"N" Search of Ecstasy

I received this via email today and I just wanted to share it with everyone. A friend of mine sends me these Morning Ministry emails each day. This one was particularly interesting to me because it talked about pride. Pride is one of those things that can be helpful but it can also be a hindrance.

I have been in the situation many times here lately where I tried to reach out to someone in need but their pride wouldnt let me help. Their pride wouldnt let me be there for them. Sometimes there is a huge tug of war between us, when it really doesnt have to be and it is all because of pride. I have said it many times over the last few months. Sometime you just have to ... Put Your Pride Aside!




Good Morning,

On this day, October 30, this email comes to minister to you. Happy
Monday! How are you doing this morning? Its a wonderful day to be a
child of God. Have you been asking God for anything? Each chance you get, do you remind the Lord about your request? No matter how impossible it seems, do you still expect God to do it? So often in our lives, we ask God for whatever we want in life. No boundaries or hesitations. No reservations. If you want it, you ask the Lord for it. You are very bold in your approach and your request. Not only do you ask for it, but you place the name of Jesus on it as well. Does this sound like you? Have you been there? Are you there now?

This morning, I have been commissioned to come and minister to you.
May I ask you a question? When you ask God for your request, what are your intentions? Are you sincere or do you want to boast in the face of others?

Will the Lord receive glory? Many times we ask God for (some)things, but we are to proud to do what the Lord says do to receive it. We want God to open the windows of Heaven, but we do not want to tithe. We want God to forgive us, but we do not want to forgive others. To proud to admit it?

My friend, you must learn to Put Your Pride Aside! The Bible declares in Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. As a child of God, there should be no room in our lives for pride. When we ask the Lord to bless us, sometimes He may use people to do it.

My brother, my sister, many people miss out on their blessings
because pride interrupted the progress. Put Your Pride Aside! The Bible declares in Proverbs 29:23 - A mans pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. The opposite of pride, is humility. When you are humble, God is able to do great things in your life. The Bible declares in 1 Peter 5:6 - Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: What are you believing God for? Has pride attempted to enter in? Are you to proud to receive from others ... even if it is God orchestrating the events? Beloved, Put Your Pride Aside! Thought to Ponder: If your blessing was in the hands of someone else, would you be to proud to receive it?

Whatz up bloggers!??!

No to much with me. Just trying to make it. I have been busy as all hell with work and school, especially work. Gosh...I know I go to work to actually work, but damn. This is ridiculous! Can I plz have a few moments to chill out, talk on the phone, or surf the net? Jeeze! Im just kidding. Well Im kinda serious but still. Give me a break. I have even been taking shit home to do in the evenings and on the weekends. This sux!

But enough of my complaining ~sigh~



Check out this story. I watched Nancy Grace talk about this kidnapping tonight and these three guys must be idiots. They caught the kidnapping on video tape! Dont people know that ATMs have video? Or as some would say, they are just bold as hell, didnt give a damn and felt they had nothing to lose so fuck it! Who knows


Third suspect arrested in

Sunday, October 22, 2006




Friday night, Statesville police arrested a third suspect in connection with the kidnapping of two teens last Saturday.

Dewayne Davis was taken into custody after police responded to a stranded motorist call. Davis had run out of gas.

On Wednesday, police released Davis's name and photo. Two other suspects have been arrested in connection with the case. Police arrested Teonte Heller last Tuesday night. Joshua Collins was arrested at the scene.

Last Monday afternoon, officers showed 6NEWS video from the chase that lead to one arrest and showed the recovery of victim Tabitha Champ, 19.


You can see Tabitha Champ and two of the suspects in this Bank ATM picture. Police have taken Joshua Collins (right) into custody.
When the kidnapping occurred, Champ was sitting in her car, talking to a friend, who wished not to be identified.

Police said three men approached the car with guns, forced their way in at gun point and told the teens to drive.

The teens were forced to drive from ATM to ATM, withdrawing money, emptying their accounts.

After the gunmen hit the ATMs, they drove the teens to Champ's house.

Me and my wife wake up in our bed with guns pointed at our heads in our house, Tabithas father, Mark Champ said.

The family was held hostage, terrorized and robbed. Then, the gunmen took off.

They forced Tabitha into the trunk of the family's Mercedes.

Mark Champ called police and they were soon chasing the car, not realizing Tabitha was inside.

Video from a police patrol car Saturday night shows a white Mercedes trying to outrun officers.

The car then hit a fire hydrant, which immobilized the front end.

My daughter was in the trunk and the guys running 80-90 miles an hour and totals the car up here, said Mark Champ.

