Jay-Z - In My Lifetime (1995) High Quality

!±8± Jay-Z - In My Lifetime (1995) High Quality

Jay-Z In my lifetime music video Jay-Z First single Produced by Ski Beatz macdaddyfilms

Jay-Z - In My Lifetime (1995) High Quality

Good Bargain Progressive Lenses Bubble Spa Buy Now

Jay-Z - In my Lifetime (Big Jaz aka Jaz-O Remix) (1995)

!±8± Jay-Z - In my Lifetime (Big Jaz aka Jaz-O Remix) (1995)

....dope Remix taken off the 'In my Lifetime' 12" released on Payday in '95....produced by Jaz aka Big Jaz aka Jaz-O...now THATS a Jay-Z Track...CLASSIC!

Jay-Z - In my Lifetime (Big Jaz aka Jaz-O Remix) (1995)

Safest Pots And Pans Right Now

Afrojack Ft. Ludacris - How Low Esther

!±8± Afrojack Ft. Ludacris - How Low Esther

Afrojack Ft. Ludacris - How Low Esther

Afrojack Ft. Ludacris - How Low Esther

Low Cost Echo Leaf Blowers

Book Review - The Devil in Pew Number Seven

!±8± Book Review - The Devil in Pew Number Seven

It is a rare event, to be sure. Usually, my review of the book I am reading is already coming together in my mind as I read, because I react to certain passages in a particular manner and am obviously aware of whether my reading experience is an enjoyable one.

But there have been a couple of occasions when I've been unsure about what I wanted to express in my review, even after I've finished reading the book. The most stunning example of that phenomenon occurred recently as I finished reading The Devil in Pew Number Seven, a memoir by Rebecca Nichols Alonzo.

Synopsis:

Becky's father, Robert Nichols, was a divorced hell-raiser who, following a Navy stint, enjoyed drinking and brawling. In his mid-20's, he had a conversion experience, during which he became a Christian and completely changed his lifestyle. As Alonzo describes it, he became obsessed with studying the Bible and, although he never attended seminary or received any formal theological education, began his career as an evangelist within six months. When he met Alonzo's mother, Ramona, she was a church organist who had also been married once before. He was conducting a multi-night revival at the Church of God in Bogalusa, Louisiana, and Ramona was instantly attracted to Robert. She was relieved when he cautiously returned her affection. Six weeks later, they married and embarked upon a joint ministry of music and the Word.

Called to the Free Welcome Holiness Church in the tiny community of Sellerstown, North Carolina, in late 1969, the Nichols were soon blessed with their first child, daughter Becky. The parsonage they settled into was across the street from the home of a "wealthy, well-connected, and respected businessman," Horry James Watts, then age 65. Watts wielded power both in the congregation (even though he wasn't a member) and community, and became increasingly incensed as the new pastor's popularity and influence grew, while his power base diminished. A parish made up of a mere 12 members when Nichols arrived soon outgrew its physical facilities and the construction of a larger church was planned.

The small church had seven rows of pews on either side of the center aisle, and Watts took up residence during each worship service in the last row, number seven, from which he made faces and noises at Nichols as he preached in an attempt to disrupt the proceedings. Hence, the book's title. On occasion, he walked out before the service concluded, slamming the door loudly as he left.

Watts also engaged in a systematic war of terror with the pastor and his family. Threatening telephone calls and letters were just the beginning of an eight-year calculated attack designed to send the Nichols family packing, "crawling or walking... dead or alive." As Becky's father became more determined to stay in Sellerstown, Watts' attacks escalated in intensity. Telephone lines were cut and security lights shot out just before dynamite exploded near the parsonage and next-door church. Watts contracted with a local thug to run down Becky's father with his vehicle and make it look like an accident. The Nichols family nearly escaped death more than once.

Review:

Alonzo's tale of growing up in Sellerstown is easily one of the most disturbing books I have read in a very, very long time. The first chapter opens with seven-year-old Becky running out of her home -- her father had been wounded twice, her mother shot dead right in front of her, and the crazed gunman remained barricaded in Becky's bedroom holding his wife and infant child hostage -- to seek help. From the book's very first words, "I ran," Alonzo pulls her readers into a grim, true story punctuated by years of maliciously calculated, unspeakable acts of violence directed at a charismatic, but peace-loving pastor, the wife who was his partner in life and ministry, and their two very young children, by a crazed, power-hungry, and obviously evil community leader.

