forgiven?

Jesus can be a friend, but we have to remember that He shouldn’t be an expendable one.

We shouldn’t treat Him as we do some other people.

Jesus shouldn’t be placed on the same level as us common folk.

What statement are we making when we treat our relationship with Jesus as a distant friendship?

We shouldn’t call him only when we need him for something.

We shouldn’t only contact him when all of our other friends are busy.

Jesus should be the friend of all friends seems how He has all of our backs.

In this New Year, all of us should practice the act of giving Jesus the respect that He deserves.

One for the week: Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37

Walk In My Shoes

2010-12-23T14:10:00.000-08:00

The expression “you don’t know what it feels like until you have walked in my shoes” is a saying that is used frequently.

This saying is normally brought up when people want to make the statement that others can try but will never be able to relate to what they have been through.

I am writing this article today because I have been a witness to many people walking in shoes that don’t belong to them.

Sadly, some of these people get stuck in these shoes and are forced to stay in them for the rest of their lives.

The people that I am referring to can be identified as the “experiments.”

These usually are people that just want to try shoes on before buying them; these are the individuals with a ton of curiosity.

This is the guy that doesn’t want to gang bang but wants to see what it is like for a day.

This is the woman that doesn’t want children but still has the urge to undergo the experience of childbirth.

This is the teenager that despises drug addicts but just wants to see what it is like to try a drug one time.

This is us.

This is the gangster rapper that wants fame but can’t handle the consequences that may come along with some things that he/she may say.

This is the preacher that wants to share Gods’ word but lacks the motivation to help those within his/her congregation when they are in need.

These are the people who want to be anti- racism activist who cringe every time they see an interracial couple.

This is the man that wants his son to be respectful to women that occasionally hits his wife.

This is the woman who wants her daughter to have respect for her body but who also brings different men home every night.

If shoes don’t fit, then we have to stop wearing them.

If they are too big at the store they aren’t going to get any smaller upon returning home; so stuffing tissue in a shoe shouldn’t be an option.

Don’t put on the shoes of a gangster if you don’t have the heart to protect a territory, something that you live for at any cost.

Don’t put on the shoes of a mother if you make your friends first priority over your children.

Don’t put on the shoes of activist against racism if you don’t feel comfortable about interracial marriage.

We all honestly have to stop wearing shoes that don’t fit.

These shoes that don’t fit have us in lifestyles that we can’t get out of.

These shoes trap us in lifestyles that we don’t want to get out of.

We can’t wear shoes that don’t belong to us, we have to wear shoes that fit.

One for the week: …and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills. Exodus 31:3

Present We Don’t See

2010-12-19T22:12:00.001-08:00

It’s that time of year when the lights and decorations come out.

It’s that time when families come together to express their love for each other through the actions of giving and receiving.

Once again Christmas is right around the corner.

People have hopes of getting things that they have had their eyes on for a long period of time.

People take extra hours at work to afford expensive gifts for others that normally would be impossible to purchase.

People exchange all kinds of gifts but they forget about one gift, better known as the present.

Many of us take the days; the right here’s and right now’s for granted.

We wake up in the morning and say things like, “ugh another day, or I just can’t wait for this day to be over.”

It’s truly a shame that millions of people this year will be disappointed due to the presents they do and don’t receive.

It’s ridiculous that many people will be so caught up on lack of finances that they will forget that without money it’s still possible to have a remarkable Christmas.

We all can’t afford to miss out on the ultimate gift this year, we need to recognize the present.

With the present we are able to breathe another day in the present.

The present grants us the ability to wake up and see our loved ones another day.

With the present we are all blessed with the gift of life.

So this Christmas some of us need to refrain from getting angry if all we receive is socks for Christmas.

Socks may be under the tree; however, the limbs a person is blessed with that the socks go on are the real gifts.

There may be baby diapers under the tree and nothing for you.

Don’t sigh; be blessed that you have a baby that the diapers can come in handy for.

Some people are unable to have children and would love your blessing.

Present is the real gift and this holiday; we can’t afford to forget that.

Gifts that are under the tree this year that are dismissed by people are all presents that others are hoping for.

The best gift isn’t a materialistic item.

The best gift is when a person realizes that they are blessed – currently, now, and presently.

Everyday has the potential to be Christmas.

One for the week: Colossians 2:7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

A Pencil

2010-12-10T15:25:00.000-08:00

As an elementary student, I constantly heard the reminder, “Use a pencil not a pen.”

I tended to be the rebellious student and used a pen.

Even, though I knew that I was destined to make a mistake in math class, I wrote my equations in pen.

Although I battled with grammatical issues in English, I still used a pen.

As I look at some of my assignments from years ago and see the many scratches and scribbles, I wish that I had used a pencil.

With a pen, someone can make a mistake and try to hide it with knowledge that that the mistake is still there.

With a pencil, a person can make a mistake, erase it, and make corrections.

Many people used pens throughout the year, looking at old mistakes that they tried to cover up.

When a mistake is still visible, then knowledge that the mistake was made will remain.

This year, pens have created problems because pens had people wanting to visit the past to change mistakes that will remain visible.

We all have to realize that using a pen is just like making certain decisions that are capable of affecting the rest of our lives.

Many of us have chosen to use pens this year.

We have had children without being financially stable.

We have sold drugs to make a living.

We have abandoned younger generations that have the potential to be future leaders.

We have mistreated and abused our spouses.

We have held grudges that have created barriers between ourselves and success.

Because pen has been the choice of utensil to use this year people have been stuck in the past and unprepared for the future.

In this year of 2010 people need to approach the drawing board with pencils instead of pens.

With a pencil people can write down ideas without being subjected to follow them.

With a pencil people can change decisions that they make before they become permanent.

With a pencil a person doesn’t have to look back at previous mistakes; he or she can move on without wondering what could have been done differently.

In 2010, I’m choosing not to be that rebellious elementary student.

As an adult, I appreciate the advice from my teachers, “Use a pencil and not a pen.”

This year, I’m not going to look back and wonder if I’m going to make immediate changes myself.

I advise everyone to drop the pens that they are using and pick up pencils…

One for the week: Genesis 27:28- May God give you of heaven’s dew and of earth’s richness— an abundance of grain and new wine.

Unbreakable Chains

2010-12-04T11:32:00.001-08:00

So I guess you have been trapped in confinement against your will.

I guess you have been beaten for breathing too loudly.

I guess you glorify in the idea of being urinated on to entertain other individuals.

I guess that you enjoy being stacked on top of others while enduring feces dropping on you periodically.

I guess you enjoy being shackled in chains that determine your every direction.

Evidently we all do!

We call each other niggas and we label each other as niggas.

This word is used so much I wonder if younger generations will mistake it for scholarly terminology.

Many of our families have been affected by the transformation of the economy.

Some of us have had to send family members down South to earn better wages to support the remainder of the family up North.

Americans that migrate to save the status of their families are commended, but Mexicans who do the same and migrate to America are classified as spics and unwanted company – but why?

This is simply because we are trapped in unbreakable chains that support ignorance.

Why is it that when a white male wears baggy clothing or when a black male wears a suit, things are viewed as being out of the ordinary?

This happens because we all place colors on everything.

We associate the idea of being successful and wealthy with white people.

We associate the idea of being misguided and poor with black people.

With these chains, we are only hurting ourselves.

It’s time to break away from the idea that just because things were done a certain way in the past they have to be done the same way now.

Many of us claim that we long for change; but in all reality, we still continue to lug these unbreakable chains around.

We connect color with crime; we connect it with media.

Whenever someone is murdered, the tendency is to immediately link the crime with someone of a minority race.

Furthermore, the ignorance doesn’t end there; sometimes the news tends to take it a step further.

Whenever there is a crime committed by a minority, there sometimes is no hesitation to provide a full description of the individual who committed the crime.

People throw away the unbreakable chains.

These chains are forcing younger generations to grow on the idea that the stereotypes are the truth and that the truth is deceitful.

These chains have young women proud to be identified as female dogs and exploited by numerous men.

These chains have women thinking that they have real men when they are able to tell others that their men is or has spent time in prison.

We are enslaved to these chains, and it’s time to break free.

One for the week: “At that time I pleaded with the LORD…”

Give Thanks To The Fullest

2010-11-26T19:38:00.001-08:00

I’m a nerd when it comes to movies.

I were to count all of the movies that I have seen in my entire life, I would probably have a library that easily reaches over a million.

Recently, I saw “Darfur.”

Seeing this movie and thinking about Thanksgiving, I immediately was blessed with the thought of giving thanks to the fullest.

I’m not going to be an advocate for bad film critiques, but I will tell you that we should all feel blessed.

Waking up every morning praying for the safety of our lives is not something that we are forced to endure on a daily basis.

We are not having our babies snatched from our arms and brutally murdered in front of our eyes.

Men, we don’t have to sit helpless and watch our women get rapped multiple times.

Women you aren’t being forced to watch your men die horrific deaths by being set on fire.

People, we can give thanks to the fullest.

We aren’t forced to watch our kids being butchered as limb after limb is amputated from their bodies.

People, I am guilty of this as well; so my intention is not to single others out – truthfully, we all have no reason to not have the capability to give thanks to the fullest this thanksgiving.

I’m not saying that our that none of our issues should be viewed as not being problematic; I’m saying that many things that we see as being issues are very minor.

We experience financial difficulties, and we allow that to stop us from giving thanks.

We lose our jobs and we allow our world to crumble around us.

Why are we constantly influenced by this failing mindset?

I want everyone to see Darfur because after I saw it I felt ashamed for those everyday complaints that I make.

We aren’t missing legs and left without transportation and forced to find ways to get our children to school every morning.

We don’t have to hide the fact that we are receiving an education.

People we need to give thanks to the fullest.

Don’t get angry if your family can’t afford the expensive turkey this year; be happy with the other food that you are blessed with.

Don’t be upset because you have to spend time with family members that you don’t like; others don’t have family members to spend thanksgiving with.

My heart goes out to all people that have real problems and still find the strength to give thanks to the fullest.

This thanksgiving, we all need to think about what is stopping us from giving thanks and eliminate it.

One for the week: Sing to the LORD with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp. Psalm 147:7

Internet Etiquette

2010-11-21T19:15:00.000-08:00

Minimizing chances of employment, enrollment in well known respected universities, and creating new reputations for ourselves are all things that we are doing, unknowingly.

People, there is nothing wrong with socializing on the web; but there is something wrong with sharing too much information about our personal lives on the Internet.

The web is worldwide people; we shouldn’t forget this.

Everybody in the world shouldn’t know about your sexual relations with others.

Everybody in the world shouldn’t have the opportunity to get on the Internet and read about your baby daddy and baby momma drama.

If we all respect ourselves, then we should all care enough to have some internet etiquette.

We never when our next employers are monitoring us on the Internet.

We never know when younger people see us as mentors and follow our every move on the Internet.

We all should think the next time we do a status update on Facebook; we should ask ourselves if it’s necessary to incorporate profanity in our status.

Young adolescents can be easily influenced and don’t need to know that you sell drugs; so stop saying it on the web.

Some people are always looking to take what is yours, so please stop laying out your money in your pictures.

Young women, there are some men that occupy their time by stalking you. Please put on some clothes in your pictures.

Young men, keep your gang signs to yourself because ultimately attracting attention from others may not be what you want.

People, we have to be careful we have to have Internet etiquette.

One for this week: Isaiah 29:14 - Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.

We Have Lost A Generation Of Black Boys: We Have Nobody To Blame But Ourselves

2010-11-21T18:03:00.000-08:00

The Grand Rapids Times
11-21-2010

Yes, we have lost most of our black boys and there are plenty of statistics to prove it.

There is no longer a need for dire predictions, hand-wringing, or apprehension about losing a generation of black boys. It is too late! In education, employment, economics, incarceration, health, housing, and parenting, we have lost a generation of young black men. The question that remains is will we lose the next two or three generations, or possibly every generation of black boys hereafter to the streets, negative media, gangs, drugs, poor education, unemployment, father absence, crime, violence and death?

Let’s look at the facts. Most young black men in Grand Rapids and the United States don’t graduate from high school. Only 35% of black male students graduated from high school in Chicago and only 26% in New York City, according to a report by The Schott Foundation for Public Education. Only a few black boys who finish high school actually attend college, and of those few black boys who enter college, nationally, only 22% of them finish college.

Young black male students have the worst grades, the lowest test scores, and the highest dropout rates of all students in the country. When these young black men don’t succeed in school, they are much more likely to succeed in the nation’s criminal justice and penitentiary system. And it was discovered recently that even when a young black man graduates from a U.S. college, there is a good chance that he is from Africa, the Caribbean or Europe, and not the United States.

Black men in prison in America have become as American as apple pie. There are more black men in prisons and jails in the United States (about 1.1 million) than there are black men incarcerated in the rest of the world combined. This criminalization process now starts in elementary schools with black male children as young as six and seven years old being arrested in staggering numbers according to a 20w05 report, Education on Lockdown by the Advancement Project.

We Bear Most Of The Blame

Those of us who came up in the sixties, seventies and eighties wanted our children to have all of the things we never dreamed we could have, so, we spoiled and pampered them, to death. Vacations, cars, money, football and basketball practice, $125 sneakers, designer clothes, cell phones, video games, and on and on.

We Forgot To Teach Our Children The Value Of Hard Work

Caddying 5 hours in the hot sun to make eighty cents to eat lunch the next day; setting bowling pins until midnight to have lunch money the next day; selling papers until midnight to make a dollar and a quarter or working a paper route in cold and snow is what many Black boys did during their teen years. Instead of our children having to study after school, they play video games or watch TV for the next eight hours. That is, those who aren’t out selling drugs. In 2006, my 21 year old nephew in Los Angeles asked me why should he flip burgers 40 hours a week when he can deliver one little bag and make four times that much in 20 minutes? Three months later, he got his head blown off in a drive-by shooting. What a waste, We give our children everything, without their having to earn it. How many of our children do not have cell phones?

Who pays for those cell phones?

How many are driven to school and get picked up from school everyday? Taken to football practice, given money for Mickey D’s? Get bailed out of jail frequently? Go to the mall to buy those expensive designer clothes and shoes? What happened to work/reward?

What we have today is babies raising babies. Seldom is there a father figure in the house.

Where is the tough love? How can you expect children to want to excel, when there is no motivation? So, what we have is a generation of lazy, unmotivated, often-immoral children and young adults.

We created this mess. Now we must undo it.

We Can Turn This Thing Around

Our youth need role models.

They need to see successful Black men and women, entrepreneurs, scientists, sales people, real politicians and spiritual messages that offer more than how to get to the “sweet bye and bye.” They need to learn how to live in the “sweet now and now!”

Many think the only way out is to sell drugs, be a rapper or be an NBA point guard or a great NFL wide receiver. Learning a trade, owning a business or becoming a responsible, productive member of society seldom crosses their mind. Couple this with the passivity, neglect and disengagement of the black community concerning the future of our black boys, and we have a dead society. We do little, while the future lives of black boys are being destroyed in record numbers. The schools that black boys attend prepare them with skills that will make them obsolete before – and if – they graduate. In a strange and perverse way, the black community, itself, has started to wage a kind of war against young black men and has become part of this destructive process.

We wonder why our young black women leave Grand Rapids as soon as they graduate from college. Whom are they going to marry? What do they have to pick from? Who is going to build and maintain the economies of black communities?

Who is going to anchor strong families in the black community? Who will young black boys emulate as they grow into men?

Where is the outrage of the black community at the destruction of its black boys? Where are the plans and the supportive actions to change this? Is this the beginning of the end of the black people in Grand Rapids?

The list of those who have failed young black men includes our government, our foundations, our schools, our media, our black churches, our black leaders, and even our parents.

Ironically, experts say that the solutions to the problems of young black men are simple and relatively inexpensive, but they may not be easy, practical or popular. It is not that we lack solutions as much as it is that we lack the will to implement these solutions to save black boys. It seems that government is willing to pay billions of dollars to lock up young black men, rather than the millions it would take to prepare them to become viable contributors and valued members of our society.

Please consider these simple goals that can lead to solutions for fixing the problems of young black men:

Short Term

1. Teach our youth to read at grade level by the third grade and to embrace education.

2. Provide positive role model s for our youth.

3. Create a stable home environment for black boys that includes contact with their fathers.

4. Ensure that our youth have a strong spiritual base.

5. Teach black boys to respect all girls and women.

Long Term

1. Invest as much money in educating black boys as in locking up black men.

2. Help connec t blac k boys to a positive vision of themselves in the future.

3. Build a positive peer cul ture for our youth.

4. Teach black boys self-discipline, culture and history.

5. Teach our youth and the communities in which they live to embrace education and life-long learning.

COME ON GRAND RAPIDS, LET’S GET TO WORK Come join the fight. Our website is www.overthehillgang.net. You may call us at 616- 446-2133 Email: overthehillgang@comcast.net

The Over The Hill Gang is dedicated to bringing all elements of the black community together to mentor and help our young people find their way.

Pages Missing

2010-11-15T19:46:00.000-08:00

I’m the type of individual that prefers to write over reading any day.

When I do read on my spare time, I make sure the book that I am reading is really good.

One time I purchased a used book, “Down These Mean Streets.” It was really intriguing, but there was one problem; there were missing pages.

The pages in the book that were missing forced me to skip ahead and by pass parts of the book that could have been crucial to the story.

This week I met a high school student that reminded me of the book that I once purchased with the missing pages.

However, there was a difference between her and the book; her missing pages seemed to be more valuable than those out of the book that I previously owned.

Her missing pages had the potential to alter her life for the better or the worse.

Her missing pages were purposely ripped out by others who didn’t care to see her excel.

I just want to say that I didn’t write this article to bash the educational system.

I wrote this article to raise questions about what is problematic in the educational system.

I want to be the first to say that I know many of excellent teachers and I commend them for their service to the youth.

However, there is something wrong when there are young adults entering the world and they lack the capability to write a complete sentence.

There is something terribly wrong when students are just passed along through grades without knowing the academic material they should know.

It’s time for some people to realize that by not requiring students to have certain knowledge before moving on we are ripping pages out of their books.

I know students who have missing pages who can’t communicate with those who speak proper English because all they know is Ebonics.

I know students who are limited to what mentors they have to look up to because the only one they have learned about is Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I know students who are seeking someone to inspire them; but without their pages, they can’t find inspiration.

We live in a creative generation, but creativity is something that we aren’t willing to accept when it comes to learning.

I believe that it is now time to return all of the missing pages.

If a student has an interest in film, find ways to incorporate film studies into his or her learning.

If a student loves music, give him or her something to look forward to by showing them the millions of universities that offer music as a major.

Don’t tell students that film and music are useless in life because this is not true; many of people have done great things in these arts.

Stop ripping pages out of student’s books.

Give the pages back.

Bring back the support; stop crushing dreams because of your personal opinion.

If you feel that students aren’t being challenged enough in school, then go the extra mile to make more worksheets for homework.

This is not only for teachers this is also for parents at home.

Teachers can’t give pages back; and then as soon as students return home, they get ripped back out.

My high school friend that I met this week graduates this year, so her time for getting her pages back is very short.

I wonder how many other students are in her position.

People let’s return the missing pages.

One for the week: Yet Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said. Exodus 7:13 We can’t be like Pharaoh, we can’t have hard hearts. We must listen to each other, especially upcoming generations of the future.

Tears With No Kleenex

2010-11-07T22:24:00.001-08:00

When people cry no matter what the reason may be I believe that they should have Kleenex available at their expense.

No one should have to endure tears and a runny nose with no way to wipe them away.

No one should be forced to have to wear the aftermath of tears and mucus on their sleeve due to the absence of Kleenex.

However, just because no one should doesn’t mean that experiencing tear’s with no Kleenex hasn’t been the choice of millions.

Many people cry and complain about societal structure and constraints politicians place on the way we live, but these many people don’t vote.

These are people who are choosing to wipe their tears and mucus on their sleeves.

So many of us dispute law’s that we disagree with but don’t care to vote for people who have power to control these law’s.

Some of us want to experience change but we don’t care to vote for it.

Some of us want our voices to be heard, but choose to be silent the day that ballads are out.

Some of us want to give solutions for problematic issue’s but don’t care to pay any attention to issues during the time of voting.

There are too many dirty sleeves; it’s time to pull out the Kleenex.

Young people, we are the main ones who want to bring up injustice and the idea of inequality; so we need to be the main ones heading to the poles to vote.

We stress and voice our opinions about rights we feel we should have, but then when it’s time to vote for these rights we are nowhere to be found.

It’s time to put them shirts with the dirty sleeves in the wash and bring out the Kleenex.

