**For Immediate Release**

THE ORIGINAL BEAUTY SHOP BOOK AND
THE BEAUTY SHOP RESTAURANT
TOGETHER AT LAST IN MEMPHIS!

CONTACT: Sandra Hamer

shamer@sandrahamer.com

Memphis, Tennessee….. Author Sandra Hamer teams up with The Beauty Shop Restaurant for a delicious literary event. Hamer will sign copies of her book GLORY…THE HAIR at the restaurant located at 966 South Cooper Street. The event takes place Saturday, February 6, 2010 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Glory…The Hair takes you inside Touch-Up, Shelia Kennedy’s upscale hair salon where some of Memphis’ finest are getting their hair whipped. After Shelia has a slip of the scissors so to speak, the entire city is a buzz about the two. Jennifer once cordial with Shelia is now taking her to court over hair and it has nothing to do with a bad relaxer.
Jennifer has to rely on her faith to keep from “going postal” but she doesn’t stop there. Shelia needs to be taught a lesson. Hairdressers are supposed to be a woman’s best friend. She believes that Shelia intentionally cut her hair just because she’s “j”. Shelia believes that Jennifer has it all wrong, but now it’s being played out in the court of public opinion and in a court of law.
Christian Fiction Author Sandra Hamer is a middle school reading teacher with Memphis City Schools. The first time novelist is also a playwright, poet and budding screenwriter. The former television news reporter/anchor is currently working on a sequel to Glory…The Hair and two non-fiction books. Glory…the Hair is available at www.amazon.com or www.authorhouse.com
Karen Carrier is a restaurateur/artist. She owns The Beauty Shop Restaurant, Do Sushi and Mollie Fontaine Lounge. Memphis has her to thank for opening Automatic Slim’s Restaurant on South Second Street. Carrier is a graduate of the Memphis College of Art. Not only has Carrier launched restaurants in Memphis, but also New York City where she attended the New York Cooking School. Carrier was also inducted into the Society of Entrepreneurs in 2004.

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THE ENEMY IS TRYING TO STEAL POTENTIAL

There is a slow and unfortunately steady move in the world today. While many of us are trying to save our mortgage, find a job and fight other spiritual battles, the enemy is focusing on our children. The devil is trying to steal potential. As a teacher, I often have a bird’s eye view of what goes on in some other households because children often talk. Unfortunately, I see what happens in the media to our children, be it gang related, accident related or family induced. While we are working two or three jobs and leaving the latch key kids at home, the enemy is working against our youth.
I often say that we owe our children more than a place to sleep, food to eat and clothes to wear. We owe them ministry. Ministry and a good prayer life are the main things that will help keep our children on this earth in order to fill out their God given potential. Lots of time I get information that is not even asked for and children will let you know that they don’t go to church. They will let you know when they get baptized and they will let you know if they just watch the TV preachers. You will hear about the issues at home and if they are visiting their Mama or Daddy this weekend.
As a former news reporter, I still find it hard not to watch about two to three newscasts a day and also see what the cable news networks have to say about current issues. I also see daily what goes on in Memphis, Tennessee in the judicial systems. Unfortunately, I have seen what has happened to some of my own relatives. A cousin of mine recently got out of prison after spending the majority of his adult life there. I know that he has been in and out of prison for the last 15 to 20 years. This time he reported to me that “I’m gone lay down.” When I asked what he meant. He clarified that he wouldn’t be getting into any more trouble.
I was very troubled about a year and half ago when one of my nephews was with the wrong person at the wrong time. He was with someone who allegedly took five dollars from someone. I have a problem even with the police department going to his school and picking him up over something like that that reportedly happened months before he was picked up. Something is wrong in America. I tell my students often that the police department will play with you and take you to juvenile court and try and scare you straight but when you turn 18 know that it’s on. They are then trying to lock you up and throw away the key.
My nephew who is not a bad child and this was his first brush with the law was in jail for about 3 weeks on a $75,000 bond because someone else’s child tried to take $5 from somebody on the sidewalk and then after this child goes home and talks with his parents they allegedly convince him to press charges. If that had been me, I would have probably given my child ten dollars and told him to avoid those kinds of people. So, after the bond is finally dropped my nephew has to go through what seems like more than a year for a diversion program. I am going to tell you right now. We need some help down here in Memphis, Tennessee with the judicial system and if anyone has any extra time on their hands you might want to come see about us and our kids.
I kept asking my nephew why are you in jail on a $75,000 bond over $5? I finally found out that the young man said that he thought that they had a gun because the other young man had his hand in his pocket and they both had on black hoodies. My nephew doesn’t own a gun and spends most of his time playing video games. He is not in a gang. Then, I go down to the court and see the young man who is accusing my nephew and see the parents one of whom I use to work with and all he could do was barely speak. I am so sick of my people selling us out to a system that constantly wants to rob America of it’s best and brightest. My nephew has a future.
I’m up there at the CJC looking at other folks children who have carjacked and some of them are on their second offense. Many are on attempted murder charges and assault and they got the nerve to give some of them a bond lower than $10,000. We all know that you have to pay the bondsmen 10 percent of what the full bond price is. Something is wrong with America and somebody needs to do something. These people are letting the so called “thugs” back on the street but your child or my nephew who has some quickly realized potential and some sense, they want to lock them up.
I’m living in a city that would rather jail African-American children then put them in an after-school program. I know from whence I speak having worked with an after-school program and gone around to the folks with the money to fund the vision. Then, they give you every excuse as to why they don’t have the money. I don’t care how many 990s you got on file with the IRS or how intact your paperwork is. If it’s a project that is actually going to move kids forward and give them a skill where they can make some money and come out of poverty and brings some others with them, you’re going to meet some resistance.
Then, you got folks who want to fight leaders that are trying to do stuff like they are demon possessed or something because they don’t want progress. They don’t want your child to be educated so they try everything that they can to discourage people.
It’s time to tell the enemy, this far and no farther; this far and no farther in our neighborhoods; this far and no farther in our schools; this far and no farther with the crime rate; this far and no farther with ignorance; Tell the enemy, this far and no farther.

