Spring Issue

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ABOUT US

Editor: Bever-leigh Holloway

Bever-leigh is a soldier for Christ that lives outside of the boat and against the current.

After receiving a rejection letter for a writing job at Shondaland, Bever-leigh felt led to start a publication of her own.

Two years later, Break Daily Bread was miraculously birthed This editorial of current events from God's perspective is all encompassing of Bever-leigh's gifts, talents and experiences.

She is humbled that she was chosen to raise awareness around the concerns of God, having experiences in many industries and topics tackled.

Break Daily Bread is a subsidiary of Run by Faith Writer's Network.

Keep holding on

BLACK HISTORY

AFTERSHOCK DOCUMENTARY

WOMEN'S HISTORY

MENTAL& SPIRITUAL HEALTH

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

GODINTHE WORKPLACE FAITH

name image and "likes"

When I think about name, image, and likeness, I think about ownership. One's inheritance, their birthright.

I'm reminded of the brothers Jacob and Esau, and their parents that fueled their feud. Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew and some bread because he was hungry, impatient, and undervalued his worth. Though "bread" is good, one's name is worth more than anyone should be willing to pay.

My hope is that amateur athletes are utilizing the NIL policy to the fullest extent of the law, while still remaining true to themselves and their game. That they look beyond instant gratification and consider the long game that could yield generational returns.

"Nearly three-quarters of all name, image and likeness activity in the college space comes from social media posts and content creation, according to an exhaustive survey of 1,100 Division I athletes by Bill Carter, who teaches an NIL class at the University of Vermont. "

-Michael Smith, Sports Business Journal

Cultivate and sustain relationships of the companies offering deals. Establish guaranteed job offers or contract agreements upon graduation or retirement from sport. Create products with companies of genuine interest, owning product patents or at the very least licensing agreements for infinite residuals. Establish book deals with publishers and partnerships with investors for current and future ventures. My hope is that athletes go beyond the “likes” of social media, and in the likes of intellectual property.

RIPPLE EFFECT

Just let go throw out into the water spreads like a disease, but dis ends in ease onto others the current takes you under much more to discover many facets and dimensions rabbit holes of the imagination not just your life but nations assigned to one thing after the other won’t know if you don’t bother to cast your rock into water ripple will go on forever either the right path or a detour obedience will keep you pure so much fun to explore endurance with God produces more strengthens foundation, church built on rock sometimes you have to recircle the block backtrack the last thing, exact order of operations will attract the blessing assigned don’t worry, takes time out of faith?

mine, you can borrow Your breakthrough? only a stone’s throw

It was at the 20th anniversary of the Civil Rights Film Festival in Las Vegas, honoring Nedra Cooper.

An event sponsored by the Las Vegas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and NAACP Las Vegas, screened the documentary Aftershock. Due to a church engagement, I arrived after the screening but in time for the panel discussion made up of a Black woman physician and a couple of community activists. After listening to the disheartening statistics of Black people and the racism in health care, I knew I had to watch the documentary to get more context

Produced by Paula Eiselt and Tonya Lewis Lee, Aftershock showcased the epidemic of Black maternal mortality and how the families of two Black women, who died preventable deaths due to childbirth, coped with their losses through community and activism. I was blown away by what I learned.

T I S

R I T T E N

The film described that women who had C-sections were at a higher risk of dying due to birthing complications, and the rate of Csections had gone up 500% since 1970. Black women were disproportionately affected 4 to 1. Not only is it faster to do a C-Section than it is for a woman to have a vaginal delivery, but the hospitals get paid more for performing them.

I also learned about the experimentation done on slaves by white male doctors and that they concluded that Black women didn’t experience much pain. The quote highlighted in the film and etched into the history books is from Benjamin Moseley:

Upon my research, I found how two of the most decorated female athletes of our time had experiences like the women whose lives were lost in the film.

Serena Williams delivered her daughter successfully but was ignored shortly after her C-section when she began complaining about her pain and shortness of breath

Understanding her history of blood clots, she asked to get her lungs checked out. She persisted repeatedly, giving them specific instructions on how to conduct the CAT scan. Was she a doctor? No, but how many of you know Holy Spirit will give you instructions that you later find out saved your life? After several failed attempts, the doctors finally agreed to do a CAT scan and found a blood clot.

