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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: Book Review



Book Review . Cooking . Lifestyles . Frugal Lifestyles . Patti LaBelle . Eggs - Omelets . Mock Potato Salad . Chocolate Cupcakes . Chicken Curry . Pound Cake . Mac & Cheese

Eggs are the wonder of the kitchen: inexpensive & nutritious, & they can be baked, boiled, fried, or scrambled into countless delectable dishes.

Patti LaBelle, she's authored several successful cookbooks that celebrate good health & great food. She once said that the secret to her scrambled eggs was a tiny bit of water, & of course. A teaspoon of water per egg is free, adds no fat or calories, & will give your scrambled fluff & volume.


Lynette Shirk Cookbooks



You can whip up a large batch of scrambled eggs on the weekend, & serve up hot & hearty breakfasts all week.

12 large eggs
1/4 cup water
salt & pepper

Preheat a 12-inch nonstick pan over medium-low heat.

Mix the eggs & water in a bowl with a fork until thoroughly blended.

Spray pan with nonstick cooking blended, but don't overbeat.

Heat a 10-inch or 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Spray with nonstick cooking spray or coat with a bit of butter.

Add the egg mixture to the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until the edges are cooked through. Thinking of your pan as a clock, start at 12:00 & scrape the edge of the eggs toward the middle with a wooden or nylon spoon. Tilt the pan to let the uncooked eggs spill over onto the pan surface. Continue scraping & tilting at 3:00, 6:00, & 9:00. Begin again at 12:00 & continue until the eggs have all been scraped to the middle of the pan. Fold the eggs over on themselves a couple of times until almost cooked through. If they look cooked in the pan, they'll be dry on the plate.

Season with salt & pepper, & serve.

Makes 6 servings.


Lara Starr Cookbooks



Omelet Options:

In kitchen Confi dential Anthony Bourdain famously recounts his 'audition' for a chef's job: create a simple, perfect French omelet under the watchful eye of the restaurateur. Good cooks become great chefs when their passion & skill turn humble ingredients into delicious dishes.



Patti LaBelle Cookbooks



3 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon water
salt & pepper to taste
filling of your choice

Mix the eggs, water, salt, & pepper in a bowl with a fork until blended, but don't overbeat.

Heat a 10-inch or 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Spray with nonstick cooking spray or coat with a bit of butter.

Add the egg mixture to the pan. As it cooks, stir it with a wooden or nylon spoon while shaking the pan over the heat. Scrape the cooked eggs from the sides of the pan & blend with the rest. This should take less than 1 minute.

When the eggs are just about set but slightly wet, pat them into an even layer & let them cook undisturbed for a few seconds.

Add fillings, precooked if needed, down the center of the omelet.

Loosen around the edges of the omelet with the spoon. Tilt the pan to one side, scoot the spoon or a spatula under the opposite side of the omelet, & flip it to the middle to cover the fillings. Then tilt the pan to the other side & do the same with the other half of the omelet. Voila!


A few ideas for tasty & inexpensive filling:

Potatoes, Sour Cream, & Chives:

Spread a good slather of sour cream down the center of the omelet, add thinly sliced cooked waxy potatoes, & sprinkle with chopped chives or green onions.

Omilito:

Heat 3-4 tablespoons of refried beans, spread omelet, & top with Cheddar Cheese & jalapeno rings.

Lagsamelt:

Spread 3 tablespoons ricotta or cottage cheese, 3 tablespoons leftover spaghetti sauce, & a sprinkling of mozzarella.


Mock Potato Salad

2 sleeves saltine crackers (about 80 crackers)
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup pickle relish
1/2 cup chopped green onions
3 hard - boiled eggs, peeled & chopped
2 cups mayonnaise (maybe more)personally, I prefer Salad Dressing
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
Tabasco sauce, to taste

Crush the saltine crackers in a large bowl.

Add the remaining ingredients & stir to combine. Add more mayo if needed until the ingredients are well coated & hold together. Chill for an hour before serving. You may need to add more mayo again before serving if the salad appears dry.

Makes 6 serving.


Chocolate Cupcakes

3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups cold water
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 recipe Cream Cheese Filling
12 fluted muffin cups

Preheat oven to 325 F.

Insert the muffin cups in a muffin tin & set aside.

Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, & salt in a mixing bowl.

Combine the water, oil, vinegar, & vanilla in a pitcher. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients & whip with an electric mixer on medium for 3 minutes.

Pour the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Top each cupcake with 1-2 tablespoons of the cream cheese filling.

Bake for 28 minutes. Cool before serving.

Makes 12 cupcakes.


Chicken Curry

1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 tablespoon butter
1/2 large onion, peeled & thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro or 1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon curry powder
2 Roman tomatoes, chopped
1 small green chile pepper, such as jalapeno, seeded & thinly sliced
1/4 cup water
1 poached chicken breast half, cut into 1-inch cubes

Melt the oil & butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onions & cook until very soft & golden, stirring often, about 30 minutes.

Add the garlic & salt for another 2 minutes. Add the cilantro or coriander, curry powder, tomatoes, chile, & water & stir to combine. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the cooked chicken & simmer for another 10 minutes.

Serve over rice.



Pound Cake

2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs, room temperature
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 325 F.

Generously butter a 5-inch x 9-inch loaf pan.

In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar, & vanilla with an electric mixer, until light & fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing to combine after each addition. Add the flour, baking powder, & salt & mix in on low speed until just combined.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about an hour & give it a check. The top should be golden & a skewer or butter knife stuck in the middle should come out clean.

Cool in the pan on a rack for 10-15 minutes. Run a knife or flat spatula around the outside of the cake & turn it out onto the rack to cool completely.


My Kid's Moms Mac & Cheese

Experiment with different types of cheese to suit your family's taste.

1 cup grated mild cheddar cheese
1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
3/4 cup warm milk
1 tablespoon flour
2 tablespoon melted butter
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/2 pound large elbow macaroni, cooked
salt & pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 325 F. Butter a casserole dish.
Blend cheese, milk, flour, butter, & garlic in a blender or food processor. In a bowl, mix the sauce with the macaroni to coat completely. Turn the mixture into the prepared dish & bake for 45 minutes.

Makes 6 servings.




Colorful Birthday Party

Red M & M's have been back in the bag for years, & a few drops of coloring in birthday party & holiday treats will have no negative effects.

Everyday foods become party-special with a drop or two of your child (children) favorite food coloring.

These ideas for food & activities are bursting with beautiful colors, & will make an easy, festive, & inexpensive birthday celebration for a young child.


Your mama was right. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

A healthy & hearty breakfast will make you more alert & productive, fill you up so you'll be less likely to spend money on midday snacks,& if done right can be a yummy pleasure & calming morning meditation rather than a rushed chore.


Tell me what you eat, & I will tell you what you are. ... Anthelme Brillat-Savarian


Spray fruits & vegetables with a mixture of 1 cup water, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, & 2 tablespoons baking soda, then rinse with water to remove dirt & chemicals.


The History of The Blue Plate Special

"Blue plate specials" were common on American diner menus beginning in the 1920's. The specials consisted of a meat & three vegetables for as little as two bits (25 cents).

A Hawaiian variation is called the "plate lunch": two scoops of rice, a scoop of macaroni salad & a serving of Japanese - inspired meat such as panko-curshed chicken or teriyaki beef. The plate lunch evolved when locals, immigrants, & servicemen worked together during WWII & shared their food at lunch.


Restaurants.com has discounted gift certificates for local, nonchain restaurants. There are often restrictions. You can save serious dough & may find a new favorite spot.

Go for lunch instead of dinner. Your favorite spots have the same great food at lunch, usually at a lower price.


Cents-Able Solutions: Meal Planning 101

You can avoid both overshopping & undershopping by setting aside a few minutes over the weekend to plan out your meals for the week. And when you buy what you need for the week, you'll save time & money on midweek trips to the store!

Organizing is what you do before you do something so that when you do it it is not all mixed up. ... Winnie the Pooh


Brunch has a rich history in Chinese American & Jewish American cultures. Chinese families can be found crowding dim sum houses on Sunday mornings, choosing delectable dumplings from roving charts. And in brownstones & rest homes from Brooklyn to Florida bubbes & zaydies consider no Sunday complete without bagels & the New York Times.

Brunch is an economical way to entertain at home.


Cents-Able Solutions: Be A Hipper Clipper

A few tips for making the most of coupons, sales, & specials.

Keep coupons in your wallet. Keep the good ones in your wallet without keeping up too much space, & you'll never leave them at home.

Bigger isn't always better. Many items are cheaper in large sizes, but some are not.



Brown - Baggin' It

A well-paid attorney's daily lunch consisted of a brick of ramen noodles fortified by handfuls of saltine crackers swiped from the deli in the lobby.

With a little planning you can reach a happy midday medium: a tasty & appealing lunch that won't break the bank.


Cents-Able Solutions: Food Storage & Safety

Being frugal isn't about being miserly or buying the least expensive products or ingredients, but about getting the best value out of everything you purchase.

Thaw meat in the refrigerator, in the microwave, or under cold running water. Thawing on the counter increases risk of bacteria.


Worth Its Salt

A soak in an Epsom-salt & bath is not only luxurious, but can also improve your health.

Improving heart & circulatory health.

Improve nerve function by regulating electrolytes, & helping to maintain proper calcium levels in the blood.

Reducing stress.

Reducing inflammation.


VIVA Editions sent me a complimentary copy for review.