Convinced he was called to minister to his Sellerstown flock at any cost, Becky's father remained to model the kind of behavior Jesus exhibited toward his enemies. Remarkably, her mother stayed, as well, standing steadfast alongside her husband with Becky and, later, the Nichols' second child, Daniel, as Watts menaced their family, even when armed guards were posted around their residence. Watts knew no moral, ethical or legal boundaries. His catalogue of despicable stunts included killing innocent family pets as part of his quest to regain the power he once wielded over Nichols' congregants.

Alonzo has received exuberant praise for the book on several counts. That praise is, for a variety of reasons, well-deserved. The book is exquisitely drafted, telling her family's story with the same flair for dramatic tension that makes the best mysteries so much fun to read.

Unfortunately, despite Alonzo's expertly crafted prose, it is impossible to forget that the story unfolding page by page is completely true, especially when she recounts episode after torturous episode of mayhem, and chronicles its impact upon her entire family. Particularly gut-wrenching are her descriptions of the manner in which Watts' conduct served to persecute her and her younger brother, who was born with nerve damage because of the incidents their mother endured while carrying him. After one particularly virulent episode, Daniel was discovered sleeping in his crib, surrounded by shards of glass and debris. Had he rolled over, he would have suffered severe injuries... or worse. Alonzo believes that he was spared because the hand of God was upon him that night as he slept, peacefully unaware of and too young to comprehend the violent attack upon his family.

Ironically, when the Nichols family finally left Sellerstown, it was not at the hands of their long-time tormentor, Watts. Rather, Becky's mother was shot dead by Harris Williams, whose wife, Sue, was one of Ramona's closest friends. Williams, a thirty-five-year-old alcoholic, had a criminal record of domestic abuse. Against the advice of friends and relatives alike, Becky's mother was insistent that Sue take shelter from Williams in the parsonage with the Nichols family. "Momma said our home would be a temporary refuge until Sue could get things straightened out. I'd say that was ironic, considering how the parsonage had been the focal point of ten recent violent attacks," Alonzo writes. Williams, angered because Sue sought a restraining order against him, barged into the Nichols home as they sat down to supper on Maundy Thursday, March 23, 1978. He shot Becky's father twice.

"Harris turned and pointed the weapon toward Momma. Standing by the kitchen table and in front of the washing machine, she was unarmed; she held no knife, no gun, not even a chair to throw in her defense.

She cried out, "Jesus! Jesus!"

The gunman stood seven feet from the woman who had given me life, who, for almost eight years, had clothed me, fed me, and nurtured me. The one who filled my life with laughter, love, and lessons on forgiving others just as we had been forgiven by Jesus. None of that history mattered to this man.

Without hesitation, with a cold indifference to her precious life as our mother, he fired a single bullet to her chest."

So leave Sellerstown the Nichols family finally did, with one of them -- Ramona -- in a casket. Becky's father remained hospitalized for three weeks, recovering from his wounds, but he never really recovered at all. He was unable to attend his wife's funeral service. Five months later, he was well enough to preach a farewell sermon to his Sellerstown congregation, but his ministry was over. With his children, he moved to Mobile, Alabama, where family members cared for Becky and Daniel, and Robert spent his final years in and out of mental institutions. Prior to his wife's murder, a health scare culminated in a diagnosis of permanent damage to his heart, the cumulative result of Watts' torment of the gentle-spirited preacher. Becky and Daniel lost their surviving parent to a blood clot in his heart on October 5, 1984, when they were 14 and nine years old, respectively. At the time of his death, Robert Nichols was just 46 years old.

Williams was sentenced to life in prison for killing Ramona, but was released in 1999 and remained on parole a scant five years.

Eventually, sufficient evidence was gathered to also bring Watts and his accomplices to trial. He entered a plea of nolo contendere and was sentenced by a judge who should have recused himself. As he ordered Watts to spend 15 years in prison, with another five-year sentence to run concurrently, the judge practically nominated him for "citizen of the year," acknowledging that he had engaged in business transactions with Watts and, based upon his familiarity with Watts, found the charges against him surprising.

