Mama Butterfly

My Golden Butterfly

My golden butterfly touches the sunShe sometimes sings to me when day is doneWhen she opens up her wings to fly into the worldI wish I could fly with her and smell the breezeIt must be peaceful with everything she sees
My golden butterfly comes to me when it is nightShe sleeps in my patio until it is daylightI see her in my garden, on the flowers and in the treesShe makes me smile, so delicate and freeLike an angel in the sky, I hope she will stay with meJust her and I
My golden butterfly likes the waterfallShe reminds me of heaven and the beauty of it allButterfly, oh butterfly, give me wings to fly with youYou are like a falling star, wonderful and newTouch the sun every morning, kiss the night goodbyePlease remember me, as in the world you fly.

© 2005Linda Ann Henry

Home Going Celebrations for Malettor Cross

Sunday July 12th 4-7pm
Memorial Celebration
Detroit’s Afro- American Mission.
1019 Clay Detroit, Michigan 48211
(313) 872-0444I75 & Clay Ave
Monday :July 13th
12-6pm
Mother Cross’s body lies in state
@ “The Dale”
Monday: July 13th 7-9pm
“A Tribute of Testimonies” 7-9pm
Rosedale Park Bapt Church
14179 Evergreen Detroit, Michigan 48223
(313) 538-1180

Tuesday July 14th 10am-1pm
Family hour 10:00 am
Services 11:00 am
Ward Presbyterian Church
40000 6 Mile Rd
Northville, MI 48168

Internment at United Memorial Gardens
Plymouth, Michigan

3:30pm
Repast @ Rosedale Park Bapt. Church
14179 Evergreen
Detroit, Michigan 48223

Funeral arrangements provided by
Wilson Akins Funeral Home.
17500 Fenkell St. Detroit, MI 48227
(313) 837-4440

How would America be different if we gave the gift of forgivness to all our fathers on father's day

Forgiving our Fathers..... by Dick Lourie...... This poem is read during the last scene in Smoke Signals


Maybe in a dream: he's in your poweryou twist his arm but you're not sure it washe that stole your money you feel calmerand you decide to let him go freeor he's the one (as in a dream of mine)I must pull from the water but I neverknew it or wouldn't have done it untilI saw the street-theater play so close upI was moved to actions I'd never before takenmaybe for leaving us too often orforever when we were little maybefor scaring us with unexpected rageor making us nervous because there seemednever to be any rage there at allfor marrying or not marrying our mothersfor divorcing or not divorcing our mothersand shall we forgive them for their excessesof warmth or coldness shall we forgive themfor pushing or leaning for shutting doorsfor speaking only through layers of clothor never speaking or never being silentin our age or in theirs or in their deathssaying it to them or not saying it -if we forgive our fathers what is left

from the 1st lady @ The Dale

Stark Reality
• The United States has the world's highest rape rate of the countries that publish such statistics.
• 4 times higher than Germany
• 13 times higher than England
• 20 times higher than Japan.
• Stark Reality
• 83% of rape cases are ages 24 or under
• 1 in 7 women will be raped by her husband
• 1 in 4 college women have either been raped or suffered attempted rape
• Only 16% of rapes are ever reported to the police
Yet we wonder why it is that females, girls and women
… cover up
• Strange Man Effect
When young girls are estranged from their father and don’t know who their daddy is, whether due to abandonment; alienation; isolation; avoidance; denial; separation or divorce and are exposed to “strange men” in the home. (even when the strange man is a step father)
• Strange Man Effect
A strange man can be any man other than a girl’s biological father who lives with her and relates to her in a way that only a father can and should
• Strange Man Effect
Emotional and social development
• Low self esteem
• Constant need of acceptance by men
• Aggressive attention from men
• lack a sense of protection
• Strange Man Effect
• 53% more likely to marry as teenagers
• 111% more likely to have children as teenagers
• 164% more likely to be a single parent
• 92% more likely to divorce if they marry
• Strange Man Effect
• Diminished cognitive development
• Poor school performance
• Lower achievement test scores and
lower IQ scores
• Drop out of high school
• Many never attempt college
• Many drop out of college
• Strange Man Effect
Physical Development
• girls grow up too fast
• One (1) in six (6) girls enter puberty at eight years of age!
• Strange Man Effect
“If we want young girls to delay sex and childbearing, having a loving biological father on the premises is not simply a good idea,
[it is God’s idea], while having [strange] unrelated men on the premises is not."
“There is still no substitution for a father's love and while many females are able to succeed there still exists a place, even though long ago covered up, covered over and buried beneath the business of life, there still remains a place in every woman and every girl ‘s heart, and a part of them that longs to be
‘daddy's little girl’.”

are women more important then men in the developing the foundation of the masculine image?

