‘When he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion [on him]‘ Luke 15:20

Jesus told a story about the importance of being in relationship with God (read it in Luke 15:11-32). It begins with a son asking his dad for an inheritance even though dad hasn’t died. He gets what he wants, flashes the cash, living it wild in a place far from home.

Soon, the bank balance hits the red and the kid finds himself out on his own, far from where he used to be, reduced to desperate measures. What’s the problem here? Is it the taste for loose living? Is it that the money has run out? Or is it the kid finds himself miles away from where he should be? Obviously, the taste for casinos, casual sex, drugs and alcohol are major symptoms but the root of the problem lies in where the runaway son has found himself – miles away from his father’s house.

After all, would the kid be living a riotous life if he was in relationship with his father? Does any of this strike a chord with you? Perhaps, the problem isn’t your long list of wild party living antics – the real problem is you’re no longer in relationship with God. So, you’ve found yourself a long way from where you should be; you’ve done stuff you never dreamt you’d do.

What now? Leave it all behind, start those first steps back to a relationship with God. He’s seen you a long way off and he wants you back home. You’ll find Him running towards you.

On August 18th 2010 Dominica Officially launched its 2011 Population and Housing Census following an official launching ceremony at the Fort young Hotel

Census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording of information about a population and is normally the largest data taken by the Government of a country.

The 2011 Population and Housing census will provide vital information including the complete count of the population size and distribution, age structures, educational attainment, development management and other socio-economic status.

This vital information is use for developing government polices and programs, and for determining the growth and distribution of a country’s people by comparing the previous census with the current census statistics.

The first census conducted on the island of Dominica in  the year 1844 failed due to the mindset of the people, believing that this was some conspiracy to enslave them again, since slavery had been recently abolished in (1833) an the ex-slave was  apprehensive about the idea of  being counted.

The population census is taken every 10 years; the last Census was in May 2001.

Census Day will be May 14th 2011

Scholar.F. Jahra McLawrence

Attorney, United States Navy veteran, community volunteer and scholar. F. “Jahra” McLawrence was born on August 11, 1972, in Portsmouth, Dominica in the West Indies.

In Dominica, McLawrence was raised by his great-aunt and her husband. As a child, he overcame childhood malnutrition and pneumonia. At age seven, he immigrated to Queens, New York, to live with his single mother, a medical secretary, in the tough government housing projects.

McLawrence’s mother continually reinforced the importance of a good education. In 1986, McLawrence was accepted into one of only three prestigious specialized New York City high schools, Brooklyn Technical High School. Acceptance at this top high school came at a price for the adolescent McLawrence, as he was frequently forced to defend himself on the subway rides between Queens and Brooklyn.

“I remember having to fight almost every other week just so I could go to school and get a good education,” McLawrence says. “That experience was definitely a turning point in my life. It taught me, more than anything else, that nothing, not even an education, was going to come to me without a struggle.” After high school, McLawrence joined the U.S. Navy, to give back to the country that gave him so much. During his time in the Navy, McLawrence served tours in Iraq and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

After serving for more than four years and traveling around the world while in the military, he enrolled at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee. While at FAMU, he worked several odd jobs, including as astockboy at Eckerd’s, salesperson at Gayfer’s department store, electrician for a construction company, computer lab technician, and graduate school assistant— all to earn money to cover tuition and living expenses.

Although McLawrence started college five years later than his peers, due to his service in the military, he was determined to make the most of his educational opportunity. And that he did. McLawrence not only completed his bachelor’s degree in three years, he was also inducted into the Golden Key National Honor Society and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s of science in accounting.

Following college, McLawrence matriculated through law school at the University of Florida Levin College of Law inGainesville. At UF, he was selected as a member of the Florida Journal of International Law. After graduating law school and passing the Florida Bar Examination in 2001, McLawrence worked as a law clerk for the firm of Stephen Rakusin, P.A., in Fort Lauderdale, which specialized in creditor’s rights and construction lien litigation.

In 2003, McLawrence fulfilled a personal promise to protect the constitutional rights of the indigent, by joining the Broward County Public Defender’s Office. Soon after, McLawrence became an adjunct professor at Florida International University, where he taught “Women, Crime, and the Criminal Justice System” and “The Legal Issues in Corrections.” In 2006, in keeping with his passion for the law, he

served as a guest lecturer for the Florida Bar, discussing civil and criminal procedure. He now operates his own firm in Fort Lauderdale.

