Religion
A Three-Part Celebration: The Life and Legacy of Rev. Dr. Johnnie Colemon
February is a month of great celebration for me primarily because of my born day on Feb. 11th. Yes, it’s My Birthday month! In addition, I will also be engaging in “A Three-Part Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Rev. Dr. Johnnie Colemon,” my beloved Spiritual Mother and one of the greatest ‘over-comers’ I’ve ever had the opportunity to personally learn and grow from. The Cider Enterprises Book Club Conference Call will be concluding this three-part celebration with a discussion about Rev. Dr. Johnnie Colemon’s thought-transformation series “It Works If You Work It.” Rev. Coleman’s five-part study contains simple, yet powerful affirmations; and more importantly, she shares her beliefs about these affirmations. In retrospection, I find it even more amazing to note the alignment of her study with Universal Truths. Join us in part three of the celebration on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016 at 7 pm CST, by calling 218-339-9469, access code 20112#.
Featured Guest Identifies Herself as a Christian Witch During Our Book Club Call
The Cider Enterprises Book Club Conference Call featuring Rev. Valerie Love was too hot to handle after she un-apologetically and unabashedly identified herself as a Christian Witch. Her statement left me speechless for a moment and had me pacing the floor of my home in quick time! Questions raced through my brain … What was I thinking featuring a Witch? What would my callers say?
In doing my research on Rev. Valerie, I had chose to ignore this ‘Magikal’ information she provided on her social media sites. I assumed that since she had so many other things she did “on the regular,” any call inquiries would be satisfied with the ‘traditional’ aspects of her work. After all, as a seasoned woman of many uplifting practices, products, thoughts and events, I knew Rev. Valerie had enough ‘good stuff’ to demonstrate being an “overcomer.” And based on the reports I had received from the many people I follow, I also knew she was able to tell her stories with love and enlightenment.
UNVEILED – SISTAH’S HOME – the PLACE OF LOVE IN ACTION!
Can you hear me breathing? Each exhalation of a long deep breath is one of release and gratefulness. Each inhalation is a direct flow from the universe. I can have what I believe I can have. Each inhaled breath of strength straightens my back and my resolve. Each breath I take, expecting the goodness of the universe, propels me right into action – no further hesitation or doubt. The fear and procrastination drops away – I exhale it all. Aaaah! What a delight to move in the will of the universe.
I nailed it! The unveiling of my dream, Sistah’s Home – the Place of Love in Action! is done. This Prayer and Praise Breakfast was one of the best times I have ever experienced. There was so much love and support in the planning, the actual event presentation and in the creative support of my sisters and brothers.
First, let me give special thanks to the Most High. Secondly, my thanks to Mr. Brit Savage, Business Manager, of the Chesterfield Tom Thumb Day Care Center located at 9208 S. Cottage Grove in Chicago. Brit, you are a great person to offer the facility for the community’s use. You displayed favor and kindness in continuing to respond to my requests even when I did not always keep my word on appointment times. Thanks for hanging in there with me and my dream. To those friends and talented individuals who helped to make the breakfast an event that will be long remembered – Ashe.
A very special group helped me to present the visual and Power Point expressions of the Pavilions of Hospitality, Hope and Help in Sistah’s Home. They took my concepts and vague descriptions and set it out! Thank you, Min. Joy Sigur-Ramza of Neighborship of Joy, contact her at neighborshipofjoy@yahoo.com, for working through the night with me to get my Power Points in sync with the photographic work of the wonderful Don Kelley of DK Photo at 773-255-1192. Don, and his friend Phil, are working to build brand recognition and identity for Sistah’s Home. Don video recorded the breakfast so we can all look forward to seeing some great shots in the near future.
Explosive thanks to Deborah Gary, Owner/Painter, Paint On Me, Inc. Contact Deb at 773-209-5325 or wepaintsmiles@gmail.com and www.PaintOnMe.com. I send “creative thanks” for the great work you did on my face. You helped me to convey the drama and enthusiasm I wanted to bring to my commercial. Your work enhanced me as I convincingly portrayed the look of person who has a dream like Sistah’s Home. Your work was a driving force in the presentation. To my friend and sistah, Belinda Harris, you’re the kind of sister the dream belongs to. You showed out in the details with a “yes” every time. Thank you to Mama Sunshine, Dorothy Lyles, contact her at cosmicdiva1usa@yahoo.com. Your piece on “Forgiveness” and the reason for the ancestors is us – was a powerful reminder that the strength of the world is best depicted in the strength of the sisters. It was so on point. Sister Abuna Hetap, contact her at abunahetep@gmail.com, your creation of the flyer invitation perfectly conveyed my sentiments to the “Consciously Committed Ones”. Your help in centering me on last-minute details is greatly appreciated. You also have a video that I want to add to my personal collection. I guess I’m one of the last to know what a smart phone is capable of doing.
