The Chicago Sun Times is reporting that trouble is again brewing at “The View,” this time between conservative Elisabeth Hasselbeck and her liberal co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar.

       Hasselbeck is said to be “really upset” with her colleagues following heated discussions about the upcoming presidential election.  To read more…

If you know me personally, then you know I started back watching The View when Whoopi Goldberg  & Sherri Shepherd became the hosts (after taking a hiatus  when Star Jones left). Anyhoo, I read the article about Ms. Hasselbeck this morning and thought that if it is true, then she really needs to get a grip on herself and stop whining.

Elisabeth says whatever she wants to say and gets in a hissy fit when someone like Whoopi or Joy disagrees with what she says.  I have yet to see her admit when she’s wrong (and nobody is 100 percent correct on everything).

Talking about politics is sensitive because we all have our personal views and it should be expected that it will be a hot topic.  Hot topics is the best part of the show and probably one of the main reasons why I watch it. 

Whoopi & Joy bring another view to “The View” so if Elisabeth can’t stand the heat–she needs to get from around the table. 

I saw two interesting videos over the weekend. One is serious and one is meant to be hilarious–The serious one made me ask–is she real???

Saturday Night Live Skit (Gov. Palin and Katie Couric)

The Real Interview (pay close attention to the part at 2:55 minutes and after)

I now see why they are keeping her from the media. Okay no more politics for me this week (oops except for the Thursday night debates.)

I went to the AAMBC blog site to vote for someone and found out that my blog was nominated for “Professional Blogger of the Year.”  The winner will be announced during the 2009 AAMBC (African Americans on the Move Book Club) Award Show at the AAMBC National Meeting.

Check it out: http://aambcvoting.blogspot.com/ 

I was notified earlier by one of the members of Southern Allure Book Club that I was nominated for Author of the Year and also one of my books was nominated as Book of the Year (not sure which book…but I’m still happy).

Song of the week - Work That by Mary J Blige

Leketha Marie Johnson is today’s guest blogger. My love for reading started when I was a child. My great aunt once told me I’ve been reading since I was four years old. I wished there would have been books with characters that looked like me in the books when I was a little girl.

Leketha Marie Johnson was inspired to write Sunny’s Adventures after awaking from a vivid dream about a smart, inquisitive young girl who loves to solve neighborhood mysteries and playground crimes. She immediately decided to bring that dream to life and began writing non-stop about her heroine Sunny. Upon uncovering some surprising statistics from the Cooperative Children’s Book Center School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison– that less than 2% of trade-published children’s books were written by African American authors in 2006, Johnson felt even more committed to seeing her dream come alive. Because she believes that children should be exposed to all sorts of literature, Johnson wanted to create stories that highlight children of all nationalities. Sunny’s Adventures was created with a collection of clever anecdotes involving the neighborhood’s best and youngest detective: Sunny. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators organization and is actively involved in helping to promote literacy for all children everywhere.

I would like to welcome Pastor Joshua A. McClure to my blog today. He’s the author of Can These Bones Live? and Almost Persuaded, Now to believe.                                         

For the past several years I have found myself dabbling in genealogy more and more, hoping to capture a vision of my early ancestral relatives.  I must admit that for the most part I have encountered more frustration than success due to a lack of recorded information on Black families before the first half of the 18^th century.  Initially my efforts were mostly out of curiosity, however, the more I researched the more I realized how important it is to know our beginning and also how closely genealogy is linked to our relationship with God.

For some time I have watched the struggles of many people who are attempting to live out the  life that God has ordained for all believers .  There appears to be a great gap between what is promised by God and what we actually experience which in itself causes feelings of inadequacy guilt and pain.  Many express a desire to grow closer to Jesus yet they can’t explain their lack of progress.  Others query, “Why am I not receiving the nurturing and life offered by Christ?   Why am I not growing in my faith as God has promised?  Is it because of my hiding, my unwillingness to expose my real self to God, or is it simply that I have not settled the question of who and whose I am? 

What I am suggesting is there are several reasons for our struggle to become, but the most fundamental and foundational is a lost connection between our real self and God.  Without connection to our beginning a gap exists in our lives.  Further without connection to God we have no real identity.  Hence we find ourselves in a continual search for validation.  That is why our daily striving to achieve and acquire things material and to seek out validation from others.  Since validation is only to be found in the one who birthed us, is this not reason for us to seek God.  Is this not reason to go back to our beginning to find our true identity, and once secured, begin to live out an unshakeable life of faith in Christ. 

This became evident to me when I asked a group of adults and youth to answer the question, “Who are you?”   Invariably most adults responded by identifying with what they did; their job, their position, rather than who they were.  The youth in answering the same question responded quite differently.  They began by saying, “I am a child of John and Mary Jones [fictional parents].  Then they proceeded to describe themselves telling of their likes, dislikes, joys, and fears, hopes and dreams.   They were secure in telling who they were, but with most adults insecurity remained leaving the question unanswered. 

