Unity.

Spring Cleaning (Part II) Q&A With Elder Charles Dunn Jr.

2009-05-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

What is your vision for the church library? What can we expect to see?
The vision is to stimulate God’s people to gain knowledge by using the resources provided in our library. I expect to see excitement, and those that hunger for more to take advantage of what has been made available to them.

How long do you think it’s been since the library was last used?
I could estimate that it has been well over 20 years since the library has been used.

Do you have an estimated time of completion that you can give us on when this will be done?
The hope is to unveil the updated library on July 12, 2009 to the entire church.

Is this a personal project that you’re doing, or will you need the assistance of the church to complete it?
I will definitely take advantage of the necessary assistance in getting the project completed.

What further and concise details can you give us about vacation bible school?
At this moment the curriculum is currently being constructed. There is currently one confirmed instructor, of which I’m delighted that when asked, gave no hesitation with accepting the task. V.B.S is scheduled to begin the 13th of July from 7:00pm – 9:00pm and end on the 18th of July which is a Saturday, 11:00am. The classes as of right now will be split into 3 groups… grade school to middle school, high school and the adult class. Our theme for this year will be Wisdom writings and Bible poetry. I look forward to having a successful session this year, and many more sessions in the future.

How, if at all, will this vacation bible school be different from those we’ve held in the past?
There is scheduled a mass review and celebration luncheon on this date. It is different than in times past, however I believe it will be an enjoyable event.

Will you need assistance/volunteers of any sort?
I’ll definitely need another volunteer to teach and am waiting for confirmation for the Chef who will prepare dinner in the evening.

I believe the big question that everyone wants to know is about how much longer do you think it will take before we reach breaking ground with this project?

Wow, uhm… We will hopefully break ground with this sometime in July, there is no definite date on this as of yet. A good businessman makes sure there is a cushion or reserve if you will of funds after such a large project is taken started. So we are just securing the cushion at this point.

As of now, do you have an estimate as to how much has been raised toward the parking lot?
What I can definitely say is some have given more than originally asked which has made up for those who just haven’t given @ all…

Approximately how much more do you think we will need to gather to attain the financial cushion we need to move forward?
A good cushion, would safely be the amount spent to get the job done.

What are the specifics of this project, what does the “paving” of the parking lot entail – the laying of pavement, lights, lines for parking spots, warranty?

The details are not readily accessible at this time; however I would be glad to visit this question again in the next issue of the newsletter.

Can you give us a glimpse into your overall vision for the functioning of the church - not pertaining to your assuming authority as Pastor in the future, but as far as these current projects are concerned?
The next few projects on the agenda would be adding an elevator to the building, replacing the windows and window frames, and making sure the building is maintained and kept in compliance with DC government regulations.

Spring Cleaning: The Start of Something New

2009-05-20T17:24:00.000-07:00

_{By Allen Johnson
Editor/Contributing Writer}

Spring is here! And with the turning of the season comes each individual’s subconscious expectation to change along with it. Not uncommon to this season is the human urge to start afresh and rid oneself of the previous year’s accumulation. Many people take this time of year as an opportunity to start over, rectify past mistakes, and make adjustments to their personal as well as professional lives. New endeavors are pursued and those incomplete projects of yesteryear are put back on our list of priorities.
As it relates, you may soon be hearing much talk of upcoming projects to be completed within our church in the near future. Amongst these is the long awaited reconstruction of the church parking lot, the renovation of our church library, as well as the institution of a new kid friendly, adult free game room.
Also, fairly new to our campaign for change – almost a jumpstart in some respect - is our food bank initiative, headed by Sister Dorothy Dunn. Since its establishment in 2008, the food bank has shown great promise of success; however it has recently come to a standstill. We would like to continue moving forward with this program, gathering as many non perishable items as possible, for it will be of a great benefit and blessing to someone in need. As last reported by Sister Dunn “there have been several donations to date, [but] we do need additional donations... We seem to have come to a halt in the receiving department and would like to solicit the help of the Saints in continuing the project. I am thankful for those who have taken the time to contribute, and I pray that others will join in to keep the project afloat.”
Further, to be reestablished for the summer of 2009 will be our annual vacation bible school. Due to uncertain circumstances, we have not held vacation bible school in quite a few years, but we will resume with classes this coming July. Those who were last students of the intermediate class are now instructors of a new – oh how time flies! New to the order of things will be a course specifically for the adults. That’s right; vacation bible school is not just for the kids! And because of this adjustment to the organization, classes will be held from 7pm to 9pm to accommodate those that work during the day. It is worthy to note that this week of instruction is not reserved exclusively for the first united church of Jesus Christ, but is also available to the general assembly of friends and family that we individually have; so share the word.
It is long overdue for change and there are many things that have wasted away over the years as well as many rooms that have gone neglected. If memory serves me correctly, these rooms have not been utilized since my childhood (which is not a very good tale to the upkeep of the church) however, yesterday is gone and today is now. With the remaining time that we have been given, we should use it productively to the edification of God’s house and His people.
There is a statement that I personally quote, which simply says “be the change you want to see”. Albeit not profoundly deep, it does carry great weight. It’s not a statement of conviction, but it does charge us to be active in correcting that which we see is desolate. Please, let all that are willing to lend a helping hand do so. All contributions - whether material, physical, or even monetary- are all fully appreciated.
Now the goal of these projects is not merely cosmetic, but rather functionally essential. Our aim, however, is to revitalize that which years of neglect have rendered dead and gone; not solely for the bettered appearance of the church itself, but as reverential appreciation and worship unto God for that which He has entrusted to us.
As of yet, no specific dates regarding deadlines have been disclosed, but all projects are expected to be completed before the close of 2009.

