WSSN Stories

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

In the waiting room – ever been there, I have and it is not easy.  I think that at some point and time in our lives all of us go through a stage in our life where we wonder if God will ever show up. It seems as if we are always falling into a life of constant hard times and nothingness. Every time you turn around there is a different trial, a different problem and a different tribulation. But, year after year, you are told that this is your year. Year after year, preacher after preacher has spoken sermon after sermon telling you to get ready for your blessing. Prophets have called you up and told you to get ready for the move of God in your life, and you wait, and wait, and wait, and wait, and nothing seems to happen. You began to get so frustrated and tired of waiting that you began to lose faith in what God has promised you and that loss of faith eventually turns to disbelief. You began to think that maybe God didn’t tell you what you thought He did, so you decide that you will no longer wait; you have waited long enough!  Guess what, you have just stopped God’s movement in your life and killed your blessings. The reason that God had not moved in your situation so far is because it was not yet your appointed time for a visitation.

What I know is that we as people of God or people in general have a problem with waiting. We want what we want; when we want it and how we want. We are a spoiled generation. It doesn’t matter if it is good for us or not, we just want it. And if it doesn’t happen when we think it should we begin to come up with our own plans on how we are going to make it happen.  We tend to want to move too fast instead of waiting on God.  I tell you we will save ourselves some trouble, hard aches and pain if only we will remember what Ecclesiastes 3 tells us, “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.” But we want to pluck the fruit before it has had time to ripen.  I tell you as soon as you do that, Satan will come in with his sneaky conniving self and give you a right now counterfeit blessing; something that will take your mind and focus off God. It always seems to be in our nature to go for the right now thing, instead of the right thing that which God has for us. But as Ms. Aretha Franklin, said, “You better think!”

Listen, the Scriptures says in Habakkuk 2:3, “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end – it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” One of our problems today is that we have lost the biblical perspective of the majestic greatness of God, and we have a completely wrong focus on God.  We are just like Habakkuk… “How long, O Lord, must I call for help?” Habakkuk’s words are a complaint; he has major issues to take up with God. I suspect we do as well, if we are honest. Apparently, Habakkuk had repeatedly called upon God to act, to intervene, to set things right, to just do something. Yet it seemed that God had not heard him and God would not act to save. Finally, out of a deep sense of frustration and confusion, he cries out to God, “How long, O Lord, must I call for your help, but you do not listen?” “Lord, please do something! Act like God. Can’t you see we are weary of fighting against wrong and trying to do good?” I tell you the Lord intends to keep His people dependent upon Him. Amazingly though in the midst of all his crying, Habakkuk decides to takes God at his word. Habakkuk trusts that God is already at work, even if he can’t see it. He trusts that God has more to say, and he commits himself to waiting on God rather than taking matters into his own hands. This is the rub in the story. Habakkuk assumes a disposition of waiting with confident trust in God. We too must be persuaded that God is in control of the timing and intensity of our trials. If you are a child of God I want you to know that you have the means by which to stand firm in the face of any trial. Trust that God has a reason for your sufferings and waiting. Submit yourself to whatever He desires to teach you. The road may be rocky, but a wise response will lead you into the joy He has promised. I’m telling you what I know.  You see, I know about waiting to give birth to the promises of God and never seeing it come forth. I know about waking up in the middle of the night crying and asking God what’s next and not receiving an answer. I know about travailing for a promise, year after year, and having it never come to pass. I know about never ending disappointment but I am here to tell you on today that God has not forgotten about any of us. Galatians 6:9 says at just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t’ give up. I’m so thankful that we have the Bible to help us understand how God works in all the seasons of life to help us find faith and grow and mature. God always have a purpose. I often have to stop and consider this. That all that happens in my life – the bitter things, the hard things, the hurtful things, the triumphs and the victories – can work for good.  I want you to know that waiting is the process of becoming what God wants us to be. What God does in us while we wait is as important as what it is we are waiting for.

If you’re going through a season of life and you don’t think much is happening, be faithful to God; trust Him. The promises of God remain Yes and Amen! The fact that God would send a word like this at this particular time should be confirmation to you that you are close to what God has promised you! I come to tell you to wait on it! Don’t compromise with the devil. Wait on it! Don’t break down your standard, wait on it! No matter how long it takes He might not come when you want Him to come, but He is always on time. Give God the Glory!

