Scripture of the Day...

1 Corinthians 13: 1-3

1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
Online Parallel Bible

*****
This scripture is sooo true.
It doesn't matter how rich you are, the connections you have, the tawny neighborhood you live in, how productive your children are, how smart YOU THINK you are, the accolades you've received...if you DO NOT HAVE LOVE...it all means NOTHING.

You're just a mess of atoms and molecules.
smh


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Great News In The Village!

Drumbeat to Villager of Electronic Village for this great info!

Three Largest Black-Owned Bookstores Join Forces

One of the Ngoza Saba principles that I strongly support is Ujamaa (cooperative economics). I've blogged before about the need for each of us to be more focused with our Black spending power. We can correct many of the ills in our community if we simply support Black-owned businesses whenever possible. As such, it is great news to see that AALBC,CushCity, and Mosaic Books the three largest and most established web sites focusing on African American literature joined forces to offer comprehensive online book promotion options to self-published authors and small publishing firms.

Together, the three web sites have over 30 years of combined online presence and over 4 million page views per month. Each site brings different strengths to the venture.

AALBC.com, founded by Troy Johnson of Harlem, N.Y. in 1998, is now the largest website dedicated to promoting books by and about African Americans.

Cushcity.com, co-founded by Willie and Gwen Richardson of Houston, Tex. in 1998, is the world’s largest African American Internet retailer with over 20,000 products online, including books, DVDs, Greek products, calendars and art.

MosaicBooks.com, founded by Ron Kavanaugh of the Bronx, NY, in 1996, was the first site created to showcase African American literature. It recently celebrated its 10th anniversary online.

“This effort brings unprecedented exposure to millions of African American book readers worldwide,” says Johnson. “I am pleased to work with Cushcity and MosaicBooks to bring African American authors and consumers together.”

The three sites will initially offer self-published authors and small presses simultaneous, prominent placement on each of the three sites’ home pages. There are also plans to expand these coordinated services in the future to include e-blasts and other marketing opportunities for authors.

The announcement comes on the heels of recent news reports highlighting the growth in the number of African American titles published annually and the resultant increase in book sales revenue. Based upon book sales figures for 2006 released by the American Association of Publishers, African Americans spend about $1 billion of the estimated $24 billion spent in the U.S. annually on books.

Villagers, how many of you have purchased books from any of these three online Black bookstores in the past year? Can we make a commitment to support these three Black businesses over the coming weeks and months?
What say u?




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Protest Nas' Upcoming CD entitled "N***er"-sign the petition!!

Citizens Against the N-word:

Image courtesy: Google Images

Sign the petition (below) expressing your outrage, and disgust towards Nas, L.A. Reid, and Def Jam Records and their decision to release a CD entitled "Ni***r."

When will black celebrities STOP THE INSANITY?? The more the black community attempts to come together as one, i.e., Jena 6, we had those such as Katt Williams wearing a noose as an accessory to an awards show, and now Nasir Jones aka Nas is insistent upon naming his CD, "N***er."

To quote Michael Baisden, famed radio talk show host, what kind of "frackle knackle bull is this?!"

Express your outrage. Be heard, sign below.

sign petition here
Ivent

OHHHHHH...HE....IS...GOOD!!

*smh*

You know what? If it wasn't for the eyewitness at the hotel, and the police officer on TV, I'd call Junie B a LIAR!! I'd say..."Junie B! don't be hatin' on Bishop T!" I'm telling you, it is my HUMBLE opinion, after viewing this video, that "bishop" has found himself. He exudes a confidence, and assurance that I thought only came from ridin on Junie B's coattail. And we all know neither Junie B, nor her makeup, nor her coattails are within 1,000 ft of "bishop T," ok? Either he has done some type of repentance, or he's got a serious mentor cuz this man seems to be "free!" (I choose "B")

Well, I guess he is free in a sense...he doesn't have loudmouth Junie B around to worry his nerves. If I saw this video(below) before the attack, I would've said the story is made up and HE DID NOT STUMP HER VA-JAY-JAY!! But they say-say he stumped her in her va-jay-, and that's soooooo not o.k.k.k.

