Marsha McMillian (Sherrod)

Much Love My Friends

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   
TODAYS WORDS - MYTH OR LEGEND

    In life, unlike chess, the game continues after checkmate. People think of education as something that they can finish. The day you stop learning is the day you begin decaying. Any book worth banning is a book worth reading. The greatest weapons in the conquest of knowledge are an understanding mind and the inexorable curiosity that drives it on. Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is. The only function of a school is to make self-education easier, failing that, it does nothing. Any teacher that can be replaced by a computer should be replaced by a computer. I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them. Uncertainty that comes from knowledge (knowing what you don't know) is different from uncertainty coming from ignorance.
     Imagine the people who believe such things and who are not ashamed to ignore, totally, all the patient findings of thinking minds through all the centuries since the Bible was written. And it is these ignorant people, the most uneducated, the most unimaginative, the most unthinking among us, who would make themselves the guides and leaders of us all; who would force their feeble and childish beliefs on us; who would invade our schools and libraries and homes. I personally resent it bitterly. When stupidity is considered patriotism, it is unsafe to be intelligent. The easiest way to solve a problem is to deny it exists. The closer to the truth, the better the lie, and the truth itself, when it can be used, is the best lie.
     Science can amuse and fascinate us all, but it is engineering that changes the world. The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' but 'That's funny...' The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom. Science doesn't purvey absolute truth. Science is a mechanism... for testing your thoughts against the universe. It is not so much that I have confidence in scientists being right, but that I have so much in nonscientists being wrong.
     A myth or legend is simply not made up out of a vacuum. Nothing is--or can be. Somehow there is a kernel of truth behind it, however distorted that might be. It has been my philosophy of life that difficulties vanish when faced boldly. Intelligence is an accident of evolution, and not necessarily an advantage. Dreams may be impossible, yet still be dreamed. Was there anything more exciting in life than seeking answers? I don't subscribe to the thesis, 'Let the buyer beware,' I prefer the disregarded one that goes, 'Let the seller be honest.' When I read about the way in which library funds are being cut and cut, I can only think that American society has found one more way to destroy itself.

Kenneth Davis

     Hello Robbin Houston! Thank you so much for submitting the question to our class. I don't recall Matthew, but I'm sure there's someone among us, who should be able to provide a response to you.

     Marsha, thank you also, for sharing the image of noblewomen attending "Color Purple" the movie musical. It's a wonderful blessing to unite with friends on a joyous occasion, rather than a tragedy. The picture shows and shares the joy among dedicated classmates and friends. Please continue to bless us with images of such gatherings. Is that Delores Booth Armstrong, standing between Norma and Claudia???? 

     Many thanks to the classmates who attended the Homegoing Services for Mrs. Geraldine Hester Best. Thank you for your prayers, cards and words of sympathy and condolences....

     Geraldine Hester Best, 96, of Memphis,TN passed away on December 30, 2023. She is survived by her children, Gregory Best, Regina Harris (Larry), Gerald Best (Mischelle), Renee Grandy (John), and Janie Paraham (Greg). She will also be missed by eleven grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

Funeral services will be held at the Coleman Avenue Church of Christ on January 6, 2024 at 12 noon. Viewing will be from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM which will also be at the church on January 6th.

Posted online on January 03, 2024   Published in The Commercial Appeal

Kenneth Davis

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

     January 7, 2024: This is the beginning of a new trend of identification. You will develop your personal identity with greater precision and express yourself more completely apart from outside influences. The result will be that you will know who you really are in Me, says the Lord. This will be a dynamic revelation that will carry you into a new era. Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  
TODAYS WORDS - DYNAMIC REVELATION 