Dorella Anderson

By Naomi K. Bonman

Family members, extended family, friends, and community residents came together on Friday, May 29 to celebrate the life of Riverside community trailblazer, Dorella Anderson, better known as Dorie to most, or Mrs. And Sis. Anderson to others. The homegoing services were all that the late community leader would have wanted. The sanctuary of Park Avenue Baptist Church in Riverside was overflowing to capacity, filled with those that loved and cherished Dorella, Godmother Dorie (as I called her).

Mrs. Anderson, 79, served has a champion and advocate for families and youth on the Eastside of Riverside for the past 35 years at the Community Settlement House, just minutes away from Downtown Riverside. She played a pivotal role in assisting immigrants adapt and settle into life in the States by helping them obtain citizenship and addressing issues that assited them to remain in the country legally. Her work with families on the Eastside spans two generations.

“She led a life that supported the Eastside children for more than 50 years. She was talented, beautiful, athletic, and had a confidence that drew people towards her. The events at Lincoln Park and the Community Settlement Association continued the work of a prior generation of local families who truly made the area a community,” Dorella’s cousin, Craig Goodwin stated.

Anderson was the founder and lifetime member of the Riverside African American Historical Society and will be remembered for bringing “Toys for Tots” to Riverside, teaching crafts, dancing, and for her involvement in numerous community affairs.

As a personal extended family and church member of Anderson’s I will miss her gentle and sweet spirit and her willingness of speaking her mind to anyone and saying how she felt, and because she was not afraid to speak her mind and speak out you felt even more comfortable around her.

She will definitely be missed among Riverside and surrounding cities, but she lives on in our hearts forever until we all meet again.

Tracy Holmes visits EMPIRE TALKS BACK radio

Review written by Alexis Reaves

This self help book is one of three books in the authors series of “Say it Twice Books”. To begin with, the author introduces the reader to the primary colors in Spanish as well as providing a pronunciation and an illustration of the color on each page. As you read, you will learn not only what each color is in English, but how to say each color using an English guided pronunciation tool. The author proceeds to add learning interaction into the book by  including  a fun quiz for children that  ask them to fill in the correct color on the page. This gives its readers an opportunity to assess their learning and unintentionally helps children to remember what they have learned. Colors works as a tutorial book, teaching children Spanish beginning with the basics. The goal of this book is to educate the youth on different languages, thus increasing the amount of bilingual children. This book is beneficial to children and will work as a start up for Spanish learners in the future.

COLORS is available online from Amazon and Barnes And Nobles. The author of COLORS, Tracy Holmes is scheduled to be at the Montclair Plaza Barnes And Nobles on June 13th for a 2 p.m. book signing.

Tracy was a guest on the April 19, 2015 EMPIRE TALK’S BACK radio program with host Wallace Allen. You can see the video of the show by following this link  http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/61303982

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Whitney Houston asked the question, “How will I know … How, will I know if he really loves me… I say a prayer with every heart beat…  I fall in love whenever we meet… I’m asking you what you know about these things… How will I know if he’s thinking of me…? Falling in love is so bitter sweet… How will I know?”

How do we know when someone really cares about us? How do we know if someone loves us? There are a lot of things that we can do to show others that we care for them.  But the ultimate expression of care and love takes place when somebody sacrifices a part of themselves or all of themselves for you. Jesus put it this way, “Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Ah, this is good… {John 15:13}. When somebody does something like that there can absolutely be no doubt in your mind they care for you, they love you!  I want you to know that the Cross is God’s exclamation point! The Cross is the exclamation point at the end of a sentence in which God is screaming, “I love you and I’ll do whatever it takes to get your attention.” Hear me and hear me good… God paid an unbelievable price to send an unbelievable message.  Inseparable love {Romans 8: 35-38} who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  When God wanted to demonstrate His love for us, He did it on a much higher level. He was willing to risk our rejection by first being honest about our behavior.   And even though we have messed things up with Him through our actions and sin, He continues to stand by us…  If there is any doubt in your mind that God is interested in you; if there is any doubt in your mind if God loves you, please look again at the Cross. For it is good to look through history and see how God, time and time again, demonstrates His love for us.  Sometimes it is almost as if He is shouting, “I LOVE YOU!”  But do you hear Him?

