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2
From the Editor
It’s the new year and we are insisting
on preparing our readers for success
and growth in 2013. This months
issue is full of motivational items and
recaps of all the events we attended
during the holiday season. The
shopping has been done, the holiday
weight has been gained, the new
years resolutions have been made
and now its time for a mental and
physical restart in 2013. Let Cognition Magazine™
guide you on your journey to a better you!
Think Mind, Think Body...Think YOU!
Yours in #WELLNESS,
Malcolm M. Armstrong Jr.
Founder & Chief Editor
Follow us on twitter: @cognition_mag
Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/
cognitionmagazinellc
Malcolm Armstrong Jr.
5
6. Events 13. L. Jeff Williams
Interview 16. Health & Fitness 18. Real Thoughts 20. Ask Dr. Ada 22. Cover Story– Bishop
Lester Love 28. Love & Relationships 29. What Blacks Should
Know 31. Thoughts After Dark 33. Be Inspired
6
Events
1.
2.
3. 4.
1) Local bounce artist and community activist Keedy
Blakk addresses the crowd.
2) Participant receives a health screening courtesy of
Xavier University Wellness Clinic.
3) Coodinator & Host Kawanna Prout poses with poet
& community activist Tasha aka “Mistique.”
4) Gentelle Pedescleaux owner of P.E.D.S.
NOLA fitness company demonstrates a new
Stiletto workout.
7
1 2 3
4 5
6
7
1) Mark Ceasar, Mario P., & Joseph Brady of Piss Yo Pants Comedy pose with Malcolm
Armstrong Jr., Founder & Chief Editor of Cognition Magazine™
2) Brandon Jones, C.E.O. of Lookatnola.com & Charlotte Brun, Owner of Santa Fe Tapas.
3) Comedian Joseph Brady
4) Comedian & Event Host Mark Ceasar
5) DJ Spins for Lookatnola.com comedy night
6) Attendees enjoy Piss Yo Pants comedy show
7) Comedian Mario Plesant entertains the crowd
8
Events
Cognition Magazine held its second installation of Cocktails with Cognition, a motivational
mixer on Friday, December 21st at 8:30pm. This edition of Cocktails with Cognition was a
cover party for R&B artist Iris P. This sultry singer made the cover of our December 2012
issue and she has an incredible story behind her voice. The evening included performances by
Iris P., magazine giveaways, vendor tables, raffles from local businesses, free food and of
course COCKTAILS! Stay tuned for our next Cocktails with Cognition Magazine™.
1
2 3
4
5
6
7
1) R&B Artist Iris P. poses with NOLA Socialite KaLi Red
2) Dannie Wallace, Lyndreion Farria & Alvin House
3) Iris P. performs during Cocktails with Cognition
4) Malcolm Armstrong Jr., Founder & Chief Editor of Cognition Magazine™
5) Syreeta Hall and fellow representative at vendor table for Treme Hair Care® Products.
6) Malcolm Armstrong Jr. presents KaLi Red with raffle from Madison Avenue House of Fashions.
7) Malcolm Armstrong Jr. gives introduction and remarks on event.
9
1
2
3
4
1) Singer Nayo Jones graces the crowd with jazz
melodies.
2) Guitarist of the Yisrael Trio plays for Nayo Jones.
3) Members of Yisrael Trio
4) Local Trumpeter plays with Nayo Jones
10
Events
1
2
3
4
1) Birthday girl & Host KaLi Red feeds the homeless with
food she cooked personally.
2) Homeless participants smile after their meals.
3) Step It Up crew members Nadine “DJ Nola” Robertson,
Cathy Watson, & Joshua “JC Styles” Cornelius pitch in
with the occasion.
4) Joshua “JC Styles” Cornelius, KaLi Red & friend
LaSandra Rivera.
14
CM: Tell us about the
guy that is L. Jeff
Williams?
LJW: As trite as this
expression is, I have to
say, "Im so New
Orleans." Only a fellow
native understands how
simply naming your
hometown can describe
who you are, but that's
always been my
identifier. Much like
my beloved city, I am
constantly growing and
evolving while striving to maintain the integrity of
who I am and where I began.
CM: What made you become a fitness advocate?
LJW: Realizing that I couldn't keep up with my
young son. I was 33 yrs old at the time and decided
that getting short winded after playing outside with
him was unacceptable.
CM: What are your thoughts on the current
state fitness in black America today?
LJW: I'm pleased to find that health and fitness
seems to be of rising importance in our
community...a gradual one, but an increase
nonetheless. Just log on to social media; countless "at
the gym" pics on Instagram®, Twitter® and
Facebook® status updates celebrating pounds and
inches lost. Despite obstacles that sometimes add
layers of complexity when trying to maintain a
workout schedule (costs of gym memberships,
grueling schedules, etc.) many people seem to
conquer those challenges and commit to a healthier
lifestyle.
CM: Tell us all about the Get F.A.T. Challenge?
