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http://www.marcusgirard.com
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CAN A PLAYA PLAY?
10/18/2009 5:41 PM UTC
my brotha keep educating us brothas need to know some things
Total-Deliverance
9/24/2009 6:34 PM UTC
Help us to help those with Bi-Polar, Depression and other Mental Illnesses. Hey we got a Brand New Website and blog. We need you to tell us how we can make it better. www.rcmintv.us AND we have a NEW Support blog for people with bi-polar disorder, depression, and/or ANY other mental illnesses or those that have loved ones with a mental illness. It is at: http://rcmintv.livejournal.com/ We are doing TV Broadcasts now more than Radio, that's why we are no longer doing shows here. See you there my friend.
vanglorious
7/27/2009 12:34 AM UTC
Is the show still on the air?
Shaman Marie
7/18/2009 3:07 AM UTC
Sending Infinite Blessings And Love Your Way!!!
Pastor Variance
6/22/2009 2:06 AM UTC
Awesome show Brother Marcus you never cease to amaze me. God bless you and may the good Lord increase your wealth.
henry top soldier
6/14/2009 2:00 PM UTC
Asa Salaam Alaikum, my dear beloved big brother, what a wonderful show you had with your guest last night brother problem 13!!!!! Left me with much to go over in my dome, please do a part 2 w/ this powerful, knowledgeable, truly up and coming "rapper", (saying something to be heard), brother. brother Muhammad, Jax, Fla
D.A. (WDKK RADIO)
5/13/2009 7:56 PM UTC
Thanks for tuning into the show. Listen in again. Peace, Power, Preservation and Prosperity belong to YOU. DA Williams
hellolove
5/11/2009 4:58 PM UTC
Hello My name is Happiness. i saw your profile today became intrested in you,i will also like to know you more,and if you can send an email to my email address,i will give you my pictures here is my email address (Happiness_h@yahoo.com) I believe we can move from here! Am waiting for your mail to my email address above because i have alot to tell you, Lot's of love,Miss Happiness.
An Hour To Empower
5/9/2009 7:07 PM UTC
We appreciate your support. God Bless.
Mrs. Kirksey
5/4/2009 2:02 AM UTC
Enjoyed your show!!! God bless!
Peace Portal
4/21/2009 5:11 PM UTC
BLESSINGS!!!!
4/13/2009 2:03 AM UTC
Good show. Good talk. Enjoyed the family. I learned that we are just not ready for a polygamist lifestyle. There were some interesting views. Thanks!
LovLeigh
3/26/2009 11:21 PM UTC
Hey brother Marcus. I'm listening back to the show from last week. So bummed I couldn't stay for its entirety. A lot of perfect points were brought up after I left. This was a great topic, I'm sorry more people didn't get actively involved with it :( Can we do it again? lol God bless!!
Pastor Fran
3/5/2009 6:16 PM UTC
GOD BLESS, CONTINUE TO BLESS THE KINGDOM WITH YOUR OBEDIENCE.
Juice Radio
2/28/2009 3:00 AM UTC
Hey Brother Marcus, this is Danielle from Juice Radio! I just checked out the archive, last Sunday's show was on point as usual!!!
Chat Room Moderator
2/23/2009 2:59 AM UTC
Great Show Tonight
MoBleu
2/22/2009 11:30 PM UTC
Lawdddd JESUS I GONE BE AT THIS SHOT TONIGHT.