In Luke chapter 2 verses 8-14 it tells us that there was “a shout of love in a dark night!” This is one of the texts that some of you need to hear today.   It should help you be reminded that God loves you, because ‘this shout in the dark of night’ sets the stage for how we can understand God’s interest and love for us. The angels were proclaiming God’s wonderful plan and praising His name as He began to demonstrate His love for us through His One and Only Son Jesus… Can you hear it…?  “I have sent my Son, He is here for you, and I love you that much.” Knowing the intensity of this, never wonder again if you are loved.  God loves you to the point he sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus to be the perfect sacrifice for all your sins and mine. I don’t know whether you remember or not, but in Malachi 1:2 Jesus had a complaint against us too. He said, “So you want to complain, you want to know if I love you, well let me tell you something, I got a complaint against you too. I have loved you deeply, but you got the nerves to ask Me, wherein have I loved you… Really!  My answer… The Cross… Now what have you done for me lately? I can’t hear you…. What you say…. That’s what I thought… Never question whether I love you again! {Paraphrased by me}

Now I know that sometimes life’s circumstances don’t seem fair. That’s when it’s easy to start to doubt God’s love for you. Moments of disappointments, fear, frustration, struggle, and uncertainty can make you feel that God has failed you. In reality, God knows what you need, and has everything under His control. He may have a different time, place, process, or way to move you through life that you may not have expected, but it doesn’t mean He doesn’t love you. I tell you, we need to come up with a different definition of God’s love. We need one that is not so narrow as to suggest that the only true love from God is that which makes us happy. We need to see the boarder perspective, from God’s view, where the ultimate sign of love does not have to do with this life, but with the life to come. This perspective lets us see suffering of this life in a different perspective {Romans 5:3-5}. Don’t allow Satan to distort God’s love for you. There is nothing like the love of God! It is the most overwhelming thing I have ever encountered in my life. It is the greatest thing God ever did for any of us! You should be shouting right now for God’s overwhelming love! There is no greater love than the love that God has for you.  Will you believe it?  Will you accept it?  Will you live through it? I want you to know that God’s love is such that it cannot be comprehended through the mortal and corruptible mind of man. It must be spiritually conveyed. My question for you today is simple, it is not,   “What if God loves you?” but, “What if you believe, really believe it?” You see no matter how much God loves you and no matter how much He does for you, you must accept the truth of that love and accept His son Jesus as your Savior and Lord. I will say it one more time, God loves you!  We need to be reminded of what God did — more than anything else — even as He could smell the stink of sin all over us, He allowed His perfect Son to be sacrificed for us.  We are the reason Jesus died; we are the reason Jesus hung on the Cross.  Don’t question if God loves you. . , know that He was willing to send His Son Jesus to die for you while you were still in sin. We all play a part in the crucifixion of Jesus.  Each of us, because of our sin, led Him to be killed so that we could be forgiven. Oh, how He loves you and me, He gave His life, what more could He give.  I don’t know about you, but that sure does encourage my heart!  Jesus loves me this I know!

The Alzheimer’s Association is proud to announce a nationwide partnership with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA) to help raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and increase education, care and support resources in the African-American community. This partnership will engage both campus and alumni members of AKA through local community outreach efforts and participation in The Longest Day^®, a signature Alzheimer’s Association event.

“African-Americans are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s and other dementias, however they are less likely to be diagnosed, or diagnosed at a much later stage. This partnership will help the Association better connect African-Americans with important Alzheimer’s information and support,” said Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson, AKA, International President.

AKA, the nation’s oldest African-American sorority, is a trusted source of information within the African-American community. Members of AKA will work with the Alzheimer’s Association in communities nationwide to better engage the African-American community in the full mission of the Association.

“This new partnership between the Alzheimer’s Association and AKA will directly address the need to better reach, educate and engage the African-American community in Alzheimer’s education, care, support, research and advocacy,” said Beth Kallmyer, MSW, vice president of constituent services for the Alzheimer’s Association.