LJW: The program was designed with the often
chaotic lifestyles of thirty-something’s in mind. The
plan is simple and most importantly effective. By
including fitness, nutrition instruction and education
I'm not only providing the tools to be successful, but
also the "manual" to maintaining a new and healthy
lifestyle.
CM: Fitness advocate, sports fan, Engineer,
Events/Party Promoter and Father are just a few
things that describe you. How do you manage
multitasking while still being effective in your
careers?
LJW: 2 words; planning and support. I have to be
extremely organized to handle everything effectively.
I also have an amazing support system to help catch
things that may fall through the cracks and help me
when I seem to veer off-track.
CM: What do you do to de-stress?
LJW: I find recovery in activity and spending time
with my loved ones. Working out, traveling, and
taking advantage of the countless activities that New
Orleans has to offer truly makes me happy and
energizes me unlike anything else.
CM: What is it that you enjoy the most about your
life and why?
LJW: I wake up every day with a strong sense of
purpose. Im able to serve my community in a career
that's centered around keeping New Orleans safe. I
also play many roles in my life; son, father, brother,
boyfriend, friend. I embrace and take each role very
seriously; that's what keeps me going.
CM: Tell us one little known fact about L. Jeff
Williams?
LJW: I work hard but I play even harder. Most
people see me in work-mode and have no idea how
much I love to laugh, have fun, and (some might say)
be silly at times.
CM: What’s coming up
for L. Jeff Williams in
2013?
LJW: This year my
focus hasn't changed. I
want to continue my
work, improving myself,
and God willing continue
to make contributions
where I can.
16
Health & Fitness
C ognition Magazine’s
Health & Fitness
columnist Gentelle P. of P.E.D.S.
NOLA shows us how to get fit
right at home with this exercise
demo. Try out this series of
exercises on a consistent basis
and we guarantee results. Lets
start 2013 off with fitness!
1
2 3
4 5
Step + Repeat + Kick
1) Grab a chair that is sturdy enough to support your body weight.
2) Grip the back of the chair with both hands to support yourself
and place the left foot on the seat and bend knee.
3) Lift up on left leg and extend the right leg fully and feel the
stretch. Remember to tighten the buttocks while doing this
exercise.
4) Carefully step down and place right foot on the chair while
bending the knee.
5) Lift up on the right leg and extend the left leg fully while
feeling the stretch (similar to step 3).
6) Repeat all steps for 3 sets of 10.
17
1
2
3
4
Plank + Roll + Leg Lift
1) Grab your yoga/exercise mat and do not
forget to remain hydrated during physical
activities.
2) Face down on mat, spread legs shoulder
length apart, and rest on elbows. Lift up on
your toes; this is called a “Plank.” Hold
this position for 10-15 seconds.
3) Roll on your side. Rest on your elbow and side
of foot. Place hands on your hip.
4) Lift your leg up and down and feel the stretch.
Do not forget to tighten the buttocks.
5) Repeat all steps using opposite side of body.
Complete 3 sets of ten.
18
Real Thoughts
A s
we
all
know, social
media serves
many
worthwhile
purposes. It
helps us
reach out to
those we
would
usually lose touch with as life takes us down
its infinite and divergent paths. Social media
helps us to stay informed of the International
issues of the day and operates as one of the
best ways to promote one’s personal/
professional efforts, be they self-run
businesses, musical projects or literary
ventures (i.e., Follow @Cognition_Mag,
@De_De_T, @Lanino_Brown,
@ShawnieceQB on Twitter). With so many
useful applications, social media provides us
with an open forum to communicate freely
with people and organizations that may have
been wholly inaccessible to us in the years
precluding the MySpace and Facebook age.
Through social media every last voice on
Earth can be heard with little to no risk of
filtration or censorship (unless of course that
voice is coming from a Syria, Libya, Egypt,
etc.). Another well-known fact of social media
is that its accessibility can prove both a very
good thing and a very bad thing depending on
the disposition of the human being on the
other end of that keyboard. I was brought face
to face (or rather device to device) with the
latter possibility of that fact. While quite
“innocently” engaging in an open discussion
on Twitter revolving around one of my
favorite TV series “Scandal”, it seems
something I tweeted purely in jest offended the
delicate sensibilities of one of Hollywood’s
less widely celebrated celebrities. (I refuse to
implicate this individual by name because I
refuse to give him ANY shine in MY column,
but if your curiosity simply must have
satisfaction just peep out my Twitter account.
The intrigue you seek is there.) The tweet that
started it all was rendered 12/6/2012 and it
went a little something like this:
“’@TheRoot247: Here’s my theory: *Insert
disgruntled celebrity’s name here)* shot Fitz.
#Scandal’ @De_De_T He DOES need a
job…
Fast forward to 12/9/12 when I received THIS
little gem:
@Him: @De_De_T @TheRoot247 O-o:
blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/s…
(This was a link to a piece covering his latest
theatrical work… that I really don’t care
about.)
My response:
“@Him: @De_De_T @TheRoot247 O-o:
blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/s…” “Siri,
alert me when I am mentioned on Twitter.”
