Monday, January 22, 2007

CD release date has been pushed back to Wed, Jan. 30

Hi everyone!  I just wanted to let you know that my CD will not be released until next Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2007.  The release date was pushed back to allow for some more work on the CD.  Sorry for any inconvenience.  If you have emailed me and told me that you want a CD, you don't need to do anything....I will just get back in touch with you when they are ready.  If you haven't responded, and you want one, just drop me an email to let me know.  Thanks so much to all of you for your prayers and support!
 
Love,
Stephanie

Friday, January 19, 2007

My new cd is coming out!

Hey everyone!
 
I just wanted to let you all know that my very first professional CD will be released next week.  It is a collection of 6 of my favorite Gospel songs plus a bonus track!  I am very proud of this accomplishment and I thank God for letting this come to pass.  If you would like to buy a CD, please email me and let me know.  The price is $10 and if I have to mail it, then it would probably be about an extra $2 for shipping.  The CD will be released around next Wednesday (January 24, 2007).  So get your order in now to secure a copy for yourself!  If you can't get a CD this time around, please keep me in your prayers that this CD would be a tool for ministering to many people.  Thanks to all of you for your love and support.  I love you!
 
Love,
Stephanie

Fw: 4 Wives


Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 12:14 AM
Subject: Fwd: 4 Wives


In a message dated 1/18/2007 9:54:13 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Mdmmam1 writes:
4 Wives


Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives.

He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.

He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through difficult times.

The King's 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her!

One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone."

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No way!" replied the 4th wife, and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, "I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to remarry!" His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave." Her answer struck him like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out: "I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the King now took notice of her and said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"

In truth, we all have the 4 wives in our lives:

Our 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.

Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

And our 1st wife is our Soul; often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go.

Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us in the end and throughout eternity.

Thought for the day:

Remember, when the world pushes you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray.

Pass this on to someone you care about - I just did.

Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect.
It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!




Monday, January 15, 2007

Fw: What The Bible Says About Death

>
>
>
> > WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT DEATH
> >
> > Death is certain but the Bible speaks about untimely death! Make a
> > personal
> > reflection about this. Very interesting, read until the end.
> >
> >
> >
> > It is written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7): "Be not deceived; God is not
> > mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Here are some men and women who mocked God:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > JOHN LENNON: Some years before, during his interview with an American
> > Magazine, he said: "Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not
> > have
> > to argue about that. I am certain. Jesus was ok, but his subjects were
> > too
> > simple, today we are more famous than Him" (1966). Lennon, after saying
> > that
> > the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times..
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > TANCREDO NEVES (President of Brazil ): During the Presidential campaign,
> > he
> > said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove
him
> > from Presidency. Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before
being
> > made President, then he died.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > CAZUZA (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet): During a show
in
> > Canecïo ( Rio de Janeiro ), whilst smoking his cigarette, he puffed out
> > some
> > smoke into the air and said: "God, that's for you." He died at the age
of
> > 32 of AIDS in a horrible manner.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > THE MAN WHO BUILT THE TITANIC: After the construction of the Titanic, a
> > reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be. With an ironic tone he
> > said: "Not even God can sink it" The result: I think you all know what
> > happened to the Titanic.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > MARILYN MONROE: She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of
a
> > show. He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her. After
> > hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said: "I don't need your
Jesus".
> > A
> > week later, she was found dead in her apartment.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > BON SCOTT: The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he
sang:
> > "Don't stop me, I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell".
On
> > the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead, he had been choked
by
> > his own vomit.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > CAMPINAS/SP IN 2005: In Campinas, Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went
> > to
> > pick up a friend. The mother accompanied her to the car and was so
worried
> > about the drunkenness of her friends and she said to the daughter -
> > holding
> > her hand, who was already seated in the car: "MY DAUGHTER, GO WITH GOD
AND
> > MAY HE PROTECT YOU."
> >
> >
> >
> > She responded: "ONLY IF HE
> > (GOD) TRAVELS IN THE TRUNK, CAUSE INSIDE HERE IT'S ALREADY FULL"..
Hours
> > later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident,
> > everyone had died, the car could not be recognized what type of car it
had
> > been, but surprisingly, the trunk was intact. The police said there was
no
> > way the trunk could have remained intact. To their surprise, inside the
> > trunk was a crate of eggs, none were broken.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Christine Hewitt: A Jamaican Journalist and entertainer, said the Bible
> > (Word of God) was the worst book ever written, in June 2006 she was
found
> > burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other name
that
> > was given so much authority as the name of Jesus. Many have died, but
> > only
> > Jesus died and rose again, and he is still alive.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > JESUS!!!
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > P.S: If it was a joke, you would have sent it to everyone. So are you
> > going
> > to have courage to send this? I have done my part, Jesus said "If you
are
> > embarrassed about me, I will also be embarrassed about you before my
> > father."
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

We all just wanna be rock stars???

