The African Informant

Raw footage from Woolwich Attack

2013-05-24T09:51:00.000-05:00

Who Are You Trying To Please?

2013-05-23T08:02:00.002-05:00

Are you afraid to speak up in case you encounter disapproval? The Bible says, "Fearing people is a dangerous trap" (Proverbs 29:25 NLT) and fear is common among people pleasers. One author writes, 'A pleaser daughter is one who, at any age, still tries to please her parents.' However, remember what Paul said, "When I was a child...I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me" (1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV).
A pleaser friend is one who can't say no. Resentment may build up but they always turn up and takes care of things. A pleaser employee is one who works long hours without compensation or appreciation, covers for others who don't pull their weight and bites their tongue when their boss takes credit for their work.
We should not live our lives trying to please people who don't have a Heaven or Hell to put us in. Most of us look to people and they connections they supposedly have in order to get ahead when all we need to do is to come to our Heavenly Father and trust that He will supply all of our needs. Furthermore, God is our Creator. He knows the exact group of people that will help you get to the next level of His plan so don't waste time or money pleasing people and just remain steadfast and confident in the Lord.

Tap into your creativity

2013-05-21T12:54:00.000-05:00

The Bible says, "God created man in His own image...male and female he created them." Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it...They will be yours. "(Genesis 1:27-29).

God has given you everything required to succeed at whatever He's called you to do. However, you must tap into your God-given creativity! Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Every great accomplishment begins with a vision and every God-given vision comes with the innate power to fulfill it. Some of the world's greatest inventions like the steam engine, light bulb and the pasteurization of milk would not exist without a vision.

Others may be more educated and experienced but they don't have a monopoly on creativity. The chances are there's a God-idea inside you right now that's waiting to be released. By not tapping into it, you're settling for less than God's best. Whatever you're called to do----write, paint, teach, preach, dance, own a business----make the leap and do it. If you wait until you can do it under perfect circumstances and without criticism, you'll never do it. Walking on water begins with one step of faith. It also brings you closer to Jesus.

You see, Jesus wasn't in the boat. He was out on the water saying to His disciples, 'Come' (Matthew 14:29). Only Peter came to meet Jesus and despite him doing it imperfectly, it changed his life. So don't be afraid. Tap into your creativity and watch what happens.

Tebow released by Jets

2013-04-29T16:21:00.001-05:00

The Tim Tebow era in New York is officially over.

The New York Jets parted ways with the quarterback nearly a year after acquiring him via trade from the Denver Broncos last summer. Tebow's time with the Jets was uneventful, only contributing to 7 percent of the team's offensive snaps last season. The former two-time national champion at Florida had high expectations to be an offensive weapon for the ball club but rarely saw any significant playing time as a member of the franchise.

Tebow's future in the NFL is bleak unless he changes positions which according to ESPN's Adam Schefter that he was not willing to do so. NFL aficionados say Tebow should take his talents to Canada and the CFL.
The club will pay Tebow $4.1 million dollars from his contract as a result of releasing him. The Jets now have five quarterbacks including veteran David Garrard and 2nd round pick Geno Smith from West Virginia. Smith's selection by the Jets places immediate pressure on starter Mark Sanchez who is expected to participate in offseason workouts this week.

The Jets open week 1 vs. Tampa Bay.

NBA's Jason Collins says he's gay

2013-04-29T11:54:00.002-05:00

NBA center Jason Collins reveals in a May 6 edition of Sports Illustrated that he is gay. The 12-year NBA vet writes in an open letter about his decision to come out and why he did it. Earlier this month, former Baylor C Brittney Griner announced that she was gay prior to being selected #1 overall in the 2013 NBA Draft.

Jason Collins will be the first professional male gay athlete among the four pro major sports. Collins going about it on his own terms could open doors for others who had to hide their true sexuality under wraps in the face of scrutiny. Collins has received an outpouring of support from fellow athletes such as Baltimore Ravens player Brendon Ayanbandejo (@brendon310) who tweeted, "By @jasoncollins34 opening doors & doing it his way on his time he has helped shape a more accepting America. May many more follow #courage," to former President Bill Clinton. Clinton's daughter, Chelsea and Collins were classmates at Stanford. Collins' Twitter following has increased by 16,000 since his decision.

Some expected the first professional gay athlete to be NFL player Kerry Rhodes, who has denied any allegations of being gay despite photos of him and a possible significant other on various web sites that say otherwise. To view the full letter in Sports Illustrated click here.

