Author Spotlight (Anastasia Means-Dallas)

Anastasia Means-Dallas is an author, educator, and gospel singer who currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and kids.  She is originally from Tallahassee, Florida.  She received her B.S. Degree from Florida A & M University, her Masters in Reading from Nova Southeastern University, and she is currently working on her Doctoral Degree at Nova Southeastern University. 

Anastasia has a heart for God, and a passion for helping hurting people.  After experiencing a failed marriage, and other unhealthy relationships, she was able to take her experiences and capture them in a book.   Her first book,  “Waiting With A Purpose-A Guide to Finding Your Boaz,”  is a must read for singles.  This book takes nuggets from the biblical character Ruth’s life, and it gives the single woman wisdom as she fulfills her purpose in God while waiting on a mate.  The book also introduces “Roaz,” who happens to be a counterfeit Boaz.  Roaz represents the spirit of distraction and deception.

The book is available in most major bookstores and Amazon.com.  Anastasia is available for conferences and workshops.  You may contact her at anastasia.freeman@yahoo.com.

Church Issues (Unity - Prelude)

This is a very serious issue and it’s a deep concern to my spirit. I dedicate this series to anyone who says they’re a Christian and to anyone who’s an antagonist. I believe you all will be able to understand what I’m about to discuss.

I was able to attend a church in 1998 and the lesson was entitled “Together On One Accord.” The pastor asked all of us a question and it was simply this: what’s the greatest impact that the Church has made on the world (and I’d like to ask you the same question). Before you read further, just think on that (better yet, make a list). We said things such as salvation, faith, healing, and things of that sort.

If you did come up with your list, are you satisfied with what you wrote down? I’m willing to believe that your list is actually correct, but the pastor said these words, “our lack of togetherness – in short, division!” And that is going to be the topic of this Unity series.

Now I’m sure some of you were thinking of Queen Latifah’s U-N-I-T-Y. But that’s not what I will be discussing. But there’s a statement that says, united we stand, divided we fall. This is so true and so far, we are divided and falling away from true unity.

Jesus never showed partiality, He only showed impartiality (Matthew 22:16). Consider His genealogy, His residency in Nazareth and His willingness to minister in Galilee & Samaria. If He only showed impartiality, we have no right to put our church and/or denomination over the Bible (if we do that, that’s almost saying, that’s our lord and not Jesus). I can’t forget that churches can be divided by classes (whether it be low-income, middle-class or wealthy). We tend to look down on those who are not in the same class they are, therefore creating division.

Most of the problems in this world stem from the church, whether it’s due to the lack of silence, promoting the denomination’s agenda, the church’s agenda. We’re supposed to be about the Father’s business, but because of what I stated in my prior sentence, nobody (Christian or non-Christian) wants to get involved. Truthfully, I can’t fault them. While I’m on this particular subject, it’s interesting that you’ll find some churches that will promote themselves as the true church (and all other churches are either apostate or are tombstones) or the church that has true religion. Notice the problem here, the emphasis is on the church and not on Jesus. Now a question has to be asked and answered: if this is true, why is it that most people who will make the claim that their particular church either is the true church or religion, are so caught up in the world that they glorify the evil that’s in the world (I would even expand that to ask, are we not even sensitive when the world degrades the God you say you serve)? This is the mystery since we’re all reading from the same Bible that says that we were once in the world, but we’re to separate from the lifestyle of the world. Continuing on this topic, some churches are like one big social clique to the point they can’t stand to socialize with anyone that’s not part of their local church or denomination. I’d like to ask you plainly, what’s up with that? Apparently, we must’ve forgotten the passage in John where Jesus (being a Jew) was talking to a woman at the well (from Samaria). He was witnessing Himself to her, not a particular church (and that’s where we have failed seriously, which I believe is mainly due to pride).

An example of division (among us as Christians). One thing that troubles my spirit is when a Christian leader has the audacity to throw Israel under the bus (and nothing is said about it). Here’s the leader’s quote (from early 2008):

The Israelis have illegally occupied Palestinian territories for almost 40 years now. It took a divestment campaign to wake the business community up concerning the South Africa issue. Divestment has now hit the table again as a strategy to wake the business community up and to wake Americans up concerning the injustice and the racism under which the Palestinians have lived because of Zionism.

The Divestment issue will hit the floor during this month’s General Synod. Divesting dollars from businesses and banks that do business with Israel is the new strategy being proposed to wake the world up concerning the racism of Zionism. That Divestment issue won’t make the press either, however.

Apparently, this leader must not have read his bible (and yes, I made that comment)! Because Joel 3:2 pretty much says, God will judge those who divide Israel. We can not be a Christian and bash the nation of Israel. It can’t happen!

As I embark on my Unity blog in full (which will start next week) and hopefully I didn’t get too far ahead in this post: if you knew your church was talking against your race in the past, would you currently stay in your church?