In addition to his dedication to the law, McLawrence makes a conscious effort to give back to Broward’s communities. He has conducted legal seminars at churches and schools throughout South Florida and mentored youngsters in the Public Defender’s summer justice program. He volunteers with the NAACP and the Urban League, and supports numerous community activities.

Photo credits: http://revue.idnes.cz

Ben and Angela Ihegboro stunned  genetics experts when the news broke that the couple who is of  African descent  gave birth to a  white little girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. the British couple gave her name  Nmachi Ihegboro which means “The beauty of God”.

Their first impression was surprise , happy but confused as they  told  the press. doctor has confirmed that the baby is  not an albinos.

One thing of certain is that the husband  is 100%  sure that their was no foul play and the baby is his.

you may view more on this story @ the following link: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3060907/Black-parents-give-birth-to-white-baby.html

Photo Credits : www.panonthenet.com

Mack Scott , leader and president  of  Pan Sonatas formally known as Sonatas was one of four distinguished honorees recognized for Caribbean-American Heritage Month in New York, by the office of the New York Comptroller, John C. Liu.

A large part of the organization’s success and consistency is due to the steadfastness of Mr. Scott. His vision, personal sacrifices and leadership have guided the multicultural organization to national and global recognition as one of the best music organizations in the world. His quiet leadership style beguiles the passion, intensity and intellect his problem-solving skills bring to the executive management branch of Pan Sonatas, where there is respect among co-executives and equals

find more information by clicking here

Dominica Cricket

Dominica will be hosting two one day international cricket match in Dominica from May 28 to 30th at the Windsor Park Stadium where the West Indies will take on South Africa.

Prior to the commencement of the cricket match the Dominica Windsor Park Stadium was renamed, giving designed stands names after prominent cricket ambassadors.

Stands were renamed to in honor of Grayson and Irvin Shillingford, Norbert Phillip, Adam Sanford, Kaleb Laurent, Clem John, Billy Doctrove ,the Roseau River End and Botanic Garden End.

It was noted that Grayson and Irvin Shillingford were the first to represent Dominica at West Indies cricket in 1969 – 1977 respectively.

Norbert Phillip was also recognized for his representation of the Dominica in 1978 and Adam Sanford was hail first Kalinago to represented West Indies in 2002 after capturing 41 wickets for the leeward island.

Update: South Africa beat West Indies by 7 wickets  see details

Be sure to leave your comments.

Vegetables as Anti-angiogenesis

William Li presented a new found look at the way people should be begin thinking in the area of treating cancer and other diseases. Anti-angiogenesis; preventing the growth of blood vessels that feed a tumor. The first and most important step discussed was not keeping away from foods by eating food, Eating cancer-fighting foods that cut off the supply lines and beat cancer at its own game.

Harvard study of 79,000 men studied over 20 year period

“Men who consume 2-3 servings of cooked tomatoes per week have a reduced risk for developing prostate cancer by 40-50%” – Dr. Lorelei Mucci
Harvard School of Public Health

Some of the foods talked about were: Green tea,Strawberries,Red wine,Tomato,Nutmeg, pineapple,cherries and lots more.

This means steals from the already established fact that the more natural things we consume the healthier we remain.

The following video shows William Li Presentation at  TED

Photo credits: barbadosfreepress

Hon. Roosevelt from the Commonwealth of Dominica ranked Number 8 overall in a Washington Post article featuring the hottest world leader in December 2009.

The Washington post released this article featuring the hottest heads of state, ranking leaders for their eye-candy appeal.

View full story

www.washingtonpost.com

Photo credits: healthinmotion.wordpress.com

DON’T TAKE IT

HUMAN BEINGS HAVE A GREAT TENDENCY TO ACCEPT OR TAKE NICE GIFTS FROM LOVE ONES AND FRIENDS AND TEND TO REJECT OR turn down bad gifts from them. One thing I cant understand, why we are so willing to accept offenses from people which is far of worse than rejecting a gift you don’t like.

Too many times, we want to carry with us every where we go the offenses we receive from people like the offense is part of us. We sometimes take it to church, school, and even give it to friends to carry to which is more destructive because that’s a seed we are sowing in them.

WHAT IS OFFENSE?

As defined in the dictionary, an upsetting feeling. I have made this definition: words spoken to or about a person or actions taken that displease or hurt ones feelings. For someone to be offended, something most times have to be said.

Let me ask a question, should we do or say something to cause someone to be offended according to scriptures? Off course not.

TYPES OF OFFENSE

As long as we live on planet earth, offenses are things we cannot stop Luke17:1. Jesus himself told us that offenses will come, so we must always acknowledge that we are all open to it.