No Weapon Formed Shall Prosper

2009-05-20T17:22:00.000-07:00

_{By Elder Charles E. Dunn Jr.
Co Pastor/Contributing Writer}

The Last day events are unfolding right before our very eyes. The economy is on a steady decline, violence has increased on a domestic front, children are killing children, and now the violence has invited itself to the church. Jesus said, “In the last days men would be lovers of themselves more than lovers of God.” Saints, now is the time for us as believers in Christ Jesus to make sure that we have on the “whole armor of God.” While some will fall away and not return, we have to make sure that we are dressed for the battle. Paul said we are troubled on every side, yet not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed. Nay even in all things we are more than conquerors.

Saints, through the power of the Holy Ghost we have been given all that we need to make it to the end. Faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Him only is what is vital for us to make it in these last days. While the economy is in limbo, we have the promises of God [given to Abraham] extended to us that we would be lenders and not borrowers, heads and not tails, above and not beneath. We are blessed in our going out and blessed in our coming in. We are going to thrive during this time.

Currently, many people have to deal with issues regarding the loss of jobs, their homes, their vehicles, and some even their minds. Yet, through the word of God, we have the comfort in knowing that with every step, and in everything that we face, He is with us. For Jesus declares to His people, “lo I’m with you always, even until the end of the age.” We have been assured in Psalms 37, “ for yet a little while and the wicked shall not be; for they shall soon be cut down like the grass and whither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink. He does not depend on the world’s system to supply our needs, for the riches of the Lord are endless, which means your possibilities and means of thriving are endless.

Do not stress about it, but give praise for what the Lord is doing and what more He will do in your life. When you praise, God will do the impossible. For His word is true, and surely “no weapon formed against you shall be able to prosper.” There are no grey areas with the Lord and since the weapons will not prosper, you WILL thrive during the times when the enemy expects you to die. I shall not die, but live and declare the works of the Lord!!!

What can man do unto you when the Lord is on your side!

Repentance & Redemption

2009-05-20T17:20:00.000-07:00

_{By Chelisse Dunn
Contributing Writer}

Let me ask you this: have you ever felt so far from God as if you were a stranger to Him? Have you ever been in a position where you wanted to do right, but evil always presented itself? Have you ever been in a place where you knew your will was weak and no matter how much you desired to strengthen your inward man, you became even weaker?
Well, saints, that was me not long ago. I was once in a place where I needed to know that God still knew my name; that He still considered me as His child; that He still had His hand on my life even though I felt so far from Him. My spirit man died and I was desperate for ANYONE to come to my rescue. I needed direction. I needed guidance. I needed hope. I felt so rejected from the people and things that I knew and loved. I struggled with my sin, as well as the fact that I turned my back on what I knew was right and as a result, paid a great price. Who I was diminished every time I saw the stares or heard the gossip—as if it were not enough that I constantly beat myself up with questions such as “how could this have happened to me?” “what was I thinking?” and “how could I allow myself to be in this situation?” I felt that this should have never happened to ME. Point Blank!

It is so easy to ask God for forgiveness and then turn around to sin all over again. Through my experience, I knew that I never wanted to hurt God again. Repentance is described as a deep sorrow, compunction, or contrition for a past sin, wrongdoing, or the like. I promised the Lord that I meant my walk with Him this time, and THIS TIME I was going to get it right. It was not until I got to that place in my walk where sin had an odor, that I was able to totally turn my back to sin and say “NO” to temptation, wipe my hands of it and completely walk away! And I will be honest enough to say that it is not an easy process - I am human and my flesh gets weak, but I love Jesus more than anything on this earth and I mean to make Him proud.
Redemption is the act of redeeming or the state of being redeemed; deliverance, rescue; atonement for sin; repurchase, as of something sold:
It did not matter how many times I went to the alter crying my eyes out asking God for His forgiveness, redemption did not fully come until I forgave myself. As they say, we are our worst critiques.
Through my experience I want to encourage someone out there who is struggling with life’s ups and downs to get to know who God is. In knowing who He is, you will know that He is an able God—able to deliver you out of any situation. I can truly say that I know Him for myself and the power of His resurrection—what a mighty God we serve. And I look forward to serving Him all of my days!