Lara Starr & Lynette Shirk, are the authors of 'The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook.'

Lara has offered advice on easy, affordable cooking & entertaining on TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, & websites throughout the U.S. & Canada. She lives in Marin County, CA.

Lynette is a classically trained chef, & has authored nine cookbooks. She has cooked at celebrated restaurants. She lives in Seattle, WA.















Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Vision Dreams: Jacob - Israel ... 10/27/2013 Sunday School Lesson



Sychar . Samaria . Jacob's Well . Living Water - Eternal Life . Genesis/Bereshith . Gospel of John . Issac . Esau . Rebekah . Jacob . Jabbok . Jacob - Israel . Peniel . Padan-aram . Israel . Abraham . Bethel . Canaan . Bethuel . Laban . Beer-sheba . Haran . Luz . Promises . Sunday School Lesson

The Sunday School Lesson is shared from Genesis/Bereshith 21:1a,10-22 (Devotional Reading: John 4:1-15; Background Scripture: Genesis 27:19-29; 28:1-4,10-22; 32:22-30; 35:9-15) for October 27, 2013.

Sychar, a village at the foot of Mount Ebal in Samaria, near Jacob's well; now Iskar.

Samaria (Shomeron) (watch tower) visited by Christ. Capital of the Kingdom of the Ten Tribes. To the east are the ruins of the Church of St. John, with its ancient Hebrew tombs.

Issac, marries Rebecca, blesses his sons, his death.

Esau, son of Issac, sells his birthright, deprived of the blessing, his anger against Jacob, & reconciliation. (His descendants: Genesis 36; I Chronicles 1:35).

Rebekah or Rebecca, history of: Genesis 22; 24:15,67; 27:6,42; 49:31; Romans 9:10

Jacob (he supplants), obtains the blessing, sent to Padan-aram, vision & vow, vision of God's host, prayer, wrestles with an angel, reconciled with Esau, builds an altar.

Jacob's Well, a fountain near Shechem.

Jabbok (pouring out), a river on the east side of the Jordan.

Jacob - Israel (God fights), Jacob so called.

Peniel or Penuel (face of God), a place on the east of Jordan, scene of Jacob's wrestling with an angel.

Bethuel (house of God).

Laban, hospitable. Gave Jacob his two daughters. Envies & oppresses him. (Made a Covenant with him: Genesis 31:43).

Haran (mountainous), Jacob flees to Laban at.

Luz (almond tree), ancient name of Bethel.


Genesis 28 ... Jacob is blessed, & sent to Padan-aram: his vision & God's promise in a dream. The stone at Beth-el. Jacob's vow. ... Issac blesseth Jacob & sendeth him to Padan-aram. Esau marrieth Mahalath, the daughter of Ishamel. The vision of Jacob's ladder.


Genesis 28:1a,10-12

Verse 1 ... The Family; The Institution & Laws of Marriage; Marriages with Gentiles, Objected to

Verses 10,11 ... Civil & Social Life; Manners & Customs; Travelling, Sleeping Out of Doors

Verse 12 ... Mediums & Methods of Revelation; Dreams & Their Interpretations; Jacob's Dream

(Genesis 28:2; 27:41; 11:1-9 ... Reference Scriptures in Sunday School Book)




Verses 13-17

Verses 13,14,15 ... Mediums & Methods of Revelation; Dreams & Their Interpretations; Jacob's Dream

Verse 15 ... The Upright are Blessed & Prospered (Prosperity means different things to different individuals)

Verses 16,17 ... Sacred Places; Altars & Holy Places; Memorial Pillars of Stone, To Mark the Place of a Vision

(Galatians 3:8; Genesis 35:6; Isaiah 6:5)


Verses 18-22

Verse 18 ... Sacred Places; Altars & Holy Places; Memorial Pillars of Stone, To Mark the Place of a Vision

Verse 19 ... Other Nations; The Canaanites; Gentile Names of Places in Canaan

Verses 20,21,22 ... Sacred Rites & Forms; Covenants, Vows, & Oaths; Instances of Vows, by Jacob

Verse 20 ... Food & Clothing Provided for the Lord's Children

Verse 22 ... Sacred Rites & Forms; Taxes For Sacred Purposes; Tithes, Vowed by Jacob.

(Genesis 12:8; 35:1-15; Joshua 16:2; 18:13; Genesis 35:6-7; 25:29-34; 33:18)


Monday - October 21, 2013 - One Greater than Jacob - John 4:1-15

Christ revealeth himself to a woman of Samaria.


Tuesday - October 22, 2013 - The Plot to Gain a Blessing - Genesis 27:1-10

Issac sendeth Esau for vension. Jacob instructed by Rebekah, obtaineth the blessing.


Wednesday - October 23, 2013 - Planning the Deception - Genesis 27:11-17

Rebekah instructeth Jacob to obtain the blessing. Jacob under the person of Esau obtaineth it.


Thursday - October 24, 2013 - A Blessing Gained through Deceit - Genesis 27:18-29

Look under '10/23/2013'


Friday - October 25, 2013 - Jacob Received God's Blessing - Genesis 32:22-30

He sendeth a present to Esau; he wrestleth with an angel at Peniel, & is called Israel.


Saturday - October 26, 2013 - Jacob's Name Changed to Israel - Genesis 35:9-15

God blesseth him there.


Sunday - October 27, 2013 - God's Assurance for Jacob - Genesis 28:1a,10-22


Scripture reference used/taken from: The International Teacher's Handy Bible Encyclopedia/Concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible & KJV Topical Edition Bible

Sunday, October 20, 2013

2013 Preview & 2007: Vision of Jacob's Ladder Sunday School Lesson




2013 Preview of the Sunday School Lesson for October 27, 2013:

Vision Dreams ... Devotional Reading: John 4:1-15; Background Scripture: Genesis/Bereshith: 27:19-29; 28:1-4,10-22; 32:22-30; 35:9-15 & Sunday School Lesson Text: Genesis/Bereshith 28:1a,10-22

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Genesis/Bereshith 24: Abraham sendeth his servant to get a wife for his son Issac: he obtaineth Rebekah; Issac meeteth her.

Genesis/Bereshith 25:9 Issac and Ishmael bury Abraham in the cave of Mach-pe-lah

Genesis/Bereshith 25: The sons of Abraham by Keturah: his age and death. The generations of Ishmael. The birth of Esau and Jacob. Esau selleth his birthright.

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I have not checked the links as of 2013, that I have shared in this article. But at the time they were accurate and Christian links.



10-14-07 Sunday School Lesson

Background Scripture: Genesis 27:41-28:22, Lesson Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22

10-21-07 Sunday School Lesson --- Story of Love - Jacob & Rachel (Background Scripture: Genesis 29:1-35) Lesson Scripture: Genesis 29:20-35.

Before I go unto the lesson I know that you know what Issac & Ishmael (Abraham's sons) did together.

Genesis 25:9 -- Abraham's sons "Issac" & "Ishmael" buried Abraham in the cave of Machpelah.

Esau(Edom) had three (3) wives ... Genesis 36:1-3.

To be honest I do not know how to tell anyone how to deal with dreams ... I would say it would have to line up with the Word of God-Bible.

Can you pay close attention to a dream-vision? Maybe yes or no. Joel 2:28 & Acts 2:17.

Something that was on my mind -- now I am not saying that it relates to the sunday school lesson but it was on my mind ---

http://whatofthewatchman.org/pr02.htm -- 8/01 -- A Prophetic Call to Sound the Shofar (Abrabram's Son -- Issac's Descendant)

http://www.praiseteamegypt.com --- Praise Team in Egypt -- Christian Arabs --- Abraham's Son -- Ishmael Descendant) ( http://www.praiseteamegypt.com/index.pl/family -- 3 or 4 years if not longer)the end........ now I will go back to the sunday school lesson.




Genesis 28:10-22

Key Verse -- And, behold, "I" am with thee, & will "keep" thee in all places whither thou goest, & will "bring" thee again into this land: for "I" will not leave thee "until" I have done that which I have spoken to thee of (Genesis 28:15)

Mediums & Methods of Revelations -- Dreams & Their Interpretations -- Jacob's Dreams

"I" -- Genesis 13:14 -- The Hebrews God's Chosen People -- Canaan Promised

"keep" -- Genesis 48:16 -- Angels, God's angels, The Angel of the LORD, OR, of God -- Identified with God

"bring" -- Genesis 35:6 -- Sacred Places -- Altars & Holy Places -- Patriarchal (In Biblical Times -- Father, Ruler, Founder of a Family or tribe) Altars

"I" -- I Kings 8:57 -- Duties to God -- Pleading in Prayer -- By Good Works to Come

"until" -- Numbers 23:19 -- Works of God -- The Purposes of God -- God's Purposes, Eternal & Immutable (unchangedable)

How long is Eternal? Forever ... unlimited TIME ...

Genesis 28:10-22

Verse 10 -- And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, & went toward Haran.

Civil & Social Life -- Travelling -- Sleeping Out of Doors

Beer-sheba -- Jacob comforted there (Genesis 46:1) Haran -- mountainous. Jacob flees there (Genesis 28:10)

Leave/flee/run. Think twice before you trick someone. Jacob had to leave/flee/run away from home for he was afraid of what Esau would do to him since he tricked their father into giving him the birthright/blessing. Mother's love their children and will do all they can to protect them/provide for them.. she learned that Esau had plans to harm her favorite son, so she had him to flee/run. Jacob had to flee/run to save his life.