AKA and the Alzheimer’s Association will work together in a variety of ways including:

• Connecting the Alzheimer’s Association to community partners, businesses, contacts and churches to open the doors for Alzheimer’s education, care and support
• Volunteering for Alzheimer’s Association events, activities and planning committees
• Becoming a trained Alzheimer’s community educator or support group leader
• Becoming an Alzheimer’s Association advocate

About the A l z heimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. For more information, visit www.alz.org.

About Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA) is an international service organization that was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1908. It is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African-American college-educated women. Alpha Kappa Alpha is comprised of more than 283,000 members in 988 graduate and undergraduate chapters in the United States, Liberia, the Bahamas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Germany, South Korea, Bermuda, Japan, Canada and South Africa. Led by International President Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson, Alpha Kappa Alpha is often hailed as “America’s premier Greek-letter organization for African-American women.” For more information on Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and its programs, log onto www.aka1908.com.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

“No matter how you approach the subject, Hell is an awful thought. It is a place where there is eternal torment and pain in unquenchable flames – Matt 3:12.  It is a place of eternal separation from the presence of God… It is a place prepared for Satan and his angels – Matt 25:41.”  Am I talking to somebody today?

Now before you get all bent out of shape and say, “No she didn’t,” Who does she think she is?” I want you to know that “Some God has called to be those who bring positive words of encouragement and comfort and hope. Some He’s called to be those who exhort, rebuke and correct. Like Jeremiah – Titus 2:15 – God said Lou, you are not going to have a delightful, prosperous ministry, because when they hear what you have to tell them, they’re going to reject it, and they’re going to reject you, despising you, and your words the whole way through, but I’ll be with you.” The Bible says, “Rebuke is oil for our head” – Psalms 141. It tells us to rebuke our neighbor frankly – Lev 19:17; rebuke them sharply – Titus 1:13 and that those who sin, is to be rebuke publicly – 1 Tim 5:20…and then it tells us that those whom God loves, He rebukes – Rev 3:19. Don’t hate the messenger!

Now I can only think of one thing worse than going to Hell, and that would be to go to Hell with Heaven in your mind. You might be asking yourself, why she always talking about salvation, repentance, and Hell….. Well, the Bible says in Ephesians 5:15-16; Colossians 4:5; Psalms 90:12 to “Redeem the time.”  I venture to say that there aren’t many who are thinking about eternity. Most people are so wrapped up in themselves and their lives that they have no time for thoughts of God, Heaven, Hell, or where they will go when they die. Death is coming, Hebrews 9:27. One day real soon you will leave this world forever. When you do, you will go either to Heaven or you will go to Hell. If you are not saved, you need to consider where you will go when you die.  Maybe you are a good person who has lived a clean, moral life. Maybe you are a church member, a leader, a teacher, and everyone thinks your life is complete. But, in spite of all you have, there is still something missing in your life. You know you have what it takes to live, but you also know that you are unprepared to die. You have everything you want and need materially, but you do not have spiritual peace with God. Everything looks good on the outside, but the insides are all messed up. That is a terrible way to live, but it is an even more horrible way to die.  I want you to consider the following people and their rejection of the Savior. Judas Iscariot – He kissed the gates of Heaven and went to Hell – Matt 26:49; Acts 1:25. Felix – He looked into salvation, but he wanted to wait to a more convenient time – Acts 24:25. Herod Agrippa – He stepped up to the very door of Heaven and turned away – Acts 26:28. Festus – He heard the claims of the Gospel and called them the ravings of a mad man – Acts 26:24. The same thing continues to happen all around us. People come in and out of churches. They hear the Gospel message; they are challenged to repent of their sins and to turn to Jesus for salvation; but many leave the church just like they came in. They leave lost and still on their way to Hell. If you do not repent of your sins, you will eventually die and go to Hell with Heaven in your mind.