The Swine Flu: Biting Into This Pig's Tale

2009-05-20T17:12:00.000-07:00

_{By Lisa G. Mitchell
RN/BSN, Contributing Writer}

As you may have heard, as of April 2009 there is a new virus on the rise. The Swine influenza (also called swine flu, hog flu and pig flu) refers to influenza caused by those strains of influenza virus, called swine influenza virus (SIV), that usually infect pigs. As of this year these strains have all been found in Influenza C virus and the subtypes of Influenza A virus known as H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, and H2N3. Swine influenza is common in pigs in the Midwestern United States (and occasionally in other states), Mexico, Canada, South America, Europe (including the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Italy), Kenya, Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan and other parts of eastern Asia.

The transmission of the swine influenza virus from pigs to humans is not common, nor has it always caused human influenza, but rather resulted in the production of antibodies in the blood. Like people, pigs can get influenza (flu), but swine flu viruses aren't the same as human flu viruses. Swine flu does not often infect people, and the rare human cases that have occurred in the past have mainly affected people who had direct contact with pigs. However, the current swine flu outbreak is different. It is caused by a new swine flu virus that has changed in ways that allow it to spread from person to person -- and is happening among people who have not had any contact with pigs. What is interesting is that you have to be in very close proximity (approximately 3 feet or arms length) to the infected person to catch it. For example, if the person infected with H1N1 Flu stands beside one uninfected and should happen to cough or sneeze and not cover his mouth or nose, it is quite likely that uninfected can become contaminated within that moment.

According to The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is a wide range of symptoms which include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Several people have also reported nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Everyone should take daily precautions to stop the spread of germs, including the frequent hand washing. People who are sick should stay home and avoid contact with others in order to limit further dispersion of the disease. If you experience any of these symptoms and feel that you may have the swine flu, it is advised that you use your best judgment and visit your doctor or an emergency room where a medical professional can conduct a nasal swab.

Test results usually take about an hour to produce, but will let you know rather promptly if it is Influenza A, which is what the H1N1 (swine flu) falls under. Unfortunately, the test has to be sent to the CDC for confirmation and this may take 2 to 3 days. During the waiting period, it is expected that one do what they normally would to treat the flu. Get plenty of rest, drink tons of fluids, and take Motrin, Naprosyn or Tylenol to help with not only with the reduction of fever, but the aches as well.

Several testing sites aside from the CDC are being established within the immediate area. The Walter Reed Medical Center is expected to have a site erected within the next 2 weeks.

For further information on the swine flu and more answers to frequently asked questions, visit the website for the CDC at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ or feel free to contact me.

2009-05-19T18:46:00.000-07:00

Crystal Aikin

In 2007, BET brought Gospel the singing competition "Sunday's Best" and introduced the nation to the vocal powerhouse and eventual winner, Crystal Aikin. The Tacoma, Washington native was nearly untouchable during the competition and won the hearts of countless viewers. On her debut project, Aikin offers a ten-track effort that quickly reveals her ultimate heart as a worshipper with a clear motive to reach the heart of God.

On the album, Crystal Aikin enlisted a new artists dream production team, made up of: "Sunday's Best" host Kirk Franklin A Song About Jesus; the PAJAM team of J. Moss and Paul D. Allen What If...(He Said No); and Gerald Haddon's ballad Even Me (my personal favorite).

All in all, her effort leans heavy on the worship element, as is evidenced on the album's lead single "I Desire More". Aikin delivers with vocal excellence that connects with the hearts of every listener. She delivers a solid debut that delivers well and shows that indeed America knows talent, not just "Sunday's Best". Her powerful vocals on her new release and remaining selection of songs make this album a soul-inspiring project.

- Tara Gatling

"Touched Up” by an Angel

2008-11-22T04:09:00.000-08:00

Well known for her extrovert personality and boisterous laughter, what is little known of Carla Angel Gatling is her childhood dream and current endeavors to becoming an independent business owner. Gatling, 26, has been using her education and BBA in management to take advantage of several job opportunities, yet never losing focus of her true goal. I recently had the pleasure of picking her brain to see what drives her so intensely.

How long have you been doing hair?
I’m not really sure. I started when I was younger, braiding my neighbor’s hair, but I didn’t think of making it a career at the time. I always kept my hair done (or at least tried to [smiles] and then I started practicing on other people - mainly cousins. So…long story short, I’d say I’ve been serious about it for about 7-8 years and I’ve been licensed for a year.

What was the starting point for your wanting to do hair? Or when did you say to yourself ” this is what I want to do”?
I like to help people look good. Sometimes I can look at a person and [just] know what style would look good on them. I am an entrepreneur and always looking for ways to make money. I thought this would be a good business to get into since this is [of] interest to me. With my personality and attitude (not a bad attitude) … I’m not meant to work for anyone else but myself.

