Spring2010mag

WOW!
™

WOMEN of the WORD
M A G A Z I N E

Sherri
Shepherd
Faith from
her VIEW
BE A
CELEBRITY
STYLE BRIDE

Defeating
Doubt & Spring 2010
Unbelief Fashion on
a budget
Spring 2010

DANCE TO A
HEALTHIER YOU!
SPRING 2010 | WOW! www.wowmagazine.org1

contents
“...I always remember
when I get a little fearful
I only have to please an
audience of one. At the
end of the day I look up
and say, Did I do what
you told me to do?”
-Sherri Shepherd

INSPIRE
Profile of the Month....................................8 FEATURES
Open Hea Stan Popovich............................................14
rt................................................40 WOWderful Woman:
Ginger Smith.............................................44 Sherri Shepherd........................................18
WOW! Mom...............................................29
ENCOURAGE DON’T
Christina Dix- BOOKS &
on..........................................22 FORGET TO
Latonja Flow- ENTERTAINMENT CHECK US
ers.........................................24 WOW! Books..............................................46
Jo Ann Fore...............................................26 OUT ON THE
WEB:
BEAUTY, HAIR, HEALTH & wowmagazine.org
EMPOWER FASHION
Moving Up Higher with Joyce Meyer........15 Sistah Health...............................................9
Careers and Chri Spirit Fit.....................................................10
st....................................16 Fashion with Genean Cross......................12
Valerie Hicks -Powe..................................30 Chiku Griffin...............................................28
Keys to Dynamic Bible
Study....................32
Words to Live By.......................................36 ARTISTIC PROSE &
WOW! Tee
nz...............................................42 CHRISTIAN FICTION
WOWderfully Funny...................................27
Solomon’s Cafe.........................................34

WOW!WOMEN of the WORD
M A G A Z I N E
™

PUBLISHER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Candie A. Price

MUSIC EDITOR
George Ward

FASHION & BEAUTY EDITOR
Genean Cross

BOOKS EDITOR
Tyora Moody

GRAPHICS & ART
Candie A. Price

FIELD CORRESPONDENT
Denna D’Mitri

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS AND WRITERS

Barbara Arnold Tyora Moody
Mary Betner McLoughlin Sandi Morais
Genean Cross Stacey L. Owens
Tamara D. Davis Valerie Hicks Powe
Denna D’Mitri Dr. B. J. Relefourd
Christina Dixon James Sanders
Aleathea Dupree Ginger Smith
Edwina Findley George Ward
Latonja Flowers Michael Waters
Jo Ann Fore Regina Wells
Chiku’ Griffin Tex West
Diane H. Gordon Filoiann Wiedenhoff
Stephanie C. Harper Deaquelynn Williams
Robin May
Joyce Meyer
Gil Michel

WOW! Women of the Word Magazine,™
Inspire, Encourage, and Empower™
WOWderful Woman™ and FLRT™ are trademarks of Joy2bhizz Creative Services™
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without express written permission is prohibited.

W O W ’ d b y H I M ™
A MESSAGE FROM THE
PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
CANDIE A. PRICE

Spring FORWARD!

I
love Spring time! However, since moving South,
Spring time doesn’t love me - waking up to an
itchy throat, headache, and watery eyes is not
glamourous, but the beautiful cascades of flowers
and budding trees are exquisite. What a mighty
God we serve that calls the seasons forth to take their
shifts in the cycle of life at the same time each year.
Just as God calls Spring forth, I encourage you to
spring forth this season with a life that honors his mag-
nificence! Spring time brings bright sunny days, beauti-
ful flowers and pastel colors - Look at your life through
the same lens! Get rid of the cobwebs
of mediocrity, the clutter of pro-
crastination, the staleness of
Stay fear! It’s time to clean out your
Connected! spiritual closet and Spring
Forward!
Follow me on In this issue of WOW!
Facebook and we have an amazing inter-
view with Sherri Shepherd of
Twitter! ABC’s The View. I had such an great time chatting “Spring time brings
with her and laughing in our conversation, that I almost
had a hard time hearing her words when I transcribed our
bright sunny days,
conversation, because of my laughter! I hope you enjoy our very real and can- beautiful flowers and
did discussion (p.18).
This month is also Contributor Appreciation month, so you will find ad- pastel colors - Look
vertisements featuring the businesses and projects of many of our talented
Contributors - please support our writers and help us show them how much at your life through
their sacrifice is appreciated!
Enjoy Resurrection Sunday, Mother’s Day, Memorial’s Day and Father’s the same lens! Get
Day and we’ll see you real soon!
Until next quarter, be blessed, my sisters (and my brothers!), and Enjoy,
rid of the cobwebs of
mediocrity, the clutter
-Candie of procrastination, the
staleness of fear! It’s
time to clean out your
spiritual closet and
Spring Forward!”

contributors LATONJA FLOWERS

WOW! also welcomes Latonja Flowers to its family.
Latonja interviews Shawna M. Harrison, author of My
True Soul, an intimate story of sexual abuse, drugs,
incest and so much more (p. 24).

STEPHANIE C. HARPER

WOW! Magazine welcomes Stephanie C. Harper,
publisher of CAREER Magazine, to its list of
distinguished writers. Check out Stephanie’s article
on thinking outside the box (p. 16).

STAN POPOVICH
Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide
to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and
Non Resistant Methods” - an easy to read book that
presents a general overview of techniques that are
effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties.
Stan encourages WOW! Readers on how to deal
with family members who suffer with fear, anxiety
and depression (p. 14).

Pro f i l e o f t h e M o n t h

Residence:
Nashville, TN
Church:
The Foundry/Fortress
Fellowship

Dr. Naima Tonya Johnston
WOW!: We’re so grateful to honor you in WOW!: Briefly describe how you came to class on various topics to help people
WOW! this month! Tell us about yourself. know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior achieve those dreams using a teleseminar
Are you married or single? Name of husband and how long you’ve been saved. approach. I am also mentoring a small
or fiancée? group of Christian women artists – we
NJ: I actually found myself in a call the group, Sing It Girl, we meet
NJ: First, thanks for the opportunity to relationship with an abusive boyfriend, monthly and one on one and I am helping
share with your readers. I’m from New mainly emotionally, but there were them launch their music ministries – all
York City and have lived in Ohio for instances of physical and sexual abuse… via phone and online. I also try to write
many years before making my home in and if you don’t get out of those kinds songs and share songs that minister to
Nashville. I am a Christian Recording of relationship they only becomes worse. the depths of a woman’s heart. My music
Artist, Educator, Minister and Author. I One day we were arguing over what to tends to be very honest and broken, since
travel the country fulltime doing concerts, listen to on the radio and he told me that so many women need to overcome pain
teaching and preaching as well as I should be afraid since he could kill me, and heartbreak so that they can achieve
coordinating events to help others achieve hide my body and nobody would ever find what God has called them to achieve.
their God given dreams! I’m the author me. I knew at that moment that he was
of several books such as, Called To Sing, serious, I wound up going to church with
13 Mistake To Avoid When Starting In a friend and giving my life to the Lord WOW!: Feel free to leave with our readers
Music Ministry and Dr. Nay’s Dream a few days later. I was able to end that any contact information you’d like about you,
Development Manual. As for the married relationship and that was in 1994. your ministry/business/church, etc.
question… I hope to not be single soon.
I am being courted by an amazing man! WOW!: WOW! is about inspiring, NJ: I’d love to be of service to anyone
encouraging and empowering other for ministry events, concerts or women’s
WOW!: Do you have children? If so, what Christian women. Briefly tell us about conferences, my website is www.
are their names and ages? any activities that you are involved in or naimajohnston.com. I’d also love for
something that you’ve done that lines up folks to look me up on Facebook, www.
NJ: No children, but I do have a with the mission to Inspire, Encourage and facebook.com/NaimaJohnston or if
Chihuahua named Bianca also known as Empower others. folks Twitter, I’m at www.twitter.com/
the Wee Wee Monster… you can catch NaimaJohnston Thanks so much WOW!
her video adventures at www.youtube. NJ: Part of my mission is to encourage for this opportunity!
com/doctornay others to achieve their God Given
Dreams. I’m teaching a free monthly