To Rev. Catherine Jackson, contact her at csleadership@gmail.com, you introduced me with enthusiasm and aplomb. You woke the audience up – I felt like a Rock Star with that intro. However, in the future, be sure to add these words about me – “that I am a woman who is proof of the Unlimited Supply of God”. To my special “food and family friend”, Ms. Leigh-Ann Murphy of Lee’s, contact her at lmurphyh@comcast.net, “Thank you”. You filled us up with delicious fare and your young crew of help was a delight to see and experience, especially at such an early hour.
To my traveling angels, Joe Merrills of Merrills & Hogan Family Movers, contact Joe at 773-225-4259 and Melvyna Gaynor of Boon Jab-ba LLC., contact her at melvyna.boonjabba@yahoo.com; “Ya’ll kept it moving”. I have great appreciation for your getting me to and from the breakfast. Your unwavering commitment to get me there, regardless of circumstances, is but another testament of the goodness of God.
To my mother, Doris Love Redic and my sister, Jacqueline Pinegar, thanks to the both of you for your faith, conviction and commitment to me. I saw the looks of love and pride on your faces. Your unfaltering willingness to see how you can help despite your personal situations is my motivation when I feel like “not going on”. To each and every one of my guests, “thanks” for your support of me. It will not be forgotten. You will be among the first to know of all the good news about Sistah’s Home. To each of my supporters and well-wishers at a distance, I felt the love. Each donation was received in gratitude for your contribution to Sistah’s Home – the Place of Love in Action!
My featured guest – Janine A. Ingram, author of Born to Be Rich, rocked the house. Janine, facilitator and founder of the AMPRAYERCALL, is my declared other “Mother”. She helped “deliver” a new soldier into the universe. Janine A. Ingram brought her special gifts of encouragement, the win/win spirit and enthusiasm to the breakfast. By the time this dynamic and energetic sistah got through with her message – we had a “love train” moving in the place! And for those who don’t know, Sister Joy can drop it like its’ hot, right along with Janine. Those sistahs did the thang! We danced and celebrated to “Money is Coming to Me” so much and so long that the owners were waiting for us to go! We were fired up and couldn’t let such a high moment end. We took ourselves and the extra food over to “Your School of Beauty Culture” located at 116 E. Pershing Road in Chicago, IL. We brought joy and cheer to a packed school. We were just in time for a Birthday celebration there for sweet Betty White. We had customers in different states of “getting that butter whipped” join us in a soul-train line. The operators tapped and sang along with us. They didn’t want us to leave. It was so stimulating and well received; I thought such a “love-train” might be something we could consider for the holidays. There are so many individuals and places of business in need of cheer.
I will conclude this blog today, telling you that your dreams can be realized. I have just started on the birth of my own dream and I move forward with the expectancy that my greatest good is coming to me right now. If the universe did it for me, it will certainly do it for you – Just Ask! I can tell you that the right individuals, things and circumstances will show up at your request!
Indeed, Let the Church Say Amen
Peace and Love,
Queen Hostess,
Claudette Redic
ciderenterprises@yahoo.com
Qualities of Heroes
The 3rd Book Club Conference Call is set for Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 7 PM. We are discussing Bishop Carlton Pearson’s book God is not a Christian, nor a Jew, Muslim, Hindu… The Call In Number is 1-218-548-9465 and the Pass code is 201211#. See the Book Club Questions 3-15-12 here.
I must say that I have had an insightful and fascinating journey thus far, exploring and discussing with people who love. Bishop’s premise is that “This book is not necessarily about believing in God, just a discussion of what you believe about God and why you believe it.” The Book Club Conference Call has allowed us to delve into our various, yet important, responses.
In my last post I shared with you what I believe and in so doing, I let you know that my spiritual identity is that of a OverComer! I believe in the great stories of others who have traversed tremendous odds and achieved significance for themselves, but more importantly, for the good of many. Recognizing that I am a signal and as my energy is expressed through me and as me, I send out the good news that – what we seek is seeking us, and dreams can be achieved.
Why do I believe this, you ask, and my answers are because I have an inner-knowing ‘proof’ and in story after story there is ‘proof’ that a most High God favors even the least of us. I have historical ‘proof’ in Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Gandhi, Fannie Lou Hamer, and living ‘proof’ in my own mother, Doris Redic. I am living right now in engaged connection with individuals who are each, to me, a living hero – expressing the universal Christ Principle of giving and doing so in Love. Let me share my lights of hope with you.
Donna V. Werner, The Werner Business Group, www.wernerbusinessgroup.com is inspiring, always energetic and a storehouse of resources to help people. She teaches health and financial wealth and has a check-list for both to help you make informed assessments. She has volunteer time for Seniors, girls on the street, and so much more. Donna’s fervent prayers are heard.
