The Result of God's Promise

Changing theWay You Change:A Conversation with

Jeff Johnson

Today’sCreativeeddingsW

Scream...“wow ”! Staying

Strongin yourMIND

Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr.& Dr. Debra B. Morton -

The Result of God’s Promise

WALKING IN SPIRITUAL EXCELLENCE MAGAZINE

ISSN 2150-3745 January-March 2010

$4.00 US / $7.50 Canada

Declare Your Financial Independence

GeopoloGy DesiGns The Transformative

Power of Color

“The man of wisdom is never of two minds; the man of benevolence never worries; the man of courage is never afraid.”

-Confucius

WISE Magazine is published quarterly: Jan/March, April/June, July/Sept and Oct/Dec by Wisdom Enterprise, LLC. U.S. subscription is $12.97 for 4 issues. International Subscriptions: $25 for 4 issues. Send address changes to WISE Magazine P.O. Box 681614 Charlotte, NC 28216. All rights and prints are reserved for Wisdom Enterprise, LLC. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. A request must be submitted to repro-duce material contained in WISE. We use reasonable efforts to ensure all information is accurate and correct at all times. Wisdom Enterprise does not endorse, assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy of information or advertising. Either WISE or Wisdom Enterprise, neither LLC nor any other party is involved in creating, producing, or delivering this product. WISE or Wisdom Enterprise, LLC is not liable for any direct,

incidental, consequential, indirect, or punitive damages, arising out of access or use of the publication and website.

Founder & Editorial Director | Rhonda Mouton

Editor At Large | Monica L. Sanders

Marketing Director | Leah Taylor

Legal Advisor | Judge Erania Ebron-Martin

ART DESIGN & PHOTO

Graphic Artist | Vince Grant

Photo Director & Web Editor | Aja Grant

Photo Editor | Annette Webb

ARTICLES

Executive Editor | Alenya Mouton

Assistant Editor | Celeste Hart

Editorial Assistant | Mae Israel

STYLE

Design Consultant | Kamonda Phillips

Fashion Consultant | Lana Meyon

Food Consultant | Allison Wigfall

Publisher – Kingdom Life Publishing, LLC

contr ibut ing wri tersDr. Harry Cartwright, Sr. PhD,

Lisa Dalton

Christopher Buford

Mark Kantrowitz

First Lady Sharon Stevens

LeKeisha Ruffin

Career Opportunities JOURNALISTS• Work from home• Limited or newly writing and publication experience

MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES•Work from home/some travel•Commission• Must have experience and references

We would love to hear from you.Please send your comments or letters via email to:[email protected] or WISE Magazine

P.O. Box 681614 Charlotte, NC 28216

3WISEMAGAZINE.ORG - JAN -MAR 2010


This year’s WISE Awards event will be a celebration of the accom-plishments of women and men, who have sacrificed, and contributed to their community, business, church or organization. The event proceeds will be donated to a worthy non-profit organization. A selection com-mittee will choose winners for the following awards: “A Woman/Man in Spiritual Excellence”, “A Woman/Man of Service”, “Woman/Manpreneur”, “A Woman/Man in the Community”, and WISE Woman/Man of the Year. This year’s nonprofit recipient will also be selected by the committee. Members of the community may submit nominations or qualified candi-dates may self-nominate.

CriteriaMAN IN SPIRITUAL EXCELLENCEWOMAN IN SPIRITUAL EXCELLENCEThis prestigious award will be given to a man and woman who have or are involved in ministry. This individual is spreading the Word of God in the community reaching the lives of people. He and She are passionate about creating products and services that are not only profitable but life changing. This winner has clearly begun to establish a leadership footprint with a goal of creating opportunities for other ministries to succeed. Candidates must submit bios and other materials that clearly demonstrate why they deserve this award. Finally, one letter of recommenda-tion should be submitted which explains why they are deserving of this honor.

MAN OF SERVICEWOMAN OF SERVICEThis prestigious honor will be bestowed upon an outstanding woman and man involved in helping others. This woman and man have excelled through hardship and give back to the aid others whether in community, business, and organization, church or personal. He and she have demonstrated passion for sustain-ability either socially, fis¬cally or environmentally. Candidates must have strong insight, goals and a vision for making people better. In addition, they must submit a one or two page essay ex-plaining why they should receive this award detailing their areas and accomplishments. One letter of recommendation must also be submitted.This award recognizes youth ages 5 – 18 in good academic standing, community service and activate in ministry. A copy of current year’s grades, letter from community service and ministry must be submitted for nomination.

MAN IN COMMUNITYWOMAN IN COMMUNITYThis prestigious honor will be given to a Man and Woman who has demonstrated a commitment for serving the community. This may encompass sustained acts of volunteerism or assistance over time or just one extraordinary act of benevolence that has benefited many. Their love of and devotion to people is evident through their civic leadership and passion for the well-being of others. A detailed bio of the nominee must be provided, outlining his or her accomplishments, along with one letter of recommen-dation.

MANPRENEUR/WOMANPRENEURThis prestigious award honors a man and woman in business dedicated to putting people to work. Well known and respected, this is a businessman/woman that have maintained sustainable business practices over the years with the purpose of remov-ing employment barriers. His and Her efforts have consistently touched the lives of a significant number of people. One of his and her goals has been to provide individuals with marketable skills to assist them in establishing an employment footprint that will give them vertical mobility in the job market. The business employees genuinely care and passionately serve those who come through their doors. Documentation must be submitted, outlining the history and statistics relevant to the success of the business. Examples of specific individual success stories should also be included.

WISE MAN/WOMAN OF THE YEARThis prestigious award is the highest award given by WISE. It recognizes a man and woman whose pioneering contributions have been outstanding and unique and whose efforts have blazed a trail in their environments. Documentation must be sub-mitted, outlining the history and current success of this trailblazer in the areas of community, profession, church and organization. A minimum of two success stories must be submitted. Two letters of recommendations one from each area. YOUTH OF THE YEAR This award recognizes youth ages 5–18 in good academic stand-ing, community service and activate in ministry. A copy of current year’s grades, letter from community service and ministry must be submitted for nomination.

The nominees who will be recognized at WISE Awards will be women and men who have a passion and commitment for making community, businesses, churches and organizations a better place. They may be well-known citizens or behind-the-scenes individuals who have not been recognized for their work. Their achievements may affect many in small ways or a few in big ways. All qualified nominees will be considered. They must meet the criteria as outlined on this page. Employees of WISE or Wisdom Enterprise and their immediate families are not eligible. Win-ners will be honored at a black tie event.

Nomination FormPlease check the appropriate category WISE AWARD.

( ) Woman and Man in Service ( ) Woman and Man in Community ( ) Womanpreneur and Man ( ) Woman or Man in Spiritual Excellence ( ) Wise Woman and Man of the Year( ) Youth Award

Information about the Nominee (Please Print)

Name:___________________________________________________________Address:_________________________________________________________City/State/Zip:____________________________________________________Phone:__________________________________________________________

Please respond to the following on a separate sheet of paper. The quality of your responses will influence the nomination.

1. In what way does your nominee qualify to win this WISE Award?2. How has your nominee been outstanding? 3. Explain other relevant information about the nominee and his or her accomplishments.

**Make sure all of the requirements listed under the criteria section are submitted either by you or the nominee.

Information about Person Making Nominee (Please Print)

Name:___________________________________________________________Address:_________________________________________________________City/State/Zip:____________________________________________________Phone:__________________________________________________________

Deadline for nominations and supporting materials: JUNE 30, 2010.

Send WISE Awards Nominations to:WISE Magazine P.O. Box 681614, Charlotte, NC 28216

Please Include a nomination form along with any additional information and supportingmaterial as specified in the accompanying criteria.

Celebrating Men and Women Walking In Excellence


6 From the presiDent 8 UnDerstanDinG yoUr money Declare Your Financial Independence By Christopher Buford

10 Preparing to Pay for College By Mark Kantrowitz 12 Wise on the move

18 Cover storyThe ResulT of God’s PRomise By Rhonda Mouton & Elder Loretta Petit

16 WelCome to the table Chicken Pockets By Allison Wigfall

22 FeatUreD storyChanging the Way You Change By Leah Taylor

20 Is there any truth in the world? By Dr. Harry Cart-wright, Sr. PhD

17 Staying Strong in your Mind By First Lady Sharon Stevens

25 GeopoloGy DesiGn The Transformative Power of Color By Kamonda Phil-lips

26 Wise styleToday’s Creative Weddings Scream ‘WOW!’ By Lana Meyon

30 Wise livinG What’s Kicking You By Lisa Dalton

32 DTV By LeKeisha Ruffin

featured STORYPg.22

cover STORIESPg.18-19


JAN / MAR 2010Contents

Welcome to the table

Pg.16Understanding YoUr moneY

Pg.8

WISE stYle Pg.26


From the President

Are you are worrying about what happened yesterday or last week? Maybe it’s the repossession of a car, foreclosure on a house, weight gain, depleted savings, divorce and health problems. Well, stop worrying and let’s focus on God!