Check him out yourself:

Ivent

File this Under: The Watchdog List

BIBLE STUDY AND FELLOWSHIP ONLINE: New website for Christians who have 'dropped out of church.'
(October 3, 2007)

(story source: eurweb.com; image: waterand spirit.org)

Water & Spirit Ministries recently launched http://www.waterandspirit.org/ to offer Bible study and fellowship services to Christians who have dropped out of church, but desire a relationship with God.
The site features Bible-study resources, a prayer room,

a media center, and discussion room to create community and facilitate exploration.
"We are committed to serving the growing number of Christian believers who feel alienated from organized religion," said ministry founder, Robert Overton. "We offer a religion-free learning environment to aid the spiritual growth of our users."
National religious trends show an increase in adult Bible reading since 1995, but this is accompanied by an increase in the number of Americans who have abandoned their affiliation with organized religion. Given current trends, most adult Americans will abandon organized religion within a few years.
Water & Spirit does not view this as entirely negative. Robert added, "Although we are challenged to develop new approaches to fellowship and communal relationship, the growing rejection of religion may signify a welcomed desire for personal spiritual growth."
Religion is defined as the human effort to mediate God's spiritual truth to man. Water & Spirit Ministries holds that spiritual truth is known only by revelation, not mediation; and the revelation of the understanding of this truth is by the Spirit. An effective ministry is one that supports the spiritual growth of those whom it serves.
"We're here to facilitate and support the explorations of God's word and the testimony of Christ," explained Robert. "An open environment, free of doctrinal requirements, that allows one to study the Bible, exchange thoughts and interpretations, and freely contemplate and meditate promotes the spiritual development that learns to rely on revelations from the Spirit, rather than opinions of man."
There are no teachers at waterandspirit.org, just fellow students of the word. Visit http://www.waterandspirit.org/.
******************

Well-I'm not sure about this site, seeing as it's new and all. I am curious, however. I am one of those Christians who has "dropped out of church." I love Christ with all of my heart, but I do not trust "prophets, apostles etc" I've seen them lie too many times. I've been abused, seen others abused in the church.

People are very quick to say "the bible says we shouldn't forsake the assembly of our brethren." Sure does say that. However, church IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE ONE CAN GATHER WITH BRETHREN. Also...it doesn't necessitate a building full of people to constitute gathering with brethren. My children are saved, sanctified. My coworkers are christian. My friends and associates are Christian, my classmate at school is Christian. I couldn't forsake gathering with brethren if I wanted to! Be that as it may, I'm done (you can stick a fork in me to verify), with church drama, i'm done with sermons always focusing on money. We can talk about Jesus dying on the cross, but please believe the conversation will SNAKE ITS WAY to the topic of money. I do not have to give $50 for a blessing.

A brother (during conference no less) said sow a seed of $100 and watch your life be forever changed. It sure will, I'll be -$100. How about I bless those who are less fortunate instead of giving to those who are in abundance?? Isn't that what God tells us to do in the Bible?? :

Luke 3:11. And [John the Baptist] would answer and say to them, "Let the man with two tunics share with him who has none, and let him who has food do likewise (hmm, I didn't notice John saying anything about leadership lying and manipulating to get money from the brethren...I wonder why??)."
Mt. 5:42. Give to him who asks of you (can you imagine pulpit-pimps distorting that?) and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you."

I do not hate church (edifice) just the crap that comes with it. Pride, arrogance, materialism..you know...the kind of stuff you see today. I'll take a look at http://www.waterandspirit.org/ and let everyone know. Where are we supposed to go when the hospital (church) is the one misdiagnosing you, ignoring you, breaking your spirit, lying, manipulating etc? another church? and what do I do if I experience the same thing at the next church?

You betta recognize--you BETTER be "wise as serpents, and gentle as doves" (Matt. 10:16_
Ivent