Kenneth Davis

 T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Mastery, I learned, was not something genetic, or for a lucky few. It is something we can all attain if we get rid of some misconceptions and gain clarity as to the required path. Passive aggressors who are adept at this will have trained themselves to remain calm, while you get irritated and emotional. Emotions are continually affecting our thought processes and decisions, below the level of our awareness. And the most common emotion of them all is the desire for pleasure and the avoidance of pain.

~Robert Greene~

IT'S NOW TIME FOR
JUST JOKING MONDAYS

     Three rough-looking bikers stomp into a truck stop where a grizzled old-timer is having breakfast. One of the bikers extinguishes his cigarette in the old guy’s pancakes. The second biker spits a wad of chewing tobacco into his coffee. The third biker dumps the whole plate onto the floor. Without a word of protest, the old guy pays his bill and leaves. “Not much of a man, was he?” says one of the bikers. “Not much of a driver, either,” says the waitress. “He just backed his truck over three motorcycles.”

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

 T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Always recognize that human individuals are ends, and do not use them as means to your end. Seek not the favor of the multitude; it is seldom got by honest and lawful means. But seek the testimony of few; and number not voices, but weigh them. Live your life as though your every act were to become a universal law. Morality is not the doctrine of how we may make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves worthy of happiness. What can I know? What ought I to do? What can I hope?

~Immanuel Kant~

Kenneth Davis

 T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Well, the first thing that clued me in to the fact that there was something really scary about breast cancer, way beyond the thought of dying, was coming across an ad in the newspaper for pink breast cancer teddy bears. I am not that afraid of dying, but I am terrified of dying with a pink teddy bear under my arm. In 2001, I was being treated for breast cancer, and I was pretty sure I was going to recover.

~Barbara Ehrenreich~

Kenneth Davis

     I'm not in the best shape, but I want to prove to myself I can do something that seems insurmountable and inspire others by showing them no matter where they are in their fitness goals, they can do it, too. 

~Ruben Studdard~

6 Best Foods That Melt Abdominal Fat
Perri O. Blumberg © Provided by Eat This, Not That!

     Abdominal fat (also known as visceral fat) can be pretty difficult to drop. Thankfully, when coupled with a balanced, wholesome diet, these nutritious foods can help you get rid of this dangerous layer of pudge, and slim your midsection.
1. Beans
     The number one food recommendation for anyone who wants to lose belly fat? According to Kim Yawitz, RD, a registered dietitian and gym owner in St. Louis, Mo.: "Eat more foods that are high in soluble fiber—a nutrient that most Americans don't get enough of. In one study, visceral fat decreased by nearly four percent for every 10-gram increase in daily soluble fiber intake," she said. "Beans are an excellent source of soluble fiber, and studies suggest that eating more of them could help fend off belly fat. One easy way to incorporate more beans into your diet is to add some cooked white beans into a smoothie—you'll never know they're there!"
2. Greek Yogurt
     Whether you're having it for breakfast or as a snack to tide you over between meals, unsweetened plain Greek yogurt is an excellent choice to target pesky belly fat. "It's packed with satisfying protein which helps to squash hunger and the overeating that's associated with it. Getting adequate protein is also critical for melting more fat, including belly fat, since protein is essential for building metabolism-revving lean muscle tissue," say Lyssie Lakatos, RDN, CDN, CFT and Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN, CDN, CFT, The Nutrition Twins, founders of The 21-Day Body Reboot and registered dietitians on the Eat This, Not That! Medical Expert Board. "Eating yogurt is associated with lower body weight, body fat and having a smaller waist. Additionally, yogurt is a good source of good-for-your-gut probiotics, and having a healthy gut microbiome is associated with less body fat, abdominal fat included."
3. Nuts
     Yawitz also recommends loading up on nuts to slim down. "Studies suggest that people who eat more nuts weigh less and have less belly fat than those who don't eat them as often. There's some evidence that walnuts, especially, could help burn belly fat," said Yawitz. "In two small studies, adults who ate walnuts every day had higher levels of a fat-burning hormone called adiponectin, which has been shown to decrease waist circumference even when there's no change in body weight." As Yawitz advises, you don't need to go overboard with "walnuts to increase your adiponectin levels (in fact, eating too many nuts can lead to weight gain). Just under ½ cup per day should do the trick." 
4. Carrots
     A lot of amazing things happen to your body when you eat carrots. One of them? You might shed abdominal fat. "Carotenoids are pigments that give red, orange, and yellow fruits and vegetables their color. In a recent study, women who ate more carotenoid-rich foods had less abdominal fat than those who didn't eat as much of them," said Yawitz. "In this study, carrots and pumpkin were especially popular among women with smaller bellies, but you can also try spinach, kale, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cantaloupe, and bell peppers if you want to mix it up."
5. Fortified Orange Juice
     Grab that glass of OJ, friends. "This is probably a surprising food, but regularly drinking an OJ that's fortified with both vitamin D and calcium may help with decreasing your belly fat! This is because research connects vitamin D and calcium intake with decreased belly fat," said Amy Gorin, MS, RDN, an inclusive plant-based dietitian and owner of Master the Media in Stamford, CT. "A study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who took in 100 IU of vitamin D and 350 milligrams of calcium via fortified orange juice daily had more of a decrease in belly fat, compared to people not drinking the fortified orange juice."
6. Salmon
     "Eating more high-quality protein such as salmon could help lower your body fat. A study in Nutrition & Metabolism found that doing so was connected to a decrease in the percent of central abdominal fat," said Gorin, who loves to make salmon bacon. 

