Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Secret Sex Wars: A Battle Cry for Purity --- New Book debuting May 1!
Secret Sex Wars
In 2006, I had the opportunity to speak in the annual men’s conference hosted by the Los Angeles Bible Training School. I was asked to present a message that I had preached in my exposition of Colossians at Mt. Sinai Church, where I serve. The message was based upon Colossians 3:5-9. I entitled it, “Putting Sin to Death.” In this message, I try to challenge the church to be intentional, strategic, and militant in the battle for godliness and against sin - particularly sexual sin. It is a very important message that I really worked hard on. But when I finished preaching it, I filed all of the work away, not expecting that it would ever see the light of day again.
But a local pastor, Robert Scott, visited our congregation that sunday while he was on vacation. He passed the audio of the message on, I guess. And I was invited to preach it during the LABTS men's conference, which focused on calling men to sexual purity.
Last year, Robert Scott, who pastors the Los Angeles Community Bible Church, initiated a project for the publication of some of the messages presented in recent LABTS men’s conference. Lift Every Voice, a subsidiary of Moody Publications, commissioned the writing of this book. And Pastor Scott graciously invited me to contribute my message on “Putting Sin to Death” to the book.
There are many books for men on sexual purity. Why another? Well, this book really is unique in that it primarily consists of expository messages on specific biblical texts. While there are many helpful and popular books available on godliness and sexual purity, few are written based on biblical and practical preaching of specific texts. Likewise, very few works like this are written by African-American pastors for the discipleship of African-American men. And the messages are presented by godly men, loving pastors, and faithful expositors, like by Paul Felix, Carl Hargrove, Anthony, Victor Sholar, John Kennedy, among others.
I encourage you to pick up a copy of this new book. It is written primarily for men, but all can profit from its sound and clear teaching. The book is entitled, Secret Sex Wars: A Battle Cry for Purity, edited by Robert Scott. It is scheduled to be released on May 1, 2008. Please pray for the men who have contributed to this important work – including me, especially me. And pray that this book will be used by God to equip and encourage many Christian men to fight the good fight for sexual purity.
May our homes, churches, and communities will be impacted for Christ through this book. --- HB Charles Jr.
Click here to learn more about the book and its authors. http://www.secretsexwars.com
Chocolate Pages Blog Tour cominng in May! For more info, contact Pam Perry at www.MinistryMarketingSolutions.com
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Saving Teen Boys by Dr. James Perkins
Saving Our Black Teen Boys
Dr. James C. Perkins (guest post)
You’ve heard the alarming statistics facing our black teen boys:
• 16.4% of black teens have carried a weapon
• Among 10- to 24-year-old blacks, homicide is the leading cause of death
• Black juveniles represent more than 40% of the prison population
These facts paint a bleak picture for our young generation. But remember that 2 Timothy 1:7 points out, “God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
In 1993 I founded the Benjamin E. Mays Male Academy to ensure that our young men had a place to cultivate their own spirit of power and love as well as their sound minds. The lessons we teach there have recently been adapted in my book Playbook for Christian Manhood: 12 Key Plays for Black Teen Boys (Judson Press, 2008). The book is written for boys aged 11–15, but it is also useful for parents, church leaders, or anyone else dedicated to these special lives.
I want to share just a few of those key plays here.
Know Who You Are. So many black teens lack a sense of identity. Success stories of the rich and famous foster tantalizing dreams, but not necessarily worthy role models. When celebrity dreams seem unattainable, teens imitate the way of life seen in their often violent environment. That’s why it is so vital for a boy to know who he is and what he can achieve as a child of God.
Know Your Purpose. Once a young man knows he is God’s own child, he can be more focused and hopeful about determining God’s purpose for him in this life. Our boys need to hear that God has a plan—and the power to bring that divine purpose to fulfillment in their lives.
Value Your Education. At the Mays Academy, every day I ask my young men, “Why are you here?” and they respond in unison, “To learn, sir!” “Why do we learn?” I demand, and they answer, “Because knowledge is power!” Make education a priority. Attendance is critical; homework is important; adequate sleep is vital, and praise for academic achievements inspires pride. Dropping out of school is like dropping out of life! Don’t do it.