     Please don't nag yourself with thoughts of failure. Do not set goals far beyond your capacity to achieve. Simply do what you can do, in the best way you know, and the Lord will accept of your effort. The course of our lives is not determined by great, awesome decisions. Our direction is set by the little day-to-day choices which chart the track on which we run. Live today as if you were going to live forever, for you surely shall. Cultivate an attitude of happiness. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine. Be believing, be happy, don't get discouraged. Things will work out.
    Life is to be enjoyed, not endured. There is no obstacle too great, no challenge too difficult, if we have faith. We seldom get into trouble when we speak softly. It is only when we raise our voices that the sparks fly, and tiny molehills become great mountains of contention. Happy is the man who can brush aside the offending remarks of another and go on his way. There is a sad tendency in our world today for persons to cut one another down. Did you ever realize that it does not take very much in the way of brainpower, to make remarks that may wound another? Try the opposite of that. Try handing out compliments. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great purpose in heart. Being humble means recognizing that we are not on earth to see how important we can become, but to see how much difference we can make in the lives of others.
     It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It all works out in the end. Put your trust in God and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers. All of us have problems. We face them every day. How grateful I am that we have difficult things to wrestle with. They keep us young; they keep us alive; they keep us going, they keep us humble. Be grateful for your problems and know that somehow there will come a solution. Just do the best you can but be sure it is the very best.
     Listen to the whisperings of the Spirit, the gift of revelation to which you are entitled. It is the process by which idle visions become dynamic achievements. Remember that whatever you do or wherever you are, you are never alone. Walk by faith. God will open the way. When there is no way, He will open the way. Believe in yourselves. Believe in your capacity to do some good in this world. God sent us here for a purpose, and that was to improve the world in which we live. The wonderful thing is that we can do it. How wonderful it is that we believe in modern revelation. I cannot get over the feeling that if revelation were needed anciently, when life was simple, that revelation is also needed today, when life is complex. There never was a time in the history of the earth when men needed revelation more than they need it now. There is nothing the Lord has asked of us that in faith we cannot accomplish. God will bless us if we walk in humility.

"Move Upstairs"

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF
 MRS. GERALDINE HESTER BEST
&
 MRS. BARBARA ARNOLD FARMER

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  
TODAYS WORDS - LIKE NO OTHER

     I was angry at God until I came to understand that it isn't God's fault when people mistreat me. I still have my doubts at times, but I try to remember that God has given them the same free will that He's given me. I'm really not sure what people think or expect me to be, but I am surprised when people say, 'You're not supposed to be like that ' I'm not exactly sure what 'that' is, so I choose to take it as a compliment. Love is as hard to hide as hate. I am in control of all decisions that have to do with my image, which means that no one will decide what’s right for me except me. I’m not special. We should all feel this way about ourselves. I've always had a love for making things my own. You're not living if you don't go out and try things for yourself. 
     Traditional values are big in my life. Everything I see, I now see through a mother's eyes. There is nothing I love more than my role as a mom. I love being nurturing and caring because I love to see other people happy. I try to do everything to say, 'OK, will my mother like this? Will she be pleased? Will she be proud of that? How do I know she's happy and she's smiling down at me from heaven?' And that's what I try to go by and walk by. You can’t make a life-altering decision for someone else and expect it to stick. If you have a dream, you can achieve that dream, you can achieve that goal. You just gotta go for it. But it also lets you know that there is a price to pay.
     Even though I am extremely blessed to have accomplished many of my goals at such a young age, I am still reaching, still striving. It can be a real struggle to accept that sometimes appearance can be more important than talent or intelligence. Appearance can always be changed, but the talent stays the same. I have a serious love for clothes, like no other. No matter how big the glam squad, or how dramatic the dress, sometimes things just don’t work out. My focus has always been on talent over looks. This theme of people putting an emphasis on looks first has been a constant reminder throughout my life that most people don’t see things in the same way that I do. 

IT'S TIME FOR 
JUST JOKING MONDAYS

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

     January 9, 2024: There is trouble all around you, but you do not have to be affected by what is happening outside of you. You need to settle yourself inside and deal with the issues that directly affect you. This will require walking and living in the Spirit instead of being consumed with flesh issues. Establish yourself in peace, says the Lord. Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  
TODAYS WORD - WALKING 

     The deepest cry of the human heart is to be loved without condition, no matter what. If people knew the REAL us, they would run. God knows, stays, and loves. The gospel of grace announces that you are. God is not interested in what you think you should be or feel. He is not interested in the narrative you construct for yourself, or that others construct for you. Rather, He is interested in you, the you who suffers, the you who inflicts suffering on others, the you who hides, the you who has bad days (and good ones). And He meets you where you are. Grace frees you to be honest about what you've always known to be true about yourself: that you're weaker & more afraid than you want to be. People who know they are not good make the best messengers of grace because they are desperately aware of their own need for it.

     The heart of the Christian faith is Good News, not good advice, good technique, or good behavior. A biblical understanding of the Christian life is not 'let go and let God,' it's 'trust God and get going.' The grace of God sets us free from a life of perfection, performing, and pretending. Our deepest fear is judgment. Our deepest longing is love. The gospel of grace removes the one and provides the other.

     God's acceptance of us cannot be gained by our successes nor forfeited by our failures. Grace is unconditional acceptance given to an undeserving person by an unobligated giver. We are broken people, living in a broken world with other broken people. We all need grace. The people who tend to be the most gracious are those who know how badly they need grace. Grace is love that seeks you out when you have nothing to give in return. Grace is love coming at you that has nothing to do with you. Grace is being loved when you are unlovable. 