She has since joined the Hear Her campaign that “supports CDC’s efforts to prevent pregnancy-related deaths by sharing potentially lifesaving messages about urgent warning signs.”

“What would be the cause of insupportable pain for a white man, a Negro would almost disregard.”

The theory that Black women don’t experience pain while being cut open is written! Habakkuk 2:2 (NIV) states, “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.” There is a correlation between those written words and the astounding racial bias in the pain assessment of Black people.

Shamony Gibson, featured in the film, complained repeatedly about chest pain and shortness of breath following her C-section, but was ignored to the point of death.

Allyson Felix didn’t have a reason to believe she wouldn’t have a healthy pregnancy until a sudden diagnosis of preeclampsia during a doctor’s appointment rushed her into emergency surgery to have her daughter eight weeks premature. Unaware of the potential conditions that could spring up, she was shocked and caught off guard that she wasn’t informed.

In the film, Amber Rose Isaac was instructed to go to the hospital immediately after her doula glanced at her vitals from her doctor and noticed that her platelet count had been decreasing over the lifespan of her pregnancy. She died shortly after during an emergency Csection. Her partner Bruce McIntyre started the saveArose foundation seeking to eliminate the systemic flaws within maternal health care by working with state and federal legislators to put pressure on healthcare providers to do something about the high incidence of maternal mortality. Williams and Felix, both Olympic gold athletes, the best in what they did in their sports, were left fighting for their lives while bringing another being into this world. The enemy does not discriminate. The enemy is not white people; it’s the devil. He will use anyone and any system, even the health care system, to steal, kill and destroy. The spiritual realm is not a game, nor is it meant to be disregarded.

Given how we as Black women have been treated in our society since the beginning of time, we must shift

"What would be the cause of insupportable pain for a white man, a Negro would almost disregard."

away from the victim mentality. Often warranted, it is holding us hostage under the cyclical statistics society has us chained. We can wait for legislation and people to be held accountable, but we must fight in the spirit in the meantime. We hold much more power than is realized through what we speak and write. Our words are powerful, especially when coupled with God’s Word through the power of prayer. “We must watch our words,” says Apostle Michelle McClain Walters in her book The Esther Anointing. “We can’t say that our families or our cities are going to hell in a handbasket because there are angels and demons watching over our words, waiting to perform the action you speak out.” Pray over your body before, during, and after your pregnancy. Pray for your health, your pregnancy, the baby, and the post-partum. Speak against post-partum depression. It doesn’t have to be your reality. Don’t speak it or even expect it into existence. Pray daily for your outcome until it becomes a reality and continue to pray Proverbs 18:21 (ERV) says, “The tongue can speak words that bring life or death. Those who love to talk must be ready to accept what it brings.” We need to stop speaking death, or unfavorable statistics, unless we are in the presence of someone who can do something about it. We can raise awareness without being a part of the problem. There was a time in college when I looked like I was in the best physical shape of my life, sometimes eating whatever I wanted, knowing that my metabolism was so fast that I could just burn it off. But it’s one thing to look healthy and another to be healthy.

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father ” When their message came to him, Joseph wept His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:15-20 NIV)

To heal, we must first forgive the harm done to us and focus on becoming the best vessels for our babies The Black women's lives experimented on and lost were not in vain. To reverse the curse that was written, we must speak life

Prepare your body for pregnancy now. Understand your preexisting conditions

and the role they play in your pregnancy

Giving birth is a life-and-life situation, not a life-and-death situation. Given the statistics, we should take longer than a year to prepare our bodies for the biggest transformation they will ever face. By taking the initiative and doing what we can control, we are aiding in the dismantling of this epidemic. The only thing left to do is heal.

The aftershock is a wake-up call to be spiritually, physically, and mentally fit to combat the forces against birthing life. “Jesus taught that justice would be established through night-and-day prayer (speaking God’s Word) " Writes McClain-Walters, “The war is not won until you get yourself into a place of prayer. Things will not shift in your life, your family life, your workplace, your city, state, or country until you pray.”