Author Spotlight (Tracy L. Darity)

Tracy Darity (embed www.TracyLDarity.com ), the author of He Loves me He Loves Me Not! and Love…Like Snow In Florida on a Hot Summer Day is a lifelong resident of  St. Petersburg, Florida.  Her novels are released under the imprint of Teganjaz Books Presents… The title is a derived from the names of her three daughters, Shaunte, Morgan, and Jasmin, whom she attributes to her continued success in writing and publishing.

As a child Tracy always had a creative imagination and a love for reading.  In her early teens she began writing short stories as a hobby.  It was not until she attended the 1997 Essence Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana, that she decided she wanted to fulfill her dream of becoming a published author.   The words of Activist and TV Show Host, Tavis Smiley inspired her tremendously.  During his speech at one of the forums she jotted down this message, "We all have a God given talent but if you don't have the desire to define, develop, and deliver your talent, you will always be in the audience and never on stage."

Tracy returned home from the festival energized and began penning her first novel.  Although the manuscript was completed in late 1998, she became discouraged after receiving rejection letter after rejection letter from the publishing industry.  She shelved her manuscript but every now and then would pull it out and do minor rewrites.  The desire to have her work published still simmered deep inside.  In 2004 the flame inside of her reignited and she made the decision to pursue self-publishing.  As time passed she began to feel discouraged again but refused to give up.  She did research, talked with other self-published authors, and continued to believe that her dream would one day become a reality.  Today she is enjoying the success of, He Loves Me He Loves Me Not! and, Love…Like Snow In Florida On A Hot Summer Day.  Her third release, The Red Bear Society, a powerful story that will explore the aftermath of high positive HIV readings at a local high school, after a blood drive to assist an injured student.  The release is slated for a December 1, 2011, to coincide with World’s AIDS Day.

To learn more about Tracy L. Darity, and her novels, please visit www.TracyLDarity.com.  You can also click here (not sure if you embed links or not  http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs028/1102365104718/archive/1103607728924.html ) for a more intimate look at the author.

Books are available in Trade Paperback, Hardcover (He Loves Me He Loves Me Not!), Amazon Kindle, and Barnes & Noble Nook.  To purchase:

Author Website (http://www.tracyldarity.com/apps/webstore/), Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Church Issues (Minorities & The Church)

I don’t take the credit for writing this post (however, I did make a few modifications). This post will be a prelude to the next topic which will be Unity. I know this is a very touchy subject especially for minorities because we'll fall so deep into a church and its traditions because it's all we know (passed down from generation to generation). I'm not saying that's totally wrong, but I ask that you do some independent thinking and learn all you can about the church you go to (and please, ask questions). The flip side is that we'll go to a church based on our feelings even though the church may not be right for us (I'm not saying this is a cause not to go to church at all).

It’s a sad truth that the church is the most racist organization that has ever existed. Because the church has allowed the devil to creep in churches, some have taken the name Christianity and used it to subjugate people and put off on them the aura of inferiority. The result is that minorities have put off Christianity to turn to other religions (ex. African-Americans dumped Christianity to turn to Islam – specifically the Nation of Islam). Why is that? It gives the appearance that the NOI has the African-American interest at heart and Christianity doesn’t.

Just because some people got together, bought ski masks and decided to rob a bank in a Ford truck, doesn’t mean that the Ford truck is bad! The same holds true: just because some people took the Bible and used for ulterior motives, doesn’t mean the Bible is bad! We must find out if there’s any validity in Christianity or are we going to be directed by what some idiotic person does! You don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. A lot of people of color dumped Christianity because of what Caucasian people have done (use the Bible for ulterior motives to keep people in slavery). Think about it: Muhammad had slaves; Jesus had disciples (not slaves). Anyway, it’s obvious that they weren’t Christians. Just because somebody says they’re something, doesn’t mean it’s true! We must find out if there’s any validity in the Bible (irrespective if somebody tries to disprove it or somebody tries to rewrite the Bible their way). Let’s try some independent thinking for a moment (I’ll talk more on independent thinking in Unity). Don’t dump the Bible because you are missing a great benefit to your life! I know people have misused things, but I have to find out the Truth of God for myself (reading, studying the Word & praying). I have found that God is no respecter of persons! I have found that His Word is life to me! I have found that His Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path!

The beauty of God is that He doesn’t see any distinctions with our external appearances and skin color; unfortunately, we do. We need to rise above it. I don’t want to get too far ahead in this, because this is leading up to the Unity blog.

