Fitness expert Donna Richardson Joyner at her 53rd birthday celebration hosted by her husband, Tom Joyner, radio host superstar...I believe exercise is the real fountain of youth...for more b-day pics, go to essence.com

Time just keeps passing by…I mean it’s already the last Sunday of January 2011…Maybe I’m a little weird or maybe even self-indulgent, but it takes me a month to crystallize my goals, resolutions and dreams  for the New Year. I don’t want to just rattle off goals, resolutions and dreams and not give God the time to direct my thinking…So between today and tomorrow, I will edit my list of goals for the year which I will hang on my bathroom mirror and finish my vision board which I will display in my office…

To that end, Let me share some inspirational articles  that may help you as you crystallize your goals, resolutions and dreams for the New Year…(in no particular order)

1. “What The Heck’s A Vision Board and How It Can Change Your Life?”  by Martha Beck
2. “Respecting Our Blind Spots: Sometimes It Takes a Second Look to See God’s Best” by M. Blaine Smith
3. “Let the Lord Choose Your New Year’s Resolutions” by Dr. Charles Stanley
4. “Guideposts Classic: Who Inspired Diane Sawyer” by Diane Sawyer
5. “Five Ways To Become an Instant Frugalista” by Natalie P. McNeal
6. “Dollars and Sense: Talking Money Before Marriage” by Jacque Reid
7. “Donna Richardson Joyner Shares 3 Gospel Truths” by Dee Stewart

I hope these articles will inspire you as they have inspired me…

Any thoughts?

Musical inspiration for the New Year…”Strength, Courage & Wisdom” by India Arie…Don’t let procrastination get you down…for real…one of my worst habits…although it has gotten much better in recent years…

The post 2011: A New Vision for the New Year… appeared first on After the Altar Call.

I don’t have much to say today, but I did want to highlight a few random thoughts that have been roaming in my head…

1. Congratulations to President Obama for championing health care reform legislation that has been passed in the House and is now an issue for the Senate…I have made health care a matter of nearly daily prayer as I think that every U.S. citizen should have access to affordable health care…And I still thank God that within my lifetime, I have literally seen a black president of this great country with my own eyes… (Shout to my inauguration travel crew!!! I can’t believe we did that nearly a year ago…) To God be the glory, great things He has done…

2. Perseverance is …. taking the written exam for a driver’s license 950 times!!! A woman in South Korea has been taking the written exam nearly daily since April 2005 to get her license…She spent more than $4200 in application fees to take the test…Apparently, she needs the license for her vegetable-selling business…Her next goal is to actually pass the driving test…God bless her and her perseverance!!!

3. Why do I find myself a bit skeptical about Rihanna having a “tell-all” interview with Diane Sawyer about the now infamous incident with Chris Brown? Maybe it’s the fact that she is releasing an album soon that has me thinking this is part of some sort of “marketing and promotion” plan or maybe it’s her new rooster- like hairstyle that has me agitated…Ahh, I know that’s not nice, but….

4. What do you think of Ms. O’s decision to remove Bebe Winans from the lineup on her upcoming “karaoke challenge” show? Apparently, she removed him from the show after bloggers and Bebe’s ex-wife spoke out on what appeared to be a double standard by Oprah. She took a strong stance against domestic violence when the Rihanna Chris Brown incident erupted, but Bebe has also been accused of domestic violence…He will appear in court regarding this allegation on Jan. 20.

5. Have you read “Act Like Lady, Think Like A Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy and Commitment” by Steve Harvey yet? I think I mentioned this book in a previous post, but several of my friends have told me this book has managed to cross their path without even searching for the book… (Even one of my white girlfriends has talked about the book.) One of the ladies at my church put a copy of the book right in my hands…I liked the book, but many bloggers have criticized Harvey because they don’t think a man who has been married and divorced several times should have much to say about romantic relationships….At any rate, he has been able to parlay the book’s success into a regular spot on “Good Morning America.” Also, Steve and his wife Majorie are featured on the December issue of ESSENCE magazine…I intend to buy a copy…

6. And what’s up with the black serial killer in Cleveland? For all of the challenges that we have faced in this country from slavery to driving while black, black people haven’t been the ones to commit mass murders…First the D.C. sniper and now this…things are changing and it’s not looking good…

7. And finally, am I the only one who is feeling a little sad about losing that extra hour of daylight at the end of the day…Seasonal affective disorder is real…

Any thoughts?

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