Daily Walking, Working, and Winning by God's Word by Rev. Dr. Alvin C. Hathaway Sr.

As Friday approaches I remember a end of the work week ritual called, "Happy Hour."

Within the African American faith community we have had an amazing increase in the number of Bishops. Some have been elected by denominational bodies of long standing and others have been appointed by clergy associations. The Lutheran faith community elects Bishops to serve geographic areas. Baltimore is in an area that has been served for the past years by Bishop "Jerry" Knoche.

This giant of a man is a true ecumenical clergyman. He worked tirelessly within a denomination that was steadily losing its relevancy to a diverse inner city population and who was in a downward spin of not only losing congregants, but also losing valuable inner city church property. Critics would say the the German originated faith perspectives of Martin Luther does not related to the Afro centric or Latino needs of a diverse population.

Anyone who understands the community dynamics of Baltimore knows that Mr. John Paterakis, Sr., is our political godfather. His story of hard work, ingenuity, and entrepreneurship is a model of the Horatio Alger's story. Anyone who has eaten a McDonald's burger has bit into one of his bread rolls.

On Saturday, July 28th and 29th, law school graduates who are seeking to be admitted to the Maryland State Bar will be at the Baltimore Convention Center taking a grueling two day test of a little less than 12 total hours designed to demonstrate their understanding of the law and its procedures.

We will celebrate the life of Ms. Effie Sarah James on Thursday, July 30, 2009. She lived 104 years with vigor and zest. Her wisdom and experiences caused her to be sought out for advice and counsel. She had a keen mind and an ability to remember the details of life, much like a Griot. Born October 15, 1904, she was an eye witness to two world wars, the great depression, the civil rights movement, the assasinations of key national leaders, Korean, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan conflicts, the Lindenburg, Sputnik, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., and President Barrack Obama. What a wonderful time period for change and improvement! She was an eye witness to it all.

In the battle to sway our youth from the dead ends streets and lifestyles that lead nowhere, attempts are being made all across the country to reach out to young people to avoid gang life and criminal activity. An article describing the attempt of a local church to hold a meeting for young people who had been arrested and sent to juvenile detention and where now out on the streets to appeal to them not to get arrested again and to show them positive alternatives. Unfortunately the articles states that "of the 28 youth that the meeting was designed for, none came." On the surface this would seem depressing. On the surface this would seem futile to seek to save youth people who are lost.

The literary world is shocked by the sudden death of E. Lynn Harris. You don't have to go far to see his work on display in places where you would shop for grocery or pharmacy items. He was in the mainstream. He was an accomplished author whose name was proudly written in raised bold letters stretched across the tops of his books.

There are some stories that are so outrageous that we must address them. The recent arrest of New Jersey political, religious and business people speak to the extent of corruption in the public arena. The effects of Bernard Madoff's crimnal activities will be felt for a long time.

Former President Jimmy Carter has expressed his decision to withdraw from The Southern Baptist Convention over their views on women. It staggers the imagination that archaic views attributed to slanted biblical interpretation still exist. Seeking to "proof text" biblical literature to justify distorted viewpoints is best left to the uneducated and uninformed who still depend on gasoline lamps for their evening light.