As far as we know, every one of the men I mentioned died and went to Hell with Heaven in their mind. Mark 10:17-22 tells us about a young man who went to Jesus, heard the way of salvation, and he turned away to leave as lost as he came. All three Gospel writers tell us that this young man was rich. He lived a life of privilege. The world was his! Luke tells us that this man was a “ruler”, Luke 18:18. He lived a good life. From every outward appearance, this young man was riding high on the pinnacle of success. He was everything a mother or father could want their child to be. If you looked at his life, you might think that he had it all. But, appearances are deceiving! In spite of everything he has going for him, this young man had one thing missing. He had much, but with his much, he had an itch he could not scratch. He had found that his youth left him unsatisfied. His money had left him feeling unfulfilled. His morality, his clean living, and his religious activity had not been able to satisfy the deepest longing of his soul. Unfortunately, many people never realize that nothing in this world is more important than their soul’s salvation, Mark 8:36-37. At least this young man was concerned about his soul. Are you? If you are not, you should be! He is concerned about the right issue, in the presence of the right Person, John 14:6; Acts 4:12. He comes at the right time, Isa. 55:6; and he came in the right way, 1 Pet. 5:5. This young man got a lot of things right in his encounter with the Lord, but, it is the things he got wrong that cause him all his trouble. He thought salvation could be earned. He came to Jesus with Heaven in his mind, but he walked away with Hell as his destination! This rich, young man made two heartbreaking decisions. He made an earthly decision – He chose his possessions over Jesus! He loved his money more than he wanted to be saved. Jesus will allow you to make the same choice. It may not be money. It may be pleasure, some sin, your family, your independence, etc. If you want it, He will let you keep it! But, ask yourself this question: “Is it really worth more than my soul?”  As far as we know, this young man died and went to Hell. But, he went there with Heaven in his mind. Don’t let that happen to you! Look at your life. You might have a lot going for yourself, but if you do not have Jesus Christ, you are lost, doomed and headed to Hell. Don’t go to Hell with Heaven in your mind! It is decision time, for Deuteronomy 30:19 says that, “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” What will you do?

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown

By Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino)

How many times have we heard the phrase that “our budget is a reflection of our values; or a society is judged by how it treats its elderly, sick and disabled members?”  Well, it’s high time to reflect on our values and to be judged.  Until we restore the cuts to our seniors and disabled, we are guilty of abandoning our ethical principles to care for those who are helpless.

On May 7, 2015, AB 474, a bill that would restore recession-era cuts made to the SSI/SSP program to balance the State’s budget, which helps seniors and disabled adults, was the victim of the California Legislature’s latest budget procedure.  The Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 6 on Budget Process, Oversight and Program Evaluation placed the bill on its suspense file.  This procedure of a bill being placed on an Assembly Budget Subcommittee’s suspense file was unusual to me because normally fiscal bills go to the Appropriations’ suspense file.

By placing AB 474 on a suspense file, relief for seniors and disabled adults being forced to live below the federal poverty level will not happen this year.  I have a problem with that; especially, when the state has continuously taken $1.4 billion from the seniors beginning in 2008.  For me, this is unacceptable, and I will not be silent and allow this injustice to continue.

The Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) helps 1.3 million low-income seniors and people with disabilities in California pay for housing, food, and other basic living expenses.    It is funded with both federal (SSI) and state (SSP) dollars.  SSI/SSP provides modest income support to the most impoverished seniors and disabled adults.  At a minimum, this allows many to avoid total destitution and homelessness.

In 2007, the Legislature took those funds by cutting the state’s SSP portion for both individuals and couples to the minimum levels allowed by federal law to help close budget shortfalls that emerged as a result of the Great Recession.  In addition, we suspended the state cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for SSI/SSP several times prior to 2010-11 and then we totally eliminated it.  You would think there would be some urgency to restore those funds; however, due to these cuts, state spending for SSI/SSP dropped from $3.9 billion in 2007-08 to $2.5 billion and has not changed despite the fact that the recession ended several years ago.  These devastating cuts to seniors and our disabled should be moved to the top of the California Legislature’s agenda; especially with an anticipated surplus in this years’ budget.  We do it for other constituencies but for some reason we have abandon these senior citizens.

AB 474 is the first step to restoring our moral responsibility to care for our most vulnerable citizens and prioritize our seniors and disabled constituents.  I for one cannot in good conscience accept a raise we have just been awarded while our seniors and disabled are left without a solution because it will cost too much.  I will accept the raise and donate it to those in my district who are helping seniors and disabled adults eat nutritiously; because if I don’t, it’ll be used to fund other state priorities.  I will be lobbying my colleagues to do the same in their districts.