Without mentioning him I tweeted (I gather
this is what the kids call a “subtweet” but I
wasn’t aiming for that at the time): I, too, am a
jerk, Mr. *Insert confrontational Negro’s last
name here*.
And now the discourse:
@Him: @De_De_T That’s cool. Even jerks
can be productive RT THIS: http://
www.duniamagazine.com/2012/11/war-in-the-
heart-of-africa-congo-on-its-knees-as-women-
and-children-continue-to-pay-the-highest-
price/ pic.twitter.com…
(The first link was for a magazine article
raising awareness of the war in the Democratic
Republic of Congo which has its citizens be-
reft of their civil liberties and peace of mind.
The second link was a picture of the cover of
his memoir. Clearly I’m not about to RT
something simply because he has commanded
it, especially not with his face on it.)
@De_DeT: “@Him: @De_De_T That’s cool.
Even jerks can be productive…” Usually…
but apparently not today.
@De_De_T (again without mentioning him):
So… *Insert homeboy’s name here* would
like me to let you know that he has done
things. Google him for further detail if you’re
interested.
@Him: @De_De_T No. I ‘asked’ you to RT
THIS: Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) & she asked
me to post her office number to support the
DRC. THIS: *her number*.
(Clearly that wasn’t what he tweeted the first
time.)
@De_De_T: @Him Forgive me for being put
off by the plug you casually threw in to
promote your literary effort…
@Him: @De_De_T It wasn’t a ‘plug’. I
thought that i would raise your ‘awareness’
seeing that you tweeted that I ‘need a job’
when you are wrong.
@De_De_T: @Him But the plight of the
downtrodden always deserves my undivided
attention.
@De_De_T: @Me Agreed: RT THIS
youtube.com/watch?v=vLV9sz…
(This was a link to a video about the crisis in
Congo)
@De_De_T: @Him & your attempts to guide
my RTs will fall short. I see & appreciate ur
passion 4 this cause but I refuse to b goaded
this way.
@De_De_T: @Him Sir… I can’t tell anybody
how to live but a sense of humor would do
nothing to diminish your sense of pride.
@Him: @De_De_T No… ‘this’ tweet was
indeed… ‘funny’. LMBO!
@De_De_T: @Him At least you can find
humor in something. Whether it’s petty or not
is of no concern to me.
@Him: @De_De_T YOUR response to the
Root funny joke “@TheRoot247: Here’s my
theory: (Insert the name of the man who has
been unable to ruffle me here) shot Fitz.
#Scandal” He DOES need a job…”
@Him: @De_De_T Gotcha…
pic.twitter.com…
(It was a picture of a lemming. If you are
unaware of the social reference, people re-
ferred to as lemmings are mindless, blind
followers of others who are devoid or original
thought. In nature lemmings are infamous for
mass suicides based on one lemming leaping
stupidly to his death with hundreds of others
following him without hesitation.)
@De_De_T: “@Him: @De_De_T Gotcha…
pic.twitter.com…” The culmination. #Lovely
(I was just happy this nigga finally ran out of
shit to say.)
When Celebrities Attack. on Twitter
By: Deanna Theriot
19
Most of you don’t know anything about me
outside of what you may read on your
computer screens, so let me assure you that I
don’t involve myself with celebrities’ personal
lives. I don’t spend any time on TMZ or
Media Takeout. I don’t pay any mind to the
writings of such gossip bloggers as Perez
Hilton or Necole Bitchie. I don’t peruse the
entertainment sections of any news outlet just
for shits. Generally speaking, I am quite
detached from most “behind-the-scenes”
tidbits about any celebrity, whether I’m a fan
of their work or not. In short I really could
give a fuck. Therefore, this person’s
suggestion that I would be some sort of social
lemming is a clear indication that he knows as
little about me as I do him. Is it MY fault that I
never see this nigga on my television unless
it’s a rerun of a show from 2007 and beyond
or a throwback flick from a similar earlier
period of time? I didn’t do that to you, sir. I
can’t be bothered to run a Google search
whenever I consider how long it’s been since I
saw “So and So” on something to find out
what you may be doing now (that I could still
give a fuck about). The point is, if I don’t care
to look now, I will very likely care even less
after you’ve pitched a minor Twitter bitch
(something that you have been reported to do
in a major way real life). Of course I could’ve
taken the time to tell him all this in our brief
bout of banter but it’s Sunday and my focus
was on the NFL. Also considering the
demeanor of my antagonist, it would’ve been a
complete waste of keystrokes as my words
would’ve been met with eyes blinded by
arrogance. Most importantly, who has the
patience to give somebody thorough a
tongue-lashing in 140-character increments?
Certainly, not I (not for this cat, anyway).
My real question during all this was: what is
the end game here--to puff out your little
peacock chest in proof that you’re tough
enough to confront someone who didn’t even
really challenge you to begin? I mean… do
you wanna come see me? You wanna box, B?