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS

TO

MARGIE McRAE REED

     Birth Anniversary Greetings to you Margie McRae Reed! Welcome to the fabulous seventies, which means turning 70, you get to eat all the chocolate you want. Only if it's dark chocolate though! Turning 70 is a happening and a great place to begin. You'll soon discover that being 70 is amazing. Seventy years ago, the Birthday Ninja decided to bless you with the characteristics of experience, authority and endeavor. You were also gifted with natural leadership and the capacity to accumulate great wealth. The wealth of knowledge you received along the way, caused you to seek a profession which allowed you to dispense your wealth unreservedly. Born two years after you, Randi Weingarten is an American labor leader, attorney, and educator. She became president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) a member of the AFL–CIO and is the former president of the United Federation of Teachers. 
     Randi stated; Teachers make a difference in individual students' lives, yet they do not get the respect they deserve. Teaching is a profession in which capacity building should occur at every stage of the career - novices working with accomplished colleagues, skillful teachers sharing their craft, and opportunities for teacher leadership. Ensuring that we help prepare all kids for life, college, and work in our knowledge-based economy will require a collaborative, sustained effort from all stakeholders - from the president and the secretary of education on down to states, school districts, principals, teachers, parents, and community members.
     Like Randi, as a former teacher and someone who has devoted her entire career to children and public schools, you understood the pain and frustration of parents who felt their children were not receiving the education they deserved. You probably remember the first day of school, your first year in the classroom, your stomach churning with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. Wondering could I do the job? Could I connect with the kids? Will there be the chemistry to build relationships and get the job done, or will I totally flop? We, your classmates and family know that you didn't flop and we honor your commitment and your dedication to "other folks children". Because of your dedication, commitment and faith, you've continued to receive the blessings of Favor, Mercy and Grace in retirement. You have just entered the fun age zone! Turning 70 means seven decades and counting.            When you become a senior citizen, you get to reap the fruits of your labors. Senior citizens know things younger people will spend a lifetime learning. Senior citizens have a great insight about the challenges of life and understand the fragility of life better than younger people. Welcome to the age group that knows how to party, with moderation! Here's wishing you many more days of Grace and Mercy, with Favor as the key median in your triangle of life. As you celebrate today, or not, I'm wishing you a Jazz Holdouts type of day. As you and Larry sit out on the veranda enjoying a cup of coffee, may the Morning Breeze refresh your soul and welcome you to this new era of blessings...enjoy your day and stay safe my friend....

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

 T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N 

     Stay focused on the good things in life...try to change your perspective to not just focus on everything that’s wrong, but the time you have to get your life in order; the time you needed so desperately when the world was at full speed ahead and you were waiting for some time to do it. This is the time to do it. 

~Maysa~

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER

WHEN WE WERE INNOCENT YOUNG BOYS !

FROM BOYS TO MEN !

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

This week has reminded me to appreciate each day with joy and love.