speaker99
2/16/2009 7:05 PM UTC
Is romance without finance still a nuisance?-- Yes as the economy gets more challenging for some... Great show.. Listened to the download. Love the conversation. Solutions... many unemployed and underemployed have to create income for self... when the jobs dry up. Check out my thoughts on my podcast http://www.newsthatyoucanuse.podomatic.com/
Dr. Innergizer
2/16/2009 5:20 AM UTC
Brother Marcus, Thank you for a great show!! I greatly appreciate you for allowing us to share our perspectives about the importance of compatible relationships on air and within the chat room. Although, we(people) may have different point of views about relationships and life, the key is to be clear about who you are, know your core values(which reflect what is truly important to you),what you want to be, do and have in life, clearly define the type of relationships that you desire from the inside out(personal & professional), and position yourself to receive the manifestation(quality relationships, career opportunities ,etc.) There's too much "settling for less/mediocrity" and not enough "preparing/positioning ourselves for success, " which begins in the mind, followed by creating goals/plan of action, and taking consistent action. When one door closes, instead of complaining about why the door closed, regroup and move forward to "create" a new open door! This is why I believe that we should be in a constant state of enriching our lives spiritually, reading great books, listening to motivational/inspirationalaudio, learn from great thinkers(current and past), and surround ourselves with positive/purpose-minded people. Too often, I hear so many Christians proclaim, " God is a Big God and he can do anything/everything." My question,...so why don't we trust him to help us do great things even when the money and the economy look a little "funny." Les Brown quote, "If you set goals and go after them with all the determination you can muster, your gifts will take you places that will amaze you." Unfortunately, I could not continue listening to the show due to an important phone call. However, I look forward to your future shows and hope to be a vessel of value whenever I tune in! Thank you and much success as you continue the journey of empowering lives. ~ Dr Innergizer
2/16/2009 3:34 AM UTC
Excellent Show Brother Marcus!!! Lots of great conversation in the chat room and good call-in "experts" Will tune in again next week! Speaker99
TheDamShow
2/14/2009 8:38 PM UTC
While you're busy attentively loving everyone else today... please don't forget to love yourself... unconditionally! Do something special express love for yourself today... and EVERYDAY! You deserve it!
2/9/2009 3:03 AM UTC
What a great show Bro. Marcus
ATWU: The Re-Up
1/27/2009 2:55 PM UTC
Thank you for accepting our friend invitation. The Re-Up look forward to hearing from you and we are grateful that you’re a part of our network. Please feel free to add us as a favorite host and we will do that same that way we can know when each other has an upcoming show this way we can listen in. Thanks and much love.
Sistah Peaches
1/26/2009 5:17 PM UTC
I definitely needed some love today, so thank you for stopping by... I mean it. Much love to you for your sensitive nature...
1/26/2009 2:58 AM UTC
The show was Super awsome. Tonight the GUEST WAS GREAT
Success Strategies
1/25/2009 10:04 PM UTC
My first LIVE SHOW is tonight & I welcome you to listen @ 6:30 (EST). Please feel free to call in and join in the conversation.
1/19/2009 3:04 AM UTC
If you where not here tonight you miss a very very very good show
1/18/2009 11:05 PM UTC
Good luck on the show tonight. I regret that I will not be able to call in. I have a meeting to go to concerning the 3 week Daniel fast I'm about to embark upon. I'm especially dismayed because this is a topic I have a lot of opinion on. I believe we all are given emotions to share and that it's perfectly fine for men to cry when overcome by such emotion. I appreciate the vulnerability of a man who releases his emotions and it only draws me to a man when he has trusted me enough to cry or share how he feels with me. The only 2 men i've dated that I know I'll love forever are the two that felt strongly enough for me to cry in front of me. There are many times in the Bible when men cry out to God. Does God tell them to stop crying and be a man? No. He comforts them. I think as women we should comfort our men the same and let them know that our arms are a soft place to fall when they must traverse this world that constantly wants them to be macho men. I could say more but we're not on the show! God Bless and if I get home early enough I'll be there.
1/13/2009 3:56 AM UTC
Gr8 show tonight, so sorry I didn't get to make a closing comment. Talk to you Sunday!
1/13/2009 3:36 AM UTC
WOW another awsome show.Brother Marcus have done it again
Ambassador For JESUS
1/12/2009 6:35 PM UTC
Thank you keep up the good work.
1/12/2009 3:03 AM UTC
I think the show was GREAT. One of the hottest in the country
1/4/2009 2:29 AM UTC
Thanks for the add! EVERYDAY PLAN FOR SUCCESS!! 2009 can be a good year if we're given the proper tools so when you get a second please visit www.everydayplanforsuccess.com Please fill me in on your next show so I can join YOU!!
