Honor Thy Fathers and Thy Mothers

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, May 29, 2012 0 comments


Over the years, my ministry has been increasing expanding to the needs of aging seniors and their families. Many years ago with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, I developed a care-giving program for isolated elderly. One of the by-products of a faithful life is God honoring his promise of 70 years or more. As a result, many of our faith communities are populated with active seniors who are well into their 70s and many in their 80s holding positions of responsibility. I marvel at their zest and zeal as they rigorously engage in church and community activities. They are to be applauded for their commitment to endure until the end. On the other hand, I have witnessed families having to cope with their senior love ones experiencing diminishing capacity. Their loved one's ability to remember, to cope, and to be independent rapidly declines without any hope of reversal. Very few families are prepared to handle the emotional and economic byproducts of a caring for a loved one who is an aging senior. Society provides few options for assistance when a family is facing this matter. As a Pastor in an urban church, I'm confronted every day with the gravity of this situation - how to counsel families with aging senior members. The situation changes dramatically when my role as Pastor is superseded by my role as a caregiver for an aging senior. 

Cook Out Time

Posted by Unknown Monday, May 28, 2012 0 comments


Many families across America will celebrate Memorial Day with a family-style cook out. The fellowship, friendship and food are all tied together on this special day. It’s day when we remember the contributions and sacrifice of our service men and women. The flags on public buildings are flying at a half-mast. Sites of honor are being visited. It's a special day. 

I love the impromptu cook outs where family members simply call each other and tell what foods they are going to bring. You usually end up in the home with the family or friend who has the biggest deck, or the largest yard, or the most friendly atmosphere.

I usually order crabs and eat too much food. Oh well, I’ll start dieting and exercising tomorrow.

"Tomorrow, tomorrow, there's always tomorrow, it's only a day away."

Nighttime in Paris

Posted by Unknown Saturday, May 26, 2012 0 comments

Nighttime in Paris, France, is a beautiful sight. Next month I will  travel to Paris for a week of study at the American University there. Studying is hard, but visiting Paris is easy. I should have been more serious in my French classes. I remember a few words and should be able to get around. If someone talks fast, I'm lost. Paris has always been a magical city. The food there is marvelous and the fashionable styles are alluring. Two years ago I studied at Oxford and visited London, this year Paris. What a mighty God we serve!

A Priceless Gift

Posted by Unknown Friday, May 25, 2012 0 comments

I've always wondered why the size and quality of a diamond ring caused women to marvel and swoon. This particular ring costs one million two hundred thousand dollars. If that was given to you would value the gift more than the giver?

Matthew 6: 19 - 21 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

On Saturday, We will wear our Bow Ties

Posted by Unknown Thursday, May 24, 2012 0 comments


Memorial services for Rev. Dr. Marion Curtis Bascom, Sr. will be held on Saturday, May 26, 2012 at Douglas Memorial Community Church on the corner of Layette and Madison Avenues. The Family Visitation period will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The one-hour Memorial Service will begin at 11:00 a.m.

In honor and respect for Dr. Bascom, several participating clergy will wear bow ties.

Dr. Bascom was known for his fashionable bow ties that he wore with distinction. 

I'll have to purchase one and quickly learn how to tie it on. 

Patience in a Traffic Jam

Posted by Unknown Wednesday, May 23, 2012 0 comments


Does anyone enjoy being stuck in a traffic jam? Why is being in one discomforting? I think the idea of moving slow on a highway when the design is to move quickly or faster is disconcerting. Feeling a sense of loss of time is also frustrating. Anxiety tends to set in and you want to move faster so something you change for lane to lane, only to discover you are still stuck in a jam. One thing for certain is no matter how slow you may be traveling; you do make it to your destination. This is true in life. No matter how slow you may be traveling, if you stay focused on your goal, you will make it to your destination. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."

4th Sunday Choir

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, May 22, 2012 0 comments

Wonderful news! Union Baptist Church is creating another Choir.

The Choir will sing on 4th Sundays at Union Baptist Church and will be directed by Kim Campbell Davis and accompanied by Michael Guthrie.

Participants in the choir will be in the 20 year old to 50 year old age range.

Their first rehearsal will be on Saturday, June 2nd beginning at 10:00 a.m.

For more information call: 410-523-6880

DBTI

Posted by Unknown 0 comments

Yesterday, I had the distinct pleasure of delivering the Commencement Address for the 2012 graduating class of The Harold A. Carter Determined Biblical and Theological Institute of Baltimore, Maryland. On the platform with me where Rev. Dr. Harold A. Carter, Sr., Rev. Dr. Harold A. Carter, Jr., Rev. Dr. Alfred C. D. Vaughn, Rev. Robin Blackwell, Rev. Dr. Henry T. Baines, Sr., and Minister Flecia M. Gill.