In “The Message Bible,” Luke 12:22-32 states, “He continued this subject with his disciples. Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more. Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance -but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.”

The scripture continues: “If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?” What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so pre-occupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.”

Has it occurred to you that whatever or whomever you lost was not given to you from God? Proverbs 10:22 says, “God’s blessing makes life rich; nothing we do can improve on God.” Did all of “your” hard work and efforts this year make you better or richer at home, on your job, or in a relationship? Let’s stop hustling to make things happen and chase after God so He can make things happen. Yes, sometimes you may be feeling bad, embarrassed, or even alone, but God has a rich plan for your life. Is your weight kicking you? Lisa Dalton, a personal fitness trainer, says start fresh. Try 10 minutes a day of exercise and increase daily. It will be better to start over than not start at all.

Are you strong in your mind? The truth is, many individuals in our churches are being destroyed for fear of being looked upon as crazy and weak as Christians, says Sharon Stevens, First Lady of University City Church of God in Christ.

“People… spend a lot of time through their actions contradicting what they say they want in order to be successful,” says author Jeff Johnson.The word of God says in Proverbs 13:20, “Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.” If you want different results seek God first for His instruction on how to do things differently so you will have discernment to change your life this New Year. On behalf of the WISE team, we thank each of you for your prayers, support, volunteerism and dedication. It is our prayer that God will blow your mind this year as He brings the things He promised and ordained for you.

Happy New Year and lets WALK IN SPIRITUAL EXCELLENCE.

Rhonda

“God’s blessing makes life rich; nothing we do can improve on God.”

6 WISEMAGAZINE.ORG - JAN -MAR 2010

-Proverbs 10:22

“Exceeding Your Expectations”

www.mwrealtors.net meetup.com/charlottehomebuyerseducation

704.773.6457

You know you should be investing but you never seem to find the money. Even with all your bills and expenses, it’s always possible to find a little bit to save.

It’s important to stock away between three and six months’ worth of expenses in an emergency fund. What’s next after you’ve accomplished this goal? It’s time to start investing. In fact, even if you’re still working on your savings stash, you might want to invest at the same time. Here are five steps to begin your journey to financial independence.

How much should I save? A general rule of thumb is to have enough in a savings to cover your household’s expenses for three to six months. So if you haven’t already, consider opening a savings or money market account. Then total up your

monthly bills and expenses and figure out how much you will need to save to be secure.

How savings add up If you save only $50 per paycheck, or $100 a month, you’ll have $1,200 at the end of one year. Hey, it’s a start!

Depending on the type of account you have, you may receive interest, ranging between 1% and 5%, on your balance. Money market accounts usually offer better interest rates than saving accounts, but they also generally require a larger initial deposit. An investment in an insured money market account is a deposit in an interest bearing account insured by the Federal Deposit

Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Declare your financial independence and start saving!

Chris Buford, a Charlotte area Allstate Personal Financial Representative, can be reached at (704) 941-8107 or [email protected]

Declare Your FinancialIndependence

1. Trim your budget When you calculated your monthly budget, you probably noticed some frivolous and unnecessary expenses. This can include eating out instead of making meals at home, driving your car instead of using public transportation, or paying high credit-card interest rates.

2. Turn yourself into a creditor If credit card bills are one of your big expenses, draw up a plan to pay your creditors off. As you pay off the balance on each charge or credit card, don’t start spending the money you’re no longer handing over to credit card companies. 3. Use direct deposit It is hard to spend money you never see. That is the beauty of

direct deposit programs. Instead of depositing your entire pay-check into your checking account, specify a fixed amount to be paid into your savings account.

4. Make special occasions count When you receive a work bonus or an unexpected tax refund, your first instinct might be to reward yourself. Instead of spend-ing money on a new wardrobe or a big screen television, put it into savings. 5. Don’t accept a raise You’re used to living within your means, and then you receive a raise. Although you certainly should celebrate your accom-plishment with a nice dinner or another one-time treat, consider diverting the rest of your raise to your savings account.

By Chris Buford


Und

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andi

ng Y

our M

oney

Like most life-cycle events, paying for college is expensive. But most families do not pay for it all at once. Rather, they spread out the costs over time, with one third of the costs coming from past income in the form

of savings, one third coming from current income and financial aid, and one third coming from future in-come in the form of loans. While college costs may increase at about twice the consumer inflation rate, you don’t need to save the full sticker price. Instead, you should aim to save about one third of projected

college costs. This is known as the one-third rule.Financial aid is available from the federal and state governments, the military, colleges, employers and

private foundations and corporations to help families pay for college. The major types of student aid include the following: • Gift aid, such as grants and scholarships, which is money that does not need to be repaid. • Education loans, which must be repaid with interest. • Work-study programs, which provide earnings from part-time employment.

Financial aid can be based on financial need, academic merit or other factors.

Saving for College Over any 17-year period, college costs increase by about a factor of three. When combined with the one-third rule, this suggests that the savings goal should be the full cost of college the year the child was born. While it is difficult to predict what toys a child will play with tomorrow, let alone which particular college they will choose in a decade and a half, most parents can predict the type of college with reasonable accuracy. The type of college – two-year or four-year and public or private – is the major factor affecting costs. This helps you set a goal that is in the right ballpark. According to the College Board publication “Trends in College Pricing 2009,” current annual tuition rates at public two-year colleges are about $2,500, about $7,000 (in-state) and $18,500 (out-of-state) at public four-year colleges, and about $26,000 at private, non-profit four-year col-leges. Room and board adds about $8,000 to $10,000 a year to the costs. This suggests that parents of children born in 2009-10 should save

$10,000 to $140,000 ($31 to $435 a month) depending on the type of college.

It is important to start saving as soon as possible. The earlier you start, the more time you’ll have for your savings to grow and the easier it will be to save. If you save $100 a month from birth at 5% interest, you’ll accumulate $32,186 by the time the child enrolls in college, with 36% of the savings coming from interest. On the other hand, if you start saving when the child is a high school freshman, you’ll need to save $605 a month

and then less than 10% of the savings will come from interest. Time is your most valuable asset. The more you save, the easier it will be to pay for college. It is literally cheaper to save than to borrow. If you save $200 a month for 10 years at 6.8% interest, you’ll save a total of about $34,400. If you borrow this amount, you’ll pay $396 a month for 10 years at 6.8% interest, nearly twice

as much. One of the best ways of saving for college is in a Section 529 college savings plan. This is a tax-advantaged savings plan, where earnings are tax deferred (like a Roth IRA). If you use the distributions for qualified higher education expenses (tuition, fees, room and board), they are entirely tax free. Many states will even let you deduct all or part of your contributions on your state income tax return. All state 529 plans include an age-based asset allocation option, which starts off with an aggressive mix of investments when the child is young and gradually switches to a more conservative mix, ultimately reaching an allocation with less than 20% of the funds in riskier investments like stocks and real estate. This reduces the risk of loss after you’ve

accumulated a lot of money in the college savings plan and need it to pay for college costs.

To make it easier to save: • Start off small and gradually increase the amount. It is more important to get started. • Save on a regular schedule. (This gets you the benefit of dollar-cost averaging, one of the more effective blind investing strategies.) • Make saving automatic, so you don’t have to take any action to save. You can set up an auto matic transfer from your checking or savings account into a college savings plan.