I know you went to school for business, how did that play a part in you wanting to do hair?
I chose my degree based on my long-term goal which is to own and manage my own Hair Salon & Spa. So I earned a BBA in Management, not for a “job” right now, but for a career [in the future].

And you actually went back to school for cosmetology, right?
Yes, after I graduated from Howard. I went to Cosmetology school full time.

So not only are you just a women’s hair stylist, but you are a licensed cosmetologist - so that means hair, nails, shape ups, the whole nine, right?
Yes [smiles] Hair. Nails. I’ve only done a shape up once, but practice makes perfect.

So you could give me a shape up, huh?
Sure, if that’s the look you going for.

Do you think I need a shape up? [laughing]
No…you rock the bald look so that wouldn’t be necessary [smiling]

Who frequents your styling chair more, men or women?
Women. I think men with hair (locks or braids) prefer women to do it, but men with close cuts and shape ups prefer a man to do it. [That’s something] I’ve learned just from talking to people about their hair.

What is your signature style?
Since I wore a roller wrap for probably 13 years (yes 13 years), I’d say that’s my signature style. In my opinion, for women with length on their hair, that’s the easiest way to keep your hair, wrap it!

What/who inspires you in life?
My family.

What/who inspires you as is pertains to hair?
My vision inspires me. I can see it all in color! That’s what pushes me to continue.

So, I know at one time you aspired to own your own business, is that still the case?
Yes.

And how long do you expect it to take before coming to fruition?
I’m really praying for it to come within the next 2 years, maybe before.

Okay, what else do you do (career wise)?
I’ve recently resigned from a job as a Bookkeeper. I am currently working as an EA.

How many jobs have you worked in the past?
This is my 3rd job.

Were they all a means to an end?
Yes, all my jobs were a means to an end. I may not have realized it initially, but I have been able to take something from each position I’ve held and I’ll be able to use it when I have my own business. With 2 jobs I’ve had, I was able to work full-time and go to school full-time, the best of both worlds :o)

How long have you been working both?
Since I graduated High School

How long do you plan on doing both?
A couple more years.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I don’t put limits on Goa and what is in store for me. He knows my hearts desire, so we’ll see [smile/wink]

Lastly, do you have any advice for others that may be looking to start their own business?
Yup! If you want it, go after it! Don’t drag your feet. Never doubt your abilities and talents, and go after what you want. To avoid “shoulda couldas”, just do it! [playfully smiles].

I’m grown

2008-11-22T04:05:00.000-08:00

“But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace” – Psalms 37:11

When I think about what it means to be a Christian, that is, a true follower of Christ, I cant help but to remember reading as a child about the compassion and humility of Jesus that was displayed toward all men. Here it stands, the King of kings and Lord of lords – who by our standards (and Jewish belief) had every conceivable reason to be gaudy in appearance and high minded within Himself– remained humble in every encounter He had with the world.

Shall we not as Christians take the same path as our walk way? In the word of God, and in Jesus’ own ministry, much emphasis is placed on the spirit of humility. After all, it is no irony that Jesus is known as the lamb of God – innocence and meekness are His character.

On the contrary, I have seen and heard far too often several of us Christians – and I say “us” because I too have been guilty - make the declaration that “I’m grown”. I never really gave it much thought until a recent observation renewed the thought and led me to give further consideration to the statement. What I have discerned is that “I’m grown” is a spirit - an ungodly spirit that is directly attached to pride and is the converse of accountability. For the sake of those that do not feel comfortable with the idea of having a “spirit” in them, I’ll use the term “mindset”. Such a stronghold as this mindset is detrimental to the Christian walk because it alleviates one from having to answer to those in authoritative position. Or so it seems. Furthermore, if there is an irreverence for authority, one should certainly dismiss the rule and pleading of the least of men. Basically, “I’m grown” feels “I don’t have to answer to anyone”.

In his various letters to the church, Paul stresses the importance of interdependency among the saints, knowing that independence and division – as a result of pride – accomplishes nothing. In Romans 12:3-4 Paul admonishes every man “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office.” He is clear to point out the fact that we are not all the same, nor do we all possess the same gifts and talents, yet we all work together as one to accomplish the assignment that Christ (our Head) has appointed us. He says there are many members within this body and all were not designed to do the same thing, thus we cannot all serve the same function, but no man is to think of himself as being a greater member than another on the basis of his function. Consider the possibility that the function of a greater member is dependent upon that of a lesser. A hand cannot function as a hand ought to function if its fingers are not in compliance. We need each other. Further, we must be mindful that in this body, Christ is the head; therefore He controls all things, and our dependency and function rests in Him. Often times, we fail to remember that our successes and achievements are not of our own merit. It is by the Grace of God that we possess the gifts and talents that we do, and it is with the encouragement and help of others (also ordained by God) that we progress. We are NOTHING without God, and it is imperative that we never forget that fact.

