The TAKE ACTION! Network Blog

March 20, 2007

Warrior Richardson

For more information, visit http://www.warriorsplace.com/warrior/testimony.php

March 17, 2007

Justice for a 7 year old who was arrested by the Baltimore City Police Department

To view a news video of the story click on the following link: http://wjz.com/video/?id=25869@wjz.dayport.com

Justice for Little Gerard Mungo

Baltimore, Maryland - Monday, March 19, 2007

On Monday March 19th join community advocates as they demand answers and justice for little Gerard Mungo.

Where:

City Hall
100 Holliday St, Baltimore, 21202
Time: 4 PM

For more information contact Bro. Daren Muhammad @ 410.878.5298 or by email @ bromuhammad@earthlink.net

What Else Can You Do:

Send an email or letter of concern to the Mayor, the President of the Baltimore City Council, and the Baltimore City Police Commissioner. Here are their addresses:

Mayor Sheila Dixon

mayor@baltimorecity.gov

Fax (410) 576-9425

City Hall, Room 250

100 N. Holliday Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Council President Stephanie Rawlings Blake

CouncilPresident@baltimorecity.gov

Fax: (410) 539-0647

City Hall 100 North Holliday Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Police Commissioner Leonard Hamm

The Baltimore Police Department Mailing Adress is :
c/o 242 W. 29th St.

Baltimore, Maryland 21211-2908

SAMPLE TEXT FOR LETTER

DEAR Honorable ____________________________________,

I am horrified and disheartened by the recent decision of the Baltimore City Police Department to arrest a seven year old for sitting on a kid sized dirt bike on the sidewalk in front of his house in the presence of his Mother. This type of behavior by the Baltimore City Police Department highlights the lack of care and concern by adults for the youth of this city.

In a city where mistrust and fear shadow the integrity of the Baltimore City Police Department in the eyes of youth and the general public at-large, this type of behavior by the Baltimore City Police Department is inappropriate and unnecessary. Many youth in this city already feel that the adults in authority, especially police officers, do not care about them. The actions that the Baltimore City Police Department took against little Gerard Mungo validate these concerns.

This incident points to a much larger problem in this City that needs to be addressed immediately. I would like to recommend the following:

(1) the termination of the officers involved in this incident;

(2) the creation of a community-led taskforce (composed of community activists, police officers, and reps from the Mayor's Office) to investigate the tactics used by the Baltimore City Police Department in local Baltimore neighborhoods, especially in neighborhoods in East Baltimore; and
(3) mandatory youth development training for Baltimore City Police Department employees.

Sincerely,

Your Name

March 15, 2007

Inspiration for Today.....

*This video was shared by peggydejarme at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntXcRUKXpQM *

March 14, 2007

Praises to God

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did! God Bless!

*This video was put together by syluce at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxlEIg__z7E *

March 13, 2007

Regarding The Powers Report

*The following text is from a letter submitted to The Baltimore Afro American Newspaper by Pastor Eric W. King, I.*

Regarding Dr. Tyrone Powers' radio talk show "The Powers Report" it has been made known that after a detailed interview was conducted, a last minute a decision was made by the editor of Afro not to publish the interview with Dr. Powers.

The Powers Report Program aired on WEAA has been "suspended" by edict of Governor O'Malley, through notice served by Mr. Kweisi Mfume to Dr. Earl Richardson, president of Morgan State University.

No one is taking responsibility for the broadcasts removal or to have the program reinstated sense no FCC violations have occurred. African American political leaders and even your news paper seems unwilling to publicly support, speak-out, or speak-up to this "suspension" not even to publicly state that they are not a part, nor agree with the message or movement to discontinue The Powers Report.

A no response on behalf of the city council, state Legislative Black Caucus, or the Afro paper seems to suggest either to be cohorts or cowardice-afraid to act without permission from the Governor who says he wants to improve race relations. A sincere act to go along with legislation "apologizing" for Maryland's involvement in slavery would be to free The Powers Report Program!

The Sun Paper, White talk radio hosts, local and national have interviewed Dr. Powers... Does the Afro plan to publish a full length story/interview regarding "The Powers Report" situation?

Dr. Powers analogies were often times "hard hitting" and pointed, but always well researched, cold-hard facts. Even more, Dr. Powers offered in-depth journalistic insight and understanding, as well as provided a course of action to the African American citizens on issues of major community importance. Even though White listeners did not like his bluntness, they respected Dr. Powers intelligent and accurate reporting and information.He has challenged all citizens to get involved in reforming and transforming Baltimore.

"Black Baltimore" has suffered-been taken advantage of long enough by Black and White politicians using it as a political stepping stone, while local power brokers seem to make moves as if they are playing a game of monopoly in which Blacks keep plucking the "skip" or "go to jail" card.