Redman & Johnni

By Johnni Matthews

Ain’t no party like a Patslegacy.com party!  That was exactly the vibe felt by thousands of music lovers and cannabis supporters at the first Blaze N Glory Festival held in San Bernardino on Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16.

The two day festival covered the musical spectrum from hip hop, reggae and rock. Hip Hop icons, Redman and Method Man vowed to reunite with the Wu-Tang Clan, irie reggae sounds came from Rebelution and the Bermuda sensation, Collie Buddz, while Ballyhoo rocked hard!  Several other outstanding bands entertained on two stages on the grounds of the San Manuel Amphitheater.

Rebelution @ BlazeNGlory Fest 2015

John Whinnery, founder of Patsleagacy.com, delivered a great event as the Blaze N Glory title sponsor. John Reese of SGE and Live Nation’s Rich Best are the co-producers of the Blaze N Glory Festival. Moore Media also did an outstanding job working with media representatives from nearly 100 media outlets covering the festival.

The festival engaged the attendees with a village market square filled with unique merchandise from vendors, a carnival arcade area, plus an appetizing food and beverage court making the Blaze N Glory Festival one of the top entertaining venues in Southern California this past weekend!

Nick Cannon Red Nose Day

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA- Multifaceted entertainer Nick Cannon will kick off the festivities for NBC’s broadcast of “Red Nose Day” with “Red Nose Day Danceathon with Nick Cannon,” streaming live on NBC.com beginning Wednesday, May 20. “America’s Got Talent” host Nick Cannon will attempt to dance non-stop for 24 hours in honor of the inaugural Red Nose Day celebration in the United States, leading into the “Red Nose Day” telecast on Thursday, May 21 (8-11 p.m. ET) on NBC.

Streamed live from the NBC Experience Store at Rockefeller Center in New York City, the day of dance will be filled with guest DJs and musicians, celebrity drop-ins, and a variety of dance acts and troupes. Viewers can support Cannon’s endeavor through sponsorship and donation.

“Red Nose Day,” a live three-hour entertainment event, will feature sketch comedy, parodies, videos produced by Funny Or Die, live musical performances and short appeals films that shed light on those in need. With a focus on having fun, raising money and changing lives, the star-studded event will raise money for Red Nose Day to help lift children and young people out of poverty in the U.S. and in some of the poorest communities in the world.

People from all walks of life are encouraged to have fun and raise money through buying red noses (sold exclusively at Walgreens and Duane Reade stores nationwide), organizing fundraising events and watching and donating during the television special. See www.rednosedayusa.com for more info.

The money raised during Red Nose Day will fund programs that address the immediate needs of children and young people living in poverty in the U.S., Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Today Show Supports Red Nose Day

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

The rule is simple: “If you play with fire, you will get burned.” “If you court trouble, trouble you will find.” “Make your bed and you have to sleep in it.” “Whatever you sow, you shall reap.”  So do not lie to yourself.  God will not be mocked. If you compromise His rules you will suffer horribly for it… You better know that you know!

Yeah, it might feel real good while you are indulging, but the long-term consequences will crush and grind that little pleasure into oblivion. You will never remember the pleasure when the horrible consequences of your folly burst into flames because sin brings misery with and after it.  If you don’t believe me just ask Samson, Judges 16. Samson thought he could walk on sexual coals, but Delilah stole his strength and left him blinded and chained to grind for the Philistines. David did not think he would be burned either, but his short tryst with Bathsheba cost him dearly for the rest of his life. Profane Ammon craved his sister, but the event horribly disappointed him and cost him his life. Now Joseph, Joseph is a hero, for when he saw and felt the fire, he ran as far and as fast as he could, Genesis 39:12. He knew that even though Potiphar’s wife greatly desired him there would be hell to pay with God and men. He chose the certainty of a false accusation rather than the lying promise of stolen pleasure.  Proverbs 22:3 tells us that, “the prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” You cannot walk with God and hold hands with the devil!

