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Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

You really do need to soberly reflect on this question… What does it profit you to gain the whole world and lose your soul?  [Matthew 16:26]…. I tell you, you can be like [Baby D – I’m Bout Money] if you want too… “Chasing for that paper…. Die for the cheddar …” Echoing “Money Money Money” [feat. Diddy & Fabolous] [Diddy:] Wake up in the morning take a money shower now I’m smelling like money got the money and the power….” [Fabolous:]…..Married to the money….Faithful to the millions….Got my money up….Safe as in the ceiling….” I tell you, the nature of man is a fool!  I can just image the rich man in Hades [Luke 16:22-24] screaming NOOOOOOOOO! You got it all wrong….. NOOOOOOOOO! One’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions” [Luke 12:15] it is in God.  It is your heart and soul that makes you valuable not stuff.  Joy, happiness, and fulfillment are found in the invisible things of life: love, hope, peace, and relationships….. NOOOOOOOOOO! Don’t do it! Don’t trade your most valuable possession [your soul] for the trinkets of this world… It’s not worth it I tell you… 

You see, I am the rich man in [Luke 16:19-31] who dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At my gate was a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from my table…  Then the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. I also died and was buried. In Hell, I looked up one day and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  I called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’  “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony…” NOOOOOOOOO! Don’t do it! Don’t trade your soul for the trinkets of this world. Hell is for eternity! Hell is real!

You know [Martin Luther King Jr.,] said in a sermon that the rich man was a fool because he permitted the ends for which he lived to become confused with the means by which he lived…. Don’t let that be said about you. To spend the days, months, and years of your life in a quest for riches, possessions, and prominence will only leave you disappointed. Jesus warned us about this when He said “Do not store up for yourselves treasurers on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. [Matthew 6: 19-20].  Perhaps the greatest lesson to learn from this story is that when death comes knocking on your door there is only one thing that will matter: your relationship with Jesus Christ. “What good will it be for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul?” (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36]. Don’t do it!  Don’t trade your most valuable possession [your soul] for the trinkets of this world. Sounding the Warning!

“Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” [Deuteronomy 30:19]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the Presidential Inaugural Committee announced details surrounding the swearing-in of President-elect Donald J. Trump on January 20, 2017.

President-elect Donald J. Trump will be sworn-in on January 20, 2017 using his Bible, as well as the same Bible that President Lincoln used at his first inauguration. The oath of office will be administered by the Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts.

“In his first inaugural address, President Lincoln appealed to the ‘better angels of our nature,’” said PIC Chairman Tom Barrack. “As he takes the same oath of office 156 years later, President-elect Trump is humbled to place his hand on Bibles that hold special meaning both to his family and to our country.”

President-elect Trump’s Bible was presented to him by his mother upon his graduation of Sunday Church Primary School at First Presbyterian Church, Jamaica, New York, on Children’s Day, June 12, 1955. The Bible is a revised standard version published by Thomas Nelson and Sons in New York in 1953 and is embossed with his name on the lower portion of the front cover. The inside cover is signed by church officials and is inscribed with his name and the details of when it was presented.
 
The Lincoln Bible was purchased for the first inauguration of President Abraham Lincoln by William Thomas Carroll, Clerk of the Supreme Court. The Bible is bound in burgundy velvet with a gold-washed white metal rim along the edges of the covers. It is part of the collections of the Library of Congress and has been used at three inaugurals: 1861, 2009, and 2013.

Earlier this week, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) released the following statement announcing that she plans to attend the 58^th Inaugural Ceremony for Donald J. Trump.

“After serious consideration, I have decided to attend the inauguration of Donald Trump.  As an immigrant and a woman who represents a largely Mexican-American constituency, I am the embodiment of everything Trump has demonized and demeaned.  And on January 20^th, I will stand over his shoulder, just as I will during the next four years, to remind him that I and people like me deserve a seat at the table, and we will watch his every move.  We will hold him accountable.  We will not silently step aside and be ignored.  We will show up, and we will make our voices heard. 

“That day will be uncomfortable, even painful, but I believe that as a Member of Congress, it is my duty to witness the peaceful transition of power that is the hallmark of our democracy. Let us not forget that Republicans attended President Obama’s inaugurations and still managed to oppose him at every turn.  This is why the very next day, I will march with thousands of men, women, and children to show Donald Trump that women are what make America great.  We will send a clear message to him, and the world, that we won’t back down from the fight for justice, inclusiveness, and dignity for all. 

“I will never stop voicing my opposition to policies that divide and destroy this country, but I have always believed that to make a difference, you have to show up.  And that is exactly what I intend to do.”

Portions of a $4 million federal anti-terrorism victims grant coordinated by the state and county can be used to reimburse injured survivors of the Dec. 2, 2015 terrorist attack for medical treatments awaiting approval through worker’s compensation, the county learned on Friday in talks with the California Victim Compensation Board.

“The county made a commitment immediately after the attack to do all we can to help our employees recover. Working with the state to ensure proceeds can assist the recovering survivors is an example of how the county is honoring that commitment,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Lovingood.

There are about 54 county employees with active worker’s compensation cases stemming from the attack. A small number of those employees have faced challenges with their claims, primarily as a result of waiting for their healthcare providers to provide the information needed to have their treatments approved. Survivors can use more than $1.6 million from the grant to pay for treatments that are awaiting approval. The California Victim Compensation Board will disburse the funds to the survivors.

In December, the U.S. Department of Justice approved the California Victim Compensation Board’s request for $4 million in Anti-Terrorism and Emergency Assistance Program funds to support the short- and long-term needs of the victims of the San Bernardino terrorist attack. The allocation was based on information provided to the state by the county.