In an 2002 interview for the release of his cd Remember, Christian artist Jason Upton makes this statement: “For me, ‘remembering’ often makes me deal with the truth about how dependent I really am. I believe that this is particularly important in Western Civilization where such a high value is placed on independence. I think ‘remembering’ puts independence in its proper place. The truth is that we are not independent at all; and our forgetfulness of this truth epitomizes our sinful condition. ‘Remember’, he says, ‘is one of the most frequently repeated commands in the Old Testament. Even God Himself, as revealed through the prophets, appears as much a reflective and contemplative Being as one Who focuses only on the future. That the God and Father of us all and the Creator of the universe would take time to ‘remember’ should give us some idea of the importance of such a discipline.’”

As it relates, the harm in “forgetting” is that it gives way to conceit. We tend to believe that “we deserve” or “we” did this or “we” did that as if “we” really matter. The independently proud shall be no more remembered than the dependent humble when he has passed. The story of their lives shall be consider after their passing, but the greater of the two stories will be that of humility and compassion, not of boastful arrogance. The unforeseen danger that awaits the independently proud is an inevitable self destruction – isolation from others - and a greater spiritual destruction –separation from God. The word of the Lord tells us that the way that seems right unto man results in death. This occurs when man chooses to follow his own path, leaning to his own understanding rather than trusting in the Lord who has designed us to be dependent solely on Him.

“…Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” - James 4:6 - 10

Beautiful Thought

2008-11-22T03:54:00.000-08:00

I was sitting around one day, and it just hit me: God wants all of us to be saved! The message was loud and clear – Salvation is free! Neither of these statements are new concepts, nor should they take you by surprise, but the beauty of it is that God has given us everything we need to find our way back to Him and be saved. By sin, we are separated from Him, but He does not desire for us to stay distant, but instead His desire is a relationship with us.

For us to be in fellowship and develop and relationship with God we first need faith, for without faith it is impossible to please God. So what did God do? He dealt to every man a measure of faith. The book of Romans tells us that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. So what does God do? He gives us His word. We know that we obtain salvation by grace through faith, so what does God do? He gives us grace as well! So that’s free word, free faith, free grace, free salvation. Not to mention, He daily provides us with mercy. Above all, God gave us His son that we may, through His blood, have access into the holiest of holy and be in fellowship with Him. Furthermore, the book of Hebrews tell us that through Jesus, who is made a high priest forever (after the order of Melchisedec), because he continueth forever, is eternally able to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.

So to reiterate, we have been given free word, free faith, free grace, free salvation, and a free savior and high priest that is forever going to God on our behalf that we may obtain free reconciliation to Him when we fall. Thus far, our balance remains at zero cost to us. Talk about a savings plan!

Suspicious yet? “What’s the catch” you ask? “What does it really cost”? If you’re gaining all of these benefits, what are you required to give up? Well, God wants your trust. And not only that, but He wants your life. For all that He has given, and continues to give, all He asks is that you trust Him enough to exchange your life for the life that He has planned for you. That is it, and that is still of no cost to you. Just consider it as a more-than-fair exchange, especially given the fact that He gave you life to begin with. Consider this: when you die, you can’t take anything with you, right? So that means YOU DON”T OWN IT! You own nothing, it’ s just on loan. Even in a life of sin, all that we need God’s hands have graciously provided, so why would He cease to provide for those that be in His like and trust Him over what is bound to the earth? Doesn’t make sense to me either. (For those of you scratching your heads, the answer is HE WOULDN”T!)

The idea of cost is considered by those who place value on their lives and the tangible things within their lives that they have worked to acquire. The “cost” of a sacrifice such as required by God is an uncertain gamble that may entail the incur of a loss altogether, which for them is too risky. If you agree that there is truth to this statement then you should also agree that one’s hesitancy to make the sacrifice displays a lack of trust in God, and therein lies the problem. The Lord hears: “God I trust You with my life, BUT…”

However, on the contrary, the concept of an exchange is considered by those who understand that there is no loss to be acquired. Rather, the understanding is that they are simply giving up something to gain something in return. Thus, it can be assumed that either they have placed NO value on that which they are giving up, or they value that which they are gaining in return as greater than that which they are letting go. In either case, the exchange shows that there is a trust factor between the participants involved. More specifically, this person is outwardly professing their trust in the Lord by relinquishing what little control of their lives [they think] they have into the hands of God . The Lord hears: “God I trust You! What you have planned for my life is better than what I have done and will ever do for myself; please lead the way”.

Point of challenge: Who controls your life? Is it you or Christ? Have you fully submitted yourself to be led by the Spirit of God or do you still feel the need to hold on to those trivial things and matters that you want to? It is in the story of Abraham that we learn that actions speak louder than words, so if your faith is in Christ, prove it. Show Him. Stand on His word and surrender your life to Him wholly.

