Glimpse Of Change

Imagine that back in 2001, instead of planes being flown into the world trade centers, a conversation would have taken place between the pilots and U.S. officials to analyze and discourage the hatred the pilots had towards U.S. citizens. How would the world be different today? Imagine that Martin Luther King Jr. were still alive running a massive movement, would the world still be as racially divided as it is today? Imagine that Rap artists Tupac Shakur, and Biggy Smalls were still alive and there was never a beef between the east coast and west coast. How different would the music industry be today? What we do today shapes other people’s tomorrow and we need to step back to realize this — with our choices we have to leave behind memorable legacies. There are enough tragedies that become a part of American history; it’s time to include some positive events. Instead of glimpses of changes, we need to make changes that will last a lifetime. We don’t need any more videos of girls doing home invasions and brutally beating people down for comments that were made on the Internet. We also don’t need any more derogatory comments made on the Internet. We don’t need any more senseless shootings; the D.C sniper and his son should have taught us that. We don’t need death threats to the president we know the devastation that brings to the nation. We have fell to our knees many times before from losing great leaders. One for the week: Numbers 23:20 - I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it.

Woman: Gods Gift

A woman is Gods gift to man; a woman is one of God’s greatest creations to walk this earth.

A woman has the capability to bear children.

A woman can be strong, intelligent, wise, compassionate, understanding, driven. A woman is God’s gift.

To all my fellas in the world: if we want women to respect themselves, then we have to respect women.

We can’t label a woman as a “ho” and expect her to have the self-esteem to envision herself as a queen.

We can’t praise a woman for her physical attributes and ignore her intellect.

We encourage women to become exotic dancers and expose their bodies for magazine spreads so million dollar companies can make millions of dollars to exploit them.

Do we ever tell women that they are God’s gift?

We judge women and tell them that their weight and their physical looks should be their main concern, but do we ever tell them that they are beautiful the way they are?

We make women believe that in order to gain a popular social status they must sleep with many well - known important men.

We need to let our women know that popularity is something that they don’t need if it causes them to give men the right to take advantage of their bodies.

We need to inform our women that piles of make up and revealing clothing don’t make them beautiful; it’s their character that is associated with their physical attributes that make them amazing.

We need to tell women to hold on to their morals and beliefs and not to ditch them to impress other men.

We need to step back and take a look at what we are doing to the women in our world.

Women are expected to handle and balance so much in life, and it is time for us as men to take some of the weight off of their shoulders.

Instead of adding to and becoming a woman’s burden, we need to help lessen the burden.

A woman is God’s gift, and it’s time to treat her like she is.

One for the week: Genesis 2:23 – The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”

Enough Said

This article is for people who say a lot like I use to but do little.

I want to let you all know that enough has been said.

We log into our Facebook accounts; we tweet on Twitter, and we talk about the tragic issues that are occurring in the world today.

We have conversations to express our feelings and to speak out against injustice, but then we leave it at that.

Voices provide knowledge to others about certain things. but action is what brings upon change.

We can’t just speak about the horrific events regarding Anna Brown, a woman who had life-threatening medical issues who was dragged out of a police car into a jail cell where she died because she refused to leave the hospital until she received medical attention.

We can’t just speak about the shooting death of young Trayvon Martin and expect change.

I’m not saying that we should react in rage.

I am saying that we should simply just react.

Let’s march like the great leaders before us did to bring upon change.

Let’s march like Martin Luther King Jr. when he fought to bring down the beast known as racial discrimination.

Let’s march like Ghandi when he strived to do the same.

It’s time to stop hiding behind our computers, our cell phones and other technological devices.

We need to stand up for a cause with our physical presence.

I don’t care what background people come from, what ethnicity or race an individual is, we should all be able to come together for a greater purpose because enough has been said.

Now it is time to put our words in motion to bring on change.

There is an opportunity for us to seek change March 31st at Noon people will be gathering at Martin Luther King Park to march for Trayvon Martin.

If you believe that enough has been said and now it’s time to do, then come to this event and make a difference.

I want to give a special thanks to Duke Turley for planning this event.