Psychiatrist Dr. Jack Raskins of Children’s Orthopedic Hospital and the University of Washington says a mother’s presence is especially important in the early stages of a child’s life.
The key is “the child’s close, unbroken attachment in the early months to the people who care for him.
Jean Flemming points out that “a mother’s presence throughout infancy and the entire preschool stage is important because more learning takes place in the child’s first five years than in any comparable period of life.
Too much disruption of this imbeds in the personality traits that can be disruptive for a lifetime....
Attachment to the people who love him and who respond to his needs is nothing less than the foundation of the child’s personality
Experts agree that as much as eighty-five percent of a child’s character is developed by age five, and the way a child is raised in the early years accounts for at least twenty points of his IQ

lost battle but a winable war?

http://www.newsweek.com/id/192583/page/2

spin to win

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123664427493678121.html

who is the older brother

http://blog.sojo.net/2009/03/24/im-the-older-brother/

does this have implications for today

You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation.
You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."Dr. Adrian Roge

"You In?"

http://blog.sojo.net/2009/02/18/love-godend-poverty-why-im-going-to-the-mobilization-to-end-poverty/

is this social gospel

Christians on Left, Right Push Plan to Aid the Poor - WSJ.com 9:21pm
Source: online.wsj.com

tight but right?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/19/AR2009021903512.html
does this let the gov't off the hook from God's perspective?

Shalom Ministry

Shalom Ministry

Change we can believe ?

http://blog.sojo.net/2009/02/04/audio-shifting-how-we-have-church/

is this uncommon

http://globalgrind.com/source/blackpoliticsontheweb.com/384409/man-who-beat-rep-lewis-in-1961-asks-forgiveness/

from da boss

A Letter From The Boss

To All My Valued Employees,There have been some rumblings around the office about the future ofthis company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, theeconomy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges.However, the good news is this:The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What does threaten yourjob however, is the changing political landscape in this country.However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might helpyou decide what is in your best interests.First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers againstemployees, you have to understand that for every business owner thereis a Back Story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowedby what you see and hear.Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You've seen my big home atlast year’s Christmas party. I'm sure; all these flashy icons of luxuryconjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.However, what you don't see is the BACK STORY: I started this company28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square foot studioapartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was converted intoan office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company,which by the way, would eventually employ you.My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spentwent back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with adefective transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, Istayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking andpartying. In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work,discipline, and sacrifice.Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made amodest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashycars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes.Instead of hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, Iwas trolling through the discount store extracting any clothing itemthat didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friendsrefinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however,did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business with avision that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford theseluxuries my friends supposedly had.So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9 A.M., mentallycheck in at about noon, and then leave at 5 P.M., I don't. There is no"off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and youhave a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have thefreedom. I eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day.There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Everyday this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year oldspecial-needs child. You, of course, only see the fruits of thatgarden -- the nice house, the Mercedes, the vacations... you neverrealize the Back Story and the sacrifices I've made.Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all theright decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out all the peoplewho didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feelentitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade ofmy life for.Yes, business ownership has its benefits but the price I've paid issteep and not without wounds. Unfortunately, the cost of running thisbusiness, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold ofmarginal benefit and let me tell you why:I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't payenough. I have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales anduse taxes. Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemploymenttaxes. Taxes on taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all thesetaxes and then guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him.Government mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goeswith it, now occupy most of my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check tothe US Treasury for $288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know what my"stimulus" check was? Zero. Nada. Zilch.The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, theguy who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over2,200,000 people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the singlemother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for hernext welfare check? Obviously, government feels the latter is theeconomic stimulus of this country.The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you'dquit and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts.Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agreewhich is why your job is in jeopardy.Here is what many of you don't understand ... to stimulate the economyyou need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly governmentmandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead ofdepositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would havespent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economicgrowth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut inthe form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don'tdefibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back tolife, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at theheart of America and always has been. To restart it, you muststimulate it, not kill it. Suddenly, the power brokers in Washingtonbelieve the poor of America are the essential drivers of the Americaneconomic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this isthe type of change you can keep.So where am I going with all this? It's quite simple. If any newtaxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift andsimple. I'll fire you. I'll fire your co-workers. You can then pleadwith the government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and yourchild's future. Frankly, it isn't my problem anymore.Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, andretire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalizes theproductive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and toprovide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.So, if you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; itwill be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through thiscountry, steam rolled the constitution, and will have changed itslandscape forever. If that happens, you can find me sitting on abeach, retired, and with no employees to worry about....Signed, THE BOSS