"It is not the will of God that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" – 2 Peter 3:9

What is this?

2008-10-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

Hello saints! Some of you may be wondering (as I have heard) what is the purpose of this newsletter? What is it about? What news do we possibly have to report? Well, the answer is: US! We will report all things pertinent to the First United Church of Jesus Christ – more specifically, 7901 16th street - and the surrounding body thereof.
This venue is, and will remain a voice of the people. As a spear header and overseer of this project, I have personally decided to make this as informal a newsletter as possible so not to deter anyone who is less “wordy” but interested in being a contributing writer. Of course not everything will make it to print, but this is not my sole project, it is ours. Thus, you shall be heard too! I just so happen to be the one with the red pen (wink).

The aim of this newsletter is as any other, which is simply to inform the people. We would like to keep the church updated on the inner and outer dealings of this immediate body as well as those of our fellow contemporaries. Maybe not so much of our contemporaries as our own, but you get the point (smiles). My personal desire is to have this newsletter serve as a an icebreaker of sorts. It has been our habitual tradition to quote that “we are a friendly church with a friendly pastor”, which is true, but how friendly to one another have we really been? How much do we actually know about each other? By no means am I suggesting that we begin to disclose life stories, but I am sure that there are some things that we all have accomplished or are hoping to accomplish in the future that we would like to share with someone besides the family pet. Furthermore, not everything is meant to be announced during Sunday morning service; so if you have something to announce, here is your proper forum to do it. Are you or your kids doing well in school? Graduating? Purchased a new house? Getting married? Tell us! I shutter to mention how absolutely no one responded to the flyers that were posted around the church asking “what are you doing?”. I hope and pray that its not foretelling of the saint’s future involvement and contributions to the newsletter, but that’s for another article. As for now, I must stay on track (more smiles).

So why One Accord? Well, the name was actually submitted as a suggestion for an event that is in the works, but I wasn’t too keen on running with it for that. I remember saying “I like it, but not for this”. So simultaneously, I’m running through names trying to figure out what to call this newsletter that I had been appointed to produce – a few corny titles like Family First and 16th Street Journal just missed the running – and it came back to me “One Accord”, it just seemed appropriate. So I looked up the word ‘accord’ and as a verb it simply means to bring into agreement, or to be consistent or in harmony. I figure since we are a “united” family that would imply that we are also in harmony, but I know better. Just kidding. However, we should at the least be working toward being in harmony and be consistent in doing so.

So that’s the brief rundown on the intentions of this newsletter. I pray that this will be a success and will in the long run draw us closer together as a family, and will allow us to get to learn a little more about each other. Perhaps –and this is just a thought– there will in the future be more involvement and submissions from the saints because I personally don’t have nearly enough information to report by myself. But, being that this is the first edition and not too many of you knew what was going on, I can set my personal feelings aside just this once. Just kidding. I have no gripes. I do however hold to my personal desire, which is to have this newsletter serve as the voice of the people; and quite frankly, you are the people.

"Pillow Talking" with Commelita McKee

2008-10-03T12:58:00.000-07:00

Known to few and unbeknownst to most, Sis Commelita Mckee has taken what she has learned in her Saturday sewing class here at the church and turned it into a profitable business. What started as an idea has now become a lucrative reality. Lets see how she did it.

OA: Sis, McKee, where did you get the name “Pillow Talk”?
CM: When I decided to start the business, I of course began to pray about a name. One day, the name just came to me, but I still continued to meditate on it. Then, while at Lisa Mitchell’s house, I asked her if she could think of a good name for this business I was starting and she immediately said “how about pillow talk?” and that’s when I knew this was going to be the name. I then moved forward to get the paperwork in place to make it official.

OA: How long have you been making pillows?
CM: Not that long, actually. I began when Mother Burroughs started the sewing class on Saturdays. Once I realized that making clothing wasn’t my forte - and that Chante had surpassed me in skill - I opted to make some pillows for my house. I have found that I really enjoy making pillows. In the classes to come, I want to learn to make a variety of decorative pillows.

OA: What prompted you to begin doing this?
CM: It all started with a message that was preached by Pastor Genovese some time ago. In it, he stated that God could give you the idea for a business, and when He did then we needed to act on it. I never forgot that portion of the message. When one of my contacts at Marriott gave me some free fabric, it came to mind to start a business making pillows and ottomans.

OA: Do you see yourself branching out and making things other than pillows?
CM: Yes, ottomans. I also want to make pillow cases and other bedding.

OA: What kind of success do you desire to attain with this business?
CM: Well I want to target specialized markets and receive licensing with local college sports teams, so Initially, my goal is to have a few consultants sewing for me while I am at work, so that the business is creating product throughout the week. I have been praying and speaking life and prosperity into my business, believing God that it will be fulfilled. When I get home, before I sew anything I do my bible study to ensure that I am keeping God in the forefront of my business and my life. I pray that He will guide and teach me what it means to succeed beyond my wildest dreams. My personal plan is to sell my pillows and ottomans at shows for corporate vendors, area arts and craft festivals, and high-end bazaars.