Issac told Jacob to find him a wife in Haran. Haran -- was the same place where Rebekah came from.

Question -- Food for Thought --- Have you ever wondered why sometime that there will be available females to marry in the same place that a male is in and he will go and get a wife from away from his home and or local area?

Verse 11 -- And he lighted upon a certain place ... & tarried there ... all night ... & he took the stones of that place ... & put them for his pillows ... & lay down in that place to sleep.

Civil & Social Life -- Travelling -- Sleeping Out of Doors

"certain place" ........ stones was his pillow that Jacob laid his head on outside

Verses 12, 13, 14, 15 --- Mediums & Methods of Revelations -- Dreams & Their Interpretations -- Jacob's Dream

And he dreamed ... and behold a ladder set up on the earth ... & the top of it reached to heaven ... & behold the angels of God ascending (came down/coming down) ... & decending on it.

And ... behold ... the LORD stood above it ... & said ... I am the LORD God of Abraham thy Father ... and the God of Issac ... the land whereon thou liest ... to thee will I give it ... & to thy seed.

And thy seed (children, children's children, etc.) shall be as the dust of the eart ... & thou shalt spread abroad ... to the east ... & to the north ... & to the south ... & in thy seed shall ... all ... the families of the earth ... be blessed.

And, behold I am with thee ... & will keep thee in all places whither thou goest ... & will bring thee again into this land ... for I will not leave thee ... until ... I have done ... that which I have ... spoken to thee of.

God's angels, messengers of God, good angels, move at God's command

Can you imagine how Jacob felt? Looking up at the top of a stairway/ladder & see the LORD standing fromn heaven to earth? God spoke to Jacob and told him who HE was .. God made it plain.

Abraham & Issac was promised the land that he was lying on ... had slept on. His family line would be too great to count -- compared to dust on earth.

God spoke & said that they would return to their land -- home.

Food for Thought --This is a personal question. Have you ever had to flee/leave/run away from home? Jesus said a prophet is without honor in his own country.

Jesus Christ --- seed of David, seed of Jacob (Galatians 3:16 -- Prophecies concerning Jesus Christ/Yeshua)

Verses 16,17,18 -- Sacred Places -- Altars & Holy Places -- Memorial Pillars of Stone -- To Mark the Place of a Vision

And Jacob awaked ... out of his sleep ... & he said ... Surely the LORD ... is in this place ... & I knew it not.

And he was afraid ... and said ... How dreadful is this place? ... this is none other than the House of God ... & this is the gate of heaven.

And Jacob rose up early in the morning ... & took the stone ... that he had put for his pillows ... & set it up for a pillar ... & poured ... oil ... upon the top of it.

After Jacob woke up he knew he had been in God's presence. He found out that the LORD was where he was -- In this place

Wisdom -- Proverbs 9:10 --- The fear of the LORD, is the beginning of Wisdom.

Jacob recognized where he was -- it was the house of the LORD.

Jacob dedicated the place he slept at ... for holy purposes ... holy ground. Jacob poured "oil" on the ground as to anoint it.

holy anointing oil -- Exodus 30:31 -- Sacred Rites & Forms -- Inauguration of the Hebrew Sacrifical System -- The Holy Anointing Oil

Joel 2:28 -- The Pentecostal Beginning, Promised

Acts 2:17 -- The Pentecostal Beginning, Realized

Acts 2:17 -- It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh: & your sons & your daughters shall prophesy, & your young men shall see visions, & your old men shall dream dreams:

Genesis 28:10-22

Verse 19 -- he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of the city was called Luz at first.

Other Nations -- The Canaanites -- Gentile Names of Places in Canaan

Bethel -- house of God (Genesis 28:19 -- Jacob's vision there; II Kings 2:2, 3 -- prophet's dwell there)

Luz -- almond tree, ancient name of Bethel

As you noticed there was no worship house/church/temple where Jacob slept -- where Jacob dreamed for he was outside on the ground.

Verses 20, 21, 22 -- Sacred Rites & Forms -- VOWS -- Instances of Vows by Jacob

And Jacob vowed a vow ... saying, If God will be with me ... & keep me ... in the way that I go ... & will give me bread to eat ... & raiment to put on,

So that I come again ... to my father's house in peace ... there shall the LORD be my God.

And the stone ... which I have set for a pillar ... shall be God's house ... & of all that thou shalt give me ... I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

VOW -- promise. Be careful what you promise the LORD, this is serious business.

Question -- Food for Thought --- What did Jacob promise the LORD?

Jacob did not ask the LORD for riches, fame, nor fortune ... he asked God for bread (food to eat) & raiment (clothing to wear). Jacob promised to give God a tithe (10th - 10 percent) back to the LORD.

Jacob was telling the LORD if you keep your arm/hand of protection on me then you will be my God. (Daniel in the Lion's Den knew that God could deliver him -- God would have still been God if HE did not deliver Daniel as well)

Scripture reference taken from:

KJV, Topical Reference Bible, Bible Crusade Publishers, Mt. Juliet, TN

KJV, Precious Promise Bible

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Jeremiah 12:5 ... Men & Horses ... June 20, 1982



Jeremiah 12:5 ... If you have run . If you get weary running with men. How can you compete with Horses?

This sermon was preached by my late sister-in-law's pastor, on June 20, 1982.

If thou has run with the footmen, & they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horeses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?... Jeremiah 12:5



I never heard him preach this sermon, but this Title & Scripture just amazed me. So what the Lord told him, I missed out on.



I had plenty time to get back with him and ask him to share - explain this to me, but he passed away about a year or may two/three ago. He was a 'big' figure for the 'African-American' community. He was featured in several forms of media.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

USP ... Unique Selling Proposition: 2/8/2007 ... excerpts from Book Review

Which services and or products will you provide to others?

Product mix is about having the right items for sale when someone comes calling.

Every brand must provide some unique benefit for others and it must drive that point home 24/7/365. This is USP - Unique Selling Proposition.

Your USP is a phrase explaining why others should do business with you.

Your USP has to be something that others will remember. It should be easy to understand by all readers and or listeners.





My Own Labels


If you say it, do it.

Advertising - Marketing is the key to success.

There has to be a meeting of the minds: "You inform' and "they want.'

Advertising - Marketing is a dynamic, on going communication effort designed to get the attention of others and persuade them to purchase products or services.

I reviewed this book while being the Business Coach Host/Editor/Writer for another site.

Bill Boudreaux, is the author of 'The Complete Startup Guide for the Black Entrepreneur.

Marketing Plans & Concepts .. 2/8/2007 ... excerpts from a Book Review



Marketing requires a lot of imagination and creativity.

The key to marketing effectiveness is to know your customer and to target your marketing to those potential customers.

Some people will buy your product and others will not. That's Economics 101.


The marketing concept includes:

Market research.

1. Identify your customers.

2. Determine what they want to buy.



180x150 Marketing Evaluation



Market Strategy - You can not be all things to all people.

Market mix - Provide others with the best value for their money by considering the 4 "P's" of marketing: Products'Services, Promotion, Place and Price.


I reviewed this book while being the Business Coach Host/Editor/Writer for another site.

Bill Boudreaux, is the author of 'The Complete Startup Guide for the Black Entrepreneru.

A Tornado Is Comin: Book Review (2005)



El-Roi . The Strong One Who Sees . Exodus 16:12,13.. God is not sleep....HE is at the same place HE was when Jesus was on the cross.

I reviewed this book in 2005 while being a Writer & Host of a Baptist Site.

Finding peace in all kinds of weather.

Finding the Storm Cellar of God's Power.

This California - bred - and - raised woman couldn't believe it. She looked out at the Illinois landscape from her hotel room and couldn't comprehend the power of the storm that was lighting up the night sky. The TV blasted the warning that a tornado was possible and urged everyone to stay tuned for further coverage.

A tornado never did appear that evening, but speaker and writer Pamela Sonnenmopser told her of the time she lived through the devastation of one.

As she made her way through the winding road leading home, the clouds began to gather green and ominous. Suddenly the shrill shrieks of the emergency broadcast system came on the radio.

The announcer on the radio stated in monotones that a tornado with one-hundred-mile-an-hour winds was heading to Rushville, Missouri, at at rate of thirty-five miles per hour.

In their home, she made a few phone calls to warn several people.

Remembering more tornado tips, she ran to the center of their house and surrounded her body with blankets from her bed. There was nothing she could do except pray as the roaring sound of the nearby tornado was accented by sounds of breaking glass and tearing metal.

God had protected her from the storm.

Pamela concluded her story by saying,

We don't have to live in worry. We just need to walk in faith and trust that God is in control when we can't see what HE is doing.

The next time you feel like a tornado of worries is heading your way, trust God. HE is our storm cellar of protection and care. We can trust HIM.

Kathy Collard Miller, Author -- Partly Cloudy with Scattered Worries. The author is a popular conference speaker and best-selling author. She has appeared on the 700 Club and other radio and TV programs and has spoken in five foreign countries.

Marketing Options .. Create A Portfolio - Website - Blog (2-8-2007)



Sharing from a book I reviewed, while being the Business Coach Host/Editor/Writer for a site.

Many websites are created from templates that have already been developed meaning you do not need software.

Usually when you subscribe to an Internet Service Provider they include Website Space that you may use.

Do you know how to create your own blog - website - portfolio? You'll need to learn to create a website - blog or seek a local high school student. You can also look in your telephone book to find a web designer as well.