Come see me at the march if you would like to discuss the idea of enough being said.

One for the week:
You’ve got to be a thermostat rather than a thermometer. A thermostat shapes the climate of opinion; a thermometer just reflects it. –Cornel West

Chained By Love

Value in the word love is a concept that is becoming foreign to people.

People use this word freely in everyday conversation; and, as a result, the expression behind this word diminishes.

Many of us are using the word love and not having a complete understanding about the meaning or power that the word has.

Now, young men tell young women that they love them in order to just have sex with them.

There are young women telling young men that they love them just to receive materialistic items from them.

We don’t understand how powerful this word is.

Love is caring enough about yourself to go through the process of getting tested and making your partner doing the same.

Love is mother working with her last bit of energy to secure a promising future for her children.

Love is parents holding their children accountable for the decisions they make and teaching them about the value of respect.

It isn’t the boy that gets a girl pregnant and walks away from his responsibility.

It isn’t a drug dealer supporting the habits of people that are allowing addictions to have control over their lives.

Love is more then a word it is security, its real, and it’s something that has value.

It is ok to be chained by love as long as it’s real and meaningful.

A person shouldn’t love someone because it sounds good; a person should love someone because he / she means it.

Love is doing the exact opposite of what it should be doing these days because many of us young people are confused when it comes to the meaning of love.

It hurts me to conduct a small research and discover that an imitation of love is killing people.

This imitation of love is causing people to navigate away from real love.

We cannot continue to be chained by this idea of what we think love is; we have to know that love is real before we pursue it.

One for the week: We can’t keep deceiving ourselves because if we do we will become our own oppressors.

Vacant Location

Today I came upon a statement that bothered me; a statement that has the ability to stir up a little anger inside of me.

I don’t find this statement provoking because it displays ignorance and is highly stereotypical; I find it provoking because as a person that is black I see some truth in this statement.

“If you want to hide valuable historical information from black people just put it in a book and place it on a shelf in a library.”

This is sad but in some way true when referring to many young black people today.

Even I am guilty of this sometimes.

Instead of being resourceful and reading certain books that are the sources from where much information originates, I go online and search for academic journals.

It seems like many of us are okay with allowing almost anyone who has the ability to compile factual information the right to teach us everything that we know.

There is danger in this because people change information all of the time to fit their beliefs.

Essentially, when we don’t seek out original sources, we are only harming ourselves and potentially filling our brains with what other people believe to be important.

Our community libraries should not be vacant locations, people, and they shouldn’t be filled just because they have Internet service either.

“We need to educate ourselves.”

We owe it to ourselves and we owe it to all of our leaders who fought day and night for us to have the right to read and learn.

When we don’t utilize our libraries for the right reasons, what statement are we all making?

We should not waste valuable space in our minds; there are so many interesting things to learn about that lie within the many books in our community libraries.

We need to educate ourselves, take control of our own beliefs, and stop allowing others to shape our beliefs without a challenge.

We have to be knowledgeable to face people with deceitful intentions.

We don’t want to be the generation that grows up on lies and deceit.

Many of our local nightclubs aren’t vacant, and our libraries shouldn’t be either.

One for the week: “As long as the mind is enslaved, the body can never be free. Psychological freedom, a firm sense of self-esteem, is the most powerful weapon against the long night of physical slavery.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., speech, Aug. 16, 1967.

A Mistake — A Lesson Learned

Mistakes are called mistakes for a reason.

We are supposed to learn from our mistakes; but, unfortunately, sometimes for many of us this isn’t the case.

No one is perfect; so I understand that it is innate in us to make mistakes, but we aren’t deprived of having the capability to learn from them.

The point of a mistake is to help a person grow to become wise.

We live in a world today where stupidity is often identified as the act of making a mistake.

It’s almost as if we write things off by claiming that we aren’t knowledgeable enough to know any better.

It isn’t a mistake when someone chooses to remain a victim in an abusive relationship no matter how much pain he or she are experiencing.

It isn’t a mistake when a father is granted visitation rights but doesn’t care enough to see his child during his designated times.

