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DeVon Franklin and Megan Good (Photo by Naomi K. Bonman)

By Naomi K. Bonman

When it comes to relationships, everyone wants to have that successful relationship. Some get sick of the dating scene after they keep getting into dead end relationships with no avail of finding that successful love. They then wonder what they’re doing wrong. In the society that we live in, it is embedded in sex, sex, and more sex. The media–from television, film, and music often fills peoples judgement to make them think that they have to have ‘it’ in order to have a successful relationship which only leads to heartbreak and confusion because people are not getting to know each other during the dating and courtship phase before marriage.

These are just a few of the points that are in Hollywood’s power couple, Devon Franklin and Megan Good’s book The Wait: A Powerful Practice for Finding the Love of Your Life and the Life You Love.  ‘The Wait’ digs deep into how to have a fulfilling relationship while doing things God’s Way. In the book it teaches you how to have that real intimacy that comes from truly getting to know the person which untimely determines if the person that you are dating is worthy of being your future spouse; and I can attest to everything that Devon and Megan state through out the book because me and my boyfriend are also practicing the Wait and it definitely makes things that much easier–as far as truly getting to know each other as each other’s best friend.

I also had the pleasure of attending a book discussion last night at Church of Christian Fellowship in Los Angeles where Emerging Leaders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), in partnership with the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs, hosted Devon Franklin and Megan Good’s book discussion of ‘The Wait’. After the discussion, everyone had a chance to meet the couple as well as have their books signed.

Below is the some of the discussion that took place last night. Enjoy, and leave your comments below. Also, don’t forget to sign up for our ‘Relationships Newsletter’ to receive more news on dating, marriage, friendship, and more relationship topics.

Perennial Sports & Entertainment’s CEO Lamell McMorris and Tanqueray No. Ten joined together on Wednesday, Feb. 24 to sponsor Alfre Woodard’s Seventh Annual Oscars Sistahs Soiree at the Vivienne Westwood Penthouse, attended by several notable and influential women of color in the entertainment industry including Rosario Dawson, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Aisha Tyler and Lorraine Toussaint.

The event provides an avenue for women of color in Hollywood to come together in celebration of their achievements and discussion of future opportunities in the industry. This year’s event is particularly poignant as the 2016 Oscars have come under immense scrutiny for lack of diversity in nominations. Woodard’s gathering aims to create a sense of sisterhood between invitees, acknowledging those who have been recognized by Hollywood’s most prestigious awards ceremony, and in her words, “in a perfect world, those who should have been.”

McMorris’ involvement rests on his ongoing support of civil and human rights initiatives and his aim to see these efforts pervade throughout the entertainment industry, and beyond. In his work with professional athletes, McMorris has seen the impact that young African American men have on their communities and sees the same reach stemming from these women. His sponsorship was inspired by this alignment and his belief that Woodard’s event provides recognition and a voice to a group that deserves to be heard.

“By setting the stage to empower women of color, Alfre has fostered a key channel for changing the tone toward minorities in entertainment, and I couldn’t be more proud to support her and the women here tonight,” McMorris stated. “Now more than ever, African American women are given a unique platform to be positive role models both on and off the screen and I have no doubt that the conversations held tonight will reverberate far past Hollywood.”

The high-profile affair attracted significant press interest with coverage in The Hollywood Reporter, Variety and InStyle. These articles captured the sentiments and goals of attendees through words and images, before doors were closed and the women moved to share their experiences privately. The coverage isn’t limited to the written word; US Weekly and People Magazine both shared images from the event, and HipHollywood released a video that compiles guests’ reactions.

San Bernardino Chief of Police Jarrod Burguan

By Keith McCarter, McCarter University

On February 18, 2016 the San Bernardino Republican Women Federated presented an evening of Honor and Appreciation for San Bernardino Chief of Police Jarrod Burguan, County of San Bernardino Sheriff John McMahon and Assistant Director of the FBI David Bowdich.

This occasion was to honor these three men for their stellar service during the December 2, 2015 act of terrorism here in San Bernardino. Even though the evening was to honor these three men, they used much of their talk time to honor and praise everyone else and minimizing the attention being given to themselves.

