T.G.I.F.! NCAA Tourney Poll Results

(No, this is not my usual blog post, so humor me a little.) The University of Louisville will go all the way in the NCAA Tournament and become the next national champions! At least that's what the majority of people say polled on the Jesus Saves Ministries Blog. Only 11% said Louisville would make it to the Sweet 16. Another 11% said they would make it to the Elite 8, but a whopping, 77% say Louisville will go all the way in the tournament. The University of Louisville is now in the Elite 8 after their impressive win yesterday over Arizona. Tomorrow, they take on Michigan State for a birth in the Final Four. Tip off time is 2:20 p.m. ET. Go Cards!

Civil Rights Pioneer John Hope Franklin Dies At 94

Civil Rights pioneer, professor and historian John Hope Franklin died Wednesday of congestive heart failure. He was 94. Scripture shows us that names are significant to a person. It is no accident then that God put "Hope" in the middle of his identity. At our church, hope stands for having only positive expectations. John Hope Franklin had positive expectations not only for himself, but for all African Americans and for race relations in America. I am so grateful he lived and wasn't afraid to be himself, a black man filled with hope. He brought dignity to the African American experience in countless ways and has given us all hope for the future.
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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)-John Hope Franklin, a towering scholar and pioneer of African-American studies who wrote the seminal text on the black experience in the U.S. and worked on the landmark Supreme Court case that outlawed public school segregation, died Wednesday. He was 94.
David Jarmul, a spokesman at Duke University, where Franklin taught for a decade and was professor emeritus of history, said he died of congestive heart failure at the school's hospital in Durham.
Born and raised in an all-black community in Oklahoma where he was often subjected to humiliating racism, Franklin was later instrumental in bringing down the legal and historical validations of such a world.
As an author, his book "From Slavery to Freedom" was a landmark integration of black history into American history that remains relevant more than 60 years after being published. As a scholar, his research helped Thurgood Marshall and his team at the NAACP win Brown v. Board of Education, the 1954 case that barred the doctrine of "separate but equal" in the nation's public schools.
Pioneering historian John Hope Franklin dies at 94

Go And Say, He Is Risen!

Rev. Angela Lee Price

For those who still believe women are not called to preach the Word of God, you should know it is empowering to many women, and not just preachers, that God used a woman, Mary Magdalene to deliver the important message, "He is risen." "Jesus said unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God. And your God!" (John 20:17 KJV).

Here it is, the most important moment in all of biblical history, and a woman is present and enlisted for duty. Women today are empowered by (1) Mary's presence and (2) Jesus' enlistment.

Mary is present. She is at the right place at the right time, and as the song says, she receives a blessing from the Lord! Mary has walked by faith and not by sight. The question that begs to be answered is, "Where are all the brothers?" The disciples should have been present. Jesus kept telling them what to expect. They walked with Him and talked with Him. He prepared them for three years, and yet not one of them had enough faith to be there when He got up? So, it is Mary Magadelene who is sent to deliver this confirming word of redemption.

You need to know, my brothers and sisters, that despite all the intellect, wisdom, and testosterone in the world, without faith it is impossible to please God. Mary is present. And it is her mustard seed-size faith that moved the heart of God and has moved mountains in the hearts of women today. Today, women make up 70%-80% of most black churches. We are present. We have Jesus' back and the black church's back. And just as Jesus rewarded Mary Magdelene for her faith, I am convinced Jesus can and will reward women in the 21st century for their faith in Him.

Secondly, we see Jesus' enlistment. Jesus has just died on a rugged Cross, and has gotten up from a cold, dusty, borrowed grave and what does he do? He enlists Mary Magadelene for active duty. She was not a certain class or calibre of woman, but a woman once possessed with seven demons.

In John Chapter 20, Jesus called this woman not to a certain type of an assignment, but to this pivotal assignment. He could have told her to go and play with the children since that’s “woman’s work,” or go and pray since women “know how to get a prayer through,” or go and stay quiet since women “should keep quiet in the church,” but he didn’t.