Village-Connect
12/22/2008 6:06 AM UTC
Wow - Bro' Marcus I thank you for sharing your essence with the Village - we were truly fed by your presence. - Epitome
Wake up Call Show
12/14/2008 3:57 PM UTC
The Case of Andre Scott PLEASE HELP STOP THIS MADNESS IN GEORGIA - THEY ARE COMING FOR OUR CHILDREN IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. GENOCIDE AT ITS FINEST. Andre Scott a 17 year old up and coming youth in Fayettville Georgia has been sentenced to 4 years in Prison. This Young Man who was about to finish High Scool was expelled and arrested some time after a fight in the school bathroom that he did not even participate in. Although there was no serious injury to any of the participants in this fight, and the incident was filmed, the police department still proceeded to destroy The lives of some of these children, and in particular Andre Scott. He was charged with a ridiculous state statute which is designed to incarcerate Our Youth as "gang members". Although Andre who has had no prior arrests and was not and is not a member of a gang, he was sentenced to 4 YEARS ??? The "street gang statue" ocg916-15-4 is being challenged by community activist who have seen many young people abused by this color of law. Those who live in Georgia or are interested in helping the family with legal expenses around this case can contact : Families Against Legalized Violence by emailing FALV44@yahoo.com. You can also write to Andre Scott at : 2 Center Drive Fayettville, Ga 30214 And let him know that People are concerned about him. Andre had finished High School through a homestudy course, and had been working until he was sentenced. The family is thankful for all help that is given
Dangerous Lee™
12/8/2008 4:12 AM UTC
Glad I was able to stay the entire time. I was cleaning house the whole time we were on the air! Again, thanks for having me. Have a Dangerous week.
12/8/2008 4:07 AM UTC
Dr. Angela S. King
11/25/2008 2:24 PM UTC
Brother Marcus...What a show! I can't wait for Part 2 on Dec 20th! Thank you for your support! Many Blessings!
PROPHET POITIER
11/19/2008 5:22 PM UTC
I am so proud of your work for the Kingdom! the communities, states, cities, schools, families are forever changed because of your impact, God bless you mighty man of God, Prophetess India Poitier.
Sarah Newton
11/16/2008 9:07 PM UTC
Thanks for listening to my show Sarah
Knowing True Islaam
11/4/2008 4:18 AM UTC
Everyone is invited to listen to our program on Knowing True Islaam, please invite a family members, co-workers and neighbors who are not a Muslims to tune into our program to learn more about Islaam. To tune into the program please click on the link below then click on the orange button on the front page to listen to the program live. Also we encourage everyone to become a register listener so that they may leave a comment about our program; however it is not necessary to register to listen to the program. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Knowing_True_Islaam If you have any questions during our program you're welcome to call into the program after our guest speaker had concluded his talk. The area code to call into the program (347) and the phone number is 215-7527. Please do not use this phone number to call into the program to listen. Please click on the link below and forward our promotional ad to all of your friends, family members, co-workers and neighbors so that they may listen to our program and received guidance to Islaam.
Miss Lafalot
11/1/2008 7:01 PM UTC
Thanks for listening to "Squeeze and Release Friday, on Four Directions Laugh Radio"! Have a great weekend! Miss Lafalot
10/31/2008 9:11 PM UTC
Great show, you are meeting the needs of the black people and giving other races a chance to see that we have integrity, love and are a very intelligent people. Our Gifts has made room for us By the will of GOD. Continue. We don’t have to be depressed we have to become knowledgeable of the truth by the will of GOD and master that demon. Accept your calling you have gone to another level you are a preacher. Phyllis Hyman was seeking something that she couldn’t find in man, her singing and friends a void was in her life, if she would have had someone to tell her about CHRIST she would have been fulfilled. AMEN
10/31/2008 1:01 PM UTC
I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN YOU...
YourTimeNowUniv.
10/29/2008 2:23 AM UTC
How are you Brotha:-). I heard you on Real Talk Real Woman. Enjoyed your passion!!! Stop by sometimes Saturday 10am est! I'll get you on my Promote YOUR Show on Mine...:-) What Time Is It?! It's YOUR Time NOW!
10/26/2008 1:26 AM UTC
Thank you for being a guest on our show. You were truly a blessing. We appreciate your friends request and for marking our show as one of your favorites. Keep up the good work. God Bless.
GenXTalksUrNews
10/23/2008 5:25 PM UTC
Excellent!!!