Janine Ingram, a praying woman, AUTHOR, INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER, VISIONARY AND LIFE COACH AUTHOR OF “BORN TO BE RICH” INSPIRATIONAL BOOK OF THE YEAR, www.borntoberich.org and www.janineaingram.com. Janine inspires people to take their actions and talents to God each day in a 6 AM Prayer Conference Call – The Source, with individuals from across the globe. The number for this powerful time of prayer is 1-712-432-0900 and the Pass Code is 772719#. Janine is also a community activist and business woman who offers tangible solutions for the improvement of our family and financial quality of life.
Syron Smith, Founder, National Block Club University – (NBCU), www.nationalblockclubuniversity.com, provides a systemic way to create todays’ village, block-by-block. NBCU’s blue-print uplifts communities with plans for each person to have safe places to meet with learning centers for all. The “Daily Living Habits” promotes our togetherness and helps to build real global connections for our communities. The NBCU Conference Call connects a selected zip code, a career focus club, a suburb and an African country. They share concerns in one call at 7 PM – Monday through Friday. The call in number is 1-570-633-0091 and the pass code is 864123#.
JOY Sigur Ramza, contact her at neighborshipofjoy@yahoo.com, is as the name states, JOY! An artist, musician, creator of “Speak Life – Be Supreme” a divinely created, decorative ‘little sack’ of meditations to provide the words needed to speak life to yourself and others. Always organizing and proactive in her community, Joy has data-base development skills and visual enhancement talents that are par non. Joy uses those gifts to help community organzations.
Phillip Jackson– Founder, The Black Star Project, www.blackstarproject.org lives, breathes and takes action in his belief that “Those who control the education of the children, controls the future of that race.” He directs his primary focus to African-American men and boys, but Phillip certainly adds great contributions to women, girls and the larger community. He promotes education as the key to change for us and takes leadership in providing services and information to both large and small entities within the city and nationally. He expands awareness of today’s social injustices and offers examples of what can be done about them.
Naomi Davis, Esq. Founder of BIG, Blacks in Green, naomidavis@20thward.org , is running for 20th Ward Committeeman in Chicago. Naomi is also an environmental activist and promotes economic development for communities of color. Her political campaign is convincing, and after working briefly with her, I believe that even in this unpaid position she will continue to be responsible and dependable. She will take care of voter registration turnout, forums and other diverse political participation for the good of all. Naomi restores belief in elected officials with integrity.
Dororthy “Mama Sunshine” Lyles can be contacted at cosmicdiva1us. Mama Sunshine, a vocal and storytelling artist in her own right, has a special ability to summon the music and the musicians together in the universe who give us gifts that take us to a higher consciousness. Her arrangements of talents are designed to invoke our ancestral and eternal energy – one with another. Indeed, she knows that music carries our heavy emotional loads and her presentations give us release and renewal.
These people, and the issues they have addressed over time, are examples of good. They are my personal reasons for why I believe we can each be a OverComer. Visit their links and read more of their personal stories and learn about the true qualities of heroes. They are living expressions of the sharing, caring nature of the Christ Principle. Each of them seem to know that the Potter continues to put OverComers back together after each set-back and against the greatest odds.
Peace and Love,
Claudette Redic
Psst!!! —- I do not know any of my heroes religions, just their spirits.
Overcomers
Deep in my heart, I do believe, We Shall Over Come someday….Charles Tindley
One of the first comments I received about the Conference Call Book Club selection of Bishop Carlton Pearson’s book, God is Not a Christian, Nor a Muslim… was that I had created a fire-storm. I had alienated some friends, and perhaps, consigned myself to a particular point of view that would permanently define the kind of audience I would have. The comments seemed fair enough to consider and give a response to. After all, the focus of the book is to discuss what you believe and why you believe it.
I identify in my spirit with people and stories that tell of how extreme circumstances underscore subsequent high levels of success. My earliest memories are of overcoming the “no” response to my requests. As I grew older I considered myself “resourceful” in finding ways to do what I wanted to do and what others said I could not do. As more time passed, “defiant”, “hard-headed” and “opinionated” became platitudes of others about me. I have from a very early age on, had my own mind, feelings and beliefs about my life.
I know in my heart when sincerity is expressed and when it is not genuine. My natural antennae give no regard to who says it, whether a trusted family member or an outsider, it knows if what is said is authentic. Time and development of my inner voice has helped me to discern the word of God, from wherever and whomever it comes. This inner voice also directs who and what I listen to. I choose people and stories that address good for myself, my family and my community. Recognizing that there is the mental, physical and spiritual me, I work to strengthen each of my aspects to better serve the good. What better way to connect and engage in discussion of books that focus on “OverComers” than a Conference Call Book Club? I know many busy people and this should be an easy, fun and informative way to do it.
