Fresh off her Academy Award nomination for best actress, the overnight celebrity Gabourey Sidibe is forced to deal with harsh criticism about her weight.  The very blunt Howard Stern couldn’t get anymore disrespectful when he calls Gabourey Sidibe, star of Precious, “The most enormous fat black chick I’ve ever seen!” He claims she’s “Going to die in two years” if she doesn’t lose weight and the only role she could ever play in Hollywood again would be in The Blind Side 2, as the linebacker. He even says Oprah should have an immediate intervention with Gabourey. Peep the video for the full rant.
  

The 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards are asking fans to weigh in on their two significant awards categories. Fans can now vote for the categories of “Artist of the Year” and “New Artist of the Year” once online and via text message. Nominees for the “Artist of the Year” category include Mary Mary, Francesca Battistelli, Casting Crowns, Jason Crabb, Jars of Clay, tobyMac, and Skillet. “New Artist of the Year” nominees include Kari Jobe, Crystal Aikin, Brian Courtney Wilson, Jonny Diaz, Revive, Sidewalk Prophets, and Bluetree. Voting takes place at the Gospel Music Channel website, with polls closing on April 20, 2010 at midnight ET. This year’s GMA Dove Awards airs on April 25, 2010 at 8p ET on GMC.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ashley Miller, Publicist
Phone: 615.749.6290
Email: acmiller@abingdonpress.com

NASHVILLE, TN—The Hurt Locker, the 82nd Academy Award’s Best Picture of the Year for 2010, reveals the toll that war exacts upon the lives of soldiers. The film portrays the dangers of combat and the emotional, physical, and spiritual wounds soldiers endure. It shows how much the experience of combat changes people, making it very difficult to come home to a normal life after war.

“One of the biggest challenges facing returning wartime veterans is to face bravely the trauma of combat and then not allow those experiences to scar them permanently,” says David Thompson, co-author of Beyond the Yellow Ribbon: Ministering to Returning Combat Veterans. “Many soldiers find it hard to adjust to life, work, and relationships on the home front after the combat has stopped. When the veterans come home, many feel they have lost their place in civilian life, where jobs no longer fit them, family relationships feel strained and conflicted, and they sense only their fellow soldiers really understand them.”

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon addresses the challenge for soldiers and families of adjusting to life after war. It provides guidance for the faith community to reach out to those in uniform and help this next greatest generation of veterans come all the way home from war and find their place again in civilian life, far from the fields of battle.

Thompson goes on to say, “Hanging up your uniform after war is not easy. How can you emotionally switch from being in combat, living with daily threats to your life and seeing the chaos and carnage of war to adjusting to a peaceful civilian world with normal family life and regular work routines? It takes time and patience from everyone to help our returning soldiers make this transition successfully.”

Authors David A. Thompson and Darlene Wetterstrom offer straightforward, challenging practical help for returning soldiers and their families. Thompson has experienced three deployments and clearly understands the challenges families and communities face. He was a military family life consultant serving the Minnesota National Guard and is a licensed professional counselor and retired Navy chaplain. Wetterstrom is a licensed independent clinical social worker. She works with families and youth in a variety of settings including foster care, adoption, and the military.

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon: Ministering to Returning Combat Veterans 978-0-687-46575-0 • December 2009 • $13.00 • 144 pages • paperback

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About Abingdon Press
Abingdon Press is the publishing imprint for The United Methodist Publishing House. Abingdon Press has a distinguished record in religious publishing for a broad ecumenical audience and specializes in products for church leaders, as well as scholars and students engaged in theological education and the practice of ministry. Abingdon Press offers a wide array of quality academic, professional, reference, and devotional titles published each year.

The Path MEGAzine had an amazing timeworking with Helping Hands to Haiti on this mission trip to Haiti.  The experience gave me a new perspective and understanding on what’s really happening.  Our production company Parallel Path Entertainment videotaped the entire journey, and it was exciting to look at the footage when we got back in town.  We’ll have video documentation available soon, but I wanted to give everyone an update on the state of Haiti as I saw it.

When we arrived at Port Labadee, the Haitian officers informed us that things could go badly if we delivered the goods our self.  Just last weeka group of Haitians blocked the roads and jumped supply trucks and stole everything off of them in a ruthless and violent manner.  Getting into the city was one thing, but getting out was another.  We were to leave the Port of Labadee, and enter the city of Cap Haitian, which is about an hour away from the severely devastated Port of Prince.  The 12 of us were the only ones allowed out of the Royal Caribbean owned Port Labadee.