My parents always told me growing up that if I wanted something I would have to work for it, well this applies to voting as well.

If we all want to voice our opinions within society we have to vote in order to have that right.

One for the week: Deuteronomy 4:12 Then the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice.

Value = 0

2010-10-30T20:11:00.000-07:00

When I refer to value, I think of what it means to be a Christian.

I think about what it means to be true to yourself, and true to others.

I want to commend people who make it their duty to show others that there is value in multiple aspects of life.

To those that have shared unity with another person for years in marriage, I thank you.

Thank you for displaying that love isn’t short term relationships, and 1 night stands.

For those that devote time out of each day for God; I thank you.

I thank you for showing that a relationship with God is more than just calling upon Him when you are in trouble.

I wonder if value is appreciated anymore when it comes to some things.

I’m not a mathematician under any circumstance, but it doesn’t take a mathematician to realize that the value is decreasing.

There has to be value placed back into education.

It’s time to stop lying; we all know that our children don’t receive the same opportunities when it comes to learning.

It’s time to bring the value from 0 back to 100. People, we have to once again strive to keep it at 100.

Some of us are jumping into marriages with the knowledge that we don’t want to spend the rest of our lives with the person that we are marrying.

Why aren’t we keeping it 100?

It is sad that many of us can go about each day supporting things that no longer have value.

Instead of supporting things with no value we should strive to place value back.

One for the week: Leviticus 27:17 – “If he dedicates his field during the Year of Jubilee, the value that has been set remains.”

Email me at marcelgamble@ sbcglobal.net to discuss the idea of value.

Lovely Secrets

2010-10-22T18:42:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times

It occurs everyday; millions of people indulge themselves in relationships prematurely.

We experience this thing called love at first sight.

However, unknowingly we ignore the lovely secrets.

He doesn’t ask questions about her, and she doesn’t care to raise questions about him.

The most that many of us know about each other are surface characteristics.

She doesn’t know that he has the capability to take advantage of her; physically, mentally, and emotionally, in the future.

He has no idea that he is just one of her trophies.

The cost is too high to ignore the lovely secrets.

I am someone that once ignored the lovely secrets and someone that once had to learn hard lessons from doing so.

Now, I see young leaders in charge of the future ignoring these secrets.

I see young people jumping in and out of relationships like they’re playing double dutch.

I see young girls continuously hurt, crying more tears then a family attending a funeral.

I see young men seeing more women than a beauty salon on its best day of business.

How is all of this happening – all because people aren’t taking the time to discover the lovely secrets?

It is crucial for people to know their significant others.

Not to put a damper on a blessing such as marriage, but a person can place a ring on your finger one day and place hands on you physically to harm you the next.

Love takes and requires a lot of devotion.

If people are willing to devote the time in effort in loving someone, they should be willing to put in the same amount of time to find out who people are.

We can’t afford to be naïve we have to remember that with love comes the lovely secrets.

One for the week: “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.” Ecclesiastes 7:8

Leaves Of Color

2010-10-11T17:50:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times

Once again it is fall; a time of serious weather change and clothing choices.

Besides the changes that obviously affect us during this time, leaves of all different colors, shapes, and sizes hit the ground.

They don’t blow around to segregate themselves; they collaborate on the ground to create tolerable living places.

Today, I looked at all of the different kinds of leaves on the ground and I asked myself an amusing question.

Why can’t my peers and I resemble the leaves?

The government creates zones to seclude some students from attending prestigious schools with other students.

The media isolates many minorities by identifying them with deceitful and exaggerated information.

Some people are deprived and others are hindered by resources that they need and resources that they could unquestionably live without.

Men hold dominance in the professional and social world.

People are defined by their social class and not the content of their character.

Are we capable of being leaves?

Do we have the capability to fall and rise with each other?

Yes, we do; we just have to realize that no matter what, we are all going to be different leaves that fall from different trees.

We all have to be able to land on the same ground with no conflict.

We should be able to attend the same schools.

The inner city shouldn’t be compacted with fast food restaurants when the greater city only has a few.

Churches shouldn’t be segregated when we ultimately are gathered for the same purpose.

We should be like the leaves.

One for the week: May God give you of heaven’s dew and of earth’s richness— an abundance of grain and new wine. Genesis 27:28

Tell us your opinion

2010-10-11T17:36:00.000-07:00

The Mid-Term Election is November 2, 2010. What needs to be done to get more African Americans in Grand Rapids out to vote?

Play It Back

2010-10-02T12:16:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times

Once a hit record drops, it receives a lot of airplay through radio stations and by people who like the record. Unfortunately, there comes a time period when songs reach expiration dates.

When this time period hits, some people retire from listening to these songs and some recycle them and choose to continue to listen to them.

One song that people should retire is “Grudges.”

This song has some individuals making other people pay for their repressed memories.

This song has people that are in their second marriages making their new spouses pay for the bad things their previous spouses did.

This song has mothers telling their sons that they aren’t going to be any good like their fathers.

It has fathers telling their daughters that they are going to be promiscuous like their mothers.

I don’t like “Grudges” because it is played way too often.

It is played when people need an excuse to why they can’t accomplish their goals.

It is played when people are driven to try to live their lives through those close to them.

I understand that we all grow from past experiences, but we also have to remember that they are past and not present experiences.

“Grudges” needs to be retired; it doesn’t deserve to be recycled.

This song is only harming and hindering so many of us from excelling in life.

Somebody needs to cut this song off.

Change the radio station, or put in a different CD.

This song needs to completely be removed from all IPOD’s.

I’m tired of dreams being crushed because of this song.

I’m tired of addictions continuing because of this song.

I’m tired of people inflicting pain on each other because of this song.

It’s time to support a new hit record.

One for the week: A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11

Black Folks And The Illusion Of Inclusion

2010-10-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times

NNPA Columnist

Unfortunately, too many Black folks in this country are blinded by a debilitating condition best described as the illusion of inclusion.

This was graphically demonstrated at a town hall meeting during which Mrs. Velma Hart, an educated, stylishly-dressed Black woman relayed her deeply felt economic concerns to President Barack Obama.

With a firm voice, Mrs. Hart told the President that “I am one of your middle class Americans. And quite frankly, I am exhausted –exhausted of defending you, defending your administration, defending the mantle of change that I voted for, and deeply disappointed with where we are right now. I have been told that I voted for a man who said he was going to change things in a meaningful way for the middle class….”

It is very disturbing that an educated Black person could possibly believe that a Black president, no matter what he said during his campaign, could bring about meaningful change in a society where race still really matters.

After all, this is a society that has never, in its entire history, voluntarily given Black folks anything.

Every move forward in the struggle for equal rights, equal opportunity and equal justice came about after many of our people paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives.

It is a society where when a White male commits a heinous crime, the focus is on the pathology of that particular criminal; when a Black male commits one, the focus is on the “pathology of Black males.”

It is a society where Rupert Murdock’s New York Post can publish an article on Mrs. Hart, a financial officer with a veterans organization, with the headline “Gal Takes Him (President Obama) to Task Over Failed Vow at Town Hall; where Richard Schuman, a University of Michigan sociology professor, in a survey found that Whites consider integration as 15 percent Black, 85 percent White with a White person always in charge.

Noted Schuman, “….when White Americans say they ‘favor’ integrated schools or neighborhoods what they really mean is a few Black students or families in a predominately White environment.”

It is a society where conservative icon, William Buckley, could write in a 1991 National Review article that “….Blacks, yes, are sensitive, but Black lobbies are not powerful enough to punish nonpolitical transgressors against such taboos. (A black book-buyers’ boycott against a novelist would not impoverish.)

If the spoken or written offense is egregious enough, as in the case of the joke told (in 1975) to John Dean by Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz, a Cabinet officer gets fired.

If a district attorney is named to a federal judgeship and it is revealed that he once made a pot-valiantly genial reference to the Ku Klux Klan, he can be defeated on the floor of the Senate.

And no one running for the office in a state in which the Black population is significant would consider post 1965, violating the taboo. On the other hand, there is discussion of such questions as relative Black intelligence, sexual promiscuity, and upward mobility that still gets a sober hearing in sober surroundings….”

And where Forbes a prestigious business magazine, published an article by Dinesh D’Souza, a self-loathing “tribesman” from Mumbai, India, in which he accuses President Obama of governing with the anti-colonialist beliefs of his father, whom he describes as a “Luo tribesman who grew up in Kenya….”

An Indian friend said that D’Souza, who is treated as an expert on Black folks in many academic and journalistic circles, is an Indian equivalent of Clarence Thomas and Larry Elder.

A society with such White supremacist attitudes can’t be meaningfully changed by any single individual, but only by a group of people who are united, alert, focused, determined and knowledgeable.

Journalist/Lecturer A. Peter Bailey, a former associate editor of Ebony, is currently editor of Vital Issues: The Journal of African American Speeches. He can be reached at apeterb@verizon.net

Rosa Parks Sculpture

2010-10-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the Rosa Parks Sculpture in downtown Grand Rapids, corner of Monroe Ave and Monroe Center? Tell us what your thoughts are after seeing it?

#1 Architect

2010-09-25T15:25:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times

Millions of architects strive to create multiplicity by constructing blue prints that are unique to their character. They begin blueprints, they erase blue prints, until they have what they believe is the blue print of all blue prints.

One architect that doesn’t have to revert back to the drawing board is God.

With His first try, God creates an impeccable blueprint that is like no other.

His main focus was multiplicity when He created all of us because He created all of us to be different.

As His unique creations we have the tendency of allowing others to have the right to judge us; but why?

We were created by the greatest architect of all time.

Since this is the case, why do we allow others the power to chase us back to our blueprints; when all we need to do is confront our architect?

Some of us suffer from drug addictions and we allow others the right to reject us; but why?

These individuals aren’t the architect that created us.

Some of us have problems with premarital sex and we let others call our sins unforgivable; but why?

It wasn’t their blueprint that created us.

We seem to forget periodically that we all sin and God gave His one and only son to forgive us of our sins; so He has the final say if our blueprints are beyond salvageable.

We can’t live life trying to impress others we have to live life for ourselves.

We have to get ourselves together and stop allowing others play the part of being our architect.

One for the week: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (New International Version)

Money, Money, Money, Money!

2010-09-18T13:37:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times

Money is and probably forever will be classified as a dominant necessity in life.

However, people have the tendency of forgetting that it is only one of our many needs to live.

Unfortunately, because money is placed at such a high value the focus on money begins to have a constant battle with the focus on God.

For instance, thousands of people swarm to nightclubs on Saturday night; and they have no problem paying the typical cover fee.

The same individuals go to church Sunday morning and complain or don’t even bother putting money into the collection plate.

The following example raises a very important question.

Is money evil itself or does our decisions create a bad look for money?

As humans we undergo obstacles that alter our ways of living.

For many of us, when we face financial difficulties, we conform to the idea of budgeting.

When we are well off financially, we tend to forget what the word budget even means.

I believe that our decision behind what we do with money when we have it causes us to forget about the meaningful and important aspects of life.

Not only do we allow the amount or lack of money we have affect us religiously.

We also become affected in other ways.

I understand as Christians we should practice the idea of giving whole- heartedly, but first we have to discover exactly what this means.

Does this mean putting three thousand dollars worth of money on rims for your truck and then on Sunday giving the church $1?

Does this mean give the church $500 and not have enough money for groceries for the week?

We have to find a balance!

When I say money has the power to alter our character, I’ll be the first to admit that there have been times in my life when it has.

My attitude used to cause me to not concern myself with the rest of the world; my only concern was money.

I didn’t care about giving back to God.

I didn’t care about others who had to wake up everyday with the thought of struggle on their mind.

I didn’t care about the kid I went to school with that never had lunch to eat.

I advise everyone to come to the realization that money isn’t everything.

We have to be wise about how we use it.

Money can change our lives for the best or for the worse.

One for the week: “Let every priest receive the money from one of the treasurers, and let it be used to repair whatever damage is found in the temple.” 2 Kings 12:5

My Name Is No Name

2010-09-11T11:53:00.001-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times

This year I graduated at the top of my class and received many letters from various colleges.

I strive to be futuristic; so this upcoming year, I plan to attend a prestigious university to obtain my 4 year degree.

I want to become a mentor for upcoming youth in my neighborhood; I want to set an example for them.

I want my peers to see that when someone remains diligent with their goals, it pays My Name Is No Name off.

I visualize myself being successful with the opportunity to indulge in a prosperous future.

Respecting the leaders of yesterday and becoming a leader of tomorrow is my personal quote that I live by.

In ten years I see myself married to someone who loves me for who I am.

Being the parent of two brilliant children is what I imagine, informing my children of the many opportunities they may have in the world is an ultimate goal of mine.

I want to show my children that materialistic items are with us momentarily, but God is with us forever.

Changing my life for the better will not be my only personal desire.

Changing the lives of others around me would be my life long mission.

I would like to own a safe venue where inner city youth would feel comfortable about expressing their many talents.

I know that I am only one person, but I would like to change the world.

Unfortunately, I am unable to do any of this.

Today my chance to alter the world ended this morning when my mother entered the dark room and came out without me.

This is why I do not have a name.

I didn’t make it that far in my journey to earn a name.

My name is no name, and I wonder how many others are out in the world like me.

People we have to think before we make life changing decisions.

The following story isn’t fiction its reality and it occurs on the daily.

It saddens to think about all of the potential leaders that become no names each year.

One for the week: I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” Genesis 17:16

Word’s From A Wise Man

2010-09-03T19:14:00.001-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times

This week I started to purchase a pair of shoes; but, instead, I decided to buy a Bible.

Earlier this week I attended a chapel service at school and the focus was on Paul’s words of wisdom.

During his imprisonment, his time of trial, Paul pondered on the thought of rejoicing in the Lord.

This week, I took my new Bible and I explored to discover the significance behind Paul’s word. Paul stated, “We should rejoice in the Lord.” The significance about this is that Paul didn’t say that we should rejoice in the Lord sometimes, He says that we should rejoice in the Lord always.

After reading Paul’s words this week, I was humbled and I want to share my understanding with you all.

Paul didn’t say rejoice in the Lord – only when we are financially stable.

He didn’t say rejoice in the Lord only when we get promoted at work.

He didn’t say rejoice in the Lord when we leave the single life and find significant others.

Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord always.”

He didn’t say rejoice in the Lord when we are driving in our brand new nice cars.

He didn’t say rejoice in the Lord when we have central air in our large expensive homes.

Paul says that we should rejoice in the Lord always.

We should rejoice in the Lord when we only have one dollar left in our pockets.

We should rejoice in the Lord when we have to wear clothes that aren’t name brand.

We should rejoice when we have to drive our cars that are more than 5 years old.

There are some individuals in the world that have to walk everyday that rejoice.

There are people who don’t own homes who still rejoice.

There are recovering addicts from years of addiction who rejoice.

Why are we selective when it comes to rejoicing in the Lord? We have to rejoice in the Lord always.

I want to thank Paul for his wisdom.

One for the week: “I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne.” Revelation 7:9

GR’s Black Community Needs Cultural Renaissance, Revival

2010-09-03T17:53:00.001-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times

“The fact that we are Black is our ultimate reality.”
Dr. Ron Karenga

The flip side of Dr. Karenga’s statement concerning our Black reality is that some of us are dry, and some of us are very dry.

“Urban blight, high crime, business deterioration, and white flight have combined to create urban landscapes that look more like war zones than busy metropolitan centers,” says Stuart Butler, in Inner- City Renewal.

The lack of moisture in our spiritual, cultural, social and moral lives has made us not only dry but fragmented.

“Behold there were very many in the open valley (inner city); lo they were very dry. And he said unto me, brother man (preachers, teachers, artists, musicians, poets, singers and song writers) can these bones live? And I answered, “My Lord Jehovah, you’re the only one who knows that? Ezekiel 37.

The condition or the state of Black people in Grand Rapids can be said to be dry; “behold they say, our bones are dried, and our hope is lost; we are cut off from our parts,“ Ezekiel 37:2. Our dryness spiritually, socially, culturally and morally is our own making. We’ve embraced pseudo black cultural nuances of ‘gangsta rap,’ ‘thug life,’ “baby mama drama,” ‘stupid checks’ (SSI=ADD/ADHD), ghetto drama, “sugar mama syndrome” guns, drugs and the lack of a serious work ethic.

“Welfare has done more harm than good and has proven to be much more expensive than anyone could have imagined when President Lyndon Johnson launched the “Great Society” thirty years ago. I have had the perverse and crippling consequences of illegitimacy, dependency, voluntary joblessness, family destruction, welfare fraud and crime, ” Butler also states.

We’ve embraced and become comfortable with non- academic achievement, non-innovative creative genius and a plantation mentality that is draining us of our ability to rise.

We have lost respect for the church, our elders, our women and our children.

Our children are now broken – killing each other for whimsical reasons, making babies that they either do not necessarily want or cannot take care of, denigrating education while the functional illiteracy and high school drop-out rate has exceeded fifty percent.

What is it that can relieve us of our dryness?

We need a Word. We need spiritual, social, cultural and moral word. “Rap upon these bones, and say unto them, O you dry bones, hear the word of the Lord…behold, I will cause breath to enter into you and you shall live,” Ezk. 37:5.and you shall live,” Ezk. 37:5. As God breathed (his Spirit) into the nostrils of Adam and he became a living soul, we in the Black community need a second wind. We need to become living proactive souls.

Our souls have become discomfited; our souls are crying out from this dryness.

This second wind is a renaissance/ soulful revival that can only come from us breathing into one another a breath of life.

A renaissance is nothing short of a rebirth; a shaking, rumbling awakening and a coming together to create, produce and be fruitful.

“I rapped as I was commanded and as I spoke to those on Eastern & Division, Division & Burton, Madison & Hall, Fuller & Bemis, Wealthy & Diamond then there was a noise and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, sharing rhetoric together but yet without breath. We had soul but not spirit; we had no breath.

We had the feeling, but lacked the spiritual, social, cultural and moral will to inhale. We’ve always had the ability to stir-up the gifts in our children that are waiting for birth, laying dormant or have become discouraged but we lost our sense of community. The government has never been the breath we needed. Who breathed on us when there was no government help?

“Then He said unto me brother man, rap to the wind, rap son of man, saying to the wind of your ancient of days (paraphrased), thus saith the Lord, Come O’four winds; the Pison wind of the land of Havilah, the Gihon wind from the land of Ethiopia, the Hiddekel wind East of Assyria, and the mighty wind from the land of the Eurphrates and breathe of upon these slain by drugs, violence, molestation, family dysfunctionalism, poverty, despair, hopelessness and low self esteem) that, they may live.”

When preachers, teachers, poets, novelist, short story writers dancers, composers, musicians, businessmen/women and politicians collectively allow God to breathe on us, we will see a renaissance that will exceed that of Harlem, Chicago, Kansas City or Louisiana. We will see a revival that exceeds that of the “Great Awakening,” and Azusa St. When we inhale this fresh wind, we will be able to exhale and breathe new life not only into the Black community but the community at large.

Momma, I’m Not a Preacher

2010-08-29T00:22:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times

Momma, I’m not a preacher, but I will tell the people what they should hear.

I try to live right but I get things wrong then I learn my lesson.

I learned my lesson, and now I’m strong.

Momma, I’m not a preacher; but I can sing this song.

This week, I want to share with you all my schedule for one day.

9 a.m. – I wake up and brush my teeth then I get in the shower.

10 a.m. – I am in the car on my way to Calvin to fill out paper work for this up and coming school year.

11 a.m. – I am still on campus reserving books for this fall.

12 a.m. – I am still on campus making plans with others regarding this fall.

1 p.m. – I am back in my car on my way to the post office.

I have to mail a payment for a $10 parking ticket that I received earlier this week.

2 p.m. – I’m back in the car on my way to work.

1:30 a.m. – I’m off of work.

2:00 a.m. – I am back in bed preparing my body for another day filled with activity.

After analyzing this schedule carefully, I realize not once during my day did I have personal one on one time with God.

There wasn’t any prayer, there wasn’t any reading of the word, and there wasn’t any blessing God for allowing me to see another day.

Honestly, reviewing my schedule helped me realize that God reserves time for me everyday but I don’t do the same in return.

Momma, I’m not a preacher; but I will tell the people what they should hear.

I try to live right, and I get things wrong; then I learn my lesson.

I learned my lesson, and now I’m strong.

Momma, I’m not a preacher; but I can sing this song.

Time is something that we take for granted.

Time is something that we should on the daily give to God.