As the Israelites prepared to entered the Promised Land, the leader Joshua brought the nation to a point of decision with a challenge, "Choose this day whom you will serve." Black city and state elected officials, and even the Afro paper, it is now time for you to choose who you will serve... Or does your silence suggest that your decision has already been made?

Eric W. King, I, Pastor
New Life UMC

________________________________________________
TAKE ACTION! Click on the link below to sign a petition in support of the Powers Report!

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?baltimor&1

March 12, 2007

A Healthy BET: Women's Health Forum

March 11, 2007

14 Principles for Finding A Godly Wife or Husband

14 Principles For Finding A Godly Wife Or Husband

(*The following text was excerpted from http://aibi.gospelcom.net/articles/findwife.htm*)

I see many Christians destroying themselves in the effort to find a husband or a wife. They wear revealing clothes, hang around nightclubs and feel ashamed in church on Sunday. Pain and desperation are driving them to clumsily adopt the ways of the world in finding a life partner. It can only lead to heartache and disappointment. For most of my adult life I have been single. I know that you CAN be happy and single and that it is possible to joyfully WAIT .

Marrying a non-Christian is not a godly option. I won't be discussing that here as I have written a separate article on it. This article covers 14 principles for finding a godly Christian partner in this rather lonely world.

Work on making yourself the sort of person that a godly Christian would LIKE to marry. Be kind, reliable, courteous and attractive. Have your life disciplined and godly and in reasonably good order. Be full of love.
Have something interesting about you and work on it. You need to stand out from the crowd a little. Get interested in missions, help the poor, do something different that is still you.
Be godly yourself. Have a daily quiet time where you read the Bible and pray and start putting Scripture into practice in your life. Go to church regularly to worship God and switch off your "partner searching periscope" when you go there. In fact switch it off as often as you can. There is something very unattractive about people who are obviously looking for a partner. Godly people want a godly partner.
Make a success of your career. It will cultivate good qualities in you such as forward thinking, planning, diligence, and hard work and it will increase your self-esteem so that you don't feel as devastated by being single. It will also increase your confidence and attractiveness. Godly Christians tend to like people who do their best. Jesus had an obvious soft spot for stewards who did their work diligently and well and makes them the heroes of many of his parables.
Make a list of the qualities you really want in a partner and bring this list to God in prayer. Make it quite specific. Use it as a "filter" to prevent you going out with people that are completely wrong. When you make the list remember the golden rule "do unto others as you would want them to do unto you". Would you want your future partner to be drawing up a list like yours? Would you have any chance of getting selected if they did? Is your list too unreal? Make sure that an "average person" - the sort you are likely to marry, is able to fulfill it.
Take their weaknesses seriously. If a person is a Christian but has a problem with drugs or alcohol or promiscuity then be very careful. If they are constantly in financial trouble or always quitting their jobs you may be marrying misery. Things like eating disorders, very low self-esteem, high levels of hostility, and the need to control people can wreak havoc in a marriage. If they are believers then God is working in their lives and there is hope but some believers are not yet ready for responsibility. Some may be "barely believers" and not really committed to long term change. I am not saying don't marry them, I am saying think very, very long and hard before you do. Give them time to grow and to prove themselves before you tie the knot.
Marry someone you can pray with. Couples that pray together stay together and that's a proven fact. The Christian marriages that fail (including mine) have one partner that avoids having daily devotionals together. Prayer really builds deep intimacy into a marriage.
Learn to recognize predators. There are quite a number of people who hang around churches to pick up a "Christian partner" and who can fake being a Christian with considerable skill. They generally have no intention of being godly and little intention of marriage. They are generally after unprotected sex with someone innocent and free of disease. Sorry to be that blunt in a Christian magazine but you need to know the truth. Predators are often betrayed by their lack of true feeling for Christian things and their lack of insight into Scripture. Greed, not tithing, and minor ethical breaches are other good clues. Listen to God's promptings and your intuition. The Holy Spirit will scream "No" at you pretty early on. When God says "No" stop right then and there!
Move steadily and wisely towards commitment and put aside undue suspicion, hostility and distrust of the opposite gender. As a rough rule of thumb people end up living up to your projections of their behavior. If you distrust people and are sure they will not stay with you but are "just using you" then they will flee! No-one will stay in a relationship with a person who distrusts them. However if you treat your partner well and trust , love, and enjoy them and delight in who they are and expect good things of them then they will enjoy your love so much that they will not think of doing anything else except marrying you! Positive people tend to get positive results and negative people tend to get negative results - so deal with your fears.
Don't be paranoid about members of the opposite sex. In conservative Christian circles there is almost an assumption that you only talk to members of the opposite sex that you are interested in marrying! That is so destructive! Build many ordinary good friendships and confuse your church thoroughly! It takes the pressure off any emerging relationships and also gives you a better understanding of women/men as the case may be.
Get good Christian counselling if you have had traumatic experiences that may be hindering your ability to relate to members of the opposite sex. I can recommend Theophostic Counselling and there is an article on it elsewhere in the magazine.
If you really like someone and they are a good Christian then go for it! I spent a lot of time thinking "so and so is too good for me" and holding back and thus losing out. Being strong and courageous has many advantages and seems to get God's blessing.
Many good Christian marriages have developed when a friend introduces two people together and they click. While some friends playing Cupid with your life can be a pain if you have a few really good friends that you trust ask them to keep a lookout for you and to pray for the right person to come along.
Ask God's blessing on your efforts and develop the ability to listen to Him. God has a long history of putting some first class romances together. Let Him order your days and they will be pleasant. He really does care!

