WSSN Stories

Publishers Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

Freedom does not negate physics. Newton’s law of motion says, “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction…”

I am free to say what I want and you are free to respond! I am free to vaccinate and you are free to not vaccinate. I am free to hope that my vaccination shields me from measles etc… You are free to ’dodge’ or catch the measles, etc. You are free to ’dodge’ or catch the measles.

As to the child that is too young to vaccinate and is vulnerable and dependent on others being vaccinated, the parent/guardian must take charge. Since that parent/guardian cannot take charge of who is and who is not vaccinated, they must take charge of their child. If your child’s immune system is vulnerable should you trust the probability of others being vaccinated any more than you would trust a daycare service operated by the ”Redeemed Child Molester’s Association?”

Our society does not require people to make smart decisions. We are allowed the freedom to decide for ourselves with good or bad decisions. That same freedom requires us to deal with the repercussions, as well as the rewards of our decisions.

Freedom can be confusing and frustrating, and definitely requires responsibility. When confronted with the “Jim Crow” laws of the post civil war era, an era that obviously paid no heed to political correctness, a formerly enslaved man was overheard to say “Freedom can be a ‘B-word’!”

Quiana Lewis

(Quiana Lewis joined the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in 2014 as a program associate, working to build a Culture of Health by helping all American residents attain stable, affordable health coverage.)

By Quiana Lewis

I am one of the more than 22,000 alumni whose careers have been shaped and lives changed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP).

For me, medicine was a logical decision: my academic performance in science was good, I liked interacting with people, and I didn’t want to be a lawyer.

Clearly, my perceptions of medicine and careers in health were limited.

Then came my SMDEP summer at UCLA, one of the most transformative experiences of my college education. A pipeline program for students who typically are underrepresented in health care fields, SMDEP exposed me to the study and practice of medicine and dentistry that enriched my understanding for both fields. I shadowed physicians, received enrichment in core science subjects, and learned how to excel in medical and dental school. I also received hands-on laboratory experience to create dental models and conducted health screenings at community fairs.

The unexpected lessons from the program, however, were the ones that stuck with me most.

The core science classes were structured using case-based learning methods. This was a departure from the didactic way I was used to learning science. The curriculum used patient case studies to teach biology, anatomy, and physiology. The lessons were investigative in nature and discussion-based. We discussed not only patients’ medical issues, but also the socioeconomic factors affecting them. This piqued my interest. Until then, I had not thought deeply about the impact of systems on the health of individuals. Throughout that summer, I read books and journal articles about the social determinants of health, medical anthropology, and epidemiology. The more I read, the more questions I posed, and the more I realized this was the career path for me.

After SMDEP, I continued to explore the vast world of public health at school and in subsequent summer programs. I graduated from Fisk University, and went on to obtain a master’s degree in public health from Yale University. Since graduate school, I have worked in state and local health departments, community organizations, and health consulting firms.

My public health journey has come full circle. I discovered my passion for population health with the help of RWJF, by way of SMDEP. Now, as an RWJF employee, I work with the Foundation to build a Culture of Health across the nation.

Without SMDEP, I might never have discovered my passion.

SMDEP is currently recruiting for its 2015 summer program through March 1, at 12 sites across the country, including Case Western Reserve University, Columbia University, Duke University, Howard University, Rutgers University, University of Texas, UCLA, University of Louisville, University of Nebraska, University of Virginia, University of Washington, and Yale University.