David Cross & Black History month

In our conversation about whether Black History Month should be eliminated let’s not forget the context out of which the month evolved. America’s record of excluding African-American history and achievements cannot be ignored when we discuss the continuing need for Black History Month, the progeny of Dr. Carter G. Woodson’s week. Recognizing that America was already divided along lines of race that denied any black contributions to American and world history, Dr. Woodson created Black History week as a remedy, not as a way to divide America. I believe that folk who see this occasion of recognizing black achievement in America and the world as divisive are misguided. Black History week was created not so much to celebrate black American history, especially in competition with any other group, but more to recognize black achievement where it had never be acknowledged before; Dr. Woodson’s efforts were intended to be remedial and the month continues to serve this necessary purpose. There is still too much undiscovered black history to uncover for us to start talking about ending the one time during the year that we focus on our history. American history is what it is, and it is inextricably bound to Black History Month and the context out of which it evolved.Of course, there is a natural celebratory aspect of the month today and it is not a bad thing; Black History month should remind us all to celebrate how our democracy developed to include more of its citizens. African-Americans possess a most unique history in America as do Native Americans; our stories deserve special attention. Black History Month should also serve to remind us that we still have work to do.Black History Month hardly places African-Americans on a pedestal above others and should be seen not only as an educational piece for all of the world but also as a solemn reminder of America’s past thereby insuring that we never venture anywhere near that path of exclusion again.

evangelical friends

The Lord sent me and my family to DC for the Inaugural festivities and it was truly incredible. I want to share some observations regarding the 'evangelical' church's response and reactions to the hoopla and Messianic tendencies toward Obama. This is rated 'M' for the mature. :-)As I have been hearing from the Lord, this really is a wake up call for the Church. Could it be this is the Judgment of God, because we have not lovingly presented the real Messiah, Jesus our Lord! Could we have possibly neglected our call to be witnesses to a corrupt generation and because they couldn't see Jesus in us...they have found a Savior in an ideal! The ideals of the World are counterfeit to the blessings of the Kingdom! We, the Church have been given the keys to the Kingdom. As the Church goes...there goes the Land! 2Chronicles 7. The American evangelical church is about to make the wrong mistake she has always done...we are being known as critics instead of Lovers! Instead of criticizing people who we believe are misguided and deceived and instead of operating in defensive mode and depression, Let's live out the Kingdom with passion and reckless abandonment. Let's show America there is a better alternative to the ideals of man. Let's show them Jesus! Speaking negative about what's happening doesn't help people to change their hearts toward the cause of Christ. It makes them more militant. I was among them I know this. The question is where will the church be when this ideal of man's is shattered. When reality sets in that no government, institution or man can save them/us from the coming catastrophes of life (the worship of conservatism shrouded with religion won't save either)...Will we say "I told you so" with an arrogant attitude or will we be like the Father in the prodigal son and welcome them home and give them the best seats at the table.... Cmon evangelical church get over yourself and seek His righteousness not yours....offer His Kingdom not a moral one!And lastly while I'm on my soapbox...I think Jesus would have looked over the sea of humanity and wept! He wouldn't have mocked them or look at them with disdain. He would see a people without a shepherd...and would have compassion on them. Where is the sincere Compassion?!? Are we that angry because a people who never felt a part of this country now are proud to be Americans? A realization that some of us always cherished and revered almost idolized! It was beautiful to hear and see black Americans express a love for this country. No longer feeling invisible but now proud and having a sense of belonging, raising the American flag with reverence and pride. Don't we get it...? That we helped shaped this godlesss atmosphere and environment because the Savior we presented was mean, racists, sexist, blond/blue eyes, condescending and condemning? The most tragic out of all of this is that I saw more hope, more passion, more joy, more diversity and more unity on Inauguration Tuesday than what I see on Sunday mornings in our dry places of worship! Don't blame the 'liberals' on that one...that's our fault! Again, I believe Jesus wouldn't rain on their parade with petty comments, but rather He would love them and rebuke and admonish the evangelical church! The Harvest is plentiful but the Laborers are few. Church of the Living God get up shake the dust off...stop casting stones...stop acting like a sore loser...you have already won! View people with His heart and His eyes. The fields are ready more than ever for Harvest but do you really care?Sincerely and in Love, Devoted Follower of Jesus Christ, Dennis

the Dale in DC

the Dale in DC

the Dale in DC

were you apart of History's handfull?