Not In My House!

I just finished reading NOT IN MY HOUSE! by Pastor Andre Butler. This is an excellent book. It is a book that you want to get for other members of your family. NOT IN MY HOUSE! shows you how to recession proof your home. It starts with tithing and giving offerings. I was challenged to go back and create a budget. I had created one before but I am really going to try and abide by this budget.

Afterwards, I am still in awe as to how I have been paying my bills and doing what I do. This book will challenge you to enter into God's system instead of the world's system. We have been sold a bill of goods and think that using a loan to buy a house and a car is God's best. It is a decent and normal way of doing things but it's not God's best.

Now, many people are finding themselves in situations where they are trying to save their homes. I have been through foreclosure and it is not a pretty picture. I was tithing but I was over obligated and a small business partner in a non-profit foundation. I had a lot going on and have often been a risk taker. I have a new mortgage and I am current on it in the midst when many are losing their homes. My property value even went up this year. I am a tither and I am also using more wisdom regarding the things that I do.

You need to purchase this book and send it to those who need help. Many people have boycotted God and the church and sat home in their big houses on a Sunday morning when they should have been giving God glory for showing His glory. And others have been going to church on a regular basis but were caught up in the world's system that was stacked against them allowing them to borrow more than they actually needed to. Then you had some big companies that started laying people off which added fuel to the fire. I believe the favor of God is upon the Saints in the form of the loan modifications and witty inventions and books and movies and other ideas that God is pouring out to his people. I believe that God is birthing ministries in people during this time.

There are so many good nuggets in this book until I can't really get into everything. You need to purchase the book and read it for yourself and declare that despite the recession it will not affect your house. Even in the Bible, God did mighty works during times of famine. This is a modern day famine and an opportunity for you to put a demand on your faith and watch God show up and show out.

Purpose in the Midst of Storm

The new and correct mentality these days is "What is my purpose?" This is a good question to ask because when we leave this earth whether you believe in Jesus or not it is a question that will be required of you. "Did you do the will of God for your life?" One might ask, how do I know His will? First of all, read His Word. Join His church. Look at some of my previous posts to determine what is a good church to join but you must believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose three days later and that His blood covers our sins.