Preparing to Pay for

CollegeBy Mark Kantrowitz

Monthly Savings fromBirth (5% ROI)

$31 $202 $342 $435 $280

Savings Goal (17 Years)

$10,000 $65,000 $110,000 $140,000 $90,000

College Type

2-Year Public 4-Year Public (in-state) 4-Year Public (out-of-state) 4-Year Private Non-Profit 4-Year Public or Private


• Direct a portion of windfalls, such as income tax refunds, bonuses and inheritances, toward your children’s college savings plans. • When your child no longer needs diapers or daycare, redirect that spending into their college savings plan. • Use credit card loyalty programs like Upromise, which automatically deposit rebates from your everyday purchases in your children’s college savings plans. Avoid the following common mistakes: • Save in the parent’s name, not the child’s. Child assets are assessed by the federal need analysis formula at 20%, meaning that $10,000 in the child’s name will reduce need-based aid eligibility by $2,000. A portion of parent assets are sheltered – less than 4% of dependent students have any contribution from parent assets – and then are assessed according to a bracketed scale, with a maximum rate of 5.64%. This means that the worst-case impact of $10,000 in the parent’s name is $564. • Avoid advisor-sold 529 college savings plans, as these are often among the most expensive. Direct-sold plans, where you invest directly with the state, have much lower fees. Look at the fees charged by the 529 plans and consider only those that have fees that are less than 1%.

Saving for college increases your children’s flexibility to choose the college that best meets their needs and will give you peace of mind knowing that you’ve provided for their future. Families that save are better off than families that don’t even after accounting for the so-called penalty for

saving.

For more information and advice about saving for college, see www.finaid.org/savings.

Education Loans College means debt. About two-thirds of all four-year undergraduate students will graduate college with debt, and the average amount of education debt is more than $23,000 ($27,000 if parent loans are included). Among students who apply for federal student aid, roughly seven-eighths graduate with debt. (Virtually all students who apply for federal student aid and pursue degrees in business, law and medicine graduate with debt.) But by being smart about how you borrow, you can save thousands of dollars in interest over the lifetime of your loans and make

the debt more affordable. First, you should prefer federal education loans over private student loans, as the federal loans are cheaper, more available and have better

repayment terms. They also have fixed interest rates, while private student loans have variable interest rates.

The major federal loan programs are: • Perkins Loan. This is a low-interest loan available to students with exceptional financial need and available from the college. The interest rate is 5% and the government pays the interest while students are in school. Funding for this loan program is limited. Repayment begins nine months after graduation. There is a $5,500 annual loan limit for undergraduate students and a cumulative limit of $27,500. It has a

10-year repayment term.

• Stafford Loan. This is a low-interest loan available to all students. There are two versions. The government pays the interest on the Subsidized Stafford Loan while students are in school. The borrower is responsible for paying the interest on the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan while in school, but can capitalize it (add the unpaid interest to the loan balance). The interest rate on the Unsubsidized Stafford loan is up to 6.8%. The interest rate on the Subsidized Stafford loan for undergraduate students is 5.6% in 2009-10 and will be dropping to 4.5% in 2010-11 and 3.4% in 2011-12. Both loans have fees of up to 1.5%. The Subsidized Stafford is based on financial need, while the Unsubsidized Stafford is not. Any amount not received as a Subsidized Stafford can be borrowed as an Unsubsidized Stafford. Repayment begins six months after graduation. Dependent students can borrow $5,500 (no more than $3,500 subsidized) as freshmen, $6,500 (no more than $4,500 subsidized) as sophomores and $7,500 per year (no more than $5,500 subsidized) as juniors and seniors. There is also an aggregate loan limit of $31,000 (no more than $23,000 subsidized) for dependent students. Independent students (and dependent students whose parents were denied a Par-ent PLUS loan) can borrow an additional $4,000 per year as freshmen or sophomores, an additional $5,000 per year as juniors and seniors, and have an aggregate loan limit of $57,500. Graduate students can borrow more, up to $20,500 per year. The Stafford loan has a 10 year repayment

term.

• PLUS Loan. This is a low-interest loan available to graduate and professional students and the parents of undergraduate students. Repayment begins 60 days after disbursement, but one can defer payments and capitalize the interest while the student is in school. The maximum interest rate is 7.9% or 8.5%, depending on the school. There is no cumulative loan limit, and the annual loan limit is the cost of attendance minus any other aid received. This loan requires a modest credit check that three-quarters of prospective borrowers will pass. If the undergraduate student’s parents do not qualify for the PLUS loan, or the student is an independent student, the student will qualify for ad-

ditional Unsubsidized Stafford loan limits. The PLUS loan has a 10-year repayment term.

• Consolidation Loan. After graduation, many students have more than one loan, at least one for each year in school. A consolidation loan, which is like a refinance, lets borrowers combine these loans into a single loan. It also lets students reduce the size of the monthly payment by increasing the length of the loan up to 30 years, based on the amount borrowed. (Increasing the loan term will also substantially increase the amount of interest paid. Going from a 10-year loan to a 20-year term will cut the monthly payment by about a third, but at a cost more than doubling the total amount of interest.) The interest rate on a consolidation loan is the weighted average of the rates on the loans

being consolidated, rounded up to the nearest 1/8th of a point, and capped at 8.25%. - {continue on page 14}


Wise Magazine and A LOTT of Sista Love road trip to

New Orleans, Louisiana. It has been 4 years and homes are still abandoned in the Lower 9th

Ward. (1) Holes in rooftop where escape took place, (2) Abandoned

Home, (3) Neighborhood in Lower 9th Ward abandoned (4) WISE

Magazine President Rhonda Mou-ton & A LOTT of Sista Love Founder Monica Sanders, Fredricks and Fred-nesha at Café Du Monde

Wi s e M a g a -z i n e

has a heart for supporting peo-ple. We had the wonderful oppor-tunity to attend the showcase of Artist Ingrid Long

of ILONG2Desyn sponsored by A LOTT of Sista Love. In photo (1) Artist Ingrid Long and Mother Ms. Carman Lawrence, (2) Art-ist display of artwork (3) Artist Ingrid Long and Founder of WISE Magazine Rhonda Mouton, (center) The Church Hat By Ingrid

Long, and (4) Artist Ingrid Long and WISE Photographer Aja Grant.


ise on the move

Girlz@the Gate intercessory prayer line and WISE took it to Bermuda. Girlz@the Gate and WISE experienced God on another realm in prayer, giving toiletries to the homeless and celebrating 50 years of life. (1) Boats in Hamilton, Bermuda, (2) Family of Bermudians at a picnic, (3) Praying on beach, (4) Sista Erania & a Bermudian Sista prayed

with downtown, (center) Downtown Bermuda, (5) Sista Barbara & A LOTT of Sista Love Founder Monica L. Sanders.

All photos taken by Aja Grant of Jhamerria Images.


ise on the move

- {continue from page 11} Note that while some federal education loans depend on financial need, there are also some that do not. In particular, families do not need to be poor in order to qualify for the Unsubsidized Stafford loan and the PLUS loan.

Private student loans are not government-guaranteed and the government does not set the terms. (Note that some lenders currently offer both federal and private student loans, which can be a little confusing.) The lender sets the interest rates and fees. Borrowers with bad credit will need a creditworthy cosigner to qualify. Even borrowers with good credit should apply with a cosigner, as this will often result in a lower interest rate and lower fees. While the federal government sets the maximum rates and fees on the Stafford and PLUS loans, nothing prevents a lender from charging lower rates. So it can pay to shop around. The most common discount is a 0.25% interest rate reduction if borrower’s sign up for automatic

debit of the monthly loan payments. Most other discounts have disappeared since the start of the credit crisis of 2007. The college preferred lender list is often a good starting point for choosing a lender. Also, consider other lenders, and compare costs, in-

stead of simply picking the first lender on the list. You are not required to use a lender recommended by the school. Borrow as little money as you can. Live like a student while you are in school, so you don’t have to live like a student after you graduate. A good rule of thumb is that your total education debt should be less than your expected starting salary. If you borrow more than that, you’ll find it difficult to repay the debt. Also, be careful with other forms of debt, such as credit cards. Total debt at graduation tends to correlate

with the cost of attendance and out-of-pocket costs, so you can minimize debt by attending a less expensive college. If borrowers encounter difficulty repaying federal student loans, look into income based repayment at www.finaid.org/loans/ibr.phtml. (See also www.finaid.org/loans/troublerepayingdebt.phtml for other options.) Income-based repayment bases monthly payments on discretionary income, instead of the amount owed, with forgiveness of the remaining balance after 25 years in repayment. If borrowers

work full-time in a public service field and repay the loans in the Direct Loan program, the forgiveness occurs after 10 years. For more information about student loans, see www.finaid.org/loans.

