The Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Tucson hosted a Black History Celebration on Saturday.

The theme for the day was “From Africa to the White House.”

The annual event chaired by Herald Craig, had a number of displays and activities for all ages. These included movies, books, artist, displays, speakers, dancers and singers.

A program started with the presentation of colors by the Buffalo Soldiers which had set up camp in the parking lot complete with tent and a horse. The program offered a number of presentations from the history behind some of the African music and instruments to Black hair. The Pilgrim Rest Senior Choir sang a number of songs from Black history from slavery to the time of the civil rights movement.

The event was well attended by the community and civic personalities who enjoyed a piece of history, lunch, entertainment and sharing.

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Good News Tucson Magazine, the premiere Christian publication for Southern Arizona, has expanded its outreach to their readership. You can now enjoy the Good News Tucson Magazine in three different formats. The print version is still available free and available the first of every month in more than 100 locations close to where you live, work and shop. Visit the website to find the location nearest you. If you prefer the “green” version, you can read it online using the e-zine electronic version allowing you to flip through the pages for a familiar reading experience. If you would like to interact and respond to the articles, GNT announced the Good News Tucson Magazine Blog. You can now let them and the community know how you feel about what you have read. GNT encourages dialog among their readership and also their participation in making Tucson a better place to live and worship. Just visit http://www.GoodNewsTucson.com and be heard.

Website

http://goodnewstucson.com/

Blog

http://goodnewstucson.wordpress.com/

As I look at last year, there were a few areas where I was successful.  I went back to college and took five classes reverent to the new career I wanted to pursue as a photo-journalist and in graphic arts. Finishing five classes with a 4.0 wasn’t too bad for a 54 year old man.

I updated my resume with my new skills and started the job hunt. The year ended with not one interview.

I started to feel like maybe I shouldn’t be working for someone else at this phase in my life and go back to the life of an entrepreneur. This is what I really wanted to do anyway.

So here I am, gifted, talented, and motivated. Creatively excelling, but financially challenged.

Prayerfully seeking answers, I started to believe in my spirit that something is fundamentally wrong. I praise God for my relationship with Him, His love and concern for me and my family. God does answer prayer.

What was missing from my “business plan” was that I had not proven myself faithful in my stewardship to Him. I failed to see my unemployment checks as income and thus exempt from tithes. Yes taxes were taken out which made it “harder” to justify taking an additional ten percent out.

With the mounting bills and always feeling behind, you start looking for relief by trying to take control over your circumstances. When you have $50 and the bill is $75, the natural tendency is to try to find the other $25 not the $30 because you have taken out $5 and paid your tithes.

I have found out that my taking control did not leave room for God to work in my life, nor in my behalf. I was not obeying His Word which disqualifies me from His promises with regards to stewardship.

If I mismanage my God given resources with the little I have, how can I be trusted with greater amounts? Truthfully, I not sure I would trust myself.

So now the challenge is to find a way for me to honor God and His word through tithes and offerings. Not just because I need financial help but because I love Him, His correction and want to live a life within His will.

My plan is this; as I receive income, I will immediately take out what I need for tithes and offerings and put it aside. Just take it out of circulation. If it sits in the bank, history tells me that a bill will come in, an automatic withdrawal I forgot about will hit or something will break.

As I start this act of faith, and if this has been a challenge for you, I invite you to covenant with me and let’s defeat the mindset that has us bound in poverty and not taking full advantage of all God has to offer.

When God starts to move, I will be sure to keep you informed and testify of His goodness.

May God continue to bless you and open up your understanding to His Word and His heart.

I am the LORD All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to the test. Bring the entire ten percent into the storehouse, so there will be food in my house. Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing.

Malachi 3:10 (Contemporary English Version)