Jesus, Undefeated Champion

Until then, though, remember that Satan will continue his nefarious work among God’s followers right up till the very end—because he knows he has very little time remaining.

But rest assured that on our side we have an undefeated Champion who will interpose Himself—if we permit—between Satan and us. And that Champion is none other than Jesus Christ.

—“Demon Possession Comes to Harlem”
by Ralph Blodget Message, October 1981

our life is a good gift from a loving God, even when subjectively it doesn’t feel good or like a gift, and even when you doubt that God is loving. Please get out of bed anyway.”

I find in this quote from Alan Noble in his new book On Getting Out of Bed, the crux, the impetus for momentum in a world that has us paralyzed by self-interest, and the resulting inertia of unfulfillment and sadness.

Our youth, especially the younger set, Generation Z, are emerging with a worldview that is, at its heart, secular, not spiritual. The highest goal and meaning of life for so many, is to define oneself. As we have seen through various data, this kind of pressure has led to record-breaking anxiety, loneliness, and the need to belong.

In the book The Disappearing Church, Mark Sayers, discusses seven core beliefs this cohort of young people hold, a group he identifies as “expressive, individualists.”

By donna green goodman

any of the traditions we have shared this year are connected to the continent of Africa, as many cultural foods of black and brown people were “dropped off” on their way to enslavement in America. Wherever you go in the Caribbean, you will find variations of many of the same or similar foods. Beans, rice, plantain, cornmeal, yam, ginger, and sorrell are sprinkled everywhere.

The best rice and peas I ever tasted were from my college friend, Elsie, who was Haitian. I would not let her rest until she showed me how to make it. And I have mastered it, with brown rice, which I almost always serve with cabbage, curry, and patty. Haitians also make a marvelous dish called Djon Djon, that a former student introduced me to. It’s a rice dish featuring black mushrooms that are native to Northern Haiti.

I discovered the variety of ways you can make patty when I taught the Vegetarian Cuisine class years ago at Oakwood University. The students were to make the patty as outlined in the recipes I gave them. But, when they were done, there were several varieties: Jamaican, Trinidadian, Cuban, Mexican, and Puerto Rican. And, the subtle differences helped to create totally different flavors.

ajor depression goes undiagnosed and untreated at higher rates in majority African American and Hispanic communities according to a Blue Cross Blue Shield 2022 study (bcbs.com).

Erlanger Turner, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, blogger, author of the book Mental Health Among African Americans, and associate professor at Pepperdine University. His expertise positions him as an observer at the intersection of race, culture, and ethnicity. Racist situations, increased police violence, and brutality that is witnessed—first or second hand—can exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression.

In spite of this, many have observed that black men, in particular, seem reluctant to seek professional help.

• Intellectual Intelligence (IQ) refers to one’s rational knowledge and logic.
• Emotional Intelligence (EQ) refers to our capacity to manage and respond to emotions with understanding and empathy.
• Social Intelligence (SQ) refers to ability to build a network of friends and maintain it over time.
• Adversity Intelligence (AQ) refers to one’s ability to face and manage challenges and adversities.

reigned in a world unblemished by the stains of human suffering. Our most ancient ancestors, Adam and Eve, who knew not the perils of a merciless universe, dwelt in a garden, a lush paradise of harmony and light. Yet, as Genesis 3 attests, the shadows were cast. An unwelcome serpentine presence slithered into this haven, and the equilibrium was shattered.

From the moment the serpent, the devil himself, entered the scene, he attempted to usurp authority and become the prince of this world. The incandescent potential of God-breathed humanity, the dreams of a utopia unscathed, were shrouded in darkness, and ever since, our people have grappled with this new, disordered reality.

The African American experience—nay, the human experience—has been marked by an enduring struggle against the sinister tendrils that stretch out from the darkness. As we delve into this saga of resilience, we find hope amidst the despair, for it is written in the Holy Scriptures that the Almighty has not forsaken us.