For more information, visit http://smdep.org/apply-to-smdep/

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

What I’m going to say today is going to tick some of you off. The more churched you are, probably the bigger problem you’re going to have with this message. Many of you will probably ask when you are done reading it, if you decide to finish it; just who does she think she is? The answer to your question: “Tell them that I AM sent you, and then tell them why!”… …There are many who teach and many who believe that if you have said, “The Sinner’s Prayer” that you’re, “Goin’ Up Yonder to be with your Lord.”… That you’re going to Heaven… That your ticket has been purchased…  Well, in {Matt. 7:21-23} Jesus makes one of the most startling statements in the entire Bible. ..He says that not everyone who claims Him as Lord will be saved… He is telling us that there will be some people who will think they are saved, but who, in fact, are still lost and headed to Hell. Many religious people, including some believers in Jesus, will learn that they too will be lost. Jesus makes it clear that not all who profess Him possess Him. A mere profession of Jesus as Savior is not enough to save! A person may believe in the doctrines of the faith. They may be sincere and good. However, merely saying you know Jesus is not enough to save your soul. Belonging to the church, being a good person, doing religious things, etc., are all good, but none of them can save the soul. That’s tough, but we need to be honest. “Everybody Talkin’ Bout Heaven Ain’t Going There!” {Matthew: 7:13-14}.

You know as Jesus drew near to the end of the Sermon on the Mount, He takes the time to remind men of the seriousness of their salvation. He wanted all who heard Him to be sure that they were genuinely converted. I want you to know that is only my desire for each of us. Sadly, however, many will suffer in eternal condemnation because they refuse to believe the Lord’s teaching about who will be saved and go to heaven. Jesus tells us that entering heaven will not be easy. This is a surprise to most people, because they have been taught that the way to heaven is easy. They’ve been taught, “All you have to do to be saved is believe in Jesus.” I tell you, there is a great difference between what men teach today and what Jesus taught then. Jesus tells us that there are not many people going in through this strait gate and narrow way. He says, “Few there be that find it.” This too, is a surprise to many folks, because they believe that most people will be saved because most people believe in God. While it may not agree with what most have been taught and believe… it is clear and easy to understand.  Jesus says we must DO the Will of God. We must not just believe in God, but we must also believe God! We must believe God enough to Do His Will. Here, Jesus clears up the matter of what brings salvation to a life. He says that people are saved by “Doing the will of His Father.” That is the problem with the teaching of many who are false prophets and teachers today. They are telling people that all one must do is believe in Jesus in order to be saved. They say we are saved by “faith only.” This is a false teaching. God has never said it, but men teach it. In fact, we have seen that Jesus has said just the opposite.  I tell you we can tiptoe and dance all around the truth until our feet are sore and calloused, but it will not change the truth, it will not open the doors to heaven one millimeter , and no one more person will enter in… Heaven is prepared for those… who are prepared.

Here is the dividing line: Those who DO the Father’s Will! {James 1:22-25}. Only those who come on God’s terms will enter Heaven… What is God’s terms…. God’s terms for entering Heaven are confession, repentance, and a genuine trust and commitment in Jesus alone.  Many people want to go to heaven but are unwilling to do these things…They want to do either one or the other.  Many people think they are going to heaven, but they have not admitted they are sinners, they have not turned from an ungodly life, and they have not genuinely trusted in Jesus alone for salvation and really put Him first in their lives.  There are millions of people who claim to believe in Jesus, who use His name, who call Him “Lord,” expecting heaven but will only receive hell. The fact is clearly stated by Jesus who said many will say, “Lord, Lord,” who will not enter the kingdom.  It’s a strange thing but it is something that has to be emphasized. If there is the slightest doubt in your heart that you aren’t genuinely converted, you need to repent of your repentance. I tell you “Everybody Talking’ Bout Heaven Ain’t Goin’ There!” …Who report are you going to believe? Man or Jesus?