Instead, early that Sunday morning He told her “go and say unto them…” This assignment should have gone to one of the disciples had one been present. The sad fact is men are not present in church. That is why we have pastors like Rev. Dr. Eric C. Redmond writing books entitled, Where Are All the Brothers? Straight Answers to Men’s Questions About the Church.

Now go and say, He is risen!

It is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

We're Singing Our SWANS Song!

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

My husband, Bill and I are singing our SWANS song because of Sisters With A New Spirit Health Ministry Coalition. SWANS, a dedicated group of licensed nurses and caregivers have been a true blessing to our family during Bill’s stroke recovery.

Registered nurse Tanya Beauchamp is a God-send. She has helped Bill to change his eating habits, monitor his blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and has been on-call to answer questions and offer advice. Bill has come to rely upon and trust her expertise. She as gone above and beyond the call of duty to help Bill recover fully and live a healthy, abundant life. We have sent several people to SWANS and they love it. SWANS has a home with a beautiful ambiance, sitting room, kitchen table experience, garden and serenity courtyard.

Tanya and her team of health care professionals provide a Christ-centered approach to physical and spiritual well-being and healing by offering a wide-range of healthcare and caregiver services, including diabetes awareness, heart disease awareness, cancer awareness, hospice, homecare, meal preparation, proper diet, body care, and more. They offer assisted care for seniors and respite care for caregivers assisting loved ones at home.

We highly recommend SWANS Health Ministry Coalition. Registered nurse Virgina Bradford with Kentucky African American Against Cancer is an authority on cancer and cancer screenings and early detection. SWANS coordinators represent The Louisville Metro Health Dept, the Office of Minority Health, Kentucky African Americans Against Cancer, the American Heart Association, The Minority Aids Program, and nurse and nurse practitioners from within the community. The have access to a wealth of knowledge and talents, and they will utilize every possible resource available to allow God to minister to you. Call 502-454-4885 and you’ll be singing your SWANS song, too!

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves.

Palm Sunday Celebration Features Maurette Brown Clark

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

As Christians prepare to observe the death, burial, and ressurection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 12th, organizers of a Palm Sunday musical celebration entitled The Greatest featuring Stellar Award winning gospel artist Maurette Brown Clark set for April 5th at St. Stephen Church in Louisville, plan to set the record straight on the difference between Palm Sunday and Good Friday, two key biblical events that preceded Jesus' ascension on Resurrection Sunday.

Palm Sunday is often misunderstood states concert organizer, CJ Akins, "God gave me the vision last year to do a Palm Sunday celebration because a lot of people don't really understand what Palm Sunday was about. A lot of people confuse Palm Sunday with Good Friday, therefore you have church choirs singing songs like He Decided To Die on Palm Sunday, and Jesus did not die until Good Friday. Palm Sunday was truly a praise celebration! God gave me this vision to have a praise celebration just like the people did in the Bible. This concert will be a true worship experience. All songs will be songs of praise and adoration to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who is the greatest."

Gospel artist Maurette Brown Clark received a 2008 Stellar Award for Praise & Worship CD of the Year, for her latest CD entitled, The Dream. The CD includes songs One God, Sovereign God, and her latest single, It Ain't Over. "This year we’re going to another level! We are so blessed to have Stellar Award winner Maurette Brown Clark as our special guest, along with Min. Victor Wynn from the Temple Church in Nashville, Tennessee. I am truly excited about what God is going to do on April 5th," states Akins.

St. Stephen Church host praise and worship team, From the Heart will also render selections. CJ Akins is the worship leader for From the Heart, a praise team that sings every 2nd Wednesday at the St. Stephen Church Louisville campus. "God has truly blessed our ministry to sing throughout the Central Kentucky area as well. "We've been together since October 2006," states Akins.

The Greatest is Sunday, April 5th, 5:00 p.m. at St. Stephen Church, 1018 South 15th Street. It is free and open to the public.