College Scholarships Scholarships are free money for your college education. Philanthropists, foundations, companies and colleges award more than 1.5 million scholarships worth more than $3.5 billion each year. Most scholarships are awarded based on special qualifications, such as academic,

artistic or athletic talent. While there is a lot of competition for scholarships, they can play an important role in paying for college. The best way to find scholarships is to search online. FinAid lists the most popular free scholarship matching services at www.finaid.org/scholarships. Of these, FastWeb.com is the largest and most frequently updated, with automatic email notification of new awards. It takes just 30 to 60 minutes to complete a profile, and potential borrowers will immediately see full information about the scholarships for which

they are eligible, free. Borrowers then have to write to the sponsor for application materials. Students should also look for scholarships at guidance counselor’s offices, college financial aid offices and the jobs and careers section of the public library. Local awards are often less competitive, so chances of winning are greater. Families can also find information about

scholarships in the local newspaper, especially in the coupons section.

To maximize your chances of winning a scholarship: • Start searching for scholarships as soon as possible. Don’t want to miss any deadlines. There are even awards available for elementary school students (see www.finaid.org/scholarships/age13.phtml) • Don’t apply if you don’t qualify. Most scholarship sponsors receive many more qualified applications than avail able awards, so it is a waste of time to apply if you don’t qualify. However, do apply for as many awards as possible, if you qualify. • Identify the criteria the scholarship sponsor uses to select the winners, and target your application toward those criteria. • Create an “accomplishments resume” and provide a copy to the people who will be writing letters of recommendation for you. They can use it to work these details into their letters. • Use concrete examples in answers to the application questions.

When searching for scholarships, beware of scholarship scams. If you have to pay money to get money, it’s probably a scam. The most common scholarship scams are scholarships that charge an application fee or ask for your social security number, bank account number, or credit card number. There are also scholarship-matching services that charge a fee and guarantee results. Nobody can guarantee

that you’ll win a scholarship.


Applying for Government Aid The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to apply for financial aid from the federal and state government, all public colleges and most private colleges. You can submit the form online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. (Students and parents can electronically sign the online form using PINs obtained at www.pin.ed.gov.) Submitting the FAFSA gets you access to federal grant programs, such as the Pell Grant,

Teach Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant and National SMART Grant, as well as federal

work-study and low-cost student loans.

The FAFSA is used to calculate the expected family contribution (EFC), which is based on family income and assets, family size, the age of the older parent and the number of chil-dren in college. Financial need is defined as the difference between the cost of attendance (which includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies and other college costs) and the EFC. The college will assemble a financial aid package of the different types of student aid from a variety of sources and will send you a financial aid award letter to tell you about it. The financial aid package may include education loans in addition to grants, scholarships and work-study. It is often helpful to calculate the out-of-pocket cost of college, which is the difference between the cost of at-tendance and the gift aid in the financial aid package (excluding loans). This can vary sig-nificantly from college to college. The net cost of college, which is the difference between the cost of attendance and the entire financial aid package (including loans), will be similar at most colleges because it is based on the EFC.

You can also get some money for college when you file your federal income tax returns. The Hope Scholarship is a tax credit that is based on the amounts you paid for college tuition, fees and course materials (textbooks). The maximum credit is $2,500 in 2009 and 2010 and is based on 100% of the first $2,000 in educational expenses and 25% of the second $2,000. (You can use federal education loans to pay for the educational expenses, but not 529 plan distributions or other education tax ben-efits, as you can’t double dip.) The tax credit is limited to the first four years of postsecondary education and starts to phase out at $80,000 (single filers) and $160,000 (married filing joint). The credit is partially refundable and is not subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax

(AMT). While this money isn’t available up front when you need it to pay tuition bills, it can nevertheless help defray the cost of college.

Mark Kantrowitz is a nationally recognized expert on student financial aid, student loans, scholarships and paying for college. He is the publisher of FinAid.org, the most popular free web site for clear and unbiased student aid information, advice and tools, and FastWeb.com, the largest and

most frequently updated free scholarship matching web site.


Chicken PocketsBy Allison Wigfall

1 can biscuits 1 can cream of chicken soup1 rotisserie chicken de-boned and chopped or shredded 1 medium sized head of broccoli chopped5 slices or 1 1/2 cup cheese (Swiss, co-jack, your favorite)1/2 small onion choppedSalt and pepper to tastePinch of nutmeg1 1/2 T Olive Oil- extra virgin

Heat oven to 350. Heat oil in pan (medium heat).Add chopped broccoli and chicken.Saute until heated and broccoli is softened but has retained its color; about 5 minutes.Add soup, salt, pepper, and nutmeg to broccoli chicken mixture.Lower heat and let simmer 5-7 minutes. Stir as needed.Roll out all biscuits.(You will use two biscuits per pocket) (A 10 count can of biscuits will yield 5 pockets)Place rolled biscuits on cookie sheet.Divide the chicken broccoli mixture and top/fill each biscuit.Top with cheese.Take a second biscuit to cover and seal each pocket.Use your fork to crimp the edges of each pocket.Using your fork prick holes into the top of each biscuit which will allow the steam to escape.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until biscuits are browned.ENJOY!


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Many of the battles that people face are in their minds. Even in the church, there are people who may be mentally ill but never address their problems. My husband, Pastor Michael Stevens, Sr., (University City Church of God in Christ) says the church is the only place people can act crazy and get away with it. Jesus is a doctor to those who are mentally and spiritually sick but he wants also us to get Christian-based medical help when we need it.

In many predominately African-American churches members feel they can shout or dance their way out of many situations they may be facing in life. The truth is, mentally un-stable individuals in churches are being destroyed for fear of being looked upon as crazy and weak Christians. [Hosea 4:6 (KJV) “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…”]

There are Christians who really love the Lord, but have not been delivered or freed from anxiety, panic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, addictions, anger, agitation problems, loss of control, depression, bipolar disorder, atten-tion deficit disorder, and schizophrenia. [I Samuel 16:23 (KJV) says, “And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took a harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.”] Many of these mental disorders are imbalances in the brain and must be diagnosed by a qualified counselor or psychologist. Many Christians attend encounters, deliver-ance services and participate in other ministry activities in an attempt to be set free. Few seek counseling for their mental challenges because many erroneously believe that to seek out a counselor is unbiblical. However, it is acceptable to have a Christian counselor. Sometimes a Christian psychiatrist may be needed to diagnosis symptoms or prescribe medication.

In the book, “Competent Christian Counseling: Foun-dations & Practice of Compassionate Soul Care,” Clinton and Ohlschlager wrote about the brain: “This complex electrical or-gan serves as the control center for other organs in the body…. Thus, an abnormality in the brain has the potential to translate into a number of physical symptoms in other parts of the body. A fire in one small area of the brain can produce smoke all over one’s body.”

People take medication for diabetes, high blood pres-sure, hair loss but often feel it is wrong to take medication for a chemical imbalance in their brain. We must allow the Lord to change our thinking. The Holy Spirit is our guide, as He re-veals God’s heart and empowers us to walk upright before the Lord daily. [John 16:13 (KJV) “How be it when he, the Spirit

of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…”] The Holy Spirit will comfort you and guide you even as you seek out a Christian counselor. [Proverbs 24:6 (KJV) “For by wise counsel thou shall make thy war: and in multitude of counselors there is safety.”]

Harold Koening (2000), professor, founder, and di-rector of the Center for the Study of Religion, Spirituality, and Health at Duke University Medical School, conducted research on the physical and mental health benefits of a deep faith in Christ. The study showed that compared to nonbelievers or people of little faith, people who embrace a deep faith in Christ and are frequently involved with their faith communities:

Matthew Henry writes in his book “Commentary on the Whole Bible:” “Gird up the loins of your mind. You have a journey to go, a race to run, a warfare to accomplish, and a great work to do; as the traveler, the racer, the warrior, and the laborer, gather in, and gird up, their long and loose garments, that they may be more ready, prompt, and expeditious in their business, so do you by your minds, your inner man, and affec-tions seated there: gird them, gather them in, let them not hang loose and neglected about you; restrain their extravagances, and let the loins or strength and vigor of your minds be exerted in your duty; disengage yourselves from all that would hinder you, and go on resolutely in your obedience.”

The Lord has called his church to be a light and to give hope to a dying world. We must allow him to use us to of-fer soul-care with a biblical worldview grounded in the scrip-tures via pastoral counseling or a licensed Christian counselor.