Respect Your Parents. The relationship between a boy and his parent(s) is the basis for how he interacts in other relationships. By respecting a parent or guardian, a boy establishes a pattern for respecting authority elsewhere—at a neighbor’s house, at school, at church. If our young men would learn this one lesson early on, they would reap the benefits at school, in career, and in the world at large.
Develop a Female Friend. Girls are people too! A boy growing rapidly into manhood needs some game rules for his boy-girl relationships. If he “thingifies” his female peers, he also “thingifies” himself. Reject the common myth that boys and girls can’t be friends. When the time is right, a female friend may actually become the ideal girlfriend! Young men, cultivate friendships with girls who will help you pursue your purpose and fulfill your potential.
Be Smart about Your Loyalties. A worthy friend is a person’s most valuable companion. But a young man needs to be smart about choosing his “boys.” Give your loyalty to someone who is living without purpose, without a firm identity as a child of God, and without respect for authority and other people, and you may be giving away your future. Boys have to be smart about their “brother’s keeper”—or they may find themselves declared guilty by association.
Despite the statistics and the realities they describe, be assured that there is a way through this crisis—and that way is Jesus Christ. A young man could have no better role model. Once you bring Jesus fully into the equation, life takes a new direction. Remember the promise in Jeremiah 29:11, which says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This generation of young black boys can become educated, successful, godly men who will leave this world a better place. May these key plays provide a solid game plan for making a start on that hope-filled future.
Dr. James C. Perkins has been senior pastor of Greater Christ Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, for more than 25 years. Founder of the Benjamin E. Mays Male Academy, he is author of Playbook for Christian Manhood: 12 Plays for Black Teen Boys (2008) and Building Up Zion’s Walls: Ministry for Empowering the African American Family (1999), both from Judson Press.
www.greaterchristchurch.org - 3544 Iroquois Street, Detroit -
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Saturday, March 08, 2008
He's Saved but is he For Real? - Black Gospel Promo.com
He's Saved but is he For Real? - Black Gospel Promo.com
View this promo with the hot YOUTUBE Book trailer link inside.
Click and enjoy. It's so funny!
View this promo with the hot YOUTUBE Book trailer link inside.
Click and enjoy. It's so funny!
Sunday, March 02, 2008
STUART'S MARKETING TELEWEBCAST MARCH 5
Where do you find answers to your marketing questions about writing for the Christian market? What if you could ask me any question about marketing then listen for the answer?
I've been writing for the last 40+ years, and for the last 23 years, I've been putting out the annual "Christian Writers' Market Guide." As marketing columnist for Christian Communicator, Advanced Christian Writer and Oregon Christian Writers, I am considered the leading authority on the Christian market. I travel the nation speaking at many writer's conferences.
As you know, in the last few weeks, the latest edition of the 2008 Christian Writer's Market Guide is available.
I'm telling you this because Terry Whalin has convinced me to be grilled on marketing questions on the Christian market during a LIVE 70-minute telewebcast on Wednesday, March 5th!
* * * Here's My Small Request * * *
Rather than have the "content" come out of my head (or Terry's head) for the March 5th 2008 telewebcast at 4 p.m. PDT / 7:00 p.m. EDT, I decided to let you ask me a question.
So, if you could ask me ANY question you wanted about marketing for the Christian writer, what would your question be?
Here's your chance to ask me directly and get registered for our call on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 (starts promptly according to www.Time.gov).
Go to the link below:
http://www.asksallystuart.com
* * * Get FREE "On Marketing" chapter from my book "Getting Published" * * *
You will receive a full chapter from "Getting Published." It's FREE if you ask a question and register for this telewebcast.
Go to the link below:
http://www.asksallystuart.com
After your question gets submitted, you'll find out how to get phone access and webcast access to Terry Whalin and me for our LIVE telewebcast, March 5, 2008.
Sally Stuart
ps. If you can't make the time of the call, please go ahead and sign up anyway. The entire teleseminar will be recorded and EVERYONE who signs up will receive an email with the replay link. Also if you sign up, you will be able to download the FREE marketing chapter right away
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