C’mon! It’s not that serious! I could
understand if I went on a vile, unsolicited rant
like so many other Tweeple, making snide
comments about celebrities out of spite or pure
jealously but all I had to do was, in a
light-hearted fashion, state the obvious to
anyone with a television—he ain’t on it like
talkin’ ‘bout (at least he isn’t on mine). I’m
sorry, bruh. Maybe I should be looking
harder—with a candle in the daytime perhaps?
This isn’t to suggest that he won’t come to the
forefront once more but damn… you sensitive
much, homey? Could it be that you still have a
chip on your shoulder from the melodramatic
way you fell from grace all those years ago?
Are you so tired of people throwing jabs at
your professionalism that my one ironical
comment pushed you to defend yourself once
and for all? Furthermore regardless of what I
may have said to add insult to your perceived
injury, I have 152 followers… nigga, chill. He
was very literally the ONLY one who gave a
damn. I don’t know about him, but I’m not
about to jump at a chance to check somebody
only to solidify an image of being ill-tempered
and belligerent that I’ve been trying to dispute
for years. Perhaps being a little LESS
quarrelsome would help dissolve that notion,
brotha. Jeez…
And of course it isn’t just the rich and famous
who behave like entitled 12 year-olds on social
networking sites. We regular Joes and Joannes
are absolutely no better. There is no end to the
virtual mudslinging, card-pulling and
weave-snatching betwixt co-workers,
“friends”, family members and total strangers.
It appears to me that our modern culture is one
of being perceived as “The Realest” (whatever
the fuck that means). I assumed that “being
real” is akin to being authentic but being
authentic has nothing to do with being an
asshole, or so I thought. Maybe the original
implications of “realness” have been
misconstrued to be a representation of a
certain type of person rather than being
defined on an individual level. With that being
said, mutha fuckas who outchea claiming
they’re “real” are simply assuming a caricature
of someone else’s personality traits. This
sensationalized notion of being up front and
honest has been cloned to the point of
complete degeneration. It’s one thing to
stand-up for oneself but it’s entirely another to
go out looking for reasons to posture with one
another on trivial issues. My suggestion is
grow the fuck up before you get on the
Internet to bludgeon us all with your lack of
maturity and identity. Maybe this year we can
all resolve to look deeper within ourselves for
personal truth rather than looking outward and
shrinking to fit.
Baby, when I tell you Twitter gets PETTY?
This is the same kinda eReal nonsense that
made me shoot Facebook the deuces! I thought
I knew the struggle until a purportedly very
busy celebrity attempted to read me my rights
via my mentions on some decidedly
insignificant trifle. As absurd as this
unwarranted endeavor into the psyche of a
scorned actor was, sadly this incident is not an
isolated one. Celebrities also have voices and
these days they’re using them to bite back
against us regular working stiffs who would
dare to speak ill of them, even in good-natured
fun. Though many everyday folk would swear
it wasn’t true (not me), these celebs have the
capacity to be every bit as small-minded or
grudging as that person who can’t stand to see
you with a little bit of something that he
doesn’t have for himself. I guess this celebrity
wouldn’t allow my quip be the last word on
his career or maybe he just couldn’t allow me
to go through my day believing that the
mighty truly had fallen. In all honestly, I must
repeat, I could really give a fuck. By all
means, sir, continue to thrive and I wouldn’t
wish any ill upon your career, even after you
tried in vain to draw me into a virtual pissing
match. I will say however, that all character
flaws rumored of him before that I previously
ignored have officially been made manifest.
For the first time EVER a celebrity made me a
first-hand believer of the gossip surrounding
his name. You won.
P.S.: I was not mentioned, but I found this to
be an interesting statement for him to make his
triumphant Twitter exit with:
@Him: #MySleeptweet I don't care what you
say about me, but if I catch you lying on me
and confront you. Don't try to run and hide by
lying more.
Girl, boo. Be for real.
20
Dr. Ada Craig Roberson is a dedicated wife, mother and advocate for those in need. She is a
Licensed Clinical Social Worker within the state of Louisiana and holds a doctoral degree in
Counseling Psychology. Ada has a wealth of experience in working with disadvantaged
individuals and has taken the term “Life Enhancement” into a whole new meaning within the
social services industry. Her ability to truly understand human behavior has allowed her to
transform the lives of many individuals, some of which were hopeless in the eyes of society.
She loves a good piece of fine chocolate, a good challenge and stimulating activities. If you
have an issue you would like to bring to Dr. Ada’s attention please email
[email protected] or make a post on the Ask Dr. Ada page on
www.cognitionmagazine.com
Ask Dr. Ada
Caramel Dimple: I'm a single woman in my 30s and I feel that my mother is being
so needy and invasive with me when there are other available siblings. Her health is
ok, I just feel that she's crowding my space. How do I say no to her requests and still
be respectful?
Dimple,
I suggest that you sit down and have a heart to heart with your mother. Tell her that you
love her and want to be there for her, but have been struggling with balancing your
personal responsibilities with your desire to be there for her. Suggest that you guys have a
special day that you devote to spending with her. You can work together to establish the
frequency. You can also reach out to your siblings and ask that they become more
proactive with assisting your mom (i.e. they can increase their frequency of contact with
her and offer unsolicited assistance). Finally, during your scheduled dates with your mom,
you can engage in activities that provide her with an opportunity to meet new people such
as playing bingo or taking a class for cake decorating, sewing, computer literacy, etc.
