GARDEN GROVE, CA- R. Byron Stringer, a Las Vegas Cop for over 26 years, took the stories he saw on the street and created the Toe Tag Monologues.  He presented the Toe Tag Monologues last weekend at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Garden Grove.

The Boys and Girls Club hosted their 1^st Annual Teen Leadership Conference from May 29 to 31, and was pleased to include Toe Tag Monologues.  This performing troop, coming from Las Vegas, consists of teenagers who performed life changing monologues about Bullying, Teen Suicide, Human Trafficking, Gang Violence, Drug Abuse, Drunk Driving, School Violence and much more.  There is no other program like it in our country!

Stringer, a native of San Bernardino, believes that the rest of America is only a moment away from becoming a Ferguson or Baltimore. The Toe Tag Monologues uses Drama to help kids get through their own Drama.

“We have to do what the City of Garden Grove, California is doing and begin to heal our children.  We can no longer just lecture our kids but we have to learn to listen as well,” Stringer said. “This conference, “Turn Up For Success”, is laying a template for others to follow.”

For more information on the Toe Tag Monologues, please visit byronstringer.com.

Front row: Dr. Gloria Fisher, President of SBVC (holding SBVC award); Nickolas Zoumbos, Trustee; Donna Ferracone, Trustee; Board President John Longville (holding SBCCD award); Board Clerk Joseph Williams; Gloria Macías Harrison, Trustee; and Board Vice President Dr. Kathleen (Katy) Henry. Back row: Dr. Donald Singer, Trustee; Chancellor Bruce Baron; Interim Vice Chancellor, Fiscal and Business Services Jose Torres; and Hussain Agah, Kitchell BRj Senior Campus Manager.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) and San Bernardino Valley College received the Project Management Award for the renovation of the San Bernardino Valley College Auditorium from the Southern California Chapter of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA). The award was presented to the SBCCD Board of Trustees at the May 28 board meeting by Hussain Agah, Senior Campus Manager with Kitchell/BRj, which oversaw the construction project.

Chancellor Bruce Baron noted, “The renovation of the Auditorium at San Bernardino Valley College was a complex undertaking of a landmark site and taking into consideration the San Jacinto Fault Zone. Kitchell/BRj was instrumental in the cost-effective, on time, efficient completion of the project. The renewal of this beautiful building resulted in the addition of an elevator tower so the building is now ADA compliant, two outdoor courtyards and the expansion of the restrooms. None of this would have been possible without the support of the community through the Measure M and P bonds. The bonds allow us to maximize our resources as we design a quality learning and working environment for our students and employees.”

The second oldest building on the SBVC campus, the Auditorium is an academic, performance and community space. Its historic architecture created construction issues as all historic buildings do; the original construction documentation was unreliable and the project team was continually uncovering unforeseen conditions. Kitchell/BRj was involved in an exhaustive reconnaissance effort, working with numerous municipal and state agencies to ensure work could proceed on time and according to the budget. The project team also had to be especially resourceful in locating and even fabricating materials to fit the specifications of a 76-year-old building.

Started in July 2013 and completed in August 2014, the project came in under budget (less than $10 million), and included making the building earthquake-safe. The Auditorium is the closest of any building on campus to the San Jacinto Fault zone. A highly valued historic and visual landmark on campus, demolition and replacement was not an option. Due to the fault and folding zones, the new elevator tower was designed to split from the main building if an earthquake were to occur. In addition, a unique solution was utilized to minimize structural intrusion into the existing building. Fiberglass reinforcing was added to several walls to increase their structural capacity, which meant that no columns had to be added to building, which would have cut space and altered the building’s design.

Kitchell was originally tasked with providing Program Management services for the San Bernardino Community College District’s Measure M Bond program. The bond program was passed in 2008 for $500 million, but the SBCCD saw the available bond funds shrink by nearly half in the midst of the economic recession. The SBCCD and Kitchell worked together to eliminate non-essential projects from the Master Plan. Opportunities for the SBCCD to save money and even offset costs were identified so that much needed improvements to the San Bernardino Valley College campus, such as the Auditorium, could be completed.

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!

staff photo

sax player

RIVERSIDE, CA- On Saturday, May 16, the red carpet was rolled out for student artists who rocked the stage at the UCR Campus Theater in the much anticipated Changing Lives Showcase!

The red carpet extravaganza was presented by Music Changing Lives, (MCL) a non-profit music and art after-school program for at-risk children and youth, which works to inspire kids through performing arts programs to keep them focused on their education and their futures.

