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NOVEMBER 2008 Volume One/Issue 6�

L U X U R Y L I V I N G F O R K I N G D O M L I F E S T Y L E S �

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PAMELA CHRISTIAN�

ST. KITTS�L I K E N O O T H E R �

SARCOIDOSIS:�

THE FOUNDATION FOR� SARCOIDOSIS RESEARCH�

KAREN RUSSELL�SPOKESPERSON FOR�

A N E X P E R I E N C E �

THE NEW SILENT KILLER?�

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PUBLISHER�PULLINS MEDIA GROUP�

FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF�CHERYL A. PULLINS�

ASSOCIATE EDITOR� & HR CONSULTANT�LORRAINE A. ROSS�

DESIGN AND LAYOUT�CHERYL A. PULLINS�

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS�DONNEISHA WRIGHT�

STAFF WRITERS�BRIDGETTE COLLINS�JULIANNA C. GRIFFIN�VALERYE M. GRIFFIN�STEPHANIE C. HARPER�DR. DORA SANDERS HILL�SHELBY HILL�LILLIAN HOOKS�ZACHARY PULLINS, SR.�RHONDA WHITE�

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS�DR. B. J. RELEFOURD�

PROOF READING�LIZZIE EDWARDS�

WEBSITE�WWW.LIVEINVICTORY.ORG�

EDITORIAL ADDRESS�8923 EARLY APRIL WAY, Suite C�COLUMBIA, MD 21046�

LIVE Magazine is currently a free monthly online�publication, supported by our advertisers. For�advertising information contact us at�marketing@liv-magazine.com.�

Permissions:�

LIVE Magazine requires written permission�for use of any published article. Upon written�approval “Used by permission of LIVE Magazine”�must be used. Copyright 2008.�All rights reserved.�

PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR�LORRAINE WILLIAMS�

CREATIVE CONSULTANT�LEA M. LUCAS�

MID-WEST REGION COORDINATOR�TIFFANY EASLEY�

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER� & ANALYST�SEAN T. LUCAS�

ADVISORY BOARD�JAMAR SUBER�

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A�s each month passes I am always�intrigued with the successes and�challenges presented before me and the�staff of LIVE Magazine. This past month�

has been challenging and tiring, yet wonderful!�Over the past few months I set aside lots projects�and magazine business to marry my best friend,�confidant and greatest supporter, Zachary�Pullins, Sr. The joining together of our lives�symbolizes more than the union of two becoming�one. For us it symbolizes unity, strength, honor�and the greatest, which is love. We will share�more about our wedding in a future issue.�

This month issue of LIVE is dedicated to women�and our health. We are introducing a multi-part�series which will feature an interview with Karen�Russell, sarcoidosis patient and spokesperson�for the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research.�This issue also includes the awareness of several�dominant health concerns of women which�includes breast cancer, heart disease and�hypertension. The highlight of this issue is the�testimony of Pamela Christian, founder of�Bless�Your Heart�and survivor of sudden cardiac arrest.�You will be taken on Pam’s journey of survival. A�story you will never forget!�

I would like to personally welcome to the LIVE�Magazine team, Tiffany Easley who will serve as�the Regional Coordinator for the Midwest. Tiffany�will work to help develop the LIVE Magazine�brand in the Chicago-metro area. In addition,�Tiffany will be developing some wonderful new�

initiatives for us to bring to our subscribers and�readers around the globe. We are also so very�fortune to have the wisdom, knowledge and�experience of Jamar Suber, the founder and�publisher of 3V Men’s Christian Magazine.�Welcome Tiffany and Jamar!�

You will notice that we now have a resident�Relationship Empowerment Coach! Shelby�Hill, CEC has joined the LIVE Magazine staff�with his own column, “Ask Shelby”. Shelby�introduces relationship coaching in this issue of�LIVE Magazine.�

The staff of LIVE Magazine is always overjoyed�to bring to its readers the latest information,�products and services in a multiplicity of areas.�Hang in there with us and we will continue to�bring you the best, the brightest and the�boldest of the Kingdom!�

Victoriously,�

Cheryl�

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Contents�

Sarcoidosis: The New Silent Killer?..........................6�

Cancer “On the Move”...............................................8�

Peanut Buttter...is the Overflow................................10�

The Substantial Order...............................................14�

Free Yourself Through FORGIVENESS...................21�

This Issue�

Departments�Ask Shelby: Relationship Empowerment Coaching�The Power of Relationship Coaching......................12�

Healthier Living with Coach Collins:�The Effects of Stress On Your Health......................23�

Eagle Thoughts:�It’s Time to Attack Your Lack....................................25�

LIVE! Destinations:�St. Kitt: An Experience..............................................30�

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I�n 1987 I was scheduled to have my gallbladder removed�due to severe gallbladder infection. As a part of the�routine process I had to have a chest x-ray completed�prior to the surgical procedure. The x-ray was completed�at a facility across the street from my job, at the time.�

Since I often waiting in the building lobby for my ride home,�when a telephone call came through the main switchboard (after�hours), the security duty on guard asked me to come to�telephone to take the call, since the caller specifically asked to�speak with me. With a puzzled look and immediate concern I�answered the telephone call. It was my doctor who wanted to�immediately contact me regarding the�result of the x-ray performed earlier that�day. The results of my x-ray showed�something called “sarcoidosis”. My�initial reaction was extreme concern and�anxiety, after not only hearing that I had�a disease, but also something I had never�heard of and also something, at the time,�which doctors had very limited�familiarity.�

For years following I was x-rayed,�tested, biopsied and monitored and was�treated by some of the best pulmonary�specialists in the Philadelphia region. I�was diagnosed with pulmonary�sarcoidosis. No symptoms. No�manifested indication that I had this�disease. Nothing. Just an x-ray showing�shadows in the lung cavity.�

Over time my x-rays began to show progression of the�“shadows” within the lung cavity. In 1991 I was treated with a�cortisteriod medication for six months. My only lasting side�effect of the medication is that within six months of the�completion of the medication I had to begin wearing corrective�lens. For twenty years I was monitored and watched chart the�course of this disease.�

In March 2007, after years of testing and monitoring I was given�a report that the pulmonary sarcoidosis had “disappeared”. The�mysterious disease was gone! There is now only one spot on�my lung which shows that sarcoid once dwelled with those�walls! Today I am free of the mystery of sarcoidosis.�

But some aren’t. In August of this year noted comedian,�Bernard McCullough, better known as Bernie Mac, lost his�life due to pneumonia, however he was a victim of�sarcoidosis. Is this disease the new silent killer?�Mysteriously appearing and disappearing with no cure�available.�

Sarcoidosis is a "multiorgan" disease - meaning it almost�always involves more than one organ. An organ is affected�when granulomas (masses of inflamed tissue, or lumps) form�and cause an abnormality.�

Many sarcoidosis patients do not have any�symptoms. Some have only one symptom,�while still others have several. General�symptoms caused by the disease include�fever, tiredness or fatigue, weight loss, night�sweats and an overall feeling of ill health.�Other symptoms typically depend on which�organs the disease affects.�

Some organs are affected more often than�others. Sarcoidosis occurs most often in the�lungs. It also commonly affects the skin,�eyes, lymph nodes and liver. Less�commonly, it affects the spleen, brain,�nerves, heart, tear glands, salivary glands,�sinuses, bones and joints. Rarely, it affects�other organs, such as the kidneys, breasts and�male and female reproductive organs. Often,�the effects of sarcoidosis in an organ are so�mild that there are no symptoms and the�

organ continues to function well.�

Most recently I was fortunate to interview Karen Russell, the�daughter of basketball great Bill Russell, along with�Deborah Durrer. Karen is the spokesperson and Deborah is�the Executive Director for the Foundation for Sarcoidosis�Research . Karen and Debbie shared some wonderful and�useful information regarding the FSR initiatives and how�they are working to empower sarcoidosis patients with�lifestyle tools.�

Karen shared her personal experience of being diagnosed�with sarcoidosis after months of feeling run down, tired and�severe join pain. After a few months her symptoms�worsened. Not only had it become difficult to walk her�vision also began to deteriorate. One day her dad came to�visit her and was startled by what he saw when Karen�answered the door. He then suggested that she switch�doctors. He immediately took her to visit his physician.�

SARCOIDOSIS�By Cheryl A. Pullins�

THE NEW SILENT KILLER?�

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Continued from the previous page�

Following a battery of tests and a lung biopsy within 48�hours of her visit she was diagnosed with sarcoidosis.�Steroids were prescribed to help with the inflammation.�

In 2007 Karen experienced a bad flare up. At her lowest�point she was blind and bed ridden, however, the setback�made her more determined. Karen shared that one of the�difficulties regarding sarcoidosis patients is that they look�“healthy”. This healthy look can contribute to the inability�for people to appreciate and understand the impacts of�sarcoidosis.�

During Karen’s journey with sarcoidosis she encountered�the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR). FSR is the�leading organization for sarcoidosis patient resources.�Through the NBA Cares program, Bernie Mac supported�the support activities of FSR which was able to provide�information and support to thousands of patients around the�country.�

Since establishment in 2000, FSR has worked diligently to�provide resources to thousands of patients and their�families as well as funded domestic and international�research efforts. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois FSR�was founded by Andrea Wilson, a neruosarcoidosis patient,�who decided that instead of having a “feel sorry for me�moment” chose to help others who are fighting this serious�and potentially fatal disease.�

FSR serves as a comprehensive resources providing�information, education to consumers and health care�professionals along with financial support of research�development. Each February FSR hosts a nationwide�education and awareness campaign, K.I.S.S. (Kick In to�Stop Sarcoidosis). For more information regarding�sarcoidosis and FSR visit�www.stopsarcoidosis.org�.�

For further information�Regarding sarcoidosis�

visit�www.stopsarcoidosis.org�

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On the Move with�A New Cancer Resource�

W�hen a woman is first diagnosed with�breast cancer, all kinds of questions go�through her mind, and not all of them are�about the cancer itself. "Will I be able to�remain active? What kind of impact will�

treatment have on my lifestyle?�

When California resident Mary Jean Lynberg was first�diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer back in 2004,�she felt numb and physically ill. "My doctor had informed�me that the type of tumor I had was fast growing and as a�result, she would be very aggressive with my treatment. She�told me that meant several rounds of chemotherapy,�radiation and maybe even surgery. I was very aware that life�as I knew it was going to go through some drastic changes,"�Lynberg says.�

According to the American Cancer Society, 40,000 women�(25 to 30 percent of women with breast cancer) are�diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer every year.�HER2 is part of a family of genes that play roles in�controlling cell growth. In some breast cancers, for reasons�no one understands, cancer cells have too much HER2.�

Shortly after Lynberg was diagnosed, one of the first things�she did was seek information and comfort online. "While I�found several support groups that helped me get informed�about my special form of breast cancer, I couldn't find a site�that spoke to the rest of my life - those topics that could�benefit me on the road back to wellness," she says. "I�wanted to learn more about how to live the type of lifestyle�I had before battling the disease. Would I still be able to�enjoy my passions, like golf and travel?" Thankfully,�Lynberg was able to continue pursuing those passions in�one form or another, partly because her treatment included�an oral therapy that she could take wherever and whenever�she needed it.�

Today, Lynberg's breast cancer is in remission, but she�remembers the struggles she faced at the time to figure it all�out. However, she is happy to learn that the women who�follow in her footsteps will not experience that same�struggle. Launched this September, a new online resource�is helping women and their loved ones continue to live a�

healthy, active, on-the-move lifestyle despite their cancer�diagnosis.�

HER Move (www.hermove.com) is the first ever Web-�based, lifestyle program specifically for women in all stages�of HER2-positive breast cancer, including the newly�diagnosed, those living with advanced or metastatic disease�and the long-term survivors. In addition to a unique offering�of health and wellness information, there are resources that�inspire women with HER2-positive breast cancer to live life�to the fullest as best they can by staying on-the-move and�living a healthy and active lifestyle.�

Continues on next page�

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Marybeth Bond, a travel expert and author of 11 travel books�for women, is among the experts who have material posted on�the site. "Travel has an uncanny way of taking us back to the�simplicity that makes life precious again. A close friend�recently told me that her first trip after diagnosis marked the�beginning of hope - hope that she could live the life she had�pre-cancer."�

But the key, points out Bond, is to recognize that "travel" has�many definitions. "An afternoon visit to a botanical garden, a�day cruise on a lake, or a walk in the woods with a loved-one�can turn your attitude upside-down, change negatives into�positives and pain into purpose."�

Those who have questions about intimacy, sexual connection�and romance - generally not topics that are easy to discuss with�your doctor, let alone their partner - can find answers courtesy�of Ruth Peltason, author of the book, "I AM NOT MY BREAST�CANCER." A breast cancer survivor herself, she interviewed�

hundreds of women from all walks of life to get their take on�the topic and shares what she learned on the site.�

There's also a section dedicated to caregivers headed up by�HER2 Support Group's (www.her2support.org) Joe Druther,�whose wife, Christine, is a breast cancer survivor. "While�being a caregiver can be stressful, there are many support�groups made up of people like me who were unexpectedly�given the role of caregiver. It can take some time to get�adjusted to this new role, but know it is a crucial one - one that�may be challenging at times, yet rewarding because you are,�after all, helping someone you love."�

In addition to sharing resources, the site also creates a�community where women can share their personal stories,�anecdotes, recipes and photographs among new friends, and�learn from the experiences of others. HER Move was funded�and developed by GlaxoSmithKline Oncology.�

Courtesy of ARA Content�

WWW.HERMOVE.COM�

Continued from previous page�

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Peanut Butter�

A� few weeks ago I was ministering on a Sunday�morning and speaking in general concerning�these financially challenging times. Funny�

how money affects so many areas of our lives both�naturally and spiritually. Even today news�commentators are buzzing concerning the failings of�large financial institutions once thought to be strong�and unshakable, now bankrupt and causing quite a�shaking on wall street. And when wall street is�shaking, it’s not long before it’s felt on the streets and�in homes.�

And while people are struggling to pay their�mortgages and have enough money to put food on�their tables and gas in their cars, I am reminded of�how the Lord taught us to pray.�

Matthew 6:9-11 9. This, then, is how you�should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed�be your name, 10. your kingdom come, your�will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11. Give�us today our daily bread.�

It’s so easy to get caught up focusing on what we�lack, but a lot of what we think of as lack is directly�related to what we have in abundance. Sometimes�there is not enough money to pay the primary bills,�mortage, rent, etc. God has blessed us with a real�place to call home. Not a hut, or a tent under the�stars or even under a bridge. We have indoor�accommodations that usually consist of more than�one room, with running water, lights, heat, and air�conditioning when we need it. Think about it…We�are so blessed, we can even “condition” the air to�please us.�

by Dr. Dora Sanders Hill�

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Continued from previous page�

G�as prices are skyrocketing with no end in sight and that’s�a big, big, problem. A problem that is exacerbated by the�fact that we are in the 7% of people world wide who owns�

cars, and many of the us have more than one. The rest of the world�is either walking or riding a bike. We are blessed; no matter if it’s�a “hoopty” or a Mercedes, we got it. Glory to God!�

I thank God everyday for being born in America. What a blessed�country we are. I am so excited because next year I will be�traveling overseas, to Israel, to Africa, to France and the�Caribbean….But I am also aware that life in other countries,�specifically the third world countries are vastly different from the�life we enjoy here in America. But never the less God is a faithful�God. He has made provision for each of us to have more than�enough. The question that begs to be answered is, ‘When is�enough, enough?”�

Give us this day our daily bread� is a prayer my husband and I pray�consistently…It helps us to keep in plan sight…what is needed for�“this” day…Our worship is not clouded or hindered by what�seems to be lack….But we realize that at the end of each day, God�has been faithful!�1Tim. 6:6� says,�Godliness with contentment�is great gain� The scriptures go on to admonish us in�1Tim. 6:8�Having therefore food and raiment let us be therewith�content.�The true mark of success concerning this life should be�

in our ability to bless others and doing good works. Paul�continues to instruct Timothy with these words.�

1Tim. 6:18-19 NLT�

18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be�rich in good works and generous to those in need, always�being ready to share with others. 19 By doing this they will�be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the�future so that they may experience true life.�

Hard times are not a new thing….Each generation experiences�it’s share…God uses these times to build us, establish us and�to teach us strategies so that we will be able to endure to the�end….We need one another. Be willing to share and be�grateful for what you have, realizing that bread is necessary�and�Peanut Butter is the overflow!�

As times continue to become more and more difficult we must�always remember that God has made great and exceeding�promises to those of us who are of the household of faith…He�will never leave us nor forsake us. And He will supply all of�our need according to His riches in Glory through Christ Jesus.�

Dr. Dora Sanders Hill ©2008 All rights reserved.�

18131 June Oak St� Cypress, Texas 77429�

 Email:info@christianbibleinstitute.net� Web Address:�www.christianbibleinstitute.net�

 Myspace Page:�www.myspace.com/christianbibleinstitute� �

TOLLFREE: (888) 360-0004 |�info@christianbibleinstitute.net�

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 �CBI is an extension of International Institute of Church Management Inc., FL, U.S.A.�

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Relationship Coaching�THE POWER OF�

by� Shelby Hill, CEC�

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H�aving the best relationship you can have with some�one you love or care about is deeply important. If you�don’t have the relationship you desire and deserve –�You can change it! You have the power to create the�love and connections with the people who matter to�

you. Does this sound like a fairy tale to you? Well think again, you�do have the power to have exactly what you want from every�relationship you develop. The question is how do you? Relation-�ship Empowerment Coaching is well…very Empowering! Rela-�tionship Coaching provides you with a fresh prospective of�overcoming any challenges in any relationship. It offers a new set�of tools for “out of the box” thinking when faced with barriers�within your relationship.�

The truth is almost everyone enters adult relationships with a lot�of tools missing from the tool box to help us succeed. The only�reference most of people have about relationships is from their�parents or grandparents. That may have worked for them but,�what’s going to work for you? This explains why divorce rates are�high and the percentages of singles continue to increase. It appears�that everyone is incapable of being happy. Somehow, I don’t�believe that and neither should you.�

You absolutely can have the relationship you want, you just need�the best tools to help you succeed. With Relationship Empower-�ment Coaching you gain essential tools and strategies to help you�accomplish relationship success and fulfillment. By embracing�coaching in your life you learn and understand how to resolve your�

issues, improve communication, enhance intimacy and design�the relationship that is valuable to you and your partner.�

Empowerment Coaching is not like therapy, counseling or�mentoring. Coaching is completely focused on moving your�life forward. It allows you to examine where you are right now�in your life and gain a very clear picture to where you want to�be in the future. Everything in between is you being Empow-�ered to take obtainable action steps to reaching your new�heights in life, in your career or your relationship. With Rela-�tionship Empowerment Coaching you can: Create the�relationship(s) you deserve, change relationship patterns that�simply DO NOT work, gain clarity about what’s important to�you i.e., your needs, your desires, improve dating skills and�people interaction, transform negative feelings, increase and�enhance more fulfilling intimacy between you and your mate,�build trust, reduce conflict, and reconnect with your mate�spiritually and mentally. That’s just to name a few of the�benefits of Relationship Empowerment coaching!�

Take the time to educate yourself and design your best connec-�tions, you deserve it!�

Be Strong. Be Empowered.�

Shelby Hill, CEC ©2008. All rights reserved.�

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S e l e c t i n g t h e �

SUBSTANTIAL� Order�

W�e must make a conscious decision to believe the report of the Lord. It is with awareness that we proclaim to select the�substantial. Mind you, you are walking into minority territory. You are launching out into the deep. You are crossing muddy waters.�However if you select the substantial in this season, I believe you shall see the “arm” or the extend assistance of the Lord revealed to�you mightily.�

It is quite easy to become distracted as we allow numerous views, opinions, comments and controversy to reside in the cavities of our�mind. Many have feel you are insane to stand still and see how God works it out. You may become the target of persecution for not�making rash decision based on the temporary status of our economy.�

While choosing or making a selection to be more cognizant of our spending practices, in some cases we may be the “odd man out”.�You know what? It’s okay. You will be able to feast during the famine. A few questions to ask yourself, as you prepare to select the�substantial things in life..�

Is this an impulse purchase? Can I afford the item? Why am I buying the item?�

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of�the LORD revealed? Isaiah 53:1�

by Dr. B. J. Relefourd�

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Continued from page 14�

I�saiah foretelling the majesty of Christ Jesus, places each�believer in a position to select the substantial. Our Lord would�come to this earth so that we may have an abundance of him�

in our lives. It is clear that everyone will not believe this report.�It is quite apparent that everyone will not believe they can be the�head and not the tail. Many will miss this opportunity to be the�lender and not enslaved to the borrower. But to those of you who�choose to select the substantial, Christ came with good news.�

It is overwhelmingly gratifying to not worry. Isaiah spoke, these�truths that the Lord would reveal his strength, his mercy, his�forgiveness to each of us, should we select to receive it. When I�think of substantial, I think of adjectives such a generous,�enormous, and overflow!�

Should we listen to “all” of the financial forecasters, we would be�in a state of depression, despair and doom.�

Yet, should we believe the report of one who shall not change!�One who extended his arm of abundance! One who gave His�life so that I may have and abundant life. With that being said,�I choose to believe the report of the Lord. His report says�

· I am blessed when I enter, and blessed when I exit�(Duet 29:6)�

· I am the head and not the tail (Duet. 28:13)�

· I am the recipient of His wish, that I prosper (3�John1:2)�

So as we are bombarded with information, “select” the�dialogue which is sensitive to your specific situation. Don’t�panic. It is not wise to make a permanent decision based on a�temporary situation. I challenge you to live this season in a�substantial amount of wisdom, and by doing so you’ve made a�terrific selection.�

Dr. B. J. Relefourd © 2008. All rights reserved.�

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H�EARTFELT�TESTIMONY�

O�n September 16, 2002 at age 47, I�went to play tennis with some ladies�for the first time.  I arrived feeling�what seemed to be minor indigestion,�

which I'd felt for a couple mornings in a row and�I just chalked it up to the cantaloupe I'd been�eating.  I wanted to get all the summer fruit I�could before it was gone.  Anyway, my friend�Terry introduced me to Jill and Debbie.  I joined�them on the court to warm up and the first ball I�hit over the net.  The second one into the net and�the third one I hit over at Debbie who was�warming up with Terri.  It was dreadful.  I�couldn't believe my game and I was so upset�with myself because I really wanted to do well,�so that they'd invite me to play with them again. �I noticed I felt very short of breath, much more�than I should have for the amount of exertion,�and was light headed.  I announced, that I needed�to sit down—that I just couldn't play right now. �The last part of that I'm sure they already de-�duced...�

Anyway, I sat down for a bit but really wasn't�getting any better.  I gathered my things to go�home.  Terri followed me out to my car, which I�resisted because I wanted her to stay and play.  I�felt bad throwing off a doubles game, but the�way I was playing it was better for them if I left. �Terri was offering to drive me to my doctors. �But I had brand new insurance and didn't have a�primary physician yet, so I thought I'd go home�to read what I needed to do.  Before I could get�to my car, I had to sit down on the curb and�within seconds I threw up.    Right there in�public, I threw up. �

At this time, Terri wanted to call 911 and I�resisted and instead accepted her offer to drive�me.  But when I started to get in her immaculate�car I felt too confined and became concerned�that I'd get sick in it.    My nausea was much�worse, my breathing was very shallow and rapid,�I was hot and sweaty so I went back toward my�car which was parked in the shade and laid down�on the cool damp sidewalk.  Terri called 911.�

By now Jill and Debbie came out.  I could hear them�saying that someone needed to call my husband and�they rummaged through my purse to find my cell�phone.  I laid there getting even more upset, because�now they are not only going to know that I'm tennis�impaired, I'm also technology impaired.  There were�NO phone numbers preprogrammed into my phone. �So between breaths, one digit at a time I gave them�my husband's phone number.�

Pamela Christian�

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W�e could hear the sirens of the fire truck and ambulance�in the distance.  Terri stayed on the phone with the�dispatcher and followed his instructions to care for me�

until the paramedics arrived.  Jill and Debbie were praying, but�Jill's prayer was in the form of a song.  She sang, "What a friend�we have in Jesus" - but with the stress of the situation she couldn't�remember any other words to the song so she kept singing, "What�a friend we have in Jesus.  Normally at any other time, I'd join in�and help finish the song, but I had my own refrain going which�was, "Oh Lord, Oh Lord."�

The firefighters and paramedic arrived on the scene 6 minutes�and 21 seconds after the call to 911.  Immediately there was a�rush of men in dark blue uniforms scurrying about.  One man,�Jeff Pedersen the Paramedic, a Caucasian man approached me�from my left taking my left arm and strapped it to something.  He�immediately began asking me all sorts of questions, my name, the�date, my age, my weight...�

I heard him confirm that he would administer 50 cc's of lidocaine�while my other arm was strapped to something else, likely an�EKG.  I heard Jeff announce that he'd administer an additional 50�cc's of lidocaine. �

Captain Glenn Sekins, also�Caucasian, was to my left and Greg Brinkley and Mark Moore�two African Americans were above my head and to my right.  I�think it was Greg who was calling out what he saw taking place�from the EKG monitor and I'm told that my condition changed so�rapidly that Glenn could barely get it written down.  I later�learned that from the moment they arrived on scene they�administered ADVANCED life support because what they�witnessed was me suffering the onset of a sudden cardiac arrest. �

If you don't know, you need to know that sudden cardiac arrest is�different from a heart attack.  A heart attack is where the heart�convulses for lack of oxygen.  A sudden cardiac arrest is where�the heart abruptly stops.  I've since learned that sudden cardiac�arrest is the leading cause of death in north America.  Ninety-five�percent (95%) of its victims do not survive.  In fact, until very�recently it was called sudden cardiac death, for obvious reasons. �But with the advent of newer medicines and accessibility to�defibrillators (zappers) lives have been saved and so the term has�been changed to sudden cardiac arrest.�

The type of cardiac arrest I suffered, doctors said, was unique. �For those who are medically oriented, I had an SVT that origi-�nated in the upper chamber that went into a V-T and then into a�V-Fib.  For the rest of us it means that the upper and lower�chambers of my heart were beating out of sync, and in fact the�Paramedics witnessed my heart beating around 300 beats per�minute.  A person my size at full exertion should have a maxi-�mum heart beat of about 180.�

Well, I was still answering Jeff's questions when he asked me, are�you feeling kind of funny?  I remember thinking, "What kind of�question is that at a time like this?"  I didn't know it, but he asked�

that question because the EKG showed that my heart was�stopped, but I was still answering his questions!  I think that's a�riot.  Here I am a professional speaker and I don't stop talking�even when my heart flat-lines!�

But immediately I was gone. - I died.  I'm told that this is the time�that my body went into convulsions and flopped on the sidewalk�like a fish out of water and turned tomato red.  A crowd of�onlookers had gathered and the guys were really scurrying about�now.  They had to get the zip scissors and cut through my�clothing so they could access my chest with the defibrillator.�

I may have been the one to suffer the cardiac arrest, but Terri, Jill�and Debbie were far more traumatized witnessing it than I was. �I was no longer in my body.  I went to a whole new dimension�which was an incredibly peaceful place. It was dark, but not�frighteningly dark.  It was more a cozy, comforting dark and like�a warm brown dark, not a black dark.  And it was, as I said,�incredibly peaceful.  Off in the distance I could see a thin hori-�zontal white light, but it didn't beckon me.  I loved what I sensed�in that place.  I had no awareness of any external perimeters, I just�felt like I was in the center of wherever I was, and I liked it there. �

I liken it to what it might be like in the�mother's womb.�

De�bbie told me that she was so sensi-�tive to the fact that this was a personal�

matter for me, with my top cut off so she turned her back to the�scene and kept praying.  The ladies next heard someone yell,�"CLEAR" and then the defibrillator was activated giving off 200�joules of power.  The next thing that Debbie heard was someone�yell "Bag her!"  She was immediately incensed and told me she�was angered thinking "No you can't give up on her yet, you've�hardly worked on her."  She turned around in upset and saw that�there was an oxygen mask on my face.  When she heard "Bag�her" she thought they meant a body bag...  Comes from watching�too many ER type programs...�

My heart began beating again.  I could hear my name being called�and I was so agitated that I was being disturbed!  I liked where I�was and I didn't want to be bothered.  But Greg kept calling me�saying, "Pam are you with us, Pam come back to us."  And when�I opened my eyes, I saw the face of a black man knelt over me�with the clouds and sky beyond that.  With my vision a bit blurred�and my just being in that incredible place, my first thought was,�"What do you know, Jesus is Black..."   Now I know that we're�all made in God's image so Jesus is every color...�

More fully reentering this reality, I then recalled what happened�and realized it wasn't Jesus, but Greg Brinkley—one of the men�God used to save my life.�

About that time, I also sensed that my chest was bare.  And�realizing that I'm on a public sidewalk and there are a lot of�people around, I asked, Am I naked?  Am I naked?  Greg bent�down to my ear and said, "Pam, if that's all we've got to worry�about then it's been a good day."  But having my chest bare in�public is not my idea of a good day!  He never answered my�question so I asked again, "Am I naked?  You must understand,�

“My heart began beating again.”�

20�

W�ell the last thing they want is for a cardiac patient to�get upset so they found something to cover me.  But,�I have yet to figure out how a cardiac patient wouldn't�

get upset by the experience of the ambulance ride to the hospi-�tal!  It was worse than Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.�

In the hospital reflecting on everything, I flashed on the thought�that "I have no regrets."  When I realized my thought, I began�chastising myself because it was so arrogant.  But immediately�the Holy Spirit comforted me and allowed me to understand that�I have no regrets, not because of how I had lived my life, but�because Christ died for me.  I had no regrets because I had�already placed my faith in Jesus and all my sins were forgiven.�

Because of being transferred to a different hospital, I wasn't�given any medical exams until more than 48 hours after the�occurrence.  And the doctors were and are amazed to this day�that I suffered what I did.  Because my weight is not a concern,�I don't smoke, there's no immediate history of heart disease in�my family, they found no cholesterol or electrical problem with�my heart.  They have no idea why or specifically what happened.�

When I got out of the hospital, I had to find out who the men�were that saved my life.  Visiting them for the first time, the�bond that we shared for the experience was apparent to every-�one.  We stood around and stared and smiled and it all seemed�rather goofy until Jeff asked what the doctors said happened. �He wondered aloud if it could have been a particular condition�that he named, but before I could respond he said, "But you're�too old for that."  I let it slip.  We continued to visit and then�Jeff, feeling apologetic said, "By the way, I'm sorry that I had�to cut your top off, you really didn't like that."  And again before�I could speak, Captain Sekins stepped in being very "captainly"�and added, "But, Pam you have to know we're professionals and�under the circumstances, it really wasn't all that memorable."�

I turned to my friend who took me to the station and said,�"Swell, first they tell me I'm too old then they tell me I'm not all�that memorable." �

When it came time to leave Captain Sekins said to me, "You're�coming to see us has made our day."  I looked him in the eyes�and replied, "Glen, don't you understand?  You're coming to see�me has made the rest of my life!"�

Pam cooking up one�of her heart healthy�recipes.�

21�

by�Zachary Pullins, Sr.�

A�s a parent I would never allow my children to use the�phrase I’m sorry; why you ask, because the words I’m�sorry require no response from the party effected or�

wronged. My children were taught to ask one another for�forgiveness instead of using the drive-by apology I’m sorry which�has become my-bad to the present generation.�

We are about to go deep into mature territory or as I like�to say into the meat and away from the milk. There is tremendous�power in forgiveness but many people will never ever experience�it because of their ignorance or lack of knowledge concerning The�Word of God. The Bible speaks to the people of God being blessed�or empowered by God to prosper. I believe we fail to make vital�connections that are plainly spelled out in God’s word. Let’s begin�with John 3:16; For God so loved the world, that he gave his only�begotten Son; that whosoever shall believe in him should not�parish but have everlasting life. Or in simplicity; God is offering�the world forgiveness of the sin of rebellion if we except the�sacrifice of his son’s shed blood, death on the cross and�resurrection from the dead. Remember John 3:17 says; For God�sent not his Son into the world, to condemn the world; but that the�world through him might be saved. Jesus came to set us free from�our sin as well as show how to live the Zoe or God kind of life.�

The problem with un-forgiveness in your heart is that it�becomes a root that influences every area of your life. It causes�you to dwell on the other person as well as the injury they have�caused you. It will keep you in perpetual bondage and allow�you to become imprisoned to the other person. Matthew 6:14-�15 plainly states: For if you forgive men their trespasses, your�heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you forgive not�men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive�you of your trespasses. Simply stated you can not be forgiven�by Jehovah of the sins which you’ve committed if you don’t�forgive others of the sins they have committed against you.�There are real negative spiritual implications to constantly�living in sin or a sin nature. The Bible says that God will give�you over to your sins if you continue on a path that leads you�away from God’s light onto your path and the lamp onto your�feet.�

If you think for a moment about the shape of the cross in that if�has two members or points in two distinct directions. It runs up�and down; symbolizing our relationship with Yahweh. It runs�across; symbolizing our relationship with our fellow man. You�of course know that the horizontal relationship is more�important than the parallel; however there are no successful�parallel relationships without a successful horizontal�relationship with Jesus as Lord.�

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Continued from previous page�

P�lease understand, I am in no way minimizing your hurt;�some of us have been deeply wounded, bruised and�bludgeoned. The Bible says we are supposed to cast our�cares and hurts upon Jesus because He has already taken�

them to the cross. Neither am I saying this is in any way easy�because some pains cut deep and are indeed tragic in size as well�as horrific in nature. Conversely what I am saying is that healing�begins when you cast your cares upon Jesus and stop trying in vain�to hold mankind responsible for spiritual wickedness in high�places. It begins with our understanding of the spiritual realm and�that there is a battle raging for the souls of mankind. Un-�forgiveness blocks your ability to receive any divine revelation. It�keeps you in bondage and successfully allows Satan to rule and�guide your life.�

I don’t generally listen or pay too much attention to Oprah�Winfrey, however, several years ago I heard her say something�very profound concerning forgiveness. She stated someone had�wronged her and that she was very upset concerning this deed, so�

much so that she had determined to never forgive this�individual. She said that she later observed the individual going�about their day without a care in the world and with no apparent�concerns for the prison she had created for this person and�further that un-forgiveness had created a jail cell for herself�because she through un-forgiveness was forced to dwell on the�other person and the wrong. She decided to forgive the person�in order to free herself and escape captivity. Un-forgiveness is�a prison with you as both warden and prisoner.�

Let’s review; Forgiveness is for you and allows you to�move from level to level in the Lord. Without forgiveness you�can never move into the promises of God for your life. Without�forgiveness on your part there is no forgiveness on God’s part,�therefore no inclusion for you in God’s ultimate plan for your�life which includes His super ability on your nature�empowering you to live a supernatural existence doing God’s�will on earth as it is in heaven.�

Zachary Pullins, Sr ©2008. All rights reserved.�

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ROAD TO HEALTHIER LIVING WITH COACH COLLINS�

THE EFFECTS OF�

stress�ON YOUR HEALTH�

Coach Collins, a renowned fitness consultant, offers her�observations and insights into the effects of stress on your health.�An excerpt of dialogue between Coach Collins and a group of club�members at the Barkersville Recreation Center will help you to�discover ways to minimize the impact of stress in your life.�

“You know when you're stressed. Your heart beats faster, your�muscles tense, your stomach gets tied in knots. But the effects of�stress don't stop there. Stress may be affecting your health, and�you may not even realize it. Stress is a reaction to the outside�world, be it work, family, home, or a relationship. It’s so powerful�that it can weaken the body making it easier for a medical�condition or illness to surface.”�

“I’ve just attributed all of those things you’ve mentioned�to a way of life, Coach,” a young woman responded.�

“It has been estimated that two-thirds of all visits to�physicians are for stress-related problems. Recent evidence�indicates that the physical changes associated with stress may�contribute to the leading causes of death – heart disease and�cancer. Before we get too involved in this discussion, though, I do�want to say that there is good stress. But the stress we’re going to�talk about today is the bad stress; that is, the negative effects of�long-term stress that will eventually cause you to experience some�health problems.”�

“Coach, I’ve read that stress symptoms often mimic�symptoms of other problems,” Mary, a regular attendee, com-�mented.�

“You’re absolutely correct. You may think illness is the�blame for that nagging headache, your frequent forgetfulness or�your decreased productivity at work. But the common denomina-�tor may be stress. Indeed, stress symptoms can affect your body,�your thoughts and feelings, and your behavior.”�

Coach Collins began to pass around a handout. “Let me�get some volunteers to read about most notable effects of stress.”�

“Number one talks about the affects on your body,” a�lady responded.�

“Go ahead and read what it says, Jane,” Coach suggested.�

“The effects on the body include headache, chest pain,�high blood pressure, shortness of breath, muscle aches, tiredness,�and sleep problems,” Jane stated.�

“I was recently promoted to a new position a couple of�months ago, and ever since it seems like I’ve been plagued with�daily headaches and ongoing sleep problems,” Shelley admitted.�“Aside from the daily headaches, I’ve been waking up around�three or four on most mornings unable to sleep…and because my�days are so busy and demanding, I can’t seem to find that balance�I need to renew and refresh my mind.”�

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“T�hank you, Shelley. One of the biggest challenges we�all face when it comes to living healthier is our career.�The pressure to succeed while managing the daily�

challenges, especially in a new position can be daunting. That’s�why it’s critical that you discover those outlets that help you to�minimize the effects of stress,” Coach Collins stated.�

“Coach, what is the link between heart disease and�stress?” Jane asked.�

“The link between stress and heart disease… Well, if�one’s stress is severe, and their stress hormones are not utilized by�physical activity, their elevated heart rate and high blood pressure�places strain on arteries and leads to damage. As the body heals�this damage, artery walls scar and thicken, which can reduce the�supply of blood and oxygen to the heart,” Coach Collins respond-�ed. “Someone read the second effect.”�

“Number two talks about the affects on your thoughts and�feelings. They include anxiety, restlessness, worrying, irritability,�depression, sadness, anger, job dissatisfaction, forgetfulness, and�burnout,” Mike said.�

“Mike, do you have anything to share in regards to number two?”�Coach Collins asked. “Do you see any truth in number two?”�

“Actually, I can. I was laid off from a company I worked�for nearly fifteen years. While in transition, I remained�unemployed for a couple years, and then had to settle for job�paying a lot less than I was earning. And, worrying about the�accumulation of debt during my lay-off period and the onset of�medical bills when my wife was diagnosed with an autoimmune�disorder has kept me in a state of restlessness, depression, anger,�and sadness.”�

“Thank you, Mike. The stress of trying to manage life’s�uncertainties has the potential to wreak havoc on one’s health if�they’re not dealt with,” Coach Collins suggested. “The last affect�is…”�

“Number three talks about the affects on your behavior�which includes overeating, undereating, angry outbursts, drug�abuse, excessive drinking, and increased smoking,” Mary said.�

“I’m sure a lot of people can identify with at least one of�the effects listed for number three. In most instances, an immediate�response to stress will be overeating.”�

“Coach, I know I’m probably a combination of all three�effects,” Jane admitted. “I have two full time jobs – I’m an HR�Manager and a mother of three kids, ages five, seven and ten. The�task of balancing work, family and everything else – the�responsibilities around the house, and trying to spend enough time�with my kids is really stressing me out. I have to get up extra early�in the morning to get the kids ready for school. When I finally�make it to work, I’m in a bad mood. Because I have to manage a�

group of difficult employees, along with an array of projects�and deadlines, I’m often faced with having to work late hours.�When I get home from work, I am so tired I don’t want to do�anything! But, my day can’t end as I am faced with making�dinner and doing laundry, plus attending to my husband and�kids.”�

“Now, that’s a lot,” Coach Collins sighed. “You have�to figure out how to handle the stress in your life before it gets�the best of you. Some options may include adjusting your hours�at work or working from home some days. Maybe your�husband can help out more with your kids – pick them up from�school and/or help with doing some of the household chores or�preparing dinner. Maybe you and the kids can go for a bike ride�some evenings.”�

“Those are some good options to consider,” Jane said.�“Because my husband typically works long hours, I’d hate to�ask him to help out around the house. But, I know if I don’t get�some relief from somewhere, my health may suffer.”�

“W�hatever your situation, stress need not�damage your health. If you handle�your stress now, you can quickly be on�

the road to a healthier, happier life. Eliminating stress�completely from your life is impossible. However,�implementing some stress management techniques can subdue�some of its' harmful effects. Regular exercise can reduce your�physiological reaction to stress. It also strengthens your heart�and increases the blood supply to it, directly affecting your�vulnerability to heart disease. Stress management also includes�following a healthy�diet� which can aid in strengthening and/or�sustaining your immune system. Other considerations should�include developing and pursuing nurturing, supportive�relationships, and making time for uninterrupted relaxation.”�

This health and fitness dialogue is provided for your�consideration only. It is not intended to replace the medical�advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult�your health care provider for advice about your specific health�and fitness needs.�

Fitness coach Bridgette Collins is the author of�IMAGINE LIVING HEALTHIER: MIND, BODY, AND�SOUL and DESTINED TO LIVE HEALTHIER: MIND,�BODY AND SOUL, two entertaining and inspiring reads that�uses fictional characters to motivate readers to make healthy�lifestyle choices. For more information, go to�http://�www.BridgetteCollins.com�.�

Bridgette Collins ©2008. All rights reserved.�

Continued from previous page�

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I�n Destined to Live Healthier, Bridgette Collins offers a collection of stories that will help you relate to�and understand those common struggles shared to live healthier. Follow the characters as they begin to�take responsibility for their actions, rethink their priorities, and discover innovative ways to transform�unhealthy habits.�

Bridgette’s non-traditional self-help approach will provide strategies on how to move beyond your fears,�insecurities and daily stresses. You’ll lean how to harness the power of choice, faith and perseverance to�live a longer, healthier life - mind, body and soul.�

To read excepts, visit www.DestinedToLiveHealthier.com�

LIV

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IT’S TIM

E TO

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ATTACK�YOUR LACK!�W�hat illusionary temporary Lacks do you have in your Life – Money, True Love, a Car,�Purpose, a Home, Clothes, Food etc. Well it’s time to Attack Your Lack! My friends, I always have�to remind myself that we really don’t have a Lack of anything. We just need to change our�Consciousness and become Aware that we really have EVERYTHING (because Our Father does and�Jesus became poor that we would be very rich). When God breathed the Breath of Life in us and we�became a Living Soul, He gave us all we’ll ever need – but we must begin to use what we have! Begin�to Speak only what we Want and not what we have. We already know what we have, and it usually is�Not what we Want! (smile)�

There are key components that we must be aware of to Attack our Illusionary Lacks:�

1. Know who you are�

2. Write down your Passion, Gifts and Goodie you enjoy and have inside�

3. Know that Everything we use, sit on, and see was just an Idea at one time, but� someone didn’t just ignore it. They took time to write and sketch out the idea and� then found someone to manufacture it and someone to invest in it for them! (clothes,�

chairs, cars, food, jewelry, books, pictures, pens, etc.) Why can’t you patent and� create something? Why can’t you be a Producer and not just a Consumer? Stop� aborting the Divine Ideas Babies you have within you, for they can bring forth wealth�

to rid your Lack.�

4. Don’t enable others but Empower them. If you have resources to invest in someone’s� Divine Idea, you better find yourself doing just that. We don’t own anything on this� earth, we are just Stewards, so today STOP BEING SO STINGY AND BE A� CHEERFUL GIVER, NOT A CHEERFUL LOANER! Many cultures are taught to� help each other get businesses.�

We are all God’s children, so once you become aware of a need, dare to share a seed. Remember we�are Eagles, not Vultures!�

By Rhonda White�

27�

Continued from previous page�

I�don’t feel our Illusionary Lacks come from the lack of working.�We are the most “working for somebody else” folks in the world,�

but most of us lack confidence and faith to CREATE! Most people�are working everyday and still are financially struggling (husband�and wife have 2 checks coming in)! We don’t lack work ethic, but�we Lack Vision, Insight and Foresight to really�“See what we�Believe”� and not just Believe what we see, which is not faith. Faith�is Not what you can see physically (it is believing in the unseen)!�

Do you think a farmer would waste time going out to the fields to�plant seeds if he didn't think they would bring forth a great�Harvest? Of course not! A farmer goes out with faith and�confidence that when he plants that small seed (which looks�nothing like what he's expecting), he is sure it will produce. He�also knows he must nurture the crop in order to have an awesome�Harvest! "What is Faith? It is the CONFIDENT Assurance that�something we want is going to happen. It is the CERTAINTY that�what we hope for is waiting for us, even thou we cannot see it up�ahead!"�

Many people look at me like I'm crazy when I continue to Soar�Like an Eagle in spite of appearances and circumstances. That's�because I have Faith Vision and not just eyesight!�

Create an Attack Plan today for your temporary Lack. There’s�Abundance all around you and within you. The abundance of air�we have to breathe and live is just one example of the abundance�

in the world. Everything you need to Attack Your Lack is around�you and within you, now discover it and use it!�

I must admit, it really puzzles me about people who know they can�assist you, but hoard what they have thinking it's theirs “The Earth�is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and THEY that�dwell therein.” We must bless them and pray that God will change�their Consciousness from stingy to giving.�

Attack Your Lack today by having "Forest-Fire Desire" and�Enthusiasm about your Dreams and Visions. Know that God�would not have given them to you without giving you the Power to�make them come true, and the “Vision Mid-wives to assist you in�birthing them. Someone will help you!�

Dare 2 Declare daily:�

“If a Peanut has over 300 uses and purposes, I know I can be what�I want to be. I won’t dare let a little undynamic, ugly unfeeling�peanut out do me. There is Creativity and Greatness within me. I�no longer fear the Giants in my Life, but I now become one. I have�NO LACK, No Limitations and No Disease and so it is!”�Read this EAGLE BOOK of the month:�

“DARE 2 Declare�(CD included with Affirmations)�!”�by Rhonda A. White, CNHP�

Rhonda A. White ©2007 All rights reserved.�

28�

Experience Luxury�

LAS VEGAS�

Four Seasons Resort�

Nevis Island�

29�

S�aint Kitts (also known more formally as Saint Christopher�Island (Saint-Christophe in French) is an island in the�West Indies. The west side of the island borders the�Caribbean Sea, and the eastern coast faces the Atlantic�

Ocean. Together with the island of Nevis, Saint Kitts constitutes�one country: the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Saint Kitts�is one of the historic centers of the Caribbean. The first successful�British colony in the West Indies was founded on the island in�1624, and the island was subsequently used as a base to settle�most of the neighboring islands for Britain. It also became the site�of the first successful French colony in the West Indies (with�Britain and France splitting the island between them) in 1625,�and was then used to settle other Caribbean territories for France.�

The peaceful calm of St. Kitts suggests nothing of the�extraordinary history of the island. For centuries, St. Kitts�occupied a critical position in the European struggle for the West�Indies, combining exceptional wealth as sugar colonies with a�vital strategic position as gateways to the Caribbean. As a result,�the struggles and conflicts that marked their history are among�the most decisive episodes in Caribbean history.�

St. Kitts is a volcanic island, a fact to which it owes its dramatic�central mountains, its rather unpredictable geologic history, and�its lush tropical vegetation. In fact, St. Kitts' pre-Columbian Carib�inhabitants knew their island as Liamuiga, or "fertile land," a�reference to the island's rich and productive volcanic soil. Today�that name graces St. Kitts' central peak, a 3,792-foot extinct�volcano.�

The recorded history of St. Kitts begins with the second voyage�in 1493 of Christopher Columbus who sailed past the island but�did not land. There is some doubt as to whether it is this island�that Columbus gave the name St. Christopher (after himself ). In�any case, by the time the Englishman Thomas Warner arrived�with fourteen other settlers in 1624 to found the first non-Spanish�European colony in the Caribbean, the island was known as St.�Christopher's.�

Thomas Warner chose St. Christopher for its abundant forests�and fresh water, its fertile easily worked soil, its accessible�physical structure, and the presence of salt.�

In the 1700s, sugar was the most important crop in the world.�Sugar cane grows in warm, tropical climates and the Caribbean�islands were the perfect places to grow it. European settlers from�England, France, Spain, and Holland (now called the�Netherlands) came to the region, cut down the islands’ forests,�

and planted sugar cane in hope of becoming rich. The valuable�crop was used to make sugar, molasses, and rum. Any Caribbean�island with farmable land was used to grow sugar cane.�

St. Kitts was the oldest and wealthiest of the English colonies in�the Caribbean. This 68-acre island had rich volcanic soil, a�climate of sun and rain, and an endless supply of slaves. Annually�it yielded a fortune in sugar and rum for its wealthy, mostly�absentee, landholders. Around 1775, the time of the American�Revolution, 68 sugar plantations existed on St. Kitts alone! The�plantation owners sold their sugar products to American, British,�French, and Dutch customers, and anyone else who wanted to�buy them. By the end of the 19th century, however, all that was�gone. Slavery had been abolished and Europe¹s beet sugar had�pre-empted Caribbean cane. Depressed market prices could not�offset the production and transportation costs for an island crop.�

Today St. Kitts is the only Leeward Island, of the Caribbean, that�still grows sugar cane. However, sugar cane is very expensive to�grow, harvest, and process. The fields are now state owned and�the entire island crop is processed in one government-run factory.�The dozens of sugar plantations, which had dotted the island,�climbing from the shore up into the mountains, were gradually�abandoned. In time, the handsome stone structures -- complete�factories- fell to wind, weather, and vandalism. Here and there on�the island one can still see a signature smokestack rising a�hundred feet into the sky, or the egg-shaped base of an old�windmill.�

AN EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER�

30�

31�

In this issue of " For Art Sake"  would be a good time to focus�on a female rulers of Egypt;  in this political year. Lets stop�here for a while before we sail away on to our next adventure.�

Of all the Queens who ruled in Egypt there was one who stood�out above the rest.�

Her name was Hapshepsut The Queen who would become a�King, The Queen Pharaoh.�

 Hatshepsut, was the most famous Queen Pharaoh, but there�were others before her. Although it was uncommon for Egypt�to be ruled by a woman, this situation was not unprecedented.�

  Queen Hatshepsut, was the second known woman to have�formally assumed power as King of Upper and Lower Eygpt.�After Queen Sobekneferu of the Twelfth Dynasty. As a Queen�Regnant she is proceeded by Merneith of the First Dynasty.�

 Other women whose possible reigned as Pharaoh are under�study include Neferititi; Meritaten, Neferneferuaten, and�Twosret. Another Pharaoh Smenkhkare, generally has been�believed to have been male, but there is some evidence that this�to was a woman also.�

You might be asking; what does all of this have to do with art;�the answer is, a great deal.�

 Hatshepsut, was one of the most prolific builders in Ancient�Egypt; commissioning hundreds of construction projects�throughout Upper and Lower Egypt.  They were grander and�more numerous than those of any of her Middle Kingdom�predecessors.�

She employed two great architects Ineni, who also worked for�her father and husband. He also did work for the Royal�Steward Senemut.�

 During her reign, so much statury was produced almost every�major museum in the world has Hatshepsut satuary  among�their collection.�

For instance " The Hatshepsut Room" in New York City's�Metropolitan Museum Of Art is dedicated solely to these�pieces.�

 When visiting  the museum  a different world opens up when�you start to walk through all the rooms and see the artifacts�from Ancient Egypt. The most amazing art work from�the Ancient world is in front of you.   The collection is breath�taking from jewelry, to hair, shoes ( sandals), perfume bottles�etc.�

Most of these artifacts were found in the Mortuary Temple at�Deir el-Bahri, the most famous and beautiful temple in the�Valley Of The Kings.�

 Hatshepsut, was the most amazing woman of her time, she�over saw preparation and funding for a mission to the land of�Punt.  The expedition set out in her name with five ships. Each�measuring 70 feet long with several sails. These ships were�accommodating to about 210 men which included sailors and�rowers.�

  The Queen died as she was approaching what we�would  consider middle-age, around her mid 50's.  She died 9�months into her 22nd year of her reign.  Her mummy was�found in 2006, she was mislaid on the 3rd floor of the Cairo�Museum put there for safe keeping.�

The theory is she had arthritis and very bad teeth a CT scan�indicates she died of a blood infection.�

In June 2007, it was announced that Egyptologist believed they�had identified Hatshepsut's mummy in the Valley Of The�Kings. This discovery is considered to be the most important�finds since " Tutakhamun".�

  Decisive evidence was a molar found in a wooden box�inscribed with the Queens name on it.  The box was found in�1881 among a cache of royal mummies hidden away for safe�keeping in a near by temple.   The tooth has been conclusivly�proven to have been removed from the mummy's mouth,�fitting exactly in an empty socket in the mummy's jawbone.�

What an extraordinary women she must have been for her�time, she was a visionary, artsy. self willed, smart. a mighty�ruler and a strong Black women.�

 To read more about " The Queen Who Would Be King" here�are a few titles which I used myself  in writing this article.�

  Donald B. Redford, History And Chronology  Of The 18th�Dynasty Of Egypt, University Press, 1967�

Judith Tarr, King And Goddess, Tor Books, 1996�

Evelyn Wells, Hatshepsut, Doubleday, 1969�

 �

It's time to sail on to another port of call. Until next time " For�Art’s Sake". Bon Voyage !�

Lea M. Lucas ©2008. All rights reserved.�

For Art’s Sake�by Lea M. Lucas�

The Queen Who Would Be King�

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