Assistant Director David Bowdich used much of his speech time giving credit to a little girl who wrote a very unusually formal letter which thanked him for being so calm, cool, collected, and effective on the day of the incident. The little girl expressed that Mr. Bowdich’s demeanor while speaking on the news was so profound as to bring a bit of calm to the calamity. San Bernardino Sheriff John McMahon used much of his time explaining, thanking, and giving due credit to the several other government agencies which were involved in securing the December 2 scene and capturing the culprits.

San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan used much of his time talking about the effectiveness of all the law enforcement, medical and emergency responders. He praised the training and preparation of every person acting under the color of title and he was sure to give the medical establishment and medical personnel due credit for their important role in the management of the crises.

Either these men made a mistake in thinking this night was for everyone except them or, in the alternative, maybe their innate selflessness is one of their many good characteristics which highlighted their competence and dedication to the community to which they serve. Of these two possibilities I believe the latter option rings truer than the former.

Also present was Senator Mike Morrell, San Bernardino County Assessor Bob Dutton, San Bernardino Major Carey Davis and newly appointed Police Commissioner Damon Alexander. It was a truly inspirational evening.

The cast of “Underground” gather for a photo outside of the White House. Pictured left to right: Alano Miller, Amirah Vann, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Aldis Hodge, Jessica de Gouw, Christopher Meloni (PRNewsFoto/WGN America)

LOS ANGELES, CA- In celebration of Black History Month, the White House Office of Public Engagement hosted a panel and screening event for WGN America’s “Underground,” the upcoming original series, produced by Sony Pictures Television and Tribune Studios, set to premiere Wednesday, March 9 on WGN America. The February 22 White House event was attended by Senior Administration Officials including Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States of America, who welcomed attendees with opening remarks about the powerful and gripping new series being a perfect fit for the Black History Month event entitled “These Hallowed Grounds and Underground Screening.”

Cast and creative team from WGN America’s “Underground” participated in two panel discussions that included executive producers John Legend and Akiva Goldsman, creators Misha Green and Joe Pokaski and director and executive producer Anthony Hemingway, and cast including Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Aldis Hodge, Christopher Meloni, Alano Miller, Jessica de Gouw and Amirah Vann, along with president and general manager, WGN America/ Tribune Studios, Matt Cherniss. The event was also attended by Peter Liguori, President and Chief Executive Officer, Tribune Media Company and Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht, Presidents, Programming & Production, Sony Pictures Television, as well as leadership from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Young Women Empowerment Foundation will host their fourth annual Spring Event, “Girl Talk IV” at San Bernardino Valley College, 701 South Mount Vernon Avenue San Bernardino, CA 92410, on Saturday, March 19th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. YWE invites schools, faith based and community supporters to empower girls, age 12-21, to realize their purpose in life. This is a free event for young women in the Inland Empire.
This year’s theme is “My P.U.R.P.O.S.E., My Plan.” P.U.R.P.O.S.E means Passion, Uniqueness, Resilience, Perseverance, Opportunities, Self-Worth, and Empowered. The young women will have the opportunity to participate in workshops based on each area of P.U.R.P.O.S.E. There will also be a free continental breakfast, lunch, entertainment, give-a-ways, and opportunity drawings.

The guest speakers for Girl Talk IV will focus on issues that are important and relevant. Topics such as Human Trafficking, Self-Care, Digital Foot Prints, Life Challenges, Personal Decisions, and Choices will be discussed. The keynote and guest speakers are as follows: Danielle Willis – Passion; Porshe McCoy-Nichols – Uniqueness; Trinity Wallace-Ellis – Resilience (Keynote); Jazmin Garcia – Perseverance; Alise Clouser – Opportunity; Amber Thorney-Croft – Self Worth; Coalition Against Sexual Exploitation (C.A.S.E.) – Empowered; and Carletta Lofliin – My Plan (Vision Board)

The first 100 girls who register online will receive a free t-shirt when they check in. Please register on Eventbrite under “Free Young Women’s Empowerment Foundation (YWE) Girl Talk IV Annual Spring Conference My P.U.R.P.O.S.E My Plan.” Also, please encourage and invite family and friends to register and attend this noteworthy opportunity focused on empowering young women.