1. Real offense: This is when someone does or say something to you willingly to hurt your feelings.eg when Jesus was tempted by satan after fasting.

2. Accidental offense: This is when someone does or say something to someone not willingly with the intension to bring hurt but rather just joking around, or say something in one context and the other person takes it differently.

3. Imaginary Offense: This is when someone just imagines that someone has said something bad about them or thinks that someone is saying things about them with out any evidence.

HOW IS ONE OFFENDED?

Someone is offended only when they get their focus off the word of God and fails to accept what Gods word says about them and willingly accepts what others say to them. Psalms 119: 165 tells us great peace have they which love the law of God and nothing shall offend them

HOW TO RESPOND WHEN OFFENDED

Many times instead of responding in a positive fashion when offended, we tend to behave just like the people of the world. Often times we try to get even with the person who offends us. Any time we get even with our offenders, we become a slave to them because the Bible tells us whatsoever that controls us we are a slave to it.When offended we should:

1. Reflect back on the word of God because that’s our guide Psalms 119:165

2. Seek God and find out what he is teaching you in this situation

3. Respond quietly because proverbs 15:1 tells us a soft answer turns away wrath

4. Never seek to offend back because Luke 17:1 says woe unto the person through whom offense come.

5. At times its better if we just move away from the offender without any hatred in your heart because Matthew 18:8 says if thy hand or thy feet offend thee ,cut them off and cast them from thee.

6. Guard your heart with all diligence because out of it comes the issues of life. The heart is the most sensitive part of our being so we should always protect it.

7. Refuse to take any offense because Jesus commanded us not to .John16:1

HOW NOT TO CAUSE OFFENSE

1. First obey Gods word which tells us not to offend others.

2. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but only that which is good to the edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Ephesians 4:29

3. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt that you may know how you have to answer every man. Colossian 4:6 .(read it)

4. Start loving people because if you truly love someone you will not want to hurt their feelings.

5. We must trust God to help us not to offend people and pray to God to set a watch before our mouth and to keep the door of our lips. Psalms 141:3

In closing , don’t take offense cause the devil is as a roaring lion walking about seeking souls he may devour so when you recognize the spirit of offense bind it and cast it out in the name of Jesus. You have all the power and authority to do so and lets do like the apostle paul to forget those things which are behind; forget what people have said and press towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.

Photo credits: www.allhatnocattle.net

Symptoms of an attack

1. When a person is under attack, they lose there spiritual hunger for God.

Since our spiritual hunger is the first thing the enemy will attack in us, we must protect it at all costs. Mathew 5:6 check it out

2. The second thing that happens to a person under attack is a loss of strength.

Even though they are smiling and saying the same things, they have lost that force about them. They have lost that spiritual punch and accuracy. There is no life, joy or jump in them. See Ephesians 6:10 True joy, strength and life comes from the inward man. The only way a believer can effectively fight an attack is by gaining strength from the Lord.

We cannot win outside of the spirit. We must allow our confession in the word of God to give us strength. “Let the weak say, I AM STRONG.” We must be careful not to rely on natural ability when we are in a spiritual war.

3. The third way to recognize an attack is that you don’t feel like yourself.

When the natural body is sick, you feel terrible. We don’t feel like ourselves, we feel strange, and we act strange. When the body is sick, our natural tendency is to lay on the sofa, watch television; or go to bed and sleep the day away. We must recognize a spiritual attack in the same way. When we are being  fought by the enemy, we begin to feel things that are not true. One of those feelings is paranoia. You begin to feel like you are being judged, criticized and that every one is looking at you and telling you how awfully wrong you are. You feel like you can never please anyone because your life is such a spectacle.
If you give in to those feelings, you’ll quit and go backwards. That is called an attack of the devil.

Love and joy comes as a way of life when we live in the Spirit. Don’t ever be intimidated in a spiritual war.

Intimidation is a major weapon of the enemy. Intimidation puts you in a box and you can’t come out and be yourself.

One of the best tactics the enemy can use on a minister is to make him feel rejected, intimidated and insecure.

You are the victor; So Be It!. You are more than a conqueror;So Conquer! Don’t stand there and say, “well, no one likes me.” Say, Devil, I break your power!” The Bible calls us “army” and that’s not a nice title illustration. The bible tells us that because we are an army, we must learn the strategies of the enemy and conquer them. Learn to recognize when an attack comes. Stand up to it and win in the strength of the Lord.