When her support network is expanded, her need to lean on you should decrease.
Dr. Ada Craig Roberson
21
The Man: how do you handle being in love when you feel that you are the only one
contributing to the relationship. I feel that I am the only one doing most of the ground
work.
Man,
In order for any relationship to succeed, you have to have both individuals committed to
its success. If only one person is invested in the relationship, it is doomed to fail. You
need to figure out if you and your significant other are on the same page in terms of what
you want out of the relationship. It may just be that your significant other sees the
relationship more casually than you do, they may be accustomed to being the taker in
relationships and not be willing or able to give more of themselves, or they just may not
be that into you. Either way, it is important that you determine what it is that you need
from your relationship and what you’re willing to accept. If both of you want a committed
love relationship, you may benefit from couples counseling. However, if you discover that
you’re not on the same page, it may be time to move on.
Marc: I am the owner of a beauty salon & barber shop and all my employees keep
having sex with each other and it is causing problems internally. The staff is young
(mid 20's) and I need some guidance on how to control them without being too strict.
Marc,
All successful businesses have policies and procedures governing staff and operations to
ensure that the business operates in accordance with the vision of the owner. There is
nothing wrong (or unusual) about implementing a policy related to employees fraternizing
with one another while employed by your business. In fact, many businesses adopt
anti-fraternization policies as a way to avoid sexual harassment liability. For example, you
have two co-workers who are engaged in a sexual relationship, the relationship ceases, but
one of the workers continues to pursue the other who is no longer interested. The pursuit
is now unwelcomed, thus, sexual harassment. In short, it may be in the best interest of
your business to establish a Code of Conduct for your employees. At the end of the day, it
is not about controlling your staff’s lives, it’s about preserving your livelihood.
22
C ognition Magazine interviews Lester Love, the presiding Bishop of City of
Love ministries in New Orleans, Louisiana. From personal experience we can tell you that
this man and his congregation are very innovative and utilize a holistic approach to
bring people to God. This church covers all aspects of life for the
progression of its members such as education, finances, love, relationships, and fitness. Lester Love gives his take on the state of
mental health in the African American community and people of faith. This interview will surely demonstrate how mental health and
spirituality coincide. Interview by: Malcolm Armstrong Jr. &
support by Kevin McCathen Images by: Q. Bleu Photography
L L
ester
ove
The Man Behind the
“City”
23
CM: What was your upbringing like
because we understand you were born in
Canton Mississippi?
LL: Actually I was only born in Canton. My
father and mother were both living in New
Orleans and they met there. My mother is
from Canton, MS. and my father is from
Tylertown. My dad had this interesting thing
about all of his kids being born in Missis-
sippi so right before my mother delivered
me, they sent her off to Canton to have me
and 11 days later I was back in New Orleans.
I was raised around the Tulane and Broad
Street area (3rd ward New Orleans).
CM: Do you ever go back to Canton to
visit? LL: We used to go back when I was younger
for family reunions and as we got older, we
don’t go back as much as we used to. My
mother actually moved from New Orleans to
St. Louis so most of our family now is in St.
Louis.
CM: Tell us how your servanthood under
Bishop Paul S. Morton at Greater St.
Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church
shaped you into the success you have in
your ministry now. LL: It’s a couple of things. It actually did
start with my father; he was quite popular
here in New Orleans. My father is what you
would call a “Man’s – Man,” whatever he
said went and that was it. (Bishop recalls his
younger years and he explains) The phone
would be ringing and he would call me way
from my room and the phone would be next
to him and he would say “go ahead and get
that.” The servanthood started with him and
doing what he said to do. At 16 I joined
Greater St. Stephen and I remember one of
the deacons
told me about
going to this
corner store
and he would
say “sit and
wait there with
your pastor
(Bishop Mor-
ton at the
time).” I
would sit at
that coffee
shop after
every 10:45am
service while
Bishop
Morton would shake hands and I would hand
him a peppermint or whatever he would need
and I believe it started there. I would go off
to school at LSU and come back and work in
every area of ministry (Deacon, greeter,
praise team, choir etc.).
CM: After your experience at Greater St.
Stephen the City of Love began, tell us
about that? LL: The original pastor of Greater Antioch
(now City of Love) wanted the Full Gospel
experience at his church and called upon
Bishop Paul Morton who sent another pastor
(Dr. Louis Kelly) to teach Full Gospel to this
church. In the meantime the original pastor
died and Dr. Louis Kelly became the pastor.
Dr. Kelly becomes sick and the church
congregation dwindled down to about less
than 20 people. They called Bishop Morton
for help and I happened to be there as the 1st
assistant to him and he agreed to lend myself
(Elder Love) to Greater Antioch for 90 days.
