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

Last night at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. was an outstanding concert of 105 voices from the 105 Historic Black Colleges and Universities in America.

Salvador, Brazil was one of the ports during the Slave trade where 40% of the slaves landed and were held for "curing".

1st Lady Michelle Obama is an attractive sister. She makes us proud as she represents the best of African American womanhood and motherhood. Her every move is scrutinized and analyzed.

As our children are preparing for school, these images adorn an entrance to McCulloh Homes, a low-moderate income housing project in West Baltimore. Built in the late 1940's the images of a boy playing music and a girl reading a book convey the secret to success in our society. The arts and academic achievement are the keys to an enriched life.

It always amazes me that our sisters have a unique gift for dressing up. When it time to enjoy an evening out they know what to wear, how to wear it, and when to wear it.

This picture was taken on the streets of Rio De Janerio. It was the first time I had ever witnessed a woman sitting on the street nursing her baby. As I watched her in this most intimate of moments demonstrating the love and care of a mother to her child, I thought how much mothers all over the world are willing to sacrifice for their children.

It is interesting that so much of our life centers around food. Think about it: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, etc. Some of us are even concerned about how the food we eat looks. Is it appetizing? Many of us eat too much and the result is that we are overweight.

Rev. Jesse Jackson once remarked, "that if he was going to sink; let him sink not in the habor, but out in the ocean where the big boats are." I took this picture traveling from Salvadore to an island in the middle of the Atlantic.

As our summer turns to fall and our shorts are put up for warmer pants, I can't help but think about Rio De Janerio. It's winter there and the beach is full of people enjoying the water, the sun, and the refreshing breeze off of the Atlantic Ocean. Copacabana Beach is one of the finest places in the world. People come from everywhere to experience the white sand and blue salt water.

On the beach in Rio De Janerio a young man created this castle in the sand.

Yes it is Sunday Morning and all of our spirits should be rejoicing. Nevertheless, I'm sharing this picture taken in Salvador, Brazil of the evening sun setting on the horizon of the Atlantic Ocean.

There is a spiritual dimension to recreation that we sometimes misunderstand. We think of recreation as sporting activity or an exercise activity. In fact recreation is literally: the state of re-creating. Recreating is the process we find in the Genesis story when after six days God recreated on the seventh day. We interpret that to mean rest, but a true interpretation reveals that God began the process again of re-creating.

Before I share experiences from my summer vacation in Brazil, I want to describe the most unique feeling I felt this morning and wonder if others have had the same feeling.

My blogging pace may be slowed for a while. It's vacation time! I'm headed to Rio De Janeiro and Salvador in Brazil to enjoy the culture, beaches, and sights.

We are moving dangerous close to anarchy in urban areas across America with the never ending gun violence occurring in the streets of our cities. It is particularly disturbing that young African American males are disproportionally involved as assailants and as victims. Candle light vigils have been held. Stop the killing rallies have been conducted. Still the wave of violence has reached "Tsunami" levels. There appears to be no end in sight. It seems as if the Prohibition violence of the roaring twenties was a minor skirmishes in comparison. With Al Capone there appear to be some order even to the violence of the Chicago era. Our modern violent episodes have no rhyme or reason.