StayingStrongin yourMIND

By First Lady Sharon StevensDirector of Sisters in the City

“…Who can separate us from the love of Christ.” -Romans 8:35 (KJV)

• Cope better and experience less depression and anx-iety in the face of problems;

• Are more likely to grow psychologically and become stronger physically and mentally when faced with a personal health crisis;

• Have greater overall instances of mental health and social support;

• Show less abuse of alcohol, drugs and cigarettes; • Show overall better mental and physical health,

greater social support, and healthier lifestyles in general;

• Have stronger immune systems that better fend off disease and protect against infections;

• Have lower blood pressure and rates of hyperten-sions;

• Live longer and use fewer expensive health services; • Experience less depression and have greater quality

of life when ill.

Clinton, T. & Ohlschlager, G. (Eds.). (2002). Competent Christian Counseling: Foundations & Practice of

Compassionate Soul Care (Vol. 1) Colorado Springs, CO: Water Brook Press.

Henry, M. (1991). Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition (Vol. 6). Hendrickson.

Koenig, H. (2000). The Healing Connection. Nashville, TN: Word.

Sharon Stevens is the First Lady of University City Church of God in Christ and Director of Sisters in the City a

women’s fellowship group at the church.

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The dynamic duo Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr. and Dr. Debra B. Morton are

experiencing the result of God’s Promise. In spite of the loss of their first grandchild, the cata-strophic devastation of Hurri-cane Katrina on their ministry, illness and a church fire, they are living the life that God has ordained. The Mortons are Godly examples of faith, bless-ings, favor and endurance.

Bishop Morton is the found-ing presiding bishop of one of the fastest growing movements in America - The Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship In-ternational. As an apostle, he has birthed many churches out of Greater Saint Stephen in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is also an international television preacher who, for more than 25 years, has reached thousands of people every week. Bishop Mor-ton is known as a gifted author and an anointed singer, having received five Stellar Awards. His life in Christ is reflected by his love and compassion for his family and those who are lost.

Bishop Morton is truly God’s man. In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans area. In October 2005,

Greater St. Stephen began hav-ing services at New Beginning Full Gospel Baptist Church. God said to Bishop Morton, “I may be down-sizing New Orleans,

but I won’t down-size your min-istry.”

After the waters receded in New Orleans, renovations were underway to rebuild at Greater St. Stephen. The church was not only blessed by the compassion and contributions from other Christians, it was able to help thousands of people who went there for food, clothing and oth-er items after the hurricane.

In Janu-ary 2006, c h u r c h m e m b e r s m a r c h e d into a newly renovated edifice. The We s t b a n k and Up-town loca-tions were r e s t o r e d

and the services were filled to capacity. Bishop Morton was led to install Bishop Tommie Triplett as Pastor of the West-

bank Location in 2007. Meanwhile, Greater St. Stephen became “One Church in Two States” with Greater St. Ste-phen FGBC Uptown and Changing a Generation FGBC in Atlanta 2007.

With a determination to “change a generation” during a difficult time in both states, Bishop Morton adopted a new motto: “Changing the Way We Do Church.” In Atlanta, the church pros-pered, and added more than 20 active ministries within two years. In New Orleans, Greater

St. Stephen was experiencing significant change. After 33 years as Pastor of Greater St. Stephen, Bishop Morton passed the mantle to his wife, appoint-ing her as senior pastor. He will serve as her co-pastor.

With much celebration, Chang-ing a Generation members marched on Sunday, November 29, 2009 into their new facility

located at 3350 Green-briar Parkway in South-west Atlanta. People traveled from across the country to witness the opening and give praise to God during the event, which had the theme

“The Promise Ful-

filled.” Bishop Morton said, “From faith to faith and glory to glory…God has led us all the way and He has never failed us yet…the atmosphere for Changing a Generation is permeated with great faith”. This manifestation is a result of God’s promise.

The Result ofGod’s Promise

By Rhonda Mouton, Founder of WISE Magazine


On a chilly day in New Orleans on Thanksgiv-ing Day, 2009 hundreds

of people turned out to witness the triumph once again of the resilient Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church. The event had an appropriate theme: “We’re going home.”

Members celebrated the opening of the sanctuary at

5600 Read Boulevard in New Orleans. The rhythmic beat of

African drums and the energy of dancers helped keep partici-pants warm on the chilly day. In a voice of confidence and joy, Deacon Karl Bernard re-minded onlookers that God kept his promise to bring the church back after the Katrina hurricane. “Yes He will,” the deacon said. “He will rebuild the old waste places. We shall be called the restorers of the breach…It is our season… Let’s celebrate.”

As the newly named Senior Pastor at Greater St. Ste-phen, Dr. Debra B. Morton

preached the first sermon in the new edifice. “Thank you for staying in the

ship,” she said. “Stay on the ship and don’t allow fear to take control (Acts 27: 14, 15). Don’t let the devil take you off course. Fear can rise up and make you say something contrary to God. Fear comes

to take your purpose and your destiny. We must remember fear is simply false evidence appearing real. Remember Jeremiah 29:11: God will give you an expected end.”

Pastor Morton explained that her sermon was preached before, more than 30 years ago by Bishop Morton just after the passing of former Greater St. Stephen pas-tor Percy Simpson. After the premature death of Pastor Simpson, some people began to move to other churches and thank those that stayed.

Dr. Morton, Co-Pas-tor of Changing a

Generation Full Gos-pel Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, also serves as Gen-

eral Overseer of the women’s division Daughters of the Promise of The Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship In-ternational. As General Overseer, she oversees and ministers to more than 20,000 women annually. In 1993, she was ordained as an Elder in church and became one of the first female elders to preach in the Baptist pulpit.

Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr. and Dr. Debra B. Morton hearts are filled with joy and their faith have been increased because God never ceases to amaze them. Their life and this manifestation is truly the result of God’s promise.

Loretta Petit MBA is the 2010 Stellar Award nominated morning show personality on AM 940 WYLD and www.am940.com. She owns the online store www.theexpressiveaccent.com and the Expressive Accents,

LLC. Greater St. Stephen photos provided by Photographer Louis Francis, Jr. Changing a Generation photos provided by Jhamerria Images.

The Greater St. Stephen FamilyFinally Goes Home

By Loretta Petit, Stellar Award Morning Show Air Personality

It has been said that truth is a small word, but how many of us really “value” it in today’s world? For as long as I can remember, I was taught to never tell lies or deceive people. However, most of my life, I have been told lies or deceived in one form or the other, especially in grade school where I learned about President George Washington never telling a lie or Christopher Columbus discovering America. One needs only to observe our society and the world at large to realize that “truth” seems to have become an outdated term.

Matthew 5:37 reminds us to, “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” The Bible is the only authentic truth in our world today. A lie told to children is often described as an expression that describes the simplification of technical or difficult to understand material. We cannot deceive our children by offering elementary explanations that tend to be simple, concise, or simply wrong just to make the lesson more understandable. Lessons are sometimes qualified by claiming that the information isn’t technically true, but is easier to understand.

Author, SK Rawnak, in an article titled, “Truth vs. Lies and Deception,” states that with the advent of the computer age, it has now become mandatory to lie. She says that many people register online in various websites with false

identities. Nobody knows the truth anymore, and she asks does the truth even exist in today’s world? Rawnak states that, “seeing all the changes that are happening all around the world and with technology that is pushing humans fur-ther away from reality, it is only natural that we will soon be living in a world of delusions or deceptions. A day may soon come, she fears, when we may not be able to distinguish between reality and deception. I concur with the author that the deception of today will become the reality of tomorrow.

I am convinced that one of our most important responsi-bilities as parents and adults is to develop in our offspring a resilient sense of moral character and a strong ethical con-sciousness. It is wrong and against moral law to lie, cheat or steal. There will come a time when people will be forced to transform themselves because they realize that lies are destroying them and everyone around them. I am also con-vinced that a spiritual revolution is happening in today’s so-ciety and that human beings are trying to find their identity.

Dr. Harry Cartwright Sr. Ph.Dis a motivational speaker and well known of author.

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Is There ANYTruth Left in Our WorldToday?

By Harry M. Cartwright, Sr. Ph.D“This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou

canst not then be false to any man.” William Shakespeare


January 1st is much more than just the first day of a new year. The connection between this day and the start of something new in our lives has been in-grained so heavily in our minds that it makes it impossible to think about the New Year with-out contemplating change. We start a new routine, commit to a new workout schedule, or make a “debt free” plan. We in-tend to develop new habits in the spiritual, mental and physi-cal aspects of our lives, beam-ing with pride at our plans and anxiously awaiting the results of changes that we have not yet begun to make.

