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

marmstrong@cognitionmagazine.com

Follow us on twitter: @cognition_mag

Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/

cognitionmagazinellc

Malcolm Armstrong Jr.

3

4

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.

11

12

13

Interview By: Malcolm M. Armstrong Jr.

Images Courtesy of: Darrell Rogers & L. Jeff Williams

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.

15

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

askdrada@cognitionmagazine.com 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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