A poem from upcoming book Seasons: Poems of Love, Lust, Loneliness, Life, Loss, and the Lord

Intimacy in Blue Lagoon; any other hot springs

Sleep in your arms, the peace Grace Bay Beach brings

Candle-lit dinner in Santorini

Admiring the sunset over the water from the balcony

Drizzling rain, well go for a walk

Back to your place for intellectual pillow talk

Gondola ride and shopping in Venice

Kissing me with both your hands and your lips

Last-minute getaways to the beach, a mutual attraction

No phones just us, your undivided attention

Wine tastings touring the hills of Napa or Sonoma

Understanding me truly, madly, deeply, earning a diploma

A meal prepared by you, picnic at the lake

Promises of our future you’d be willing to make

Comparing our favorite songs to elucidate how we feel

Your expression when you see me, full of absolute zeal

Walking in from a midnight taco run

Waiting patiently to get my hair and nails done

Love notes found hidden, sealed with a kiss

Your input in a dress, preparing for wedded bliss

Serenading me softly with your gentle poetries

Praying for me and our future babies

Neck kisses following whispered sweet nothings

Expecting our life to overflow with copious blessings

DIVERSITY and Inclusion of God

"Inclusion demands that we give every person authoritative power in decision making and contemplate their input with care. Not only is everyone present and able to participate fully, but each person's voice matters in the development and outcome."

-John D. Kemp, Disability Friendly: How to move from Clueless to Inclusive

I was a few weeks into a new position, virtually shadowing a colleague, when I asked her how her maternity leave would work. She said that they were doing well financially, so she didn’t investigate what the maternity leave consisted of since she planned to work up until her due date, about a month out I encouraged her to find out and to use it right away to take time to get ready for the baby. I haven’t had children yet and didn’t know what it took to get ready for one, but I shared what I would do. We were talking about her due date when a phone call came in. Somewhere in her conversation, the client referenced the date we just spoke about, and after the call, we laughed about it. At that moment, I felt led to tell her, “That was God ” But instead, thoughts began to circulate in my mind

Does she believe in God? Is she a Christian? She’s going to think I’m weird. Our call is being monitored. It would be awkward. Against my better judgment, and God’s, I didn’t say it

No sooner did she find out about her leave, she got sick and ended up taking it right away. According to an email rollout a few weeks later, she had her

precious baby on the day we discussed

In the book of Matthew, Jesus forewarned Peter that he would deny Him. Peter protested, stating it would be impossible. He had spent so much time with Jesus that he could never, would never, fathom denying Him. Yet he did

It’s how I felt looking back at that situation. How can I be so close to Jesus with all of my bible studies and churchgoing preparing me for a moment like that, yet deny Him?

Why is it awkward to bring up God in the workplace? Our mouths are trained to stay shut when praying to God in schools, but luckily, it’s not prohibited in the workplace, thanks to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Refusing to accommodate an employee's sincerely-held religious beliefs or practices is prohibited, according to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Imagine how demonic it is to take away prayer from schools and replace it with a man-made pledge the country itself doesn’t reflect Perhaps the intent was to speak “liberty and justice for all” into existence. Either way, it has aided in the biblical illiteracy of America.

Can you imagine if we had more of God in the workplace?

From the top down, faith-based principles woven into the fabric of the company’s mission? Maybe it needn’t be as extreme as implementing a Sociological Department like the Ford Motor Company had according to For Profit: A History of Corporations. The author William Magnuson explained that in order for employees to become eligible for the five-dollara-day pay rate back in 1914, they had to show themselves sober, saving, steady, and industrious and show staff that their money would not be wasted in “riotous living.” The department went as far as sending investigators to the homes of the employees and interviewing their wives, children, and neighbors. But what if policies and procedures reflected what Jesus would do, promoting unity and oneness among all different types of people regardless of their race, creed, disability, or anything else that separates us?