     What I'm most deeply grateful for is that God's love for us, approval of us, and commitment to us does not ride on our resolve but on Jesus' resolve for us. The gospel is the good news announcing Jesus' infallible devotion to us despite our inconsistent devotion to Him. The gospel is not a command to hang on to Jesus; it's a promise that no matter how weak and unsuccessful our faith and efforts may be, God is always holding on to us. Walking with God doesn't lead to God's favor; God's favor leads to walking with God. There's nothing like suffering to remind us how not in control we actually are, how little power we ultimately have, and how much we ultimately need God. 

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS
 TO 
ESTELLA WRIGHT MAYHUE-GREER

     Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. The age of a woman doesn't mean a thing. The best tunes are played on the oldest fiddles. It is not length of life, but depth of life. The first wealth is health. Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Kenneth Davis

     The "Class of 1970 - 55th Class Reunion Commitee", will be hosting a meeting on Sunday, January 14, 2024. It's scheduled to begin at 3PM and all class members are welcome to attend. The meeting will be held at the AFRO Police Association Office, 1391 Ferguson. See the attached map for additional information. We look forward to seeing you there. 

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

FINAL ARRANGEMENTS 

 MRS. BARBARA  ARNOLD  FARMER

ALL SERVICES WILL BE HELD AT THE

MT. VERNON BAPTIST CHURCH WESTWOOD, 
620 PARKROSE ROAD, MEMPHIS, TN 38109

PHONE (901) 785-1612

VISITATION - FRIDAY

JANUARY 12, 2024 @ 4-6PM

FUNERAL SERVICES SATURDAY

JANUARY 13, 2024 @ 10 AM

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  
TODAYS WORDS - LIFE SITUATIONS CAN BE COMPLEX

    We are all just a work in progress. There's not enough time to be disrespecting... Life is too short. When you come from so many damaged places you don't ever want to spiral back there, so you gotta continue to check yourself. Life is full of trials and tribulations. It's dramatic when you don't treat people right when you're in the tribulations, but I know now how to get out of it. You have to make a decision to say, 'No more', and then you know what to do when the trials happen. God comes first - if I don't love him, I can't love anybody, and if I can't love me, I can't love nobody.
     When you hold on to anger and unforgiveness, you can't move forward. If you're here right now in your life, your journey continues, and you've lived to tell the story. If we didn't have understanding of our journey, we wouldn't be able to go on. We'd be stuck, like, 'Why me?' You either learn from your experiences or go back and do the same thing, and I learned from my experiences. The important thing is to realize that no matter what people's opinions may be, they're only just that - people's opinions. You have to believe in your heart what you know to be true about yourself. And let that be that.
     There's so many things that life is, and no matter how many breakthroughs, trials will exist and we're going to get through it. Just be strong. If you're looking for inner peace from the outside world, you're not going to get that. The inner peace starts with looking at you from the inside. Understanding that everything that comes to you is what you are. I mean, I know my heart is not clean, and your heart is not clean, and none of our urban hearts are clean. But you can be washed again.
     When life is real, it's not going to be smooth. My responsibility to God is to live. That's the gift he gave me. What I do with it is up to me. Only God knows where the story ends for me, but I know where the story begins. It's up to us to choose, whether we win or lose, and I choose to win. I know who I am. I am not perfect. I'm not the most beautiful woman in the world. But I'm one of them. My journey continues, because I've, you know, conquered a lot. And I know how to conquer the rest. In your life there's peaks and valleys and sometimes we regress, and we don't even know we regress. You just have to learn how to accept all of your mistakes and learn to love yourself again. For the first time in my life, I'm proud of myself.

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

4 qualities of mentally strong people: Check yourself.
Story by Daria Shekina 
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/