Isn’t that exactly what hap-pened last year?

Unfortunately, we often do not meet those goals, keep the commitments or develop the new routines. It is not because those things we set out to do aren’t important, but more so because we fall short in taking the necessary prerequisites to pass the proverbial class of “Change 101.”

We find ourselves failing year

after year, feeling frustrated; disappointed, and depending on another catalyst to provide us with the fuel we think we need to implement the same ineffective process again.

So what’s the problem? And how we do overcome it?

In the new book “Everything I’m Not Made Me Everything I Am: Discovering Your Personal Best,” Jeff Johnson aggressively tackles the impediments that keep us from effectively im-proving our lives and becoming our personal best. The award winning journalist, renowned public speaker and political commentator provides a blue-print for moving beyond those ineffective processes and uti-lizing various strategies in order to see transformational change materialize in our lives

Johnson, a commentator on the Tom Joyner morning show and chief correspondent of BET’s The Truth with Jeff Johnson, was inspired to write the book when his own journey took a pivotal turn only a few years ago. “I realized that at some

point, I had reached profession-al success with personal failure,” Johnson reflects. “Whether it was a failed marriage, being a better father or being a better friend, these were all motiva-tors for putting some different strategies into play.”

WISE Magazine spoke with the acclaimed author about the root causes that often stunt our growth, and ways we can conquer them. Johnson’s book which begins with an insightful foreword by Grammy award-ing winning artist Kanye West, is woven into a semi-autobi-ographical tale that provides glimpses into a process of dis-covering his own personal best - which he admittedly is still striving to reach.

The book is a mirrored reflec-tion of the poignant, insight-ful wisdom of the former youth pastor, NAACP director and father of three. Johnson guides his readers through a process of self-discovery that is hardly for the faint at heart. The challenge he presents is multifaceted: drill deeply into

your subconscious self and dig. Sift through the lay-ers of past experiences- the hurts, unmet expectations of others, disappointments, failures, and mistakes. There you will eventually discover your best self through en-countering and ‘blowing up’ your false self, and dealing with exactly who you’re not so you are able to completely embrace the real you.

WISE asked Johnson to share his thoughts about the hard-est part of tackling the pro-cess of change.

“It is admitting that you need to,” said Johnson.

“The moment you admit you need to change, the most dif-ficult part is over people con-vince themselves that their

current situation is too large to change. That is the moment they have admitted to them-selves that they are satisfied with things being the way they are.”

“We need to ask ourselves are we more comfortable being miserable? Unhappy? Unsatis-fied? Unfulfilled? Or are we will-ing to risk the unknown to have a little more? The reality is that falling on your face is still mov-ing forward more than stand-ing still is.”

Johnson became quite famil-iar with the stinging, lingering feeling of falling on the ground face first. “After leaving the NAACP, not having a plan…I found myself in New York, broke and not knowing what the next move was going to be. I was definitely on my face,” Johnson recounts.

Although circumstances were far from ideal, however, he was committed to progress and not staying down. “Being in New York opened doors… had I not been in a position to fall on my face, I wouldn’t have been able to look up and see all the oppor-tunities in front of me.”


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A Conversation with Jeff Johnsonby Leah C. Taylor

Changing theWayYouChange

Oftentimes, after we finally get over the hump of accept-ing the need to change and take steps to do so, we be-come immediately faced with another daunting valley- the valley of our hidden selves. Who are you now, and who are you destined to become? What’s the difference? John-son says that this process is not often something we con-sciously think about.

“Most people realistically do not just wake up one day and know who they are. I think how we are taught, and how we are raised - vis-à-vis family, home and school - are all con-ditioning us to be something. So much of our lives consist of actually fighting that condi-tioning,” Johnson said. “To be able to say, ‘wait a minute, I’m not who my parents are, I’m not who my friends are…I’m not who this school has con-ditioned me to be’ is critical

to under-s t a n d i n g

who you r e a l l y

are. In t h e

process of knocking all those things out, you begin to get revelation. It is that process that I think is more realistic for most people than some out of the blue realization of identity.”

Johnson presents this con-flict in the book through an analogy of imprisonment. He provides an extensive list of questions that you must ask yourself in order to begin this process. Some include:

Are you in prison? What are you in for?

How did you get here?Is there any hope of escape?

What would it feel like to blow up your prison?

In answering these questions it may become evident that the prison you have helped to build has led you to be where God never intended for you

to go, creating that inner con-flict.

“That war manifests itself through very simple, small decisions

that we make…it is an every day, all day kind of battle,” Johnson says. “People… spend a lot of time contradicting what they say they want…through their actions. Young people go to school and cut class; yet they say they want to be successful. Women say ‘I want to be in a relationship with a certain kind of guy’ but never look for that guy, and are always satisfied with the guy who has proven to them [that it] does not work. That’s the contradiction between the person that I say I want to be and the person that I am.”

Even if we can begin to cor-rect this err in our ways, a change in the decision-mak-ing process alone will not lead to a messianic trans-formation. The process is incomplete without further and more critical self-exam-ination. Johnson notes that

becoming your personal best won’t take place until you’re able to deal with your issues; the unresolved ‘stuff’ that is present in our lives- whether we have acknowledged it or not.

Often times, mistakes that we have made help to further suppress who we were in-tended to be and add to the abyss of ‘stuff.’ Confronting mistakes, however, is another critical part of this process.

“We talk in the book about avoidable mistakes and un-avoidable mistakes,” says Johnson. “Those [unavoid-able] mistakes that are going to happen no matter what are the ones we are going to have to eventually move beyond.”

“Then there are those avoid-able mistakes,” he says. “In these circumstances, we have to be able to manage our mistakes. From a proactive standpoint, how do we change our decision making to avoid those ….things that we used poor judgment on or things that we knew were wrong but just did anyway? How do we actually challenge ourselves to be consistent?”

“We can take 30 seconds to ask ourselves, ‘is this decision consistent with what I say I want? Is this decision in line with what I say my best looks like? If it is, then I won’t find myself in these kinds of pre-dicaments.’”

Connecting these thought processes with our plans for the New Year can help to cre-ate a reality that is different from what we have repeat-edly seen in the past. This re-ality, Johnson firmly asserts, will certainly not take place instantly because of some lofty declaration.

- {continue on page 24}

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Changing the Way You Change: A Conversation with Jeff Johnson

“The notion of a resolution is stupid,” says Johnson. “This is not an event that is going to happen and change your life. Anyone who is honest with themselves knows that it does not work. It’s a process that is going to change your life. Deciding to do one thing on one day is not going to materialize into some type of different existence a year from now.” “I’m not going to say, ‘Here is what I’m going to do for the year, for the next 60 days,’ says Johnson. “People have a difficult enough time figuring out what to eat for dinner. How are they going to fig-ure out everything they are going to do six months from now?”

“The one thing people can say they are going to do is take it one day at a time. What are the small things that you can do? Is it more prayer? Is it studying? Is it turning every-thing off and finding moments of silence? At the end of each day, as-sess how you did with those small things, and then figure out what you need to do tomorrow to be more effective.”

“[Say to yourself] ‘I’m going to make a commitment to myself daily to do this one thing,’ ” he admonishes. “By doing that, you’re taking very man-ageable steps to be where you want to be, instead of trying to accomplish it in one single bound, attempting to change overnight.”

Johnson advocates for a modest pledge that we can make to our-selves, removing a substantial amount of pressure and increasing our capacity to be successful on the path to change: “‘I don’t have to worry about tomorrow. I just have to worry about today. And tomorrow, I will wor-ry about tomorrow.’ ”

“To me,” he says, “that is so much more empowering.”

Photos By Photographers Daryl “The Visonist” and Jamon JohnsonLeah C. Taylor is a freelance writer and journalist in Washington, DC.

Johnson’s book is available online at www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com.


As we enter the New Year, many will make some sort of reso-lution to transform their physical selves. Often overlooked are the internal changes that need adjusting to live a more ful-filled, happy and balanced life. Much time is spent analyzing what color is the most flattering to us in our wardrobes, but very little attention is paid to the colors that we use within our home. The color(s) we are drawn to or avoid gives insight into our moods and personality. Through the appropriate selec-tion of color within our home we can evoke positive feelings that are stimulating, relaxing, calm, energetic or negative such as anger, apathy or even depression. Color is one of the most important yet often overlooked elements to not only a beauti-ful home, but also for our well-being. Understanding the im-portance of color and its impact on our moods and emotions are keys in creating harmony and balance in every aspect of our lives.

