Category Archives: dating

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Book Notes: My Review of “The Deliverer” by Kathi Macias (BOOK GIVEAWAY)

Hello World, 

In every book I choose to read, I always hope to learn something new. In “The Deliverer” by Kathi Macias, I learned about the hidden worlds of child sex trafficking and slavery. These are topics I would normally choose to avoid as these are likely the most reprehensible “industries” in existence, but Macias was able draw me into this dark world through the heroine of her book Mara.

In the third book of the “Freedom Series,” Macias tells how Mara, a young Hispanic woman who has been freed after years of sex slavery, must make conscious choices regarding a relationship with God, a potential romantic interest Jonathan and forgiveness to create new life for herself. Interwoven in Mara’s story are the stories of Lawan, a former child sex slave from Thailand, who is adopted by an American couple; Sarah, whose romantic desperation creates a heartbreaking love triangle; and Francesca, who wonders if she should give her soon-to-be born baby up for adoption.

Aside from the various stories of deliverance told in the book, I also appreciated how Macias was able to interweave diverse races and cultures in the book without being obvious. Both Mara and Francesca are Hispanic. Lawan’s new parents are an interracial black and white couple. And Sarah as well as some of the other characters are white. The book takes place in California, Mexico and Thailand.

For more information about “The Deliverer,” please check out the book trailer below:

For more information about “The Deliverer” and the first two books in the “Freedom Series,” please go to kathimacias.com.

If you would like to win a free copy of  “The Deliverer,” please see the link below. By entering the contest, you are also subscribing to my e-mail list 🙂 Don’t worry. I don’t e-mail very much 🙂 For more opportunities for free copies of “The Deliverer” by Kathi Macias, please visit Facebook.com/CSSVBT.KathiMacias.

Note: I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting a book review on my blog; however, the opinions are mine alone.

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(Please enter your comment below in the comments section. Thank you :))

Any thoughts?

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New Film Celebrates Black Marriage!

Hello World,

I hope your September has gotten off to a great start! In just over a week, summer will be officially over 🙁 But if you’re anything like me, no matter what the season, you’re always looking for great and uplifting events to attend. This Thursday, Tyler New Media, the creators of BlackandMarriedWithKids.com and films Happily Ever After and You Saved Me will screen their latest film Still Standing! Still Standing will be shown at the Midtown Art Cinema Theater, 931 Monroe Drive, Atlanta, GA 30308, at 7 p.m. Starring Kindred the Family Soul, Speech (Arrested Development) and Yolanda Thomas, and Dr. Sherry L. Blake of Braxton Family Values, a diverse group of couples provide transparent, insightful conversation about what it takes to have lasting power in current day marriages. Through infidelity, chronic illness, financial crisis, blended families and more these couples explain WHY and more importantly HOW they are STILL STANDING.  Not only is this movie ideal for a couple’s night out, it also suitable for single and marriage ministries, a girl’s night out and singles who are interested in learning more about marriage from several sources!

The best part – The tickets are only $5 thanks to Tyler New Media’s sponsor Bethany’s BE REAL!

See the trailer below –

To buy tickets, please click on this link – Eventbrite. And if you cannot attend the film screening, the DVD is also available on Amazon.com.

Any thoughts?

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Paul Carrick Brunson faces pushback, Spike Lee goes to church and other religious news…

Hello World, 

What it do? What it be like? As for me, I’m reflecting on God’s word this morning not just because it’s Sunday, but because of a Facebook status update that slapped me in the face…From Paul Carrick Brunson’s Facebook page yesterday…

The most interesting thing I’ve had to deal with since emerging as a “public figure” – attacks on my religion. I started my tour in NYC last week and referenced God on stage just a few times…and afterward, the critics jumped on me. On Thursday, I was being interviewed by a major media outlet and it was suggested I not mention religion. Even on twitter now, if I drop anything Christian related, I’m sure to get a tweet back calling me a “religious freak.” WOW…to PUBLICLY stand as a Christian man is going to be harder than I thought.

This status update yielded 113 comments before I added mine to make it 114 comments…Usually, when a thread has gone on that long, I don’t add my two cents because I don’t want a lot of comments to flood my inbox, but I felt compelled to do so I added my weak “Dang, it’s like that?!” I commented that because in the United States, where we at least try to equally respect all religions, it is sometimes easy to forget this verse…

Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also…’ John 15:20

Because of this verse and others, Christians have to be prepared for some pushback and even some persecution…Jesus the Christ will not bear the cross alone…If you have not heard of Paul Carrick Brunson, he is one of the relationship coaches on Oprah’s new show “Lovetown USA,” which debuted last Sunday. From Oprah’s website…

After a nationwide search, Oprah Winfrey chose Kingsland, Georgia, formerly known as the marriage capital of the South, to be transformed into Lovetown, USA. Oprah launched the first-of-its-kind social experiment by traveling to Georgia, where she called the community to action at a “love rally” and challenged everyone to “open their arms and hearts to the possibilities of all kinds of love.” She has charged two experienced relationship coaches—Paul Carrick Brunson and Kailen Rosenberg—with the daunting task of transforming Kingsland in 30 short days.

Over the course of a month, Paul and Kailen will attempt to mend relationships of embattled friends and lovers—young and old—and find true love for singles. This social experiment, which involves everyone from government officials to grade school students, will examine how love, grace, kindness and forgiveness can affect an entire community.

The show comes on every Sunday  at 10 p.m. EST/9 p.m. Central…Let’s support this openly Christian man…and here is a video about tonight’s episode…

First Look: Love and War

The love experiment is under way! Oprah checks back in as her love coaches, Paul Brunson and Kailen Rosenberg, take on the battle of three warring dance studios. Can they resolve this bitter feud with a dance challenge? Plus, Paul and Kailen send six lonely singles out on their first dates. Read more: http://www.oprah.com/own-lovetown-usa/First-Look-Love-and-War-on-Lovetown-USA-Video#ixzz24eXURPF1

In other religious news…

2. Megachurch Study Suggests Big Congregations Make Worship “Intoxicating” Experience “The Huffington Post”

3. AME Church Officials Seek to Restructure Finances of Morris Brown College Blackchristiannews.com

4. Filmmaker Spike Lee focuses on faith in “Red Hook Summer’’ “The Washington Post”

5. N.C. churches should support sterilization victims “Winston-Salem Journal”

6. “The Champ is Here”: Gabby Douglas Covers Jet Magazine (And my girl Joyce Davis, who blogs at Enjoyceinglife, wrote the article :). ) “Madame Noire”

7. “How Sweet The Sound” Returns To Philips Arena  Magicatl.com

Any thoughts?