It’s disheartening that in 2023 we are still training people to treat, hire and pay people equally. In some instances, unequally Ephesians 2:13-16 (NIV) states, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”

If we were all one with God individually, we wouldn’t need training to become one as a human race.

I was seated in a small lounge area in New York LaGuardia airport on my way back to Las Vegas when I witnessed a man between the window and the chair where he laid down his mat and began to pray. It had me thinking of Christians and our prayer lives, that if we were half as bold as he was about his faith, how much of it would show up in the world. Or just in our households! Perhaps we don’t talk about God at work because we don’t even talk about Him at home! Not enough people are concerned, and the result shows up on the evening news.

When we honor God with our family, there will be more conviction against dishonoring the family unit outside of

the home There will be fewer extramarital affairs in the workplace because others will set boundaries and hold each other accountable.

By implementing faith-based principles of unity into the bylaws of a company, peace, healing, and forgiveness can occur Healing from the overt racism that was the catalyst for a diversity department to the covert discrimination among classes of people. Healing that is all-inclusive, without overcompensating or resentment.

I’m reminded of how Apostle Michelle McClain Walters describes resentment. In her book Esther’s Anointing, she states, “Bitterness is unfulfilled revenge. Its fruit is unforgiveness that develops into resentment. Resentment always wants to retaliate In this world [women] have suffered cruelty, harshness, and brutality at the hands of thoughtless human beings. Our only hope is found in the Cross. We must forgive and release every offender. The Lord promises that vengeance is His and He will repay ”

The Bible says to put God first in all things. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all the rest would be added. The workplace is not

exempt Normalizing God in the workplace would make the environment less awkward for encouraging others or even releasing a word from God.

We are not perfect by any means, and we will not always get it right. But by Jesus forewarning Peter, and Peter realizing afterward what he had done, Peter became aware.

If companies became more spiritually aware, stepped out on faith, hired the best people for the job based on their credentials and experience, ignored race, sexual orientation, or disability, left no room for human bias, and were unified with God, we would accidentally have a diverse workforce. As diverse as the world is. The way God purposefully intended.

Seasons

I learned how to walk in 2020.

From the time I was nine until my senior year in college, I’ve only known working out to consist of the extreme pounding of my lower limbs and the pressure lifted in the weight room. After graduation, it evolved into lifting weights with the occasional cardio fitness class. But since the gyms shut down in my new city of Los Angeles in 2020, I began to walk.

It slowed down my life. I processed life through a different lens at that time since it was the first time in my adult life that I was not working for an extended period. I was new to the City of Angels and slowly engaging in my new normal. Things that were once important were no longer.

It felt like my senses opened. Walking afforded time and space to process thoughts, speak to God, hear from God, pray, and dream about the future. Not to mention enjoy the mild southern Californian weather. Walking became a form of therapy for me.

Fast forward to 2022 and I began to feel the pull to start running again. To start lifting weights again. I was hesitant because I enjoyed my walks with God. I enjoyed the peace that came with it, and the exertion of energy was minimal.

I eventually obliged and one day began to do wind sprints. The relief I felt after came as a shock. To break a sweat again during a workout was something I didn’t know my body needed! It was refreshing, at the same time priorities and responsibilities had shifted and enhanced so I felt like my body was catching up with the same energy I exerted in my work.

Different seasons call for different actions. What may have worked in one season may not work in another. One of my constant prayers is to be able to discern the times and the seasons, and I pray the same for you.