8 WOW! |SPRING 2010

Sistah Health

Dance to Health

D
ancing is a fun, safe and effective way to help you burn
calories. You don’t have to use any fancy equipment. All
you need is you. Find an area in the privacy of your home
where you can dance freely. Put your favorite Latin, Reg-
gae, Gospel or Calypso CD into your CD player and dance your way to health.
Nine reasons why you should dance:
1•If you dance for half an hour three to four days each week you will burn a substantial
amount of calories.
2•After a long day at work you can reduce your stress and tension with just fifteen min-
utes or a half an hour of dancing.
3•Dancing will help you to improve your flexibility because it allows you to have full
range of motion.
4•Dancing is a great way to improve your muscle tone.
5•Dancing will help you to strengthen the bones in your legs and hips be-
cause it is a weight-bearing exercise.
6•Dancing involves constant movement so
it will help you to improve your cardiovas-

Photo by Philip Michael Thomas
cular system.
7•While dancing your entire body is mov-
ing so you will get a total body workout.
8•Dancing will help to build your confidence
and self-esteem, and give you a sense of achieve-
ment.
9•Regular dancing will help to keep you young, fit and vibrant.

Check out my Total Body Workout Tune-up DVD at www.san-
dimorais.net
Jamaican born Sandi Morais has been a fitness instructor for twenty five years.
smorais1@bellsouth.net.,www.sandimorais.net

SPRING 2010 | WOW! 9

S p i r i t Fi t w i t h Yvo n n e Bennett

Workout
Saboteurs
“Make exercise a part of your day. Activities such
as briskly walking the stairs, or briskly walking
from the back of the parking lot, stretching at your
desk, or working your core by sitting on a resistance
S pring’s here, spring’s here ev-
erybody give a cheer, we’ve
made it through the snow
and ice with our fitness pro-
grams going just right. As
the snow melts and the flowers bloom
don’t go into fitness gloom and doom.
You’ve worked diligently to meet your fit-
ness goals when all of a sudden your pur-
ball at your desk are great ways to incorporate poseful, focused pace turns into a painful
slow drag. Enter, the workout saboteurs;
exercise into your day.” boredom, fatigue and outside distractions
lurking to rob you of continued progress
and success in meeting your fitness goals.
You can compare these workout saboteurs

10 WOW! |SPRING 2010

to the enemy who “walks around like a increase workout intensity with the use or rowing.
lion, seeing whom he can devour.” (Para- of circuit or interval training. These small You can also use the television for
phrased from I Peter 5:8). Our assign- tweaks to your workout can make big learning new exercises, there are numer-
ment, should we choose to accept it is to changes inspiring you to stay the course. ous fitness programs on cable and local
stop these minions in their tracks. The bible tells us “And let us not be television stations as well as fitness DVD’s
To help you stop workout saboteurs, weary in well doing: for in due season we that can assist you in meeting your fitness
pick up the pace, re-gain your stride and shall reap if we fain not” (Galatians: 6:9) needs.
stay on the road to fitness success, we will Finally, using commercials to perform

Fatigue
identify the potential pitfalls and prob- exercises like crunches, planks, push ups,
lems that these workout saboteurs can jumping jacks, chair dips or any other
cause and how to combat them form of body weight exercises can help to
Being too tired can quickly de-rail the provide a quick circuit training program.

Boredom
most earnest attempts to get in a workout. For example:
The quickest way to combat this workout During T.V. Program- Stationary Cy-
saboteur is to get a good night’s sleep. If cling
Boredom is a dangerously sneaky that is not possible, give yourself some 1st Commercial Break- Push Ups and
workout saboteur. It starts subtly and midday pick-me ups. Performing deep Chair Dips
slowly grows in intensity until you find breathing techniques will allow you to TV Program- Stationary Cycling
yourself no longer at the gym, but on the get much needed oxygen to the brain and 2nd Commercial Break- Calf Raises
sofa watching the latest episode of your your muscles which help to increase ener- TV program- Stationary Cycling
favorite TV show with a bag of chips in gy, focus and decrease tension. Standing, 3rd Commercial Break- Abdominal
one hand and a soda in the other. stretching or taking a short walk around Crunches or Planks
Common forms of boredom include your office or around the block will also Television is often looked at as an evil
boredom with your actual fitness sched- provide quick relief from daytime fatigue. time waster, but if used effectively it can
ule, fitness program and working out in actually assist you in your fitness program.
Finally, whatever you decide to do, use
Outside
general.
Boredom with your fitness schedule your time wisely as time is a precious gift

Distractions
normally is caused by the repetition of that God gives freely to each of us.
how your fitness and daily routine are Spring is here, give a cheer renew your
performed (i.e. AM/Lunchtime or PM commitment to fitness this year, keep
workout followed by work at the office Distractions are the worst type of workout saboteurs at bay and you will
or home, chores and bed). Performing workout saboteur and with so much vying reach your goals with-
this ritual day in and day out could make for our attention it is difficult to a com- out delay.
the liveliest person want to snooze. If plete workout session. Some of the top
your workout schedule is in the doldrums distractions are the telephone, the televi- Yvonne Bennett is a
Wellness coach and per-
shake it up by making a change instead sion, friends and family.
sonal trainer and owner
of working out in the morning move of Coach Bennett Well-
your workout to lunchtime or evening.
The Telephone
ness Coaching Services
Make exercise a part of your day,. Activi- in Buffalo Grove, IL.
ties such as briskly walking the stairs, or Yvonne has 20 years of personal training and cli-
briskly walking from the back of the park- ent service experience. She is also the director for
ing lot, stretching at your desk, or working Turn the ringer down or off, or resolve the Spirit Fit Ministry at Trinity Baptist Com-
your core by sitting on a resistance ball at not to answer during your workout time. munity Church in Crystal Lake, Il, a ministry
your desk are great ways to incorporate Let your voicemail, the answering ma- dedicated to providing bible based fitness educa-
exercise into your day. chine or family act as your personal assis- tion and programs. If you have questions or re-
tant during your workout sessions. quire more information you may contact Yvonne
If bored with your fitness routine now
at yvonne@coachbennett.com
may be a good time to hire a personal
trainer to get you started on a program.
Meeting with a trainer for 3-4 sessions
The Television
is a great way to get you started and fa- The television can actually be used as
miliarized with your program. Follow up your workout companion. To use the tele-
with your trainer every 6 to 8 weeks is vision effectively, choose a 30 minute pro-
recommended to revise your program to gram, and workout for the duration of the
keep you challenged and increasing your show, this allows you to get 30 minutes of
fitness level overtime. If your routine has exercise and it is especially affective when
gotten routine, move your inside workout doing a cardiovascular workout such as
outside and your outside workout inside, stationary cycling, walking on a treadmill,


Fa s h i o n & B e a u t y w i t h G e n e a n C r o s s

Spring 2010
“The Look for Less”
We took all of Spring 2010 must have trends from the runways of New York and Paris by designers like Narciso Rodriguez, the late
great Alexander McQueen and Basso & Brooke and setout to find the looks for less. Designers are mixing and matching prints all
over the runway, if they have it their way you’ll be mixing and matching head to toe. And I’m not just talking florals, I’ve seen tribal
motifs, digital designs were engineered for a more intense impact.
Our first trend of the season:

Pattern Play

Designer Basso & Brooke Jewel Embellished Arden B $78
Floral Dress $37

How best to head into this new season? With a clean slate. Fashion this season has rediscovered that less is more, simplistic yet
feminine. Dresses at Calvin Klein Collection and Donna Karan billowed and frilled,feminine takes on tailoring; at Michael Kors’
cutouts and thigh high slits. Second Trend of the season:

A Clean Slate

Cache.com $178 Commanders Daughter $59.99 Designer Steven Burrows

12
WOW! |SPRING 2010

The military influence is still ubiquitous on and off the Spring runways(the flak jacket may even have replaced the leather bomber
as the official outerwear of your MOD. a.k.a. model off duty) Look for more dressed up takes on uniform dressing from the likes
of Mr. Sequined Camo Leggings himself, Balmain’s Christophe Decarnin and Haider Ackerman. Only I found those very looks for
less at some of my favs like BeBe, modcloth.com and H&M…so about face ladies. Third trend of the season:

Marching Orders

Twelve by Twelve $34 Designer Aquilano Rimondi

Minx, Minx, Minx!! What are they you may say? Sparkly
metgallics,personalized graphics and photo-quality designs made of
flexible film. Minx give women completely customized nails that can
feature the exact pattern and colors of their newest gown, their favorite
photo or that seasons hottest design. The downside to this trend is
not only the price which can set you back up to $200, but because
of it’s intricate design I would highly recommend that they
be applied by a profes-
sional.
Beauty 4 Less

Nail Art Made Easy! Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen is unique and
has a fast drying formula that allows anyone to “Design and Go”
and if that’s not enough the pen comes in eight vibrant colors and
affordably priced for as little as $6 at your local Walmart or Drug
store.
Fashion questions? Contact Genean at geneancross@wowmagazine.org. Don’t forget to email Designer Celion
Genean with article ideas, Q & A and pictures of you and your Star Style. And check out her log
www.gstylze.blogspot.com You’ll find more fashion and beauty tips, trends and even freebies plus
giveaways. And check out my blog www.gstylze.blogspot.com You’ll find more fashion and beauty
tips, trends and even freebies plus giveaways


When A Family Member
Struggles With Fear, Anxiety
And Addiction

W
BY STANLEY POPOVICH experience, begin to learn what works, have that option of going elsewhere if
hat do you do when what doesn’t work, and what you need to you are unhappy at your present location.
a family member has improve on in managing your fears and Changing your thinking can help you
to deal with persis- anxieties. For instance, you have a lot of manage your fears.
tent fears, anxieties, anxiety and you decide to take a walk to Another thing to remember is that
or even addiction? help you feel better. The next time you feel things change and events do not stay the
Well the first thing you need to do is to anxious you can remind yourself that you same. For instance, you may feel over-
get the person to seek the services of a got through it the last time by taking a whelmed today with your anxiety and feel
professional who can lead them in the walk. This will give you the confidence that this is how you will feel the rest of the
right direction and give them the help to manage your anxiety the next time week or month. This isn’t correct. No one
they need. In addition, here are some oth- around. can predict the future with one hundred
er techniques you can use to help a family Challenge your negative thinking with percent accuracy. Even if the thing that
member cope. positive statements and realistic thinking. you feared does happen there are circum-
Learn as much as you can in managing When encountering thoughts that make stances and factors that you can’t predict
anxiety and depression. There are many your fearful or anxious, challenge those which can be used to your advantage. You
books and information that will educate thoughts by asking yourself questions never know when the help and answers
you on how to deal with fear and anxiety. that will maintain objectivity and com- you are looking for will come to you.
Share this information with the person mon sense. For example, you are afraid
who is struggling. Education is the key that if you do not get that job promotion Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide
in finding the answers your looking for in then you will be stuck at your job forever. to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christian-
managing your fears. This depresses you, however your think- ity and Non Resistant Methods” - an easy to read
book that presents a general overview of tech-
Be understanding and patient with the ing in this situation is unrealistic. The fact
niques that are effective in managing persistent
family member struggling with their fears. of the matter is that there all are kinds of
fears and anxieties. For additional information
Dealing with depression and anxiety can jobs available and just because you don’t go to: http://www.managingfear.com/
be difficult for the person so do not add get this job promotion doesn’t mean that
more problems than what is already there. you will never get one. In addition, people
In every anxiety-related situation you change jobs all the time, and you always

14
WOW! SPRING 2010

Moving Up Higher with Joyce Meyer

How to Defeat
Doubt and Unbelief
Once and for All

I
have developed a “life attitude” Every day you need to say, “Something When the devil spoke to Him, Jesus re-
that makes me more than a con- good is going to happen to me today. I can sponded, “It is written…” and quoted the
queror in Christ Jesus: “I’m go- hardly wait to see what God is going to Word of God. He used the Word as a
ing to finish my course, enjoy the do in my life today!” weapon to overcome the lies of the enemy.
journey, fulfill my destiny and have And you especially need to speak this We can do the same thing. We can re-
everything Jesus died for me to have!” when the devil is trying to flood your spond to the thoughts the devil brings to
Before I learned to live with this atti- mind with doubts. The way you fight the our mind with the truth of God’s Word.
tude, I struggled with two things the devil devil is by opening your mouth and saying We can feed our faith with the Word,
often threw at me: doubt and unbelief. what God says. Don’t just let the devil use rather than feeding doubt with the devil’s
Doubt and unbelief are big problems your mind as a garbage dump. lies.
for Christians. They are negative and dis- Learn How to Doubt Your Doubts Decide to doubt your doubts and be-
courage us. They cause us to make poor You may be thinking, I just can’t help lieve what God says it true. Talk about
choices, which make life difficult. They it…I wish I could believe and not doubt. the good things God has done, not the
cause us to say things like, “I wish I could But the truth is, you can! God wouldn’t problems. Spend time with people who
lose weight,” or “I wish my kids would be- tell us to believe in Him if it wasn’t pos- feed your faith, encourage you and believe
have,” or “I wish I could keep my house sible for us to do it. We can defeat doubt God.
clean,” or “I wish I had better relation- and unbelief if we know how to do it. Refuse to be a lazy Christian and re-
ships.” So how do we do it? How do we be- sist a passive, apathetic attitude. Be deter-
We need to stop wishing for things and lieve God and live by faith? Romans 10:17 mined to do your part to build your faith.
make up our minds that God will help us (NKJV) tells us how: “Faith comes by Never give up. And you will defeat doubt
to have wisdom, make good choices, and hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” and unbelief !
overcome our trials and tribulations if we The key here is the Word of God. We
will put our faith in Him. need to love the Word of God and go For more on this topic, order Joyce’s four-CD series
And doubt and unbelief interrupt faith. after it like we go after food when we’re Never Give Up! You can also contact us to receive
Another way we struggle with doubt really hungry. When we’re hungry, we’ll our free magazine, Enjoying Everyday Life, by
calling (800) 727-9673 or visiting www.joy-
and unbelief is by thinking God won’t usually do what we need to do to get food.
cemeyer.org. Joyce Meyer is a New York Times
help us because we haven’t done every- God’s Word is medicine for our soul
bestselling author and founder of Joyce Meyer
thing right. Or believing that God is will- and the food we need to keep our spirit Ministries, Inc. She has authored more than 80
ing to help other people but not me. strong. It has inherent power to change books, including Battlefield of the Mind and The
But God doesn’t expect perfection our lives when it is mixed with faith. Love Revolution (Hachette). She hosts the Enjoy-
from us. God works in our lives through Study the Word and speak the Word. We ing Everyday Life radio and TV programs, which
faith. He wants us to trust Him, believe need to talk about the good things God air on hundreds of stations worldwide. For more
in Him, have faith in Him, and have a has done and not the problems. information, visit www.joycemeyer.org.
hopeful, positive attitude. He wants us to In Luke 4, when Jesus was in the wil-
expect Him to do good things in our lives. derness, the devil came to tempt Him.