Join a church because the Word states that God will do nothing in the earth unless He reveals it to His prophets. A lot of times we miss out on things because we are not properly aligned. We are not under spiritual authority or leadership. This doesn't mean that a pastor is telling you when to go to bed and when to get up or when to go to work and when to stay home. It simply means that you have accepted God's rule for your life and that you understand that God's prophets, pastors and preachers, evangelists and apostles are His representatives here on earth. And that those who are of a truth are hearing from God and walking in integrity and will not lead you astray. If they do, make no mistake about it, they will be held and are being held accountable.

So take comfort in knowing that God has your back. When you join a church and if it is where God has ordained for you to be, He will confirm it. If He doesn't, just ask for a confirmation and if blessings and good tidings start flowing to you, rest assured that you are in the right place at the right time.

Proverbs 20: 18 says that "Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war." Isaiah 14:27 says "For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, who shall disannul it? and His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?"

Pastor T.D. Jakes said it best in one of his sermons "If you think you can stop God's will, you are tripping." That is so true. The enemy may think that he can slow things down but he can't stop God's will for your life especially if you want God's will for your life. Family members, friends, a spouse, church folks, co-workers and others can not stop the will of God for your life. God is a purposeful God.

Psalm 23:5 says "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."

God wants us all to be anointed and when you come out of darkness into the marvelous light you will be anointed. The Word of God says no good thing will He withhold from them who walk upright.

God will reveal Himself to you. I know that He speaks to men and women verbally and through the Holy Ghost. I remember when I received the call to teach things were happening and I just knew that something was going on. After a few flat tires, some of which upon inspection weren't flat, I decided to seek out my Pastor at the time and I told him that something is going on.

At the time, he said that I was probably getting the call, like to preach. That of course scared the daylights out of me since I was a televison news reporter and overnight anchor and had no desire this side of glory to preach. I was thinking, I will stay in Memphis a few more years and work my way to a bigger market. That was the plan since one of my mentors was a CBS news correspondent and another was an anchor in Dallas and she eventually became a co-host of the CBS Early Show. Yeah, I'm going places was my thought and I have been planning this since 9th grade.

Anyway, he told me to go home read these scriptures and I don't remember which ones he gave me. They were in the New Testament in one of the Gospels. He told me to fast and don't watch TV tonight or talk on the phone and God will speak. Well, I did as he said and I was expecting to hear from God because the man of God told me that God would speak.

Sometime that night or early morning I was awaken but I didn't open my eyes and God called my name twice. The second time I was attentive with my eyes closed and He told me to "teach the children." He showed me pictures of children. Each child had their own scene and they were in living, moving color and they were of different nationalities. And after he spoke that was it. I went back to sleep.

You might ask, how do you know it was God. The Bible says my sheep know my voice. The next day, somone who I had worked for in college called me and asked me to be on the board of their after-school program. I eventually ran a summer camp for SMART and then I was President of the board. Eventually, I left television when my contract ended but before it ended, I couldn't really get any peace and everytime I went live from the studio or in the newsroom there was pressure on my head and it would cause me to sort of frown. I remember the General Manager coming downstairs and just trying to get me to smile but I couldn't. I was also dreading going up in the helicopter for live shots or traveling out of town because I would get motion sickness.

Years later, a viewer responded that she saw the pressure that was under. And the pressure wasn't from co-workers. Channel 5 was a great place to work but that purpose in my life had ended. I was also under pressure to finish a book that I was working on. I was able to complete the book after leaving Channel 5. That book is "Glory...the Hair." I think that I was under so much spiritual pressure that God had to send me to a bigger more established church like Temple of Deliverance in Memphis, Tennessee. I have been sleeping peacefully since 1999. I am not awaken by the enemy or anything like that. I think all of the prayers and anointing that Bishop Patterson established will last for generations to come. Now, I have a new Pastor who is also anointed and keeping the devil where he belongs which is under our feet. The Bible says upon this rock, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail.

The Word of God says in Job 33:14-18 "For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword."