Creating a website is not difficult. Some websites have templates that you can choose and you are also on the road to your own site.

You could promote - market your site by submitting it to search engines.


The author shared that search engine optimization is beyond the scope of his book.


VPS Hosting starting at $19 from UltraHosting



I reviewed this book while being the Business Coach Host, Editor, Writer for another site.

Bill Boudreaux, is the author of 'The Complete Startup Guide for the Black Entrepreneur.

Hot Chocolate For The Spirit: Book Review




I reviewed this book, I think before 2005.

There's nothing better than setting down with a hot cup of chocolate, especially on a cold, dreary night. It's soothing & warms the insides through & through.

May you also begin to experience the victorious life Jesus came to give you.

Remember the Israelites? It was a short journey from the Red Sea to Canaan, the Promised Land. God had delivered the Israelites from Slavery in Egypt, & in Canaan the Israelites would be free to serve & worship HIM.

Then they wandered for forty years.

Someone shared this Biblical Truth with the author, & she realized she was "wandering in the wilderness." Her book is a product of her decision to become unstuck.

Are you wandering in the wilderness?

Whatever you desire, it will take faith in God for changes in your life to happen.

Make a list of your goals & vision if you haven't already. Make a list of the tasks you do daily, weekly, monthly & yearly to reach your mission.

Keep this list handy & pray over it each day. Find a scripture that aligns with each of your goals & pray those verses daily.

John 8 reveals two sides of God's LOVE.

The chapter begins with a woman caught in the act of adultery. The Scribes & Pharisees bring her to Jesus & tell him about her sin. According to the law of Moses, she deserves death by stoning.

Jesus said ... He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her (John 8:7). One by one they walked away.

Jesus asked the woman, where are thine accusers? Jesus said unto her, go, & sin no more (John 8:10-11).

Love is tender & it is sometimes tough. Love forgives & it also confronts.

Moving higher means growing up, & in order to grow up there must be a separation.

Abraham, Issac, & Jacob all went through a separation process & reaped great rewards.

Abraham left his family & caught the vision of a Promised Land & descendants who became innumerable as the stars.

Issac, Abraham's son, left familiar surroundings & traveled to Egypt. There God prospered him in the middle of a famine.

Jacob's greed & selfishness drove him to deceive. To help him escape the wrath of his brother, Jacob's parents sent him away.

The transformation in Jacob was so great that God changed his name from Jacob(trickster) to Israel(Prince of God).

Separation is challenging & painful, but let God have HIS way.

There is a parable in Luke 18 that reveals a key to getting our prayers answered. In verse one Jesus told this parable to encourage men to keep praying & never faint.

Jesus asks if - a man who had no reverence for God & no consideration for people - will help someone because of their persistence, how much more will God respond to you, HIS very own child whom HE loves dearly?

We should never beat ourselves up. God forgives when we ask, once we repent. We should learn from our mistakes.

Jesus said in John 15:5 that without HIM we can do nothing.




Pray Psalm 150 -- Praise ye the LORD, Praise God in HIS sanctuary ... Praise him for HIS mighty acts ... Praise HIM with the sound of the trumpet ... Let every thing that hath breath praise th LORD.

The author shared she's had several opportunities to move past her comfort zone.

II Kings 7: The city of Samaria had been surrounded by the army of Syria. The prophet Elisha foretold that the city would have relief within one day.

Four lepers sat on the outskirts of the city talking among themselves.

So, they decided upon a bold plan. They would visit the Syrian camp.

When the lepers arrived at the camp no one was there! II Kings 7:6-7 tells us the LORD caused a great noise that sounded like a mighty army approaching. The Syrians had panicked & fled into the night, leaving behind their belongings.

Leaps of faith aren't easy.

Taking a leap of faith will mean different things to different people.

God has appointed you to reach out & touch the life of at least one person.

One night the author dreamed she was in prison along with several friends. Her friends decided to break out.

Terrified of the bulldogs that guarded the place, she wasn't in agreement with their plan. Her companions were not afraid.

But as they walked towards the gate that would take them beyond the prison walls, the bulldogs cleared the path for them. They walked through & were not harmed in any way.

The author feels God spoke to her through her dream -- if she responded to HIS guidance with faith & boldness, the "bulldogs" in her life would move aside.

Has a bad experience made you fearful?

Our good works should flow out from our communion with God.

Jesus said the second greatest commandment is to love others as you love yourself.

Take time to renew & refresh.

The Bible is our blueprint.

Living a Godly life is a fight, & we need every piece of information we can get our hands on.

We should strive to do a first-rate job in whatever we are involved with. Someone may be watching.

God is certainly watching. The Bible tells us to do everything as unto the LORD.

The author shares she's been through the ups & downs. And, boy have she shed a lot of tears. Through it all, she shares there has been one thing that sustained her: hope.

Karin Peavy is the author of Hot Chocolate For The Spirit. A rich, meaningful book. Shares on dealing with difficult transitions. Comfort for your heart throughout every season of your life.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Sibling Rivalry ... 10/20/2013 Sunday School Lesson

Genesis/Bereshith . Hebrews 11 . Beer-sheba . Paran . Abraham . Issac . Ishmael . Pray (Global peace for all peoples of faith & Christian Arabs) . angel of God . Eliezer . Damascus . Hagar . Sarah . Beer-la-hai-roi . Kadesh . Moriah . Jehovah-jireh . Abimelech . Gerar . Ahuzzath . Faith . Sunday School Lesson

The Sunday School Lesson is shared from Genesis/Bereshith 21:13-14,17-21; 26:2-56,12-13 (Devotional Reading: Hebrews 11:17-22; Background Scripture: Genesis/Bereshith 15:1-6; 16; 17:1-14,18,20-27; 21:9-21; 26:1-25).

Genesis 21:12b-13 ... In all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Issac shall thy seed be called. And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

Beer-sheba (well of the oath) city and site of three great wells, with Christian ruins, now called Bir-es-sebaast.

Paran, site of the Israelite encampment. ... desert of, in Arabia Petraea.

Eliezer (my God is help), Abraham's steward.

Damascus, an ancient and celebrated city of Syria. ... apostle Paul's journey to.

Beer-la-hai-roi, a well near Kadesh-barnea.

Kadesh (holy) or Kadesh-Barnea (sacred desert), a place on the borders of the promised land, modern Ain Qadees, 12 miles east-southeast of Beer-sheba.

Moriah (provided by Jehovah).

Jehovah-jireh (the Lord will provide).

Abimelech, Issac rebuked by and makes a covenant with. (Not the same King of Gerar, that was reproved by God about Abraham's wife).

Gerar (halting place), a royal city of the Philistines.

Ahuzzath (possession).


Hebrews 11:17-22 ... The nature and fruits of faith. The worthy fruits thereof in the father's of old time.


Genesis 21:13-14

Verse 13 ... Other Nations; Offshoots Of The Abrahamic Stock; Ishmaelites

Verse 14 ... The Family; The Institution & Laws of Marriage; Polygamy & Concubinage Practised, Trouble from It.

(Genesis 21:10; 13 ... Reference Scripture in Sunday School Book)






Genesis 21:17-21

Verse 17 ... Angela; Good Angels: The Angel of The Lord, Or, Of God; Instances of His Appearing.

Verse 18 ... Angels; Good Angels: The Angel of The Lord, Or, Of God; Utters Predictions.

Verse 19 ... Miracles; Supernatural Bodily Gifts & Deprivation; Gift of Bodily Vision.

Verses 20,21 ... Other Nations; Offshoots Of The Abrahamic Stock; Ishmaelites.

(Genesis 21:15-16; 16:3)


Genesis 26:2-5,12-13

Verses 2,3 ... The Hebrews; God's Chosen People; Canaan Promised.

Verse 3 ... The Upright Are Blessed & Prospered (Prosperity means different things to different individuals).

Verse 4 ... Other Nations; The Conversion Of The Gentiles; The Promise Made to Abraham ... The Hebrews; The Height from Which the Hebrews Fell, The Prosperity Promised.

Verse 5 ... Works of God; God's Providence In Moral Discipline; Their Prosperity.

Verse 12 ... Industrial Employments & Products; Tilling The Ground; How Fertile It Was.

Verse 13 ... Civil & Social Life; Social Relations & Duties; Riches, Instances.

(Genesis 22:1-19; 23; 25; 26; 12:10; Galatians 3:8)


Monday - October 14, 2013 - The Promise of Many Descendants - Genesis 15:1-6

Verse 1 ... The Lord's Love & Care for HIS Children. Safety from All Harm & Danger. (This does not mean you will not have trials & tribulations).

God encourageth Abram: promiseth him a son & a numerous seed: he is justified by faith.


Tuesday - October 15, 2013 - A Child Born in Affliction - Genesis 16:7-16

Verse 13 ... The Lord's Love & Care for HIS Children.

Hagar fleeth from her mistress, is sent back by an angel to submit to her. Ishmael is born.


Wednesday - October 16, 2013 - The Symbol of the Covenant - Genesis 17:9-14

Circumcision instituted.


Thursday - October 17, 2013 - Abraham's Test of Faith - Genesis 22:1-8

Abraham offering Issac.


Friday - October 18, 2013 - Abraham's Obedience Blessed - Genesis 22:9-18

Abraham is stayed by an angel: he is blessed again.