10/19/2008 5:04 PM UTC
Can you be my friend too? :-)
Prophetess LaDonna
10/16/2008 1:45 AM UTC
God bless you I would love for you to be a guest on my show
10/5/2008 6:02 PM UTC
SOME CROOKS GO TO JAIL OTHERS RUN FOR PRESIDENT The WakeUpCallshow intends to remind every voter on need to know information about John Mccain. It was awfuly smart of him to pick such a controversial VP to keep all eyes off of him as he slithers his way in as to keep us from be reminded about some skeletons in his closet. Do you remember his role with S& L scandal with the Keaton Five. He and his buddies cost the American people billions of dollars with this ethic scandal. Wow he has always been good at manuevering his way out once the shi@#$ hits the fan. It was nice of him to ask to suspend the debate but Mccain needed to be reminded that people in hell want ice water. We can no longer just turn the other cheek while John McCain continues his lies in public. Do your homework its all there on record. John Mccain once admitted to intentionally filing false income tax returns to defraud the IRS by not claiming thousands of dollars in gifts McCain and his family received from Charles Keating and Keating’s company. Yes the same buddy in the keaton five scandal. Years later, when the IRS noticed Keating’s company had written the gifts off to McCain as business expenses, McCain fessed up and admitted filing false returns and made a “donation” to the U.S. Treasury to cover the amount he defrauded American tax payers. McCain also leaked information about the Keating Five to the press multiple times in an effort to appear above the other Senators in the scandal. This is his history of behaviour simillar to how he played his fellow POWs in Vietnam. A 1989 Phoenix New Times article summed it up best with thier title - McCain: The Most Reprehensible of the Keating Five. Well the fruit is not falling far from the tree either with his wife, Cindy McCain, along with her father who made a $359,000 investment in retail property owned by Charles Keating in 1986, a year before John McCain first met with federal regulators on behalf of Keating. Keating was later convicted on 73 counts of fraud, conspiracy, and other crimes. Years later, Cindy McCain sold her investment for $15,000,000. For anyone not aware of the Keating Five, here’s a very simple summary: Charles Keating owned a savings and loan in California. He was illegally using the money of his bank’s customers to give loans to himself and friends that they didn’t have to repay, and to speculate on risky real estate investments, which was strictly forbidden by U.S. law (and was one cause of the Great Depression). When the feds found out what was going on and launched an investigation into Keating and his company, Keating called five U.S. Senators whom he had wined, dined, and lavished with hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations and personal gifts. Keating asked the five Senators to tell the feds to bug off, and the five Senators, later known as the Keating Five, obliged, meeting with federal investigators twice and pressuring them to stop investigating Keating’s crimes. They bought Keating some time, but the feds didn’t give up and eventually Keating was nailed. The reason the feds were so persistent was because Keating wasn’t playing with mere chump change. Keating blew $3.4 billion through illegal personal loans and bad investments, and the FDIC had to reimburse Keating’s customers who had been ripped off. (Background Info - Keating wasn’t the only Savings and Loan owner who was committing fraud, 20% of the S&L’s that failed during that three year period were found to have been caused by fraud and/or insider trading. The failure of the Lincoln Savings and Loan and other S&L’s pushed the country into a recession, costing the U.S. government $126 billion dollars in FDIC insurance payouts to investors. All of this came to a crescendo during the first year of the presidency of George H.W. Bush, who pushed through the S&L bailout plan to keep the economy afloat.) When the involvement of the Keating Five was made public, a scandal erupted and the Senate Ethics Committee launched their own investigation into whether the Keating Five had violated Senate ethics rules. The other four Senators left office either immediately or within one term. John McCain was formally rebuked by the Senate Ethics Committee for exercising “poor judgment” for intervening