For the past 16 years, this Institute has provided advanced religion education for persons who are seeking a deeper understand of their religious foundations.

Rev. Dr. Wif Gafney

Posted by Unknown Saturday, May 19, 2012 0 comments

Sunday, May 20, 2012 is Young Women's Day at Union Baptist Church. Our guest preacher is Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney, Associate Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pa.

When a YouTube video was circulated depicting Bishop Eddie Long being made a king in the Hebrew tradition. Dr. Gafney wrote a blog in the Huffington Post that forced Bishop Long to apologize for participating in such a travesty of Hebrew tradition.

She will preach on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. from the text I Chronicles 7: 20 - 24 (MSG). Her sermon title is "She Built a City."

Rev. Dr. Marion Curtis Bascom, Sr.

Posted by Unknown Friday, May 18, 2012 0 comments

One of the wise men of our times, The Rev. Dr. Marion Curtis Bascom, Sr. rests with the angels. He was a champion of all good causes that improved the quality of life for the people of the world. He moves easily through the many segments of our society. Some would say he was a thinker, innovator, entrepreneur, and a pastor. Yes he was fully human and understood the unique relationship he had with God. When you wanted to understand the importance of an historic fact, ask Dr. Bascom. If you wanted to understand the political nuances of a situation, ask Dr. Bascom. If you wanted to know Biblical or Theological reasoning, ask Dr. Bascom. There was little you could ask of him that he didn't understand. He was well read and literate. He will be missed!

Life is a Song

Posted by Unknown Thursday, May 17, 2012 0 comments


Stevie Wonder has an album, "Songs in the Key of Life." It is very clear to me that the metaphor of life being a song is very appropriate. 

When you hear birds sing in the morning, it reminds you that life is a song. When your hear lyrics on the radio, iPod, or on any media, you feel the rhythm of a song. When you find yourself in the need of a mood change, a song can transport your spirit to another place. 

The Book of Psalms contains the songs of the Hebrew people. One scripture makes this observation, "how can you sing the songs of Zion in a strange land?" The strength of our people has been our ability to see, to play and to record our songs even in a strange land or a strange place. From Go-Go to Gospel we have a rich legacy of understanding that life is a song. 

Youth Opportunity Academy

Posted by Unknown Wednesday, May 16, 2012 0 comments


Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 1:00 p.m., I will participate in the commencement exercises of The Youth Opportunity Academy

I'm honored to be selected as their 2012 Commencement Speaker. The event will most likely not be televised. There will not be media reporters there. Nevertheless, something very significant will happen. Over 25 youth will graduate from high school and received their diplomas. The Youth Opportunity Academy is located in Sandtown Winchester. It serves students from that community as well as Uptown. The youth in this program has a perseverance ratio that few of us could ever understand.

To get to this point of graduating, they had to overcome personal trauma, disappointments, tragedy, abandonment, navigating through community forces that are designed to make them quit and join gang life, and very little family support.

The Good News is they made it.

They did not allow themselves to be defined by their context, but by their content. Biblically, "Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world." These graduating youths are called to the greater. They are called to be greater than the streets of Sandtown Winchester. They are called to be greater than any force that is seeking to deny, to deter, or to detain them from becoming what God has for them. They are called to be greater than any family legacy they may have inherited.

They are great youth graduating from a great academy. I'm excited to be able to share a word with these graduates today because they are examples of our great youth of today.  

On Saying Hello

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, May 15, 2012 0 comments

What is the most effective method of communications if what you want to say to someone is "hello"? Which of the following would you use: Email, Tweet, Text, Cell Phone, Land Line Phone, Letter, or personal interaction? It is interesting how many ways we can communicate. My question is what is the most meaningful and effective method to communicate with one another.

What about when you communicate with God? The most effective method is a prayer that is uttered from a sincere heart.

Ms. Richelle Parham

Posted by Unknown Monday, May 14, 2012 0 comments

Yesterday's Mother's Day celebration saw the return of many of our members who are either working out of town or in school out of town. It is always a joy to see our returning members on this special day.

In the congregation was Ms. Richelle Parham, one of the 2012 Women of Influence. She is Vice President and CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) for eBay. A consummate professional, she has broken the glass ceiling a number of times throughout her career. Her mother, Ms. Kathleen Parham, was recognized as our Mother of the Year.

"Women of Influence: Richelle Parham
Richelle Parham, Chief Marketing Officer, eBay North America. With more than 100 million active users globally, eBay is the world’s largest online marketplace, where practically anyone can buy …"

Union Baptist Church is 160 years old today.