Now mind you he (Bishop Morton) did not
24
inform me of this and I never intended to
pastor a church. I wanted to retire when
Bishop Morton Retired. In between the 90
day period the pastor dies and the congrega-
tion begins to pick up a little bit because
there is this young pastor there (speaking of
himself). They had to vote on who would be
the next pastor and I was hoping they did
not vote me in. I was going to get on the
pastoral search committee to help find a
new pastor but they voted me in and here I
am 14 years later. I like to say seven and
seven years because hurricane Katrina came
in and we had to start all over again. Greater
Antioch was the name of the church when I
received it and so many people ask “what
does Antioch mean?” The 21st century
terminology of “City of Antioch” is
equivalent to the “City of Love.” The
change in the name of the church has
nothing to do with my name; it is actually
what the city of Antioch means but it fits the
personality of our church and who I am. We
(The City of Love) are innovative, never
judgmental, believing in order, and vibrant.
CM: What is it like having your wife,
Pastor Fran Love serve at your side in
ministry?
LL: Pastor Fran and I met back at LSU
when I was 18 years old (we were married
at 25) and I knew then she had an anointing/
calling on her life but it needed to be
developed. When we moved over to Greater
Antioch Pastor Fran becomes my best
student. She adopted my teachings and style
as hers; she became the female version of
me. Bishop Paul Morton asked me to preach
every fourth Sunday at his church and
Pastor Fran would preach every fourth
Sunday back at the City of Love and
everything stayed high and the word was
good. She is a tremendous woman of God, a
prayer warrior, great mother, great wife and
she takes a great load off of me. She really
helps me in this critical task of ministry.
25
CM: Let’s talk about the balance between
you being father and pastor to your three
daughters. LL: The word I think of is harmony. We
work harmoniously together. My girls Joy,
Faith & Angel work with me; they under-
stand the order of my life is God first, then
my family and then my career. My career
happens to be ministry and I have learned to
make the distinction between those things.
My kids work along with me and they help
me in ministry. It is important to speak the
language of today and my kids help me with
that and keep me abreast of what’s going on.
CM: Cognition Magazine™ is focused on
promoting mental health awareness and
wellness from different avenues. How do
you feel about the current state of mental
health not only in black America but in
the church as well? LL: The church as a whole has done a fairly
decent job in teaching people spiritual princi-
ples. We are getting better in teaching people
the importance of physical health. The part
that we have somewhat strayed away from is
mental health in the church. As a community
of African American people, we have made it
taboo to talk about mental health and similar
issues. We need to do a better job a teaching
people how to think properly. When the
euphoria of praise has worn off, you still
have to give people concepts, strategies and
principles on how to think differently so that
they can attract different things in their lives;
that’s one angle. The second angle is we
need to make sure we talk (in the church)
about depression and oppression. First of all
depression is not a female disease,
everybody deals with it. We as pastors need
to be spiritual leaders and counselors. We do
not need to try to be what we are not. I can
give great spiritual advice but when it comes
to the nuts and bolts of what is going on in
someone’s head, then I think it’s my
responsibility to refer them to someone that
is a trained professional that can dig a lot
deeper than I can. Sometimes there are some
people that need a little more help than my
education and anointing can handle.
CM: What are your feelings on being the
“go-to” man for spiritual counseling in
someone’s time of need? LL: We (the church) need to be a clearing
house or a referral base. If someone comes to
me with an issue that is beyond my ability
then I’ve got people in my congregation that
I can refer them to. Let’s find out what the
issue is (of the person seeking assistance)
and let’s get you the best possible help we
can. The bible says “Some plant, some water,
but God brings the increase.” Ultimately God
is going to get the glory because you’re
going to get somebody lifted, delivered and
set free by his power. I do not have to be the
26
“cure all” and the “know all” for that type of
deliverance to come.
CM: We like for our viewers to read our
interviews and get motivated and inspired
by the stories of others. Was there ever a
time in life where things were not going the
way you wanted to or you made a decision
you were not proud of? If so how did you
overcome that obstacle? LL: All the time. I like to think that I make
more good decisions than bad decisions. I
wish I were perfect but everybody makes
mistakes and fall short. There is nothing I can
do to make God love me any more or any
less. He loves me for who I am. He may not
like me for some of the things I do but he still
loves me. We have painted God as this judge
that is just waiting to kill us; just waiting for
you to make a mistake so that he can banish
you to hell...I don’t believe that. I believe
God is a loving God that wants you to do
better and well. The thing that helps me is
understanding that God loves me. The same
God that is in the universe and sky also lives
inside of me. Once I fell in love with who
God is in me, then I know that I can do all
things through Christ that strengthens me. I
can set my will, my decision making factor, to
accomplish anything that I MUST (not I
should but I MUST).
CM: What inspired you to write “The Art
of Armor Bearing: God’s Blueprint for
Effective Servanthood?”
LL: It was 25 years of mistakes I made, 25
years of serving, 25 years of things that I have
learned. I said that there is no need for
anybody to make these mistakes again when I
have made them already. I wanted to put all
my years of blood, sweat and tears in a book
that can help somebody else not make the
mistakes I did. One of my responsibilities is
to teach the people of God how to effectively
serve.