One for the week: Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on the name of the LORD Genesis 4:26

Medicate Me

2010-08-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times

After seeing an infomercial for the fourth time within a two hour period, I began to wonder.

We as human beings are unbelievably creative when it comes to creating solutions for any problems our bodies may have.

If we are unhappy with our weight, there are supplements to make us thinner or heavier.

If we are unsatisfied with our ability to retain knowledge, there are pills that aid us in remembering everything.

If we desire to drain our bodies for endless hours, we have energy drinks, and capsules.

If we do not like the wrinkles that come with aging, we have aging crème.

I’m beginning to believe that people are just creating problems just to have reasoning to invent more prescriptions.

I congratulate all of the scientists and pharmacists in the world who create these many prescriptions for everyone.

However, I wonder why I never see an infomercial about a prescription that outweighs its side effects.

I want to tell you about a prescription that I haven’t had filled for some time now.

This prescription has negative side effects that are worth experiencing and positive side effects that are astonishing.

I don’t know how much weight this prescription will take away from a persons’ body.

I don’t know how many wrinkles this prescription will take away from a persons’ face.

I most certainly do not know how much knowledge this prescription will help an individual retain.

However, I can say that I have seen this prescription save lives.

I have seen this medication make the weak willed strong and those that are naive wise.

I have seen this medication transform a prostitute’s testimony into a message that I needed to hear.

I have seen this medication turn foolish girls into productive young women.

I have seen this medication turn young boys into respectful young men.

I have seen this prescription take those with physical and mental disabilities and make it seem like there are no disabilities at all.

Somebody should create an infomercial because I have seen this prescription do some incredible things.

I appreciate the manmade prescriptions created however, none of them posses the power of this prescription.

I need to be medicated; it’s time for me to once again medicate myself.

We are fortunate because it doesn’t take hours or days to have this prescription filled.

To have this prescription filled all we need is the word.

To all of the gangsters, it’s not too late to get your dose; it can knock the bullets out of that gun.

To those that are corrupted officers of the law, it’s not too late to get your dose; it can help you think before ruining an innocent persons’ life.

To all of the prostitutes, get your dose; it can help you see that your body is a temple and it should be respected.

I wish I could see an infomercial for this prescription because we all need a dose.

Email me at marcelgamble@ sbcglobal.net if you chose to discuss the topic of this prescription.

One for the week: “They alone are to enter my sanctuary; they alone are to come near my table to minister before me and perform my service.” Ezekiel 44:16

Trash Into Treasure

2010-08-13T16:19:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times

People do it everyday; they throw away old things for multiple reasons and then rush to purchase new items.

Some believe that new things will take all of their problems away.

I’m going to get a new car because my old car is beat up; it’s beginning to rust, and the paint is chipping on the side.

I need a new house because my friends aren’t as impressed as I want them to be when they visit my home.

I need a new wife because my current wife knows how to use the microwave, but she doesn’t know how to cook. I’m going to look for a new husband because my husband doesn’t know how to repair anything.

We all have the tendency to forget that with new belongings sometimes come negative outcomes.

We all want to throw our old possessions in the trash with no hesitation.

Some of us believe that something being new will handle our problem; unfortunately, sometimes that’s not the case.

We should work with the old, and turn trash into treasure.

Yes, I can buy a new car with a brand new paint job; but I have to realize that in a few years the paint on the new car will chip and it will become the old.

Yes, I can purchase a new house to impress my friends; but what happens when they build one right next to me that they are more impressed with? Yes, I can trade my old wife in for a new wife that can cook; but happens when I become obese and unhealthy from eating all of the time?

Of course, ladies, you can trade your husband in for a handyman; but what will happen when he tries to repair things that he knows nothing about?

Things that we all want to kick to the curb are things that we should sometimes hold on to.

Good doesn’t always come with upgrades.

We have to learn how to turn our trash into treasure.

I originally wrote this article because it seems that many people aren’t taking marriage seriously.

Marriage is a lifetime commitment; it’s not something a person just gives up on when they are tired.

Everyone has their downfalls; God made no one perfect.

Sometimes it can be nerve racking but it can be better to put up with the small things that you don’t like about your spouse rather than getting a new spouse that doesn’t respect you at all.

We all have to work on turning what we call trash into treasure.

One for the week: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24

Thin N Noun

2010-08-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,
How are you and I doing?

Hope all is well with you on this great day. Please know that flooded rivers soon return to their beds. I have been missing and I thank you Dear Readers for letting me know.

Thank you dear God for your eyes. My, you do see everything, no matter what. When I get the big mouth I notice how you will wake me up at night, just to remind me to beg someone’s pardon, or something I could have done better to help another person.

Then and Now Comparison I owe you Dear Readers, the comparison on Then and Now.

What was happening when I was a child and what the year 2010 have to do with it? Here is a small sample of my list.

THEN: The school bus was for those children who lived in the country. If you went to a Kent County school, no matter if it was rain, snow or hail, you just keep walking. Electrical storms you just keep walking and try to anticipate when the lightning will flash. Then duck under a tree. Looking at the bus stops it was amazing to watch as women’s umbrellas were torn by the wind. The pieces of paper that was used to protect hair-dos just fell apart and the printed word went down the drain. This left wet women waiting on the bus, trying to protect their hair-dos, and fighting to keep the wind from raising their dresses.

NOW: Students are blessed to get a ride to school on buses, cars, vans and trucks, that have heated seats, surrounded by music and On Star. If hungry stop at a local drive-in and get hot food. What would you like, Egg McMuffin or Pancakes?

THEN: Our old telephone on Franklin Street use to ring, ring, ring and nobody wanted to answer it. Mama would finally say, “kids somebody get the phone before it rings off the hook.” In order to make a long distant call you had to dial ‘O’ for the operator and she would dial it for you. She was a real live operator and she would say, “long distant operator, number please.” You could not talk until she said, “go ahead Grand Rapids.” Twix & Twitter I have not a clue, but just find a young person and in seconds they have sent a message. I think reading scores and comprehension should be based on the skills used and language to Twix and Twitter.

NOW: There are so many people on the phone and so many types of phones that I thought I saw an ant with an Ipod, or was it an apple? People depend on phones so much that even in the midst of budget cuts they will wait in line for hours to purchase a new phone. Who are we talking to? Does it really matter that you private phone gives you some prestige and information and a feeling of security on a dark lonely road.

I thought a well-known person here in our town was having some mental problems. I saw him out at the mall talking to himself. I am a nurse and I know when a person is hearing voices, because they talk to the voice they hear in their head.

I felt so sorry for him. When he passed our car I told my husband, “you never know who is having mental problems.” My kids laughed and said, “he has a blue tooth in his ear that is connected to his phone.” I bought a GPS and had no idea that this hunk of plastic and glass was smart enough to take me to my destination. One time I refused to make a turn and the GPS went on and on saying, “turn right.” When I did reach home it said, “you have arrived at your destination.” A friend was visiting me, I did not believe in ghost until I heard this voice. My friend remained calm and said, “ oh, my phone is programmed to call me when I have an appointment.” Sure enough her phone was blinking and calling her name. One night when I was half asleep, Ernie, the doll from Sesame Street, who used to belong to my grandsons, Leroy and Deon, yelled out one night in song.

The kids said the battery was dead, and that may have been true, but Ernie was not! (smile)

The Piggy Bank
My son Rufus Will and his wife Javonne Granderson, tried to explain to me why they got rid of the bank I bought Thaxton & Mathis. The bank was shaped like a robot with blue glass eyes.

Will, who is a great story teller said the bank was fine until one night when he went to touch the bank it gave the balance of the account and the eyes flashed. When he picked up the bank, it yelled, “I am being robbed.”

What has become of the old fashioned piggy bank that you just hit it in the head with a hammer and got the money you needed? Where is the bank now? Rufus and Javonne know.

Next week more of the same.

Keep Reading.

Please share your then and now observations on this blog!

Our Black Community In Grand Rapids, Weakened, But Not Dead – Yet

2010-08-13T10:49:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times

Last week’s blowout of our elected officials may have sealed the doom of the black community in Grand Rapids. An already weakened community lost three elected officials who should have won their seats.

Their poor communication efforts failed to motivate people to come out in mid-term elections, and the voter turnout in their precincts were extremely low.

Each had major issues they failed to address and some bad publicity definitely hurt some of them.

They either took their constituents for granted, did not push the right issues, have poor communication skills, or lack the know-how to get the people to the polls.

The black community is in pathetic shape and getting worse. We are literally going backwards – economically, politically and in our education system.

There is little communication in the black community.

Elected officials don’t communicate with us. Our 72 pastors do not communicate with us, or other pastors. Our social organizations do not communicate.

As a result, we have a bunch of “do-good organizations” running around, getting nothing done and having no idea what the other one is doing.

The results are: we have no political clout, no collective voice to speak out about injustices, no economic development projects, no jobs creation and very little training for meaningful jobs. This is the reason the community is all but dead.

The White, Latin, Asian and Arab communities are all leaving us in the dust.

Our school system is in shambles with almost 50% dropout rate of our children.

The Kent County Jail has 78% Black incarceration rate. Unemployment for blacks is over 18%.

So, the question is, who do we turn to? Who are our spokespersons?

Who are the people we turn to, to lead the way in creating businesses and higher paying jobs?

Stand-up and be counted!

Our current leaders appear to think all they need to do is meet and discuss issues. There is seldom any follow-up or meaningful solution resulting from all of these meetings that impact a large part of our community.

There are some churches and social organizations that are working hard to bring about changes, but their programs seldom, if ever, reach the masses.

Our ministers are asleep at the wheel.

Our ministers have captive audiences, every week; yet, mostly, they teach only the gospel.

Teaching the gospel is fine; however, our people need more, much more. We are that “lost sheep”….. in a strange land, following strange ways.”

We need to learn other things to build a legacy and a future for our great-grandchildren’s grandchildren, such as: economic and community development, the importance of a good education, how to obtain and maintain good health.

We have three times more diseases than all other cultures and we are getting sicker all the time. Diabetes, cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, AIDS, and arthritis are destroying our race.

We must also blame our once, very proud, but now very apathetic community.

Today, we are scattered all over the place, alienated from each other and very dysfunctional as a group.

Our neighborhood associations, who were designed to bring people together, are dysfunctional and constantly at each other’s throats. Instead of creating unity, they seem to bring more chaos.

We have to find a way to connect and work together for the good of us all. Unity is the key!

Most of our retired educators and businesspeople also turn their backs on the problems.

Instead of reaching out to pass on wisdom and life experiences to the young, many take the position that “I’ve done my part. Let somebody else deal with the problems.”

Well, folks, you are that somebody else!

You were blessed with the know-how. Now, it is incumbent on you to “give back”.

The only real answer is this: we must begin to seriously communicate with each other in every way possible.

If talented, experienced people just give four volunteer hours a month to unify and help our various organizations to start coalescing, it will make a tremendous difference.

Those with wisdom should not take it to the grave. Share it!

We must start now! Time is not on our side.

Where do we go from here?

Who will step-up and lead the way?

Robert Crawford is a retired businessman and executive director of the Over The Hill Gang, businesspeople and educators attempting to pass on life-experiences to young people to create a new, more productive community.

Editor's Note: The GR Times invites readers to visit www. grtimes.com to post your comments and views about this topic.

One Night Out

2010-07-30T20:24:00.001-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times

First off, I want to make it clear that this article isn’t directed towards anyone that this subject doesn’t concern.

It’s time to address an issue that’s been problematic for some time now.

Many of us are complaining about the lack of social venues that young people have to go to on the weekend.

We are frustrated with the fact that there are only a few night clubs, bowling alleys, and movie theaters that are available for our entertainment.

However, we are failing to look at the reasoning to why this is.

There aren’t many venues for us to socialize at because of the ruthless actions of other’s.

When a person works all week long and decide that they just want to spend one night with their friends to go dance, and etc this individual wants to have fun.

This person doesn’t want their one night of fun to be life threatening to their self or their friends.

A person doesn’t want to see a man get hit in the head with a beer bottle.

A person doesn’t want to see a man get kicked in the head repeatedly.

I know that I, for one, am exhausted with seeing my fellow peers acting foolish.

I’m not speaking about something that I know nothing about; I have been on both sides of the fence.

I have been the person who constantly fought, and I have been the person that was on the ground helpless.

However, I am also the individual that has come to the realization that all of this ruthlessness is worthless.

We all need to get our acts together.

Venues are being closed simply because we don’t know how to act.

We should all be able to come together and socialize without drama.

I shouldn’t have to fear for my girlfriends’ life at the end of the night when we leave the dance floor.

I shouldn’t have to be concerned about another man’s life at a place where people are having a good time.

We need to get it together.

I say we because we all have a friend that is one of these people that just don’t know how to act.

I’m not saying concern yourself in your friend’s drama, I’m saying school them on how to act when out at a public location.

We need to quit talking about this issue and be proactive about it.

Everyone needs to leave the drama at home and stop bringing it to public places amongst people it shouldn’t involve.

One for the week: “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” Proverbs 19:11

Sneakers On Me

2010-07-28T17:13:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times
7-23-2010

If everyone has an obsession, mine would be shoes.

People constantly ask me, “Why do you have so many shoes when you only have two feet?”

My answer is always, “A person can never have too many shoes.”

Usually, when I shop for sneakers, I look for the ones that stand out – the ones that no one else has, or the ones that will label me as being different from everyone else.

When I go places, I want people to see my many sneakers out of my large collection because the sneakers on me make me proud.

However, currently I have traded my sneakers in for a pair of steel toe boots.

I like walking in my shoes, but I decided to adventure out to walk in my father’s boots for a while.

I walk in these boots, and I see now.

I see exactly how hard my father had worked for years to provide for his family.

I see how in these boots my father goes to a factory everyday of the week to take care of children that are and aren’t biologically his.

I wonder, even with these boots on, would I be able to stand up and do the same.

These boots have me working 60 hours a week and still trying to make quality time for my family.

Some days I dread the time that I have to put on these boots because where I work, millions of other people are wearing boots just like mine.

These boots aren’t my sneakers, but when I take them off they will be going in the sneaker collection.

They don’t make me stand out, and they don’t make me look different from other people that may have them; but they do make me feel like a man.

Why would I place a pair of steel toe boots in with the sneaker collection?

Like many of my rare sneakers, my boots are irreplaceable.

This article is dedicated to my father Bill Hendler for wearing his boots for years.

I also want to dedicate this to any other parent who thinks your children don’t appreciate what you do for a living.

Read them this article for them to understand what it means to walk in your shoes.

One for the week: “Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ “ Deuteronomy 4:6

Don't Let the Ice Cream Melt

2010-04-02T14:46:00.001-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times
Adult's Walk
By Marcel Gamble

We all go grocery shopping.

When we return home from doing so, usually the first thing we put away is the ice cream.

Why? We have fear of the ice cream melting.

Many of us do the same with our lives; we fear that the talents God gives us are going to fade away.

Because of this fear, we take the first opportunities we get to showcase our talents.

For instance, picture someone who is a mathematician instead of tutoring or teaching others to spread his or her skill he or she hoards it and begins a drug trade business.

Picture someone who is a great dancer. Instead of teaching inner city youth that have dreams to one day become a dancer, this person decides to showcase his or her talent at the strip club.

I can be realistic and say that sometimes the easy way out seems to be the only way out.

It was great for a short period of time but unfortunately my ice cream ended up melting any way.

Yes, the easy way out in any situation has the potential of seeming great, however the easy way out never is the only way out.

Many people think that as long as they display their talents in any way their ice cream won’t melt.

I believe that if individuals were concerned with putting their ice cream away first after grocery shopping then they would have time to think about how they want to use their talents.

This means if ice cream stays frozen, people don’t have to rush to clean up melting messes.

If you’re a person that is intrigued with cameras, don’t waste your time filming all of the neighborhood fights, start shooting short films.

If you are someone who is fascinated with the operation of cars, don’t hotwire them for theft get a job at a garage somewhere.

If you have an interest for guns, don’t display your interest in the streets to showcase your talent get a job at a sporting goods store where you can tell costumers all about guns.

We can no longer afford to let the ice cream melt.

God gave us talents not to let the ice cream melt and cause destruction to his creation.

He gave us talents to spread his word and set examples for others.

One for the week: Exodus 25:39 - A talent of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories.

Do Democrats Commit Hate Crimes Against Black Republicans?

2010-04-02T13:59:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times

Frances Rice, Chairman
National Black Republican Association

Racists! That incendiary charge hurled by Democrats at Tea Party activists protesting against ObamaCare was shown to be totally false by Jack Cashill in his article "A Closer Look at the Capitol Steps Conspiracy".

Given the Democratic Party's 150-year record of racist rhetoric and racial violence - from the days of slavery until today - it is astonishing to see Democrats sanctimoniously playing the race card.

A display of unmitigated gall describes how Democrats are falsely comparing anti-ObamaCare protestors to the anti-civil rights racists of the 1960's who were Democrats.

Democrats get away with this racial hypocrisy because they know with absolute certainty that the true history of civil rights has long been buried, and the racism exhibited today by Democrats against blacks, particularly black Republicans, will be ignored by the mainstream media.

For instance, the liberal media expressed no outrage and not one word of condemnation was uttered by any Democrat after SEIU (Service Employees International Union) thugs attacked Kenneth Gladney, a black man.

Gladney was beaten, kicked and called a racist name while working as a vendor at a health care reform town hall meeting in St. Louis on August 6, 2009 called by U.S. Rep. Democrat Russ Carnahan.

The assault was a calculated attempt to intimidate and silence Tea Party protestors and town hall activists.

On the morning of the Gladney attack, the White House presented to Senate Democrats a “battle plan” to quell the protests. The advice given to the Democrats by the White House was to "punch back twice as hard", and the first casualty was Kenneth Gladney. In the emergency room of the St. John's Mercy Medical Center, Gladney was treated for injuries to his knee, back, elbow, shoulder and face suffered in the attack.

The six people arrested in the Gladney case, including a Post-Dispatch reporter, were charged with mere misdemeanor ordinance violations, with a total of ten charges spread out among the six offenders.

Not one Democrat rushed to a microphone to denounce the attack against Gladney as a "hate crime".

Based on the lack of any outrage by Democrats over the Gladney beating, it seems that the newly enacted "hate crime" legislation pushed by Democrats would not apply to cases of hateful brutality against black Republicans.

The Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on October 28, 2009 and is designed to punish crimes of violence against people because of their race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

At the core of why Democrats are feverishly painting conservatives and Republicans as racist, especially Tea Party activists, is the need to divert the public's attention away from the fact that President Barack Obama and the Democrats in control of Congress are slowly and deliberately transforming America from a free society with a representative form of government into a socialist dictatorship. A move applauded by the Cuban Communist dictator Fidel Castro.

Obama is now governing as a hard-core leftist, after campaigning for president as a centrist.

His cynical charade was designed to convince the majority of white Americans to vote for him, the very citizens Obama now castigates as racist.

What Obama and the Democrats are ignoring while trying to silence protestors with charges of racism is the fact that average American citizens are angry because they do not want socialism.

They understand that ObamaCare and Obama's out-of-control spending will produce massive deficits, high costs for consumer goods and fewer jobs.

Citizens have tried to communicate this message to Obama and the Democrats in every way possible, from protesting in record numbers to historic votes against Democrats in New Jersey, Virginia and Massachusetts.

Obama and the Democrats have chosen, at their peril, to ignore the will of the people and enact the economy-wrecking ObamaCare with one-party rule, bribing unprincipled Democrats with sleazy deals.

The powerful video posted on YouTube called "America Rising: An Open Letter to Democrat Politicians Patriotic Resistance" implores Americans to hold Democrats accountable in the 2010 elections.

A video posted on YouTube called "We The People" provides an inspiring call for us to take back our country from the socialists.

In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this call is made for all Americans to unite, engage in nonviolent civil disobedience and vote in November to stop the Democrats from shredding our Constitution and governing without the consent of the governed.

History shows that during the 1960's Democrats used racist slurs and brutality against Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a Republican until the day he died, and other nonviolent activists who were trying to stop the Democrats from denying civil rights to black Americans.

Today, Democrats are using similar reprehensible tactics against conservatives and Republicans, especially black Republicans, who are trying to stop the Democrats from stripping civil liberties from all Americans.

While claiming to be racially sensitive, Democrats use racist invectives to denigrate black Republicans, demeaning them as "sellouts", "Uncle Toms", "House Negroes", "House N-word", or worse.

The list of black Republicans attacked by Democrats is long and includes RNC Chairman Michael Steel, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, General Colin Powell and Justice Clarence Thomas.