In my fifty four years of life I never had the need or the desire to be at an inauguration event until this year. I felt a strong push to be there from the beginning of President Obama election he seems to make people proud of whom they are. And it showed in Washington D.C. From the first night we arrived to the drive home there was so much electricity to be part of the dream that Prophet Martin Luther King said forty years ago that a man will not be judge by the color of his skin but by the content of his mind. The streets were full with all color of people who were celebrating the change in American. White men embracing black men yellow people sharing their heart to all people black people eyes full of pride and honor you would think we were just given forty acres and Cadillac. Standing in lines for three hour, to ride a metro train that normally takes twenty three minuets on a normal day, some people took cuts but most stay their course with out conflict. One of the other amazing things but believe me there were million was to see so many people from all over the world to come and celebrate with America the Inauguration of the first black President of the United States. God showed up and showed out
Roy D Harlin

a king lived among us

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1929-1968

Daddy in the house

http://www.parade.com/export/sites/default/news/2009/01/barack-obama-letter-to-my-daughters.html

does this speak of our youth?

http://www.worthynews.com/3144-study-religious-teens-wait-to-have-sex

trend or temporary

is this just a spin

http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhfdN1Dqg2iiqCv00z

can we salt & light these issues

will the church in America ever become "post racial"

huffington_post:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-fauntroy-phd/enough-of-this-post-racia_b_154497.html

Barack Obama's historic presidential campaign and pending presidency has catapulted the concept of a "post-racial" America to the top of our politico-socio lexicon. The "post-racial" America, as some have called it, refers to a country that has moved beyond race (in an almost Colbertian way). It is touted by liberals and conservatives (though for different reasons) as evidence that the country is healing its racial divisions. It is a concept that is used in polite society to suggest a level of societal sophistication to which we all should aspire, while "focusing on race" or "getting bogged down by race" is the old way of thinking and shows a backward orientation. Thus, being "post-racial" is the frontier to be embraced and anything short of that is to be belittled. Celebrating a "post-racial" America is premature and those doing so may well be unwittingly leading a dangerous new attempt to overlook and ignore America's racial history and avoid public policy approaches to the systematic racial prejudice that still pervades our society. If we are beyond race, the argument can go, then why do we need new public policy to deal with racial issues? And if we don't need new policy, then we probably can do away with the old stuff too!
Let me be clear: I believe the country has come an incredibly long way as it relates to race. There is no question that African Americans of my vintage do not have to carry the burdens of race in the same ways that our parents and previous generations did. We do not have to live under the cloak of Jim Crow and threat of racial reprisals for the smallest of issues. That is a benefit for which we all, regardless of race, should be proud. We are getting closer to the promise of America that is held up as an example for all the world. However, getting closer does not mean we can see the finish line from here. On too many issues, race is still a big problem and electing an African American president doesn't mean they will magically go away.
Those who see America as "post-racial" may well be guilty of prematurely hoisting the "mission accomplished" banner. They should be aware of some unfortunate truths that still frame the world in which many Americans still live. For example, African Americans comprise nearly half of the 2.4 million people incarcerated in the United States, but make up but 12 percent of the total population. African Americans also suffer from disproportionately high school dropout and poverty rates.
I believe that some of what ails Black America is self-inflicted. But I also believe that public policy at the local, state, and national levels have contributed mightily to this current state of affairs. "Post-racial" doesn't get us any closer to solving these problems; indeed, it can be seen as a polite diversion from a solution. I think we are better served by having a political discourse that acknowledges, respects, and embraces racial differences. That is a better alternative than our historical approach -- belittle those who look different -- or the new view on the horizon -- act like we don't need to talk about race anymore.
Michael K. Fauntroy is a professor, author, political commentator, and columnist. He blogs at: MichaelFauntroy.com.