Listen, our obedience to Christ is a very serious decision and must not be taken lightly. It must be on the Lord’s terms as laid out in the Scriptures and not on our terms. We have already seen in {Matthew 7:13-14, 21}, only a few will be saved, and many will be lost, and only those who DO the will of the Father will go to heaven. There is no other way. No single condition, that God imposes, can be ignored. God has no non-essential commands. The only source of information on what God has truly said can only come from the Bible. We must seek God’s answer on the matter in “what saith the Lord.” It’s not shocking for Jesus first words to His disciples in the book of Matthew to be, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” In the days that followed, he taught them that He “came to seek and to save what was lost,” and He told them that just as the Father had sent Him into the world, He would send them into the world. Subsequently, we are not surprised when the last words of Jesus to His disciples are, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.” This is God’s will in the world: to create, call, save and bless His people for the spread of His grace and glory among all peoples. This will is not intended to be found; it is intended to be followed. We don’t have to wonder about God’s will when we’ve been created to walk in it. We have no need to ask God to reveal His will for our lives; instead, we need to ask God to align our lives with the will He has already revealed.  God’s will for us as disciples of Jesus is to make disciples of Jesus in all nations…The problem of confusion on this matter is because men, preachers, and denominations have appealed to human logic and reasoning instead of simply consulting God on the matter. Prove it to yourself.  Read what Jesus says…. {Matt.7:13-15; 22:14; 13:24-30; 13:36-43; 22:14}… {Mark 3:34-35} … {1Tim 2:1-4}…  {1Thes 5:16-19}… {John 7:17 – 8:30-32}… {Roman 8:27; 12:2}… {2Corin 8:16 -13:5}… {1Pet 2:13-16 – 3:17 – 4:19}… {2Peter 1:10}… {Rom 6:17-18}… {James 1:22-25}… {1John 2:16-17}… {Ephesians 2:8-9}…. because “Everybody Talking’ Bout Heaven Ain’t Goin’ There… Uh-Oh!”

What it do! I’m coming ATCHA with another talented artist alert. I mean the IE is just saturated with them. This week I want to show love to Daniel Jackson who is known as “AP the Great.” This rapper/songwriter wears many hats. Currently, he is signed to the record label Most Wanted Records, an independent label based out of San Bernardino.

AP the Great has been rapping since the age 15, and has been inspired by God, family, and a never-ending hunger for greatness. This artist is making his way in the industry.  Also having an eye for fashion, AP is the CEO of BUYDJdesigns, an upcoming new fashion line. His current EP project, “Lost in my Thoughts”, can be found on iTunes and on the group mixtape “World domination”, which can be found on MostWantedRecords.com.

AP is working on a new album which is set to release in June of this year. It will feature his first single set to be released in February of this year. Don’t sleep on the artist, AP The Great! I think his music is GREAT! Follow him on Instagram @mostwantedap and Twitter @mostwantedap. Until next week and please support Indie Music! L’s Up!

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Whatcha Crying For…. Don’t you know that one reason why God allows us at times to be disappointed with our fellow human beings is so that we might learn to stop leaning on man. He desires to free us from such idolatry. So when God orders your circumstances in such a way that you are disappointed on every side, don’t be discourage, just know that God is weaning you away from the arm of flesh so that you might learn to live by Faith in Him. Many times when we experience discouragement the real problem is that we don’t understand God. Romans 11:33 tells us: “How impossible it is for us to understand God’s decisions and His methods! For who can know what the Lord is thinking?” God’s purposes are far beyond our comprehension. Listen, God did not save you so you could rest yourself in other people and in things. God saved you to walk in absolute and utter dependence upon Him. And when He sees you leaning on everyone and everything but Him; you can count on His teaching you the lessons you need so that you might learn to lean on Him alone. “Stop Your Crying!” The same God, who opens doors, is the same God that closes doors. A big part of Faith is trusting God when you don’t understand it. If you’ll have this perspective, and not only thank God for your open doors but thank Him just as much for your closed doors, you’ll pass the test. You’ll see the exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond future that God has in store for you.

So thank God for the supporters, props, crutches, or whatever you want to call them that God has placed in your life to help you make it, but don’t get it twisted, make no mistake about it,  it is Jehovah- Jireh, who provides, not them.  As David learned, when you become so dependent on them rather than God, God is going to start shaking up everything around you. There’s going to be some uprooting, tear-downing and destroying going on. Every person upon whom David leaned in his life was taken away. Every dream, every lofty goal, every hope had been dashed to bits at David’s feet. He had nothing and no one on whom he can lean. He was alone, afraid and alienated. God had brought David from the very top to the very bottom of life. Why? Why did God do this to David? God did this to David so that David would learn to lean on the Lord and not on all the other props he had constructed in his life! And believe me, He will do the same to you too if your support system develops to the place where it can take the place of God in your life. God will start dismantling everything around you. Oh, how we need to hear this truth! All the way through life we lean on one thing and one person after another. We trust and look to our parents, teachers, friends, jobs, and money…forgetting a very important truth, that Jesus is our everything! “Stop Your Crying!”