Saturday - October 19, 2013 - The Blessed of the Lord - Genesis 26:26-31

Verse 29 ... The Lord's Love & Care for HIS Children. The Upright are Blessed & Prospered.

Abimelech's Covenant with Issac.


Sunday - October 20, 2013 - Blessing Two Family Branches - Genesis 21:13-21; 26:2-5,12-13


Scripture reference used/taken from: The International Handy Teacher's Bible Encyclopedia/Concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible & KJV Topical Edition Bible




Career & Life Skills (2005) ... excerpts from Book Review

Book Review, Book Club, Susan Morem, Job hunting, Resumes, Employment, Vocational guidance, Career Development, Career & Life Skills

You know the story, I reviewed this book in 2005, while being the Business Coach host/editor/writer for another site.

Insider advice to people seeking or working in their first job.

Working as an intern or in a temporary position allows you to build your skills and business network and enhance your marketability to prospective employers.

If you were to start your own business, you would need to set up an office and purchase some equipment. The following are some of the typical items necessary to run a work-from-home-job and or business.

Telephone

Computer - mobile

Internet connection

Pens, pencils


125x125 Logo



Now in 2013 it could be easier to gain some of your items, such as the library and other places provide free Internet access and Wi-Fi. If you are low income you have a very great chance of applying for a free cell phone.

As long as you have access to these things when you need them, you should be able to manage.



Internships and temporary assignments are ways to gain practical on-the-job-training while developing your professional skills.

To successfully network, you must be willing to talk to people outside of your circle of acquaintances.

You Are a Gift. Think of yourself as a gift to any company lucky enough to employ you.

Create a Resume. It is important to include your name, address, telephone number, and email address so that, if interested someone will know how to get in touch with you.

College students who decide to wait until they've earned their degrees to begin their careers may be at a professional disadvantage.

I was most thankful for Ms. Susan Morem to have her book shipped to me.

Ms. Morem decided to talk with companies and learn about the challenges they are facing with young professionals. Her goals: discover what information was missing from the classroom and provide young people, via her book, with the necessary information before they enter the work place for the first time.

Ms. Morem is a nationally recognized career and workplace expert. Her client list includes many Fortune 500 Companies, including Citiban, Coca-Cola, Honeywell, 3M, Sears, Target Stores, US Bank and Wells Fargo.

Susan has created and been featured in nine international distributed training videos.

Ms. Morem is the author of 'How To Get a Job and Keep It.

Laboring with Non-Profits .. 2005

I did not overlook providing services for a non-profit.

I used my digital skills and worked for a local pastor and wife at their Church. He trusted me enough that they allowed me to use his Pastor study as my office. This was also a way that they could keep their Church open everyday. So it worked for both of us.

And the funny part about this, they were a different denomination than I was, but they were Christians. I worked for them for around half a year.

As you see I had previous office skills for about eight years, from working in the warehouse. So I just added on to that learning via of online conferences and others that enlighten me.

There are probably many non-profits and organizations that would gladly welcome your help. It could be a good idea to find out who to contact and ask how you may be of service to them and or their organization.



125x125 Logo in blue with woman



You might do what I did in 2005: train a volunteer and help them via of resources you have knowledge of that could enhance them, their organization and or ministry.

Provide services for the non-profit to use digital (Internet) avenues. They could gain exposure to a global audience.


Your main goal should be to market - promote the non-profit.

By aiding non-profits you could gain great exposure and a good feeling of letting others know that you care about them as well.

At the time that I was working for this pastor he wanted to place me on the radio and have my photos placed in the newspaper from his office - Pastor study, but I did not want to do that at that time in 2005.

If you can't volunteer for free it could be possible that you might be compensated for the services you provide for them.

2 of 2 ... How Does God Work in the World? 'excerpts' from Review: Understanding Theology (2012)

Bible Readers, Christians, Saints of God, & Bible Scholars I hope that you will study - examine these Scriptures for yourself.


Military Bibles as low as $2.99 at BiblicaDirect - SHOP NOW!

I am sharing an 'excerpt' from a Christian Book that I reviewed in the winter of 2012. Now understand that I have no Theology/Seminary teaching/training, so please examine the Scriptures.

1. God sovereignly rules & controls HIS creation (Psalm/Tehillim 47; Daniel 4:17), the doctrine of divine governance or guidance.

2. God preserves in existence what HE has called into existence (Acts 17:28; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3), the doctrine of preservation.

3. God works through HIS creation in order to carry out HIS plans: the doctrine of concurrence (God works in harmony, cooperation, or agreement with creation). HE controls the weather, & through it, HE provides rain that then nourishes vegetation, animals, & people (Psalm/Tehillim 135:7; 104:14; 147:8-18; Matthew 5:45). HE also works through people & events in history (Daniel 2:21; Jonah 1:15; 2:23; Acts 4:27-28; 17:26).

How does God govern the World? To what extent does HE control people & the events of history?





Two classical theological systems need to be introduced at this point: Calvinism & Arminianism.

Calvinists believe God meticulously control HIS creation down to the details. Arminians believe that God controls in a more general way that allows for genuine human free will.

Calvinism views centers on the scriptural portrait of God as all-powerful, reigning over everything, doing "whatever pleases HIM' (Psalm/Tehillim 135:6). The apostle Paul says HE "works out everything in conformity with the purpose of HIS will" (Ephesians 1:11). Thus God, who is holy & is never responsible for evil, nevertheless is in control of "accidents" (Job 1:21; 42:11), "catastrophes (Isaiah 45:7; Amos 3:6), controlling & working through evil & sin for HIS purposes (Genesis/Bereshith 50:20; Exodus 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; Romans 9:17 & hardening of Pharaoh's heart; I Samuel 16:14; Proverbs/Mishle 16:4; Isaiah 45:7; Amos 3:6).

Arminianism emphasizes the many biblical commands to trust (Psalm/Tehillim 115:9-11; Proverbs/Mishle 3:5; Isaiah 26:4), love (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37), & obey God (Deuteronomy 6:24-25; 9:23; John 14:15,21,23), along with plentiful warnings of judgment for those who do not (Leviticus 26:14-39; II Thessalonians 1:8).

Arminian theology stresses that evil & sin find their source in humans & angels who have freely chosen to rebel against God. HE allows sin, but HE does not cause or use sin.


Unconditional Election

Calvinists, who believe in unconditional election.

This is why God could say of Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart (Jeremiah 1:5).

Jesus said to HIS disciples, "You did not choose me, but I chose you & appointed you so that you might go & bear fruit."

The apostle Paul argues that God has the right to make HIS choices: "It does not therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy" (Romans 9:16). Probably the strongest biblical support for unconditional election comes from Romans 9:1-24.

I reviewed this book in the winter of 2012, & published it at my blogs. Bethany or Chosen Publishing sent me this book to review.

Darly Aaron (author of 'Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day'), earned his MA at the University of Texas-Dallas, his ThM at Dallas Theological Seminary, & his PhD at the Graduate Theological Foundation. He spent fourteen years in pastoral ministry & now teaches at Northwestern College, where he is Professor of Biblical & Theological Studies.

1 of 2 ... KJV: Elijah

Elijah . I Kings . II Kings . Luke 4 . James 5:17 . Luke 9 . Tishbite

The next topic is not about Elijah, but an 'excerpt' from a Christian Book I reviewed in 2012 about 'How Does God Work in the World?' Examine the Scriptures for yourself.

Elijah (my God is Jehovah,the Tishbite, predicts a great drought (I Kings 17:1; Luke 4:25; James 5:17).



Miraculously fed (I Kings 17:5; 19:5).

Calls down fire from Heaven (II Kings 1:10; Luke 9:54).





Scripture reference used/taken from: The International Teacher's Handy Bible Encyclopedia/Concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

2013 .. A Promise Kept ... 10/13/2013 'Sunday School Lesson'

Sarai/Sarah . Issac - promise . Haran . Hagar . Ishmael . Pray for all that we may lead a peaceable life . Pray for Christian Arabs . Canaan . Abraham . Kirjath-arba . Heth . Genesis/Bereshith . Isaiah 51 . Sunday School Lesson

The Sunday School Lesson is shared from Genesis 17:15-17; 18:9-15; 21:1-7 (Devotional Reading: Isaiah 51:1-6; Background Scripture: Genesis 17:15-17; 18:9-15; 21:1-7). In order to gain a good understanding of this lesson, you will need to read/study the Daily Home Bible Readings that go with this lesson at the end of this article. ... My study came from two different KJV Bibles (one of them from around 1915).

Sarah (princess)

Issac, promise child

Haran, town of Padan-aram (field of Aram), country of Mesopotamia. Aram, country northeast of Palestine(Then)/Holy Land(Now), usually called Syria.

Hagar (flight), mother of Ishmael

Ishmael (God hears), son of Abraham

Kirjath-arba (city of Baal)

Heth, father of Hittities (early dwellers in Asia Minor (Turkey), Syria & parts of Palestine(Then)/Holy Land(Now).


Genesis 17:15-17 ... Circumcision instituted. Issac with a numerous issue is promised. Sarai her name is changed, & she is blessed. Issac is promised.

Genesis 18:9-15 ... Sarah reproved. Sarah is reproved for laughing at the strange promise.

Genesis 21:1-7 ... Issac is born. He is circumcision. Sarah's joy.

Isaiah 51:1-6 ... The righteous exhorted, after the pattern of Abraham, to trust in Christ: certainity of his salvation.