Few out of our group were detoured by the warnings.  We all had the danger in the back of our minds, but we were determined to at least make one stop to the orphanage.  Father Duken owned the orphanage.  The task was left up to Father Duken to pick us up in his Ford F-150 and take the twelve of us 30 minutes into the city of Cap Haitian.  We journeyed on rough terrain and un-paved roads, piled up in the back of a truck with mission shirts of the same baby blue color.  Y’all I was scared.  We looked like tourists, and to make matters worse we quickly realized that the locals weren’t exactly happy to see us. 

They were bitter, distraught, and yelled things in their French-Haitian dialect that wasn’t conducive of someone who was glad to receive aid.   Our Haitian translator Roger, rode in the back of the truck and calmed the many Haitians inquiring about our visit down.  Roger spared us many of the translations, but I do know we were being called white and pigs.  That was odd to me considering that all of us who went were African Americans.  Mass inquiries even prompted Roger to tell one of the locals we were Haitian-Americans coming back to help.  If you saw how this guy came up on our truck you might have said the same thing!  Many locals didn’t want to be photographed, even slapping the hands of one of us, screaming “No Photo.”   The ride was slow, often crawling through thousands of people who blocked the streets.  Many of the Haitians rode scooters for transportation. Some had cars, but most people walked.  While walking, the local women would balance unbelievable amounts of laundry and fruits on there head.  Father Duken our driver and orphanage owner stated, “90% of the people had no jobs.”  Before the earthquake the city of Cap Haitian held 800,000 people.  Now people were pouring in from the badly hit Port of Prince raising their population to an estimated 1.5 million.  The city simply couldn’t hold it.  People slept on the streets at night, and walked the streets during the day.  I saw several men urinating out in the open, because there was simply nowhere else to go. 

When we arrived at the orphanage, workers locked the 20-foot Iron Gate behind us, and we heard a touching sound.  The children from the Orphanage were singing to us in French.  They emphatically sung, “Welcome home, you are home.”  We toured the orphanage and we were elated that our money and two of the pallets of supplies were going to this particular orphanage.  Father Duken was doing a wonderful job with the children. Most of them were brought to the orphanage after their parents were killed in the earthquake.  We took pictures and hopped back in the truck, trying to hurry back before the ship left us and before it started raining again.  But there was one little problem.  It seemed that we broke the tailgate on the truck.  So we spent about 10 minutes trying to fix it to no avail.  So two of the men had to hold the tailgate up and/or ride on it while holding themselves down on the incredibly bumpy ride. 

As soon as we made it out on the street a United Nations UN truck pulled in front of us.  I rode inside the truck, and reminded some of the passengers that if we didn’t spend that 10 minutes working on the tailgate, we would have never been behind this UN truck which was definitely providing security for our ride back.  God was working this thing!  The UN truck must have known we took a risk, and followed us all the way through the city.  We were safe. 

About 5 minutes from the cruise ship we see this huge truck coming at us on a one-way street.  We had to stop and back up, while guards hopped out the truck and motioned us to move aside.  The truck pulled up next to us.  And it was our goods on the truck!  Labels saying, “Haitian Relief – Helping Hands to Haiti” covered the goods being brought into the city.  Everyone started cheering, and I rushed to turn on my camera to document the achievement.  Our mission was complete.  And for Pastor Gregg Patrick, a dream realized.

We continued into the Port, relieved and satisfied that we made it safely.  We said our goodbyes to Father Duken, and all I could think about were the faces of those little kids.  I felt like a hero.  I felt a little guilty returning back to the luxurious cruise ship also.  I realized how fortunate we are.  This was an experience that will definitely make me count my blessings and reassess my needs.  The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:11

No matter if I have a lot or a little, I know God will cover the basics.  And the basics to us is more fortune than some people receive in a lifetime.  Through it all I will never forget Haiti.  The majority of the people were curious, kind, and thankful.  Their motivation for survival beamed through their facial expressions.  I’m just glad I got the opportunity to make someone’s day better. 

If you would like to give to the Haiti relief effort, please contact 1-888-92-HAITI or visit www.helpinghandstohaiti.org.  They will make sure your contribution gets into the hands of the Haitian people.

See all the pictures from our Haiti trip on our Facebook page! 
CLICK HERE

The PathMEGAzine will be going to Haiti with the humanitarian group Helping Hands to Haiti.  The group has collected tons of supplies needed to aid the Haitian people.  We will be videotaping the trip as it relates to the efforts of Helping Hands to Haiti.  We hope to report the progress the Haitian community has made since the devastating earthquake ravished their community.  One thing’s for sure, Haiti needs our help now more than ever as government corruption and greed threatens to stall relief efforts put forth by thousands of donators. 

The Lord is Making a Way!