prayer for protection

Dear heavenly Father,

Thank you for another day of life Thank you for your grace and mercy and for giving us another chance to get it right We are grateful for all that you’ve done and continue to do in and through us. We thank you for your peace beyond all understanding. Peace in the middle of the storm, as well as peace when all is well. We thank you for your provision, Jehovah Jireh, and pray that you continue to provide in every area of life. We ask that you continue to cover us with your hedge of protection. Protect our minds, bodies, and spirits. Protect our families and our children. Protect our communities and our schools Protect our government and those in power We ask for healing in our land Beginning with our minds and our bodies We ask Jehovah Rapha that you heal our relationships and our finances We come against any trick of the enemy, any negative self-talk or thoughts of suicide or homicide. We know that no weapon formed against us will prosper so we ask that you remind us in our time of need. That you show us where to go if we are hurting. Where to go in the bible for spiritual help, where to go to get clinical help if needed, and whom to talk to for emotional support. We ask for your guidance in this and pray for those who are hurting. We hope they get the help they need by seeking first the kingdom and His righteousness, understanding the rest would be added unto them That you will lead them in the direction of healing, wholeness, and happiness I thank you for the fruit of the spirit love, joy, peace, kindness, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. I pray others seek you and bear fruit so they too can experience the joy of the Lord regardless of the season. I thank you for using me as a vessel God and pray that everyone that reads this has an encounter with you. You know all that they need.

In Jesus name, I pray, Amen

CROSS

A narrative of a woman who quit her 9 to 5 to follow God on an Odyssey into the

unknown

Holloway, Hollywood, and Harvard CROSS

renew your mind

written by Bever-leigh Holloway

With mental health awareness month approaching I can’t help but think about the influx of mass murders and suicides that are running rampant as we enter the second quarter. As of April 4, 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 10,387 deaths caused by gun violence this year. 60% of that number are suicides. Over 6,000 people ended their lives this year with a gun.

Six out of ten People are going mad and losing control of their minds.

I have to disagree with President Joe Biden who stated that “thoughts and prayers are not enough” when it comes to gun violence in this country His remark was in response to the Mississippi mass shooting that killed 6 people on February 17, 2023. But in fact, if everyone simply did just that;

were cognizant of their thought life, and did more praying, many schemes from the devil would be stopped in their tracks. On the surface, it may seem like gun laws are to blame for the gun violence in this country, but what’s the point in changing the law if we don’t acknowledge the minds of those whose hands these guns are in?

According to Dr. Caroline Leaf, a cognitive neuroscientist who authored Switch on Your Brain, “an undisciplined mind is filled with a continuous stream of worries, fears, and distorted perceptions that trigger degenerative processes in the mind and body. We cannot afford not to bring all thoughts into captivity to Christ Jesus (2 Cor.10:5).”

She goes on to say that “God designed humans to observe our own thoughts, catch those that are bad, and get rid of them. The importance of capturing those thoughts cannot be underestimated because research shows that the vast majority of mental and physical illness comes from our thought life rather than the environment and genes.”

We have the choice to accept and reject any thought that comes to mind In the information age we live in, we must be aware of our input, and utilize our resources so that we are not conforming to the world but transforming by renewing our minds. Be alert and of a sober mind Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for

-Dr. Caroline Leaf, Switch on Your Brain

If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.

suggested reading

Switch on Your Brain | written by Dr. Caroline Leaf

Dr. Caroline Leaf is a neuroscientist specializing in cognitive and metacognitive neuropsychology.

someone to devour. When one takes a life, the enemy wins.

“The primary success of capturing your thoughts will be to focus on God’s way first, not the world’s ways And science is showing that meditating on the elements of Jesus’s teachings rewrites healthy new circuits in the brain.”

Dr. Leaf does not separate science from the word of God, “we must always remember that scientists are not God-though they sometimes act like they are. I am a scientist, and if I can’t back up a scientific “fact” with Scripture, I question its validity.” So, we shouldn’t address mental health without addressing spiritual health.

It hurts to see so many people in pain to the point of going mad. Jesus should be the first resort, not ending a life, especially not your own. Seek therapy, even if you don’t feel you need it Take preventative measures regarding your mental health, just like you would when getting your car serviced. It costs more when you wait until something breaks.

Treat your spiritual health equally if not more important by renewing your mind by reading and doing the Word of God. Pray for protection over your mind, as well as your environment. We should not be waiting for tragedies to happen to pray for our family members, communities, the nation, or the world Thoughts and prayers are exactly what we need.

“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought,” says Dr. Leaf. Stop the madness.

scriptures

Recite theses scriptures when you feel anxiety.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

01 02 03 04

1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7 (NIV)

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Matthew 6:27 (NIV) 05

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Matthew 6:31-34 (NLT)

01 02 03 04

scriptures

Recite theses scriptures when you need hope.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Why, am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again- my Savior and my God.

