D. J. Manuel I’ve been married now for 18 years and my wife and I have some things in common, but not everything. We don’t like the same types of movies and TV shows, or have the same hobbies. We spend our personal time doing different things. But the one thing we have in common is our love … Read more
I live in Newnan, Georgia and pastor Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Tuskegee, Alabama. To get to church I take I-85 South. During this 1 1/2 hour drive I listen to audiobooks or make phone calls to pass the time. But there is one spot on the road where my calls get dropped. Right … Read more
Lent is a 46 day period with 40 days of fasting leading up to Easter. It’s 46 days because we do not fast on Sundays. During this time of reflection, we read the scriptures, pray, and seek a closer connection with God through fasting. We fast in order to examine our hearts and our relationship … Read more
Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: “I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the … Read more
“Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; For how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another.” (Isaiah 48:10-11 NKJV) Here are some truths I believe … Read more
When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. (Luke … Read more
“So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 What’s the best way for you to spend your time in 2015? When Moses wrote Psalm 90 his appeal to God was “teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” As we experience … Read more
This is my final segment on Dealing With Grief. I wasn’t sure if I could write the last section because I didn’t know if I was emotionally ready to move forward. Recent events changed all of that. On Thanksgiving night, 24 year old Shuntell Turk was murdered by her boyfriend. My family has known Shuntell … Read more
WebMD.com has the following description of the anger stage of grief: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-coping-with-grief Anger: This reaction usually occurs when an individual feels helpless and powerless. Anger can stem from a feeling of abandonment through a loved one’s death. An individual may be angry at a higher power or toward life in general. When my uncle, Shun was … Read more
As a small child I was very close to my great grandmother, Lucille Mason Bishop (Big Mama). My cousin Chris said everyone in our family has a “favorite family member”. Big Mama was my favorite. She was my Saturday morning coffee drinking buddy. She was my friend. When I was 9 she became ill. I … Read more