It’s not easy to take, but the truth is when the Lord finds us leaning on everything else in our lives instead of Him; He will begin the painful process of dismantling our support system one prop at a time. He does not do this to harm us; but to help us learn to lean on Him alone! In the end, David learned that the promises of men did not amount to much. But for those who had learned to lean on the hand of the Lord, they saw every promise of God fulfilled in their lives. (Psalm 119:38). I tell you this leaning business hits pretty close to home for me. There are plenty of times I find myself leaning on things and/or people instead of the Lord. But I have also found that when I lean on other things and/or people in my life; God will systematically and painfully remove every crutch I have. He will bring me to the place where I am leaning on Him and on Him alone. That is where He plans to bring each of us. We should not fear what the Lord is doing in our lives. He is merely growing us and teaching us that He is all we need. He is all-sufficient; more than enough; He is God Almighty, and He will never fail us, leave us or let us down. He wants us to learn this truth: When we have Him, we have all the support system that we will every need! (Psalms 46) Sometimes it’s not what we’re going through that’s intolerable. The thing that is intolerable is the lack of meaning. We’re not sure why we’re suffering like we’re suffering. If we only understood God, it wouldn’t be as painful.  I don’t know what you’re going through in your life. But I can guarantee you that God is big enough to handle your disappointment. God is big enough to handle your questions. We need to be reminded throughout our lives that if God is all I have at this moment, then He is all I really need! “Stop Your Crying,” and learn how to lean and depend on Jesus. He’s your friend and He’s your guide. Trust Him and find out that He will provide. Oh, what a fellowship; what a joy divine; what blessedness; what a peace of mind; leaning on His arms.  {Lee Williams}  Praise the Lord!

Publishers commentary by Wallace J. Allen

Dr. King’s Birthday requires us to annually measure the amount of successful change that has occurred since his death. Our friend Celes King IV was quick to say, “Perception is reality.” I think we can agree that the election of Barrack Obama to President of the United States boosted the image of Black men across the planet. It must be considered that if “Black lives matter” is a truer statement today than when Dr. King was alive, that Barrack Obama being President adds to that truth!   In several years, by 2016, people aged ten years and younger will represent members of an exclusive group. The only President of the United States that they will have experienced is a Black Man.  They, having witnessed such proof, will grow up expecting that Blacks can and will excel. That is a major long term benefit of Mr. Obama being President.  He is an inspiration. He inspires young Black children to want to be like him, to become important and influential members of society. He also shows the non-Blacks who harbor the false impression that “Blacks can’t” to understand that “Blacks can” and that society benefits when “Blacks do!  We know that low expectations generally come true.  Increased expectations allow room for increased participation and performance.

Increased expectations will cause among other things, a greater competition for participation and an expectation that winning is for the well prepared. Just because the world is more willing to accept that a Black man can do, does not mean that it will be easier for him to do; however, easy is not a requirement!

As we measure successful change, access to opportunity for those who have been deliberately denied that access, is an issue. The imagery of success is great for perception, but reality requires a job count and a measurement of education and quality of life. Access to education, jobs and quality of life for most Americans, Blacks in particular, has diminished since Dr. King’s death. The image of the most prestigious office holder on the planet, being racially disrespected under the guise of politics has been a reminder to “old school” witnesses, that racism is alive and that to some Republicans, greed and or “white privilege” is more important than the welfare of the Country.

So, in closing, I will say that the fresh sheets and pillow cases of opportunity make the American bed look better, but the mattress is still lumpy with racism, making a peaceful night hard to come by. Change is occurring but the need for hope is very alive!

Imani Hakim

PHOTOS AND WRITE UP BY NAOMI K. BONMAN

 BEVERLY HILLS, CA- The stars of Hollywood, along with authors, poets, screen writers, and directors came dressed to impressed as they stepped on the red carpet prior to the 34th annual NAACP Image Awards luncheon. The private luncheon was held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Saturday, January 17. The 34^th Annual NAACP Image Awards will be held on Friday, February 6 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium located at 300 E. Green Street in Pasadena. The show starts at 8 p.m. and is a black tie affair. To purchase tickets, please visit www.naacpimageawards.net. To view more photos, visit sophisticatedrelations.com/naacp-luncheon. 