"You will find, as you look back upon your life, that the moments that stand out are the moments when you have done for others."            Henry Drummond

Kenneth Davis

 T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     People sometimes say it takes a long time to become a jazz fan, but for me it took about five seconds. Jazz is not something that can be defined through blunt instruments. It is much more poetic than that. The beauty of jazz is that it's malleable. People are addressing it to suit their own personalities. I think jazz is actually quite unforgiving in its disdain for nostalgia. It demands creativity and change at its highest level. 

~Pat Metheny~

SMOOTH JAZZ FRIDAYS

     Every morning is a new page in the story of your life. You are creating your life at every moment. Think wisely about the day you want to create for yourself. Every single event in your life, especially the difficult lessons, have made you smarter, stronger, and wiser than you were yesterday. Be thankful! Everyone gets discouraged and feels lost at times. Don't worry - life will get better. A new way is being made for you. Keep moving forward even if it's just baby steps.

~Jennifer Young~

Kenneth Davis

 T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out. We are the witnesses to the miracle. We are put here by creation, by God....We're here to be the audience to the magnificent. It is our job to celebrate. The years go by. The time, it does fly. Every single second is a moment in time that passes. And it seems like nothing - but when you're looking back ... well, it amounts to everything. Treasure this day and Treasure yourself, truly, neither will ever happen again. You've been put on the world to love the act of being alive. Love is the answer to everything. It's the only reason to do anything.

~Ray Bradbury~

Kenneth Davis

Sunday

is the golden clasp

that binds together the volume of the week.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~

 T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     If a man loses his reverence for any part of life, he will lose his reverence for all of life. Do not let Sunday be taken from you. If your soul has no Sunday, it becomes an orphan. Do something for somebody everyday for which you do not get paid. A man is ethical only when life, as such, is sacred to him, that of plants and animals as that of his fellow men, and when he devotes himself helpfully to all life that is in need of help. Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace.

~Albert Schweitzer~

Kenneth Davis

Kenneth Davis

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND  by Marsha Burns

     October 31, 2022: Release your dread and fears to Me when you face change and everything around you seems to be difficult and unwieldy. I will make the crooked places straight and give you peace that surpasses understanding. Set your heart to believe that I am with you to guide you through the maze of confusion. Be still. Isaiah 45:2 I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron.

 T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Just because a man is dressed in a clean white robe does not mean his heart and hands are clean. Any man who neglects his conscience is a dangerous animal. Never judge a man by his image. Images can be bought or produced by any Hollywood producer, marketing team or fleet of stylists. Even kids know how to wear amazing costumes for Halloween. Always judge a man by the coloring of his heart and only his heart. Truth can be found in his record of actions, not intentions.

~Suzy Kassem~

     If Dracula can’t see his reflection in the mirror,

how come his hair is always so neatly combed?

~Steven Wright~

IT'S NOW TIME FOR
JUST JOKING MONDAYS

          One day in early fall a class of second-graders was discussing “What I want to be when I grow up.” The teacher received the usual replies—a fireman, a nurse. Then she asked a youngster deep in thought what he would like to be someday. He looked up with a frown and replied, “I don’t even know what I want to be for Halloween yet!” 

~J. Spechalske~

     There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people...religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin!

~Charles M. Schulz~

     Monsters are very real. But they're not just creatures. Monsters are everywhere. They're people. They're nightmares...They are the things that we harbor within ourselves. If you remember one thing, even above remembering me, remember that there is not a monster dreamt that hasn't walked once within the soul of a man.

~C. Robert Cargill~

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

     Lord, in this world of abundance and excess, many go without and are destitute of essentials and what matters most. We are thankful for what we have and that You supply all of our needs according to Your riches in glory. In Jesus' name. Amen! Psalm 28:7. 

MORNING PRAYER PROVIDED
 BY 
JAMES STONE - DEACON
 MOUNT VERNON BAPTIST CHURCH

MEMPHIS WESTWOOD COMMUNITY

 T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     God did not want me to be a blind beggar on the street, alone and bitter. He gave me music, first to be my companion and then to be my salvation. Playing guitar was a calling, but I never realized that it was going to be a career. It was just something I did out of love. I thought I'd be spending my life making brooms, mops, chairs and things. That's fine for some blind people, but I wanted something more out of life. Music seemed the best way. The fact I'm blind has been a great help to my career. If I'd been sighted I'd have played baseball and got into trouble like all other kids on my block. Music. It has always showed me that I could do what the other kids couldn't do. So I will keep playing and singing and entertaining, as long as the good Lord lets me. That is my life.