Police moved in, pulling out the only suspect left in the car, Joshua Collins, 18, and arrested him.

Officers then heard kicking in the trunk. They opened it to find the Champ alive and safe.

Im furious about what happened to my daughter. Shes 19 years old and somebody had to have seen what happened out here, says Champ.

A second arrest was made in the kidnapping last Tuesday. Until then, the names of the other two suspects were unknown. But thanks to several tipsters, police were able to identify one of the two men who were still at large.



Police said Teonte Heller, 18, was recognized by several people after his picture was shown on the news Monday night.

Police used video from one of the ATM machines to identify the suspects that made Champ withdraw money for them, a move which Statesville Police Officer William Halliburton calls, Highly risky on their part showing that they dont have a lot of concern for their actions or for law enforcement.

They visited enough places and showed themselves to enough people that we feel pretty certain that arrests are going to be immanent in this case, says Lieutenant Dan Miglind with the Statesville Police Department.

Collins was arraigned in court Monday on 12 different charges, including kidnapping and robbery. He is already a convicted felon and a federal agent has been assigned to the case.

Heller was wanted for two counts of armed robbery and two counts of first degree burglary.

He could also face charges from the Iredell County Sheriffs Department for invading the victims home in Troutman.

There is no word yet if there will be any federal charges.


Video: Suspect still at large in connection with kidnapping

Video: Kidnapping suspect freed from trunk

Photo Slideshow: ATM surveillance photos

Hello My Blog Family!

I hope all is well in your worlds. Before I begin, I want to tell you that I really appreciate from the bottom of my heart all of the love, support, prayers, and best wishes you all expressed to me and my family during a very difficult time in our lives. I really did my heart a world of good to know that so many of you cared so much for little ole me.

I wanted to take some time to update everyone on whatz going on with me. Thanks again for caring so much!

My Cousinz Death

It was very difficult for my family to cope with his death but we all made through. This is the first time we have ever dealt with a tragic loss. We have had family members who were elderly pass on but never a child. Travis being so young made the death more difficult to deal with.

My uncle (Travis father) really took the death hard. He is generally a very happy and chipper man, but now when I talk to him I hear nothing but sadness in his voice, which is understandable. I think he is getting better though.

There are no new developments in the case. All we know is that it was a hit and run.


Weight Loss Woes

With everything that has been going on with me, I have not been eating or going to the gym like I should. Needless to say when I went to the doctor last week, the lying ass scale had the nerve to say that I had gained 7lbs back...WTF?!?!?!

I have got to get my shit together for real. I had lost a total of 31 lbs and wanted to lose another 20, but at the rate I am going I will never get there. Lord knows I do not wanna go back to wearing my old size and to top it all off its FAMU Homecoming next week. I was supposed to be super fine by now. What the hell?

I did at least manage to make it to the gym today. I did the elliptical and some weights, but that does not make up for the lasagna I had for lunch and dinner. I made a pan of it yesterday for dinner, I am polishing off left overs around here. I am not going to have anymore of it though. I plan on giving the rest of it away or freezing some of it. ~Sigh~

Work

Work is going pretty good. Nothing to complain about wqhich is always a wonderful thang!

There is a Chronic Disease Program Manager position about to be advertised in my section so I was even thinking about applying for it. I would probably be a pay increase of about $4-5K, but notice the key word is probably.

I have not made up my mind totally about that yet. It would be a great opportunity with experience that would be VERY valuable, but am I really ready for the responsibility that will come along with it? Who knows...

I even wanted to serve so H.A.M. for old times sake!

I receive daily emails called Today's Word from Joel and Victoria. When I received this one last week, it really touched me. I jus had to share it here. Hopefully, it will touch someone reading it here as well. Happy Monday!



Don't let the past poison your future

Today's Scripture

"He has sent me . . . to comfort all who mourn . . . to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes." (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Too many people today spend their days looking in the rearview mirror of their lives. You don't have to deny that painful things have happened to you. If you have lost a job, been mistreated, or had a loved one die, those are real hurts.

What we are saying is that you need to leave those things in the past and move on. If you carry those disappointments around with you, you are going to start each day telling yourself, "God couldn't possibly have anything good for me today because of what happened yesterday."

You have to let go of any shattered dreams, quit dwelling on any disappointments, and forgive the people who have hurt you. Release all that bitterness. God promises to give you a new beginning!

A Prayer for Today

God, I am ready to trade the ashes of the past for the beauty in my future. There are painful things in my past, hurts that I have been hanging on to, but it's joy that I want instead. I embrace Your promise for a fresh future! In Jesus' Name, Amen.