U Don't See This Everyday!!

Meet Josh Packwood.

Not only is Josh a cutie-patooty, he's also Valedictorian of his college.
I know what you're thinking...so what?

Well, Josh has made history by being the first WHITE VALEDICTORIAN at HBCU Morehouse!!

That's right...a BLACK COLLEGE.

SAME COLLEGE AS MLK Jr.

Not bad for a young man who grew up poor, been to jail and is graduating top of his class at Morehouse.
I ain't mad at him!

The experience has been so positive his lil brother will be there next year!!

*sigh*
If only I was 3.5yrs younger...
lol
I CAN DREAM CAN'T I???

Congrats, Josh...and to the haters leave him alone!!

source



Come See What's Poppin'at Bria's Own Words, my OTHER blog!

How Did This Not Show Up On My Radar??

Rev. Jeff Witcher (below)
Lord, Please provide literal rain for your people in GA. The heat is driving pastors cuckoo for cocoa puffs and thus results in the whooping on their wives, and are becoming public disgraces-this is NOT YOUR WILL!! I'm praying for the latter rain-sooner, than later in Jesus name-amen!

Alpharetta pastor resigns after assault charges dropped source

The pastor of one of Alpharetta's largest and oldest churches resigned Sunday, nearly a month after his arrest involving a domestic dispute.

The Rev. Jeff Witcher stepped down as senior pastor of First Alpharetta Baptist Church during a meeting with church members Sunday. Witcher's resignation follows a Nov. 12 altercation with his wife, which resulted in him being arrested and charged with simple assault and obstruction of a 911 call.

"I am so deeply sorry," Witcher said in a letter posted on the church's Web site. "I accept full responsibility for my actions." Read Witcher's letter

A disconnected 911 call brought police to the Witcher home around 1 a.m. on Nov. 12. Shelley Witcher told police her husband pulled her hair, told her to leave the house, and held a shotgun at the bedside, though he never pointed it at her.

The charges were dropped on Nov. 20, pending Witcher's participation in court-ordered counseling as part of an intervention program. If Witcher successfully completes the program, the arrest will be wiped from his record within four six months.

First Alpharetta spokesman Jonathan Wilson said Witcher and his family have the church's full support.

"We as a church have forgiven Pastor Witcher, and now pray that God will be able to restore him and continue to work in and through him," Wilson said.

Witcher will retain his salary for an undisclosed time, and a search committee has been formed to name his successor, Wilson said. Until then, three church ministers and guest speakers will fill the pulpit.

***

I'm not willing to call Jeff a shyster/pervert just yet. Loose cannon, perhaps, but not a shyster or pervert.

Let me say this...i have NO IDEA what set him off, but he should've jumped in the car and went for a ride, a coupla rides, or several rides around the block,, to his mama's house, his boys' house...anywhere, until he was back to himself again. Pulling a woman's hair (will get you hurt), add an attempted eviction to the equation, along with a shotgun and it could've proved fatal for J.W. as well, ok??-at least that's true in my neck of the woods!

Having said that, I must give this some man credit- why you ask??

• He didn't turn into a fugitive *clearing throat* as another well known GA "pastor"
• He accepted responsibility and has accepted counseling
• He confessed his sins
• Again he accepted responsibility and blamed NO ONE for his actions-not once did he blame his wife.
• Most importantly, the man STEPPED DOWN as pastor of First Baptist Church-Alpharetta.
• I'm sorry, I gots to give the man some credit...he may have acted a behind last month, but I'm glad he thought of the church and not himself while in the midst of this situation.

I pray that forgiveness and healing goes forth in the Witchers' household in Jesus' name, and that this too shall pass.

Go 'Head Bobby, I mean Governor Jindal of Louisiana!

Times...they are a'changin...


Louisiana elects Jindal, first Indian-American governor
source


HOUSTON (Reuters) - Republican Rep. Bobby Jindal was elected governor of Louisiana on Saturday to become the first Indian-American to lead a U.S. state.