Posted by Unknown Saturday, May 12, 2012 0 comments

160 years ago the President of the United States of America was Franklin Pierce. African Americans and women could not vote at that time.

160 years later the President is Barack Obama.

160 years ago Blacks were considered slaves.

In Baltimore City a band of African Americans believed in God to the extent, they created the Union Baptist Church of Baltimore on May 12, 1852.

 Union Baptist Church has played an important role in the freedom movement of the African Americans and developed the legal strategy of test cases which has been used by every liberation effort in America.

In its 160 year history, Union Baptist Church has had 10 Pastors: Rev. John Carey was the founding Pastor. Rev. Dr. Alvin C. Hathaway, Sr is its current Pastor.

Four Pastors of note are: The Rev. Dr. Harvey Johnson who served for 50 yrs; Rev. Dr. Vernon N. Dobson who served for 40 years; Rev. Dr. Baxter L. Matthews who served for 27 years; and Rev. Timothy Boddie who served for 10 years.

Today, May 12, 2012 officially marks the 160th year date of our founding on May 12, 1852. We will celebrate 160 years of faithful service and Christian witness in the Tawes Center of Coppin State University.

Morgan State University

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, May 8, 2012 0 comments

My aunt, Mrs. Bessie Beasley Freeman, my cousin, Mrs. Daisy Hathaway Bridges, and my daughter, Ms. Adaria Kay Hathaway spiritual tapped me on the shoulder and said, "don't forget the historical legacy in your family buttressed by Morgan State University."

Founded two years after Shaw University, Morgan State University is an outstanding HBCU and the largest in the State of Maryland.

Shaw University

Posted by Unknown 0 comments

Shaw University has a special place in the history of my family. My mother, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Beasley Hathaway, graduated from this school. I'm traveling to Raleigh for business and pleasure. While there I will visit this historic campus and thank God for a wonderful mother who taught me the value of education and honoring God.

Graduation!

Posted by Unknown 0 comments


My sincere congratulations to all the students across America who achieved the great goal of finishing a course of study.  You will experience the special feeling of walking across a stage to receive your diploma. Whatever level of accomplishment you have achieved, a job well done. Your parents, caregivers, and community are proud of you. Most important you demonstrated the capacity to set and goal and preserve until you have obtained it. You learn to do the little things each day that has now led to the big thing. "You kept the main thing, the main thing." Toss your cap into the air; sing the songs of praise, thank God for allowing you to cross this portion of your Jordan. Always remember, you are leaders now! You have a responsibility to give back now! You are needed now! Step into your future with your head held high. Everyone is proud of you. 

W.E. B. DuBois

Posted by Unknown Monday, May 7, 2012 0 comments

People do not think of W.E.B. DuBois as a religious man. Most think of him as an intellectual, scholar and activist. While I have read much of what he has written, his greatest contribution in my estimation is a little known book entitled, "Prayers for Dark People." Given the state of education, allow me to share one of his prayers.

"God bless all schools and forward the great work of education for which we stand. Arouse within us and within our land a deep realization of the seriousness of our problem of training children. On them rests the future work and thought and sentiment and goodness of the world. If here and elsewhere we train the lazy and shallow, the self-indulgent and the frivolous - if we destroy reason and religion and do not rebuild, help us, O God, to realize how heavy is our responsibility and how great the cost. The school of today is the world of tomorrow and today and tomorrow are Thine, O God, Amen.

Tough Lessons from a Tough Woman

Posted by Unknown Wednesday, May 2, 2012 0 comments

May is Women's Month at Union Baptist Church. The Women of Union have a series of exciting activities planned. They begin on Sunday Morning with a Prayer Breakfast at 9:00 a.m. May 6th. 

My sermon on Sunday, May 6th is entitled, "Tough Lessons from a Tough Woman." 

We all may know, may have known, or we were or are a tough woman. Life circumstances, our upbringing, or disappointments caused us to develop a toughness of our exterior that created hardness and bitterness that were not easy to break through. I will deal with this topic in a Biblical and theological way. I invite the women and men from the community and church to hear and be informed and inspired by this powerful word that examines the life and lessons of Jezebel.

On My Way to Paris

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, May 1, 2012 0 comments


The Eiffel Tower is one of the most recognizable iconic figures in Paris, France. God has blessed me with a scholarship from the Baugh Foundation to study at the American University of Paris in June. My study will focus on biblical exegesis and critical contextual theological interpretation. I will join a team of international scholars in this week-long  discussion and study. While there, I will enjoy the sights, sounds, places and dining for which Paris is famous. I will stay at a hotel with WiFi capabilities. God has me experiencing an amazing season: White House, Morehouse and now His World House. God is good and all the time God is good!


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