I originally posted this on my MySpace blog, but I thought I would put it on here too.  You never know who you might bless!!  :-)

If you like, you can visit my MySpace page to view all of my blog entries there, because I don't always post the same ones here.  Just go to http://www.myspace.com/stephanieangelcates and click the link that says "blog".

Please read below my most recent post.  I hope you are blessed by it.

Love,
Stef

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OK...I only have a few minutes, because I have been sitting here longer than I should have already.  But I just had to take a minute to share this with you:

I was listening to the radio on my way home from work today.  I don't remember which station, but it was one of the pop/rock stations (yes, I listen to secular music on occasion....please don't bombard me with messages about the evils of non-Christian music!  I am getting to a point here!)  Anyway, this song comes on that I can tell is by Nickelback.  Nickelback is a rock group that, in my opinion, is pretty good, musically speaking.  But this was one I hadn't heard before.  So I turned it up and started listening to the words.  I was totally shocked by what I heard.  I am going to put the lyrics below, but please be advised THERE IS A CURSE WORD IN THESE LYRICS. 

"Rock Star" by Nickelback

I'm through with standing in line
to the clubs I'll never get in
It's like the bottom of the ninth
and I'm never gonna win
This life hasn't turned out
quite the way I want it to be

(Tell me what you want)

I want a brand new house
on an episode of Cribs
And a bathroom I can play baseball in
And a king size tub big enough
for ten plus me

(so what you need)

I'll need a, a credit card that's got no limit
And a big black jet with a bedroom in it
Gonna join the mile high club
At thirty-seven thousand feet

(Been there done that)

I want a new tour bus full of old guitars
And my own star on Hollywood Boulevard
Somewhere between Cher and
James Dean is fine for me

(So how ya gonna do it?)

I'm gonna trade this life for fortune and fame
I'd even cut my hair and change my name

[CHORUS]
'Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars
Live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'as we just won't eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's
Gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny
With the bleach blond hair
and well..
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar

I wanna be great like Elvis without the tassels
Hire eight body guards that love to beat up assholes
Sign a couple autographs
So I can eat my meals for free

(I'll have a quesadilla haha)

I'm gonna dress my ass
with the latest fashion
Get a front door key to the Playboy mansion
Gonna date a centerfold that loves to
blow my money for me

(So how ya gonna do it?)

I'm gonna trade this life
For fortune and fame
I'd even cut my hair
And change my name

'Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars
Live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'as we just won't eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's
Gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny
With the bleach blond hair
And we'll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary and
today's who's who
We'll get you anything
with that evil smile
Everybody's got a
drug dealer on speed dial
well..
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar

I'm gonna sing those songs
that offend the censors
Gonna pop my pills
from a pez dispenser
Get washed-up singers writing all my songs
Lip sync 'em every night so I don't get 'em wrong

Well we all just wanna be big rockstars
Live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'as we just won't eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's
Gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny
With the bleach blond hair
And we'll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary and
today's who's who
We'll get you anything
with that evil smile
Everybody's got a
drug dealer on speed dial well..
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar

 

After listening to this song, I started thinking....does everyone want to be a rock star?  Is that the kind of life everyone wants?  "Everybody's got a drug dealer on speed dial"???? 

If Nickelback was trying to make the "rock star" life sound appealing, I'm afraid they failed miserably.  At least, as far as I can see.  Maybe this song was written tongue-in-cheek, but the fact of the matter is that most musicians (not just rock.....we're talking Pop, Country, Rap....all of them) do live this kind of lifestyle.  Some have sold their soul for the fancy house and the "fifteen cars".  Don't get me wrong....a nice house, fine cars, lots of money.....that all sounds good.  But at what cost?  Nothing in life is free.  Even salvation.  Salvation is free for US, but it cost God His only Son.  Everything has a price tag.  What good is it to have a "bathroom big enough to play baseball in" if you have to spend eternity in hell, where you will be begging for a single drop of water?  What good is a "credit card with no limit", if you don't have any peace or happiness?  What good is "my own star on Hollywood Boulevard" if my name hasn't been written in the Lamb's Book Of Life???