Careers and Christ

WHAT BOX?

…they speak a vision of their own
heart. Not from the mouth of the Lord.
Jeremiah 23:16

R
BY STEPHANIE C. HARPER appearances, attending political and religious gatherings and vis-
eady to think outside of the box? Ready to have a iting various places.
paradigm shift? Ready to be a trailblazer? Follow With so much to do in so little time, Jesus had very little time
the cross and you will make it. When God has put to be concerned about the box people wanted to confine Him
a unique task before you, you cannot wait on the to - and likewise - so do you. If you want God to move in your
approval of others, take a committee vote, or allow career, roll away any stones standing in the road to your destiny.
anyone to hold you back. It is a natural thing for people to of- You have so much to learn, do and become. Your blessing is too
fer questions, comments and observations about your plans. You great to allow people to hold you back. The next time someone
have a mission to accomplish and your task is not complete until asks you to think outside the box - just ask “what box?”
it is done.
When Jesus moved, He moved in power. The thing which Stephanie C. Harper, PHR, CCP, CHRM is certified human resources
makes his death so ugly is the fact that His life was so miracu- professional, author, career expert , and Publisher of CAREER Magazine
lous. Even amidst hypocrites, rejection and ridicule, He accom- www.thecareermag.com
plished amazing things. An overview includes: 36 miracles, 38
parables, 19 prayers, 45 predictions, 16 sermons, 36 dialogues, 22
old testament quotes, the 10-fold proof of His deity, the 30-fold
proof of His humanity, 37 old testament prophecies, 27 souls
converted, 15 kinds of sufferings, 7 last words, 10 resurrection


WOWderful Woman

Sherri
Shepherd
Faith from
her VIEW

18

Sherri Shepherd is a breath of fresh air. In this candid interview she
shares the pain of her divorce, her life as a single mother, and how she
found Jesus at the darkest moment in her life.

BY CANDIE A. PRICE wouldn’t take long. I decided to be a le- friend said, “Sherri, if you never try, you
Candie A. Price: We are very excited to gal secretary because it looked like I could will never know.” And with that a bunch
talk to you today. Where did you grow up make the most money without a college of girls put together some money for me,
and what was your childhood like? degree. So that’s what I did, it wasn’t like because I was always getting my check
Sherri Shepherd: I grew up in Chicago. I was happy being a legal secretary. I think garnished because of tax liens, it was $600
Then we moved to the Brookwood sub- that everybody that is in law has an artis- to take a comedy class and they all gave
urbs when I was about eleven, right in the tic side. Every lawyer I ever met wanted to me the money. That was how it started,
middle of roots when Toby got his foot be an author or an actor. the comedy class was for six weeks, I went
cut off. I say that because I went to an That’s how I became a legal secretary. I to a club and did their variety show and
all white school and Toby getting his foot did it for a number of years and was quite won $100 and was hooked - telling sto-
cut off – that was the news of the day at good at it and made a wonderful salary. I ries about my life that people could relate
school. I had a really wonderful child- think at the time I was making $42,000 a to. I think that’s why people say, “Why
hood - I’m a daddy’s girl. My family was year, which was really good back in 1995 do you tell all your business?” Because it
Jehovah’s Witnesses and on Sundays we but I was always making people laugh - helps me - I’ve always done that even as a
would go to the Kingdom Hall and my I had been making people laugh since little girl, my father would say, “Why are
mom would cook and we would go to my I was little. And one day a bunch of us you telling everything that goes on in this
grandmom’s house in Chicago and all the decided - there were eight of us legal sec- house?” Because it makes people laugh! I
cousins would put on a talent show for retaries, and we decided to have a night would talk about things that I go through
the older folks and I would make people on the town and we went to Sizzler’s and and it makes people laugh - even when I
laugh. We would dance - we had a dance had the all you can eat shrimp and then tell people what I’m going through now it
called the California Shake, I will never we went to The Comedy Store. Before makes people laugh because I seem to tell
forget that. It was a really good child- the show started I was making a lot of it in a funny way.
hood- I just remember a lot of good times. the ladies laugh around me and Andrew
Dice Clay got up on stage - I had never CAP: Well, that’s a blessing to be that
Candie A. Price - Currently you are best thought of doing comedy before, but An- transparent because even though you’re
known as co-host on The View, but some drew Dice Clay got up on the stage and making people laugh it makes them re-
of us have watched your career evolve made all of those women so angry with flect on their own issues. Sometimes we
through shows like The Jamie Foxx Show, all that hickory dickory dock rhymes and think that we are so alone and we go
Friends, Beauty Shop and other roles, and this lady turned around at the table and through things all by ourselves and when
I’ve heard you talk of your job as a legal said, “Sherri, you’re funnier than him, we hear other people’s stories it does help.
secretary. Being a former legal secretary you should do this.” And it was like this How did you wind up on The View? That
myself, I can relate to your aspiration of seed was planted in my mind and from was a major move for you.
wanting to do something else, not that then on it wasn’t so much listening to SS: That was God! When people ask me
there is anything wrong with being a legal what the comics who got up- what they I have to say that was Jesus! It was NOT
secretary. But how did you go from being said, I looked at how they affected the me. I’ve always had two dreams -one was
a legal secretary to being a co-host on a audience. Charlie Fleisher got up, Eddie to have my own talk show and the other
major television show like The View? Griffin got up and they made the audi- was to have my own sitcom. I had already
SS: I became a legal secretary as a Jeho- ence move as one with the laughter - with done a pilot for my own talk show but it
vah’s Witness. They didn’t encourage the stuff that everybody could relate to. I wasn’t picked up, they had picked up Ra-
kids to go to college, it was pretty much went up to Eddie Griffin after the show, chael Ray and The View came about be-
discouraged. I really wanted to go to col- he thought I was a groupie, but I asked cause I was on a sitcom called Less Than
lege and since it was discouraged what for his advice, which I never forgot was Perfect and I was just trying to get on The
teenagers did after high school was get “do it scared.” Because I said, “I’m scared View to promote the sitcom. But they al-
a trade because the main focus was to to do this.” And he said, “Do it scared!” ways said no. Bill Getty would always say
be in field service - you know, when you I called up all my girlfriends that night we don’t know who Sherri Shepherd is-
are out there talking to people about The around midnight and asked them, “Do we don’t know if she can sit on the couch
Watch Tower and The Wake and becom- you think I could do stand-up?” And a for five minutes and hold a conversation.
ing Jehovah’s Witnesses - that was to be bunch of them said, “No, Sherri, you have That was pretty much what every talk
our main focus. Since I was encouraged a great job, you’re making your money, show said; Ellen, and I don’t recall who
to get a trade, I looked into being a court you’ve got your pension plan, you’re going else was out at the time - even though
reporter and a legal secretary because it to be struggling to make it.” But one girl- talking is what I do. My publicist kept