Psalms 42:5 (NLT)

Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer.

Romans 12:12 (NIV)

May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you.

Psalms 25:21 (NLT) 05

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

Psalms 62:5 (NIV)

scriptures

Recite theses scriptures when you feel depressed.

01 02 03 04

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalms 34:18 (NIV)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 12:28 (NIV)

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7 (NIV)

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away

Revelation 21:4 (KJV) 05

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

scriptures

Recite theses scriptures when you face temptation. 01

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.

James 1:13-15 (NIV)

02 03 04

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Matthew 26:41 (NIV)

Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautions at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8 (AMP)

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) 05

Because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

James 1:3 (NIV)

scriptures

who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

2 Corinthians 1:4 (NIV)

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalms 34:18 (NIV)

May the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:26 (CSB)

Recite theses scriptures if you ' ve experienced loss. 01 02 03 04

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.

2 Corinthians 1:3 (NLT) 05

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.

Psalm 147:3 (NLT)

America's Idol

Have you ever inadvertently made something or someone an idol?

In the book U-turns, Dr. Tony Evans wrote that “An idol is any unauthorized person, place, thing, or thought that you look to in order to determine your decisions. Whomever, or whatever, influences you to the degree of making the final decision in your life is an idol. If it is not the true, living God and His Word, it is an idol.”

I was led to the Book of Hosea and learned that Hosea married a promiscuous and unfaithful woman named Gomer. Her promiscuity and unfaithfulness symbolized Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. Though I was utilizing pastors as a source of direction, I didn’t prioritize God as my primary source As a jealous God, He despises His children cheating on Him with other gods. According to Exodus 20:3, “You shall have no other gods before me.”

In early 2022, I did a deep study of idolatry. At the time, I found myself frequenting many online sermons from a handful of pastors but neglected to seek God first, or even after hearing the Word for confirmation.

God reminded me of the people, places, or things that we may idolize like celebrities, pastors, psychics, fertility gods, or any other person for that matter. He doesn’t like when we give credit to the “Universe” over Him, nor does He like conducting

spiritual rituals, using sage, incense, or crystals. “Any overruling of what God says on a subject in your life – whatever the person, place, thing, or thought is – at that moment and in that decision becomes your god. It’s your idol. And you have removed yourself from the covenantal covering of the umbrella See, the covering no longer works when you choose an idol. When you choose financial profit over biblical principle, or you choose cultural norms over God’s revealed rule –you are worshipping an idol " Explains Dr Tony Evans in his book U-turns.

I read up on God’s wrath in the book of Romans when it was revealed to me that technology can also become an idol if not utilized appropriately.

As much as technology advanced over the years, it’s incredible how much we depend on it to do just about everything for us. From our thinking to providing entertainment, and everything else inbetween. According to Dr. Tony Evans, “If the entertainment industry sways your final decision about something, and it contradicts God’s rule, then that is your idol ” I came across the subject of AI and one of the leading researchers in the industry urging everyone to “shut it all down” in an essay in Time magazine. Theorist Eliezer Yudkowsky began urging professionals to halt AI research for 6 months, otherwise, AI will, in his words, “kill everyone”. This warning instantly brought more context to technology becoming an idol

To briefly summarize my basic understanding of this very complex topic, He finds that the rate of AI’s capabilities far outweighs interpretability thus leading to human extinction if the industry doesn’t take a break to get back in alignment. “Progress in AI capabilities is running vastly, vastly ahead of progress in AI alignment or even progress in understanding what the hell is going on inside those systems ” Says Yudkowsky In an interview with Lex Fridman, Yudkowsky mentioned that they need to take the time to reap the rewards of seeds already planted and slow down to interpret what is already there before proceeding to create on top of the current technology they don’t understand. Otherwise, “what happens after AI gets to “smarter-than-human” intelligence?”

