WORLD AIDS DAY

TODAY IS WORLD AIDS DAY!

IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN TESTED, GET TESTED SOME PLACES HAVE RAPID 10 MINUTE TEST RESULTS.

From www.cdc.gov:

The HIV/AIDS epidemic in African American communities is a continuing public health crisis for the United States. At the end of 2006 there were an estimated 1.1 million people living with HIV infection, of which almost half (46%) were black/African American [1]. While blacks represent approximately 12 percent of the U.S. population, they continue to account for a higher proportion of cases at all stages of HIV/AIDS—from infection with HIV to death with AIDS—compared with members of other races and ethnicity's [2, 3].

The Numbers
HIV/AIDS in 2007
Blacks accounted for 51% of the 42, 655 (including children) new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 34 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting [3].
Blacks accounted for 48% of the 551,932 persons* (including children) living with HIV/AIDS in 34 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting [3].
For black women living with HIV/AIDS, the most common methods of transmission were high-risk heterosexual contact** and injection drug use [3].
For black men living with HIV/AIDS, the most common methods of HIV transmission were (in order) [3]:
sexual contact with other men
injection drug use
high-risk heterosexual contact**.
Race/ethnicity of persons (including children) with HIV/AIDS diagnosed during 2007
Note. Based on data from 34 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting.

AIDS in 2007
Blacks accounted for 49% of the estimated 35,962 AIDS cases diagnosed in the 50 states and the District of Columbia [3].
In 2007, the rates of AIDS diagnoses decreased among blacks but were still higher than the rates of any other race/ethnicity. The rate of AIDS diagnoses for black adults/adolescents were 10 times the rate for whites and nearly 3 times the rate for Hispanics. The rate of AIDS diagnoses for black women was 22 times the rate for white women. The rate of AIDS diagnoses for black men was almost 8 times the rate for white men [3].
Blacks accounted for 44% of the 455,636* people living with AIDS in the 50 states and District of Columbia [3].

By the end of 2007, 40% of the 562,793* persons with AIDS who died were black [3].
Prevention Challenges
Like other communities, African Americans face a number of risk factors that contribute to the high rates of HIV infection:

Sexual risk factors include high-risk sexual contact such as unprotected sex with multiple partners or unprotected sex with persons known to have or be at a high risk for HIV infection. People may be unaware of their partner’s sexual risk factors or have incorrectly assessed them.
Injection drug use may add to the higher rates of infection for African Americans. In addition to being at risk from sharing unclean needles, causal and chronic illegal substance users may be more likely to engage in unprotected sex under the influence of illegal drugs and/or alcohol [4].
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) continue to be experienced at higher rates within the African American community, more so than any other race/ethnicity in the United States. The presence of certain STDs can significantly increase one’s chances of contracting HIV infection. A person who has both HIV infection and certain STDs has a greater chance of spreading HIV infection to others [5].

Lack of awareness of HIV serostatus is risky for African American men and women. In a recent study of men who have sex with men (MSM) in five cities, 46% of the black MSM were HIV-positive and 67% of those men were unaware of their infection [6].
Stigma, a “negative social label that identifies people as deviant”, [7] also puts too many African American communities at a high risk of infection. Any behavior deemed deviant (i.e. MSM) has been highly stigmatized. Many at risk for HIV infection fear stigma more than knowing their status, choosing instead to hide their high-risk behavior rather than seek counseling and testing. Therefore they continue to be at risk and may infect others [8].
The socioeconomic issues associated with poverty, including limited access to high quality health care, housing and HIV prevention education may directly or indirectly increase the risk factors for HIV infection [9].

*Includes persons of unknown race or multiple races/other.
**Heterosexual contact with a person known to have or to be at risk for HIV infection.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE

There is a saying that a closed mouth doesn't get fed. The bible says that you have not because you ask not.

So my daddy blessed me with money to buy a new laptop computer. So I'd decided on a dell computer and went online to check it out. I decided to ask the IT person about configurations and specifications to make sure I was making a wise purchase. He told me to print out my details so that he could tell me what I didn't need to purchase as he was going to provide it to me at no cost!

Needless to say, I am so excited and I saved some money. I also bought a product red so a portion of my proceeds will go to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

ARROGANCE IS A NO NO

Good morning. Keep your words sweet, in case you've got to eat them... :-)

God is LoveRev Run

Be a blessing and be blessed!
Epiphany Essentials

THANK YOU POWER

November 25, 2009

Thank You Power

Rachel Olsen

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

Devotion:

In my (part-time) job as a university teacher, I'm frequently reading research. I know ... it sounds as dry as an over-cooked turkey. Sometimes it is but often I find interesting stuff in that scientific prose. For example, I read about a study that showed just how great it is to be grateful.

The researchers found that grateful people report higher levels of positive emotions, more satisfaction with life, and more vitality and optimism. All good qualities I want more of in my life. They also found grateful people show lower levels of depression and stress - two things I'd like to experience less in my life.

What's more, they found that people who write weekly in a journal about things they are thankful for are healthier. They exercise more regularly, report fewer physical symptoms, and feel better in general than people who journal about neutral or negative life events. That sounds great, and I'll take all the help I can get in the exercise department.

Finally, the research showed that people who daily count their blessings report higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, and energy. Wow, the benefits of being grateful are remarkable and many! I guess that shouldn't surprise me after considering today's key verse. The Bible urges us to give thanks ... all the time ... in every situation ... because this practice is the will of God.

Thank You Power, gratefulness can affect your health and more importantly your life. What do you choose? You have choices in life everyday that you wake up you have something to be grateful for. If you do not believe, then maybe you should!

Be a blessing and be blessed,

Epiphany Essentials

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

EPIPHANY ESSENTIALS WISHES YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND LOVED ONES A HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

I PRAY THAT DURING THIS TIME YOU ARE ABLE TO REFLECT ON ALL YOU HAVE TO BE THANKFUL FOR!

Be a blessing and be blessed,

Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL - TUESDAYS

404 Wine Bar 2852 N Southport
$15 build your own flights, $15 flight of the month

Aberdeen 1856 W North Ave
1/2 price bottles of wine

Gaslight Bar & Grille 2426 N Racine
$5 wine glasses

Hunt Club 1100 N State Street
1/2 price bottles of wine

Theory 9 W. Hubbard
$6 select wine glasses

Swirl Wine Bar 111 W. Hubbard
$3 wine tastings, $10 wine flights

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

FAITH TUESDAY'S - BLESSED & HIGHLY FAVORED

"Clark Sisters Lyrics"
"Blessed and Highly Favored"

He brought me through hard trials He brought me through tribulations Never let a day go by and not realize Had not been for the Lord who was on my side
Back was against the wall He looked out for me He heard my cry and rescued me Never let a day go by and not realize we are blessed
Don't take it for granted that we are here today Just know that we're blessed and highly favored Just know that we're blessed and highly favored

As I look back through the years,It's amazing how He kept me.
What the devil meant for evil, God turned it around, Turned it around just for my good.
I know that I am blessed and highly favored. Just know that we're blessed and highly favored.
Vamp 1: It coulda' been me, It shoulda' been me, It woulda' been me if it wasn’t for the blood.
Grace, mercy. Grace, mercy.
Just know that we're blessed and highly favored, just know that we're blessed and highly favored

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Epiphany Essentials