All inquiries, pre-register individual or groups, please email Devona Robertson or Tiffany James at ywefoundation@gmail.com.Visit their website at www.youngwomenempowerment.org.

Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

Congress is preventing Medicare from performing one of the basic elements of cost savings. An element that is critical to the profit line and in some cases critical to the survival of a business. Negotiating based on all of Medicare’s clients creates a lower cost per unit than if each individual insurer negotiates its own price. Bulk negotiation and purchasing is the answer! Bulk purchasing via direct negotiations with drug manufacturers by Medicare could save billions of dollars.

The 2003 overhaul of Medicare included a concession to the pharmaceutical industry that prevents Medicare from negotiating drug prices directly with the manufacturers… Instead, the individual insurers pay for drugs based on their individual fragmented negotiations, a process which guarantees higher prices.

The drug prices for the Veterans Health Administration and Medicaid, which are negotiated by the federal government, are much lower than those paid by Medicare. A recent study by Carlton University and Public Citizen, an advocacy group, found the negotiated prices are generally 1/3 less than those paid by Medicare. Medicare pays the highest prices on the planet, for drugs manufactured in the USA. The same drugs are exported around the world and delivered for prices that are more often than not, one-tenth of prices in the USA. The same study estimates that negotiating Medicare’s cost could save 16 billion dollars per year.

Supply/Invest in low or no-cost education for students who contract to repay with a commitment to social service, such medical school med, in exchange for five years of low-cost service to be provided over a 20 year period.

Ben Jealous

By New America Media, Question & Answer, George White

From 2008 to 2012, you served as president of the NAACP, an organization that does not endorse political candidates. As a public figure, you’re now free to make an endorsement. Why are you endorsing Senator Sanders? 

My generation was the first targeted in an era of mass incarceration that accelerated as a result of laws enacted in the 1990s. Our national priorities should include an effort to move us away from a society of mass incarceration to a country that provides better education and an economy that produces good-paying jobs. Senator Sanders is pushing for that shift.

Regarding my criteria, I look at the litmus tests that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., provided. He said the first test of genuine leadership is whether the candidate is a follower of consensus or a molder of consensus. Senator Sanders is a molder. The other consideration is the candidate’s stand on issues related to what Dr. King called the giant triplets – racism, militarism and greed. Bernie has been the most consistent opponent of the policies and politics that promote those anti-progressive attitudes.

After Iowa and New Hampshire, the presidential campaigns move to states that are more racially and ethnically diverse – South Carolina among them. Some say Senator Sanders will not garner enough votes from communities of color to get the nomination. What are your thoughts?

The mainstream media continues to tell us that African Americans will vote en masse for Hillary Clinton. However, I see a different trend – African Americans are increasingly turning to Sanders. As a volunteer surrogate, I will campaign for Bernie in South Carolina and other states. In the world of politics, the time we have to win more support in South Carolina is an eternity.

African Americans and Latinos have higher unemployment rates and studies show that black and brown communities have not benefitted as much from the recovery from the Great Recession. How would Senator Sanders address those disparities? 

Historically, a leading cause of bankruptcy among African Americans is the cost of health care. Also, Latinos are among those more likely to be uninsured. The cost of medical care continues to be a threat to our communities. Bernie Sanders, through his advocacy of a national health care plan, will do more to reduce those costs. Also, education is a key to achieving the American dream and Bernie would make college free…He’s identified the primary political obstacle to a fairer economy that would help more people realize the American dream: unrestrained Wall Street spending on political campaigns.

As you know, there are millions of undocumented people in the U.S. living in the shadows – many of them Latino and many are Asian, the fastest growing immigrant population in the U.S. One Republican candidate says they should be deported and some candidates say the undocumented should never have a path to citizenship. Tell us about Senator Sanders’ views on immigration. 