It isn’t a mistake when someone who is a habitual cheater has power to keep pulling his or her mate back into a broken relationship.

It isn’t a mistake if a child frequently comes to school with bruises on his or her body; no one falls that many times.

It isn’t a mistake if your home is up for foreclosure and you visit the casino faithfully.

God didn’t construct us to be perfect but He didn’t create us to be clueless beings either.

We have to realize our faults and stop surrounding ourselves with people who just accept them without encouraging us to change.

A friend wouldn’t allow you to keep doing drugs if that friend knows that it would be the cause of your death.

A friend wouldn’t support you to remain in an abusive relationship.

A friend would understand making a mistake maybe once or twice; but when it becomes a third time, the behavior is no longer classified as a mistake.

It’s time to view mistakes as lessons learned and not excuses to continue on with our habitual acts.

Email me at marcelgamble@sbcglobal.net to discuss the idea of a mistake being a lessoned learned.

One for the week: Be wise in your decisions because they have the potential to effect you for a lifetime.

Breaking Bread

I turn on the television, turn on the radio, fire up the Internet, realize that we are confused in today’s society.

It’s one thing to be fans of public figures, but it has become a common thing to idolize, and praise people that are popular in today’s entertainment world.

We are adamant followers of Hip Hop artist Jay-Z and his wife R&B sensation Beyonce.

We indulge in keeping up with the Kardashian family; watching their every move.

We all are guilty of some form of this no matter what it may be.

It’s ok to be a fan and a supporter of people in entertainment, but it is another thing to forget that these people are humans too.

They bleed, they cry, they sin — no one is perfect. If asked, I’m sure many of us would say yes to taking the time out to break bread with our favorite entertainer.

Would we wash the feet of Jesus, cook for him, and open our homes for Him?

I know that we would be hospitable to our favorite entertainers without thinking twice.

Does the thought of Jesus spark us to do the same?

These are some serious questions that I believe we should all reflect on.

It is one thing to just say yes and another to really mean it.

Sure, God isn’t a rap artist worth millions of dollars.

No, He doesn’t take the form of an attractive female performer with sex appeal.

God is more.

He is the almighty, all knowing, and an all-powerful God.

These reasons are enough for me to want to break bread with God.

We can’t welcome famous guests with open arms and not acknowledge Gods presence.

God should be the guest of all guests; people on posters in our bedrooms, and office spaces shouldn’t have the right to take His place.

We have to wake up, people, and know that God is all around us. Until we realize this we will keep missing His calls, Its time to break bread with Him.

One for the week: Exodus 25:30 - Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times.

Hard Over Easy

Life isn’t meant to be easy by any means, and we should all accept this.

There isn’t any easy way out.

Life isn’t like a trip to the grocery store where we are able to discover 5 different ways to be efficient and arrive to our destination in a timely matter.

Life isn’t like the website sparknotes.com.

A place that we can visit when we need additional helps understanding a literary works.

Life is hard but we aren’t alone we don’t have to fight our own battles.

As soon as we realize that God is here with us and that God is the decision maker on what our vocations may be, life isn’t so hard anymore.

God sends us callings we just have to listen for them.

There are too many people ignoring His calls and making life harder then what it has to be.

If God tells you that your purpose is to be an employee at McDonald’s to help mold the lives of other employees, don’t ignore it and decide to become an exotic dancer because the pay is higher.

Fast money isn’t the best money and the easy way out looks great in the beginning but changes to be something horrible in the end.

We all have to learn that life is essentially what we make it.

Yes, God allows us the freedom to make our own decisions.

However, I believe that he grants us this right in hope that we would make decisions with His guidance.

The fast life only last for so long.

You can’t be a drug dealer forever everyone knows the outcome to this profession if you will; a person ends up dead or incarcerated.

You can’t live day to day chasing the wrong dreams and callings from man.

God gives us our callings to eliminate the hassle of searching.

It takes time we have to be patient and wait for His direction.

I’ll say it again life is what we make it, and it would be so much greater if we accept Gods guidance.

One for the week: 2 Chronicles 32:8 - With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.

History With No Meaning

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.