~Jose Feliciano~

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS

TO

THURMOND REDMOND

     Today begins with you. On this wonderful day, we wish you the best that life has to offer. The brightness of your future doesn't fade and the strength you'll gain tomorrow is found in the troubles of today. Living for today is just as important as planning for the future. Don't worry about the storms on the horizon, they will come. All you can do is prepare for them. Our lives occur one breath at a time, so let's never waste a moment. We must live life one memory at a time. We're now considered senior citizens who understand it's how we respond to life's challenges that counts. Senior citizens know it's not so much where we've been as where we're going.

     The triangular gifts of Grace, Mercy and Favour, have been bestowed upon us thus far, over the past centuries. Grace is a certain beginning of glory in us. All that is true, by whomsoever it has been said, has its origin in the Spirit (Thomas Aquinas). On this blessed day of gratitude, may you celebrate your physical age and stand proud that you made it this far. Life has many wonderful surprises waiting for us, especially as we grow older. Not everyone understands that old age simply means your body looks old, but your soul is still that vibrant young twenty something. Should you decide to celebrate, or not, I'm wishing you a Bob Baldwin type of day. A Roman Proverb indicates; It is better to live one day as a lion, than a thousand days as a lamb. Today is your day to be that lion, B Positive throughout the day, and Believe.  Grace is stronger than circumstances (J. C. Ryle)....Happy Birthday....enjoy your day and stay safe my friend...Thurmond hasn't logged on, in a while. If you're his Facebook friend, or know how to contact him, wish him well and recommend a visit to our website....

Kenneth Davis

     The United States celebrates Native American Heritage Month in November during which National Geographic acknowledges the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. The first American Indian Day was celebrated in May 1916, in New York. The event culminated an effort by Red Fox James, a member of the Blackfeet Nation, who rode across the nation on horseback seeking approval from 24 state governments to have a day to honor American Indians. In 1990, more than seven decades later, then-President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating the month of November “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Similar  proclamations have been issued every year since 1994 to recognize what is now called “American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.” 

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

 T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Change your routine regularly because your body gets used it, and it won't benefit you after a while. Mix it up - legs, arms and butt - so you work your total body and stay balanced. I like to do varied exercises, even just going for a hike with my friends or taking my dog for a walk, then going to see my trainer or going to yoga. Exercise is great for your mental health!

 ~Stella Maxwell~

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

High Cholesterol Diet: 5 Fruits That Can Lower Your Cholesterol Level,

Add Them to Plate Right Now!

By India.com Lifestyle Staff - Edited by Onam Gupta

     Cholesterol is an important concern today as it is the root cause of various cardiovascular diseases. It is a waxy substance found in your blood which supports the healthy cell-making process. however, when it gets excessively high, it can have a serious impact on your whole body. Some of the symptoms of high cholesterol are nausea, high blood pressure, chest congestion, feeling heavy, difficulty in breathing and extreme tiredness.

     Well, to manage your cholesterol well, diet plays a very important role. When we talk about diet, many people with high cholesterol have concern whether or not to include fruits in the diet. No worries, today we will tell you to add 5 best fruits to your plate that will effectively reduce your cholesterol levels.

5 FRUITS THAT CAN LOWER YOUR CHOLESTEROL LEVEL:

⦁ Tomatoes: Best combination of fruit and vegetable, tomatoes are packed with variety of nutrients such as vitamin A, B, C and K. They are considered a heart-friendly food which helps in managing blood pressure as well as cholesterol levels.

⦁ Papaya: Papayas are rich in fibers, that helps in controlling blood pressure as well as manages the levels of LDL or Bad cholesterol.

⦁ Avocados: Avocados are one of the most recommended fruits by doctors for managing cholesterol levels. They keep hearty healthy, reduces the risk of stroke and regulates LDL and HDL cholesterol levels.

⦁ Apples: This crunchy and delicious fruit is not only beneficial for skin and hair but also good for heart. There are many reasons why apples are called to keep the doctor away. They reduces the unhealthy levels of LDL cholesterol and prevents several diseases from damaging our heart.