Book Review: If I Only Could Write A Line

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

Louisville attorney Charles C. Hagan, Jr. handed me a copy of this newly released book from Millennium Vision Press just yesterday, and it has truly blessed my soul. If I Could Only Write A Line - The Religious and Inspirational Poetry of Mary Southers is a book of 197 original and authentic poems, all written in the 1930's and 1940's by his great-grandmother, Mary Southers, a former resident of Louisville, and a past member of Lampton Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky.

"These poems and another 55 were hidden away in an old trunk belonging to Mary Southers's oldest son, Christopher M. Parker. They were not discovered until after his death in 1984. These poems have never been published or seen the light of day, except some were often read at church, and many were sent to friends, neighbors, and relatives as Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, and on other special days and occasions," says editor Charles C. Hagan, Jr., Mary's great-grandson.

Ms. Souther's love for the Lord is apparent on every page of poetry in poems like, Just Took A Little Walk With the Lord, I Know Jesus And He Knows Me, He Has Risen, O, We Of Little Faith, The Power of God, and her first poem, Happy At Last. Especially beautiful to me, being that today, March 16th is my birthday, is the poem on page 97 written June 13, 1948 entitled, Happy Birthday:

On this another birthday my dear

I've just a few words to you to say

May all the peace and happiness be yours

On this your birthday.

The Lord has been with you all the way

And has led you another mile

May he in his mercy forever keep you

As a good father does his child.

May the Lord lead and guide you

As you travel through this unfriendly world

And may you give Him the glory and thanks

And let his banner be unfurled.

and this one on page 96 entitled, On Your Birthday:

Beloved of my heart
Until death I shall pray
That you walk down the years
In God's gracious way.

That the lily which now
In your young heart enshrined
With the rays of his love
May forever be enshrined.

To Jesus whose beauty
Through the ages has shown
And which gleams in its whiteness
Before God's bright throne.

I give you in trust
You are young and sweet
May he keep you my darling
And guide your dear feet.

Selected and edited by Charles C. Hagan, Jr., If I Could Only Write A Line will bless and encourage you in your walk with Jesus Christ. This book certainly demonstrates that this unknown poet, and housekeeper by trade, Mary Southers had an extraordinary gift for writing a line.

Happy Birthday, Min. Angela!

My birthday is on March 16th! Please celebrate with me by signing my guestbook! Thank you so much for supporting Jesus Saves Ministries!

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

T.G.I.F. and It's the 13th!

T.G.I.F., Thank God I'm Forgiven, and it's Friday, the 13th again! Oh, is the 13th an an unlucky number for you? Many people are running from black cats, avoiding ladders, tossing salt over their shoulders, and clinging to their lucky rabbit's feet, crystals, and good luck charms today in hopes of avoiding spells, voodoo hexes, and curses. You may not realize this, but church-going people are more superstitious than you might think. And many, particularly the young and new believers, are engaging in occult practices like never before.

Believe it or not, whenever you forward an e-mail, be it a prayer or what have you, to a specified number of people in order to obtain a "special blessing," you have just engaged in a form magic. And whenever people of God rely heavily on prophets and prophetesses for personal prophecies, instead of on the Word of God for objective truth, they are engaging in a form of witchcraft. And when Christians let their children play popular card games with witches and wizards and where demon-like characters and monsters cast spells, they are out of the will of God and are subjecting their children and their households to demonic attack.

Magic, spells, voodoo, witchcraft and divination belong to the set of practices known as "the occult." Occult practices include visiting palm readers and fortune tellers, and participating in seances and rituals as a means to contact dead, spirit beings, and obtain supernatural knowledge. God hates these things. The Bible says, "And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:10b-12a, NLT).

Don't be afraid of witchcraft, wizards, spells and unlucky days. The Ancient of Days is all you need. He is much more powerful than any black cat, satanist, psychic, or magician. The powers of Pharaoh's magicians couldn't match God's powers (Exodus 8:19, 9:11), and the King's magicians couldn't interpret his dreams when Daniel could through God's revelation (Daniel 1L20, 2:27, 4:7ff, 5:7-30). Acts 19:19 describes how the people who had done magic gave it up after then trusted Jesus, "And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone" (NASB).