Genesis 18:9-15

Verse 9 ... Industrial Employments & Products; Human Abodes; Tents, Used by Abraham & the Hebrews.

Verses 10,14 ... Miracles; Miracles Considered; Miracles Foretold.

Verses 11,12,13,15 ... The Family; Parents & Children; Barreness, Miraculously Removed

(Genesis 17:115-17; 18; John 1:18; Genesis 18:2; 12; 15; 17; Habakkuk 2:3 ... Reference in Sunday School Book)









Verses 21:1-7

Verses 1,2,5,6,7 ... Miracles; Supernatural Bodily Gifts & Deprivations; Gift or Denial of Children

Verse 3 ... The Family; Parents & Children; Naming at Birth

Verse 4 ... Sacred Rites & Forms; Sacraments, Worship, & Church-Fellowship; Circumcision, Applied by Abraham

(Genesis 21; 17:12; 17:17; 18:16-20; 18:19; 17:9-14; 17:12-13)



Monday - October 7, 2013 - A Childless Wife - Genesis 11:27-32

The generations of Shem & of Terah. Terah goeth from Ur to Haran.


Tuesday - October 8, 2013 - A Beautiful Wife - Genesis 12:10-20

Canaan promised.


Wednesday - October 9, 2013 - A Threatened Wife - Genesis 16:1-6

Sarai, being barren, giveth Hagar to Abram. Hagar fleeth from her mistress.


Thursday - October 10, 2013 - The Promise of a Covenant - Genesis 17:18-22

Issac is promised.


Friday - October 11, 2013 - Dispelling the Competition - Genesis 21:8-14

Sarah's joy. Hagar & Ishmael are cast forth.


Saturday - October 12, 2013 - Mourning a Beloved Wife - Genesis 23:1-6

The age & death of Sarah. The purchase of Machpelah.


Sunday - October 13, 2013 - Bearing a Child of Promise - Genesis 17:15-17; 18:9-15; 21:1-7


Scripture reference used/taken from: KJV Topical Edition Bible & The International Teacher's Handy Bible Encyclopedia/Concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible

2007 ... Abraham & Hagar Have a Son Ishmael ... Sunday School Lesson

One of my 2007 Writings, that is at a couple other another sites....

What season are we in?...And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows.

GOD has a plan....GOD Is In Total Control.

God keeps HIS promises. God is All Powerful, HE Knows All Things, Sees ALL Things.

9-23-07 Sunday School Lesson: Genesis 21:9-21

Sharing my sunday school notes (Read Genesis 21:9-21)

9-30-07 Lesson (Next Week) "Issac & Rebekah" Genesis 24:34-40, 42-45, 48

Genesis 21:12-13 "God said unto Abraham....also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed."

I want you to keep your mind on this but this was not in my sunday school book for some reason my mind went to this --- Acts 2:8-11, 16, 20, 38, 41, 42 - The Pentecostal Beginning, Realized. What season are we in? Now I have never been to seminary nor theology school but this is my thought.

Genesis 21:9-21

Verses 9, 10, 11, 12, 20, 21 --- OTHER Nations, Offshoots of The Abrahamic Stock, Ishmaelites


(My understanding the Arabs are from Ishmael & Abraham)

And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian (Genesis 16:1) which she had born unto Abraham(Genesis 16:15)

Abraham was a man of faith. Abraham was a father of two sons at this time by two different women and they were all living in the same dwelling place - home.

Was it and is it possible for two women that have had a child by the same man to dwell - live in peace all under the same roof with one man? Abraham was grievous when he had to send his son, Ishmael away.





Verse 14 -- THE FAMILY, Polygamy (more than one wife or husband at the same time) & Concubinage (to dwell or live together) Practised Trouble From It

And Abraham rose up ...... early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: (John 8:35) and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness in Beer-sheba.










Abraham was kind for he prepared water and bread for Hagar and his son before sending them away from his dwelling place. This is how men should care for their child(children) making preparations for them.

Beer-shea .......... Genesis 21:14 Hagar was relieved there, I Kings 19:3 Elijah flees there

Verses 15, 16 -- THE FAMILY, Family Affections, Parent & Children, Love to Children

And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast her child under the shrubs.

And she went, and sat her down over against him.....a good way off, as it were a bowshoot, for she said, Let me not see the death of the child.....And she sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept.

Food for thought -- Was she praying for her child? What mother, what good mother would not have been praying for their child hoping that they would be heard? Was her cry heard?

Verse 17 -- Angels, The Angel of The LORD, OR, OF God, Instances of HIS Appearing

And God heard the voice of the lad; (Exodus 3:7) and the angel of God....called to Hagar....out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not, for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

God ask Hagar what aileth thee...God called her by name. God told her not to fear for he had heard the lad -- the lad was her son.

Food for thought -- What was Moses? Do you remember what Moses calling was?

Exodus 3:7 --- The Hebrews, ISRAEL in Egypt, God Remembers HIS Covenant

And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows.

Verse 18 -- Angels, The ANGEL Of The LORD, OR, OF God, Utters Predictions

Arise,.....lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation (Genesis 21:13)

him - Ishmael

Verse 19 -- MIRACLES, Supernatural Bodily Gifts, Gifts of Bodily Vision

And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad a drink.

Food for thought --- Pray, Pray seriously, Believe, ACTION "ASK, SEEK, KNOCK"

Genesis 25:12-17

Verses 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 --- Descendants of Ishmael

Verse 16 -- 12 princes according to their nations

Verse 17 -- Other Nations, Ishmaelites, Ishmael lived 137 years

Scripture reference taken from KJV, Topical Bible, Crusade Bible Publishers, Mt. Juliet, TN

Book Reviewer, Web Content Provider/Writer/Blogger, Researcher, Sunday School Teacher

Monday, October 7, 2013

Storytelling: Book Events & Shows ... 2004





Presentations . Events . Shows . Storytelling . Event Planner . Booking Events & Shows


This is one of my 2004 writings, when I was the Business Coach Editor/Host/Writer. The original title in 2004 was Book Events and Shows.

(Now, I will share this on September 10, 2013 I did a presentation of short summaries from five books as a Storyteller in a small local sitting. I presented the books and had them on display for others to see them as well. Some that attended even wrote down the names of some of these books to purchase them. Travel issues could be discussed for future events. Now, will I travel out of the USA? Only with the consent of the Holy Spirit.)

Booking events starts with a positive attitude. Work on having a pleasing attitude. Believe in yourself, your products and your services.

Learn to dress like a professional. Clothing - attire that you wear to presentations do not have to be the most expensive, but they should be neat.



Writing Workshops, Digtial Marketing, Basic Blog Setup & Design






Procedures for booking events:

Make a contact list. Call, write or email your contacts.

Booking events and shows when you walk into a room.

Learn to believe in yourself.






Will Travel: Writing Workshop, eMarketing, Blog Setup/Design






Be zealous.





Booking starts with you and your attitude. Watch your image and attitude.

Let others know about the events and shows.

Others will want to associate with you, as well as learn from you. You could possibly know something about a particular 'field - area' that others want to learn about.




Quiz: Abram/Abraham & Lot & Paths of Life '10/6/2013 Sunday School Lesson'

Genesis/Bereshith 13:7-18 . Genesis/Bereshith 3:23,24 . Genesis/Bereshith 13:8-18 . Abram/Abraham . Lot . Obedience . Directions - Path . Garden of Eden . Bible Quiz . My Discovery at Sunday School on October 6, 2013 . Faith


Now, first let me start off by saying that I was at a visiting Church that studied the same Scripture lessons that I study from and those I shared on last week, but they brought out some points that was not in my Sunday School Lesson, nor any study guides that I studied from.

And, as I have said before I am not a Seminary/Theology student, but I just want us to think about these things.



Genesis 13:3,6,7-18:

a. Study which direction - path Lot went in.

b. Study which direction - path Abram went in.

c. Does it pay to be obedience and faithful?


Genesis 3:23,24:

Go back and look at the Garden of Eden and study where the Lord God placed the Cherubims.


Now look at what the Lord told Abraham.




Wednesday - October 2, 2013 - Settling in the Land - Genesis 13:8-18 ... Home Daily Bible Reading

October 6, 2013 - Background Scripture: Genesis 12:1-7; 13; 15:7-21; 17:8


Angela Watkins







Wednesday, October 2, 2013

A Lasting Inheritance ... October 6, 2013 'Sunday School Lesson'

Genesis/Bereshith . Hebrews 11 . Psalm/Tehillim . Joshua 24 . Ur . Chaldeans . Abram . Abraham . Amorites . Terra Sancta - Holy Land . Palestine . Canaan . Euphrates . Kenites . Kenizzites . Kadmonites . Hittites . Perizzites . Rephaims . Canaanites . Girgashites . Jebusites . Sunday School Lesson

The Sunday School Lesson is shared from Genesis/Bereshith 15:7-21 (Background Scripture: Genesis 12:1-7; 13; 15:7-21; 17:8 & Devotional Reading: Hebrews 11:8-16).

Ur or Urfa (light), an ancient city of Mesopotamia (Greek name of country between Euphrates & Tigris).

Chaldea, southern province of Babylonia.

Abram (high father).

Abraham (father of a multitude), called by God & sent to Canaan.

Amorites (high landers), Early inhabitants of Palestine. Dispossessed for their iniquities.

Terra Sancta - the Holy Land ... In our time Palestine(Then)/Holy Land(Now).

