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News of Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s passing at just 54 has left many of us stunned. As we reflect on the life of the beloved Cosby Show star, we are reminded of the fragility of life and the swiftness with which our days pass. Psalm 90:12 urges, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” In times like this, that wisdom leads us to cherish every moment, not in fear, but in faithful awareness of God’s sovereignty over life and death.

Though our earthly days are limited, the salvation of the Lord is eternal. His mercy and grace do not run out they invite us daily into deeper relationship and lasting peace. As we mourn and try to understand let us also lean into the promise that God desires us to live with Him now and forevermore.

Let us number our days and live them with purpose, hope, and love.

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“The Lord said to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 1:6–8

‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain… Go in and take possession of the land…’”

God’s call to Israel was not just about territory it was a summons to responsibility. When God gives land, He also gives a charge: care for it, protect it, and honor its holiness. In a world plagued by environmental neglect, we are reminded that creation is not ours to exploit but it is a trust from God. Ecological justice is spiritual justice. As children of the most high God we must not stay idle in apathy. The land is groaning not just from pollution, but from our unfaithfulness. God wants us to step forward with intention and to possess the land with purpose. Who see God’s fingerprints in every tree, every stream, and every part of the Land that He has given us.

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I am Marben Bland, Pastor of The Greater Bethel AME Church In Athens, Georgia With A Living The Word Moment.

With the passage of his “Big Beautiful Bill, President Trump is a winner and he is celebrating.

However, as we celebrate Independence Day, political scientist Ian Bremmer, founder of the Eurasia Group, reminds us in his 2025 Tulane commencement speech:

“We were winners, but we were not leaders.”

Bremmer wasn’t speaking of the victory of getting a bill passed, but of moral leadership. True greatness isn’t just about winning—it’s about shaping a better world.

Jesus said, “Whoever wants to become great among you become a servant” (Matthew 20:26). Scripture calls us not to hoard power, but to lead with humility and justice.

Is shaping a better world cutting poor people’s medical care or giving rich people a tax cut?

Is shaping a better world closing down HeadStart or advancing a hedge fund.

Is shaping a better world achieved when funding has been cut for lifeguards on the beach while the President shakes down law firms, universities, and television networks with silly lawsuits and bogus executive orders?

America has been blessed with freedom and strength. But leadership is not a trophy it’s a responsibility.

This 4th of July, may we recommit to leading with faith, compassion, and courage so that our freedom blesses not just ourselves, but the world.

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I am Marben Bland Pastor of the Greater Bethel AME Church In Athens, Georgia with a living the word moment.

Jacob, the deceiver, stole Esau’s birthright—a sacred inheritance meant for the firstborn. But instead of rejection, Jacob encounters grace. Alone and fleeing for his life, he dreams of a heavenly stairway and hears God’s covenant reaffirmed through him. Why would God choose a thief? Because God uses flawed people to carry out divine purposes.

Abraham lied, Isaac favored, Jacob stole—and yet God still showed up. He still shows up for us. We all carry flaws, but God meets us in our brokenness and transforms our story. Jacob awoke changed, renamed the place Bethel—House of God.

Let your past be the place where God meets you, not where He leaves you.

God still uses the unworthy—because it takes a thief to understand the power of grace.

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I am Marben Bland, Pastor Of Greater Bethel AME in Athens, Georgia with a Living The Word Moment.

On most Sundays, I wind down by watching an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show on MeTV. The one I watched recently was from 1965 Van Dyke was 40 then. Now, in December 2025, he turns 100 the last surviving adult cast member. You know time marches on.

Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Life is brief. Most of us won’t see 100, but every day is a gift a chance to live wisely, love deeply, and serve faithfully.

No matter our age or season, we can manage our time well, steward our resources, and surrender fully to God’s leading.

Let’s make our lives count not someday, but today.

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Three Faith Lessons From Juneteenth
I am Marben Bland, Pastor of Greater Bethel AME Church In Athens, Georgia with a Living The Word Moment.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free...” – Galatians 5:1

Juneteenth, marks the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally learned they were free—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This painful delay reminds us that truth, though declared, must be received to take root.

As we reflect on this historic moment, we uncover timeless spiritual lessons that speak to our walk with Christ today:

1. Freedom Delayed Is Not Freedom Denied
Even when justice is slow, God’s promises stand. Habakkuk 2:3 — “Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”

2. Truth Must Be Proclaimed
Like those who carried the news to Galveston, we are called to proclaim truth and justice. John 8:32 — “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

3. Remembering Builds Hope
In Scripture, remembrance is a sacred act that fuels our hope. Deuteronomy 6:12 warns, “Be careful that you do not forget the Lord.” When we remember what God has done, we are strengthened to trust what He will do.

Let us be truth-bearers, justice-seekers, and hope-builders—because Christ not only sets us free, but calls us to help others walk in that same freedom

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I am Marben Bland, Pastor Of The Greater Bethel AME Church In Athens, Georgia with a Living The Word Moment

In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus speaks to the raging sea: “Peace! Be still!” And suddenly, the wind ceased, and the sea was calm. This is a reminder that even when chaos surrounds us, Jesus is present, powerful, and in control.

One hundred years ago, civil rights hero Medgar Evers was born. His pursuit of justice stirred storms across Mississippi. When he was assassinated on June 12, 1963, the nation grieved. Yet in the face of unspeakable loss, his widow Myrlie Evers stood firm. With grace and resolve, she became a voice of calm amid racial unrest, a modern echo of Christ’s peace.

Whatever storm you are facing—be it injustice, grief, or fear—know that the same Jesus who calmed the sea can calm your soul. Trust Him. Even in the darkest night, His peace can still calm the storms in our lives.

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I am Marben Bland, Pastor of the Greater Bethel AME Church In Athens Georgia with a living the Word Moment.

Have you ever heard the praise “What would Jesus do?” So, the question is “how can I ask what Jesus would do if I don’t know who Jesus is?”

The answer begins with relationship. Before we can imitate Jesus, we must first meet Him. Jesus in Matthew 4:19 is inviting us when he says Come, follow me”

Jesus is not a distant figure to study, but a Savior to know. In John 10:14, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” When we seek Him for answers—we discover His heart, His ways, His love.

To ask “What would Jesus do?” is powerful, but it only makes sense if you know His voice. Open your Bible. Pray. Join a community of believers. Begin to know Him for yourself.

Then, asking what Jesus would do won’t be guesswork—it will be a response born from knowing the character of Jesus, knowing the power of Jesus and knowing the love of Jesus.

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