CM: What makes your church so unique
and appealing to younger people?
LL: I thought the church should be a place
that you could have some fun in, learn
something, feel impacted, learn strategies on
how to live your life better versus hearing
what you should and should not be doing. We
touch on the things that matter to young
people like not wanting to be in church all
day. I want to come to church to get a good
word, hear some good music and come home
and watch the game. We have to make sure
that we are not trying to do an “8-track
church” in an iphone generation.
27
CM: After a long day what do you do to
eliminate stress?
LL: I go to the gym (Bishop and interviewer
laugh). I go with my kids to the movies. I take
off my Bishop hat and just be Lester Love. I
play video games (particularly bejeweled). I
love documentaries and learning. Because I
love church and I love God, sometimes I go
to a church conference and sit in the back just
so I can pick up something. At the end of the
day I am a homebody. I like waking up in the
morning and making breakfast for my girls,
walking the dog, going to the gym, and being
around the house.
CM: We are beginning 2013. Can you give
our readers some inspiration while they are
developing their new year’s resolutions and
setting goals?
LL: I totally agree. I think last season the
underlying concept was to take authority over
what had authority over us and I think this
year is the year to just walk in it and not just
try to do it. I don’t teach “try.” When you tell
yourself that I’m going do it and not try to do
it, you will find yourself walking in a whole
new level of victory.
CM: What is coming up next for Bishop
Love and the City of Love?
LL: In a world filled with so much hate and
violence I think we need to understand the
power of love. We are going to focus on the
revolution of love and we have coined the
phrase “Loveolution.” We will teach people
how to first love God, how to love
themselves, and how to love their neighbors
(family, friends and enemies).
CM: For those that are interested in the
City of Love and its teachings, what is your
schedule of services?
LL: On Sundays we have two experiences at
8am & 10:30am. On Wednesdays we have
two experiences at 12pm and 7pm. On
Saturdays we have an incredible prayer/
prophetic experience that begins at 8am for
one hour. Any one of those experiences will
empower you. We believe it’s going to be
innovative, loving, and teaching you order for
a greater experience with God. We promise to
teach you how to excel and to never settle.
28
Love & Relationships Resolutions to Make: Be Gentle With Your Heart.
J anuary is the month where we all make promises to shed our bad
habits, loose weight, and start fresh. We have a clean slate to change
our tragic ways and while that is all fine and dandy, how many of us
actually follow through? Come March we have forgotten that we just
bought a new gym membership, sworn off cookies, and that we made a
resolution to stop cursing. Matter of fact we will probably be hysterically
swearing up and down that we bought that year long membership to a gym
on the other side of town, while munching cookies and sipping an overly
caffeinated beverage.
This year maybe it is time to let our bad habits or those extra pounds be what they are, a part of our
mostly wonderful selves and set realistic goals. Perhaps we should start fresh by not setting new goals
but by shifting our attitudes. It is far time that many of us embrace who we are and focus on loving
ourselves for the flawed and imperfect individuals that we are.
Loving ourselves is so critical because if we don’t love and respect ourselves how can we realistically
expect others to love us?
A new attitude of loving yourself as you are will only do you good in your relationships, whether those
relationships are with friends, a significant others, or new intimate relationships. When you love
yourself, truly love and respect yourself for the person you are now, not the person you used to be or
want to be, you will attract good things. Those in your life that are not new will gravitate to your new
epiphany and follow suit.
This year challenge yourself not to make drastic and often unrealistic changes but to shift your attitude
so that you can blossom into your best self. For some that could simply be quitting any and all negative
self talk, for others maybe creating a daily mantra of “I am beautiful” or “I am smart” that is said
every morning while brushing your teeth. Perhaps just truly hearing, accepting, and believing
compliments will assist you in loving yourself. The approach and solution will be slightly different for
each of us but the end result will be magnificent across the board.
This year encourage yourself to be accepting of yourself and allow yourself to love you. As you love
yourself without complication the rest will follow. May this be your best year.
Alanna McCreary
29
What Blacks Should Know
SHERRY BACHUS, PH.D., LPC, LMHP, NCC
Assistant Professor
Child Development and Family Studies
College of Education and Human Development
Southern University at New Orleans
Dr. Sherry Bachus is an Assistant Professor at Southern University at New Orleans
(SUNO) and teach courses under the College of Education and Human Development in
the Department of Child Development and Family Studies (CDFS). She serves on the
Center for Excellent in Teaching and Learning (CETL) committee as well as other
committees for the University. Dr. Bachus is a Louisiana Licensed Professional
Counselors (LPC) with the State of Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board
of Examiners as well as a Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP). She is an
Approved Clinical Evaluator (ACE) for Mental Health Rehabilitation Services (MHR).