Many times people come near death before understanding the will of God for their lives. If you have a spouse, relative or child who thinks that they have a call on their lives, don't be a hindrance. At times God did wink, but now He is calling every man to repentance.

I remember my grandmother who raised me saying that my grandfather had received the call and she wouldn't let him preach. I don't know how she was able to do that but I do know that I never met him because he died before I was born I believe.

If you don't do the will of God for your life, there is no guarantee that you will still be on earth. It is disobedience at the highest level. I don't care how people try to fight you and make you think that God doesn't have anything significant for you do to or you are just trying to be seen and show out. You do everything that you can do to do the will of God for your life and God will take care of the rest.

Since I know that God has called me to teach, I am not quick to seek a job in any other area. Sometimes, I feel that I am being led into law but God hasn't said anything specifically to me about it. I know that I do watch a lot of Law and Order, CSI and NCIS. I may just need a working knowledge of the law for what I have to do in the future. I plan to stay in the area of my calling until I receive further instructions and right now that is teaching students and writing Christian novels.

The Lord's Economy

I know that there is a lot of aniexty about what is happening in the world and about the U.S. economy. I know a lot of people don't like others telling them what to do especially if you're not Oprah Winfrey, Donald Trump, Suze Orman, Michelle Singletary or someone worth a million dollars or a contributor to MSNBC.

For everyday people and for those of us who are trying to make it and come into all that God would have us to be, here is a bit of advice. "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts." Malachi 3:10-12.

Since I started tithing some 20 years ago, I have always been gainfully employed. Even when I left television, because I was called (more on that later) to teach, I still had income to pay my bills and it wasn't unemployment income. By the time, I finally decided to go apply for unemployment and before I even received that first check from them, I had a job.

God will take care of His own. Tithing will cover a multitude of things. Even if you are not living the most holy of lifestyles, if you are tithing God will float you until you get your act together. If you're not tithing, you are not guaranteed a job or anything else. Tithing does other things than just guarantee a steady income stream. Tithing provides covering for you and your family and your children. Just go to google and see what ministers have to say about tithing. If you don't tithe, your finances are cursed and expect anything to happen.

This is something that I have experienced first hand and you can take it to the bank. There are a lot of demonic games being played in America with people on the job, with their money and other things. People can't handle you any kind of way when you are a tither. In God's eye, a tither is like a stockholder. You are taking stock in God's kingdom and supporting His work. You are somebody. Every dollar that you give to a church that God has ordained or your favorite television ministry or network is counted in your heavenly bank account.

You might say. God hasn't revealed His purpose or will for my life. Just tithe and join a local church. When I say church, try and join a five-fold ministry where the Word of God is being proclaimed, people are being saved, there is a strong distinction between right and wrong, the Holy Spirit has free reign and the Pastor is not afraid to speak out against sin. You can go to Ephesians 4:11-13 to find out more about the role of the Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher. That is the Bible's definition of five-fold ministry. Not every pastor will be an apostle, someone who plants new churches, but he can still have an awesome anointing on his life and if this is where God has planted you then you are right, smack, dab in the will of God for your life.

Any place where they believe in Jesus and don't mind speaking in tongues is a good place to be. I don't really want to debate this. If you are not tithing and your economy has turned upside down, turn back to God and turn back to tithing. Repent for being out of His will and misappropriating His money and ask for His favour to return to your life. Also, if you need a job apply on monster.com, careerbuilder.com and everywhere else and watch things change in your life. Here's to your first million or your first $100,000. Whatever you are believing God to do in your life.

My Fellow Americans

I would like to say that I am happy that I am alive to see the first African-Amercian President. I realize that many in the media are referring to him as biracial. I don't know what his preference is but when others see him and if it were someone that I know, he would be referred to as African-American. This is a significant step for America. It shows the rest of the world that we are not clinging to decades old prejudices. We are a long way from traveling on ships from Africa to the new world. We are a long way from being denied the right to vote or being considered 3/4 of a person or whatever they were calling us back in the day. There were many bi-racial children on plantations but they were still referred to as black even though their master was their father. Let's not steal the significance of this event away from African-Americans. We realize that Obama doesn't hold any prejudices. He can't. His mother was white and his father Kenyan.