Ready, Set, Madness

2013-03-17T18:53:00.002-05:00

The road to the Final Four in Atlanta is underway with Sunday's unveiling of the field of 68 teams in the men's tourney. Kentucky will be the fifth defending champion to not make the tournament since the field was expanded to 64 in 1985.

Big East Conference tournament champion Louisville received the #1 overall seed and will play in the Midwest region on Thursday vs the NC A&T-Liberty winner. The Cardinals will have a tough journey to the Elite Eight with #2-seeded Duke and #3-seeded Michigan State in their bracket. The dark-horse team in this region is #4 seed Saint Louis, winners of the Atlantic-10 and could be a challenge to Rick Pitino's bunch. Another interesting matchup in this bracket is #7 Creighton vs #10 Cincinnati. The athleticism of the Bearcats could hamper the electric scoring of Doug McDermott.

Big 12 Conference champion Kansas is the #1 seed in South region and will face Sun Belt Conference champion Western Kentucky in Kansas City, MO on Friday. The committee didn't give the Jayhawks any favors with a possible matchup against #8-seed North Carolina who faces #9-seed Villanova. The Tar Heels lost a close game to Miami (FL) for the ACC Tournament title Sunday and got a tough draw in the Wildcats who have come on strong as of late with regular season wins over Syracuse, Georgetown and Louisville. A regional final matchup between Kansas and #2 seed Georgetown is a possibility barring any upsets.

Indiana received the #1 seed in the East region and will play the winner of LIU-Brooklyn-James Madison winner Friday in Dayton. Head coach Tom Crean has done a remarkable job resurrecting a once-dead storied program following the fallout of then-coach Kelvin Sampson. Cody Zeller and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Victor Oladipo could prove vital to their run to Atlanta. Other notable teams that could get in their way are #2-seed Miami (FL), #3-seed Marquette and #4-seed Syracuse. It would be interesting to see how the Hoosiers play against Syracuse's zone should they face each other in the Sweet 16.

West Coast Conference champion Gonzaga received the #1 seed in the West Region and will play Southern on Friday in Salt Lake City. Kelly Olynyk has been unstoppable in the last few games as the Bulldogs ran through the regular season en route to a conference tournament title. Big Ten tournament champion Ohio State is the #2 seed in this bracket. The Buckeyes along with #3 seed New Mexico could be the two teams to pose a threat to Gonzaga.

Sleeper teams in the tournament are Memphis, VCU, Saint Louis, Bucknell, Butler, Temple and New Mexico. Any one of these teams could make a serious run in the tournament and throw monkey wrenches in many pages of brackets nationwide. In addition, no team from Texas made the field of 68 for the first time since 1977. Don't be surprised if all #1 seeds do not make it to the Final Four. Expect at least two to three upsets in the first two weekends of the tournament.

May the best bracket win.

Midday Inspiration

2013-02-14T12:11:00.001-06:00

Monday Inspiration: Be At Peace

2013-02-04T11:28:00.002-06:00

Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life,
rather look to them with full hope as they arise.
God whose very own you are,
will deliver you from out of them,
He has kept you hitherto,
and will lead you safely through all things;
and when you cannot stand it,
God will bury you in his arms.

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same everlasting father who cares for you today
will take care of you then and everyday.
He will either shield you from suffering,
or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.

Be at peace,
and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.

Gay spouses fight for acceptance in the military

2013-01-20T17:36:00.000-06:00

Military personnel in same sex-couples rejoiced after the overturning of the controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in 2011. Since same-sex marriages are not recognized under federal law, spouses of gay military service members are barred from receiving medical and dental insurance. Click the link below for more on the story.

http://nyti.ms/XtDnil

My take: I believe that since President Obama led the charge to repeal DADT then he should make provisions in his second term to ensure spouses of gay military members receive full health benefits as their heterosexual counterparts. This country was built on the principles on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all Americans. Who are we to judge others based on their sexual preference? Our country is moving forward not backward.

Sec. of State Clinton announces Israel-Hamas cease fire

2012-11-21T16:00:00.001-06:00

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Desiderata by Max Ehrmann

2012-11-15T15:17:00.002-06:00

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

Emotional Obama gives thanks to volunteers and supporters

2012-11-09T07:33:00.000-06:00

Resume

2012-11-02T09:40:00.001-05:00

Ndukaku Okereke

9624 Valley Mills Lane

Dallas, TX 75227

214-460-0029

Email: ubaokereke@hotmail.com

OBJECTIVE

To obtain a position in the journalism industry

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point; Excellent oral and written communication skills: Flexible and adaptable to working environment; Intermediate experience in Adobe Creative Suite

EDUCATION

Master of Journalism May 2014 (expected)