OA: How and where can one purchase from you?
CM: Currently, my business is in-home based. I have secured a name for my website - pillowtalk.us.com - however it is not available as of yet. Before I activate the site, I want to make sure that I am able to fulfill any and all online orders in a timely manner.

For more information or to place an order, please contact ononeaccord@live.com

Could we be looking at another Great Depression?

2008-10-03T12:23:00.000-07:00

Brief vocabulary lesson:

The Great Depression - a dramatic, worldwide economic downturn which began in the United States with the crash of the stock market on October 29, 1929 and ended, in some instances, with the onset of World War II. The result of which involved national debt, unemployment and poverty, breakdown of families, soaring high school dropout rates (2 to 4 million), homelessness and much more.

Recession - in the simplest of terms, this is when the state of the American economy is in the negative (or “in the hole”) for two or more successive quarters in one year. What exactly all of that entails, I myself don’t know, but just keep that much in mind.
For some time now, various economist and global historicist alike have been warning of the financial woes - similar to those which lead to the depression -to come in the near future. It has been rumored that as early as 2012, the world’s economy will be in the worst shape it has ever been and may very well lead to yet another depression. As the aforementioned global historicist would say: “if you want to know where you’re going, just look at where you’ve been”. It’s a series of patterns. The word of God also tells us that “there is no new thing under the sun”. So in short, what you should know: a recession unresolved leads to depression.
At present you will hear much talk of an economic recession and various aims and agendas to combat, or in the least, overcome it. We however, as the children of the only True and Living God, need not be fearful in such a time as this, but we need not be ignorant either. What am I saying? Simply, be wise and be prepared.
Its just as in the book of Genesis when God gave revelation to Joseph of the 7-year famine that was to come upon Egypt, He too gave him the wisdom to make preparation for it. Needless to say - for those who don’t know the story - the preparation made for the famine was able to carry them through the famine.
Fast forward to present day, where it seems as though there very well may be another famine to occur by way of this recession and depression imposition, we now – as Joseph then – must too be wise and make preparation.
So, how do we as the children of God begin making preparation for that which is to come? Well, aside from much praying and consultation with the Lord, we store up that which is necessary to carry us through the tough times ahead. What better way to do so than with a food bank?
I recently had the chance to speak with our own Sister Dorothy Dunn and get further insight on the direct vision she said she received from God to start a food bank right here in First United.

OA: What prompted and/or inspired you to start this food bank?
DD: Everyone can't and won't understand, but I heard it in my spirit "start a food bank, the saints are going to need it" and I immediately began to comprise a list of items and food that could be stored. Shortly thereafter, I presented the list to the Bishop and solicited the participation of the church members.

OA: If possible, can you explain the vision you received from the Lord concerning this food bank?
DD: Explain what you mean when you say "vision" ... for me it was a distinct message. No specifics were given [as in the case of Noah and the Ark], but it was as I said, a distinct message.
The message was very clear: to set up and start a Food Bank, the saints are going to need it. To be honest, I was sitting at my desk at work - and this was the farthest thing from my mind - when I heard that in my spirit. He didn't elaborate on which saints in particular or when they would need it - just that they would.
OA: Where would you personally like to see this food bank reach?
DD: I want it to accomplish what God purposed for it to. I really would like the people of God to get behind this project, as it will benefit all of us eventually.
OA: Not that I’m in disagreement with you, but can you explain how do you think it will benefit all of us, if not just some of us, in the future? Or what should we expect to happen in the future that this campaign will aide us against?
DD: One thing I've learned about receiving messages from God and that is He does not give you a play by play account of what, where, when and how. It's up to us to receive it (by faith) and act on it, because He said it. And, I might add, that if He says it then it will happen.
OA: True. What goods and/or products are acceptable?
DD: All canned foods, dry goods (rice, boxed potatoes, etc.) are accepted at present, and eventually, we want to purchase a freezer and store frozen items as well (meats, vegetables, etc.).
OA: How much are you looking to collect (and over what span of time) and how often?
DD: I'm anticipating that weekly, we will be receiving food items for storage into the food bank. There is no limit on how often or how much can be contributed. Another thing, people don't have to wait until the room is complete before bringing items in.
OA: Are donations other than food being accepted at this time, if at all?
DD: Yes, and the monies will be recorded and then used for the purchase of more items. In needed, receipts will be given and noted as charitable contributions for tax purposes.
OA: is money the only other contribution one can make aside from non-perishable goods?
DD: At this time, yes. Being that it's all geared towards building up this Food Bank - non-perishable foods and money to buy or replenish items disbursed is our immediate focus.
OA: Okay. So how can one be of assistance?
DD: All volunteers are welcomed! Initially, I'm soliciting help in preparing the room to store these items. We will need helping hands to assist with painting, cleaning the floor, putting up shelving, and more.
OA: You've stated that you have an "initial" solicitation...is there now or will there be any assistance that can be provided by the saints following the preparation of the storage room?
DD: Yes, when the food bank is up and running, there are a number of things that will need to be done - some of which I am already working on with Deacon Allen Johnson Sr. and Sister Denise Smith, who as also offered her services. I don't require too many people, but perhaps in the future, we can have volunteers to stock, take inventory, disperse food that would approach being outdated, etc. It's still a work in progress so I don't have all of the kinks worked out just yet, but perhaps in the near future I can present you with a more detailed plan.
OA: Thank you, I look forward to the update.