with the federal regulators on behalf of Keating, but because McCain accepted Keating’s gifts of travel and vacations to Bahama while McCain was a member of the House of Representatives (he served one term there before moving to the Senate), the Senate claimed they had no jurisdiction to censure McCain. (However the meetings to pressure federal regulators occurred during the first few months of McCain serving in the Senate in 1987, so that excuse doesn’t hold up). John McCain then went back to the drawing board and re-invented himself as “the Straight-Talk Express” and the media gobbled it up. “Tax-Evading-Criminal” doesn’t sound as catchy as “Straight-Shooting-War-Hero”. Ever since the scandal, when McCain lies today, it’s never questioned, because he’s a “straight talker”. The man has more skeletons in his closet than any politician in history. The Keating Five is just one bone. After reading the Slate article, ask yourself: if Obama or any other candidate had a scandal such as the Keating Five in their past, would the mainstream media never question it? Could any other candidate even have a political career after the Keating Five? For the other four Senators, the answer is no. And while Charles Keating went to prison for his role in the scandal, John McCain swept it under the rug and could soon be President of the United States of America. Perhaps while he is so busy digging a hole for Obama to fall in with all these great ads tying Obama to the detroit mayor and Kenya leaders, Rev Wright. He may fall in it himself when people begin to really look closely at this crook. Its no wonder our economy is in shambles look at the folks we have operating our goverment. Look at thier background. We should be reminded of Mccain's circle of close friends and business partners such as Graham, and Karl Rove and some of these others in his group that are behind deregulation and taking money from lobbyist and much more. LOOK AT THE VIDEO on wakeupcallshow profile screen ON WHY MCCAIN SHOULD NOT BE VOTED IN AS PRESIDENT IT REMINDS OF THE OLD AND THE NEW. IT IS VERY MUCH ON POINT AND A COULD REMINDED OF MCCAIN'S EXTREME BEHAVIOUR, HIS LIES AND LACK OF GOOD JUDGMENT AND IMPULSIVENESS. He glorifies his own military service while voting against veterans, he opposed the additional funding for safe military equipment for amored vehicles for soldiers in Iraq costing many thier lives. He didnt support the increase on the GI Bill. He has also voted against increases in veterans healthcare while supporting price cuts for the wealthy though. Well John why dont you support your fellow veterans, since you are proud of military service? Lets keep it real and not be fooled by this man who only will put us in another war. Host Wake Up Call
Ms Blue
9/14/2008 4:26 PM UTC
BROTHER MARCUS! STOPPING BY TO SHOW LOVE AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING & CARING!WE MUST DO A SHOW SOON!! LIFE IS WONDERFUL SO LIVE!MS BLUE
9/14/2008 4:25 PM UTC
BROTHER MARCUS! STOPPING BY TO SHOW LOVE AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING & CARING!WE MUST DO A NOTHING SHOW SOON!! LIFE IS WONDERFUL SO LIVE!MS BLUE
The WorkLife Coach
9/8/2008 12:29 AM UTC
Very poignant topic and your passion is contagious. Minority stress and black pain are real in our community. Enjoyed the show!
LaTosha
9/6/2008 6:19 PM UTC
Bro.Marcus I listen to thursday night throwdown,the show was grand.
one of many men
9/5/2008 7:05 PM UTC
Great and informative show! so sorry we couldn't be apart of this, perhaps we will be able to connect in the near future. cont. what you do GBU! Jeff
KONSCIOUS_VIBRATIONS
9/4/2008 1:49 AM UTC
DO THE WORKS GOD MARCUS!
9/1/2008 1:04 AM UTC
Thank you for the insight on the topic black pain.
8/28/2008 6:41 PM UTC
I listen to the show helping young black woman to become strong woman.Enjoyed it!
8/25/2008 2:07 AM UTC
Brother Marcus I will tune in on other shows,keep doing what you do,greatly needed in this world.
Kimberly J. Bowles
8/8/2008 2:04 AM UTC
Thank you for the Add! Brother Marcus! Look forward to networking with you!
PPC1
6/30/2008 1:31 AM UTC
HIV testing in the Bronx is already fairly widespread. Nearly 7 of 10 Bronx adults have been tested at least once in their lifetime. But as many as 250,000 adults have never been tested, and statistics indicate that many are diagnosed far too late. AIDS killed 357 residents of the borough in 2006, about a third of all AIDS deaths in the city.