Let's not trivalize everything by trying to debate on what he is. We do know that he is the first African-American President of these United States of America. We are seeing Dr. King's dream in action where we are judged by the content of our character and not the color of our skin. Obama's election helps to eliminate from many of our African-Americans the excuse that I can't make it or "the man" won't let me do this and that and so and so. Obama is proof positive that if you put God and family first, the sky is the limit. Obama had a plan to get to this day. I say we all need to update our 5, 10, 15 and 20 year plan and start strategizing for what God will have us to be. I say we as Americans start working across the board as a team to continue to show the world what true leadership looks like by taking care of our own, being a friend to Israel and helping fight injustices and terrorism in the world.

This is a long way from having to pass a literacy test just to have the right to vote. When he was elected and the following day, I could feel the spirit of God excited within me. Just by the number of electoral votes, it is proof positive that God had His hand in it. The economy grew worse a few months before the election. Why? God wanted America and the world to see what four more years of Republican leadership would look like. I'm sure some people who were going to vote for McCain had a change of heart after they lost a job that they had held for 20 years. I'm sure that they had a change of heart when their portfolio went from $500,000 in net worth to about $250,000 all in one week. I'm sure they had a change of heart when some went from the middle class to the working class.

I have a dream today that we can no longer use race as an excuse not to get out there and hustle and be all that God has called us to be.

Dating God's Way

I made a decision about 12 years ago to start living a more holy lifestyle. Afterall, the lifestyle that I was living didn't get me what I wanted and I wasn't really focused or concerned about marriage for a long time. At that time, I was still in television and trying to figure out the best route to get to a larger market. Afterall, I had planned to be a television reporter since 9th grade and I was well on my way until life got interrupted.

I decided that sex before marriage was no longer for me. It's not that I don't like sex but I just felt a higher calling to live more holy and the condemnation that came with having sex was just not worth it. I kept feeling that I had missed the mark. And then to top it off, sometimes you would deal with someone who was so trifling that you had to basically threaten him just to use a condom. Go figure.

It wasn't the smoothest of transitions and being celibate usually works best when you date someone who has made God their top priority and understands and doesn't feel that you're playing a game.

Now, I know what you're thinking. She is off her rocker and she doesn't have any offers for dates. That is not true. It never has been and I doubt if it ever will be a problem to get dates. Besides sex, I have a lot to offer a man. I have good conversation, common sense, goals, standards and other things. I have always had plenty of men friends. I've even had a marriage proposal out of the blue from someone who I wasn't even dating ,but just talked to him about my boyfriends and what not and most men know a good thing when they see one.

I just feel that we are too close to the rapture and I refused to get left behind over some foolishness. Since I have been celibate, I have been able to work with more energy and purpose. I don't feel that I am being dragged down or anything. I also feel that I am anointed to help the man who will be my husband with the things God has birthed in him. Granted I don't know if I have met Mr. Right or not. I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings so I am not going to call names or make declarations, but I do feel that I am a better person and I am capable of helping the man in my life, whoever that is, to be the best that he can be.

Most importantly, I know that I am pleasing God. I feel that I can get my prayers answered more quickly and I have more faith because I am not beating myself up because of sex before marriage. A good girlfriend of mine told me years ago to stop just giving it away. She was previously married and eventually married again and is very happy. She told me "Men just lose their minds" when you sleep with them. She didn't call men and didn't return their calls. They just had to catch her when she was in. Now, I have found out that some women have wrote a book that basically wraps up what my girlfriend was telling me.

Now, if you are not ready to be celibate don't quit your boyfriend. I am not trying to promote promiscuity. I do believe that you can connect with your man on many different levels when sex is out of the picture or in this day and age delayed, but you two need to be on the same page.

I just feel that when you do things God's way, He will move heaven and earth for you. You can ask Him to help you and He will ,but I must warn you, He will not bless the mess. My book "Glory...the Hair" details different relationships. You will see the hairdresser Shelia who waits until marriage to have sex. On the other hand, Jennifer is in a regular relationship with plenty of sex. You'll have to read the book to see who gets the ring first.