calling them - everybody on the sitcom don’t know what God has for you.” I said, ries, it’s been a dream and God brought it
had been on The View except me. But “No, No, I see what they put Ms. Jones to fruition. What’s your show’s premise?
one day, unfortunately, Johnnie Cochran through, uh, uh. And I told them no and I SS: My show, Sherri, is also a Godsend.
had passed away and Star Jones had to said, “Lord, did I make a mistake? I want It’s based on my life and it’s based on my
go to the funeral and my publicist hap- to do sitcoms.” And I don’t know, my pas- stand-up of my real life of having been
pened to be calling that day - I was on tor just kept talking about ‘run toward married and my husband had an affair
bed rest because I was pregnant, and they what you fear the most’ and it confirmed with a white woman and the girl got preg-
said we need someone to fill in for Star, my “do it scared” and that’s my motto nant. And there were times when I would
if she can be on the plan tomorrow we’re now. If you fear it, Sherri, run toward it. lay in bed and cry -for almost a year - and
going to have a co-host. I talked to my And I’ve gotten in more trouble because my friends would pray with me and I just
doctor and asked if I was going to have of my mouth! remember the Lord saying, “Peace be
the baby in the air and she said no. They still.” And the Lord would say in my mo-
wheeled me in a wheelchair to my seat CAP: But that’s a good thing because you ments of darkness, “Do you trust me?” and
on the plane and to my hotel and I co- learn, you grow, and then you move on. I would say, “Absolutely NOT, no way. My
hosted. Joy liked me and so whenever she SS: But I have grown in so many ways. baby almost died he’s in NICU, my best
was gone she’d say, “Use Sherri.” Then I Because I run toward those things I fear friend is with another woman, there’s a
got to co-host next to Star and she’d say, and have learned to rely on God in a new baby on the way- no, I don’t trust you,
“You are really funny.” And it just seemed and fresh way every single day, more than NO. And I would lay in bed and I would
people started liking me co-hosting and I ever have before. My very first sea- cry, I didn’t want to get out of bed, didn’t
I think I hold the record for want to change my clothes,
co-hosting - I think I co- didn’t comb my hair, didn’t
hosted 23 or 24 times. So wear a wig - it was awful!
when they asked me, Rosie “I wanted to kill my husband and And every day the Lord
O’Donnell asked me - and would say, “Will you trust
I was terrified of co-hosting God said no, if you kill him then me? Will you trust me?”
with Rosie - I was there for And I had gotten to the
Rosie’s first fight and I was you’re going to prison and I said point where I said, “I’ve
there for Rosie’s last fight. got nothing else to do but
The very reasons I was
I was willing to accept that call- trust you. Everything in
scared to be on The View as
a regular, because they had
ing! I wanted to beat up the girl my life is falling a part.”
And I started going to the
been asking me, was because and Niecey Nash, one of my best comedy clubs and I started
I didn’t think I was smart talking about this because
enough and I didn’t think I friends, had to come to my aid.” that has always helped
was funny enough, because me through what I’m go-
they had already had co- ing through. I wanted to
medians on the show, and I kill my husband and God
didn’t like to debate people. I said no, if you kill him then
knew my faith and I knew you couldn’t son I got into so much trouble with my you’re going to prison and I said I was
shout on the show, “I love Jesus!” mouth - I was nervous and I used to have willing to accept that calling! I wanted
The very things I was scared to do are- these scriptures -my prosperity scrip- to beat up the girl and Niecey Nash, one
what Rosie liked. Rosie, the very first time tures -when I was living in California - of my best friends, had to come to my aid.
I co-hosted, said, “I would like for you to ‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse... But women started coming up to me
be on the show every day because I think he’s pouring out blessings, but, girl, my to tell me that they were going through
you’re smart, you’re funny and I love your first year on The View it was all Psalms - the same thing and I had made them
faith.” And I looked at Rosie and said, ‘Lord, the enemy is trying to tear my life laugh instead of cry. So when the people
“You guys are crazy, y’all work my nerves, a part - you are my shadow...I was on the approached me about doing a show for
no way!” When I was there her last day, floor moaning in prayer. I’m David, Lord, me they asked me what was going on in
I think what they liked about me is that I’m in a cave with no clothes on. I don’t my life and I started doing my stand-up
I tried to make light of it. Whenever think I’ve done a tithe or prosperity scrip- and they said, “We want to do this be-
stuff happens that’s crazy, I want to make ture in three years! All my scriptures are cause it’s so raw and powerful.” Lifetime
people laugh and I told Joy, ‘let’s pretend the wisdom of God confounds the world came and said, ‘we want to do it’ and I
like we’re getting up from the table’ - it - You will never leave me nor forsake me, was absolutely floored that my laying in
made people laugh and I think they liked where I am weak, you are strong! Those bed, my tears birthed a show that makes
that I didn’t go around talking about what are my scriptures! people laugh and talks about healing,
happened. And they kept asking me and I and talks about forgiveness. On my show
said, no, no, no. And girlfriends who hold CAP: I know that’s right! That’s awesome! we’ve kind of sped up the forgiveness part
me accountable, kept saying, “Sherri, you Tell me a little about your television se- -the other girl, we call her the Quiz-ho on


the show because she works at Quizno’s SS: I’ve said to Elizabeth, because Eliza- besides the Lord?” If I didn’t have Jesus
Subs - but we show how we have forged beth is a Christian, “Girl, you know Jesus in my life and prayer, I don’t know where
a relationship and how, Malcolm Jamaal is coming back! He’s coming back next I would be. Because there are just some
Warner, who plays my husband -how he week at 3:45 - you know this so why we days when I got to get on my knees and
wants to make his marriage work and re- arguing over this stuff ?” And she would I don’t even know what I’m praying for. I
alizes he made a mistake and how I come laugh, and say you can’t say that! You can’t remember calling Niecey one time when
through with the help of my girlfriends, say that when you have someone like I was fighting for custody of my son and
which is what happened in real life. One Bill Mahr who comes on the show and going through the divorce and everybody
character is based on Niecey, all my girl- thinks all Christians are crazy, you can’t told me I was not going to get custody
friends gathered around me in prayer, let say certain things. So we have to do it in of my baby and the odds were against
me cry and scream. You know you have a way that people can understand and you me. And I remember calling Niecey and
some snot sessions when you are on the don’t want to sound crazy but you don’t saying, “I don’t know what a panic attack
floor wailing and your girlfriends will want to deny who you are either. There feels like, but I’m having one.” And she
be right on the floor with you and they are times when we go to talk about stuff said God will give you the blessing and
just speak in tongues while you just cry I’ll just say, Lord, I am just scared today, the enemy will make it so you won’t en-
out. I remember being in church and the I’m just plain flat out scared. You know, joy it and she prayed with me. I just have
pastor was dismissing service and I was I would love to be Juanita Bynum and a real strong group of girls that when I
like AAHHHHH (screaming) and all come out with something deep, you know call them and I don’t know what to pray
my girlfriends, I just remembered being how some people open their mouths and they will pray with me. And there are only
smothered in breasts! And pastor was like come out with some deep word - that aint about four of them and when I get to L.A.
‘don’t worry about what’s going on over never happen with me! NEVER! When I and I visit, I’ll link with them and we’ll
there - just put your arms out, Sherri’s go- thought it was that’s when I said I didn’t have dinner and we’ll pray. So prayer for
ing through something.” So my show is know if the earth was round or flat! I me...I always tell people if you give God
based on that, but also how I’m moving thought everybody was going to be saved the time in the morning, he’ll give time
forward and how I’m dealing with being that day and it was my first week! I could for you through the rest of the day. That’s
a single mom and single woman, which say no wrong, I was a warrior! (laughing) what gets me through. If you ask me what
is what I’m going through now, being a I pray and Elizabeth encourages me and gets me through - it’s my Lord and Savior
single woman at 42. And I love that in when we’re going through stuff she’ll grip Jesus!
the show I’m my own age, I’m a grown my thigh or I’ll grip her thigh and she
woman, they don’t have me playing a 20 says, “Sherri, you only have to please an CAP: You’re definitely busy with your ca-
year old. They tried to make me 20 and audience of one!” And that’s what I always reer and raising your son and so many of
I said, “Y’all better quit!” Ain’t no 20 year remember when I get a little fearful I only us can relate as we wear many hats on a
old going through this mess, this is grown have to please an audience of one. At the daily basis. But what do you do, just for
woman stuff ! I think people will like the end of the day I look up and say did I do Sherri? What do you do for fun?
show because it’s funny and it’s family. what you told me to do? SS: I love to karaoke.
We’ve broken records at Lifetime with
the show - we’ve got men watching the CAP: Exactly, and if I didn’t, thank you CAP: (laughing) really?
show, and families, not just women. We for another chance! SS: Yes! because I can’t sing! I was on
were the most watched comedy in the SS: Yes, thank you for another chance! Donnie McKlurkin’s show and I told him
ten-year history of Lifetime. When I look My daddy watches every day and he’ll call that so many of his songs had gotten me
at that I say that’s Jesus! Do you trust me and say, “You’ve gotta stop talking, telling through and he said maybe we can do a
to do a Romans 8:28 All things work to- people you’re horny.” And I’ll say, “But, duet. I said, No, I will karaoke with you! I
gether for the good of them that love me Daddy, that’s who I am.” And I’ll say, well don’t know why people think I can sing, I
and are called according to my purpose, Lord, you know what I was trying to say! must look like I can sing! And I went to
but that’s okay because even if you don’t, But honestly I stay on my knees. Those his church on New Year’s and he looked
I’m going to do it! (laughing) days when I don’t pray are when I get in like he wanted to call me up on stage and
the most daggone trouble! I was like, “you better put that karaoke
CAP: Isn’t that just like God? Wonderful! machine on stage!” Cause I’ll do a mean
How do you balance being a Christian CAP: Well, Sherri, a lot of women can version of “Never Would Have Made
with the life of celebrity? Has it been dif- relate to you because you speak openly It!” I love playing Taboo and Charades. I
ficult maintaining your principles in the about your divorce, weight loss struggles, don’t get to read anymore, but I used to
business? and being a single mother. What do you read a lot. You know, my son and I we love
SS: Oh, sure. Absolutely! It happens on think has helped you the most through to dance all day. I really enjoy being with
The View all the time. We’ll have a dis- your struggles in life, what has given you my baby.
cussion and I’ll be like, “Oh, Lord.” strength to overcome those issues?
CAP: Yes, I’ve seen some of those mo- SS: Man, it sounds cliché to some people CAP: How old is he now?
ments and had to pray for you and say, that are not believers and they may say,
“Come on Sherri, you can do this!” “Are you going to say the Lord? What Continued on Page 38