Color is light and thus a form of energy with its own vibration and power. Ev-ery person, place or thing has energy also known as ‘chi.’ This energy can be affected either positively or negatively depending on our environment. Using the correct colors is just as important visually as it is energetically. Have you walked into a room and felt warm or cold, yet couldn’t quite figure out what it was that made you feel that way? The use of color is a way of self-expression that gives insight into our personality. You can make simple changes by using colors in your home that you find attrac-tive. It will not only give your home a new look, but more importantly, it will create an environment that nourishes the spirit. Color used successfully can and will promote well-being, health and happiness as our mind, body and spirit are aligned with our environment. Take a look around your home. What colors surround you? How are those colors affecting you? What do they say about your personality? Knowing what colors you are drawn to and learning about the meaning of those colors and the feelings they evoke

will enable you to create a color scheme for your home that promotes a positive environment.

Going from room to room in your home write down how you feel as you enter each room. Does your energy increase or de-crease? Do you feel cold or warm and cozy? Next write down the primary purpose of each room. Is it a room you want to relax in such as a living room or study? Or is it a room used primarily for entertaining such as a kitchen or dining room? Also, write down how you want to feel as you enter each room. Choosing colors for your home is a personal choice. If it looks good to your eye, feels good to your senses and more importantly your spirit, go for it! Be bold and confident in your color selections as you move forward in the transformation of not only your external environment but the internal as well. {continue on page 26}

By Kamonda PhillipsDesign Consultant

Geopology Designs

ColorThe Transformative

Power of


Stylish, contemporary, unexpected and personality are the descriptive words for modern day brides’ special day. Weddings have now evolved to personalization and no longer the ‘cookie cutter’ traditional cer-emony. Now, brides search for dresses, venues and

themes that represent the personality of the bride and groom to ensure long lasting memo-ries. Movie, Sex and the City, and wedding television shows influence brides to be more daring and instead of planning their weddings, they are de-signing their weddings! Wed-dings are now limitless and are truly about what the bride wants regardless of how non-traditional, unique or authen-tic. Brides are bringing the ‘Wow Factor’!

The ‘Wow Factors’ of weddings consist of three very important things: venue, theme and the dress. Brides have be-come more creative than ever and are stepping out of the box to make their marks in wedding history. Venues have evolved from just back-yards and reception halls to theme parks, aquariums, steamboats and museums. Art galleries have become popular venues because of its character and hues. Brides consider their wedding day an artistic expres-sion and galleries are perfect for a unique appeal that is unexpected and adds personality!

Wedding themes are the new ‘it’ wed-ding thing to do. The increase of ra-cially mixed marriages has caused weddings to become a fusion of color, imagina-tion and cultures. The Christian and Indian fu-

sion is now more popular than ever. Indian weddings are event-ful, colorful and exciting. Christian weddings are more intimate and traditional. Blended, the two create a grand experience for the couple as well as guests. Brides enjoy wearing the Indian traditional wedding garment, saris, to the ceremony and usually change to a white gown for the reception. Crystal Williams planned a contemporary wedding for March 2010, and chose not to have bridesmaids and groomsmen. She has uniquely de-signed her wedding to fit the personality of her relationship with her future husband. Every event is a reflection of the couple. From sports team themed events to creative cakes, every detail resembles the couple.

“There are no boundaries in wed-dings. As long as the bride and groom are there,

that’s all that matters,” said Williams. My favorite part of the wedding and the most important is and will always be is the dress! I fell in love with weddings in high school when the mayor of the city I grew up in married a local news reporter. When the local newspaper came out, I remember seeing the front page in amazement! The bride and groom were standing in front of this historic church in this beautiful setting and the bride was wearing the most beautiful

gown I had ever seen. The gown was mermaid cut and fitted to the floor. It was an array of colors and the bead-ing resembled little flower petals. Being the most beautiful dress I had ever seen, I knew when I got mar-ried I wanted to make an impact on someone else just as I was impacted that day. The color, fit, style and in-dividuality of wedding dresses are more important than ever. Brides desire no competition and they seek

this uniqueness at all costs. With this new drive and inten-sity, they are moving away from the tradi-tional white or ivory dresses. Oyster and red are new ‘it’ col-ors in wedding gowns. Oyster is a shade of gray that any color compliments. A bride in this color can experiment and embel-lish wherever she wants to create the perfect look for her wed-ding. Red, of course, is more dominant and these fierce brides choose to adorn their bridesmaids in black and white.


Today’sCreativeeddingsW Scream...

“wow ”! By Lana Meyon

ise

Styl

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Using shades of pink is also a great way to compliment a wed-ding gown. Real brides are taking tips from stars when it comes to their wedding gown choices. Singer Gwen Stefani wore a pink dress, singer Kelis wore a green dress and both received large amounts of press for their unique choices. It is important to become the exquisite work of art by wearing the unexpected on the wedding day and the unexpected is col-ored wedding gowns! If the gown is darker, make bridal party dresses lighter. If the brides’ dress is lighter, make the brides maids’ dresses darker. It is an easy way to blend the overall look well. Kortni Morton was married December of 2008 and she wore a short, stylish, golden dress that complimented her complexion.

“I always wanted a colored wedding dress, I just wanted to go with the season, I wanted something different and not the norm,” said Morton, inspired by Sex and the City.

I have noticed brides now prefer a more lean wedding party instead of the large parties that take four limos and forty-five minutes to walk down the aisle. These brides desire the clean look of simplicity, accompanied by elegance. By just having a best man and a maid or matron of honor the bride stands out more and it eliminates some stress in planning.

Weddings are still and will always be the biggest and the most life-changing event that will ever happen to any couple. Therefore, have fun, mix and match. It’s okay to create an event that is uniquely yours. Besides, it’s only supposed to happen once, right?

Lana Meyon is a fashion consultant and designer in New Orleans.

Wedding Cakes provided by Cheesecake

Etc. Gail Ciriello Buff, Owner

The Taste is Unforgettable.

Visit the website www.cheesecakeetc.biz.

ise Style

Blush Gown by Designer Palazzo Naomi and Cobalt Blue by Designer Nicole Miller available at J. Major’s Bridal Boutique in Charlotte, North Carolina.

On Previous PageFor more information visit the website

www.jmajors.com.

Silver and Ivory Bridal Gown and Ivory and Gold Bridal available at The Bridal House in Charlotte, North Caro-lina. For more information visit the website www.theplaceforbrides.comShanika J. Butts, Owner.


{continue from page 25} - Red- is warmth, energy and stimula-tion; associated with passion and excitement. It encourages action and the confidence to follow your dreams while providing pro-tection against fears and anxieties. Use red whenever you need a boost of energy or courage. Design Tip: Use red as an accent to draw attention and focus to a particular element. Orange- a combination of optimistic yellow and passionate red is cheerful and encouraging. Orange stimulates creative thinking and an enthusiasm for a future filled with new possibilities and op-tions in life. Use orange to spice up things whenever you feel stuck or as a relief from taking things too seriously. Design Tip: Orange used in a kitchen or dining room will promote social interac-tion. Yellow- is happiness, enlightenment and vitality; associated with change, prog-ress, mental clarity and knowledge. Yel-low promotes optimism and promise of a bright future. Use to help strengthen and encourage communication with better focus on our life goals. Design Tip: Yellow is best used in transi-tional areas such as hallways, bathrooms and entry ways. Green- The color of nature soothes the mind and body, promotes tranquility and peace while providing balance and sense of order. Use green when in need of a change or growth in your life or as protection from anxieties connected with the demands of others. Promotes

the freedom to pursue new ideas and opportunities. Design Tip: A green-on-green color scheme is very calming. Blue- the color of truth and wisdom, is restful, serene, it promotes peace, relaxation and calmness. Use blue to counter chaos and to broaden your perspective in learning new things. Turquoise- is youthfulness, communication, health and strength. Aqua- is the color of high ideals. Indigo- is wisdom, spiritual realization, increased personal thought, insight & understanding. Design Tip: Some shades of blue can appear cold.