It's bad enough we look to people, places, and things for direction before consulting God. But for technology to become intelligent enough to overthrow the human species is as radical as it gets Even more so, believing that God would let us go out like that. That technology would be too smart for God to intervene Or to have technology function as humans, eliminating the human brain altogether, and preventing the flow of the Holy Spirit is asking for God’s wrath on the earth.

I trust Yudkowsky knows what he is talking about, an expert in his field for over 20 years now, however, if he believed that no weapon formed against us as a society would prosper, I think he would have more of an optimistic approach to

reshaping the way the industry conducts its research so that it doesn’t wipe us all out. I believe if he sought God first, He would be given the answers on how to move forward. I commend him for speaking up outside of the industry. It's a great start and now gives us Christians specifics on how to pray for the industry. Though Yudkowsky made it clear he is not religious, the fact that he laid his pride aside to speak up could very well have been the Will of God. According to Ezekiel 3:17-19, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin,

and I will hold you accountable for their blood But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself “

All things considered, Yudkowsky saved himself by speaking up.

Whether you believe in God or not, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, therefore His blueprint doesn’t change, regardless of the industry. Once humanity realizes that God has the first and final say, and we consistently seek Him first for answers in our personal, professional, and spiritual lives, we would live in a better place physically and spiritually. Until then, we must repent and get out from under the rule of those we idolize. Technology. Idolatry. Speak up, family.

If you are looking for Vegan Fine Dining while you are in Las Vegas, check out Crossroads Kitchen. The ambiance and service were stellar, and the food was equally as amazing. I couldn't tell this Eggplant Short Rib was eggplant! Simply delicious!

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Resources

Name, Image, and "Likes"

Social media dominates NIL activity, latest data shows (sportsbusinessjournal.com)

https://www sportsbusinessjournal com/Daily/Issues/2022/02/17/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/NILdata.aspx#:~:text=Nearly%20three%2Dquarters%20of%20all,of%20Vermont.

Aftershock. Directed by Paula Eiselt and Tonya Lewis Lee, Onyx Collective and ABC Studios, 2022. Portee, Alex. “Serena Williams on her near-death experience after giving birth: 'No one was really listening.” Today. April 6, 2022, 11:35 PM EDT / Updated Aug 9, 2022, https://www today com/health/womens-health/serena-williamssessay-black-pregnancy-rcna23328

Cash, Meredith. “Allyson Felix wants to raise awareness of health disparities Black moms face, so she is sharing the harrowing details of her own near-death experience.” Insider. Jun 9, 2022, 8:00 AM, https://www.insider.com/allysonfelix-near-death-pregnancy-issues-black-moms-face-2022-:~:text=Allyson%20Felix%20developed%20 preeclampsi a%20and,more%20dangerous%20for%20Black%20Americans.

McClain Walters, Michelle. The Esther Anointing. Lake Mary, Charisma House, 2014.https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/racial-differences-doctors.html https://www.savearosefoundation.org/about-us

Diversity and Inclusion of God

McClain-Walters, Michelle. The Esther Anointing. Lake Mary, Charisma House, 2014 Magnuson, William. For Profit: A History of Corporations. New York, Basic Books, 2022 https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-resources/popular-topics/sociologicaldepartment#:~:text=Ford%20Motor%20Company%20established%20its,Five%20Dollar%20Day%20pay%20rate https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/civil-rights-center/internal/policies/religious-discriminationaccommodation#:~:text=Title%20VII%20of%20the%20Civil,terms%20and%20conditions%20of%20empl oyment.

Renewing your mind

Leaf, Dr Caroline Switch on your Brain Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2015 Evans, Dr. Tony. Kingdom Politics. Chicago, Moody Publishers, 2022

https://www.foxnews.com/us/biden-responds-serial-shooting-tate-county-mississippi-dead-suspect-custody

AI: America's Idol

Yudkowsky, Eliezer."Pausing AI Developments Isn't Enough. We Need to Shut it All Down. "Time. March 29,2023 6:00PM https://time.com/6266923/ai-eliezer-yudkowsky-open-letter-not-enough/ Eliezer Yudkowsky: Dangers of AI and the End of Human Civilization | Lex Fridman Podcast

https://youtu be/AaTRHFaaPG8