Originally printed in the April 2007 edition of The Voice.

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen."

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Our nation has troops all over the world, from Cuba to Korea, Afghanistan to Iraq. Whether or not you support military operations abroad, as Christians, we know the power of prayer and are called to pray for those who need additional strength and safety. The next time your family begins grace, say a prayer for our troops and their families.

Of all the gifts you could give a U.S. Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best!!!

#church #church #men #military #prayer

#church #men #military #prayer

Originally published in the January 2007 edition of The Voice.

Nearly 45 years after Martin Luther King, Jr. made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, many blacks in the United States are still dreaming of King's equal nation. The reality is that while many blacks are living King's dream of equality and fair treatment, many are not.

In 2007, many blacks live in poverty. Many blacks can name more correctional facilities than institutions of higher learning. Many blacks will not live to see their 30th birthday. Random acts of brutality still claim young lives and many of our communities are filled with drug dealers and crack addicts. Students in those communities still are not adequately prepared to pursue an education and men and women in these communities are contracting HIV at an alarming rate.

While Dr. King is remembered for many things, his commitment to service stands out. If anything is to be remembered about King, it should be that" everyone can be great because everyone can serve."

While the country pauses for one day, we should recommit itself to improving our communities everywhere. Not just in January, but throughout the year. Poverty, violence, and ignorance will never end if our collective work ceases after the holiday.

Let this MLK Holiday be the beginning of service and a fresh commitment to improving communities in this country, and maybe King's dream can materialize sooner rather than later.

#church #church #men #volunteering

#church #men #volunteering

Originally printed in the October 2006 Edition of The Voice.

Are there things in your life you are currently doing that you need to stop doing so that you can focus more of your time and energy on the things that matter most and will create the greatest impact over the course of your life and time?

Certainly, this would fit in a simplistic sense with 1 Corinthians 15:34, "Come to your senses and stop sinning. For to your shame, I say that some of you don't even know God." But there may be some good things we need to stop doing to focus on what is better or best for us. You can make your life a "creative work of art" by the choices you make in what to stop doing as well as what to do.

Ask yourself, "What would I need to stop doing to make more room for my life to be the "creative work of art" God and I have in mind for my life?"

#church #church #men #mentoring

#church #men #mentoring