Palestine (Psalm/Tehillim 105:11), known as 'Canaan' or 'land of Canaan,' country west of Jordan, as opposed to 'to the land of Gilead.'

Canaan (lowland), the country named from Canaan, son of Ham, promised to Abraham.

Euphrates, the largest & most important river of western Asia.

Kenties, connected with Cain. Were a branch of the Midianites & dwelt among the Amalekites. A portion of them followed the Israelites on their entrance into Canaan.

Kenizzites (hunters), who lived to the south of Palestine, were among the descendants of Esau.

Kadmonies (men of the east), a people supposed to have resided by Mount Hermon.









Hittites, in Abraham's time they were at Hebron. Early dwellers in Asia Minor (Turkey), Syria, & parts of Palestine.

Perizzites (villagers), tribe of the ancient Canaanites.

Rephaim, probably the oldest people in Palestine.

Girgashites (dwellers in clay), a tribe of the ancient Canaanites.

Jebusites, small tribe, one of importance, they occupied the mountains of Jerusalem & the neighborhood.


Genesis 15:7-21 ... Canaan is again promised, & confirmed by a sign & a vision.

Verses 7-11

Verse 7 ... The Hebrews; God's Chosen People; Canaan Promised.

Verses 8,9,10,11 ... Mediums & Methods Of Revelation; Signs & Symbolic Acts; Division of Animals.

(Exodus 3; Genesis 12-13 ... Reference Scriptures in Sunday School Book)


Verses 12-16

Verse 12 ... Mediums & Methods Of Revelation; Trances & Visions.

Verse 13 ... The Hebrews; Israel In Egypt; The Sojurn in Egypt Foretold.

Verses 14,16 ... The Hebrews; Israel In Egypt; Deliverance Promised.

Verse 15 ... The Outward Man; The Body In Old Age; Promised.

Verse 16 ... The Hebrews; In The Wilderness; Gradual Expulsion of the Canaanites Promised.

(Genesis 47-50; Genesis 39-47; Genesis 49-50; Exodus 1:9-10; Exodus 1:11; Exodus 7-14; Exodus 12:36; Job 33:15-18; Exodus 12:40-41; Exodus 3:7)


Verses 17-21

Verse 17 ... Miracles; Miracles In Fire; God's Presence Manifested by Fire.

Verse 18 ... The Hebrews; God's Chosen People; Canaan Promised.

Verses 19,20,21 ... Other Nations; The Canaanites; Names of Tribes Inhabiting Canaan.

(Exodus 13:21; Exodus 19:16-20; Psalm/Tehillim 97:2-6; Joel 2:2-3; I Kings 4:21; Genesis 12)




Monday - September 30, 2013 - The Faith of Abraham - Hebrews 11:8-16

Faith Defined & Illustrated (Hebrews 11:1-40) ... Final Exhortations To Perseverance & Warnings Against Indifferent (Hebrews 10:19-12:29)


Tuesday - October 1, 2013 - The Call of Abram - Genesis 12:1-7

Arrival in Canaan (Genesis 12:1-20) ... Abraham (Genesis 12:!-25:18) ... The Beginnings Of Israel (Genesis 12:1-50:26)


Wednesday - October 2, 2013 - Settling in the Land - Genesis 13:8-18

Separation from Lot (Genesis 13:1-18)


Thursday - October 3, 2013 - The Land & the Covenant - Genesis 17:1-8

The Everlasting Covenant (Genesis 17:1-27)


Friday - October 4, 2013 - The Covenant Recounted & Renewed - Joshua 24:1-13

The Covenant at Shechem (Joshua 24:1-28)


Saturday - October 5, 2013 - The Covenant Remembered - Psalm/Tehillim 105:1-11

Psalm of Gratitude: For mercies shown to the Church. ... Psalm of Adoration: Of God's power, majesty, & glory. ... Prophetical, Typical, & Historical Psalm.


Sunday - October 6, 2013 - The Covenant with Abraham - Genesis 15:7-21

The Promised Land (Genesis 15:1-21)


Scripture reference used/taken from: Zondervan Commentary, The International Teacher's Handy Bible Encyclopedia/Concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible & KJV Topical Edition Bible

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

This Biz of Supplier Diversity How To Do Biz With Corporate America ... Book Review

Book Review . Business . Diversity . Entrepreneur . Minority . Gill Law Firm . Corporate . Corporate America . Business Fable . Billion Dollar Round Table

I was sent a complimentary copy for review by Mr. A. Wayne Gill's marketing department, or Mr. Gill himself.



At the other spectrum of corporate involvement are corporations that see the minority mission and are acting in innovation ways to strengthen minority businesses and communities. These companies should be studied and emulated. One such company is Johnson's Controls, Incorporated,one of the eighteen Fortune 500@ members of the Billion-Dollar Roundtable.

CEO John Barth said in 2004 "Supplier diversity is about expanding opportunities for everyone.

Companies are swift to tell about their great commitment to supplier diversity and why it makes good business sense. However, in practice, their activities fail to match the rhetoric. This is not so for JCI, a corporation that is at the cutting edge of minority business development.

In March 2004, Bridgewater received the largest contract ever awarded to a minority company by Ford Motor Company.

American business is in need of more companies like JCI and Ford companies that understand the business case for diversity and have stepped forward boldly to capitalize and show leadership. These companies demonstrate the future of supplier diversity for any corporation willing to listen and learn.

Mr. Gills grandmother died the day "Tales My Grandma Told Me," was published. It was if she'd seen him over the goal line, and then went home to be with the Lord. His grandmother is still his entrepreneurial hero and her blood still courses through his veins.

Since writing Tales, his life hasn't been the same.

It's opened countless doors to speak and collaborate with many minority business owners, aspiring business owners, students and supplier diversity professionals.

His hat is off to all who is in the arena; who fight daily for equality of opportunity. We aren't there yet, but you make achievement of the goal possible.

The first principle that Grandma would teach minority entrepreneurs and business people is that business is business.

In order to succeed, minority-owned businesses must abide by and operate within the same principles that drive all successful businesses. This means that minority businesses must, among myriad responsibilities, create a product or service that satisfies a demand, reach its target audience through sales and marketing channels, grow its market share, create profit for its investors, and stakeholders, and innovate for future growth and opportunities. Setting aside issues of social injustice, for the discussion, there isn't one set of rules that apply to minority business and another set for others.

There are no shortcuts. All business must create value for their customers.

The myth of receiving business based primarily on ethnic background probably grew out of affirmative action programs that provided for minority set-asides in government spending. However, these programs have been under attack from the outset and have been seriously eroded through court challenges. Minority businesses must recognize that the words "set aside" and "quota" are almost dirty words in the world of twenty-first-century American business.

Within the realm of supplier diversity, the practice of quotas and set asides never took root; but the programs were designed, in part, to address vast disparities in dollars spent with minority versus non-minority suppliers. For example, despite great gains over the last four decades, less than four percent of annual corporate spend is spent with minority-owned companies. Most Americans would agree that minority suppliers should not be denied a fair share of annual corporate spend in the aggregate. The disparity between the dollars spent with minority-owned companies and their non-minority counterparts begs the question of fairness and demands an answer.

You must be ready with an excellent product or service that adds value to its intended corporate target.

Minority entrepreneurs must come to the conclusion that business is business. There are no gimmes. However, presented with an opportunity for inclusion, minority entrepreneurs must be prepared to compete on the same level with their non-minority counterparts. If the minority company is not prepared to perform at a high (or even higher) level than the competition, then that company will be in for a rude but needed awakening.

Corporations are in the business of creating wealth for their stakeholders. Business is business.


The failure to plan prohibits the MBE from asking and answering hard questions about true target audience and fit.

Mr. Gill would suggest that all MBE's without a written business plan stop and immediately write a plan for the company. There are excellent resources available in the general library or on the general market. The plan should be personally written by the entrepreneur, without any initial assistance by outside "experts."

In our technological age, changes are sweeping and rapid. The modern business person must be nimble-able to turn on a dime to exploit business opportunities or to respond to rapid change.

A study by the Kaufman Foundation found that almost 18 percent of all bankruptcy filings stem from biz (business) failure.

Mr. Gill's advice is to forget the shortcuts. Write out the plan. Be specific. Be strategic. Be ruthlessly honest. Then get in the game and win.

Many MBE's wrongly assume that simply being a minority entities them to participate in corporate supplier diversity programs.

Minority-owned businesses should not approach business with a desire or expectation of any special breaks based on minority status.

Due to the size and breadth of the corporate spend of Fortune 500@ companies and the growing participation of American corporations in supplier diversity initiative; the spectrum of opportunities for minority businesses is wide. MBE marketing is often directed to departments or areas that either do not buy or do not have opportunities within the MBE's area of expertise. Other times, the marketing campaign is directed at several corporations, across the board, without a clear assessment of the corporations' needs.

The MBE's register frustration because the corporations seem uninterested or unresponsive.

This process works best when MBE's take the time and initiative to properly research their intended targets to either discover or make those corporations aware of how they intend to add value. Some MBE's market to certain corporations for name only, regardless of whether they can truly add value to that potential customers.

This is a mistake and a waste of time. MBE's must get to the place where they know their target clients immediately and tailor their approaching to address the needs of their intended customers.

A closely related principle to knowing the customer is knowing the competition. This is an area of real opportunity for MBE's who are willing to study their their customers, their competition, and to innovate. MBE's are often in the best position to design custom solutions for their clients. This is what corporate purchasing are looking for.