With most of the precincts counted, Jindal, 36, had 54 percent of the vote to win without a runoff in Louisiana's electoral system, where candidates of all parties run in a single primary.

His nearest competitor, Democrat Walter Boasso, received just 18 percent of the vote.

The Oxford-educated Jindal will replace Gov. Kathleen Blanco, a Democrat who did not run again after she was widely criticized for bungled recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Blanco narrowly defeated Jindal in the 2003 election.

Jindal, whose first name is Piyush, is the son of immigrants from India and the first non-white Louisiana governor since Reconstruction in the 1870s.

"My mom and dad came to this country in pursuit of the American Dream, and guess what happened? They found the American Dream to be alive and well right here in Louisiana," he said in victory speech.

He is a conservative who ran on promises to stop political corruption, cut taxes and improve schools.

**partial comments from rediff.com:
" Jindal not only eliminated the $ 400 million deficit in Louisiana's health system by overhauling it, but also created a $ 170 million surplus. He also moved Louisiana from 37th to third best, nationally, in health screenings for children. Jindal...attributes his life philosophy to his conversion from Hinduism to Catholicism while studying at Brown University.source

****

Well, this should be interesting.

Considering the drama in Jena, I'm pretty sure they didn't vote for him!

His parents are still practicing Hinduism, but according to rediff.com, they respect his conversion to Catholicism.

My question is: Why isn't this man runnin for president?

Should that be his desire in the future-based on what i've read of him...

Bobby, Piyush, Governor-however he chooses to be addressed,

has my vote!

This Book Should Be Interesting...

Author (and 1st Lady), Candie Price


THE LIFE AND ROLE OF A PASTOR'S WIFE: New book unleashes the truth about being a pastor's wife.
(September 24, 2007)


source: eurweb.com

Candie A. Price, a pastor's wife of seventeen years, explores the angst and ambiguity surrounding the role and expectations of the pastor's wife in her new book, First Lady: The Real Truth, A Practical Approach to an Ambiguous Role. Price, whose husband, Rev. Arthur Price, Jr., currently pastors the historic Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL, provides insights from a personal and biblical perspective in this candid and transparent book about the lives of pastor's and minister's wives.


Price's life changed forever when her husband accepted the call to go into full-time ministry over fifteen years ago. "I was waiting for someone to say, "Baby, this is what you need to do...this is what you should prepare for. But no one ever did. Many women don't know what to expect when their husbands are called into ministry. What does this mean for her? What should she prepare for? This book will help her answer those questions," says Price. She offers biblical responses to many issues relevant to the pastor's/minister's wives' lifestyle, including but not limited to:

* What is God's purpose for your life as a pastor's/minister's wife?

* How do you balance church and home?

* How do you deal with the man of God when he is in sin?

* Do you have to be involved in the ministry to be an effective pastor's/minister's wife?

* How do you handle loneliness?

The Prices have served in two congregations and have approximately fifteen years full-time ministry experience. "It is my desire that everyone that reads this book will come away with a greater understanding of the commitment and sacrifices that it takes to serve God's people. In all reality this is not just a book for pastor's and their wives, but it can also serve as a guide for everyone already involved or attempting to be involved in church leadership."


First Lady: The Real Truth is available online via http://www.candieprice.com/ or through Faith By Hearing Publishing Group, P. O. Box 1994, Birmingham, AL 35202


*****************
Truthfully speaking, I'm not mad at Sis. Candie for carving her own niche. It's hard being a pastor's wife (so I've heard and observed). I wonder if her book educates the reader on how she handles the jezebels who laughs in her face and at the same time is strategizing how to steal her husband? You know there are those "special'' (used loosely) women who only chase after a man with a title. She could care less if he's married, a pastor or has children. Now that would be some real truth to have in the book. I also know it affects the kids-dad is gone all the time. The church family seems to be priority, instead of his biological family.

Hopefully, this book will inspire women such as Sis. Candie, to speak out and offer support to one another. And for those who read this book maybe compassion will be extended towards these "weary warriors," because truthfully, the grass IS NOT always greener on the other side.

You better recognize!
Ivent