Discussion of God is Not a Christian, Nor a Muslim… is meant to address our spiritual make-up. What make-up do you use, if any, and why wear it that way is an analogy which hopefully will inspire you to join into the Conference Call Book Club. Bishop’s story describes his overcoming immense obstacles, both personally and professionally and how he is still standing in the abundance of God despite the journey’s cost and with his evolving authentic self.
Further confirmation that overcoming is struggle is described by Vincent Harding, author of Hope and History and There is a River: The Black Struggle for Freedom in America. Dr. Harding says that for the money question, the compassion question, the racial question, now the religious question—all of these are things that we have to take hold of. We should not see them primarily as more burdens, but, “Lord, what a gift you are giving us to try to make a nation out of this stuff. Wow.” It seems to me that’s the spirit we need to bring. And many ask, How do you struggle when folks are constantly pushing back? I can only say, How else do you struggle? That’s what makes struggle—not constant victories, but getting up after you have been knocked down, again and again. That is what makes for your faith in the fact that you are a follower of the One who took up the cause. (This article is adapted from a fall 2011 interview with Dr. Harding by Sojourners editor-in-chief Jim Wallis in Washington, D.C.)
When Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children’s Defense Fund, was in her senior year at Spellman College, back in 1960, she wrote this in her diary: “Now, as never before, is the chance offered to do something. This is a history-making epoch, where we, me, the young, can be major characters. Now is the time to act, to work, to sacrifice. Life is so pressing. Time is so strained. I’m very frantic in my quest to use it, not to waste it. Now is the time. Each moment must be made to count.” She was 21 years old then. She’s 72 now, still working at the tasks. (This article is adapted from The Black Star Project Journal.) This is indeed the time to overcome what may stand in the way of progress.
As I receive suggestions and comments I expect to get ideas for other featured authors. The next book will focus on a OverComer who has had physical challenges and I will conclude the Conference Call Book Club with the review of a book that will give us insight of someone overcoming mental challenges.
I invite you to join tonight’s Book Club Conference Call to delve into our various, yet important, responses. Get on the call with me and bring your insight and enlightenment.
Time: Thursday evenings from 7 – 8 PM Central Standard Time
Dates: 2/23, 3/1, and Finale 3/15 “At a Place to Be Announced”.
Call In Number: 1-218-548-9465
Pass code: 201211#
Now that you know what I believe, look for the next post in which I talk about why I believe what I believe.
Peace and Love,
Claudette Redic
Hello World – Join in Discussing God is Not a Christian, Nor a Jew..Bishop Carlton Pearson
following is a post I sent out on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2012, to over sixty people. I love books and had been talking about a Book Club for some time. The question was always, when can we get together to discuss any book. I thought about the great benefits of Conference Calling and decided to try it in this experience.
2012 shall be my year of “new and different” ventures with this massive explosion of technology to connect one with another. Bear with my learning and let’s stay connected.
Happy Valentine’s Day, My Love!
Yes, US, my Love. We are the ones who give care to the sick, a steady hand to the frail, a hug to the hurting, a smile to the unsure, WE are love. What is so amazing to me first off, is that I AM included in these expressions. Secondly, that each one of us is so unique in our being.
I know many people and perhaps nearly as many views on what Love is. Wondering if religion makes the difference, I often ask people “What religion are you? Of course a variety of answers unfold. This year 2012, a year of “Divine Order”, has me wanting to connect more certainly and directly with others who are love. I believe that those who are love operate from a place within themselves that is beyond the tactile sensory responses to life before them. These are the people who make life worth living and it is because they give.
Bishop Carlton Pearson has a book
God is not a Christian, nor a Jew, Muslim, Hindu… thatI want to explore and discuss with people who love. Bishop’s premise is that “This book is not necessarily about believing in God, just a discussion of what you believe about God and why you believe it.” I would like to host a Book Club Conference Call to delve into our various, yet important, responses. Join me with your insight and enlightenment.
Time: Thursday evenings from 7 – 8 PM Central Standard Time
Dates: 2/23, 3/1, 3/ 8 and Finale 3/15 “At a Place to Be Announced”.
Call In Number: 1-218-548-9465
Pass code: 201211#
Call focus: 272 pages in book, equals 68 pages per call or contact. I will provide weekly comments and, of course, opportunity for yours as well during the call. Questions can be directed before or after our conference calls to ciderenterprises@yahoo.com.
Peace and Love, My Valentine!
Claudette Redic
Please use this link to purchase your book: http://bishoppearson.org/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=201&zenid=433740b0d127cf9bc51d7b4ef39f836f
Cider Enterprises Book Club 