Senator Sanders supports comprehensive immigration reform. As a believer in the dignity of every person in this country, he would be the greatest champion of immigration reform we’ve ever seen in the White House.

We’ve all seen the spate of videos of black men being killed by police officers in situations that – in the view of most – did not require the use of deadly force. Policing is a local issue. What can a president do about this issue? 

Senator Sanders is the only candidate who supports the creation of a national standard for the use of force. Others want standards to be defined on the local level – the status quo.

Senator Sanders has been outspoken about the threat of climate change. As you know, the NAACP’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program says contaminants from power plants and factories in or near communities of color are also a threat. In addition, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission recently announced it is investigating whether discrimination was a factor in state decisions that led to the Flint water crisis. Is environmental justice a Sanders priority?

Yes. He is a fierce defender of a clean environment for all. As president, he would take action to preserve our planet and would urgently address environmental injustices such as industrial contamination and infrastructure failures that are poisoning black and brown communities. With regard to Flint, he has called for the resignation of the governor of Michigan.

You’ve organized campaigns against voter suppression measures in a number of states. Senator Sanders says our political system is corrupt and rigged. If Sanders is elected, what would he do about these political participation issues?

There’s a connection between voter suppression and big money in politics. Senator Sanders is not just talking about the growing imbalance between the haves and have-nots – he’s also talking about reining in greed. The Koch brothers and other industrialists are making huge campaign donations as they contribute to the destruction of the environment. Bernie wants campaign finance reform and won’t take special-interest money. The average contribution to the Sanders campaign is $27. That’s why bankers fear Bernie. He’s shown that the people will fund a campaign when they’re concerned about our democracy.

We’re also going through the biggest wave of voter suppression since the Jim Crow era. It’s an attempt to suppress large numbers of progressive voters. Bernie’s campaign is creating the kind of enthusiasm we need for a large voter turnout. He’s showing how we can bring people together and change the system.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Running around thinking you are running things, and ain’t running nothing! [Satan] has fed you so many rotten apples with worms that you think they taste good. Sorry boo-boo… hate to burst your bubble, but you have been bamboozled, conned, led astray , run amok, dupe, tricked, fooled, swindle, hoodwink; you have been deceived… You see, Satan has been pimping from the third chapter of the Bible onward. He has opened up God’s Word to us, seeking to interpret it, to apply it, and offer an invitation; and you bought into his lies; you ate the apples; you took him up on his invitation; knowing that he is the master destroyer of the souls of men; knowing that he is the one who tempts, lies, deceives, murders, sins, and who is the author of every wicked act that has ever been committed. The pimp of all pimps and you want to hang out with him! Slap yourself awake! My bag…. He just did it for you!

Satan, prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour [1Peter 5:8]. His M.O. [Method of operation or Modus operandi]. It is all very simple. He cannot have his office in heaven back, and he cannot stop Jesus from doing his work [Matthew 16:18]. So, all Satan has left to do is to destroy people by tying them up so well in sin that they cannot reason and understand the Gospel. But the apostle Paul, in [2Corinthians, chapter 2 and verse 11], says that we are not to be ignorant of the schemes, or the plans, or the stratagems, or the tricks of Satan. We need to know how he works. We need to know something of his character, something of his person, something of his approach. And since we have the Word of God, which unmasks Satan’s disguises, and which reveals his schemes, there’s really no reason to be ignorant.

I want you to know that Satan is deadly, defeated, damned, and without hope. In this state he craves company in a morbid bid for revenge. And you and I are the top priority in Satan’s eyes for attack and conquest. But he has no power in the life of a believer, unless we give it to him. That’s right! Jesus freed us from Satan’s power, and as long as we abide in Him, the devil has absolutely no power over us. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free, and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Gal. 5:1) Refuse to make deals with Satan, no matter how attractive the trinkets. Refuse to be a commodity that is for sale to the highest bidder. Refuse Satan’s insistence to relax in the passenger seat of your life. Don’t be like Esau; so driven to satisfy his craving that rather than endure the few unpleasant minutes that restraining himself would entail, he made the biggest mistake of his life. He thought every minute he denied himself would seem an eternity, but the real eternity was his never-ending regret over having sold his future for a mouthful of pleasure. He could never undo his devastating loss (Hebrews 12:16-17). Don’t eat the apples!