The evening was definitely a night to remember. As guests arrived, they walked on to the red carpet to have their photo taken, then were treated to delectable Hor D’oeurves and refreshments as they entered the theater. Then shortly after there was an incredibly entertaining show from students who set the bars high for talent in the Moreno Valley for the fourth year in a row.

Four schools from the Moreno Valley School District, where MCL offers its programs, brought their A-game to compete for the Bruny Awards.  Teens from Vista Del Lago High and Moreno Valley High battled it out, while younger students from Butterfield Elementary and Edgemont Elementary competed against each other.

Participants competed for the Bruny Award in four categories – Musical Instruments, Lyrical Performance, Band, and Visual Arts, while the schools competed for Overall Performance.  The fate of these talented kids rested in the hands of two celebrity guest judges, hip-hop artist L’Marco Smith and singer Joamber Armijo.

The competition was fierce, but in the end Butterfield Elementary beat Edgemont Elementary and Moreno Valley High triumphed over Vista Del Lago for the third year in a row! First place winner for the Bruny Award in Musical Instruments was Jose Davalos from MoVal High and Edgemont Piano Group: Albelina Perez, Pilar Ramirez, Carolina Cortez, Yoselinee Barajas and Isidro Quitnero.

In the Lyrical Performance Jabri Baqvet from MoVal High and Jalie Leon from Butterfield reigned in first place.

Vista del Lago students: Fernando Barrera, Luke Bythe, Peter Bythe and Justin Allen dominated the Band category and took home the first place Bruny Award.

The very talented Sandy Calero from MoVal High and Maria Lomeli from Butterfield both took home first place in Visual Arts.

Every student who participated also was honored with a certificate from Senator Richard Roth’s office and Assemblymember Jose Medina for their dedication to make a difference in their community.

As students prepared to compete in the showcase they also managed to increase their school performance by volunteering for a minimum of five hours in their community.  Participants were instilled with the message, “Together we can be the change we would like to see in our community.”

The Changing Lives Showcase was sponsored by Music Changing Lives, MVUSD, Wells Fargo Foundation, UC Riverside, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Target, Edison International, Goliath Graffix and Clothes the Deal.

For more information about Music Changing Lives send an email to info@musicchanginglives.com or visit them on the web at www.musicchanginglives.org.

From left: Dr. Joshua Beckley, CAPSBC Board Chairman, Julie Borlaug, Borlaug Institute of International Agriculture at Texas A&M; Patricia L. Nickols-Butler, CAPSBC Chief Executive Officer; Robert Lovingood, Vice-Chairman, San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, First District; and James Ramos, Chairman, San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, Third District.

Fanco Family

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) held its 50^th Anniversary Gala celebration on Friday, May 15, 2015 at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino.  The event was a celebration of five decades of helping low-income residents of San Bernardino County with quality programs designed to help eliminate poverty and empower people to achieve self-reliance and economic stability.

Those in attendance came out in support of CAPSBC and experienced an inspiring evening with a VIP Reception with music by Jazz saxophonist, Vaughn Fahie, an inspiring message from keynote speaker Julie Borlaug from the Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture at Texas A&M.  Event Masters of Ceremonies for the evening were James Ramos, Chairman, San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, Third District and Robert Lovingood, Vice-Chairman, San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, First District.

Frances Grice

CEO Patricia Nickols-Butler welcomed attendees and stated, “Since 1965, Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) has worked diligently to improve communities and assist residents to achieve economic stability.  We ar­­e proud of our accomplishments and partnerships built over the years.  CAPSBC has created many wonderful community service programs that have had a great impact on the lives of those in need.   50 years ago, we began this ‘War on Poverty.’  Tonight we pledge to continue to do all we can to help our communities and assist our fellow residents in need.”

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Community Action Legacy Awards by the CAPSBC Board of Directors.  The Venny H. Newman Humanitarian Award was presented to Frances J. Grice outstanding efforts in fighting poverty in San Bernardino County.  Ms. Grice is a long-standing leading advocate for diversity, promoting civil rights and equal opportunity in education, employment, housing, and economic and community development.  She was a member of the San Bernardino grassroots organization known as The League of Mothers for whom diversity and economic opportunity was their mission.  Her work represents our local San Bernardino history in the national movement to address the poverty and its symptoms since the 1960’s.