The genesis of The Devil in Pew Number Seven was Alonzo's receipt, when she was in her 20's, of her mother's diary. Begun in 1976, Ramona wrote: "To my darling daughter, Rebecca, I'm writing this book in hopes of answering some of the many questions you've asked, but at the tender age of 6, your little mind is not able to conceive. Your mom is talking to you down through the years... " Ramona described the love she had for her husband, their meeting and brief courtship, and, in the last entry, how excited they were to begin their ministry in Sellerstown. Ironically, she never penned a single word about the horrors that characterized the Nichols family's days in Sellerstown.

Alonzo told her family's story during a Bible study, after which a friend with connections in the publishing industry helped generate interest in a book. Believing Romans 8:28 ("God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.") to be the impetus for her new career, Alonzo says that "in my own amateur way, I began writing, believing I had been given a mission by God to get this story of forgiveness out there, to honor my parents' lives and to let people know that no matter what you go through in this life, God is there to help you through it."

The theme of the book is forgiveness. Specifically, Alonzo's ability to forgive both the man who murdered her mother before her seven-year-old eyes, as well as the man who destroyed her childhood through his heinous and unrelenting harassment of her family.

Plainly, Alonzo sees her parents as martyrs. She writes:

"I am so thankful that God gave me such amazing parents. Not many people these days can say that someone laid their lives down for their friends, but mine did and I'm so proud of them for standing in the line of fire for the sake of the gospel. I can't even imagine what their rewards are in heaven for enduring the five years of terrorism at the hands of a tormented man."

Therein lies my problem with The Devil in Pew Number Seven, and the reason it took some time for me to decide what I wanted to say about the book... and how I wanted to say it.

I understand why Alonzo needed to forgive those who persecuted her family, including the judge who violated his ethical duties and a correctional system that allowed Williams to be released far sooner than he should have been, for the sake of her own sanity, and in order to achieve a sense of peace and closure about the events she lived through as a very young child.

But for me, what's missing from Alonzo's narrative is an acknowledgment and discussion of her need to also forgive her parents. Alonzo portrays her parents as utterly blameless saints because they remained in Sellerstown in order to stand up to Watts, and serve as examples of faithfulness and resilience. Her single-minded portrayal of her parents robs from Alonzo's memoir a huge measure of authenticity and credibility.

But reading Alonzo's descriptions of the horrific incidents of violence directed at her family caused me to become increasingly angry not only at Watts, but at her parents. Given the terror that Alonzo endured -- the promotional material for her book begins with the sentence "Becky Alonzo never felt safe as a child" -- I find it incomprehensible that she was not angry, as well, and kept expecting her narrative to include a discussion of her anger at her parents and how she overcame it in the process of learning to forgive.

Thus, the message I took away from reading The Devil in Pew Number Seven was not related to forgiveness as much as judgment of others. Reading the book constituted an ongoing struggle for me not to judge Alonzo's parents -- and quite harshly, at that. As a mother, I simply cannot fathom how Ramona could allow her young daughter's life to be devoid of safety, security, and freedom from fear. I don't understand why Ramona did not stand up to her husband, telling him to put his pride and stubbornness aside for the sake of his family. Had he refused, she should have gathered up her children and retreated to safety. I simply could not relate to a woman who chose to continue living in perpetual terror to the point that, as a direct result, it caused her second child to be born damaged.

I was equally appalled that Alonzo's mother welcomed her friend, Sue, into the home where she was raising her own children, knowing not only that Sue's husband had a history of violent behavior, but also that he could easily locate his wife and child. There can be no argument that Ramona did not realize the danger, since she was urged by several of her own family members not to provide refuge to her friend because to do so risked her own safety and that of her family.

I was raised in a Christian home as a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (and its predecessor American Lutheran Church). The God with whom I became acquainted as I grew up would never ask a believer to take foolish chances or behave recklessly with regard to one's own children and their well-being. Rather, I was not taught that God expects blind obedience. Perhaps it is a matter of Biblical interpretation. My Lutheran pastors never interpreted the Bible literally, nor do I. And I do not believe that a shepherd is called to lay down his/her life for his/her flock under any and all circumstances, especially when the shepherd could take proactive measures that would make that ultimate sacrifice entirely unnecessary.