University of North Texas Denton, TX

Bachelor of Arts May 2011

Texas Southern University Houston, TX

WORK EXPERIENCE

June 2012 – TSU Office of Recruitment, Dallas, TX

Volunteer

· Answered customer questions and provided information and guidance

· Greeted every new and transfer student with enthusiasm and energy

· Helped double number of new applicants from Fall 2011 semester

May 2012- Current – Dallas County Dept. of HHS, Dallas, Texas

Election Worker

· Maintained an active awareness of the election and voting rules and assisted voters as needed

· Handled all voter concerns in a proactive, positive manner

· Recognized for high voter turnout during Texas primary election

September 2011 - February 2012 – Regal Magazine, Houston, Texas

Freelance Writer

· Covered and wrote sports stories of HBCU athletics

· Increased readership by 10% in five month span

· Integrated social media platforms to disseminate news to readers across the country

August 2008 - May 2011 – TSU Herald Newspaper, Houston, Texas

Sports Editor

· Reported on all Texas Southern sports and athletic events

· Utilized media methods to research story ideas and validation of sources

· Social Media Correspondent for 25^th annual HABJ Awards Banquet

ASSOCIATIONS /AFFILIATIONS

Member Texas Southern University Alumni Association, Dallas Chapter

Video: Two boys die after being swept away by Sandy

2012-11-02T02:45:00.001-05:00

Video: New Jersey memories washed away

2012-11-02T02:38:00.002-05:00

NYC Mayor Bloomberg endorses Obama

2012-11-02T02:31:00.001-05:00

Joe Biden Blasts Mitt Romney's Jeep Ad

2012-11-02T02:20:00.001-05:00

ABC News Videos & Live News Clips Online - ABC News

My Career Goals: Long and Short Term

2012-11-02T02:06:00.000-05:00

My immediate short-term goal upon graduating from UNT is to join the Peace Corps and do work overseas. I see a growing need of helping our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world who aren't fortunate of the amenities we Americans take for granted.

Once I complete my service with the Peace Corps, I will pursue a career within the U.S. Department of State as a Civil Service Officer then transition to become a Foreign Service Officer or a Foreign Service Specialist.

My interest in this came from an informational on careers with the State Department the school held back in September. I truly believe this is the career path for me. Coupled with my future courses in international mass communications, social media and IT, I will be equipped to become an asset to the State Department and make a positive impact on the world.

I'm glad that I chose UNT for graduate school because it gave me a chance to reset my life and figure out what I want to do on this Earth. I am really learning a lot about the field of journalism that I didn't in my undergrad days and know that i don't have to necessarily become a traditional journalist working for a newspaper or cable news station.

I believe there is a need for international journalism because there are plenty stories in other parts of the world that go untold or under reported. I know I can fill that role and the Mayborn Graduate Institute will prepare me for that next step.

Al Roker give account of Sandy's destruction

2012-10-31T20:04:00.001-05:00

Hurricane Sandy disrupts election campaigns, closes stock market

2012-10-29T13:09:00.000-05:00

President Obama urged residents on the East Coast Monday to heed evacuation orders in lieu of Hurricane Sandy. The storm is expected to make landfall late tonight into Tuesday. States ranging from South Carolina to Maine have taken precaution by shutting down major roads and places of attraction. The stock market closed on Monday and will re-open possibly on Wednesday. Traders have gone the electronic route to keep trading stocks and commodities. Below are videos related to the story.

A Dream Deferred: BET's 106 & Park winners revealed

2012-10-02T13:00:00.000-05:00

Over the past three months or so, Black Entertainment Television (BET) put out a search for the next host of their music video show "106 & Park."

It was reported earlier this summer that the current hosts Terrence J and Rocsi would be leaving the show to pursue other interests. Thus, hundreds of people from across the country posted videos on BET.com showcasing their talent in hopes of making their dreams come true.

Alas, it was announced on Monday that BET revealed the winners of the 106 VJ search. The new hosts included established rapper and actor Bow Wow. Wait. Timeout. Flag on the play.

Let me get this straight. So people across the nation sacrificed their time and money to "audition" to be the next VJ and you give the job to Bow Wow? Why not choose someone who actually wants to make a career out of being on TV and using this opportunity to launch they career?

According to my sources, there will be four co-hosts to interact with the audience and play the rundown of videos.

Just because someone has "celebrity status" or fame doesn't mean they are host-material. Samuel L. Jackson hosting the 2012 BET Awards is a prime example.

BET should have just cancelled the show because it has gone downhill since Free and AJ left. In addition, why would one want to work for a network that doesn't put African-Americans in a positive light?