Our Perspective
6/30/2008 1:21 AM UTC
A WONDERFUL thing you're doing 4 the community beloved! We definitely appreciate you. Keep in touch. Sincerely, Bro. Hank & T'Boogz! WWW.OURPERSPECTIVERADIO.COM
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Brother Marcus attended College at the esteemed and prestigious Morehouse College. In 1994, Marcus developed a company called the Youth and Adult Intervention Services. He has recorded several motivational CD’s and is the author of the recently published book for males, “The Wise Men and Women Have Sent Me to tell You.” Marcus Girard is a cultivator of the human spirit. After 15 years of being on the road, Brother Marcus now showcases the knowledge, wisdom and understanding of the people he's met out here in America through, "The Brother Marcus Show." Please take the time to rate and comment on whatever show you listen to. Thank you in advance for doing so! The Brother Marcus Show is a National and International Show that is open to all guests and callers, regardless of race, creed, class, color or religious affiliation. Week after week, we have discussions about what’s going on in America and in this society. Please rate any shows that you listen to and add comments. We are always seeking guest panelists for the show. Would you like to be a guest panelist on my show this week or in the future? Do you know someone who would make a good guest for this show? Do you have a question or show topic that The Brother Marcus Show should address? If so call our offices at 404-542-3808 or email us at marcusgirard34@yahoo.com For more information please contact Brother Marcus at these sites: Brother Marcus! Youth and Adult Motivational Speaker / Trainer/Author/Consultant and Internet Talk Radio Host: (1) Mobile Office Phone - 404-542-3808 (2) Websites: www.marcusgirard.com (3) Email Address: marcusgirard34@yahoo.com (4) My New book: https://www.createspace.com/3355081 (5) My Online E-Books: www.ebooks-online.com/default.aspeBookID=7001411
Brother Marcus
Date / Time: 11/16/2009 1:00 AM UTC
Category: Self Help
Call-in Number: (347) 215-9438
God Willing the Brother Marcus show will be back on this date with another exciting radio show!
Upcoming Episodes
11/23/2009 1:00 AM UTC - The Brother Marcus Internet Radio Show
11/30/2009 1:00 AM UTC - The Brother Marcus Internet Radio Show
12/7/2009 1:00 AM UTC - The Brother Marcus Internet Radio Show
Date / Time: 8/19/2008 3:00 PM UTC
Hello my name is Marcus Girard and I was born on November 15, 1972 to Joseph and Carol Girard. I come from a large family where I am the middle child of three older brothers and three younger sisters. I am married to Cecelia Girard and we have been blessed with six wonderful children together. As a youth, I grew up in a high risk, hard core inner city environment in Brooklyn, New York. I have personllay lost many of my friends to drugs, gangs, guns and violence. As a youngster, I was determined that one day, I would find a way to help people overcome the negative circumstances and difficulty factors that are a natural part of everyone’s lives. I attended College at the esteemed and prestigious Morehouse College. In 1994, I developed a company called the Youth and Adult Intervention Services. This company now has over fifteen years experience with both Youth and Adult Leadership Development and Motivational Self—Esteem Training. I have personally worked with many diverse groups of youth that have ranged from the extremely at – risk to the most elite students in America. My presentations provide valuable insight into the current mindset of today’s youth and adults. I have been blessed to develop several curriculums and programs that include a Statewide Manhood and Fatherhood Training Program and workshops on topics such as Marriage and Family Relationships and Parent Empowerment. I’ve coordinated the Southwest Georgia Teen Fatherhood Program and worked with hundreds of teen mothers in various school systems. I’ve recorded several motivational CD’s and I am now the author of the recently published provocative book for males, “The Wise Men and Women Have Sent Me to tell You.” Recently I started my own radio program and I serve as the host of the extremely popular Internet Radio Talk Show, “The Brother Marcus Show”. You are now listening to me on my radio program. I invite you to check out our archived shows. We have done shows on the mothers of hip hop and r
Original Air Date: 9/29/2008 12:00 AM UTC
Date / Time: 9/26/2008 3:57 PM UTC
Have we forgotten God? Brother Marcus
I don’t know anyone in this day and time in my life that is not going through a lot just to maintain their sanity. Times are hard in all of our lives but they are hard for a reason. When we are going through car troubles, immediate and extended family troubles, job crises and uncertainty, we wonder where God is when we need Him. The Creator is not absent. He hasn’t moved away from us, we’ve moved away from Him. When times are going real good many of us don’t have any real time for God. Many of us are just to busy to pray and ask God for His assistance on a daily basis. So He has to keep most of us in constant trouble just to get a sincere prayer out of us.
The entertainer Fantasia sang a song called, “Free Yourself”. The lyrics simply went, “If you don’t want me then don’t talk to me. Go ahead and free yourself. If you don’t want me then don’t talk to me. Go ahead with someone else.” On the surface she may sound bitter over some relationship. But we have to look a little deeper and ask ourselves, “Is God expressing to us the same sentiment in this song?” By now we all should have learned that God is a jealous God. He doesn’t like us to place anyone or anything before Him. When we do this we cause God to destroy that thing or that person right in front of our eyes just to show us that nothing deserves to be praised or worshipped but Him.