After all, God the creator bestowed our intellect upon us, along with other many other gifts. From him comes our ability to think, reason, analyze, and use the gift of intelligence to make good choices. I struggled while reading The Devil in Pew Number Seven with the fact that Alonzo's parents, in a very tangible sense, put the interests of their parishioners ahead not only of their own well-being, but, far more importantly, the needs of their own children. And from my perspective, that was neither brave nor deserving of martyrdom. It was, from my Lutheran theological perspective, quite foolhardy and, in its own way, an affront to the God who gives the gifts of wisdom, discernment, and rationality. I was sickened by the Nichols' failure to protect their children, as well as preserve their own health and well-being so that they could raise those children themselves, providing them guidance and wisdom until they became adults. In a real sense, the Nichols sacrificed their own children because, in the end, Watts succeeded in driving her father to a state of complete mental and physical breakdown that not only terminated his service as pastor of the Sellerstown congregation, despite his refusal to escape, but took his life a few years after his wife's murder. Becky and her brother were orphaned.

I'm sure that my viewpoint is also influenced by other factors beyond church doctrine including locale, the time period during which the events related by Alonzo occurred, and the manner in which women's roles, as well as the role of a pastor's spouse, have evolved and changed in the years since Ramona Nichols died. Ramona grew up in very different time and place than I did -- probably in both a household and congregation where subservience to one's husband, and certainly one's pastor, was modeled. I grew up in a home where neither spouse was subservient to the other; my parents' marriage was very much an egalitarian arrangement. The Lutheran church has always valued the contributions of its women members, and began ordaining women in 1970.

One thing is certain: Alonzo's compelling recitation of the events of her childhood is fascinating, thought-provoking, and would make an excellent selection for a Christian Bible study group or book club. It certainly provides a basis for discussions from which much can be learned by listening to others' reactions to the story.

Maybe the real legacy of Alonzo's parents is the opportunity their story provides to explore the myriad questions raised in the minds and hearts of other believers about the reasonableness of the Nichols' reactions to the situation they were thrust into, how improvements in law enforcement investigative techniques might today result in swifter action being taken not only to protect victims of violent crime, but also bring perpetrators of such heinous acts to justice, and the various other agencies and organizations that would intercede to support and assist the Nichols, including but not limited to groups that provide education about and shelter to victims of domestic violence.

One word that does not appear in Alonzo's tale is "will," but the book could serve as an excellent springboard to a discussion about what the term "God's will" means. Although she does not use the phrase, it is readily apparent that she feels the events she describes unfolded in accordance with "God's will" not only for her parents' lives, but for all involved.

For those reasons, I do recommend The Devil in Pew Number Seven.

Book Review - The Devil in Pew Number Seven

Kirby Rug Shampooer Best Quality

!±8± Graco Sarah Classic 4 in 1 Convertible Crib, Cherry

Brand : Graco | Rate : | Price : $125.00
Post Date : Dec 10, 2011 03:06:48 | Usually ships in 24 hours

Graco Sarah Classic 4 in 1 Convertible Crib, Cherry

• Crib converts to a toddler bed (no guard rail needed for conversion); Daybed and full-size headboard (bed frame and mattress not included)
• Three-position mattress height adjustment
• Stationary sides
• Five-year limited warranty against manufacturer's defects
• Assembly required

More Specification..!!

Graco Sarah Classic 4 in 1 Convertible Crib, Cherry

Soccer Rebounder Goal Buy Online Purchase Digital Pianos Recumbent Tricycles For Adults Right Now

Child Craft Watterson 24 Months Full Size Bed Rail, Black

!±8± Child Craft Watterson 24 Months Full Size Bed Rail, Black

Brand : Childcraft | Rate : | Price : $96.99
Post Date : Dec 06, 2011 02:34:09 | Usually ships in 2-3 business days

F06454.58 RAILS ONLY, bed not included Features: -Bed rail. -Watterson collection. -Made of wood and wood products. -Distressed black finish. -Includes wood slats. -Bolts onto long front and back sections of crib. -Converts Watterson lifetime crib from crib or toddler bed to complete full size bed. -Minor assembly required. -These rails are only compatible with Child Craft products. -1 -Year from date of purchase.