On the left-wing Internet website called "The News Blog," Democrats posted a doctored photograph of RNC Chairman Michael Steele while he was the Lt. Governor of Maryland and running for a Senate seat.

Democrats depicted Steele as a "Simple Sambo" with a blackened minstrel-style face, nappy hair and big, think red lips. The cartoon caption read: "Simple Sambo wants to move to the big house".

This contemptible racist stereotype is the same one Democrats used to demean black men during the era of slavery and segregation.

Dr. Condoleezza Rice was the object of particularly vicious racist attacks by Democrats.

In addition to several other appalling images of Dr. Rice produced by several Democrats, cartoonist Jeff Danziger denigrated Dr. Rice as an ignorant, barefoot "mammy", reminiscent of the stereotyped black woman in the movie "Gone with the Wind" about the slave era black woman who remarked: "I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies".

This is the type of racist stereotype Democrats used to demean black women during the era of slavery and segregation.

A video was shot by WKRN Video Journalist Beau Fleenor at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee that shows Al Sharpton demeaning Gen. Powell and Dr. Rice, when Sharpton was asked to give his opinions about whether Powell and Rice were "House Negroes".

An article that appeared in a Portland, Oregon paper was one of many exposing how hardly a ripple of protest was made by black Democrats when Harry Belafonte publicly denounced Gen. Powell as a "House Negro".

Posted on the Internet is an article entitled "A Black Man, The Progressive's Perfect Trojan Horse" by black entertainer Lloyd Marcus exposing Democratic Party racism toward black Tea Party protestors.

The truth about Democratic Party racism can be harsh medicine, but is sorely needed to finally eject the race-baiting poison injected into our body politic by Democrats, the architects of modern-day racism.

As stated by author Michael Scheuer, the Democratic Party is the party of the four S's: slavery secession, segregation and now socialism. A prominent pundit affirmed that the Republican Party is the party of the four F's: family, faith, freedom and fairness. Civil rights history details are in the NBRA Civil Rights Newsletter that is posted on the website of the National Black Republican Association.

Written out of our history books are the following facts. The Republican Party was started in 1854 as the anti-slavery party and, after the Civil War, Republicans amended the US Constitution to grant blacks freedom (13th Amendment), citizenship (14th Amendment) and the right to vote (15th Amendment).

Republicans then passed the civil rights laws to ensure blacks could exercise their Constitutional rights, including the Civil Rights Acts of 1866, 1867 and 1875.

After Democrats took control of Congress in 1892, Democrats passed the Repeal Act of 1894 that overturned civil rights legislation enacted by the Republicans.

It took Republicans nearly six decades to finally achieve passage of civil rights legislation in the 1950's and 1960's pushed through by Republican Senator Everett Dirksen over the objection of the Democrats.

In addition to their reprehensible of record of fighting against civil rights legislation, Democrats have a long history of racial violence. Recorded by liberal professor Dr. Eric Foner in his book "A Short History of Reconstruction", is the horrifying fact that Democrats started the Ku Klux Klan in 1866 to lynch and terrorize Republicans - black and white. The Klan became the terrorist arm of the Democratic Party, killing over 2,000 black Republicans and over 1,000 white Republicans.

The violence against the 1960's era civil rights protestors was inflicted by Democrats.

Democrat Public Safety Commissioner Eugene "Bull" Connor in Birmingham let loose vicious dogs and turned skin-burning fire hoses on black civil rights demonstrators. Democrat Georgia Governor Lester Maddox famously brandished ax handles to prevent blacks from patronizing his restaurant.

In 1954, Democrat Arkansas Governor Orville Faubus tried to prevent desegregation of a Little Rock public school. Democrat Alabama Governor George Wallace stood in front of the Alabama schoolhouse in 1963 and thundered, "Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever."
All of these racist Democrats remained Democrats until the day they died.

One survivor from that era, Democrat Senator Robert Byrd, a former recruiter in the Ku Klux Klan, is still a Democrat and a prominent leader in the Democrat-controlled Congress where he was honored by his fellow Democrats as the "conscience of the Senate."

It does not even make common sense to believe that after the Republicans spent over 150 years fighting the Democrats and won, the racist Democrats suddenly rushed into the arms of the Republicans.

In fact Democrats declared that they would rather vote for a "yellow dog" than any one in the Republican Party, the party for blacks.

If our soldiers did and do voluntarily put their lives on the line to preserve our freedoms, then we can do no less.

If Dr. King had the courage to fight for civil rights for blacks in the face of racist slurs by Democrats and threats of imprisonment or death, then we surely have the courage to stand up for our civil liberties in the face of such threats. This we owe to ourselves, our country and future generations.

Frances Rice is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and Chairman of the National Black Republican Association. She may be contacted at: www.NBRA.info

Leeches

2010-03-21T11:31:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times

A leech will take blood from an individual and not give anything in return.

There aren’t any mutual agreements between a leech and the person they prey on.

I see some people as leeches, minus the blood sucking aspect.

There are leeches in the world that hunt for innocent people who have a complicated time saying no.

I know how it feels to be attacked by a leech, because I used to be in the category of people who have a difficult time saying no.

I used to be that person that would allow others to make decisions for me with their persuasive words.

I used to be the one that would listen to the stories of the leeches and have sympathy for them all the time.

I was the victim that allowed leech after leech to drain me physically, mentally, and emotionally, until I would break down myself.

Weak people care how leeches feel, but forget that leeches care less about how they feel.

Leeches only look out for themselves and how they can benefit from the individuals that they prey on.

Since I recently decided to stop being the prey of people that constantly take and never give, I want to encourage others to do the same.

A person can detach a leech by simply saying no!

It is sometimes hard at first, but someone that always hears the word no is not going to keep coming back to someone that they can’t take from.

I understand that a lot of people were born with a heart that just naturally causes them to give.

I understand that there are people struggling in the world and people that really do need assistance to live.

All of the above are true; however, there are also leeches who pose as these people.

It’s sad, but a leech will tell you that they need a money loan for something important and then spend the money you lend them on partying and etc.

A leech will tell you that they are on the verge of losing their house but then turn around and buy a brand new car.

A leech would tell you that your significant other isn’t right for you and then give you all kind of reasons to why just because as a leech they don’t want to see you with that person.

Leeches will do just about anything to have things their way.

This week, I just wanted to encourage people who are currently prey to pull the leeches off of their bodies.

One for the week: Matthew 21:22 - “All things you ask for in prayer, you will receive if you have faith.”

I wonder if there would be so many leeches if many people knew this verse?

2010 Census: Black, African-American Or Negro, That Is The Question

2010-03-21T11:03:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times
By Kenneth Muhammad

So, how many Negroes live in Grand Rapids? That’s a question the US Census Bureau wants answered.

Question No. 9 of the 2010 Census asks whether the respondent is “Black, African- American or Negro”.

This question renders the terms equal.

Consequently, those Black persons, or African-Americans who answer will be forced to equate themselves to a descriptive term associated with slaves and slavery.

Local politicians, including Mayor Heartwell, are calling on Grand Rapidians to complete the questionnaire.

Federal funding is partly dependent on completion of the census and the population of an area.

Blacks, however, are left with quite a conundrum. If we want the funds that are tied to the census results, we must suffer the humiliation of referring to ourselves as our former slave masters called us.

This is reminiscent of a scene in the movie “Roots” in which Kunta Kinte was forced to call himself “Toby” in order to get relief from a whipping.

Are we now looking for similar relief?

Gerald Brown of Grand Rapids says he will be completing the form and indicating that he “is a Negro that wishes to be counted”.

Gerald says despite the terminology, “during a recession we need all the funding we can get”.

I will not be completing and returning my census form because I do not wish to break the law.

Federal law provides that intentionally supplying false information on your census form is punishable by a $500 fine.

If I were to indicate that I am a Negro, that would definitely be a lie.

Politicians will likely urge Blacks to complete the Census regardless, but I wonder if indicating one is a Negro will garner us only 3/5 of the funding?

Mind Games

2010-03-13T08:21:00.000-08:00

The Grand Rapids Times
Adult's Walk
By Marcel Gamble

This week I want to share with you all a conversation that I had with someone that’s very close to me.

This other person and I had a discussion about people who are labeled as being mentally insane.

Here are my thoughts after our conversation.

Usually those who are identified as being mentally or criminally insane are adulterated by their past.

In other words, these are individuals who have had rough childhoods — people who weren’t as fortunate to have caring parents or at least one caring parent.

It’s unfortunate, but those who have the status as mentally insane route from dangerous environments.

If all of the above is true, how many people could America have saved?

How many more doctors or lawyers could our country have instead of mass murderers? I ask these questions because the reasoning for the thousands of individuals that are labeled as being mentally or criminally insane has a cause. Could the cause be America turning its back on those that are on and below the poverty line?

Or could the cause be that America is giving to much aide to those that are on and below the poverty line; which provides comfort ability? Could the cause be the thousands of young fathers neglecting their responsibilities as a man?

Or maybe the cause could be the thousands of young mothers that continue to have baby after baby to continue to receive the benefits from government assistance?

Many of the mentioned conditions above occur in urban minority communities.

What does this say about the thousands of people who are being labeled as being mentally insane?

Granted, there are the rare cases that we can’t prevent.

However, there are the thousands of cases that we can prevent.

Furthermore, I’m not saying that a person has to be the richest person in the world to provide for their child.

I’m saying that everyone is a least rich enough to provide love.

I’m not saying that everyone was fortunate enough to be raised on helpful values and principles.

I’m saying just don’t perpetuate the cycle by passing the same values down to your children, begin a new cycle.

To my peers, we have to realize that we all have to fight harder to show others that we aren’t products of our backgrounds growing up.

We have the assignment to depict that we are so much more.

This goes further than the mentally/criminally insane issue.

This enters the schools, the churches, and the work force.

One for the week:
Deuteronomy 7:13 - He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land—your grain, new wine and oil—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land that he swore to your forefathers to give you.

The Sun is Shining

2010-03-05T22:20:00.000-08:00

The Grand Rapids Times
Adult's Walk
By Marcel Gamble

The sun is out bright as ever once again.

After a winter of treacherous snow, it honestly is a beautiful gift from God.

I’m sure that many people love the winter and are a little upset about the season leaving us.

However, many of us enjoy the sun and warmer weather.

We have been waiting months for weather that we are satisfied with.

With that said, if we all appreciate the warmer weather, then why do we have the tendency to take advantage of it.

As young adults we have to understand that a seasonal change shouldn’t affect our behaviors or alter our images.

I want to congratulate everyone.

Although this winter hit all of us with nasty snowstorms, there weren’t very many storms amongst people.

There weren’t storms that caused others to pull out guns and inflict pain or death on their fellow peers.

There weren’t many storms that caused older men to prey on innocent under aged children.

I didn’t notice that many storms that caused men to adventure out on their wives and women to cheat on their husbands.

Granted the physical weather this winter was pretty heavy, but the weather amongst the people enduring the snow was okay.

As it begins to get warmer out, we all should focus on raising that okay to a level of greatness.

Past summers that have brought upon heat waves with guns.

Past summers have brought upon heavy prostitution and the use of more drug substances such as crack.

We should be thankful for warmer weather; we shouldn’t be taking advantage of it.

Young women should understand, yes, it is a time to remove layers of clothing; however, it is not a time to reveal your whole body to the world.

Young men should understand the same thing.

When the warmer weather comes, it’s not a time to put your boxers and bare backs on display.

We shouldn’t lose respect for ourselves just because it gets warmer outside.

The sun is shining and we should all work together to keep it that way.

One for the week: 1 Corinthians 12:13 – For by one spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

I Miss Her

2010-02-28T19:01:00.000-08:00

The Grand Rapids Times
Adult's Walk
By Marcel Gamble

She use to inspire me to achieve greatness. Now she limits my choices in career goals, and aspirations. To be honest I really don’t know who she is anymore. When I was an adolescent and had my head down she told me to pick it up. I can’t find her anymore like elementary students everyone else constantly cuts her in line. I need her back. There are many others insisting upon imitating her. Her perpetrators tell me that I’m lucky to see a day beyond the age of 20. Her perpetrators tell me that I should be fortunate that they took the time to create an outlet for me. I should be fortunate that I have the ability to express myself in any kind of way no matter the consequences or outcomes. They tell me to think about myself and not to worry about the young minds of potential leaders that I may be corrupting. I miss her because she used to give me hope. She aided me in developing a creative mind. Now she is lost and creativity is defined as a foreign language. Her perpetrators recycle and reiterate things over and over again. She was different; her image was unquestionably vibrant, but her imitators all look the same. It seems as if they are afraid to go against what the norm is and express their inner selves. They all find it acceptable to talk, walk, dress, and communicate the same way. Where did she go I miss her? I miss how she used to discuss unity. I miss how she spoke about prosperity and future success. I miss how she respected other women and identified them as queens. Where did she go, will she ever return? Will she ever come back to teach young men how to be successful fathers? Will she ever return to show young women how to place value on their morals? I need her back to display reality in the world not just fictional and persuasive tales. I need her because I miss her? Hip Hop I need you to come back to me. One for the week: “Every word of God has been proven true. He is a safe-covering to those who trust in Him. Proverbs 30:5

Mysteries of Me

2010-02-13T12:24:00.000-08:00

Adult's Walk
The Grand Rapids Times
By Marcel Gamble

Since it is Black History month I have decided to focus on race this week. I have chosen not to focus on one race but many.

This piece that I am sharing with you all this week was not written to demean anyone. This piece wasn’t written to put certain races on pedestals and leave others at ground level. This piece was written to open the eyes of those who may be battling with the sickness of ignorance.

In this poem I ask the question on numerous occasions, “Although, I am one race, why can’t I ever just be classified as myself.”

For instance, yes, I am black, but why can’t I be known for the actions I make and the activities that I participate in personally?

I Am a Man
I am a white man;
I’m clueless to the privilege that I have because I never ask for it.
I’m mad that those before me were oppressors because others expect me to restore it.
I despise society for always expecting me to be perfect.
People look at me like white supremacy was my idea and I birthed it.
I believe in equality and civil rights.
Why do people look at me twice when I say this?
Why do others look at me like I’m the officer on a power drive that is ridiculously ignorant?
Why do people think that every white guy is able to live off of family inheritance?
In my family no such thing exists.
Why in most situations am I seen as the racist?
I love life, but I hate this.
People think that I can just buy my way out of anything,
For the color of my skin; others think that I believe the entire world should respect me
Life is a hard equation;
Like a math student I am struggling.
I date an African American woman, and people ask, “Why are you recreating slavery.
So many are driven to learn criminal justice just so they could tazer me.
Why can’t I just be a man?

I am an Asian man.
People assume that I practice Buddhism because of my homeland.
Because I am Asian, people view me with frustration.
The attack on Pearl Harbor is over but, I’m hated with no hesitation.
I am an innocent man, so why do people look at me like I work for the Taliban?
People make remarks about my eyes and believe that I lack vision,
But I can see clearly with precision everyone’s intuition.
I’m not a Kung Fu martial artist;
I don’t do high kicks;
Yes, I have eaten with other utensils besides chop sticks.
I am not Mr. Miagi;
I have never chopped bricks.
I am just me.
My family does not own a nail salon, and I’m not a mathematician.
I don’t do crazy tricks with spatulas while I’m cooking in the kitchen.
People always tell me that I look like the clone of another .
Clearly they’re just mad because I resemble my brother.
Why can’t I just be a man?

I am an Hispanic Man
Although I am a citizen,
why on the daily do so many people identify me as an illegal immigrant?
I have never crossed the border so it amuses me when others threaten to deport me.
Sometimes, I’m treated like bad computer software;
many people work diligently to try and export me.
I have never worked below minimum wage a day in my life
Just because I’m Hispanic, people see me as a driver that cannot drive.
I have never had more than 5 passengers in my car;
I don’t drink coronas, and I don’t live at the bar .
Mi familia es mi vida ,but we all do not live in the same household .
People make remarks about my pancho but it keeps me warm when it’s cold.
My diet consists of more than just burritos and frijoles.
Why do people think they can tell me what I eat based off my race?
Others ask, “you like tacos right?” when they see my face.
I don’t speak Mexican because the correct term is Spanish.
One day I wish that the hatred against me would all just vanish.
Yes, I admire my history.
Yes, I have patriotic pride;
So you can comment all day about the flag that hangs
from the rear view mirror on the inside of my ride.
Why can’t I just be a man?

I am a black man.
Why am I the gangbanger that most people fear?
Check the prison stats;
I always make criminal of the year.
I’m constantly identified as the deadbeat dad
And the bad guy that good women wish they never had.
Others always say, “I don’t understand why you guys are in those videos with your baggy
clothes surrounded by the women that you label as hoes.”
I am not a convicted felon; I have not committed a crime.
You can check your watch all day; I haven’t done any time
I am not a cheater or a woman beater so don’t judge me for that .
I hate the sight of needles so I have never shot up crack.
Just because I’m black, people assume that chicken and kool aid should be incorporated
in my favorite meal
Bill collectors call ahead of time because they think that I’m going to be late paying every bill.
Why am I the con artist?
Why do I have to be the bum with no strategic plan?
When it comes to education, why do I have to be labeled as the man who doesn’t give a care?
Why am I the drug dealer that fights for a corner that I will never own?
Why do I have to be the guy that has messed up credit that will never own a home?
Why is the first of the month considered my holiday?
Why am I directed towards hip -hop or told sports is what I should play?
Why do store clerks stare me down automatically thinking I’m not going to pay?
Why do people think that I have bad hair?
Why am I the one from projects that’s on welfare?
Why is the government making me play a game of truth or dare?
I’m not a geologist; why am I the one on the block with the rocks?
Why am I the one steadily running marathons from the cops?
When will this discrimination ever stop?
Why can’t I just be a man?

Discrimination will continue for years to come as long as we remain a broken society. As long as people remain quiet about injustice issues and about how they feel being categorized, society will have its oppressed and its oppressors.

One for the week: Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living. Job 28:13

Beginning Of A New Holiday

2010-02-06T09:20:00.000-08:00

The Grand Rapids Times
Adult's Walk
By Marcel Gamble

We all go about living out our everyday lives with our busy schedules. We go to work, we attend school, and on the weekend we have our free time. Many become so occupied that without realizing it we become selfish. A lot of us including myself begin to ration out time with the people in our lives that matter the most. Sometimes I should wonder if I should be ashamed of myself when I only give God 20 minutes of mu time every morning and then 5 minutes of my time at every meal. Sometimes I wonder if I should be ashamed of myself when I tire myself out so much during the week and become too lazy to make it to church. I just wonder. I wonder because I know that God wasn’t too tired to give me life. God wasn’t too tired to provide a way for me to further my education. He definitely wasn’t too tired to give me a second chance the day others thought my life should come to an end. Why am I always too busy and why am I always too tired. We all should give some thought to the creation of a new holiday. We should call this holiday, “The Appreciation of Others Day.” It took someone very close to my heart to realize that those that have helped all of us get where we are today didn’t have to do anything. People didn’t have to sacrifice their dreams and goals in order for me to fulfill mine. People don’t have to endless hours so I can live comfortably. People didn’t have to devote so much time and place so much belief in me. No one had to stay by my side to make sure I succeeded in life. If “The Appreciation of Others Day,” never becomes a holiday I want to thank everyone now. I want to thank my Grand Parents. I want to thank my parents. I also want to thank my mentors. For many of my neighboring Americans, I want to thank the political leaders for constantly informing the nation on political events. This leads me to another issue, many Americans are too comfortable. We are so comfortable that we are clueless to what’s happening outside of America. After having a discussion with some people some of us are even clueless to what’s even happening right in our back yards. This is sad but comfort ability is also causing many of us to forget to show appreciation. One for the week– Luke 1:47, My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

You're on Camera

2009-09-05T11:30:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times
8-28-2009
Adult's Walk
By Marcel Gamble

It is so amusing when a person enters a store and passes the many signs that state, “For your, safety you are under surveillance.”
I find it even more hilarious when a person discovers he or she is under surveillance and still decides to shoplift.
If shoplifters are on camera from the moment that they step foot into an establishment until the time when they try to leave, then why do they make an effort to steal?
These shoplifters feel the need to steal for the same reason that everyone else on camera still continue with their heathen actions.
It seems as if cameras don’t faze people anymore because everyone is smiling as if they are taking a picture.
Mothers who have sexual relations with a number of different men realize that they are on camera still smile for the picture.
However, these mothers don’t realize that their daugh¬ters are the ones that they are smiling for.
Fathers that treat women like they are unworthy of being respected smile for the camera.
These fathers are not aware that their sons go through their pictures and see them smiling.
Pastors that are more con¬cerned about raising money instead of saving souls uncon¬sciously smile for the camera.
They don’t understand that future leaders are viewing their pictures.
People wonder why it is so easy for prostitutes, money extortionists, drug dealers, molesters, serial killers, and etc. to smile for the camera.
It is so easy because most individuals don’t even see a camera anymore.
It no longer phases the 16 year old who undergoes abor¬tion after abortion to be on camera.
It doesn’t bother a man if he raises degenerates instead of respectable young men.
It doesn’t faze a woman when her daughters turn out to be promiscuous women instead of responsible mothers.
Everyone is smiling so there¬fore there must be a camera present.
Although I am not an actor or a model on a photo shoot, I finally realize that I am on camera.
When others see my video or view my pictures, I want them to see a respectful young man who is striving to succeed.
When I have young men watch me on camera, I want them to see that clothing, cars, and jewelry make a statement; but a mind equipped with knowledge makes a greater statement.
I want young women to see me as a kind gentleman so they settle for nothing less when they are searching for their significant other.
I am tired of seeing film that should never be developed.
Instead of imitating negativ¬ity, people should see others on camera and want to follow greatness.
Many individuals who act a fool behind camera should be labeled as premature actors.
These people are premature actors because they are in des¬perate need of lessons on how to act.
I’ll be nice and give those that are in need a few coaching lessons.
Don’t get on camera and re¬cite every swear word known to man and not know you’re ABC’s and 123’s because ignorance isn’t cute behind camera.
Don’t get behind camera and bash religious beliefs if you don’t have a rebuttal ar¬gument to support your bold statements.
Don’t get behind a camera and generalize all members of one group if you haven’t personally taken the time out to meet each member; judging isn’t wise behind camera.
People need to advance be¬yond being premature actors, and receive proper coaching to become A list actors.
I wonder if everyone is aware that they are behind camera?
Email me at marcelgamble@ sbcglobal.net if you have any valuable lessons on being be¬hind camera.
One for the week: Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Just because something looks appeasing like a fool behind a camera doesn’t mean that you make it your goal to take interest.