What does it mean to be a child of God?  How does one understand being made in the image and likeness of God?  How can we be confident of an eternal relationship with God?  How can we live our lives in God’s presence under his Lordship in His Kingdom?  In “Almost Persuaded, Now to believe” these and many other questions are clearly and concisely deliberated, and in reading the book understanding will come along with spiritual transformation.  I further promise that this book will help you to live out and experience that fullness of life promised by God, as in the process of reflection the invitation is extended to persuasively move from theory to life application where change is inevitable.   

  
“Almost Persuaded, Now to believe.” will bridge the gap between “What is” and “what ought to be?”                                                                                                                                                           

Joshua A. McClure     

www.Joshuaamcclure.com                                                                                                        

Joshua A. McClure has been Senior Pastor of the Pleasant Street Baptist Church, Westerly, RI since September of 1986, after serving five years as associate pastor. Joshua has written numerous articles,  workbooks, teaching guides, a Deacon Ministry Manual, and Sunday School Curriculum.  He is often sought out to conduct Bible Studies and workshops.  Pastor McClure has also completed two books and is currently working on his third.   

I would like to welcome National Best-selling Author Donna Hill to my blog. She’s not only a prolific writer, but she’s a role model to many of us.

Staying in the Game
By Guest Blogger Donna Hill

I am sitting here writing this article amazed at how long it has been since I officially became a writer. It was eighteen years ago this past June. In this age of merging publishing houses, cut backs, new genres, new voices and the explosion of self-publishing, I consider myself blessed to still be around to tell my story. I guess on the street I would be considered an O.G. (original gangsta LOL). Well, not quite, but you get my point. And because of my O.G. status, so many people have asked me what the secret is to being around for so long when there are many authors who have disappeared off the literary playing field.
 

These are the things that come to mind:

· You have to be in this business for the right reasons. If you got in just to make money, or to get your name on some list, your time in the game is limited.
· You must build relationships within the publishing industry, i.e., with editors, agents, publishers.
· You have to keep your finger on the pulse of the industry, be willing to expand your horizons, stretch your writing skills, i.e., teaching a class, hosting workshops, joining an anthology, presenting an out-of-the box proposal to your editor that includes other writers, take classes and read to enhance your skills.
· Stay out of the fray. Don’t get dragged down by the crab-in-the barrel mentality.
· Be willing to do for others even if you aren’t getting something out of it. Share your information.
· Build friendships with other writers. Only another writer can understand your craziness.
· Most of all respect your fans/readers. Respect their intelligence. Give them the best you can every time and always give them thanks for supporting you. They could be supporting someone else.

All those things are so important to longevity. In the long run, it’s about writing a damned good story, writing with integrity and be willing to stick it out when the going gets tough. That’s what a writer does. They write!

Check out some of Donna Hill’s latest books: Chances Are and Seduction & Lies (Book 2 of TLC series) http://www.donnahill.com

Donna Hill has more than fifty published titles to her credit, three of which were adapted for television. She has been featured in Essence, The Daily News, USA Today, Today’s Black Woman, and Black Enterprise magazine, among many others. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York, where she writes full-time.

Donna Hill began her career in 1987. Since that time she has more than fifty published titles to her credit. Three of her novels have been adapted for television. She has been featured in Essence, the New York Daily News, USA Today, Today’s Black Woman, and Black Enterprise among many others.  She has appeared on numerous radio and television stations across the country and her work has appeared on several bestseller lists, including Essence, Emerge and The Dallas Morning News among others. She has received numerous awards for her body of work including The Career Achievement Award, the first recipient of The Trailblazer Award among others, as well as commendations for her community service.

As a reader of my blog you have a chance to win a copy of Robin Thicke’s latest release “Something Else,” which is set to be in stores on September 30th. 

To enter, leave a comment on this post or on eSpot - The Entertainment Spot.  All comments must be left between 09/22/08 and 11:59 p.m est 10/6/08.

Life is full of surprises!

Party Like a Rock Star

The party started Friday and it’s still going on today–

Our Foundation

It’s a time for change, a time for appreciation, a time for admiration and respect, and what better way to embrace this time than to appreciate the hands we stand on…our black men.

We need our black men. They are the hands we stand on. The next time you see a black man — city, suburb, or country, — SMILE and say hello.The next time a brother opens the door for you, SMILE and say thank you. If you are close enough, SMILE and ask “how are you doing today?”If a black man is living in your home and he gets up everyday and goes to face a world that doesn’t really want him there, when he comes home,let him know that you appreciate him.

This message has inspired the ladies of www.singleblackmale.net to start a movement of love and change.

Black Men Appreciation Day is about saying thank you, smiling, giving a gift, positive affirmation, hugs, kisses, or even saying ‘I admire you’ or ‘I’m proud of you’ or whatever you can think of to show appreciation to the black men you encounter.

On September 17, 2008 we will stand up and stand together in admiration and appreciation of our black men. They are not only our hands but also our foundation, and without this foundation our house will surely crumble. Remember, it only takes one person to start a movement…one person to initiate a change. Imagine the difference a multitude will make. Our black men deserve this, we deserve this. What good is a house without a strong foundation? Let’s strengthen our foundation. Together we will make a difference.

Please come back and share your responses you received and how you felt showing this love and appreciation.

Spread the word, spread the love…September 17th is now officially Black Men Appreciation Day!