He wants it to be in the front of our minds and hearts that He is the one that blessed us with our College degrees. He gave us the health, and the strength and the knowledge and the patience to get through that process. He blessed us with a spouse and then a house and then maybe a car or two. Then He blessed us with children. God will bless us with money and then send a poor man or woman our way just to see what we will do and what our attitude towards the less fortunate than ourselves truly is. How’s your attitude towards people who don’t have what you have? Do you hate the poor too? The Bible says that the poor are hated by their own neighbors. Many of us don’t even associate with people who are not in our income bracket. The Bible also states that the love of money is the root of all evil and because we are so busy coveting over the material possessions that someone else has we have erred from the faith and pierced ourselves through with many sorrows. Have we allowed money to become our God?
In this hour where our faith is being tried, and many of us are suffering loss we should re-study and reexamine the book of Job. God had blessed Job with what seems like everything and then God allowed the devil according to the Book to take everything away from Job except his life. God already knew what kind of heart and mind Job had. Many times He allows us to be tried so that we can see what’s really in us. Job lost everything and was even stricken with sickness. But look at Job’s attitude about all the stuff and possessions that he had acquired. Job said, “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” After successfully completing His trial, Job was given so much more than he originally had. We need the faith of Job in this hour of great and tremendous loss. As I conclude this post, I just wanted to share that God is always checking our attitudes and our overall gratitude towards Him for what He has given us. My teacher taught me that God will test our love for Him until it is pure and then He will test our love for Him again, after it is pure to make sure that it is still pure. Do you have a pure love for God in this hour? If He gave us all that we have, then He can take it away from us when and if He so pleases. And He can make all of our knowledge that we have acquired to be of non-effect to keep what He has given us. The question that is before us to consider is, “Have we forgotten God?” My teacher told me, “When the trials of life begin to disturb you, it is only God beckoning you to come closer to Him.” Are the trials of life beginning to disturb you?
www.marcusgirard.com
Original Air Date: 9/8/2008 12:00 AM UTC
Original Air Date: 9/5/2008 12:00 AM UTC
Original Air Date: 9/4/2008 2:00 AM UTC
Date / Time: 9/3/2008 3:34 PM UTC
By Brother Marcus (Girard)
Peace brothers and sisters. Have you ever come across an important book that once you read through the first few pages you instinctively knew this book would be transformative to you? Well if you have had that experience then you know what I must be feeling. For the month of September 2008, I will be discussing a book by Terrie M. Williams called, “Black Pain – It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting”. Although Williams is a highly successful social worker by training, and a public relations professional by trade she opens up to readers about her personal battles with depression as well as the stories of many others with readers in the book. She makes a point to let the reader know that depression isn’t something new but cultural influences shape how people of different races deal with the illness.
Depression is definitely something that all Nations, races and ethnicities need to pay attention to. Of the estimated 20 million Americans who are affected by some form of depression, 9.2 million have major or clinical depression and two-thirds of people suffering from depression do not seek the necessary treatment. Eighty percent of all people with clinical depression who have received treatment significantly improve their lives. The economic cost of depression is estimated at $30.4 billion a year but the cost in human suffering cannot be estimated. It is also worth noting that women experience depression about twice as often as men. By the year 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that depression will be the number two cause of "lost years of healthy life" worldwide. In a interview on her new book, Terrie Williams said, “There's a tendency to hide or ignore symptoms of depression, which include sadness, energy loss, feelings of worthlessness, thoughts of death or suicide, change in weight, and oversleeping or difficulty sleeping. That tendency means missed opportunities to hit the disorder with effective treatments, including talk therapy, antidepressant medication, or both. In the black community, depression is a sign of weakness. Black people would rather say that they have a relative in jail before they will acknowledge that they have a mental illness. But many of my white friends and colleagues who are very much more open will tell you that they can't make an appointment because they are going to see their therapist. But it's a very different experience in the African-American community. In our communities, we're perceived to be ones who can handle our business, and so there is that tendency to not recognize depression in African-Americans. In general, I think that there's a lack of knowledge about the black experience with depression. I feel that we are in such a major crisis. We haven't really named what's ailing us. Almost any given day, at any turn, you can see that we are a people who are hurting. I hear many different kinds of reasons. What I know is that we experience life in this country in a way that makes it very difficult to be.”