I Had A Caring Teacher

2009-09-04T22:57:00.000-07:00

Tell us the one thing you remember that teacher did to really help you. You can also name the person if you would like, tell what grade you were in and what school.

There is one thing I am doing as a parent that I know works to help my child (children) do well in school.

2009-09-04T22:52:00.000-07:00

Tell us what you do and how you know it works. (Please state at least the grade or age of the child (children).

Target Shooting: What's Going On?

2009-09-04T22:09:00.000-07:00

Something to Think About

2009-09-04T21:25:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times
9-4-2009
Adult's Walk
By Marcel Gamble

Little girl little girl your boyfriend loves you
He wants to display his love
In your mind you behold
But under his clothes he holds that unconditional love
He has that I love you but I don’t want my friends to know kind of love
He has that to your face you’re my everything
But to my boys you’re my hoe kind of love
Little girl just sit back and smile because that’s all you can do
You should be enthused that your boyfriend loves you
Little girl give him your heart
Your soul
Let him admire your physical attributes
Let him take you behind closed doors
Let him show you what real lovers do
Little girl little girl you are six months pregnant
Where is your man
Little girl his seed continues to grow but you lost his hand
You no longer are a little girl
Love transformed you into a woman
Little girl there is no time to cry
You have to prepare for the seed you have inside
Little girl just because there is conflict
Doesn’t mean you should convict
The seed that you are blessed with
Your seed shouldn’t need a good lawyer to receive the verdict
Of drop charges because it is innocent
Little girl it is no longer all about you
You are not a private investigator
But you should already have a clue
Everything equals two now
Like gravity you have to hold it down
It should be a bright day
Everyday
Because you have a son now
Little girl little girl
Think about the definition of love
Think about how love can’t defined
Think about how love is emotions, compassion, and bullshit intertwined
Little girl wipe your eyes
Because you must see clear
The past is old news
Your new news is 18 years

Today is filled with ambitious and misguided generations that wish to become adults to soon.
Like the little girl, some believe they are ready to take on life changing task but consequently reality sets in.
Reality sets in when a teenage girl has to trans¬form into a full-time mother.
Reality sets in when a teenage boy has to drop out of school and pick up a full-time job to support his child.
It’s fine to want to succeed in life; however it’s not okay to take on more then what you are capable of handling.
As a young man who has been immersed in world filled with life changing consequences, I believe I am able to say be careful.
I am able to say be careful of allowing others to decide your fate for you.
I am able to say be careful of being involved in numerous activities; don’t stretch your body too thin.
A person can make a bigger change in the world by giving a 100% to cause rather than 10% to seven different causes.
I am able to say be careful of those who are placed around you to bring you down and not lift you up.
I am able to say be careful to all of the follow¬ing things because I, or someone that I know, has personally experienced these situations.
If everyone were to reach out and say, “Be care¬ful,” then there would be a greater possibility of the little girl in the poem not becoming pregnant.
If everyone would take the time out to say, “Be careful,” then the little girl would know enough not to let her boyfriend take advantage of her.
The world honestly would undergo a massive transformation if everyone reaches out to say, “Be careful”.
Blog with me at this website and share with me how you are going to warn someone to be careful.
One for the week: God is able to do much more than we ask or think through His power working in us. Ephesians 3:20

Let Them Live

2009-08-22T14:12:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times
8-21-2009
Adult's Walk
By Marcel Gamble

Part I
Every day, every hour, every minute another human is brought into the world.
A number of these babies leave their birthplaces and enter loving homes where they live healthy lives.
Some of these babies are adopted into loving homes where they have the opportunity to live comfortably.
A majority are released into foster homes where they are more likely to grow up not feeling loved because they don’t have stable parents, and they are passed from family to family.
Unfortunately, other babies are born and left to fend for themselves in the streets.
These babies are left in dumpsters and various other places that seem vacant.
Why is it possible for people to continue to have children when they are aware that they are incapable of providing for them?
It saddens me a great deal to see an individual brought into this world only to experience suffering their entire lives because of their parent’s poor decisions.
However, neglect of babies isn’t only an issue among the human species it is also problematic with animals.
They say that a dog is a man’s best friend, but with the pet overpopulation increasing this saying doesn’t seem true.
It seems that as the numbers of irresponsible pet owners grow the number of neglected pets increase simultaneously.
Thousands of dogs and cats die on daily bases after being born in the streets and not in loving homes.
They become ill, they are euthanized by shelters, or they become road kill.
People have to realize that euthanizing isn’t the only solution to pet overpopulation.
The solution that gives cats and dogs the opportunity that they deserve to live is fixing them.
Overpopulation wouldn’t be an issue if pet owners understood the importance of spaying and neutering.
If more cats and dogs were spayed and neutered, deaths wouldn’t occur on a frequent basis amongst healthy animals.
If more people become responsible pet owners, taxes wouldn’t have to be raised to fund the shelters that house most animals for a few days only to euthanize them.

Continued next week

Stuck In The ‘60s Or Race Relations Realists

2009-08-14T23:09:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times
8-14-2009

By Peter Bailey, NNPA Columnist

Numerous times since the emergence of President Barack Obama and “Transracialism” on the national scene, my skepticism about the whole process has led people to label me as “stuck in the ‘60s” in regards to race relations in this country.
This labeling has come mostly from young Black folks, though even a few from my generation have joined in.
Well, after several recent incidents, including the banning of 65 Black and Latino youngsters from a swimming pool run by the Valley Swim Club because their presence “would change the complexion… and the atmosphere of the club,” I wonder if those same people still consider me “stuck in the ‘60s.”
Is it being stuck in the 60s to believe that a White Harvard professor would not have been arrested as was Henry Louis Gates, Jr. at his own home, following his confrontation with White police officer, James Crowley?
I am not a card-paying member of the Skip Gates fan club but it is obvious that he was arrested for being what many Whites call an “uppity” Black person who had the nerve to not be more deferential when addressing his “superior.”
What fascinates me the most about these and other such incidents is the number of Black folks who express “shock” that such things can happen in this country in 2009.
It is understandable that young Blacks under 30 may be shocked because they have basically grown up in a fantasyland in regards to race relations.
For those over 30, one can only wonder why they are shocked at expressions of White supremacy/ racism when that condition is an integral part of the country’s past and present. No, it is not as overt as before but it is still there ready to rear its ugly head at any given moment.
Those shocked Black folks should be made aware of a survey done by a University of Michigan professor which came to my attention in a 1991 editorial in the Richmond Afro- American newspaper. When asked what they considered true integration, Whites said 85 percent White, 15 percent Black with a White person always in charge; Blacks said 50-50 with a Black or White person in charge.
This explains why Whites such as Pat Buchanan, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingram, Ann Coulter, Glenn Beck, and all their viewers, readers and listeners responded with such venomous hysteria when President Obama said that the police officer acted “stupidly” in the Gates case. Which, by the way, is not the same as saying that the cop is stupid.
It absolutely outrages such people that a Black man is in the White House, even a safe one like President Obama. And the fact that his wife is dark-skinned just adds to the outrage.
Every time they see the Obamas in the White House carrying out their official duties, they simply lose it. The result is incidents such as the two mentioned above.
It is highly likely that such expression of overt white supremacy/racism will become increasingly bolder. Which raises the question as to whether we Black folks are prepared to defend ourselves.
Journalist/Lecturer A. Peter Bailey, a former associate editor of Ebony, is currently editor of Vital Issues: The Journal of African American Speeches. He can be reached at apeterb@verizon.net

Number #1 Evangelist

2009-08-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times
8-14-2009
Adult's Walk
By Marcel Gamble

Yes, I have been through some life threatening storms.
Yes, I have been dragged through some of the most treacherous lands.
Furthermore, I have learned some of life’s hard lessons.
However, my experiences don’t make me a stronger evan¬gelist than the person who has been sheltered their entire life.
This week after walking, I learned that saving others becomes a competition when people boast about their testi¬monies.
No one can be the number evangelist because we are all on the same mission.
Being a gunshot victim doesn’t make you a stronger evangelist than someone who has never been shot.
Being a victim of divorce doesn’t make you the number one evangelist because there is someone that is married that is just like you.
To put it in better terms that everyone may understand, the only # 1 evangelist is Jesus Christ.
If a person has experienced trials and tribulations that person does not become the number 1 evangelist, they become a strong Christian.
There was a time when I believed just because I grew up in the inner city and was never blinded from life that made me the number one evangelist.
I believed that if people wanted to hear a true testi¬mony they should come to me.
I thought that nobody else’s testimony mattered.
There was a time when I was self centered and believed that I was the number evangelist, but now I know among the hu¬man species such an individual doesn’t exist.
I now know that there is only one person from a higher power that is the number 1 evangelist and this person is Jesus.
I’m not saying that people’s testimonies are unworthy of saving others.
I’m saying testimonies shouldn’t be used in competi¬tion because God’s servants shouldn’t battle.
As real talk God’s servants should join together and create unity to succeed in the mission of serving the Lord. This week’s column was inspired by Rev. Howard C. Earle, Jr.

President Obama And Media Leadership: A Teaching Moment

2009-08-13T16:06:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times
8-7-9
By Lawrence N. "Larry" Redd

The arrest of a citizen by a Cambridge, Maine police officer, James Crowley, became major news when too many people not present began to take sides in the matter.
News reports via telecommunication media carried the story about Dr. Henry Louis Gates’ arrest to millions of people around the world.
America’s own national news media solicited and then widely disseminated President Obama’s assessment that the police “acted stupidly” in arresting Dr. Gates, a handicapped Harvard University scholar, in his own home; after his identity had been established.
The President’s remarks sparked a national uproar.
The negative reaction to Mr. Obama, largely from entrenched conservative forces, made the President of the United States later modify his own comments.
It was not the first time that President Obama, an African American, had been publicly subjugated. Arizona State University did it in May 2009. It happened again on his African trips.
In each event mainstream media leadership was unprepared, stumbled, ignored or missed golden “teaching moments.”
Now, Dr. Gates, also an African American, and President Obama comprise a unique confluence. They can teach the nation a great lesson if American media leadership is open to change.
Some standardized media language, generally accepted by the public, was developed historically by conservatives.
Other language terms often aid powerful forces that are aligned to subjugate African Americans, including President Barack Obama.
A case in point was made manifest by media coverage of President Obama’s July 2009 trip to Ghana. CNN anchor, Anderson Cooper reportedly said it was the President’s first trip to Africa.
Mr. Obama’s first visit to Africa as President of the United States was made a month earlier to Egypt; June 2009. What accounts for CNN’s error? More than two centuries ago, a now nearly invisible code, “white supremacy,” was formalized by some academic scholars; led by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach. The code was widely adopted among universities, business practices, conservative politicians, and used to separate Egypt from Africa.
Over a period of time Egypt has been psychologically relocated to a mythical post WWII creation called “The Middle East.” Ghana and selected other African nations have been labeled “sub-Sahara Africa.”
The terms “Middle East” and “Sub-Sahara Africa” function successfully, singularly or in tandem, to help officially eliminate any black connection to Egypt or Egypt to Africa.
Recognition of the black connection to Egypt would destroy the fundamental basis of “white supremacy” because Egypt’s ancient culture is the basis for Western Civilization; especially black mastery of science, mathematics and astronomy.
When media, political and academic institutions support the concept of Ghana being President Obama’s first trip to Africa they are protecting the code of “white supremacy;” not dismantling it. In public schools some standardized multiple choice tests require that children select the Middle East, not Africa, as the correct location of Egypt.
On July 8, 2009, Anderson Cooper’s blog site was ostensibly shut down in response to messages that reminded the anchor of President Obama’s first trip to Egypt, Africa.
President Obama’s blackancestry is directly linked to ancient Egypt and represents to date the most powerful philosophical challenge of black subjugation by the “white supremacy” code.
Obama is related to Africa’s “Mountain of the Moon” people, the Luo Tribe, a black Nile River population that significantly contributed to the development of Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt.
In other words, Obama’s black ancestors were the first to master science and “code” astronomy; movement of the stars, moon and earth around the sun. Coming full circle, “a sun” of ancient Egypt returned to the great Nile Valley as head of the most powerful nation on the planet; itself a descendant of Egypt.
Following true tradition, Obama has helped redirect America’s focus on world leadership to ancient Egypt’s foundation, the mastery of new cutting edge science, green energy, one of the main tenants of his Presidential Administration.
Media leadership missed a teachable moment.
The state of Arizona is home to America’s leading academic organizations that are dedicated to the study of astronomy: NOAO (National Optical Astronomy Observatory) and AURA (Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy).
Among American colleges and universities, the most powerful set of telescopes are located in Arizona; Kitt Peak National Observatory and The Large Binocular Telescope; ten times more powerful than Hubble. So, it is interesting to note which institution of higher education attempted to publicly subjugate a direct descendant of ancient Egypt.
The conservative academic leadership at Arizona State University, a leading astronomy school, refused to award Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, an honorary Doctoral Degree after he spoke at its May 2009 Commencement.
That underhanded gesture signaled the embrace of the “white supremacy” code and rejection of even a notion that black people first mastered astronomy and used the discipline to build Egypt; located in Africa.
Those who control American media must discover for themselves the core of “white supremacy” and eschew it for the good of U.S. world leadership. Otherwise, Blumenbach’s racial inferiority membership will continue their subjugation “hit parade,” even against President Obama.
Euphemisms aside, Henry Fonda’s southern white character in “Roots” called it; “out niggering each other.” However, the new reconstruction choices remain the same; new quest or old legacy.
The arrest of Dr. Gates by police officer Crowley has placed “on the table” for America, a mystery that is wrapped in a conundrum. That is, multiplying “1/2” of the arrest story (Dr.
Gates) by the other “1/2” of the arrest story (officer Crowley) leads into an infinite set of fractional numbers to which there is no answer.
When “The Sun of Ancient Egypt” wisely modified his statement about “police stupidity” he sealed off entry to that endless pit.
His declaration for a national “teachable moment” signifies his understanding of the stars; not a debate over their English, Greek or African name pronunciations.
It is a good thing that the election of Barack Obama to the Office of President of the United States of America, the actions police officer James Crowley, and the African scholarship of Dr. Louis Henry Gates are now aligned in history; as if they are the sun, moon and earth.
For in a rapidly changing world, a “dark eclipse” represents a great teaching moment about the core of “white supremacy,” especially for American media leadership.

Star Struck

2009-08-13T16:03:00.000-07:00

Adult's Walk
The Grand Rapids Times
8-7-2009
By Marcel Gamble

Many individuals rrepeat the saying, “It’s not where you are from; it’s where you are going.” But, many seem to forget about where they are from.
Like the Jeffersons, when a person is down in life, the only way to go is up.
Once up, however, people should never forget about their surroundings and people that made them who they are.
It’s evident that this happens all the time with music artist, movie stars, and political figures.
As soon as fame and money mold their lives, they quickly forget where they are from.
This is why it’s noticeable when performers put forth their best effort in the beginning of their careers and begin to relax and put forth minimal effort in the middle.
I call this star struck; a lot of people get star struck.
Regular common people get star struck on a daily basis.
It is okay for people to progress in life, and improve their living conditions; but it is not okay for people to gain the mindset to forget where they are from.
Once they forget where they are from, then they forget what God has done for them to get them to where they are.
I’m not saying that you should hold on to the memories of gang involvement, drug addiction, or any other negative activity.
I’m saying that once you improve and get beyond your past life, don’t forget the steps that you had to take.
Once people make decisions that they have to make to better their lives, they become star struck.
After being star struck, people become blinded and they head right back to where they started — because they forget where they are from.
Nice cars and big houses don’t change the way God’s hands molded you.
Money and fancy clothes don’t change the number of chances God has given you.
With this said, I want to say
it’s about where you are from; and it’s also about where you are going. I wish everybody could walk and realize that it doesn’t profit anyone to become star struck.
One for the week: “Those who make peace are happy, because they will be called the sons of God.” Matthew 5:9

Keeping Young Black Professionals in Grand Rapids: Whose Job Is It?

2009-08-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times
7/30/2009
By: Yvonne Smith, Philana Greene & Chelcee Johns

The ability to retain its young black professionals is an issue that has been under emphasized in Grand Rapids for years. In the midst of the recession, this problem has become more obvious; yet, it has continued to worsen.
A few corporations, businesses — and even some young professionals — have taken steps to address the issue. More needs to be done.
The black community as a whole must see this as a serious issue, must take on more of the responsibility for addressing the problem, and must also contribute to the solution.
Perhaps our efforts should begin with attention to the lack of connectedness between generations.
A better understanding between younger and older generations of professionals in the community can help make the necessary change.
Young adults have to do their part to engage with the community and connect with experienced black professionals.
Many of the young professionals who say opportunity does not exist fail to look for it to begin with. For instance, we personally had not heard of organizations as GRYP and BLEND, but we did not bother to look for them either. Used to things always being readily available to us; especially as college students, young adults assume everything that is out there will be advertised. If an opportunity is right in front of many young adults faces on a silver platter, then they assume that opportunity must not exist.
As young professionals, we have to make the effort to exhaust all possibilities before saying there is nothing here. Before deciding Grand Rapids is not a suitable place for career and personal growth, first determine what change you can make.
It is not just up to young professionals. Experienced professionals, who are established in Grand Rapids, must take an interest in their younger counterparts and make aggressive efforts to attract and retain them.
Most young professionals want to stay in their comfort zone. The ideal situation would be to maintain a career and life in the city where their family and friends are; however, opportunity has got to be present. Young professionals did not go to school to be placed on a waiting list for success, and are anxious for opportunity.
While it is okay to encourage us to go to other places and gain experience, you have to be willing to welcome us back home. Grand Rapids does need new energy in order for the city to further develop, but what is being done to attract that energy?
Many young professionals are taking the initiative; however, no one person canbe successful without the help, or mentoring of someone before them. Businesses and organizations started by young adults have to be backed up and supported. Their efforts made towards improvements have to be accepted; opportunity for advancement has to be available to them; and their “young” voices need to be heard. Most importantly, the change they seem to naturally bring to situations has to be welcomed and encouraged.
Older members of the community must be more open to cultural change. Cultural diversity attracts larger businesses, with more job opportunities, which in turn attracts more young professionals.
You can’t hate on the fact that we’d rather live in cities like Atlanta and Chicago if you’re not willing to compete with those cities, which are the homes of major corporations, colleges/universities, hospitals, law firms, and entertainment industries.
Where do these efforts start? The community must strive to work together. By bridging the gap between the old and the new. Both sides have to come together and express their expectations of one another. If that bridge is built and maintained, even for years to come Grand Rapids will continue to grow.
Whose job do you think it is? Give us your opinion.