Helping Hands to Haiti has broken new ground in the efforts to get aid directly into the hands of the Haitian people.  The organization has partnered with the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line to ship the materials to Haiti.  Once in Haiti various political connections and direct contacts will ensure the delivery of these materials pass the ports.  Helping Hands to Haiti is the vision of The Bridge, Southwest Community Christian Center of Houston, Texas. Through the vision of its Pastor Dr. Gregg Patrick, the group has received great favor in securing the delivery of the supplies.  Pastor Gregg Patrick says, “This is 1 of 3 initial trips that Helping Hands to Haiti will make to render aid.” 



We Need You!

Donations can be made by credit card at 1-888-92-HAITI
Send Checks to Helping Hands to Haiti, 14880 Bellaire Blvd. Houston, Texas 77083.  Materials can also be dropped off at this location.  For a list of supplies needed most CLICK HERE to visit the website www.HelpingHandsToHaiti.org 

ABOUT HELPING HANDS TO HAITI

Helping Hands To Haiti (HHH) is the vision of The Bridge, Southwest Community Christian Center of Houston, Texas.  Through the leadership of its, Pastor, Dr. Gregg J. Patrick, the church has begun a monumental effort to get humanitarian aid directly to the hands of the Haitian people; where it is so desperately needed.

The 20 year old church, has established and supported many charitable events over the years, and distributing over 98% of the funds directly to the agencies involved.

During the Hurricane Katrina disaster, Pastor Patrick and The Bridge were one of the first (and only) churches that consistently came to the aid of the displaced Americans who had to flee to The Astrodome in Houston.  Pastor Patrick worked tirelessly with the Red Cross and other agencies to help and insure physical comfort and spiritual aid to thousands that were there; many of whom have remained in Houston, as members of the church.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, The Bridge (a registered Red Cross disaster agency), again opened its doors to help and relieve the suffering of the homeless and needy, through the giving of many concerned citizens.

Pastor Patrick, a major gospel artist, had a top-ten CD “Crossover” in 2009 (Billboard).  Through his gospel industry contacts, HHH will soon produce a major gospel concert to support these efforts.


Contact Information
www.HelpingHandsToHaiti.org
Email: Pastor Gregg Patrick of Helping Hands to Haiti – Pastor@swcbc.net
Phone: 1-888-92-HAITI
Address: 14880 Bellaire Blvd. Houston, TX 77083

“The Bible declares that the mind of person given over to homosexuality becomes depraved or spiritually worthless. This was on full display when pop star Elton John declared, ‘I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems.’ This is an outrage and the height of blasphemy and an offence to all those who are Christians,” said Dr. Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission.

“Sodomy is a pernicious sin and to assert Jesus was a homosexual is to allege he engaged in a most wicked and perverted activity. It denies the Christian doctrine of the sinless life of Christ who died as an innocent man on behalf of the guilty human race. If Jesus was a sodomite then there is no atonement or forgiveness of sin,” said Cass.

“To assert that Jesus was a homosexual only serves to confirm the twisted and depraved mind of Elton John,” Cass continues. “This is an obvious case of someone projecting their own corrupt lifestyle onto Christ in an effort to justify their own unrepentant buggery. Elton John owes all Christians an apology.”

Helping Hands To Haiti (HHH), is the vision of The Bridge, Southwest Community Christian Center of Houston, Texas.  Thorough the leadership of its, Pastor, Dr. Gregg J. Patrick, the church has begun a monumental effort to get humanitarian aid directly to the hands of the Haitian people; where it is so desperately needed.
The 20 year old church, has established and supported many charitable events over the years, and distributing over 98% of the funds directly to the agencies involved.
During the Hurricane Katrina disaster, Pastor Patrick and The Bridge were one of the first (and only) churches that consistently came to the aid of the displaced Americans who had to flee to The Astrodome in Houston.  Pastor Patrick worked tirelessly with the Red Cross and other agencies to help and insure physical comfort and spiritual aid to thousands that were there; many of whom have remained in Houston, as members of the church.
Pastor Patrick, a major gospel artist, had a top-ten CD “Crossover” in 2009 (Billboard).  Through his gospel industry contacts, HHH will produce a major gospel concert to support these efforts.

HHH Divisions of Relief:
    1.    Humanitarian – support and provide relief to the people i.e., food, water, staples, clothing.
    2.    Community – fundraisers stateside to secure local support to assist in all efforts.
    3.    Missionary – to travel to Haiti to help rebuild, restore and minister to the people.

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Verity Gospel Music Group artist Marvin Sapp‘s latest single “The Best In Me” has just set a new Billboard record by jumping from #78 to #14 on the Hot R&B/Hot Songs Chart. This meteoric, one week jump is the largest position jump by a gospel track since the chart began using Nielsen SoundScan data 18 years ago. In addition, this is also the largest jump in four years among all genres. “The Best In Me” is the lead single from Sapp’s forthcoming live album Here I Am, which hits stores on March 16, 2010.