March 10, 2007

My Prayer of Thanksgiving

God, thank you for waking me up this morning. Thank you for your continued mercy and grace. Thank you for the comfort of your love and your Holy Spirit. Thank you for keeping me and protecting me and comforting me. Thank you for the peace of your forgiveness. Thank you for new beginnings. Thank you Lord for helping me understand that my past does not dictate my future. Thank you for showing me that no matter what others may think about me or feel about me that what ultimately matters is how I feel about myself. Thank you Lord for providing your Word and your shepards to teach and guide me. Thank you for giving me a new day to right what I wronged on yesterday. Thank you Lord for loving me for me and thank you for showing me how to love me. Thank you for my growth in this Christian walk. Thank you for opening my heart to unconditional forgiveness and love. Thank you for preparing my heart for life affirming change. Thank you for liberating my heart, my mind, and my soul. Thank you God for setting me FREE! Thank you for releasing the fear, the hurt, the doubt, and the pain. Thank you Lord for releasing me from the disappointment, the competitiveness, the self-loathing, and the shame. Thank you Lord for preparing my heart, my mind, my body, and my spirit to be abundantly blessed by your favor and grace. Thank you God for the lessons in my life that have taught me the value of resilliancy and honor. Thank you for your Word and its affirming power of grace.

March 8, 2007

Who Stole Black Radio Town Hall Meeting - 3/10/07

March 6, 2007

The Experience

March 5, 2007

Isreal Houghton Live 1

*This video was shared by Grueben at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2na_mWfRfc *

March 4, 2007

RULES FROM GOD 2007

1. Wake Up !! Decide to have a good day.

"Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it"

Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up !! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking.

"He who guards his lips guards his soul." Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up!!... For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.

"Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up !!... To the Lord.

"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up !!... For something higher.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up !!... Your Prayers.

"Do not worry about anything; Instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING." Philippians 4:6

*The text above was emailed to me by one of my email buddies!*

March 2, 2007

THE MESSAGE: PSALM 1

The Message: Psalm 1

Hallelujah! Blessed man, blessed woman, who fear God,

Who cherish and relish his commandments,

Their children robust on the earth,

And the homes of the upright—how blessed!

Their houses brim with wealth

And a generosity that never runs dry.

Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people—

God's grace and mercy and justice!

The good person is generous and lends lavishly;

No shuffling or stumbling around for this one,

But a sterling and solid and lasting reputation.

Unfazed by rumor and gossip,

Heart ready, trusting in God,

Spirit firm, unperturbed,

Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies,

They lavish gifts on the poor—

A generosity that goes on, and on, and on.

An honored life! A beautiful life!

Someone wicked takes one look and rages,

Blusters away but ends up speechless.

There's nothing to the dreams of the wicked. Nothing.

March 1, 2007

LEAD Summit

L.E.A.D. Summit 2007

Early Bird Registration $299 before March 10th!

L.E.A.D. Summit 2007 is the Premier Leadership Training and Development gathering specifically designed to take your organization, church, or business to the next level.

In this life changing event you will learn how to,

Manage and maximize people, money and resources in your organization
Inspire other to people to accomplish your vision
Maximize your gift and potential
Apply kingdom leadership principles that guarantee financial growth personally and corporately
Apply leadership principles that make you a leader others want to follow
Network relationships for your vision
Be a powerful servant-leader in this generation

Friday, March 16th/7 p.m. - 11 p.m. to Saturday March 17th/9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

BWI Hilton Hotel

1739 West Nursury Road

Baltimore, Maryland 21090

Dr. Myles Munroe is the Founder, President, and Senior Pastor of Bahamas Faith Ministries International, an all-encompassing network of ministries headquartered in Nassau, Bahamas. He is a multi-gifted international motivational speaker, best selling author and business consultant addressing critical issues affecting every aspect of human, social and spiritual development.

For more details, visit www.leadsummit.net.