Christina Dixon

Reconfigured
Settings

T
here is no frustration quite like the aggravation you Let’s face it; He has configurations for the lives of all His
feel when you find that the settings on your com- children. Yet, too often we come along, believing we know how
puter have been changed without your permis- things should go, and change things to suit us. We are clueless
sion. Such was the case for me when my husband about how much we’re disconnecting things. I can only imagine
changed the USB location of my portable hard how frustrated God is with us at times.
drive on my multiple USB hub. For my friends who are not tech Recently, I’ve been meditating on how my settings are being
savvy, it was much like knowing that you put your favorite out- reconfigured. For years I worked a full-time job, while doing my
fits in your closet only to find that someone moved them to the passion part-time. After being downsized I’ve gone to full-time
basement or the garage without asking. entrepreneurship. What a change! Talk about reconfiguration. I
Of course my husband’s intent was to help, but without real- had waited years for the opportunity to work my business full-
izing the problems he was causing, he completely reconfigured time. Now, without the illusion of security my job had provided
the settings on my computer. Consequently I was unable to lo- I have to really trust Him. I know that since I belong to Him He
cate the paths of frequently used templates. Arghhh! His chang- will arrange things in whatever order He sees fit. Today, I know
ing things created software connection issues which forced me that He is Jehovah-jireh, my Provider. Are you feeling me? I said,
to uninstall and reinstall software packages. I spent almost 1.5 I know He is Jehovah-jireh!
hours reconfiguring things back to the way I had them. Talk Maybe like me, your sense of security has been challenged as
about irritating! God reconfigures your settings. If your heart screams out in frus-
As I worked to figure out what had happened, I murmured tration because things are not where you left them, stop. Take a
and grumbled prayers of irritation until it hit me, my husband deep breath. Remember that He is Jehovah-jireh. You are His.
changed things unintentionally. It forced me to ask myself, “Am You belong to Him. As Sovereign Lord of your life He is free
I this frustrated when God comes along and intentionally re- to configure and reconfigure your settings as little or as much
configures my settings?” Here I was griping about how my hus- as He likes. Rest in the knowledge that He always knows what
band’s inadvertent changes were made to my computer. Had I He’s doing.
ever considered that in the beginning God had configured things
to work a certain way only to have Adam and Eve reconfigure © 2010 Christina Dixon All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. Chris-
things in such a way that the paths to His Divine templates were tina Dixon is an author, speaker, and publisher whose life mission is the En-
courage, Challenge, and Inspire. To contact her visit her website at www.
disrupted so that mankind no longer had direct connection to
christinadixon.net or email info@christinadixon.net
God’s original intent?


RECOGNITION EXPOSURE CREDIBILITY NETWORKING

CAREER
M A G A Z I N E
Know Better. Do Better. Live Better

www.TheCareerMag.com
NOMINATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED

WINTER 2010 | WOW! 23

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR
SHAWNA M. HARRISON

I
BY LATONJA FLOWERS
met Shawna, a 29 yr old author
from Tennessee through social
Sexual abuse, incest, drugs, violence, self- mutilation, these
networking sites. A current trend are just one of the many life challenges writer Shawna
of our times on how much things M. Harrison has experienced and overcome. MY TRUE
change in media, social network-
ing has proven useful in doing this inter- SOUL: EXPLOITED, APPREHENDED, AND
view. I have to first say that in meeting BROKEN WITHIN is the new autobiography for this first
Shawna I began to see just how much
this beautiful young soul has overcome
time author. In this memoir Harrison shares raw emotions
and you would indeed think it hard not and graphic detail of a tumultuous life filled with nothing
to feel broken hearted yourself if not for but hurt and pain, that was triggered by childhood sexual
the redemptive measure we can now see
victoriously working in this woman’s life. abuse from the three men who should have been in her life
I believe this interview will be a redeem- for love and protection.
ing seed for so many who feel they are
alone dealing with past abuse.