In 2001, she became Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) with the National Board of
Certified Counselors (NBCC). As a clinician, Dr. Bachus provides mental health
counseling to children and their families which includes cognitive behavioral therapy
to children for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, behavioral, and
emotional disorders as well as uses interventions to help children improve their social
skills. Dr. Bachus also serves as an advocate for children in court. Her research interest
includes mental health counseling for children and families, counselor education in
higher education, human services, and technology.
30
R ecent years have shown an
increase in mental health
problems and the impact on children and
families. Many mental health problems
begin early in childhood. Youth ages 15
and younger suffer from mild to severe
mental health disorders and some go
untreated. Due to stigma associated with
having a mental illness, family members
often are in denial when mental health
illness is manifested. Families can become
overwhelmed from having to deal with a
child who has a mental illness.
In childhood through to late adulthood,
there will be certain times when
individuals need help addressing issues
and/or problems which cause emotional
and psychological distress. The vast
devastation of a storm causes a high
prevalence of mental illness.
Pre-hurricane residents of New Orleans
showed evidence of an anxiety or mood
disorder following Hurricane Katrina
which was the worst natural disaster in the
United States. The need for mental and
behavior health services in the New
Orleans metropolitan has risen. Research
showed that the rate of anxiety disorder,
PTSD, and depression in the New Orleans
metropolitan area residents was higher
than that typically found in studies of
mental illness following natural disasters
in the United States.
The American Association for Suicide
Prevention (2012) noted that an estimated
19 million Americans suffer from
depression. Women suffer from depression
twice as much as men, regardless of racial
and ethnic background or economic status.
Young people are constantly referred to
child and adolescent mental health services
for an assessment as a result of violent acts
that they have carried out in the
community such as in schools. Empirical
research studies have concluded that the
combination of antidepressant medication
and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
offered favorable benefits in the treatment
for youth and adolescents with major
depressive disorders.
Clinicians play key roles in working
directly with children, including families,
and using community resources in the
treatment of people with mental disorders.
An awareness of mental health problems
and how to again access and resources to
Mental and Behavioral Health Services are
crucial and are needed to provide clinical
treatment for individuals who have been
diagnosed with mental disorders.
A Need for Mental Health Awareness
31
Thoughts After Dark
B ragging on sex happens quite often. Personally, I never brag nor boast.
I'd much rather see my partner's stunned reaction when I perform above
expectations or his disappointed reaction if my sex game is wack. Needless to say,
many have bragged on their sexual abilities. In a recent session of #QBAfterDark
on twitter, I asked my followers if they experienced this and what were the
results. Here were some of the replies:
@SwerveMusik said, "yea the bi*ch couldn't
arch her back!"
@pickQueen4life said, "I really hate them, they
are the ones that get kicked out the room quick."
@Ashtastic_86 said, "Yes, almost punched him
in the face."
@_AllDat_Jazz said, "YESSSSSS SMFH"
From the looks of things, those that brag have no reason to do so. From my own
personal experience, I'd have to say the same. I had a guy brag on having good
head and it was the worst! People need to stop bragging on wack sex and then
leaving a lot of people disappointed and not sexually fulfilled!
W hen it comes to real life sex questions, there are many
things that some people wonder whether or not they are
normal happenings during sex. I host a weekly sex discussion session
on Twitter giving people the opportunity to answer some questions
and submit questions they may have wanted to ask but didn’t want to
seem weird. I’ve asked everything from “Is a bad kisser a turn off to
you?” to “Ladies, do you swallow?” The responses to the questions
can be off the wall!
If you have any questions
that you might want
submitted, follow
@QBAfterDark on
twitter.com and submit
your questions. The
discussion sessions happen
every Monday at 10pm
sharp. #QBAfterDark
32
CAROLYN S. Proprietor/ President/C.E.O.
For papering products visit:
WWW.THESATINPEARL.COM Or Call:
504-251-2647
33
Be Inspired
A thought
or
decisions can
certainly redefine
our direction in life
and in love. There's
a lesson in every
experience.
However, one usu-
ally does not figure out the lesson until well
after the experience. Some people have to
live with the knowledge that only after
losing something or someone did they truly
realize what they had. Or how about the
choices we make that we feel are best for
us, or when we consciously decide to do
something only to later realize we chose
wrong.
In life we all will be faced with something
that is described as a “defining moment.”
What is a "defining moment?” I describe it
as a point in time where one gains clarity
about something that has long eluded them,
when one consciously chooses to do
something or stop, or when something
becomes as obvious as a noose around our
neck.
There is no set course for when we reach
these places in our lives. They appear
almost "out of the blue.” The funny thing is
that when we have these moments we
usually say to ourselves, “what was I
thinking?”
The first thing that we need to realize is that
these defining moments radically alter the
course of our lives. These moments come
and these moments go. Within each moment
there are opportunities. If we don’t take
advantage of them they leave with the
moment. The second thing that we need to
understand is the time is a tyrant and it can
consume choices left unmade. The only
choices that live are the ones that are taken
but even then there can be some momentary
delays. The good news is that when we
choose good and choose to move with the
Creator nothing can stop us from fulfilling
our purpose in God.
Defining Moments
Darrin L. Harris
34
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