The Spirit of Hope Achievement award was presented to Luis and Leticia Franco, successful graduates out of CAPSBC’s Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Program.   Through IDA, the family was helped to navigate through the process of saving and buying their first home.  The family of five previously went through very difficult circumstances and were living in a converted garage sharing one set of bunk ­beds.   They spoke in jest about what an adventure it was and how the family really got to know each other during this time.

The Legislative Advocate Award was presented to Assemblymember Cheryl Brown for her dedication to community reform and improvement.  She is an active community leader and a small business champion.  She has worked with numerous community support groups and councils.   Ms. Brown generously presented CAPSBC with a donation of $3,000 in support of the agency’s programs and services.

Also receiving Community Action Legacy Award honors this year were:  Helping People, Changing Lives Award – Amazon; Community Partner Awards –  Kohl’s and Mitsubishi Cement Corporation; Spirit of Hope Achievement Awards – The Fellas and Generation Now.

Gala wide shot

Cmdr. David M. Garlinghouse

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Hurd, CNIC Public Affairs

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 25, 2015) — An Upland, California, native will soon become the first limited duty security officer in Navy Reserve history to hold the rank of captain. Cmdr. David M. Garlinghouse, the reserve deputy force protection program director for Navy Installations Command reserve unit headquarters in Washington, was selected April 6 for the promotion.

“This is an amazing acknowledgment,” said Capt. Brian S. Hurley, the commanding officer of the reserve unit. “You could not have picked a better leader to lead this enterprise of law enforcement.”

Garlinghouse enlisted in the Navy in 1975 as a surface sonar technician. Aboard his first ship, USS Henry B. Wilson, Garlinghouse was the junior petty officer in his rating. Looking for increased responsibility, he went to his department head, who was looking for a nuclear weapons security petty officer.

“He told me, ‘You’re it,’” Garlinghouse said. “He dumped a manual on me and said, ‘Here you go. Learn everything there is to know about being a nuclear weapons security guy.’ And so I did!”

Garlinghouse went on to run the ship’s security alert team and was often picked for shore patrol when the ship pulled into port, joking that he had become known as the ship’s “permanent shore patrol”.

After the ship began a maintenance availability period at Naval Station San Diego, Garlinghouse was assigned to the base police force. There, he went through the police academy, and then requested to change technical career paths into the master-at-arms program. He took the exam, passed and then transitioned from sonar technician second class to master-at-arms first

In his last year on active duty, Garlinghouse was assigned to the Naval Station Long Beach criminal investigation division’s narcotics section. He worked as a plain clothes narcotics investigator and often testified at courts-martial. The defense attorney would often try to discredit him, he recalled.

“What law school did you graduate from?” the attorney would ask.

Garlinghouse did not have a law degree at the time, but he went on to earn one. Leaving active duty after six years, Garlinghouse used his GI bill benefits to earn his bachelor’s degree in political science from California State Polytechnic University, graduating –summa cum laude in 1985. As a scholarship student, he earned his law degree from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

With his juris doctorate in hand, Garlinghouse joined the Navy Reserve in 1989 as a master-at-arms first class.

“It was time to put a uniform back on,” he said. “Returning to the Navy as a reservist gave me the opportunity to pursue my civilian career options while still serving our great Navy.”

Garlinghouse was commissioned as a law enforcement and physical security limited duty officer in November 1994.

“This is what I had been shooting for all my life,” he said. “I always wanted to be a naval officer.”

Garlinghouse has been called back to active duty twice, first in 2001 in support of Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom and again in 2008 for special work as the regional security officer for Navy Region Southwest in San Diego.

Garlinghouse, who expects to be promoted in fiscal 2016, now mentors over 150 reserve security officers and 4,000 reserve Sailors in the master-at-arms community. He is also now the senior law enforcement and physical security officer in the Navy Reserve and the entire Navy.

“It’s very humbling,” he said. “It’s one of those things where it’s hard to believe sometimes. It’s something that I never really imagined.”

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“Why Being There Matters”

On our planet, more than 70 percent of which is covered by water, being there means having the ability to act from the sea. The Navy is uniquely positioned to be there; the world’s oceans give the Navy the power to protect America’s interests anywhere, and at any time. Your Navy protects and defends America on the world’s oceans. Navy ships, submarines, aircraft and, most importantly, tens of thousands of America’s finest young men and women are deployed around the world doing just that. They are there now. They will be there when we are sleeping tonight. They will be there every Saturday, Sunday and holiday this year. They are there around the clock, far from our shores, defending America at all times.

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?