Paw Over My Life

2009-08-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times
7/30/2009
Adult's Walk
Marcel Gamble

While I was walking this week I ran into a very unique individual that said, “let me tell you the story of my life.”
For some reason I gave this guy my undivided attention as he projected his story with calm hand gestures.
He said, “I was born in the streets; and while I was growing up, the streets were all I knew.
He said, “My two brothers were always my providers and guardians.I have lived a rough life and have lived in many ghettos across the United States. I have seen things with my eyes that others would go blind from seeing with theirs. My life has unquestionably been a roller costar but I am still here at the age of 20.”
Although this guy is Caucasian and taller than I am, I saw a reflection of myself in another light.
While he continued with his story, I thanked God for saving me when He did.
The man went on to say, “In the streets I watched one of my brother’s die from being shot to death, and I watched the other get his throat slit over drugs.”
Personally, I have seen others get stabbed before and have heard about others being shot; but for some reason, my stomach caved in when this man told me that he watched the only family he had die as they were murdered.
As I closed my eyes in shame the man continued with his story.
He said, “I was left to fend for myself in the streets and that’s what I did.I got a hold of some drugs and I began to sell. Money was coming but my curiosity began to grow about why so many people wanted the drugs that I had.”
He continued, “So one day I decided to try my own product, and I regret it till this day. The day I sampled my drugs was the day I became an addict. I started just by sampling a little bit a day then a little bit turned into large amounts three times a day.”
His life changed drastically.
“After I began using my own product I was unable to make money. As a lonely and unprotected teenager in the most dangerous streets I found shelter under a bridge. I lived day by day searching for food, and looking for little jobs to support my addiction.”
I thought about this man as my reflection again and realized that I have been blessed.
I have been blessed to know both, and have relationships with my biological parents.
I have been blessed to have a home to go to everyday.
I have been blessed to have money for things that I need and a majority of the time for things that I want.
Then I began to wonder. This man and I were both born into ghetto environments. Why has God directed us to go into two different directions?
I asked the man the question and he told me, “Wait because God hasn’t placed us in two different directions, let me finish the story.”
He went on to say, “As I was living life under that bridge one night, I got a visitor that wouldn’t go away. I tried my best to scare the visitor away; but it didn’t work, this cat was stubborn. I woke up the next morning and the cat was still lying next to me and I realized that this cat was just like me. He was lonely, with no family, and no place to go. So I decided that I was going to be family to the cat. However, there was one problem. Because I used money from the odd jobs that I did to support my addiction, I didn’t have any money to provide necessities for the cat. So that day for my new family I had to make a decision —to continue to be a drug addict or support my family. I decided to support my family and right then and there I dropped the drugs because I knew my family had to eat.”
At this moment in the story I thought to myself, this man is right. God never did send us down different directions, He gave us the same routes He just let us decide on which one to take.
The man went on to tell me that he and his family progressed in life the next couple of years.
He said, “With my family, I became a fully recovered drug addict. With my family, I was able to find my fiancé. My cat helped me begin a family of my own. Sadly, shortly after I got back on my two feet, my family was hit by a truck and died instantly. Because of my family I was able to turn my life around.”
When the man finished his story, I took a long hard sigh and I pondered on the thought of Jesus and how He sacrificed His life for us to live.
I wonder if Jesus was in the form of the cat the night when He found the cold boy under the bridge.
This week’s column is dedicated to Kevin.
Words of wisdom for the week: “Never under estimate the power of God when He wants to reach out to you He will in any shape or form.”

Mr. Abraham Lincoln

2009-07-26T09:23:00.000-07:00

Adult's Walk
The Grand Rapids Times
7-24-2009
By Marcel Gamble

Throughout the entire week I have found Mr. Abraham Lincoln outside of church, con¬venient stores, my house, and various other locations.
I begin to wonder why a state that is in such a recession isn’t hesitant about throwing away money.
Mr. Abe Lincoln is on the ground when people are filing for bankruptcy on a daily bases.
Mr. Abe Lincoln is on the ground when churches are struggling to find funding to keep their facilities running.
Souls aren’t able to be saved; people are losing the game called life to their component the devil because Mr. Abe is on the ground.
There are individuals who say that they are unable to pay their tithes to the church, but Mr. Abe remains on the ground.
It’s evident that some people clearly have given up on the smaller things in life.
Since people realize that the penny lacks value, they throw it on the ground.
Well, there are other things in life that are being treated just like Mr. Abe Lincoln.
Whatever happened to the value of a relationship between God and a human being?
Unfortunately, I am one of the individuals guilty of treating the relationship that should be valued the most like it’s worth a penny.
I ask myself why am I still a single man, and then I look around me and notice divorces happening left and right.
Marriage isn’t sacred any¬more. We might as well label it Abe Lincoln.
Everywhere I turn my head – to the television, radio, and internet – women are labeled as everything but women.
Some women are respond¬ing to the derogatory terms. It makes me wonder whether there are anymore real women left in the world.
I think Abe Lincoln when I drive through some of my neighboring inner city streets.
However, sometimes I think Benjamin Franklin as well.
I thank everyone who is making the effort to get Abe off of the ground.
I notice Abe on the ground so much that I’m willing to label myself as a hypocrite in some situations.
I see Abe when I plug in my Ipod every morning on my way to work.
I want to pick him up but the lyrics and repetitive beats are just too attractive to my ears.
I see Abe every time I see an attractive woman; but my eyes are too busy sinning that I can’t focus to reach down and get him off the ground.
I see Abe when I get angry and begin to swear; but the words are so appropriate for my mood that I just ignore that he is even on the ground.
We need to begin to place a value on the smaller things in life and learn how to respect them just as we respect the things we value the most.
As long as Abraham Lincoln stays on the ground, this state will continue to be in a reces¬sion.
I don’t want to see anymore Abe Lincoln’s on the ground; I wish to see him valued high.
Relationships with God shouldn’t be forced; people should long for them and be grateful to have such opportu¬nities.
God spent His time creating woman, so women should be respected I want to see them treated like queens.
Ladies respect also should go both ways so stop treating your significant others like Abe Lincoln, get them off the ground.
I don’t want to see Abe on the ground outside of stores, my house, or my church anymore.
I want to see Abraham Lin¬coln in the pockets of every individual that values the smaller things in life.
Make sure you take the time out this week to walk and pick up Mr. Abraham Lincoln.
Email me at marcelgamble@ sbcglobal.net and let me know if you respect the smaller things in life.
One for the week: Genesis 41:40 “You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”
Respect goes a long way, even if someone is giving it to the smaller things in life.

Tattoo

2009-07-19T22:02:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times
7-17-2009
Adult Walk
By Marcel Gamble

To learn new things and to be able to fulfill certain tasks, we have to be taught new lessons by others.
However, after the new les¬sons it is up to the learner to process the information.
A tattoo permanently is imbedded within 3 to 4 layers of a the skin.
The tattoo becomes a part of the body; and, as imbedded ink, the tattoo becomes a part of a person’s identity.
If someone has ink that is profane, what is that person saying about his or her iden¬tity?
If the ink is so explicit that the person feels the need to hide every day, then what is the sense in getting permanent ink?
People should get tats that they aren’t afraid to share with the world.
People should get tats that they are not hesitant about allowing others to copy.
Tattoos of lessons that are valuable to life are the tats that people should get.
We all have to practice being trendsetters not trend follow¬ers.
Don’t get a tattoo because your friend has it because you don’t know what they have been through to get it.
Many people have numerous pieces of body art that displays their identity, but they have identity crises.
Identity crises come about because, unlike the tattoo that is permanent, the ability to process lessons is momentary.
Some people continuously learn and say that knowledge is key, but they don’t apply their knowledge to life.
A tattoo doesn’t scrape off or wash away; unfortunately, some people are allowing les¬sons to do so.
Sometimes lessons that should be tattooed aren’t; and when a person scrapes off their surface, problems occur.
I am walking this week be¬cause I want to see tattoos of intelligence not ignorance.
I want to see tattoos of the miracles from Jesucristo not tattoos of mischief from the devil.
I let some of my tattoos erase throughout my life; and, ‘til this
day I regret letting them go.
Like the ink that’s within the skin of so many people, the lessons I learned from others growing up should be imbedded in my mind.
It saddens me to see some of my peers tattooing the lessons of how to shoot a gun rather than read a book.
It disturbs me to see my generation teach others how to roll and smoke a blunt rather than teaching others to respect their bodies.
It bothers me to see tattoos of fright as opposed to confidence.
Such permanent markings are the ones that should scrape off or wash off.
I miss the permanence of obedience and respect.
My desire is to see tattoos of accomplishment not failure.
Many of my friends are con¬templating the idea of getting body art.
My advice to them is to get lessons of intrigue and lessons of faith.
Somebody should get the markings of our Lord Jesus and make sure they never wash off.
Someone should get the art of constructive criticism that’s valuable.
Just because body art can be visually seen doesn’t make it more extravagant than lessons that have the potential to be prosperous to someone’s life.
Email me at marcelgamble@ sbcglobal.net so that we can talk about tattoo options that will be beneficial to you and those around you.
One for the week: Luke 6:5; And He said unto them, The son of man is the Lord of the Sabbath.
Like Jesus chose to be the educator of all, each of us can also be the educator of each.

the witnesses. Are you telling me that there were not towers or dungeons available? Were there not any ships or new countries to be discovered of which these witnesses would have gladly volunteered to go. If you are going to be called the King, then perform like a King. Mr. LeBron James if you do not have time to pay for lessons then check out some PBS specials; I‘m sure you have cable somewhere in your many mansions and castles. Yo King, in the words of Nike…Just Do It. So have a happy week.

Grand Rapids Alumni Have A Job To Do

2009-07-14T14:57:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times
7-3-2009
Adult's Walk
By Marcel Gamble

Many of you might have seen this picture before or might have dreamed of it before; but to refresh your memory, like a talented artist, I’m going to paint this picture.
With bright colors and sharp edges ,this painting displays a being that has been blessed with an abundance amount of success.
To draw this person I am using the sharpest lead along with the newest paints.
The individual in the paint¬ing is flawless.
The finest clothes ever made by man are wrapped around this person’s body.
Precious diamond jewelry is on the hands, neck, and wrist of this successful person.
Everything about the indi¬vidual in the painting is perfect – symbolizing that the person in the painting has made it in life.
However, the background of this painting doesn’t co¬ordinate with the exuberant flawless being.
The background is dark and gloomy because it symbolizes the life that the alumni in the painting came from and doesn’t want to venture back to.
Many of you might have seen this picture before or might have dreamed of it before; but to refresh your memory, like a talented artist, I’m going to paint this picture.
With bright colors and sharp edges ,this painting displays a being that has been blessed with an abundance amount of success.
To draw this person I am using the sharpest lead along with the newest paints.
The individual in the paint¬ing is flawless.
The finest clothes ever made by man are wrapped around this person’s body.
Precious diamond jewelry is on the hands, neck, and wrist of this successful person.
Everything about the indi¬vidual in the painting is perfect – symbolizing that the person in the painting has made it in life.
However, the background of this painting doesn’t co¬ordinate with the exuberant flawless being.
The background is dark and gloomy because it symbolizes the life that the alumni in the painting came from and doesn’t want to venture back to.
I am walking this week to express the fact that it is good that many of us are progressing and becoming young profes¬sionals.
But it is not good that many of us are becoming successful and forgetting where we come from.
We can’t live and act as if we are a priceless painting; we have to live life to be an aide to others.
If you are from the hood and you become somebody doesn’t mean you have to constantly run from what built you into the person that you are today.
If you know that it’s difficult to become a young professional because of your residence, then why would you turn your back on the generations behind you that are attempting to be suc cessful as well?
I call that being a painter without the right tools.
You can’t be someone who leaves the hood and then try to preach to others about being successful.
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t experience life beyond where you are from.
I am saying that where you are from shouldn’t be forgotten.
Just as you may have struggled coming up, you can believe that there is someone else struggling even more to be somebody.
We as young professionals now have to be alumni.
We have to stop wasting our breath with talk; and, honestly, we have to begin to walk.
It’s understandable that everyone has something in their past that they would like to forget, but we all have to remember that when we bury our past, we are throwing away someone’s future.
I want to be able to paint a picture with a lively being and a brilliant background.
However, I am incapable of painting such a piece by myself.
As alumni of Grand Rapids, Michigan we all should be able to indulge in creating a masterpiece for others to envision.
We can change the canvas known as struggling Grand Rapids into the canvas known as alumni helping Grand Rapids.
Many of us are high school graduates of some of the schools that are struggling financially and academically.
We can all paint a different picture.
As alumni, we can give back even if it is just a dollar a week or mentoring to students that need guidance.
So many others looked out for us when we were younger and provided the re-enforcement that we needed to get us where we are today.
As alumni, it is our jobs to return the favor and do the same for future leaders.
Pick up the paintbrushes and let’s walk.
One for the week: “Be sure your love is true love. Hate what is sinful. Hold on to whatever is good.” _ Romans 12:9

Neglected Pan

2009-07-12T11:23:00.000-07:00

Adult's Walk
The Grand Rapids Times
7-10-2009
by Marcel Gamble

I open up the loaf of bread, and the first thing I do is reach to the back of the loaf to grab the end piece.
After I get the end piece, I throw it directly in the trash.
I don’t stop to think about how it tastes. I just simply see that it is different than the rest, and I dispose of it.
The end piece that I constantly throw away is made by the same company and formulated from the same yeast as the rest of the loaf.
Why is the end piece of the loaf thrown out by millions of people?
Why is it treated differently from the rest of the bread within the loaf?
This week I am walking to answer this question.
The end piece is treated differently because it’s not shaped like the others.
It is flat and it doesn’t have the crust that so many people love.
However, that doesn’t change the fact that it comes in the same loaf as the other pieces. Why is it treated differently?
Unfortunately, some people are treated just like the end piece of bread – equality is forgotten and all fairness is ignored.
As an example, because of a corrupted law system, the end piece of bread is thrown out on regular bases.
There is an inner city resident that is the age of 18 who is caught by police officials growing 200 marijuana plants.
He is locked up only to undergo a trial that will take away the next seven years of his life.
A week later, there is a well-known individual who is loved by hundreds of people who is also caught growing 200 plants of marijuana.
This individual undergoes a trial that allows him to walk away with just the order to do 240 hours of community service, undergo drug testing, attend Narcotics anonymous, and submit to police searches.
In the above scenarios, who is being treated like the end piece of bread and who is being treated like the piece of bread with a crust?
I didn’t have to waste my time creating such an example because such injustice is occurring in real life.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have the opportunity to interview the individual that some are calling lucky this week.
However, I know that Grand Rapids sports writer David Mayo has been treated like the piece of bread that has a crust and not like the end piece.
Personally, I believe that if laws are set and consequences are made for laws that are broken, then everyone who breaks laws should be forced to endure the consequences.
It should matter if you are well known or a nobody.
It shouldn’t matter if you are a thug or a corporate professional.
It shouldn’t matter if you are black, white, rich, or poor.
If people commit the same crime, then they should do the same amount of time.
As a religious individual, I believe that God has reasoning for allowing writer David Mayo a second chance.
I also believe that I have been punished lightly for some things that I have done in the past as well, but that doesn’t change the fact that equality isn’t present anymore in the world of justice.
How am I able to trust law enforcement now that I know that I’m going to be treated like the end piece of bread while others that are well known are treated like pieces of bread with crust?
What will this do to upcoming generations when they realize that they are subjected to be thrown out like the end piece in the loaf?
My words to David Mayo are, “I’m not furious at you for getting a lighter sentence then what you should have gotten. I’m mad at the corrupted justice system for giving others more strenuous sentences for the same crime.
God has given you another chance, now it is your turn to do Him a favor. As a walking testimony, you should take the time out and explain to others that just because your consequences for your actions were light doesn’t meant that theirs will be if they make the same mistake. Explain to others that your light sentence doesn’t make your crime expectable.
My words for the Grand Rapids Justice system is stop treating people like they are end pieces of bread. If it’s the system’s choice to treat people like the end pieces in bread loaves, then it’s only right to treat every criminal the same.
I would love to see a correct law system whether than see a neglected pan.
Email me at marcelgamble@ sbcglobal.net and share with me your thoughts on this issue.
One for the week: “And the preist answered David, and said, there is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread.”_ 1Samuel 21:4

Adult's Walk - I Will Miss You

2009-04-10T17:45:00.000-07:00

By Marcel Gamble

It’s evident that we all have moments when we bear in mind good times and mourn over bad times.
No matter what our memories may be many of us want to hold on to them and savor them like a tropical drink that we never want to forget. In our minds we want to play memories over and over again so they lock in our brains like unforgettable songs with incredible beats.
In order to progress in life, people have to use the past as a reference point as well as let it go.
There is no doubt about it, I will deeply miss you.
You have given me hope for the future, as well as provide one for me. You have guided me to my best friend, “God” when I needed him the most.
I will miss you.
You have given others hope; wisdom, and courage during their most troubling times. Before your arrival to save me, I was a dumbfound little boy and now I am a Christian, educated, young African American male.
For the most crucial years of my life you have encouraged me to fight against statistics instead of becoming a part of statistics.
I will miss you because literally you have saved me.
Intellectual Dr. Cornell West; once said, “Sometimes you have to die before you are able to successfully live.”
People have to let things go, so in order for me and others to progress in life I’m sad to say that I have to let you go.
If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t have been able to look out of my window in my neighborhood and discover that the streets were definitely somewhere that I didn’t want to be.
If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t have been able to realize that the kicks I rock on my feet are able to serve for good purposes while looking fresh.
To be honest if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be able to discuss with others about the significance of a half full glass and the importance of a full one.
My friend I will miss you.
I will miss you, but I have to let you go.
For years you have paved the way for me to excel in life, so that I can help others succeed in life. Now that I am getting older my friend I must move on.
I will still reach out to everyone just as I did as a teen but as of today, April 8th, 2009 I am an adult.
Teens voice their opinions pertaining to issues that they are passionate about, but adults walk. Since I am no longer a teen my friend I have to do more than talk I have to walk.
Teens talk but adults walk and that’s exactly what I am going to do.
I owe everything to you, “Teens talk,” you have been there when I have needed you the most.
This is killing me, but parts of me must die in order for me to move on.
You have found people in dark alleys, gave them light, and led them down righteous paths when they have needed you the most.
My friend I will miss you.
Yes there are teens searching to talk, but as they speak there are also adults searching for ways to learn how to walk.
So my friend I will miss you but I must move on.
God is encouraging me to seek out the leaders of tomorrow as well as lift up the leaders of today. I will miss you but my friend, my mission to serve God and my peers has changed tremendously.
I now have the passion not to just talk but to also walk.
So to all of my faithful readers, this is not goodbye my friends this is hello to a new beginning.
So you all can say hello to “Adults Walk.”
“Teens Talk,” my friend, I will miss you.
I’m going to leave you all with this; “All great things must come to an end to allow greater things to have the opportunity to live.”

Teens Talk - On My MP3 Player

2009-01-31T00:02:00.000-08:00

The Grand Rapids Times
1/30/2009
By Marcel Gamble

Wow I have music that gives me hope and shows me joy. I have music that takes me back and reminds me of old times.
There is music on my mp3 player that keeps me happy when I am mad and music that constantly reminds me why I am sad.
There are the songs that I love to dance to. I have music for days but the songs on my mp3 player in no way are equivalent to the song that is in my heart.
About a year ago I talked to you all about a song that was on my grandmother’s heart. Well now a year later there is a song on my heart.
Usually, songs that people love are ones that have unforgettable beats that keep their feet moving. Well I don’t need to turn on my mp3 player in order to hear the beat that I like.
My song doesn’t speak of a green light but it does mention a booming economy.
The song that is on my heart doesn’t refer to any popping of Champaign or Putting on for my city, but it does bring upon the idea of the expansion of my city.
It brings a smile to my face because the beat to my song has a rhythm like no other.
My song isn’t blessed lyrically by Lil Wayne or T-Pain but in a lyrical sense it can’t be touched.
I guarantee that no one will be able to turn on their mp3 player and find a song like mine.
The lyrics give hope to those who have lost their jobs and to those who are at stake of loosing their jobs.
Man, thank you Grandma because this song is better then any song that I ever wrote or listened to, its so great that I want to share it with others just like you shared yours with me.
No Name is what I am going to call it, because a song as great as mine really is too remarkable to name.
I wish everyone can hear the song that I hear, quit searching for it on your mp3 players because it is located in your heart. Can you hear it? The lyrics are about struggling families that no longer have to struggle anymore.
Its about future college students finding scholarships to pay for their education, yeah that’s what it sounds like.
It reminds me of Marvin Gaye with his Ohh Child anthem, and a little like R Kelly’s I Can Fly hit. No maybe it resembles Marvin Sapp’s I Never Could Have Made It song.
The following songs are good but I change my mind because my song is one of a kind.
Wow it makes me feel like I feel when God wakes me up every morning to see a new day.
I wish people can hear this song when they are facing a long lay off period from their job.
I long for others to hear this song before they decide to cut the heat off on a 93 year old man and allow him to freeze to death in his own house.
Real Talk, I dream that some of you young individuals hear this song before you think that you can make a career out of gangbanging, and drug dealing.
Man, I hope everyone who is in pursuit of making wrong decisions would hear this song and be inspired to make the right decisions.
I’m going to leave you all with this, For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
God gave up his son to save the world so the least that we can do is to put down the mp3 players and began to share the song from our hearts to others.