We can’t get to God except through Christ. We can’t get to Him through Muhammad or Confucius, Buddha or any other prophet. If God is the Creator, then He makes the rules (and has that right). If you were to read Ephesians 1:3, you’ll find no gender or ethnicity mentioned in that verse! No one can pull that over us now, because we can read. And this is why it was a crime for minorities to read back then. That’s how people were messed over because they couldn’t read. I can appreciate the mode of operation (not accept it) because that’s how you can control people through ignorance. Unfortunately, it was done through the church (and the church got in line with it – I’m referring to the organized and/or denominational church). In fact, some people will say that because Ham (from Noah's day) was part of the Cush tribe and because Noah cursed Canaan (not Ham) that it was OK to keep its descendants in slavery, supposedly minorities, which is far from the truth. Also, there are some churches that say they accept all races, but if you research the history, their doctrine is covered with racism and that minorities are a curse. I pose a question to that: would you stay in a church like that if you're a minority and found this out, knowing that you could possibly be a pawn to the church to boost the church's ego? And why is it that activist groups have to get churches to change their racist ways in order for minorities to participate in the church's doctrine? Would you still want to go a church like that if you're a minority? As I stated earlier, God doesn't see color, man does (in fact, there's a song I remember that went colors don't hate, people do). 

Now let’s be real for a moment: God never covers things up. The church as a worldwide organization has been covering things up and it’s time for exposure. Judgment must begin at the house of God. Since we are the house of God, it has to start with us! It must be exposed. See you on the next blog.

Author Spotlight (Kena Bwembya)

This week's author spotlight will shine on my sister & fellow author Kena Bwembya.

Kena Bwembya is the owner of Keeping With the Industry Publishing (KWI) and the author of Saved for a Season. Bwembya is a graduate of Texas Southern University's Thurgood Marshall School of Law and Chestnut Hill College. She resides in Florida with her husband, Charles.

Mrs. Bwembya loves to write fiction and is working on her second novel Chasing the Sun. Find our more at www.kenabwembya.com

About the Book:

Saved for a Season is a heartwarming, inspirational fiction novel that covers love and friendship in a realistic and entertaining way. You will relate to the character's humanness and cringe at their mistakes but love the way they overcome obstacles.

High school sweethearts reconnect at a much anticipated wedding in the small town of Cobbleville, Florida. Though once grounded in friendship and faith, each have new struggles that threaten their friendships and marriages. Struggles that have the promise of leading some to self-destruction. Will Lela, Jake, Tristan and Jeff make the choice to live and love without fear?

Church Issues (Faith vs. Works)

Hebrews 11:1 says: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen. Between this passage and the last few verses of James 2 has been a struggle for many people. It’s been so much of a struggle that many people have left the church over. I’d like to address this particular topic because we all can get it twisted sometimes. Having said that, I pray that you have an open mind and heart as you read this.

Some people will say that faith is more important than works.

Some people will say that works is more important than faith.

Both of those sentences have caused major confusion. If the truth be told, both faith and works are equally important, no more or less. A proper balance is needed.

For those who say faith is more important than works. Let’s talk about this for a moment. Some people will have faith in multiple things: such as a car, money, a new job, a new business and that’s fine. Notice that those are things that are unseen yet. Here’s a thought: if we have faith in those things mentioned above, how come we don’t step out on faith and do what we’re called to do? Have we become part of the rat race (and complacent)? Before we go further, hold my feet to the fire on this (ensuring that I’m not complacent and that I also step out on faith to do what I’m called to do). What I’m talking about here is a prime example of faith without works is dead.

A great example: I believe I’m called to be a singer and songwriter, but I sit on my talent because I’m scared of what’s going to happen. I could face rejection or my family and friends will laugh at me.

This example shows that you have faith in your calling, but no works are added to it. There’s a passage in Luke 14:28-33 that says “for which of you intends to build a tower sits down first and count the cost.” Why is this statement so important? Because a verse or two later, it’s stated if the tower is not completed, that person will be a laughing stock (yes, I’m paraphrasing that, but you get the point).

Some can go overboard with faith and say that it’s more important than works, hope and love. Faith can’t do anything without works, hope and love.

For those who say works are more important than faith. Let’s talk about this for a moment. Some people say that works are mandatory in order to ensure your salvation. Well, yes & no. Yes, because your works demonstrates your faith; however, works doesn’t ensure your salvation. It’s recorded in the Old Testament that our works according to God are nothing more than a filthy rag. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound too good. Christ died for us in order to have salvation without any part of ours (accept to receive it from Him). If our works determined how clean we are, then we could be clean by rolling in mud.

I need to add that Paul & the book of Hebrews were referring to faith from a vertical standpoint (man to God and vice versa); James was referring to faith from a horizontal standpoint (brother/sister to brother/sister). When you read passages such as Titus 2:5 and Ephesians 2:8-10, you’ll find that faith precedes the works and the works are evidence of our faith. Notice the balance here. You can’t have one without the other (and must be balanced).

Author Spotlight (Irma Clark)

I turn the spotlight on my sister & fellow author Irma Clark.

Irma Clark is the author of A Perfect Match, an adoption story. She is a graduate of Florida State University currently living in Tallahassee, Florida. Also, she is a member of the Tallahassee Authors Network because she enjoys spending time with other authors to motivate her writing career. Her novel is an adoption story written in Christian fiction.
Irma is working on her second novel entitled, The Barren Woman.