Again, Terrie Williams is not arguing that depression is a black thing. In describing the symptoms of depression that everyone deals with she said, “You run from yourself. It's a human thing to keep things locked up inside of you. When you're working 24-7 and you don't have the energy to do anything at all, when you have difficulty concentrating, when you're not doing work that fills your spirit — those are things that mean you have unresolved issues. And you may also sleep a lot because you're afraid to get up. African-Americans suppress and repress pain. [Still], there are many signs of depression that are like neon lights, but we don't really pay attention, or we don't have time to listen. With more dialogue, maybe, just maybe, there will be more sensitivity. Remember, everyone has a story. Assume that that person has a story just like you do, is just as fragile and as challenged as you are. I've always been a very sensitive person. I feel other people's pain and have a tendency to absorb it. I have a sense of the universality of humanity. I have a sense that underneath the face that everyone wears, we all share the same thing. People speak to you on so many different levels. I often will pay more attention to a person's body language than I will to what they say. That's what speaks really loudly to me. And a lot of times, I think three of the hardest words to answer honestly are, "How are you?" We usually lie, and when we do lie, it chips away at our spirit. So when we do ask this question, really listen to the answer.”
Here are some questions for you to answer. These questions are not designed to clinically diagnose you in any way but to perhaps put you on the road to seeing someone who can help you. Do you find yourself experiencing sadness throughout the day, nearly every day? Feeling sad is a natural part of life, but prolonged sadness can be a symptom associated with depression, especially if you find that your sadness interferes with everyday life. Have you experienced a loss of interest in or enjoyment of your favorite activities? If you have lost interest in the things you once enjoyed, like going to the movies, hanging out with friends, or walking in the community, you may be experiencing one of the common symptoms of depression. Are you experiencing feelings of worthlessness? Do you feel like you don't matter or that you don't deserve to be happy? Have you experienced these feelings for an extended period of time? Are you experiencing inappropriate feelings of guilt? Having excessive feelings of guilt should raise a red flag. Are you constantly blaming yourself when things don't turn out well? You may have done nothing wrong, but maybe you feel like what you do is never right. Are you experiencing thoughts of death or suicide? In one of the rap songs by the late great prophet, Tupac Shakur, called “Shed so many tears” he stated, “Now I'm lost and I'm weary, so many tears. I’m suicidal so don't stand near me. My every move is a calculated step, to bring me closer to embrace an early death, now there's nothing left.” If you are not suicidal then never think for a moment that the thought hasn’t crossed the mind of your teenage son or daughter. Thoughts of death or suicide are common in depression, and it's important to take these thoughts seriously. If you feel like giving up, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline, 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433).
Are you experiencing trouble making decisions? Are you having trouble making decisions? Do the little things frustrate you? Do some decisions seem too overwhelming or burdensome? Are you experiencing fatigue or lack of energy? Did you know that feeling tired or fatigued nearly every day may be associated with depression. Do you drag yourself out of bed each morning? Do you feel like you have no energy to make dinner or do laundry? Are you experiencing sleeping too much or too little? Sleeping too much or not enough may be a symptom of depression. Do you stay awake at night and feel sleepy during the day? Sleep studies suggest that 40% to 60% of outpatients—and 90% of inpatients—with depression may have sleep problems. Are you experiencing changes in appetite or weight? A weight change of more than 5% (up or down) in a month when you haven't been trying to gain or lose weight may be a sign of depression. Are you experiencing trouble concentrating? Has your performance at work or school gone down because you can't concentrate? Are you unable to focus on your daily tasks and projects? Is your mind always racing? Are you experiencing complaints of pain? Complaints of pain can be a symptom of depression. Do you have nagging aches and pains that don't seem to go away? Are you experiencing restlessness? Are you easily agitated? Do you have trouble sitting still? Do you pace back and forth?
Please listen to the Brother Marcus Show this week on Sunday at 8:00 p.m. to learn more about this powerful book and to have some discussion with Brother Marcus. We are all in this together. Depression doesn’t have to be a secret anymore.
Marcus Girard Brother Marcus Show Black Men and depression
Original Air Date: 9/1/2008 12:00 AM UTC
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