⦁ Citrus Fruits: All citrus fruits such as orange, lemon, grapefruit are rich in vitamin C that helps in making sure that your cholesterol levels are in check. These fruits are not only beneficial for skin and hair but also helps in managing bad cholesterol levels.

Kenneth Davis

"Warriors On The  Move"....Contributions welcome!!!

 NEW YORK, NEW YORK, THE BIG APPLE !

     New York, New York, the most populous city in the United States, has been given many nicknames, including The City That Never Sleeps, Empire City, and Gotham—but perhaps the most famous one of all is the Big Apple. The nickname "The Big Apple" originated in the 1920s However, it wasn't officially adopted as the city's nickname until 1971 as the result of a successful ad campaign intended to attract tourists. Fifty-one years later, a BTW 1970 graduate, decided to take a bite out of the "Big Apple". Joined in fellowship by her sister Linda and numerous adopted sisters (church members) living in South Carolina, Margie celebrated her "Seventieth Birthday". 
     First up, an audience with members of "The View". Having received a compliment concerning her age and youthful appearance, from the one and only Whoopie Goldberg, she sat front row to view a Broadway Play - "The Piano Lesson". Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington and Danielle Brooks star in the revival of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. The final destination, "The Famous Apollo Theater". Summing up the amazing time, Margie quoted, "God has been good"! Welcome home Margie, it's wonderful to enjoy life as a retiree....By the way everyone is welcome to contribute to our segment labeled "Warriors On The Move". Drop a line to me with the information you desire to share, or simply post it yourself....stay safe my friends....

Bonnie Pippin (Mills)

Margie, what a way to celebrate any birthday!!!!New York has always been a place to visit to me.  My daughter, Lauren, gave me a trip to New York to see The Lion King. It was amazing. What a blessing to enjoy 70 years of life.  God is truly good and gracious!  Enjoy!!!! Did you eat some chocolate, if not. get some chocolate, you are 70 years old and you deserve it.  Have a great day!!!!

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Life is a university, and you never graduate. Accept that whatever happens to you, no matter how terrible, is there to teach you. Your job is to learn and do what you have to. We have the ability to craft a life where we are completely fulfilled. We think it is dependent on outsiders, and to some extent it is, but it is much more dependent on the attitude we bring to life. Unending joy is actually closer to us than our own skin, and there is nothing we have to do or get or be to experience it. All we have to do is stop driving it away.

~Srikumar Rao~

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER

Kenneth Davis

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND  by Marsha Burns

     November 4, 2022: When you review your life have no regrets. Nothing is wasted in My Kingdom. Your life experiences, whether good or bad, were necessary and instructive. You have been shaped and fashioned by your accomplishments and your failures. Rejoice in your successes, and learn from your defeats as you strive to live, move and have your being in Me. Romans 3:21-26 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

 T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     The improvisational nature of jazz musicianship is such that a truly competent performer must be prepared to function as an on-the-spot composer who is expected to contribute to the orchestration in progress, not simply to execute the score as it is written and rehearsed. A jazz tune, melody, or composition is usually based on either a traditional twelve-bar, eight-bar, or four-bar blues chorus or on the thirty-two-bar chorus of the American popular song. Jazz music, as is also the case with the old down-home spirituals, gospel and jubilee songs, jumps, shouts and moans, is essentially an American vernacular or idiomatic modification of musical conventions imported from Europe, beginning back during the time of the early settlers of the original colonies.

~Albert Murray~

Reggie Duffie of Duffie and Duffie Visual Designs

SMOOTH JAZZ FRIDAYS

     If you expect the blessings of God, be kind to His people. Good actions are a guard against the blows of adversity. He who avoids complaint invites happiness. He who aspires to paradise should learn to deal with people with kindness. There is greatness in the fear of God, contentment in faith of God, and honour in humility.

~Abu Bakr~

WELCOME EVERYONE 
 TO FRIDAYS
 NEW BEGINNINGS 
AND THE PURSUIT TOWARDS
ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE

Kenneth Davis

 T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Vanity is a mark of humility rather than of pride. Every man desires to live long, but no man wishes to be old. No wise man ever wished to be younger.

~Jonathan Swift~