Teens Talk - The Pros and Cons of College

2009-01-24T00:16:00.000-08:00

The Grand Rapids Times
1-23-2009
By Marcel Gamble

Many of you all are already in college or you plan to attend college soon.
To be real with everyone I am not capable of giving you an exact example of what experience you will take from college because in all honesty college is what you make it to be.
Lately I have had a few people ask me to give them advice on how to have successful college careers, and my advice has been the same advice people have given me for years; you have to crawl before you can walk.
Before you can speak you have to obtain a vocabulary.
Before you can write you have to learn the alphabet.
College isn’t any different. Before you attend you have to equip yourself with three things; God, discernment, and willingness to learn new things.
I’m going to be honest the reasoning for equipping yourself with God is because College is no different than the rest of the world. In college there are people who will try to deprive your life of God, people who will be working daily to strip you of everything that you believe in.
I call these people wishers because they wish they can gain possession over everything that a person owns even the pureness of someone’s soul.
During college God will also help you get through challenging times such as endless disputes with others, depression, and personal battles with faith.
Having discernment is a part of crawling because as much as college is about academics it is also about making successful choices. No one can expect to make the choice to party every night and then expect to be attentive in class the next morning.
Discernment is also about choosing the right people to hang with to be influences in your life. If you know that your boy goes to class during the day and sells drugs at night it probably wouldn’t be a smart idea to hang too tuff with your boy if you have goals in life.
It is a humorous saying but what monkey sees monkey will do.
As soon as you believe that you are strong enough to be around such corruption you will to become corrupted before you can even realize it.
One last thing that you must equip yourself with is the willingness to want to learn.
You can’t expect to do well academically in college if you enter college with a closed mind.
College isn’t like grade school no one is going to force you to do anything so if you choose to be lazy then no doubt, your grades will reflect that.
The professors in college are not there to hold your hand they are there to give you an education so that you may progress in life.
My advice to everyone is to crawl before you walk meaning prepare yourself for everything that you do in life. Don’t just jump into things expecting to be successful because you will fail.
Take it from somebody who has failed and picked himself back up to be successful.
Crawl before you walk, and become whatever you vision yourself being.
I’m going to leave you with this; “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it,” he said (Luke 18:17).

Teens Talk - Sold Out

2009-01-03T09:07:00.001-08:00

The Grand Rapids Times
1-2-2009
By Marcel Gamble

It is always depressing to find out that there aren’t anymore tickets available to a movie that you really want to see.
All week, you make plans to see the movie on its opening night only to be left disappointed at the end of the week when the movie is sold out.
Motion pictures aren’t the only things that some procrastinators miss out on.
People that wait until the last minute to purchase tickets, undoubtedly, will miss out on the greatness that life has to offer.
Some people missed out on participating in the year of 2008 because tickets to this year were sold out.
Some missed out on pursuing their dreams because no tickets were available.
Some people missed out on furthering their education because they did not believe that it was important to buy a ticket.
One very important show that ticketless people weren’t able to see this year was the show of Barack Obama our president elect being chosen.
If you missed out on Show 2008, it is up to you not to miss out on the show of 2009.
Make 2009 your year to succeed; become somebody if you feel you aren’t anybody.
Make it a priority to accomplish the dreams and goals that you have visions of accomplishing.
2009 is definitely not a show that should be missed.
Buy your ticket now if you haven’t already, because the show is beginning.
If you don’t get a ticket to view '09 then you will be stuck watching '08 repeatedly, you’ll have to keep wasting your money to be entertained with the same material.
Back in the beginning of '08, I told you all to get in the car and drive.
Now, I’m telling you all to purchase a ticket.
It is your choice to remain in '08 and overcome the current financial situation that you may be in.
It is your choice to mend the family issues that you experienced in '08 so that you can enjoy your family in 09.
For those who keep running from God, you can continue to run from God if you want to face the same hardships in '09 that you faced in '08.
There is a limited nimber of tickets available and the premiere of '09 will be sold out.
2009 is coming, and the show will begin with or without you being there.
I’m going to leave you all with this; Deuteronomy 31:6
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
If you are afraid to purchase a ticket and move on with your life do not worry, God has your back in everything that you do.

O's Sportslite

2009-01-03T09:05:00.001-08:00

The Grand Rapids Times
1-2-2009
By o.b.

Done deal, the Detroit Lions have made history and now the fun and work begins. I do wish that all the fans and experts who want to lay blame, would take a page from the Japanese Philosophy which is to not dwell on the who did it but how to fix it better. How do the people in charge make the Lions better? I am kind of dark so it might be hard to see but I will talk and yell until I am blue in the face, “Do Not draft a quarterback with your first five picks!” People will and are telling the Lions that they need to draft that big name quarterback who will bring fans back to Ford Field. That was done with Joey Harrington and we know the history on that number one pick. Lay the bricks for the foundation on the New Detroit Lions with offense and defense linemen. Have a vent day at Ford Field where fans can come, buy food and libations as they yell how the Lions stink, the owner is a bum, Millen was a pimp, the personnel department, scouts and all coaches should be placed in a automobile crusher. There could be pictures up of Bill Ford and members of the Detroit Lions and for a dollar a throw, fans could thrown foam bricks at the pictures. Fans could kick stuff/ foamy footballs, for a dollar to help release pent-up frustration. The Lions can have an open mike so all comedians can crack jokes on the Lions and their season. After this venting session is over have a priest to come in to do an exorcism and then have religious leaders of every denomination cone forward to lead the fans in prayer for orgiveness and a new successful era for the Detroit Lions. The bottom-line is that the Lions need a PLAN, implemented by wise, intelligent and good vision football people. I have no issues with keeping personnel who know all the things that the Lions did that didn’t work, which means they can advise others on what not to do. The Detroit Lions going 0-16 is not a major catastrophe or State of Michigan tragedy; it’s just a losing season like 11 other teams. Yes football history majors can write terms and research papers as well as novels about this 0-16 season but other than this season of woe anything else is a frustration boat being towed. Fans need to focus on the big picture on who shall lead the Lions out of this pit which is located deep in the forest of gloom & doom. Life will go on and the sun shall rise in the morning for the Detroit Lions. One needs to believe and have faith in the good and positive. If you take time to reflect, remember that is was only a couple of years ago when fans and experts were saying the same cruel jokes and statements about the Detroit Tigers. Yes, take a look at the Tigers now. This took place after they obtain intelligent baseball people to lead the Tiger Organization and implement their plan of attack. I have faith that since the Detroit Lions have fallen as low as a team can go that they now will say “enough is enough”; its time for us to put some teeth marks on teams. Sounds like a fairy tale but I’m guilty of clicking my heels three times, saying I believe, putting my tooth under my pillow and writing Santa the Claus, so bring on the smiles but I see some light. Oh, just in case you wonder if I think outside the box, my next choice for the Lions’ head coach would be a gentlemen who just got fired by the New York Jets and yes his name begins with that dreaded alphabet…”M”. Nothing dreaded about the Just For Fun Picks…so lets bring it.

NFL
Atlanta 2.5 ARIZONA
Indy even SAN DIEGO
RAVENS 3 Miami
PHILLY 3 Minnesota

Have a happy and safe New Year. P.S. Happy Birthday Otto/Dad (on New Years Eve)...with love, Jodie, Nicole & Aaron.

Teens Talk - Tis the Season

2008-12-27T09:00:00.000-08:00

The Grand Rapids Times
12-26-2008
By Marcel Gamble

Once again it is Christmas and time to celebrate the birth date of all dates. The birth date I am referring to is that of our Christ, Lord and Savior.
It is not a time to be boastful about the gifts you do receive and it is definitely not a time to be unappreciative because of the gifts you do not receive.
Most of us won’t be able to celebrate Christmas because everyone refuses to take out the trash.
When trash is left in a room for long period of time it creates an unbearable stench. It attracts flies which later on brings on maggots.
If someone would volunteer to take out the trash when it is ready to be taken out then the extra baggage such as the unbearable stench, flies, and maggots wouldn’t be a problem that needs to be dealt with.
The trash that I am referring to is the drama and the grudges that are held within families because of previous disputes.
There are the depressed parents that are upset because they can’t afford high priced gifts and there are the children who are ungrateful because they don’t realize that they receive gifts everyday.
I consider the following chaos to be trash; it is trash because it’s ridiculous baggage that people create themselves.
Why can’t the thought of a person being in the presence of their family be a blessing from God and a present? Some people will not have the opportunity to even see their family this Christmas and they will still be able to celebrate the season.
Why are some of us upset when we aren’t able to receive presents during Christmas when we receive gifts everyday?
If you have a coat on your back then you can say Merry Christmas.
If you have shoes on your feet then you can say Merry Christmas.
If you have a house to live in then you definitely can say Merry Christmas.
An individual that has all of the following things or more, and still feels the need to complain, needs to take out the trash. I smell a stench and it is coming from the family that can’t even sit down and celebrate Christmas together.
Somebody needs to take out the t5rash because sister is mad at sister for attracting her boyfriend. Mama is still mad at daughter for lying about her pregnancy.
I see the flies coming. They smell the trash.
Dad is still angry with son for not following in his footsteps.
The trash continues to sit in the house and as long as it sits the celebration of Christmas will cease to occur.
I’m going to leave you all with this; II Kings 14:26; For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel.

Teens Talk - The Unwrapped Gifts

2008-12-20T01:00:00.000-08:00

When I was a little boy, Christmas was always my favorite holiday for one reason — the presents.
Every Christmas Eve, I would give my parents unbearable headaches because of the one question I would constantly ask, “When is Santa coming?”
There were years when Christmas was great, times when I would get 20 presents or more. There were also years when I would come down the stairs on Christmas day to find no presents under the tree at all. I would force myself to believe that Santa had just forgotten to stop by my house, or, that I was on the naughty list.
As a child I was too blind to see that I had received gifts, the greatest gifts of all, unwrapped ones. I couldn’t see the unwrapped gifts that were right in front of my eyes because I had my heart set on the gifts that were in big boxes and sealed under wrapping paper.
S.T.O.P. Stop is something that everyone needs to do this Christmas.
If we can’t see the unwrapped gift of life, then how can we celebrate Christmas?
If we can’t see the unwrapped gift of family, we need to stop and open our eyes.
If we can’t see the ultimate unwrapped gift of all, the birth of Jesus, then we are clueless to what we are even celebrating.
How did the celebration of Christmas begin as the celebration of the birth of Jesus and end up as the emptying of bank accounts to please others?
We need to stop this Christmas to recognize the gifts that matter before we go broke buying the gifts that will eventually deteriorate.
I’m not going to make a Christmas list this year because I myself need to focus on the unwrapped gifts that are in my life everyday.
We as individuals tend to get ourselves worked up and anxious to see what is in the boxes underneath the Christmas tree only to disappoint ourselves when we find out that we received something that we didn’t want. Like me and so many others, we do not realize that we have had things we wanted all our lives; we have had the unwrapped gifts.
I’m going to leave you with this, Matthew 1:21; “She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
God saw that we were the unwrapped gifts in His life. Why Christmas day can we not see Jesus as our unwrapped gift?

Teens Talk - The Everlasting Bad

2008-12-16T16:09:00.000-08:00

The Grand Rapids Time
12-12-2008
By Marcel Gamble

People have an awkward way of operating. They act as if they are mechanical machines that constantly have to be upgraded.
Unknowingly they complain and take things for granted. I know because I am one of those machines that break down on a daily bases.
I break down because even though I own 8 pairs of shoes already, I am mad because I still don’t own a specific pair.
I break down because although I have clothes on my back I don’t own the hottest name brands.
It’s accurate to say it’s not only bad that influences me to act a certain way like so many others. It’s also stupidity that gets the best of me.
First, my computer needs reprogramming because I constantly forget that I am blessed with more then I should have. There are machines that do not have a roof to live under, a bed to sleep in, and a bathroom to use.
I think that I am experiencing some shortage in my mechanical body because I should be ashamed to think I am not blessed.
We all need to realize that God blesses us in so many ways that we don’t even notice because we are caught on being known as the best in the world. Set your mind on things above and not on things on this earth.
Secondly, my bolts need tightening because I am always falling apart due to my body that I continually claim is aching when I don’t want to do certain things.
I feel like a worthless machine when I think about the machines that are actually missing limbs and who have physical disabilities.
There is an everlasting bad that is present, surrounding and affecting everyone.
Even in church bad is brought up frequently and good is barely mentioned. Pastor may say, “I am tired of seeing these kids on the corner with their pants hanging off their behinds.”
Unfortunately, pastor doesn’t get around to saying, I’m proud of these children that are changing their lives around. Young machines hear these messages and feel neglected in the church and they eventually stray away from their church families.
If bad is all a young machine hears then its only nature that a young machine burns out before hearing the good.
This bad is making us blind to good.
This bad is causing us to have a materialistic greed.
For example, there is a machine that has a house, a car and a family, but then this machine turns on the television and realizes that his life is still empty.
He wants the house that has a balcony, 4 bathrooms, master bedroom and an indoor pool. He wants the car with the 24 inch rims and leather interior.
He is no longer satisfied with the wife that he has been married to for years. Now he wants 3 girlfriends on the side.
This machine is currently out of order and beyond the stage of reprogramming which means now this machine is scrap metal.
As long as we all allow bad and negativity to control our lives then we all will become scrap metal. There is good in the world. The problem is that we don’t choose to see good.
Galations 2:20; “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Teens Talk - A Christmas Gift To Die For

2008-12-05T23:19:00.000-08:00

The Grand Rapids Times
12/5/2008
By Marcel Gamble

When I think about Christmas, to be honest, I think about presents, Christmas music, and family dinner.
My thoughts about what I will be receiving and giving overpower my thoughts about the true meaning of Christmas.
I am ashamed to say that the birth date of my Savior is the last thing that is on my mind during the Christmas holiday.
Like so many others, I am caught up in pleasing my loved ones with expensive gifts rather then being a servant of God and professing to younger individuals the true meaning of Christmas.
Many of us lose the true meaning of Christmas because we get blinded by the gifts that are to die for.
Well, this year, we can all appreciate Planned Parenthood of Indiana because they have gifts that people die for.
“Looking for an unusual, yet practical gift this holiday season? Planned Parenthood of Indiana (PPIN) is now offering gift certificates for services or the recipient’s choice of birth control method. The gift certificates can be purchased on line in increments of $25 or for any amount at some of PPIN’s 35 health centers.”
Jesus was born on the glorious day of Christmas, and now people think that it is a gift to take the lives of innocent babies during Christmas.
Planned Parenthood of Indiana is giving everyone a gift to die for this year.
According to an ABC News report, “Planned Parenthood provides contraception, pap smears and other routine health services for women, as well as abortions. The gift certificates, ranging in values from $25 to $100, can be redeemed for all clinic services.”
Let me remind you all that Planned Parenthood of Indiana refers to these gift certificates as being unusual, yet practical gifts.
I don’t know about practical, but I understand these gifts to be ridiculous.
What is so Christmas about encouraging others to have abortions by giving them gift cards to do so.
What is so Christmas about aiding someone in taking a life out of the world the day Jesus was brought into the world?
Through these gift cards what are we telling teens that have already went through the process of abortion?
This present to die for, is this truly what Christmas is about?
Each man’s sacred gifts are his own, but what he gives to the priest will belong to the priest.’ “ (Numbers 5:10).
Once a gift is given to someone, it is his or hers to keep permanently.
Some of us need to think about the permanent damage we are creating this holiday season.

Teens Talk - The Woman Within A Man

2008-11-29T10:53:00.000-08:00

The Grand Rapids Times
11-28-2008
By Marcel Gamble

I dedicate this article to Alvin. Your words of wisdom were definitely inspiration for this piece.
Many young men are living their lives behind a lie.
As Alvin would say, “The only time they call themselves men is or when they have a gun in their hand or when they are on top of women engaging in sex, and the women are saying that they are the man.”
You, young men out there who believe you are gangsters, some of you really got things twisted.
You see, to be a gangster you have to be a man; and some of you all are not men.
A man looks people in their eyes. His eyes do not wander when he is having a conversation.
A man is able to hug another man because he is secure about his manhood. Most of you so - called gangsters begin to trip when a man is within two feet of your face.
You see, a man handles his own battles. He doesn’t call his boys to have a 15 against 1 brawl.
That’s not gangster; that’s straight up punkish. Anybody can be seen as the man when their boys have their back, but what happens when their so - called boys disappear?
Not to downplay women, but most of you gangsters have the same attributes and characteristics as women.
Could this be the reason why women are attracted to gangsters?
Maybe the gangster image of a gangster doesn’t attract a woman. Maybe the woman within the gangster attracts women.
So, to you all reading this who are caught up on maintaining a gangster image, you should stop trying.
Don’t pretend to be something that you are not.
If you are intelligent, then don’t have your butt out on the corner smoking weed.
If you have goals and ambitions, then get out of the drive by cars and go after accomplishing your goals.
Believe me. I once was confused about what a man was, and I had to learn the hard way of what a gangster truly is.
I am thankful today that I still have my life; but some of you all might not be granted a second chance. That’s why so many people are trying to help you all get it right the first time.
It is so important that you all listen and stop being hard - headed.
I am able to say that I am a man; and I want all my peers to be able to say the same.
Email me at marcelgamble@sbcglobal.net and let me know if you know what it means to be a real man.

Teens Talk - Car Pool

2008-11-21T23:07:00.001-08:00

The Grand Rapids Times
11/21/2008
By Marcel Gamble

Many of us have had to endure the awkward experience of car pooling.
You can remember the time when you and Susie from the neighborhood were going to the same summer camp and mama didn’t want to waste money on gas.
So she made you ride to camp with little Susie and her parents.
Well, currently that isn’t the case anymore. Car pooling really doesn’t exist now.
It doesn’t exist because of fear. The fear is a result of a few bad youth involved in violence.
There is fear that this young man might have drugs on him because he is labeled as a drug dealer.
There is fear that this young man might have a gun on him because he is known as a gang banger.
Since youth can no longer be trusted, and car pooling no longer takes place anymore, then what is the point of incorporating time and marking dates on your calendar to spend with youth?
This is the attitude of so many people who are already where they need to be in life; individuals who have made it to college and people who have their careers.
This is the attitude of people who have forgotten that they used to be these youth in the past.
You see, people still believe that carpooling is all about saving gas; but car pooling is about saving lives.
You might not realize it; but by guiding a youth in the right direction, you are car pooling.
You are offering a seat in your car so someone else can become successful in life.
Do not turn your back on disengaged youth because there once was a time when someone had to lift you up and brush you off to car pool you in the right direction.
It’s good to know where you are going but don’t ever forget where you are from.
I would like to commend an organization called Urban Young Life for remaining faithful towards upcoming youth.
I want to commend them for believing that the children of today are somebody and will continue to be somebody.
Quentin Henry and to the rest of the Urban Young Life organization, I want to thank you for car pooling for our leaders of tomorrow.
I’m going to leave you all with this, Ezekial 1:2, Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.
Since our inheritance must go to strangers and our houses to aliens then why should we have a problem investing time into our leaders of tomorrow?
Marcel Gamble, a 2008 graduate of Kelloggsville High School, is a student at Calvin College.