You see, I guess a few years back I finally grew up.  Not physically, but spiritually.  When I came back to the Lord, He gave me a whole new outlook on life and the things in it.  I realized that the THINGS that we chase after in this life, often bring us more pain and heartache than they are worth.  That's why, for the past 5 years or so, I have been more intent on becoming famous with Jesus.  I don't want fame or fortune down here.  Who needs a "brand new house on an episode of Cribs" when I have a MANSION in heaven, built just for me, that nothing in this world could ever compare to!!  Who needs "eight body guards" when I have the ultimate Protector and Advocate?  His name is Jesus, and He can protect me more than 1,000 bodyguards ever could!!  He protects me sometimes when I don't even know I'm in danger.  What bodyguard can see into the future???

So....."we all just wanna be big rock stars"???  Thank you, Nickelback, but no thank you.  Unlike you, I wouldn't "trade this life" for anything!  As a matter of fact....I think the words to the song need a little re-working.  How's this:

"God's Star"

I'm through with wasting my time
with a world I'll never fit in
It's like the bottom of the ninth
and in the end I win
This life has turned out
better than what I wanted it to be

(Tell me what you want)

I want the joy of the Lord 
and all His peace
And a heart big enough to fit everyone in
And a King for a father good enough 
to save a wretch like me

(so what you need)

I'll need a, a life that's an example
To show Jesus to everyone
Gonna join the mile high club
When Jesus raptures His church away

(Gonna really do that!)

I want a new desire to serve Jesus
And my name written down
in the Lamb's Book of Life
even though I'm so unworthy

(So how ya gonna do it?)

I'm gonna live this life for Jesus alone
For Him, I'd do anything!

[CHORUS]
'Cause we all should wanna be big God stars
Live in righteousness, love, and peace
The blessings come easy and the joy come cheap
We'll never be hungry, cause God gives us enough to eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest ways
Giving God our all, each and every day
Every good Christian's
Gonna wind up there
Every saved person
With room to share
and well..
Hey hey I wanna be a God star
Hey hey I wanna be a God star

I wanna be great like Paul and win the masses
Look at the world through rose colored glasses
Work for Jesus
He provides my meals for me

(I'll have a quesadilla haha)

I'm gonna dress myself
in godly fashion
one day go Home to my brand new mansion
Got a best friend that said He would never leave
nor forsake me

(So how ya gonna do it?)

I'm gonna live this life for Jesus alone
For Him, I'd do anything!

'Cause we all should wanna be big God stars
Live in righteousness, love, and peace
The blessings come easy and the joy come cheap
We'll never be hungry, cause God gives us enough to eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest ways
Giving God our all, each and every day
Every good Christian's
Gonna wind up there
Every saved person
With room to share
And we'll hide out in our private closets
Saying prayers that God will
always answer
He'll get you anything
if it's His will
Through prayer you've got 
Jesus on speed dial
well..
Hey hey I wanna be a God star!


I'm gonna sing those songs
That bless my sisters and brothers
Gonna be good and
love one another
Make Jesus the subject of all my songs
To minister to those who feel like they don't belong

'Cause we all should wanna be big God stars
Live in righteousness, love, and peace
The blessings come easy and the joy come cheap
We'll never be hungry, cause God gives us enough to eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest ways
Giving God our all, each and every day
Every good Christian's
Gonna wind up there
Every saved person
With room to share
and well..
Hey hey I wanna be a God star
Hey hey I wanna be a God star

Monday, January 08, 2007

THIS PASTOR HAS GUTS

 

THIS PASTOR HAS GUTS...
Thought You might enjoy this Interesting Prayer given in Kansas at the Opening Session of their Senate. It seems Prayer still upsets some People. When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the New Session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your Forgiveness and to seek your Direction and Guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good', but that is exactly what we have done.
We have lost our Spiritual Equilibrium and Reversed our Values. We have Exploited the Poor and called it the Lottery. We have Rewarded Laziness and called it Welfare. We have Killed our Unborn and called it Choice. We have Shot Abortionists and called it Justifiable. We have Neglected to Discipline our Children and called it Building Self Esteem. We have Abused Power and called it Politics. We have Coveted our Neighbor's Possessions and called it Ambition. We have Polluted the Air with Profanity and Pornography and called it Freedom of Speech and Expression. We hav e Ridiculed the Time Honored Values of our Forefathers and called it Enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our Hearts today; Cleanse Us from Every Sin and Set us Free. Amen!"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The response was immediate. A number of Legislators walked out during the Prayer in protest. In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is Pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving International Requests for copies of this Prayer, from India, Africa and Korea. Commentator Paul Harvey aired this Prayer on his Radio Program, "The Rest of the Story" and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired. With the Lord's help, may this Prayer sweep over our Nation and whole hear tedly become our desire so that We again can be called "One Nation Under God."
If possible, please pass this Prayer on to your Friends. "If You don't stand for Something, You will fall for Anything." Think about this: If You forward this Prayer to Everyone on your e mail list, in less than 30 days it would be heard by the World.