Purple- a combination of passionate red and calming blue, purple is symbolic of royalty and power. It promotes spiritual insight, re-newal, intuition and peace of mind. Use purple for a boost of confi-dence and reassurance you are on the right life path. Violet- is the color of purpose, imagination and inspiration; use to remove obstacles in your path. Design Tip: To update a neutral color palette, add a few silk pillows in purple. Pink- a combination of white and red, pink is youthful, renews spir-it, happiness and lightheartedness. It promotes caring, self-worth,

love, acceptance and encourages calm feelings, re-laxation and contentment. Use pink to feel nurtured and cherished. Design Tip: Try a pink and green color scheme for a sophisticated look. Brown- The color of earth is stable and reliable. It promotes a comfortable feeling. Use brown to fos-ter healthy relationships. Design Tip: The use of brown in a room creates warmth and inspires a sense of graciousness. Gray- a combination of white and black; Gray is the color of transition, compromise, intellect, knowl-edge and wisdom.

Design Tip: Gray can be used to reduce the intense energy of bolder color. Black- is authoritative and powerful. It promotes exploration, mys-tery, a sense of potential and possibility. Use black to promote self-confidence and independence. Design Tip: Too much black it can be overwhelming. Use as an ac-cent in a space where you want to assert your inner power. White- is purity, cleanliness, wholeness, completion and clarity. Use white to clear clutter, remove obstacles and to promote new begin-nings. Design Tip: In an all-white room mix different shades and textures. Note: Color is subjective and will elicit different emotions and affect everyone differently. There are vastly different meanings and con-notations of colors across cultures.

Kamonda L Philips is the owner and principal interior designer at Geopology Designs

For more information email Kamonda L Phillips at [email protected]

Photos furnished by Annette Webb and Aja Grant.28 WISEMAGAZINE.ORG - JAN -MAR 2010

Every Tuesday many people wait for personal trainers Jillian and Bob to kick the contes-tants’ butts on the television show, “The Biggest Loser.” Have you ever asked when the contestants are ready to kick their own butts?

In a recent episode, a contestant weighing more than 400 pounds was about to lose what she thought was her main support -- her workout partner and trainer. The contestant thought they were her motivation but she didn’t realize they were not the reason for her success. Once she joined a new team and understood that she had to do it for herself, the contestant started kicking her own butt. Her strength came from within. She was determined to succeed even in the midst of what she thought was a bad situation.

But let’s be realistic. We do not have Bob and Jillian screaming “Gimme 10” down our throat every day nor do we have a cook at home preparing healthy meals. What we do have is our own motivation. It’s easy to Google a meal plan and exercise routine, but what you can’t find on the Internet is the willpower to succeed.

In Deuteronomy 8:18 the Bible says, “And you should remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth.” Wealth isn’t just about having a lot of money. Wealth is also about being successful in every task you put your hands to, and that includes getting healthy. Staying committed to the process and completing the task is what you have to do to reach the goal.

Now that you’re focused on being successful, let’s get kicking. The biggest challenge in most cases is changing the way you look and eat food. Breakfast is really the most important meal of the day.

What’s Kicking You?

Here is a simple one day meal plan:• Breakfast-2 – 4 Egg Whites, 1 Cup Oatmeal, 1 Piece Fruit

• Snack-6 oz. Yogurt

• Lunch- 5 oz Chicken, 2 Cups Vegetables, 1 Sweet Potato

• Snack- 8 oz Protein Drink

• Dinner- 5 oz Fish, 2 Cups Vegetables

• Snack-1 Cup Popcorn, No ButterNot everyone has access to a gym, nor is having a personal trainer in every family’s budget. Here are three simple yet effective movements that will have you well on your way to a fit and healthier body.

Many people say “I want a flat stomach”, “thin arms”, and “toned legs and butt.” It takes hard work but it can be done. First, you must eat right, and then you must get moving. Here are several simple exercises to help you get started.

By Lisa Dalton, a certifiedPersonal Fitness Trainer and Sports Nutritionist

Lay flat on the floor, with feet stretched apart, and extend both arms over the head. Slowly bring the legs and arms toward each other at the same time, stopping at your chins. Slowly lower both legs and arms back to the floor, counting backwards- 5, 4,3,2,1. Do three sets of 15 repetitions

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Now, let us deal with those about sagging arms. You know the arms that we do not want when we become grandmothers. Stand with your legs shoulder width apart and place an exercise band in your right hand, lifting it over your head so the band will hang on your back. Take your left hand behind your back, holding the band midway. Make sure the band is not loose. Slowly raise your right hand toward the ceiling, stretching your right arm fully. Slowly lower right arm back to starting position. Do three sets of 15 repeti-tions. Switch arms to complete the workout.

Continue doing these exercises three times a week, along with 30 minutes of cardio and you’ll be well on your way to completing the task at hand -- taking care of you!

For more information, visit the website www.1body2build.4t.com.

Lie on the floor with heels propped on an ex-ercise ball with arms to the side. Keeping the abdomen and buttocks tight, slowly lift your hips off the floor as you pull the ball towards your buttocks. Once ball and buttocks meet, hold for five seconds then lower back to starting position. Repeat three sets of 15.

Pulmonary Embolism (lung clot) symptoms:

Have you heard about the preventable disease that claims more lives in a year than AIDS and breast cancer combined? Most people haven’t. Keep reading and learn the facts about Deep Vein Thrombosis and its gruesome effect, pulmonary embolism.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body, usually in the legs, and can be fatal if it breaks free, travels through the heart, and affects the lungs. This complication is known as a pulmonary embolism (PE). According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, DVT affects an estimated 350,000 – 600,000 Americans each year, and more than 100,000 die.

In September 2008, Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson released a call to action to prevent DVT and pulmonary embolism and raise awareness about these diseases. It can affect anyone, regardless of age or race. Taking the time to learn the warning signs and symptoms, and encouraging others to do the same, may contribute to saving a life.

Other risk factors include prolonged immobility or trav-el, obesity, pregnancy, smoking and vascular diseases such as heart attack, heart failure, or stroke.

Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism are often referred to as “silent killers” because at least 50% of all people who die show no obvious problems. Many physicians are unable to diagnose DVT based on initial symptoms. However, when a clot obstructs the flow of blood, the following symptoms may occur in the affected leg(s):

• Swelling • Fever • Redness of skin • Skin that is warm to the touch • Skin discoloration (may not be apparent with darker complexions• Gradual onset of pain that may worsen when the foot is flexed • Leg cramps that may feel like a charley horse

Deep Vein Thrombosis: The Silent Killer

• Women who take, or have taken, birth control or menopausal therapy

• Individuals over the age of 50 • Individuals who are Caucasian or African

American • Individuals who have a personal or family his-

tory of DVT • Individuals who have experienced a recent

traumatic injury such as a fall • Individuals who have been on bed rest for

greater than three days • Individuals who have had cancer or cancer

treatment

By Le Keisha N. Ruffin,DVT Survivor

Who is at Risk?

• Sudden shortness of breath • Sharp stabbing pain in the chest or side that may

intensify with a deep breath • Faster than normal heart rate • Unexplained cough, sometimes with bloody mucus


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How to Prevent the Diseases

Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism are preventable. Here are some things you can do:

• Eat foods that support a healthy immune system. Eating plant based foods (fruits and vegetables) are a great way to maintain a healthy immune system.

• Maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, and avoid tobacco.• Talk to your doctor about blood clots before surgery, and/or after a traumatic injury like a motor vehicle accident

and slip and fall.• Move around as soon as possible after surgery.• Exercise your legs during long trips. • Know your treatment options, and do not be afraid to choose the treatment plan that is best for you and/or your

loved one. • Join a DVT Support Group (Try DVT Survivors United on Facebook)

You can find out more information on the diseases and the warning symptoms from the following organizations:Vascular Disease Foundation www.vdf.org

Venous Disease Coalition www.venousdiseasecoalition.org National Alliance for Thrombosis and Thrombophilia www.stoptheclot.org

Office of the Surgeon General www.surgeongeneral.gov

A Lott of Sista Love

A LOTT of Sista Love is an affiliate of Kingdom Development 501(c)3 Non-Profit

Join us!

A LOTT of Sista Love meets every 1st Sunday

3:00-5:00 pm

Web: www.alottofsistalove.org

Email: [email protected]

Le Keisha Ruffin is a Deep Vein Thrombosis survivor and dedicated to raisingawareness about preventable diseases. To learn more visit the website www.LeKeishaRuffin.com.


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