• Includes 2 bed rails
• Includes slats
• Bolts on to crib headboard and footboard with crib bolts
• Matching finish
• Constructed from selected hardwoods

Bodyfit Exercise Bike Best Where To Buy Plantronics Handset Lifter Olay Regenerist Eye For Sale

!±8± Chelsea Lifetime Crib By Bratt Decor

Brand : Bratt Decor | Rate : | Price :
Post Date : Dec 02, 2011 10:18:29 | Usually ships in 6-10 business days

Chelsea Lifetime Crib By Bratt Decor

• Dimensions: Width: 58.25" Depth: 30" Height: 51.25"
• Drop side mechanism: None - gate is fixed
• Full bed size: 80" by 58.25"
• Construction material: Hardwood / MDF with Finish: Lacquer w/sanded edges
• Converts to a toddler bed (toddler bed kit sold separately)

More Specification..!!

Chelsea Lifetime Crib By Bratt Decor

Shop Nordic Track Elliptical Cross Trainer

How Low Can You Go Lyrics by Ludacris

!±8± How Low Can You Go Lyrics by Ludacris

How low can you go? [16x] Luda! She could go lower than i ever really thought she could, Face down, ass up! The top of your booty jiggling out your jeans, Baby pull your pants up, I like it when i see you do it, Better then i ever seen it done before, A lot of women drop it to the ground, But how low can you go? Lower then your mamas ever seen it in her life time, Never wouldve imagined did not even in her right mind, Practice in front of that mirror, Now you doing it on the dance floor, Mad cause i cant get wit ya ya just show me how to dance (OH!) I may not wanna get low so i post it up kinda like a playa do, But if you come to the crib, Then i might show you girls a thang or 2, Yea i think you a superstar wit a ass like that you gotta blow, Before you make it big, Theres just 1 thing i gotta know [Chorus] How low can you go? [8x] I could golow, (Go low) lower than you know, go low,(go low) lower than you know, go low,(go low) lower than you know, go low,(go low) lower than you know, go low,(go low) lower than you know, I be like Nick-nac-paddywac, Oh where my kitty cat give a dog a bone, How many licks does it takes till i get to the center and let a realer n-gga take you home, I could make me show stop, Soon as you hear this flow pop, From ATLANTA and all the way down to your drop, Put the needle on a record and i make her get lower than a Lamborghini, And if she really gettin low then imma shoot a video and put it all on TV, Cos i like that French vanilla and the ...

How Low Can You Go Lyrics by Ludacris

Plantronics H41 Order Now

Dream On Me Ashton 4 in 1 Convetible Crib, Black

!±8± Dream On Me Ashton 4 in 1 Convetible Crib, Black

Brand : Dream On Me | Rate : | Price : $209.99
Post Date : Nov 26, 2011 01:07:12 | Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Dream On Me Ashton 4 in 1 Convetible Crib, Black

660-K Dream On Me 4 in 1 Ashton convertible crib is a lifetime crib that gracefully matures with your child from infancy, through childhood to adulthood. With its rugged good looks and sturdy frame this cribs features a stationary (non drop side) rail design which provides the utmost in product safety. For ease in reaching your baby, it sits low to the floor and features the convenience of a position , adjustable mattress support system. Durable yet stylish, this lovely piece of nursery furniture grows with your child transitioning easily into a toddler bed, a daybed and full size bed (full size bed frame and mattress not included). All tools for assembly included. Accommodates a Dream On Me standard crib mattress sold separately. JPMA Certified. Features: -Convertible crib. -Color: Black. -Adjustable mattress support. -Sits low to floor. -Solid stationary (non drop side) rail. -Transition into a toddler bed, daybed and full size bed. -JPMA certified. -Assembly required. -30 Days limited manufacturer's warranty.

More Specification..!!

Remote Gate Openers Immediately Wholesale Lego Republic Gunship

Baby Cribs Vs Other Sleeping Options

!±8± Baby Cribs Vs Other Sleeping Options

Today there are numerous types of baby cribs to choose from including co-sleepers, bassinets and cradles. Styles vary from trendy to traditional and economical. No matter what your taste, the most important feature of your infant's new crib is safety. If the new crib looks adorable but isn't safe for your baby then you've just wasted a lot of money. Many baby cribs will convert to toddler beds and day beds as your child grows older. This can be an important consideration if you don't plan on having very many children. However, if you plan on having more than one child you'll probably need to invest in another type of bed once your baby grows out of his crib.