Teens Talk - Double Dutch

2008-11-15T11:15:00.001-08:00

The Grand Rapids Times
11-14-2008
By Marcel Gamble

Jump in little girl; jump in;
The rope will not stop turning.
1964, your family hosed down to the floor;
Two decades away, a man is beaten to death for being gay.
The drinking fountains are rusty;
The bathrooms for you to use are dusty.
Innocent heroes are beaten for pleasure and ridiculous reasons.
Slave owners fornicate with heroes that they love to hate;
You are a prime example of what rape use to create.
Stop, do not celebrate; your heart should be filled with hate.
Jump in, little girl, jump in and gaze to see
two married heroes hanging from a tree
Jump, little girl, with me; and familiarize yourself
on how life used to be.
See how the past resembles now and how now resembles the past.
Make room for all heroes that are placed in one class.
Do not stop jumping; keep your heart pumping.
Jump into hurricane Katrina see thousands living in trailers provided by FEMA.
Jump into 9/11 and bless the souls on their way to heaven.
Jump, little girl, jump.
Jump right into Iraq and see millions of soldiers
lying flat on their backs;
Jump into Rwanda but bring a tissue for your eyes –
See limbs removed from bodies, become a witness to genocide.
Jump into a neighborhood where gangsters battle for a throne;
See thugs dying for a corner that they will never own;
Take a crack rock as a souvenir and photos of the block to tell others you have been here.
Jump into a society that’s controlled by men in million dollar tuxedos.
Don’t jump too far, little girl, because they tell heroes where to go and who to know.
Jump but avoid becoming a puppet in a puppet show
Now, jump and do tricks; do some twists and turns;
Make sure you give the other children a turn.
Everyone must become educated, so they must learn.
Jump, little boy, jump.
No! I don’t feel like jumping today;
Let’s play another game; its time for a change.
No more jumping, no more reason for my heart to be pumping,
My feet stand firm because my time for jumping is over.
Stop turning the rope; the little girl’s legs are tired.
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marched for us to get higher.
Langston Hughes spoke of a dream differed, but we will never expire.
Madam C.J. Walker created the perm so that we can be flyer.
Spike lee said, “Do the right thing.”
So stop turning because she is tired.
Ghandi fought in peace, and Chavez hit the streets.
Little girl, these people jumped so we wouldn’t have to jump anymore.
Now you can hang the rope up;
we don’t have to Double Dutch no more.

Double Dutch

The way some people live is similar to the way that scratched CDs play in CD players. They never get past a certain part in a song.
Some people get scratched in life and never heal appropriately; this hinders them from truly experiencing the rest of life.
Everyone experiences depressing times that may damper their spirits and cause them to lose motivation.
During this period of time, many of us begin to Double Dutch.
We begin to Double Dutch to the past to find excuses to why we aren’t succeeding in the present.
Some of us jump to the past not to lift ourselves up today but to find excuses not to succeed tomorrow.
It doesn’t matter what race you are, your descendents did not put their lives on the line for you to Double Dutch.
They didn’t fight so that you can jump and come up with thousands of reasons to why you can’t go to work.
You should be thankful that you have the job you have.
Heroes before you did not boycott just so you would have the opportunity to stand your butt on a street corner.
Too many of us are choosing to Double Dutch.
Individuals before would have died to have the opportunities that we have, to be accurate they did die.
Why are we so quick to jump rope and so slow to pick up on our responsibilities?
Why would we want to share the same characteristics as a scratched CD and be stuck on something that prevents us from moving on in life.
When we jump rope, we are only hurting ourselves we fail because we speak failure and place failure into our lives.
Rosa Parks didn’t overcome her fears to sit in the front of the bus for us to give up now.
All of the greats before our time paved the way for us to become successful beings.
I call them heroes because they said that there would be change and indeed in the year of 2008 there is change.
My generation and generations under me we can be thankful for this change or we can act ignorant and throw away an opportunity that many of us have waited many years for.
It is all up to us to change or to Double Dutch.
Email me at marcelgamble@sbcglobal.net and tell me how you plan to put down the rope.
I’m going to leave you all with this; the future is yours; don’t fall short of utilizing it by Double Dutching.

Teens Talk - Tears of Joy

2008-11-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

November 4, 2008, will be a day that will always be remembered because it is the day that America fulfilled the dreams of millions of people.
It is the day that so many others and I cried tears of joy.
This is the day that Barrack Obama was selected to become the next President of The United States.
America we have come far.
There used to be a time when individuals of African American descent weren’t allowed to become elected officials; well, America, we have come far.
Some of us were and still are in awe of America’s decision to elect Barrack Obama, while others of us continue to cry tears of joy.
We cry because in our generation we have the opportunity to experience the dream that we have read about in textbooks.
If Martin Luther King Jr. were here, he would say, “America we are free at last.”
We cry because as a country we have made it.
No longer is the United States of America a white nation; it is a unified nation with all races interacting with each other.
So many people have died while fighting for change and change has finally arrived.
Unfortunately, many civil rights leaders did not live to witness the electing of Barrack Obama.
They are not here with us because they decided to give their lives so that my generation and I would see better days.
Now that we have better days, let’s not take them for granted.
My minority brothers and sisters, stop embarrassing yourself and this nation and put on some clothes that fit.
Women, we don’t need to see your body– a part hanging out of tight clothing; and men, everyone doesn’t need to see your pants down to your ankles.
America is beginning to clean-up and change. It is time for us to do the same.
If you are not in school, then get your butt in school.
If you are a drug addict, it is time to put down the harmful substances and get into rehab.
America is pushing for change; and you should be too.
We can’t fight for change and not want to change ourselves.
I have tears of joy. The history I used to learn about no longer is history; now it is present.
Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and so many others can now rest because, America, we have made it.
If you are an individual that doesn’t like the change that is occurring, oh well, it is happening any way.
You have the choice of fighting it, or you can have tears of joy.
I’m going to leave you with this: “An ignorant person will never succeed in this world because their jealous ways stops them from doing so. ”

Teens Talk - Aquafina

2008-11-01T00:30:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times
10-31-2008

When people need to use the restroom, they stop whatever they are doing at the time, and they use the restroom.
When they are hungry, they eat; and when they are thirsty, they drink.
I have one question – why do people display a since of being thirsty more than they show that they are hungry and etc.?
I’m not referring to being thirsty after a strenuous workout, I am talking about being thirsty during your every day activity.
We all have those days when we need our pure water.
When I see a young lady that is not completely dressed and I decide to make comments about her figure, there is no question about it – I am thirsty.
I am not only thirsty for the lady I am making rude remarks about, I am also thirsty for some pure “aquafina” water.
If people around me ask me to drink liquor during the weekend and I decide to because I had a rough week, then, unquestionably, I am thirsty for pure “aquafina” water.
God throws “aquafina” at us on daily basis, but a majority of us decide to reach for another liquid to quench our thirst.
When your teenage boyfriend is pressuring you to have sex, take a swig of “aquafina”; leave those other drinks alone.
When your friends tell you that it’s okay to get behind the wheel of a car under the influence, you need to give up the keys and find you some “aquafina”.
You see “aquafina” is a pure liquid and God is also pure. By sinning everyday, we are telling God that we are thirsty for Him and we are telling Him to provide us with “aquafina”.
The “aquafina” is the guidance that we strive to receive from God each day.
Someone should have told the individual who murdered Jenifer Hudson’s mother, brother, and nephew to drink some “aquafina”.
We all can tell when there are masses of people who chose to pick up other liquids and not “aquafina”.
Someone decided to pick up other liquids the night my uncle was murdered. There are a number of other people who can relate to that.
Everyday when a woman is beaten by her man, other liquids are involved.
Every minute when rape occurs, another person is corrupted who makes the choice to turn down pure “aquafina” from God tothey up other drinks from the devil.
Staying pure is the way to go if you don’t already get some “aquafina” in your life.
Accept God’s hands when He holds them out to you; don’t run to what you know is wrong.
I’m going to leave you all with this, everyone personally has to learn how to use discernment, don’t give others the opportunity to choose your path for you.
Marcel Gamble, a 2008 graduate of Kelloggsville High School, is a student at Calvin College.

Teens Talk - Something Different

2008-10-25T16:36:00.000-07:00

America, I’m cold work with this pen, I’m persistent with the messages that I deliver, there is only one word to describe your boy and that’s sick.
They call me boss because that’s exactly what I am; everybody knows I am if you don’t already know you need to get with the program.
I’m on something different, don’t get mad because honestly it doesn’t matter what you are on, it’s all about me.
Why can’t I have an ego?
There are thousands of other people who are on something different in this world.
Why can’t I be on something different?
If Play Boy Bunny Ashley Harkleroad can auction her virginity off for 3 million dollars on television then why shouldn’t I be able to be on something different?
There are millions who are discriminating against Barack Obama because he is African American.
There are millions who are discriminating against John McCain because of his age.
So what makes it wrong for me to be on something different?
One thing that makes it wrong for me to be on something different is that this world doesn’t revolve around me or you. The world revolves around everyone as a whole.
This week I decided to do something different. I want to take you all on a trip around the world.
Tamar Mesa, “Some things that are difficult for me while I am in America are the reading and writing assignments in college, American style writing is something different to me.” Mesa is an international student at Calvin College from the East Coast of Spain.
Arum-Jugu Galadima, “One thing that is difficult for me while I am in America is managing my time in college; the college life is something different to me.” Galadima is a freshman international student from Jos, Nigeria.
Eden Hagos, “One thing that is difficult for me is dealing with the issue of having too much freedom, making many of my own decisions is something different to me.” Hagos is a freshman at Calvin College from Windsor, Ontario Canada.
There are people all around the world who are on something different facing real life issues. These individuals are on something different by living everyday lives and facing hardships to get where they want to be in life.
They are on something different naturally not by choice, they are not creating their own issues like Obama supporters or McCain supporters.
They are not on television like Playmate Ashley Harkleroad trying to be on something different by selling their virginity. There are people that go through something different and they understand what legitimate issues are.
I can brag all day about being sick with the pen and delivering my messages but then I would be on something different that’s fake because this world is not about me it’s about everyone.

I’m going to leave you all with this; Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Doers he promise and not fulfill?”

Teens Talk - Math Doesn't Add Up!

2008-10-17T23:42:00.001-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times
10-17-2008
By Marcel Gamble

Back in elementary school, when math didn’t add up right or when a problem was too difficult to find a solution for, my teacher use to take me back to the basics.
Not to insult or mock anyone’s intelligence in math, but I have to take you back because there is an equation that is not adding up correctly.
That equation once was solved that then became a problem and later on became problematic.
Every one remembers the infamous math equation of 1+1=2; if not, then take a mental note because the equation is key in the problem that I am about to discuss.
First, let’s begin with the solution of the number 2; you have a great nation of people that admires God and admires the life that God gives them.
Don’t worry, I am not referring to our nation today because our nation doesn’t resemble this.
All people in this nation are neighbors; they live for community, and they are willing to die for community.
The people in this community create a social welfare system amongst themselves and with God.
These individuals admiration for God expands so much that they decide to get as close as they can to God by building a tower that reached to the heavens.
Their ambitions aren’t to reach the heavens because they want to glorify God; they want to reach the heavens to glorify themselves.
Sometimes, in math you have to retrace your steps in order to check your problem; so I want to backtrack for you all.
The people didn’t want to reach the heavens to glorify God; they wanted to reach the heavens to glorify themselves.
This is where the equation changes significantly. The solution is no longer 2, now; the solution is one.
The divine response from God to this community for their actions was to confuse everyone’s languages within the community so that they could no longer communicate.
The confusing of the languages caused the people to disperse throughout the world, breaking the community apart. This is why the world is divided.
We live in a world that is divided because before we have a social welfare system with God we choose to have a welfare system amongst ourselves first.
We strive to get the solution back to the number 2; but then when we are in trouble ,we go to our best friend instead of God.
We rely on each other to provide the necessities that we need instead of depending on God.
You see, we will never find a solution to our problem because we are not ready to contribute to the equation.
We don’t have healthy communities today because we fail to recreate a social welfare system with God.
We have different communities within the church because the churches compete with each other.
We have so many different communities that exclude others because we are all glorifying ourselves and not God.
This gang hates that gang; this ball player despises that ball player, and this man is more important than that man because he is richer.
The people didn’t want to reach the heavens to glorify God, they wanted to reach the heavens to glorify themselves.
qThis is the picture of the world today; the equation is 2-1=1 because we live in a broken world with a distant relationship with God.
The community that the world had before the tower of Babel is the community that this world needs to transform back into.
The equation needs to be 1+1=2; God and we equal community.
I’m going to leave you all with this: God should come before anything.
Marcel Gamble is a student at Calvin College in Grand Rapids and a 2008 graduate of Kelloggsville High School.

Teens Talk - Life Behind Lies

2008-10-10T15:54:00.001-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times
10-10-2008
By Marcel Gamble

Recently, in one of my classes at school I became furious when the issue of racism was being discussed.
I became angry because from my point of view I believe that racism isn’t a prevalent problem anymore. I have been clueless to the fact that it has been occurring around me everyday.
I’m aware that it does exist; but when it isn’t a problem for me, I seem to forget about it completely.
Like myself, there are so many other individuals out in the world who have learned to accept racism for what it is, that some of us have just been sweeping the issue under the rug.
Well, this time when we clean up, we need to sweep racism out the door because it’s a contagious disease that is spreading rapidly.
I say it’s contagious because racist people don’t even realize that they are being racist anymore.
We joke and say things such as, “You know they black because they cheap,” or “Only white people go and investigate when danger is lurking,” and ”He is Asian so he knows karate.”
It’s ridiculous how the issue of racism has become a playful matter.
We rather sweep the issue under the rug and find other ways to cope with the hate than to come face to face with the monster of racism.
The number one thing that frustrates me is that when racism is discussed it always centers on the colors black and white.
Why?
Unquestionably it is a disease that is worldwide.
Let me tell you what happens to something that continues to be swept under the rug.
What people fail to realize is that things that are swept under the rug eventually build up; they build up so much that they begin to lift up the rug.
Meaning that when you just set something aside and don’t choose to deal with it, whatever it is it will begin to deal with you.
Well, racism is dealing with us so much now that its affecting the younger generations who don’t even know what racism is.
There are four- year- olds who have the idea in their minds that black is bad and white is good.
Stop sweeping this issue under the rug.
It’s a shame when there is a study done on four –year – olds, and they are placed in a room with a white baby doll and a black baby doll.
and are told to choose what doll they believe is the good doll and the bad doll.
It’s heartbreaking to see more than half of these children choose the white doll as the good doll and the black doll as the bad doll.
I don’t blame the four- year olds for their actions. I blame the thousands of people who have allowed such a horrible disease to spread so speedily by sweeping the issue under the rug.
So, if you are a person like me who once was oblivious to the fact that racism still is within close proximity and still exists, you need to stop sweeping racism under the rug and face it face – to - face so that the generation after you doesn’t have to suffer.
We are blind to the fact that this disease is getting so bad that it’s even causing individuals to have hatred against their own race.
If you want to know why so many brothers are killing so many brothers, well, you don’t have to search very hard for your answer.
Think about it if four – year - olds are learning that black is bad how do you think that’s affecting them as adults?
If they learn that black is bad, how will they ever have the ability to love another black individual?
It doesn’t take a physiologist to figure out that racism is killing life around us.
I’m going to leave you all with this; Leviticus 19:18

“ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.' "

Teens Talk - Questionable Life

2008-10-03T12:22:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times
10-3-2008

By Marcel Gamble

Tomorrow
Confused and misguided,
Divided unknowingly, we are creating our own exile.
Meanwhile, we are trapped in a world of deceit and denial
Caught up on materialistic things
Keeps us from individualistic dreams.

No one has their own canvas; we are all painting the same scene.
My boy hates you and your boy hates me.
He got the Jewels and I have the green.

We want nice cars to be seen as stars, and one night stands with chicks that are thick and resemble movie stars.
We are reaping mob because money comes first.
We pour out liquor for our boys that are stretched out in the back of a hearse.

It’s a curse; today gets worst-
Teenage boys are not able to see tomorrow.
The hood is grieving; light is leaving.
Darkness falls over the hood.
People flagging with their bandanas out,
And crack heads are always on a mission searching for a handout.

Lord, O Lord, please hold your hand out,
We need to see tomorrow because maybe it will be a better day,
A day when infants will open their eyes and see their gangster fathers joined in unity preparing to pray.

We need to see a day when no one is left astray.
God we need you to pave the way.
Dudes are cracked up and strapped up ready for war
My homies are ambitious but they are not prepared for ……… you
They are persistent in the things that they do but they do not make time for……….. you

God please hold out your hand.

Questionable Lives

Why are we living questionable lives?
God created us all to be beautiful creatures; unfortunately, some of us are acting like we don’t recognize that.
Some of us go and spend millions of dollars on plastic surgery to redefine our unique features.
Others of us buy endless supplies of make up to cover up God’s beautiful creation.
My boys choose to spend thousands of dollars on jewelry and expensive clothing to run from their own identity that God has given to them.
Why are we choosing to live questionable lives?
God, we need your hand.
We need your hand because we are choosing to live questionable lives when we kill others out of jealousy.
If you have to ask yourself if that comment is directed towards you, then you are definitely living a questionable life.
God, we all need your hand; but some of us need it more then others.
We lie, we cheat, we steal, we commit adultery; Lord we need your hand.
Many of us claim that we are thankful for the skin that you put us in, but our actions say different.
If we don’t fit the status of a Hollywood star or a musical artist, then we are dissatisfied.
Get buff, get buff or you are not a man is the illness some of us speak into existence.
“You are too fat to be doing all of that,” is what some of us tell others.
“You are always broke; you need to get your paper up,” is what we tell people who are less fortunate than we are.
God, please hold out your hand; not just one hand, Lord we need both hands.
It’s time for everyone who doubts the life that God has given them to ask themselves why they doubt God’s creations.
We undergo ridiculous changes everyday just to please our peers without realizing that we are upsetting God.

I’m going to leave you all with this; stop questioning God and His actions and begin asking yourself why you can’t be the way you are.

Teens Talk - To Vote or Not to Vote

2008-09-26T11:57:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Times
9-26-2008
By Marcel Gamble

Many of my readers may wonder why “Teens Talk,” is devoting an article to the subject of, voting or not voting, in this historical Presidential election.
Well, my answer is to the point of no return.
Voting is very important in any election whether it is for national or local leaders. Voting is a privilege extended to all law abiding American citizens of our fifty states.
I personally believe that voting is an obligation for all who desire to challenge our leaders into implementing laws which would enhance the quality of life for the citizen body of this great nation.
The many noted failures in a Democracy form of government appear when people become compliant and transfer their powers to others.
In exercising the right to vote, the voter is engaging in the sharing of power with his/her elected leaders.
In the last few weeks, and even days, our national and local newspapers and television news media have disclosed the bailing-out of financial sectors and homeowners with troubled mortgages.
These bailouts don’t just have preliminary consequences, they have long range disadvantages that you and I, as young Americans, will have to pay for from our first pay check until retirement.
This is why “Teen Talk” has devoted this article to the question: “To Vote Or Not To Vote?”
How can we as a generation of young Americans not seriously exercise our right to vote?
This is my first year of college, however, I don’t think so kindly of being burdened by my portion of $700 billion rescue of the financial sector.
When I graduate from college, I hope to enter graduate school, and assist my community, and possibly have a family down the line.
I don’t want to have this $700 billion bailout, and other mistakes that our present national leaders have made, to limit me in providing well for my future family.
We must, as young and older adults, educate ourselves about the issues that will leave lasting impact on our generation and future generations.
We need to keep check on the leaders that we elect into office.
I think it is a good practice for all of us to let these leaders know that American citizens will be handing out report cards during their tenure in office.
“To Vote Or Not To Vote,” is not the question in these times of national security, financial problems, high unemployment, high oil prices, and bailouts of General Motors, Financial sectors, and mortgage foreclosures.
The question should be: Who is the right man or lady, to be elected, to release us young Americans from “Juvenile Bankruptcy?”
My generation and your children are headed for “Juvenile Bankruptcy,” and we have not even had a chance to make our own debt yet.
If you are not registered to vote and you are age 18 and above, or will be 18 on or before November 4, 2008, please register to vote by October 6, 2008. Go to your nearest Secretary of State Office.
If you are not 18-years of age, yet, and you have brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles that are old enough to vote, please plead with them to cast their vote this November 4, 2008.
If the masses of Americans exercise their right to vote and take back their personal political power, the term “Juvenile Bankruptcy” may never commence on this and future generations.
There is a wise saying: “If you do the same thing all the time; you will get the same results.”
So, if we did not exercise our vote last election, do so this time. If you voted last time, continue to exercise your vote this time.
Change is a powerful and scarce commodity in our government, but we can assist by being one of the change agents if we go out and vote. Let us vote for Change.
I’m going to leave you all with this, Ecclesiastes 3:1; “To everything there is a season, and time to every purpose under the heaven.”
Now is the time for our generation to make a difference and vote.