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

Nighttime in Paris, France, is a beautiful sight. Next month I will  travel to Paris for a week of study at the American University there. Studying is hard, but visiting Paris is easy. I should have been more serious in my French classes. I remember a few words and should be able to get around. If someone talks fast, I'm lost. Paris has always been a magical city. The food there is marvelous and the fashionable styles are alluring. Two years ago I studied at Oxford and visited London, this year Paris. What a mighty God we serve!

I've always wondered why the size and quality of a diamond ring caused women to marvel and swoon. This particular ring costs one million two hundred thousand dollars. If that was given to you would value the gift more than the giver?

Matthew 6: 19 - 21 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Wonderful news! Union Baptist Church is creating another Choir.

The Choir will sing on 4th Sundays at Union Baptist Church and will be directed by Kim Campbell Davis and accompanied by Michael Guthrie.

Participants in the choir will be in the 20 year old to 50 year old age range.

Their first rehearsal will be on Saturday, June 2nd beginning at 10:00 a.m.

For more information call: 410-523-6880

Yesterday, I had the distinct pleasure of delivering the Commencement Address for the 2012 graduating class of The Harold A. Carter Determined Biblical and Theological Institute of Baltimore, Maryland. On the platform with me where Rev. Dr. Harold A. Carter, Sr., Rev. Dr. Harold A. Carter, Jr., Rev. Dr. Alfred C. D. Vaughn, Rev. Robin Blackwell, Rev. Dr. Henry T. Baines, Sr., and Minister Flecia M. Gill.

For the past 16 years, this Institute has provided advanced religion education for persons who are seeking a deeper understand of their religious foundations.

Sunday, May 20, 2012 is Young Women's Day at Union Baptist Church. Our guest preacher is Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney, Associate Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pa.

When a YouTube video was circulated depicting Bishop Eddie Long being made a king in the Hebrew tradition. Dr. Gafney wrote a blog in the Huffington Post that forced Bishop Long to apologize for participating in such a travesty of Hebrew tradition.

She will preach on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. from the text I Chronicles 7: 20 - 24 (MSG). Her sermon title is "She Built a City."

One of the wise men of our times, The Rev. Dr. Marion Curtis Bascom, Sr. rests with the angels. He was a champion of all good causes that improved the quality of life for the people of the world. He moves easily through the many segments of our society. Some would say he was a thinker, innovator, entrepreneur, and a pastor. Yes he was fully human and understood the unique relationship he had with God. When you wanted to understand the importance of an historic fact, ask Dr. Bascom. If you wanted to understand the political nuances of a situation, ask Dr. Bascom. If you wanted to know Biblical or Theological reasoning, ask Dr. Bascom. There was little you could ask of him that he didn't understand. He was well read and literate. He will be missed!

What is the most effective method of communications if what you want to say to someone is "hello"? Which of the following would you use: Email, Tweet, Text, Cell Phone, Land Line Phone, Letter, or personal interaction? It is interesting how many ways we can communicate. My question is what is the most meaningful and effective method to communicate with one another.

What about when you communicate with God? The most effective method is a prayer that is uttered from a sincere heart.

Yesterday's Mother's Day celebration saw the return of many of our members who are either working out of town or in school out of town. It is always a joy to see our returning members on this special day.

In the congregation was Ms. Richelle Parham, one of the 2012 Women of Influence. She is Vice President and CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) for eBay. A consummate professional, she has broken the glass ceiling a number of times throughout her career. Her mother, Ms. Kathleen Parham, was recognized as our Mother of the Year.

"Women of Influence: Richelle Parham

160 years ago the President of the United States of America was Franklin Pierce. African Americans and women could not vote at that time.

160 years later the President is Barack Obama.

160 years ago Blacks were considered slaves.

In Baltimore City a band of African Americans believed in God to the extent, they created the Union Baptist Church of Baltimore on May 12, 1852.

 Union Baptist Church has played an important role in the freedom movement of the African Americans and developed the legal strategy of test cases which has been used by every liberation effort in America.

In its 160 year history, Union Baptist Church has had 10 Pastors: Rev. John Carey was the founding Pastor. Rev. Dr. Alvin C. Hathaway, Sr is its current Pastor.

Four Pastors of note are: The Rev. Dr. Harvey Johnson who served for 50 yrs; Rev. Dr. Vernon N. Dobson who served for 40 years; Rev. Dr. Baxter L. Matthews who served for 27 years; and Rev. Timothy Boddie who served for 10 years.

Today, May 12, 2012 officially marks the 160th year date of our founding on May 12, 1852. We will celebrate 160 years of faithful service and Christian witness in the Tawes Center of Coppin State University.

My aunt, Mrs. Bessie Beasley Freeman, my cousin, Mrs. Daisy Hathaway Bridges, and my daughter, Ms. Adaria Kay Hathaway spiritual tapped me on the shoulder and said, "don't forget the historical legacy in your family buttressed by Morgan State University."

Founded two years after Shaw University, Morgan State University is an outstanding HBCU and the largest in the State of Maryland.

Shaw University has a special place in the history of my family. My mother, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Beasley Hathaway, graduated from this school. I'm traveling to Raleigh for business and pleasure. While there I will visit this historic campus and thank God for a wonderful mother who taught me the value of education and honoring God.

People do not think of W.E.B. DuBois as a religious man. Most think of him as an intellectual, scholar and activist. While I have read much of what he has written, his greatest contribution in my estimation is a little known book entitled, "Prayers for Dark People." Given the state of education, allow me to share one of his prayers.

"God bless all schools and forward the great work of education for which we stand. Arouse within us and within our land a deep realization of the seriousness of our problem of training children. On them rests the future work and thought and sentiment and goodness of the world. If here and elsewhere we train the lazy and shallow, the self-indulgent and the frivolous - if we destroy reason and religion and do not rebuild, help us, O God, to realize how heavy is our responsibility and how great the cost. The school of today is the world of tomorrow and today and tomorrow are Thine, O God, Amen.