You might think that baby cribs with drop sides are handy and convenient. However, most consumer groups including Consumer Reports recommend staying away from drop side baby cribs until more testing has been done on these types of cribs. Safety standards have only been established for cribs with stationary sides. Another option that seems to be popular these days is the co-sleeper. A co-sleeper is a crib that sets next to the mother's bed. One side of the crib sets lower so the baby can sleep next to the parent's bed but in his own sleeping area. While this does allow the mother to sleep near her baby without the danger of rolling on top of him it doesn't prevent bedding from sliding into the co-sleeper in the middle of the night. This could possibly be a dangerous situation.

Some parents might also consider purchasing a cradle, co-sleeper, or bassinet for their newborn but according to safety experts your baby is safest in a crib. To date cribs must meet stringent safety requirements while the other options do not. This is an important factor to consider when choosing where your baby should sleep. Make sure you have established a safe and restful area for your newborn to sleep before you bring him home from the hospital. While a baby crib is often the first purchase parents make when they find out the mother is expecting a lot of care and consideration should be put into what type is chosen. Your baby will spend quite a bit of time in his crib so you want to make sure it's both comfortable and safe.

Baby Cribs Vs Other Sleeping Options

Cheap Reviews Bread Machines

Ludacris- How Low (Chipmunked [Lyrics In Description])

!±8± Ludacris- How Low (Chipmunked [Lyrics In Description])

request songs to be uploaded OR request songs to be chipmunked =) pigsrdabom4 Hook] How low can you go? [8x] [Ludacris] Luda! She could go lower than i ever really thought she could, Face down, ass up! The top of your booty jiggling out your jeans, Baby pull your pants up, I like it when i see you do it, Better then i ever seen it done before, A lot of women drop it to the ground, But how low can you go? Lower then your mamas ever seen it in her life time, Never wouldve imagined did not even in her right mind, Practice in front of that mirror, Now you doing it on the dance floor, Mad cause i cant get wit ya ya just show me how to dance (OH!) I may not wanna get low so i post it up kinda like a playa do, But if you come to the crib, Then i might show you girls a thang or 2, Yea i think you a superstar wit a ass like that you gotta blow, Before you make it big, Theres just 1 thing i gotta know [Chorus] How low can you go? [8x] I could go low, (Go low) lower than you know, go low,(go low) lower than you know, go low,(go low) lower than you know, go low,(go low) lower than you know, go low,(go low) lower than you know, [Luda] I be like Nick-nac-paddywac, Oh where my kitty cat give a dog a bone, How many licks does it takes till i get to the center and let a realer n-gga take you home, I could make me show stop, Soon as you hear this flow pop, From ATLANTA and all the way down to your drop, Put the needle on a record and i make her get lower than a Lamborghini, And if she ...

Ludacris- How Low (Chipmunked [Lyrics In Description])

Good Upright Bagless Vacuums Best Buy Estee Lauder Lifting Cream Dr 2050c Scanner Right Now

A Happy Baby A Day, Takes The Worries Away

!±8± A Happy Baby A Day, Takes The Worries Away

Although a colorful crib mobile and his first taste of applesauce may bring a smile to your baby's face, what makes your baby happiest is much simpler: YOU. If you're having fun with your baby, he's having fun. If you create what they call a 'connected childhood,' that is by far the best step to guarantee your child will be happy." Play creates joy, but play is also how your child will develop skills essential to future happiness. As she gets older, unstructured play will allow her to discover what she loves to do — build villages with blocks, make "potions" out of kitchen ingredients, paint elaborate watercolors — which can point her toward a career that will seem like a lifetime of play. Play doesn't mean music class, organized sports, and other structured, "enriching" activities. Play is when children invent, create, and daydream. Help them develop their talents. check out www.mybabytantrums.blogspot.com for more baby tips and videos.

A Happy Baby A Day, Takes The Worries Away

Zaatar Spice Coupon Babyliss Hair Dryers Compare