However, I pray and hope that the people who didn't get selected to be a VJ on 106 use their video to get bigger and better opportunities.

Grad School Life: Orientation

2012-08-25T14:42:00.001-05:00

Today was orientation for new graduate students at the University of North Texas. The event as a whole had its laughs and its boredom. However, I was able to indulge in priceless information that will help me to become the best graduate student I can be.

My next orientation session is with the Mayborn School of Journalism on Tuesday and classes begin on Thursday. I am very excited and nervous about my first semester at UNT. I pray that God will bless me with more than enough resources to pass this first year with flying colors. I look forward to all of the new experiences in this new chapter of my life.

My only concern was that I wished to already have a good job to combat the cost of commuting to and from Denton or that I made enough money to live on campus.

It's official. I'm a UNT grad student.

The Grad School Life: New Beginnings

2012-08-20T17:18:00.001-05:00

In one week, I will begin my graduate schooling at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. I can't express how excited I am about all of the new experiences and challenges I will have pursuing this Master of Journalism degree.

I know for a fact God Almighty will connect me with the right people to accomplish His plan for my life.

I recently found out that I became a sports writer for the North Texas Daily (shameless plug, follow @NTDaily) and the first staff meeting was today and tomorrow. The mood was rather enlightening as I met most of the staff and my section editor, Josh. He seems pretty laid-back.

My journey for the next two years or so will be one of the best of my life. I believe it will give me the opportunity to break some habits and create new ones so that I can be the best journalist God wants me to be upon graduation.

Keep up with my grad school journey with the hashtag #gradschoollife on twitter @ubathediplomat.

My goal is to start at a local paper like the Dallas Morning News and work my way up. My dream job is to cover sports for ESPN or other sports media sites. God willing, I will cover a Summer Olympic Games or a major sporting event.

I firmly declare that God will fulfill every need of mine and my heart's desires. I will need many prayer warriors.

Orientation is on Saturday.

Daily Devotion: Patience: Our Gift of Service

2012-08-17T13:55:00.000-05:00

Read | Colossians 3:12-13

When troubled or in pain, we turn to people who will listen patiently to our cries of distress. But I wonder how often we seek to be the person who gently steps up to share a hurting friend's burden for as long as it lasts?

Paul encouraged believers to "put on" a heart of compassion, kindness, and patience. In other words, we don't come from the womb pre-equipped with these traits. Rather, we receive on-the-job training in imitating Christ as we bear with and forgive one another. The Holy Spirit is more than willing to instruct us in the proper ways to grow spiritual fruit. The Lord then provides opportunities for us to try out our newly developed skills.

We tend to classify patience rather narrowly as "waiting." That's certainly part of the definition, but so are concepts like endurance, perseverance, and persistence. When we're relating to others as Paul challenged us to do, we are not simply waiting for them to become better versions of themselves. We are enduring their hardship alongside them or persisting in our attempts to offer aid. We're caring, listening, and serving however we can. In a world that insists on doing everything quickly, patience is an amazing gift to give another person.

By placing patience on the list of spiritual fruit, God indicated that every believer could develop this trait. Whatever additional gifts and talents you possess, patience is an attribute that you can put on. Practice it for the glory of God and as a way to serve your fellow man.

Daily Devotion: How to Hold On

2012-08-15T16:46:00.003-05:00

Read | Psalm 37:5-7

Job was a man who certainly knew trouble and temptation, and yet he boldly claimed, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him" (Job 13:15). That is commitment. Job had lost his children, his fortune, and his health, but he refused to abandon faith in God. The stricken man was determined to hold on because he trusted the Lord to do right.

Unwavering commitment to trust the Lord in all situations is a cornerstone of unshakable faith. From the vantage point of that foundation, we can focus our eyes upon God alone. It is easy to be distracted by circumstances and allow them to dictate our emotions. But if that's the case, then when life is good, we're happy; when times are tough, we're frustrated; and when hardship pours in, we're downright miserable and looking for escape.

Unlike Job, we are fortunate to have Scripture, which reveals God's nature and promises. And it is a wise believer who claims those promises when enduring hardship. For His Word tells us that our Father is always good, always just, always faithful, and always trustworthy. When we take our eyes off the whirl of day-to-day activity and concentrate on honoring Him and following in His way, we find a consistent peace that carries us through both plenty and poverty.

In order to hold on to God through any trial or temptation, commit to trust and follow Him all of your days. Lay claim to His promises: The unchanging Lord and Savior (Heb. 13:8) is committed to caring for you in all circumstances (1 Peter 5:7) and will never leave or forsake you (Heb. 13:5).