Samson and Delilah story… love lies and loss. A story, that should, be read, studied, and taken to heart. Their story does not teach us lessons about genuine love and romance, but about the dangers of getting too close to the enemy. Their story is a story of deception, greed, lust and destruction. Their story stands as a constant warning to those who would trifle with sin. Their story is a reminder to us all that sin is deceptive and that it is deadly. There may be “pleasure in sin for a season,” but the end of sin is never worth the pleasure it provides.

Most people, however, think that they can control their sin. In truth, but for the grace of God, sin controls us, and it will be our master if we allow it a foothold in our lives. Only God’s grace keeps us from the wolf’s fate. Instead of playing with sin you should be like Joseph and put as much distance as you can between your temptation and yourself, Genesis 39:7-12. I tell you, you might not face the same thing Samson did, but you will pay a price for indulging in sin. You will sacrifice your intimacy with God. You will sacrifice His power. You will endanger the relationships that matter most in your life. One thing is certain – sin always pays back both believers and unbelievers with boredom, guilt, shame, loneliness, confusion, emptiness, loss of purpose, and loss of rewards. The problem I earnestly believe is that we do not know how powerful sin in. We do not know – we have no idea – it’s a term we toss around – and talk about – in a gleeful tone. But let me say something to you, we have under estimated its power, its grip and its hold on us. I submit to you that we have been bamboozled, hoodwink, fooled, brain washed, and beguiled.

You know the word for Sin in the Greek language is “amartia” (ha-mar-tia). It means “to miss the mark.” Every time we sin we do miss the mark because every sin we commit is an offense to God, and God cannot be in the presence of sin. That is why if you choose to keep committing the same sins without repentance you will stop feeling His presence in your life. The Holy Spirit will stop speaking to you if you refuse to repent. I want you to know that sin has many consequences; more than I have mentioned, and it is always destructive, but repentance is always constructive. For great sin, there is great grace.

You know, I’ve always been intrigued by the point of no return above waterfalls. For example, if you’re in a canoe above Niagara Falls drifting downriver there’s a point that if you go by it, you can’t save yourself. It’s the point of no return. If you’re up river far enough, you’re able to paddle to shore. But if you go past the point of no return, the current will take you over the falls and there’s nothing you can do about it. No matter how hard you paddle, you can’t save yourself. The point of no return is an invisible line above the falls, on one side of it you can save yourself, on the other, you can’t. Repentance can be like that. A lot of people think that they have lots of time to repent. They think that they will have until the moment of their death to repent. And that is true of some people. Consider the criminal who was crucified with Jesus. It was not until his death was very imminent that he repented and turned to Jesus. But that is not true with all people. God gives only a certain time to repent, and after that point, it’s too late. Jezebel, God said, “I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling…”  Revelation 2:21-23… The Bible is full of examples of people given time to repent but they refused: Genesis 4; Jeremiah 5:3, Amos 4:6, Zephaniah 3:2, and Zechariah 7:1, to name just a few. 2Peter 3:9 tells us, “The Lord is patient towards us. He is not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” That’s God’s heart. He wants us to repent. That why He gives us time to repent. That’s why He pleads with us to repent. That’s why He sends people; ministers, preachers, friends, family members who beg us to repent. Jezebel was not ignorant of her sin. She knew what she was doing, and she refused to repent.  Therefore it became too late for her to repent – not because God wouldn’t pardon her, but because she had hardened her heart. Jezebel had been confronted, she’s resisted, and she refused to repent. Don’t be a Jezebel. The door of repentance is still open. There’s still hope, but not forever.… Hebrews 12:17… That Day is fast approaching.

I can hear the thundering cry of Jeremiah. Oh that the church will wake up and see that they are being warned by the Word of God that there are wicked men that lay wait hiding in the bushes and setting a snare for the unwary. Setting a snare for those who are not yielded to God, still living by unbridled lusts in the very depths of their soul, they are halting between two opinions. As in the Old Testament times, God’s willingness to spare and bless the nation and spare and bless individuals who repent still stands. But equally true, as Paul said, there will come a day when His righteous judgment will be revealed. I can’t imagine how it will be for those who have heard but who have consciously and willfully rejected Him. Don’t Wait Too Late…Repent!