Approximately $1.3 million of the grant is intended to reimburse the county toward the more than $20 million the county has spent responding to and recovering from the incident. More than $832,000 of the approximately $1.3 million will reimburse the county for services provided directly to the survivors.

OXNARD, CA- Come out this Saturday, January 21 at 2 p.m. to meet and support former two-time world boxing champion, Mikey Garcia, during his media workout as he prepares to travel to Las Vegas for his world title showdown with current World Boxing Council (WBC) 135 lb world champion Dejan Zlaticarin (Podgorica, Montenegro/pro record: 22-0, 15 Kos) on Saturday, January 28 at the MGM Grand, live on SHOWTIME.

Garcia has a record of 35-0, 29 KOs. The workout is FREE and the academy is located at 1451 Pacific Avenue in Oxnard. If you can’t make it out the workout, be sure to follow Garcia on all social media to stay updated on his upcoming events and fights at: www.facebook.com/TeamMikeyGarcia, instagram.com/teammikeygarcia, and twitter.com/MikeyGarcia.

LOS ANGELES, CA- Essence, the preeminent brand for African-American women, will host its highly anticipated 8th annual “Black Women in Music”—an official GRAMMY^® Week event—on Thursday, February 9, in Los Angeles. The invitation-only soiree will salute the year’s extraordinary GRAMMY nominees and fête four-time GRAMMY winner Erykah Badu on the 20th anniversary of her groundbreaking debut album, “Baduizm.” The evening will also feature a performance by Roc Nation management artist Tiwa Savage, an award-winning Nigerian singer songwriter making an indelible impact in the U.S.

“From the time that she first hit the scene with her album ‘Baduizm,’ we all fell in love with the genius that is Erykah Badu. It is only fitting that we honor the accomplishments of our neo-soul queen, whose remarkable artistry still moves us 20 years later,” said Essence Editor-in-Chief Vanessa De Luca. “We congratulate Erykah on her incredible career, as well as all of this year’s GRAMMY nominees, who share their amazing gifts with the world.”

“Our collaboration with The Recording Academy^® underscores the mission of our ‘Black Women in Music’ platform,” said Essence President Michelle Ebanks. “Essence, like the GRAMMYs, has always been at the forefront of recognizing the genius of so many artists and influencers—from iconic legends to the next generation’s rising stars, like Tiwa Savage. We also applaud our event sponsor, Lincoln, for returning once again to support the vision of this event.”

“We’re closely aligned with the inspiration behind the ‘Black Women in Music’ event that helps bring a highly talented group of artists together through the power of music,” said Evan Greene, chief marketing officer of The Recording Academy. “The Recording Academy has always strived to recognize and celebrate diversity within the music industry.”

Established in 2010, ESSENCE ‘Black Women in Music’ has heralded the accomplishments of both emerging and established artists and influencers during GRAMMY week. Previous celebrants include GRAMMY Award winners Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, Kelly Rowland and Janelle Monáe, GRAMMY Award nominees Solange and Andra Day, as well as music industry veteran Sylvia Rhone and singer/songwriters Lianne La Havas and Emeli Sandé.

The 2017 ESSENCE ‘Black Women in Music’ event is sponsored by Lincoln. Stay tuned to Essence.com for highlights and behind-the-scenes access. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @essence #BlackWomeninMusic. Join in the discussion on Facebook.

The PAL Charter Academy is excited to announce the launch of their new school app.  This is a first for the Academy and CEO Dwaine Radden, Sr. says “this app symbolizes bridging the past with our future.”  

The app is user-friendly, and provides parents, students, and the public access to all school events and activities.  Just visit the Apple app store or Google play for Android to download the app.  

Neo-R&B singer Andra Day, who earned two Grammy Award nominations last year, is nominated for Artist of the Year and Album of the Year (for “Cheers to the Fall”).

Online voting runs from Jan. 16 through Feb. 26 at sandiegomusicawards.com. The public can vote in every category except the eight best album categories, which is voted on by members of the San Diego Music Academy. Tickets for the March 21 awards fete go on sale Monday through the event’s website.

By Lue Dowdy

ALL THAT JAZZ is WHAT IT DO, in honor of a GREAT MAN! A celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. took place Saturday, January 14 in the Inland Empire at the Fontana Steelworkers Auditorium.

Deeveatva Foy was on location conducting interviews with Jazz pianist J. Michael O’ Neal and Friends. There were several hundred in attendance that came out to enjoy an evening filled with beautiful music and a loving atmosphere.

The affair was hosted by Bishop Emory B. James of the Ephesians New Testament Church of Fontana with performances from Actor/Singer Darius McCrary, best known as Eddie Winslow from Family Matters and now on the hit show STAR; Songstress and vocal coach Aretha Scruggs; Saxophonist Jeannette Harris and Band; and Mr. Kirk Whalum.

Special thanks to Melinor Moore and to AEOM PR for reaching out to us on behalf of her client’s J. Michael O’Neal and Darius McCrary.

Remember folks GOOD music makes the WORLD GO ROUND! Until next week L’z!

Eddie Long

On Sunday, January 15, many received the news on the passing of megachurch pastor Bishop Eddie Long. He was 63-years-old.

Long died after a battle with an aggressive form of cancer, according to a statement by the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. He was a preacher who led an infamous march against same-sex marriage and denounced homosexuality, but he also settled a lawsuit by four young men who said he pressured them into sexual relationships.

“When he spoke, black people all over the country listened to him,” said Shayne Lee, a sociologist who studies the black Pentecostal church. “He was part of the repackaging of Christianity for post-civil rights African-Americans.”

Long’s wife, who stood by him through his rise and fall from national fame, released a statement.

“Although his transition leaves a void for those of us who loved him dearly, we can celebrate and be happy for him, knowing he’s at peace,” Vanessa Long said.