LATONJA FLOWERS: Shawna your
LF: I can see how writing your book help is using what you went through to inspire
book delves into a very serious subject
to release the pain you went through, in others, when someone comes from an
please tell our readers your inspiration for
authoring My True Sou..l” were hoping to abusive background the healing process
writing this book?
also reach others? can take years or essentially a person’s
SHAWNA M. HARRISON: God gave
SMH: Writing this autobiography I had whole life, do you consider yourself fully
me this book to write, I feel very strongly
no one else in mind but myself, like I said, healed and if still ongoing how far in the
that he knew that I needed to release all
God gave me this book, because I have process are you?
these emotions, thoughts, feelings, pain,
never written anything in my life, except SMH: No I don’t think that I am fully
discomfort, bitterness, self-mutilation
little love notes back and forth in school. healed from my past pain, but I am very
that I caused to myself. I needed to write
I didn’t anticipate the response that I have much further in my relationship with
this book for me to finally be able to heal,
received from those that have truly been God now then before, I didn’t know him
grow, release, and move forward with the
inspired from my PAIN. at all throughout my emotional troubles.
life that He has for me....
LF: Wow it’s a blessing to see how God LF: What would you say to someone in


the beginning stages of dealing with past struggle in this lifestyle, based on your LF:Yes I can absolutely see how impact-
abuse? experience what would you say to them ing your book will be for those who have
SMH: NEVER STOP PRAYING TO now? endured abuse in their past and I pray that
GOD!!! Trust someone to share your SMH: We all have to answer for our own God will bless you more and more, en-
story with, it will help to release it and get actions, whatever the sin may be, I can’t larging your platform to reach the masses!
some counsel from someone you trust. nor will I judge. You have to walk your SMH: I thank you dearly!
LF: I agree with you, it’s so important to own walk with God just like I am. What- Shawna’s story is one that should be
trust in God even if you don’t know Him ever we are trying to walk away from, pray told because you will gain an experi-
I encourage those reading to get to know to God for it, and keep that attitude of ence with her that through God and His
Him... we should always pray in faith FAITH and EXPECTANCY promises we are victorious. Shawna cur-
about everything and circumstance that LF: Amen!!! Many times gifts you find rently promotes her book with local and
concerns us (Philippians 4:6, 7) knowing working in Independent artists are born national media and is available for speak-
that God is faithful to keep those issues through adversity and pain, what advice ing engagements.
we bring to Him. Speaking of God and to other Indie’s would you give on how to Contact: shawna_mytruesoul@yahoo.
church what would you want church lead- stay victorious in their purpose and plan com. Visit her online at
ers and Christians in general to know on for God? http://shawnaharrison.com or
how to counsel or be a friend to someone SMH: Stay focused on God and his pur- call 615-719-6797
whose survived sexual abuse in their past? pose for your life, that’s what I’m doing. ©2010 Latonja Flowers Latonja Flowers is a
SMH: Be extremely supportive, patient LF: In terms of giving back and paying it dedicated wife, mother, indie apparel designer and
and compassionate in there walk with this forward...what ideas do you have for oth- founder of HerSoul Business Group LLC an in-
die community that recognizes independant artist
pain. Not to look at it as some childhood ers Indies in using their gifts to give back
who use their gifts in philathropic outreach. Visit
issue that they/we should have gotten to the community and/or the world? her online www.hersoul.net
over already. SMH: God allows us to go through
LF: You are very open about your past, be- things to help others along the way, plus
ing attracted to women and how you lived God blesses us to bless others.... so there
a lesbian lifestyle. Many men and women you go!!!


J o A n n Fo r e

I Have The Right To Remain Safe,
But Do I Really Want To?

T
he tips of my fingers traced experience the wonders of the world? rights exhausts us. Deprives us. Cripples
the cracked crevices of ar- Now here I stood. Awestruck. Tucked us. God longs for us to live free of these
chaic stones. Stones which in a remote corner of the Coliseum among obsessions. Imagine, as Nancy suggests,
harbored the silent wails nearly 2,000-year-old partial ruins. The how different our lives could be if we were
of gallant gladiators and majestic yet oddly humble ruins of Rome. willing to say yes to whatever God has in
wild beasts whose staged deadly combats The words of Nancy Guthrie, author of store, even if that means being out of con-
served as mere public entertainment. Holding On to Hope, circled my mind. trol.
My feet were planted on the grounds Two days prior to my European depar- The rewards of surrender are great. As
of one of Rome’s most famous landmarks, ture, a friend had shared a link to Nancy’s I turned away from the Coliseum, God
the Coliseum. Roman parables and poli- podcast (www.nancyguthrie.com). kissed the sky with a double rainbow el-
tics climbed from the storage files of my “God wants to show us what it’s like to egantly arched overtop the regal ruins.
mind. Standing in the silence of the an- really live free of an obsession with per- The spectrum colors spoke to me of God’s
cient amphitheatre, the atmosphere felt sonal safety,” Nancy encouraged. reliable promises, over 7,000 of them in
thick, the carnage real, and the logic com- Nancy got it. She understood my His Word.
pletely senseless. struggle—a divine passion blocked by I didn’t have to be afraid to come here.
I’d dreamt of coming here for years. crippling fear. And Nancy knew that isn’t God promised. By faith, I had to accept it.
From countless travel brochures, the what God intends for us. And once I surrendered my right and my
silhouette of this colossal architecture She voiced what I denied. I was ob- need to be safe, God opened up a whole
draped across the sky had beckoned me, sessed with my personal safety. Not a cau- new adventure. Imagine how much of the
“Come.” tious self-awareness, rather a consuming world is a short ten-hour flight away.
My deep-rooted, passionate desire obsession. I demanded my right to be safe.
to see the world often pierced my heart, In control. And I avoided, at all costs, any Jo Ann Fore is a Certified Life Purpose Coach®.
though, for I was afraid to fly. Even the environment which left me feeling out of Visit her at www.joannfore.com and www.sni-
slices of Roman ruins couldn’t lure me control; such as flying in a jet, over the purl.com/WriteWhereItHurts.
4,500 miles away from the safety of my Atlantic ocean at an altitude of 30,000
home. feet for 10½ hours.
Or could they? We struggle with surrendering our
Over six months ago I planned this “rights” to God. Our right to be safe and
trip, but not without cancellation insur- secure. Our right to be healthy. Our right
ance. Almost daily, I wondered if I would to have our children live a good, long, pro-
really go. Would I, could I, overcome my tected life.
fear of flying? Just how bad did I want to However, the battle to maintain our


rfully
Wde !
WO unny
F
concentration A Joyful ‘toon by Mike Waters

© 2007 Michael D. Waters
www.joyfultoons.com
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed
on you, because he trusts in you. – IsaIah 26:3 esv

speaklifecosmetics.com

Chiku’ Griffin

Celebrity
Style Bride

H
ere comes the Bride! One of the most important
days of your life is finally here. As you walk down
the aisle with butterflies in your stomach and the
overwhelming feeling of joy of becoming Mrs.
Jones, you can do so with the total confidence of
knowing that you have put your best foot forward with your Ce-
lebrity-Style Makeover.
Months of planning usually goes into making your dream come
true. Make sure your Wedding Planner is well-informed of your
vision for your wedding. Of utmost importance is the photo im-
age album that will capture your vision forever, so make sure both
you and your bridesmaids have the best possible beauty makeover.

Celebrity Style Bride Makeover List:
1. Beauty consultation: Contact a health and beauty professional
for consultation three to five month prior to the wedding. You
will be provided with everything you need to know as well as sup-
port along the way to look and feel like a celebrity bride on your
wedding day.
2. Hair: Pre-styling for Bridal images. Planning the perfect hair-
style with headpiece, whether you will be wearing your hair down
or in a formal updo.
3. Skin: Taking care of your skin with a great skincare line is the
best way to stay clear of any acne problems.
4. Make-up: Make sure your foundation is matching, your eye-
brows are properly shaped and enough time is allowed for lash ap-
plication
5. Body: Keeping your body healthy during your months of plan-
ning and for a future plan of nutrition is key to having and main-
taining the required amount of energy.
6. Undergarments: Instantly drop 2-3 dress sizes by wearing this
garment and the Angel Bra.

©2010 Chiku- Griffin, Owner of ExpoStyles Hair Studio & Magazine,
Cosmetologist/Health & Beauty Consultant,
chiku@expostyles.com, www.expostyles.com, www.ardysslife.com/chikugriffin

28
WOW! |SPRING 2010

Family Values

WOW!
MOM

WOW: What is your greatest parental reward?
Elva “Precious Love” Thompson: The smile on my children’s WOW: What is best advice given to you as a mom and what
faces is the best advice you’d pass on to other moms?
EPLT: Listen to your children (given to me). Talk to your
children and be open and make them comfortable about being
WOW: What is your greatest parenting challenge? able to talk to you about anything and everything. Have
EPLT: When 2 of my oldest daughters were teenagers and boundaries set where they know that you’re their friend, as well
now I have one teenager left with 2 more to follow. as mom (given to them).