Dr. James L. Snyder

By Dr. James L. Snyder

I must confess I do have some old-fashioned biases. I would be the first to admit I’m not up to date on the latest fad or trend.

I come from that era that believed the well-dressed man is one that doesn’t stand out from everybody else. I’ve tried to keep to that all these years. I certainly don’t want to stand out and have people recognize me or point their finger at me and whispered to each other.

For years, I’ve been very careful about that. Now, it seems that because I try to dress like a well-dressed man and not stand out I am in fact standing out. Nobody, except me and two other people, really care about being well-dressed.

This has never been an issue with me and it even now is not an issue. But reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the year before me, I have to take some calculations. According to my calculation, I no longer fit into that “well-dressed man” category, because the term “well-dressed man” does not mean what it used to mean.

I hate it when something outlasts its definition.

To be a well-dressed man today, according to the latest fads and trends I have noticed, I need to throw away my belt and let my trousers drop all the way down to my knees.

Let me go on record as saying, never in a million years will that happen.

Then there is the issue about a necktie. Am I the last person on planet earth wearing a necktie?

Very few people today know how to tie a necktie. Well, I do and I will until they put me in a casket and then I hope I’m still wearing a tie. So if you come to my funeral and look at me in the casket and I’m not wearing a tie, complain to someone for me.

The latest trends and fads have no interest to me whatsoever.

This came to my attention recently when I had to sign some legal papers for something to do with the church. I had to sign here, initial there, sign the next page, initial three pages and it went on and on until I ran out of ink.

I’m one of those old-fashioned guys that use a fountain pen and all that signing and initialing drained all of the ink out of my fountain pen. Before I finished, I was on the verge of carpal tunnel.

I sighed rather deeply, looked at the gentleman (I think he was a gentleman because he was dressed like a gentleman), and said kind of sarcastically, “Do you remember the old-fashioned handshake?”

He looked at me without smiling and then said, “Here are some more papers for you to sign.”

I thought I was signing my life away, but in reality, I was just signing my ink away.

I do remember when a handshake really meant something. Just about everything was sealed with a handshake and both parties were as good as their word. It would take a lot of undoing to undo that handshake. Now, you’re only as good as the word on a piece of paper over your signature. Then, some lawyer can finagle it around to mean something other than what you really meant it in the first place. So what’s the purpose of all this?

I know you’re not supposed to say this, but I will, I sure long for the good old days when a handshake was all you needed. I get tired of the rigmarole passing as business these days. I get tired of paperwork that’s piled higher than the tallest tree in the forest.

Of course, if we go back to that handshake scenario, it will put many lawyers out of business. What would these people do for a living? I have some ideas, but I’m going to keep that to myself.

Trust has gone out of our culture today because everybody is only after what they can get for themselves and they don’t care how they get it.

A handshake met something in “the day.” In fact, I believe it was more binding than all of the paperwork and signed documents and legalese we have today. It’s hard to sue a handshake!

What I want to know is simply this. When we replaced the good old-fashioned handshake with all of this legalese stuff, are we better off? Have we simplified everything and covered all of the bases?

The answer is a loud no.

A man’s word used to be his bond and something he would never go back on.

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I have lived on that marital philosophy all of our married life. I know in the marriage ceremony there is no “handshake.” But the philosophy of that handshake is right there. When I said “I do,” and she responded by another “I do,” we were shaking hands and saying to everybody around us but particularly to one another, “We do.”

I think James shook the right hand when he wrote, “But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation” (James 5:12).

I’m all for getting back to the good old days when a handshake was all you needed.

Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, PO Box 831313, Ocala, FL 34483. He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 1-866-552-2543 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net or website www.jamessnyderministries.com.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman 

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…” Prosecutor Opening Statement…. Your Honor and ladies and gentlemen of the jury; the defendant has been charged with disobedience, backsliding, unbelief, unfaithfulness, breaking of vows, rebellion, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, pride, foolishness, blasphemy, malice, slander, arrogance, idolatry, jealousy, hostility, selfish ambition, division, envy, drunkenness and folly. The evidence I present will prove to you that the defendant is “Guilty as Charged!”…. The event took place in an open air arena beside the Jabbok River as it were with Jacob. In one corner stood the defendant {insert your name} and in the other corner of all people was God Himself… You versus God… You versus Jehovah…  Who would want to take on God, one on one, in a wrestling match…? How could one every hope to win… “How foolish,” you say? Well the truth is that all of us at some point in our journey have taken on God. We have all stepped into the ring with God and wrestled with Him about life. Matter of fact some of you are wrestling with God right now about some situation, some problem, some difficulty or some injustice in your life. It would behoove you though to sit down in your ringside seat and learn the lessons from Jacob’s wrestling match with God. You see God preserved the historical event in Jacob life to teach us lessons concerning our own struggles. Because just like Jacob we all have the tendency to wrestle with life, to take things in our own hands, to set our own agenda, and work things out in our own strength… Your Honor, I would like for this to be marked as People’s Exhibit #1… I will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty as charged and should be convicted. All because you, the defendant wanted to do things your way and not God’s way. The Lord has set this hearing. God is letting you know just what happens to us if we refuse to do things His way. He knows how to get our attention. He knows how to deal with us that we might know we’re not doing it the way He wants us to do it. ”Guilty as Charged!”

Listen, God wants to be quick to bless and slow to wrath. He doesn’t want to go to war with you! Solomon said in Proverbs 21:30, “There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.” In other words, anybody who goes against God is a Fool! What we need to understand is that nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, can stand against God. From the beginning God had standards.  Eve decided to fight it and Adam decided to join the fight and because of that, all of us are cursed. God had a standard for sacrifice. Abel obeyed it and Cain fought it and was cursed. God had a standard for morality. Noah kept it. The rest of the world fought it and drowned. God had a standard for spiritual priority. Jacob bought it; Esau fought it and lost the blessing. Saul went about ravaging the church, seeking to destroy this new sect who followed Jesus Christ. Until of course, Jesus Himself appeared to him, blinded him, pinned him to the ground and said, “Saul, it is hard for you to kick against the goads.” In the end God won and Saul lost. There is no way to fight God and win! True, it mays seem like someone is opposing God and getting away with it temporarily, but when ultimately it spells eternal disaster. The story of Herod exalting himself and how God judges him. Herod and God are prominent in both stories. But in both stories, God comes out the winner, and Herod the loser. You can’t fight God. It does not work! If you go to war with God, you will surely lose. Do you see that it is madness? You lose! God wins every time! Instead of opposing God, His Word, His Law, start surrendering. Because the only way to true happiness, joy, fulfillment and satisfaction is in surrendering completely to God, and allowing His Spirit to live through you. In the end, Jacob did what we all must do. He confronted his failures, his weaknesses, his sins, an all the things that were hurting him, and faced God. Jacob wrestled with God all night. It was an exhausting struggle that left him crippled. But it was only after he came to grips with God and ceased his struggling, realizing that he could not go on without God, that he received God’s blessing (Genesis 32:29).

What we can learn from this remarkable incident in the life of Jacob is that our lives are never meant to be easy. This is especially true when we take it upon ourselves to wrestle with God and His Will for our lives. God wants to put a stop to our old way of living so that we might experience His restoration and know His love just like in Paul’s life, as he was busted, arraigned, convicted, sentenced and finally restored. Jesus wants to arrest you by His love. He wants to get a hold of your life and make something wonderful out of it. Can I tell you that when it was all said and done, Paul saw himself as being under the direct sovereign of God Himself and he understood the truth that God was the Master of all the paths of life? Who’s your Warden today… Will the jury foreperson please stand…Has the jury reached a unanimous verdict… Yes, Your Honor….The jury finds the defendant…. You fill in the blank {guilty/not `guilty} … Court is adjourned!