If you'd like a FREE ESV New Testament Holy Bible, e-mail me at jesussaves838@ yahoo.com and I will send it to you, no strings attached, while supplies last.

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

What Type of Leader Are You Anyway?

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

What type of leader are you anyway? Ezekiel chapter 34 is a lesson on servant-leadership. If you are going to lead like Jesus, teach like Jesus, and love like Jesus, you must begin by serving like Jesus. Jesus was the perfect servant-leader. The Scriptures tell us that being a true servant-leader is how one receives the abundant blessing that so many people magically "claim" nowadays (in the name of Jesus, of course), only there is nothing magical about servant-leadership. It takes hard work, compassion, and commitment.

Contrast the false and self-serving leadership style of the so-called “shepherds” in Ezekiel chapter 34 who scattered their flocks, trampled over and abused, and even devoured them, with the words of Jesus in John 10:11 where Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” In verse 14 He says, “I am the good shepherd, I know my own sheep, and they know me” (NLT).

In John 13, Jesus washes his disciples’ feet. In verses 14-17 He says, “And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. How true it is that a servant is not greater than the master. Nor or messengers more important than the one who sends them. You know these things-now do them! That is the path to blessing” (NLT).

What type of leader are you? Do you scatter the sheep or gather the sheep? Do you care for them, or are they just a means to an end, a way for you to make money? Destruction is certain for those shepherds who feed themselves at the expense of the flock (Ezekiel 34:2). Whatever you do for the people under your care do it in love, for Jesus says in John 15:12, "I command you to love each other in the same way that I have loved you."

It is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

A Sea of Red: Delta Day At St. Stephen

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

On Sunday, March 8th, members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Louisville Alumnae Chapter, attended worship service at St. Stephen Church in Louisville. Delta member and Courier Journal Newspaper editorial columnist Betty Baye' welcomed her sorority sisters to St. Stephen, her home church. She said, "Rev. Jesse Jackson didn't have to tell us that they were somebody. We have known it since 1913, the year of Delta's founding at Howard University."

Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby addressed the group of more than 100 women in red at the 9:40 worship service, and noted the historical achievement of Delta Sigma Theta's founding in Kentucky. Xi Chapter, the undergraduate chapter at the University of Louisville, was originally founded at Simmons College of Kentucky, the school where he serves as 13th president. The organization's 13 chapter was the first greek undergraduate chapter founded in Kentucky.

Delta Day at St. Stephen, coordinated by the Delta membership committee, was one in a series of special activities designed to reclaim sorors who are not members of the chapter and to build a greater bond among current chapter members. In January, the membership committee hosted the Rainbow Brunch: A Delta Round Up. More than 60 sorors attended this fun filled day of sisterly bonding. After the February chapter meeting, Delta members gathered at downtown venue for lunch and laughs. Each soror in attendance received a special Valentine from the membership committee. Following service at St. Stephen, chapter members gathered for brunch at the Bristol on Main Street.

Remember, it is not

(There are additional posts on Delta Sigma Theta Sorority on the sidebar of the blog under the Labels section.)

Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

The Black Church Week of Prayer for Healing of AIDS

The Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS is a week-long education and awareness campaign highlighting the role of the Black Church in addressing the AIDS crisis. This campaign serves to pave the way for the continuous delivery of prevention education and services to the African American community via faith communities.

To find out how your church can participate, click on Balm In Gilead

The Prosperity Gospel's False Promise

Sherman Cox has written a book review on Soulpreaching.com that I think you should check out. It is on the book by Marvin McMickle entitled, Where Have All the Prophets Gone: Reclaiming Prophetic Preaching In America?

In his book review Cox says...
Marvin McMickle, in his work Where Have All The Prophets Gone writes about one of the biggest heresies that has grabbed hold of the church. This one is the idea that Christians are some how immune from suffering, sickness, or pain. McMickle notes that these preachers seem to see an "exemption" from suffering. All you have to do is "plant your seed" and you will be blessed with financial blessing. You will be blessed with a physical cure to whatever ails you.

Read The Prosperity Gospel's False Promise.