By understanding the competition, MBE's can innovate their way to successful contracts.

Minority business owners have overcome racisim, legal hurdles, and a host of incredible obstacles to make the advances that have been made up to the current date. Perhaps for these reasons-pride in themselves and pride in their companies - minority entrepreneurs tend to primarily sell themselves (and their companies) to corporate America.

MBE's have all been taught to polish their "thirty-second commerical" or elevator speech and to practice well to sell themselveds. While there is some truth to this advice, Mr. Gill adds that corporations are less interested in minority business entrepreneurs and their companies per se, and more interested in how those entrepreneurs and companies can help solve problems, make more money,or create more shareholder value. Every entrepreneur - to some degree - believes deeply in himself and can memorize an elevator speech.

Clients need to know how an MBE intends to make them better. If the MBE cannot do it, then it needs to rethink why it is selling to that client. The MBE may have a very impressive resume, but most clients listen to that favorite old radio station WIFM, namely, what's in it for me?

Elevator speeches don't satisfy needs, solutions do. To be effective, MBE's must research their targets in order to discover and sell solutions to their problems.

Business is all about relationships. It's a well-known truth that people are most comfortable doing business with those who they know and trust. As trust goes, so goes all relationships. It's imperative for MBE's to spend the time necessary to cultivate relationships with gatekeepers and other individuals within their target market.

Modern corporate shuffling and downsizing means that relationships get reshuffled and downsized in the process.

Knowing in advance that even the most well-tended relationship can be suddenly broken, the successful MBE should take steps to protect itself.

Mr. Gill also adds a word about lower-level employees. Do not underestimate their power by focusing on their position.

MBE's must learn the all-important lesson to develop relationships with individuals at all levels of management within their clients and targets. In business, as in life, relationships are everything.

MBE's should be open to exploring opportunities within local, state, and federal government; civic, trade, and business leagues; chambers of commerce; and a host of other avenues for potential business development. This is not to deemphasize the importance of supplier diversity initiatives.

One of the best corporate clients for Mr. Gill came from a conversation with an acquaintance in the hallway of his Church. Others came from volunteerism, trade associations, and other avenues. The bottom line is that MBE's must expand their business development horizons beyond supplier diversity.

Business volatility dictates that heavy dependence on few clients is a recipe for failure.

There is an irreversible trend i corporate procurement that all minority-owned businesses must quickly acknowledge: corporate America's desire to cut costs and build efficiencies and shareholder value by considering its supplier base. This means that corporations are looking to do business with fewer vendors with greater capacity and geographic coverage. This is a trend that is accelerating and is creating great challenges for minority-owned businesses, which are typically small in size and geographic scope.

In short, MBE's must look to grow size and scope in order to be competitive in the modern economy.

One of the greatest obstacles to growth and a constant challenge to businesses of all backgrounds is the lack of access to capital. This problem is acute in the minority business community.

MBE's must consider the option of out-right merging together in order to create companies of size. This requires homework, trust, and great risktaking; but MBE's who remain stagnant in growth are taking greater risks by failing to seriously consider this option.

In 2003, Mr. Gill merged his MBE law firm into the largest MBE law firm in the country.

His advice for MBE firms, particularly mature MBE's (Mr. Gill's firm was over 20 years in business) is to immediately begin this process if it has not already begun. Fortunately we live in a time where there are a plethora of resources, in the forms of consultants, university classes, published books, and white papers, etc., which map out effective succession strategies.

Succession planning is what Stephen Covey would call a Quadrant 2 activity - Important, but not urgent. Ninety percent of the mature minority businesses surveyed had not engaged in any succession planning. That is a disturbing and telling statistic.

Build a solid business before pursing supplier diversity opportunities. Most minority business startups are simply not ready to meet these requirements.

IT is more advantageous to develop a business platform by doing business with smaller companies, until the experience and resources are earned to service a large corporate contract. The experience of building up the company to the requisite maturity level is invaluable, and it teaches the minority entrepreneur how to build a business, independent of supplier diversity channels.

For the MBE looking to grow its business, no option should be off the table.

Develop good, old-fashioned perseverance.

Business relationships take time to nurture, and great companies are never built overnight. Minority entrepreneurs live in the most exciting era of American history for business opportunities.

To succeed, you get to keep improving, keep growing, and keep going. Eventually, your hard work and tenacity will reap dividends.

In business, timing is everything.

Never quit. Never give up. Even when it seems that all doors are slammed in your face and no one responds to your calls and iniquiries, stay the course. That transformational opportunity is in front of you. Just keeping moving in the direction of your dreams one step at a time and never give up.

The minority myth says that minority business means lack of quality.

The truth is that corporations that desire to thrive in the twenty-first century must confront, expose the minority myth. Companies that continue in the myth are simply choosing to ignore reality.

Minority-owned companies are growing at four times the rate of the average Untied States firm and creating thousands of jobs annually. Corporations that see only social welfare opportunities in the foregoing statistics are sadly mistaken.

Since the publication of Tales My Grandma Told Me, in 2007, the nation's largest companies have not exceeded 3% of their combined corporate spend with minority-owned companies. Of the approximately 3,500 corporate members of the NMSCE, only 18 of those corporations belong to the Billion-Dollar Roundtable, a group of companies that spend in excess of $1 billion annually with minority-and women-owned companies.

Successful corporations must move from the minority myth to the minority mission, recognizing the latest potential of minority markets and therefore assigning mission critical status to minority business development programs. These programs build wealth in minority communities, which translates to bottomline profits for corporations that make the connection.

Far too many corporations use supplier diversity initiatives as window dressing. Beyond the platitudes and marketing fodder, there is very little commitment to the process of identifying and integrating diverse suppliers. These companies do more more harm than good by creating unrealistic expectations in MBE's who respond to their glossy invitations to do business.

World-class programs take time, so it may appear that these companies are insincere when, in fact, they are actually evolving. These companies are to be applauded for moving in the right direction.

According to the NNSDC, corporations that are committed to creating supplier diversity programs that are work should start with 6 key areas for development.

In 2012, The Billion Dollar Roundtable published the book "Billion Dollar Roundtrable Supplier Diversity Best Practices" which builds on the platform laid by the NMSDC.

The implementation of these policies spells the word: Commitment. Corporations must not only talk about supplier diversity, they must demonstrate commitment by their actions.

According to Diversity Inc. magazine, "successful supplier-diversity directors are passionate about their work. The best directors invest a lot of time in bringing together buyers and business-owners-a job that can't always be done between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

It is elementary that people make programs work.

Nothing speaks to commitment more than money. It is easy to discover what a company values by analyzing where it spends its hard-earned dollars.

In the first analysis, corporate insiders do not need to be experts on race relations. Ultimately, they should understand the color green - that supplier diversity translates to green for both their employers and themselves. Corporate executives may never understand brown, but when it comes to their own green, their learning curve will accelerate exponentially.

Corporate policy is set at the board level. It also follows tat corporate boards must be diversified to include members of minority groups and women.

Corporations must become proactive about recruiting diverse board members.

Good intentions without focus accomplish little.

Corporations must become strategic at the highest levels of management to uncover latent opportunities for minority business development.

One of the best resources for development in this area is the 36 NMSDC affiliate councils. These councils are home to the top minority businesses in the country.

Those at the table for the wrong reasons will falter. That is not minority business - just business.

Like all businesses, MBE's are seeking opportunities.

Take a look at any business magazine, and the messages are manifold. Corporations should establish a policy of straight forward communication with the minority business community, advising it of real opportunities and also of areas where opportunities do not exist. MBE's will appreciate the honesty if the information is honestly presented.

Mr. Gill's grandma taught him that everything happens for a reason-that there is an opportunity in every situation, good or bad. She would often say, "when one door is closed, another is opened."

Just across town, in downtown Chicago Luis Calderon was standing in side of Chicago Business Opportunity. He was looking inside a copy of Minority Business Digest, the glossy magazine that chronicled issues pertinent to minority-owned businesses in the United States.

Being Mexican he was sure that he met the "minority" part of the equation. Being the sole owner of his fledling public relations firm, he was equally sure that he had met the "business"side of the equation.

If he could attract even one percent of all the corporate attendees as clients.

Luis Cslderon hustled to conclude the telephone call: Today was the long-awaited informational meeting on AMCA minority certification.

Several Hispanics-Americans were featured, which made Luis especially proud.

There were ethnic minorities from several racial and cultural backgrounds.

Minority-owned businesses were welcomed, but not one cold force the corporate members to dance.

What was it Grandma once said? "Business is business, son. You got to give the people what they want. Quality and service at a fair price-end of story."

Back in Chicago, R. Clayton Hughes, CEO in the multibillion-dollar health and beauty giant Elegance Cosmetics, was fit to be tied.

The minority business would ask a lot of questions, get no real answers, and he and his colleagues would get made out to be insensitive bad guys.

First,the room was mostly filled with women. The second thing he noticed was the great diversity of ethnicity and shades in complexion, hair, and attire of the attendees. A strange thought entered his mind: This is what makes America great.

Mr. A. Wayne Gill is the Managing Partner and majority shareholder of Gill Law Firm, P.A., a law firm operating in multiple jurisdictions throughout the Southeast United States. His clientele includes leading multi-national companies, and he serves on the Board of Directors for the South Florida Minority Supplier Development Council. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including Macy's "Crystal Award" for Outstanding Minority Business Advocacy and Northwood University's Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award.