So how can one keep from being deceived? Listen to Paul’s advice to Timothy in [2Timothy 2:10-26]. Deception comes when we are not grounded in the Word of God. Some simple ways to get grounded in the Word of God; Read the bible, or listen on Audio CD’s, watch and listen on DVD’s. Find a bible believing church, worship and get connected. Join a small group who are Christ followers and process life together. Allow a person of faith, good character and integrity, to mentor you, to become your accountability partner. Get involved in a weekly or daily devotional. Learn the importance of prayer, and practice it.

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” [Ephesians 3:14-19]

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

“You fool!” Those are words I would never want to hear God say to me. Don’t you know that grace is God’s love which we do not deserve but yet are given? Grace is what keeps us alive [Ephesians 2:1-2]. What’s wrong with you? Prostituting God’s grace. Taking His goodness for granted.  Without grace, you will burst Hell wide open [Romans 6:23]. God wants you to know that He will not allow you to become complacent or neglectful concerning Him. He will not allow you to take Him for granted. He does not take it lightly!  Beware of taking God’s grace for granted!

Listen, when God learned of what Israel had done to His servants; when He learned of how Israel had over and over again, betrayed His love and taken His grace for granted, God became furious. His patience had been tested by His very own people – Israel. And so God’s wrath came upon Israel. God used the Roman armies to destroy Israel and its Temple. “What shall you say then? Shall you continue in sin, that grace may abound? If you understand what Paul has written in [Romans 6: 2, 15] …then you will cry out with him:  “Certainly not! – It is not to be thought of! – Not at all! – May it never be! – Never!  

I want you to know that Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 are the “Blessings and Curses” chapters of the Bible. And in [verses 14-29 of Leviticus] God says, “But if you do not obey Me [take Me for granted and treat Me neglectfully], and do not observe all these commandments, and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you. ‘And after all this, if you do not obey Me [if you still take Me for granted and if you still neglect Me], then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. I will break the pride of your power; I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. And your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield its produce, nor shall the trees of the land yield their fruit. ‘Then, if you [still take Me for granted] and walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you seven times more plagues, according to your sins. I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few in number; and your highways shall be desolate. ‘And if by these things you [still take Me for granted] are not reformed by Me, but walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you, and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins. And I will bring a sword against you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant; when you are gathered together within your cities I will send pestilence among you; and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. When I have cut off your supply of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall bring back your bread by weight, and you shall eat and not be satisfied. ‘And after all this, if you do not obey Me [if you still are complacent and you continue to neglect Me and take Me for granted], but walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters. But, “If you turn your heart around; if you accept your guilt and change (repent), I will remember My covenant.

Let us not take God’s grace for granted! The Holy Spirit cries out for you who are Christians to take your Christian faith seriously, not to neglect it, not to take it for granted, and certainly not to despise it. You have been called out of darkness into the marvelous light of Christ. You have been baptized into Christ and called out of Satan’s kingdom and into the kingdom of Christ. Do not be deceived! Do not take God’s grace for granted!

Coretta Scott King and Rosa Parks

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The San Bernardino Public Library is presenting an African-American History program with Dr. Dennis Morgan Brown on Tuesday, February 23 at 10 a.m. In this musical presentation, attendees will learn about significant African-Americans, including activists, leaders, and recording artists. From Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King to Muhammad Ali, learn how these individuals molded a generation.

Dr. Brown has presented his programs all across the country and has spoken before the State Assembly, the Senate at the State Capitol, the Mayor’s mansion in Los Angeles, and at the Martin Luther King Center for Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia.

This free program will be located in the Bing Wong Auditorium at the Feldheym Library at 555 West Sixth St., San Bernardino.

Contact Linda Adams Yeh at (909) 381-8238 or visit www.sbpl.org for more information.