Are we our own victims? - Allen Johnson Jr.

2008-10-03T12:02:00.000-07:00

So, I not too long ago purchased an 80 gig Zune (Microsoft) and have since been trying to fill every one of those gigabytes with something to satiate the audible senses - don’t worry, it’s all gospel (clap it up).

Now, some 2,000+ songs later, it seems that my ears are bored. Not that there’s not anything to listen to (because there’s always the Winans), but sometimes you just want something new. So in my search for that something new, I wanted to try out the video feature. Anyone familiar with mp3 players should very well know that videos are just one of the new “it” things for mp3s, along with a slew of other unnecessary inspector gadget-esque offers which are amusing, but serve no real purpose. Now, the only problem with the Zune is that compatible video formats are hard to find (my argument in opposition for anyone looking to purchase one) and what videos the Zune social network does offer comes with a price tag. That, in the end, can be very expensive. So I started looking for alternatives – cheaper routes basically– and came across a “one time fee for unlimited downloads” site. It seemed quite reputable, and had a lot of support from big-name companies in favor of it, so I thought to try it. $35 to download software for unlimited songs and videos (all gospel) sure sounded like a sweet deal.

So I downloaded the software and then further proceeded to download a video to see if it will in fact work. Needless to say, not only were the videos of poor quality, but they too were incompatible with my Zune and on top of that, my computer started acting up as a result of the download.

I’ll admit, I got nervous for a second because this wouldn’t be the first time that a P2P (person to person) file and software exchange program had infected my computer. But thank the Lord, it was just a glitch and I was able to correct the problem by rebooting the computer.

But I got to thinking (as the older folks would say), if it had crashed, I would have had no one to blame but myself. Sure I could point the finger at the corrupt person on the other end of the file, but would I have not been at fault as well for chasing my greed and trying to take the “cheaper route”? Quite similarly, people fall victim to credit card scams [or scams of whatever sort] because they’re looking to satisfy a desire, and to a further extent, a greed that they have. The deviant mind on the other end simply takes notice and exploits that weakness. So under the pretenses of appearing to be something good, he gets away with it because we willing give in to our own greed.

So my question remains, are we victims to ourselves? Here’s my point: It is my belief that we unnecessarily suffer some things that we don’t have to because in our greed, we chase things that aren’t intended for us. We want too much. The book of James expressly informs us that a man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lusts. Surely we’ve heard several times that the enemy is not going to tempt us with anything that we don’t already want. By no means am I playing devil’s advocate; I just believe he’s doing his job, and we at times make it easier for him.

Now that’s not to say that we shouldn’t want things for ourselves, because I believe that God can get the glory out of our “things” as well, but I do suggest that we become mindful to separate our needs from our greed. Paul reminds Timothy that godliness with contentment is great gain. He says that as long as we have food and clothing – our needs – then we should be content, knowing that we brought nothing into this world and can take nothing out of it.

So I encourage you, be content with what you have. Don’t chase things or money. If it’s meant for you to have, then it will be given to you. Yield not to the temptations of the flesh, but delight thyself in the Lord and He will give thee the desires of thy heart. Be encouraged. (reading: I Timothy 6:6-11)

Power To Receive The Promise By Eld. Charles E. Dunn Jr.

2008-10-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

God has many promises that he has declared for us to receive. We desire to receive the promises of God but those same promises seem to elude us no matter how we seek for them. The Bible declares that we should wait on the Lord and be of good courage; however, many of us are waiting for the wrong thing. When you ask God for something or God reveals a promise that he has given to you, the promise is released, we must then do as Luke says in the book that bares his name in the 24th chapter and the 49th verse and wait for Power. In this scripture Jesus says, "behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."

Webster's definition of Power is "the ability or capacity to perform or act effectively" now the word power here in scripture in the Greek dialect is Dunamis which literally means ability, abundance, strength, miraculous power. Therefore, we are waiting for the abundant miraculous ability to perform or act effectively on the promise. If you just wait for the power of God you will have the ability to receive the promise and the capacity to handle it effectively.

Grace & Peace
Elder Charles E. Dunn, Jr.
Assistant-Pastor
First United Church of Jesus Christ, Apostolic