WOW: How do you balance church, family and home? ©2010 Tamara D. Davis, tamaradavis@wowmagazine.org
EPLT: Like clockwork! Sundays, I get everybody up. I call
my oldest girls on the telephone to wake them up. I pick them
up for church so that I can spend time with all of my children
after we all attend Sunday service. We come back to my house,
cook, watch a movie and enjoy our entire day and evening
together. PROFILE:
Name and Age: ELVA “PRECIOUS LOVE”
WOW: How often do you take “me” time and what do you do THOMPSON (39)
in your “me” time?
EPLT: I take “me” time best in my bedroom. I have a prayer
closet and I often go in there to talk to God and when I’m Residence: PALM COAST, FL (SOON TO BE
done, I relax on my bed and I write letters to God and write ATLANTA, GA)
poetry or complete my nonfiction novel that is currently a
work in progress. My kids understand that when I shut and Children: 5, ages 6-21
lock my door...it’s quiet time throughout the entire house and
they respect that. They either watch TV in their rooms or have
it turned down quietly in the living room. Occupation: Owner, Esquire Publications,
Precious Hearts Foundation, Georgia Editing
Service, LLC - www.esquirepublications.com
WOW: How does having Christ in your life change the way
you parent?
EPLT: Tremendously! Without Christ in my life, I would
Heroes: Jesus!
have no life. I would not be a good parent. That is where
my “me” time comes in at. I ask for guidance, wisdom, and To be featured in WOW! Mom, with a Tamara D. Davis at
Goals: Continued success contact humble
common sense in all that I do, especially in my parenting. demeanor
tamaradavis@wowmagazine.org


V a l e r i e H i c k s Po w e

Stay Employed by
Exercising Wisdom
and Constraint

A
ll things may be right but after church service, when a woman in a either failed to filter the truth (as they see
not all things are expedi- choir robe bonuses over and asks, “What it) with discretion or are in the planning
ent: Powerful words, for did you think of my solo Mrs. Henson?” stage of doing so and are contacting me
life and especially for the Before Mrs. Henson could fashion a re- for approval. There is usually hope for
workplace. More familiar sponse the girl bellows her own question, the second group, which will be address
phrases conveying the identical senti- “Mommy, isn’t this the lady who sings further in this article. However, the first
ment would include: I Corinthians 10:23 like a squealing pig?” In all fairness to the group of frustrated souls generally arrives
“Every thing is permissible but not every- child, she was just repeating what she had at my office in search of legal services to
thing is beneficial. Everything is permis- obviously overheard. Moreover, the state- be performed quick, fast, and in a hurry
sible but not everything is constructive”; ment was most probably true. However, for damages they genuinely believe were
or perhaps “Just because it’s true does not there was nothing to be gained by reveal- the result of discriminatory conduct by
mean you have to say it”. Surely there are ing that very painful fact. Children often their employer. Unfortunately, I am com-
numerous other similar sayings floating fall victim to such errors in judgment, fre- pelled to inform them that the right to
about, having been passed down from one quently carrying their parents with them, freedom of speech ends at the door of
generation to another. Generally, such as was the case in the example. However, the workplace. Without exception, my
phrases can be heard as an admonishment given proper corrective measures, ma- response is met with shock and amaze-
to a talkative juvenile with bad timing. turity intercepts future indiscretions in ment, as evidenced by their glazed over
However, these nuggets of wisdom are as most cases—in most cases being the op- stares and open mouths that if dropped
applicable to the workplace as they are to erative phrase. All too often, seemingly an inch more would release the foot they
the child who finds himself at the stinging reasonable adults either have not learned unknowingly stuffed in it just before be-
end of grandma’s switch, receiving a stern or choose not to apply the lesson from I ing fired. The sound of the shoe hitting
reprimand for blurting out the obvious Corinthians 10:23. When those indis- the ground is usually my cue to furnish at
at the most inopportune time. Almost crete statements are made in the work- least a short lecture on not only employee
everyone has either witnessed or experi- place, the result is almost always drama. rights but obligations as well. Notwith-
enced such correction. Consider the case No less than three times a year I find standing the consistency of my audience’s
of the little girl standing with her mother myself counseling individuals who have reaction, I am still staggered that people


are clueless to the fact that there is no
constitutional right to tell your boss that
she is a hypocrite; that is and still keep
your job. This fact does not change even
when the boss truly is a hypocrite. Nev-
ertheless, I convey the information not to
correct the current state of circumstances,
but to hopefully prevent the same from
occurring in the future.
As stated earlier, I also encounter
people who while still employed, toy with
the idea of engaging in speech that can
quickly land them in the unemployment
line. For those willing to understand that
freedom of speech in the workplace can
be costly, there is hope and help. Re-
cently, a young woman approached me
with the intention of retaining my legal
services but happily for her, realized that
she would be better off retaining me as a
career coach instead. The young woman
was understandably frustrated with the
office politics of her workplace. It seems
that she was counseled by a member of
senior management for being inexplicably
abrasive to a coworker. There were two
obvious problems with the counseling:
the management official could not iden-
tify what the “abrasive” conduct was; and
his line of supervision did not include
my client or the complaining employee.
Although it was apparent the manager’s
involvement had more to do with his rela-
tionship with the complaining employee
than it did with correcting a legitimate
personnel issue, his authority still war-
lesser alternatives are available. Litigat- apply the essence of I Corinthians 10:23
ranted respect.
ing lawsuits are expensive in the best of “All things are lawful for me, but not all
Accordingly, my client had little to
circumstances, litigating a case from the things are beneficial…”
gain and a lot to lose by offering an un-
ranks of the unemployed takes the defini-
calculated response. She certainly could Valerie Hicks Powe is an Attorney, Author,
tion of expensive to a new level. Indeed,
have complained that the manager’s con- Corporate Trainer, Career
I advised the young woman regarding al-
duct was just plain unfair. The problem Coach, and Popular Radio
ternatives that subtlety revealed the error
with that assertion is there is little legal Talk Show Host. She is the
of the manager’s ways, while at the same founder of a Management
protection for unfair conduct in the work-
time avoiding the risk of appearing insub- Consulting Firm, Esquire
place. She could have also alleged race
ordinate. Being open to advice, she not Management, which offers
discrimination, since among the three
only retained her job, she left the indelible training and consulting so-
people involved she was the only African
impression that through her diplomatic lutions for the Workplace.
American. That too presents a problem, As a former senior trial
skills she was more than equipped to deal
in that other than her race there is no attorney with the Equal
with office politics at even the highest
evidence that the manager’s conduct was Employment Opportunity Commission, Valerie
level. The manager, who counseled her
intended to discriminate on the basis of has over a decade of experience assessing and de-
for being inexplicably abrasive, eventually
race. Moreover, her complaints could veloping Not-So-Common solutions for common
offered an apology. workplace problems.. Join her Fan Page on Face
have been met with further discipline, up
Things could have turned out quite Book at Workin It Out With Valerie.
to and including termination. Such action
differently had my young client insisted
on the part of the company, could make a
on the litigious approach. Consequently,
very strong case for unlawful retaliation,
she maintained her job and increased her
however, bringing a lawsuit for the same
level of respect because she was willing to
might not be the best thing to do when


Spring2010mag

Recomendados

Recomendados

Mais conteúdo relacionado

Destaque

Destaque (20)

Semelhante a Spring2010mag

Semelhante a Spring2010mag (20)

Spring2010mag