     Mentally strong or resilient individuals are often described as those who achieve great feats despite significant challenges. Yet, we rarely speak of ourselves in that light, thinking we lack self-assurance or due to our imperfections. RBC-Ukraine, based on Psychologies, discusses the qualities of mentally strong individuals.
     Psychological resilience manifests in various forms. When we are observant and know where to direct our attention and energy, we can see important qualities in ourselves and others. Psychology professor Steven C. Hayes identified four major qualities of mentally strong individuals.
You're open to new possibilities
     Mentally strong people don't confine themselves to one way of life. They're rarely limited by preconceived notions of how to think, feel, act, who to be, what to focus on, or what should concern them.
     Instead of rigidly sticking to self-imposed rules, mentally strong individuals are more open and freer to choose, and more likely to explore new opportunities. They can entertain different thoughts simultaneously and don't necessarily adhere to the one that seems most natural, allowing them to access a wider range of experiences, pleasant or not.
You choose what works
     Mentally strong people not only are open to new opportunities but are more likely to select what works. This might seem simple, but it involves several intricacies. Firstly, knowing your goals, be they immediate or deeper values, is crucial. Having a clear direction helps determine what primarily constitutes "functioning well."
     Additionally, it demands a level of self-awareness to evaluate whether you're genuinely moving toward your goals or deceiving yourself. Thus, having a reliable feedback system is vital for effective improvement, whether it's a friend, an app, or a mental health professional.
You develop good habits
     If you've ever read personal development articles, you likely know this. Yes, it's a cliché, but it holds weight. Becoming mentally strong isn't an overnight thing; it's a constant pursuit. You must consistently act to progress toward your self-imposed goals.
     Emphasizing the word "consistently" is crucial because one-off actions rarely have a long-term impact. Only by transforming successful actions into actual habits will you gain the momentum necessary to enhance your mental abilities and overall life. Be mindful not to fixate solely on the desired end result but on acquiring a pattern.
You adapt to circumstances
     Ultimately, mentally strong individuals easily adapt to circumstances. They don't wait for ideal conditions to act or insist on their efforts, disregarding minimal feedback. Instead, they are more resourceful. They can accurately assess the demands of the context and their own capabilities, adjusting their actions and expectations accordingly. Therefore, they manage to sustain their goals at an achievable level considering current internal and external circumstances.
     They know that a wise choice in one context may turn out catastrophic in another, and vice versa. Simple and straightforward answers are rare. What you perceive as "right" mostly depends on circumstances. Mentally strong individuals acknowledge this dilemma and adapt repeatedly.

This is for information purpose only and should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. These are opinions from an external panel of individual doctors, and not to be considered as opinion of Microsoft. Please seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns.

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

I want to extend my sincere gratitude for the wonderful birthday wishes. I am so blessed to still be here in most of my right mind.

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  
TODAYS WORD - DISCOMBOBULATION

discombobulation -  noun a feeling of embarrassment that leaves you confused
synonyms:confusion
the fact of being made to feel confused or uncomfortable by something:

     Obviously, there's all sorts of life happening all around us, but on a human level, I'm just interested in people making informed decisions. You know, increasing their awareness. And also, trying to encourage people to be more fascinated with information and science and knowledge of all sorts, instead of, you know, it's a generalization, but the encouragement by society, the reflections that society gives us, which is media, television, art - anything, really. Whatever encourages people to become more interested in who they are and discovering who they are, as opposed to just accepting what people or things are saying what they are. That's fascinating to me. The biggest fear that I have is settling into too many set behavior patterns, where I feel like I'm no longer exploring possibilities anymore.
       It's hard to move on when you can see too many good possibilities or any kind of possibility really. That's something that always kind of slows me down and can be a bad place to be in. I guess, in a way, I grew up mixed race: half white, half black. That question's always been on my mind: 'What are you? Are you this or that? Are you a white dude or are you a black dude?' In a strange way, music and comedy is kind of the same thing. I'm both.They're just different modes of expression. I try not to talk about something unless it's something I love. But if it's something that really annoys me, I fixate on it, learn something about it and then, when I'm onstage, it comes out. In the past, I was definitely more apt to storing pain away and not worrying about it. But as I get older, it's really about figuring out how to process it, how to feel it, and then also how to use it in my art.
     I wear the same pants, same shirt and same shoes every day. I learned it from the greats, like Einstein. It's a uniform essentially. I'm not into looking crisp. That's not how I dress or who I am. I like that feeling of discombobulation that comes in creating an absurd world that doesn't make sense. Just remember, everything you are is. Good comedians are great philosophers. I'm always trying to see things from different peoples' perspectives, to understand why they love something. I just think that life is a constant experiment.  Everyone speaks stupid. I like to ride the line between absurd and sincere. Common knowledge, but important nonetheless.

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER

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  
TODAYS WORD - STAY CURRENT

     NOW is the only reality. All else is either memory or imagination. Love is the ultimate, the end. You love for love's own sake. It is not a means to anything else; it is its own end. Love makes you empty - empty of jealousy, empty of power trips, empty of anger, empty of competitiveness, empty of your ego and all its garbage. But love also makes you full of things which are unknown to you right now; it makes you full of fragrance, full of light, full of joy. Don't try to understand life. Live it! Don't try to understand love. Move into love. Then you will know - and all that knowing will come out of your experiencing. The more you know, the more you know that much remains to be known. Love means the art of being with others. Meditation means the art of being with yourself. Both are two aspects of the same coin.
     Everything that is of authentic value in life has arisen out of meditation. There is no other way. Meditation is the mother of art, music, poetry, dance, sculpture. All that is creative, all that is life-affirmative, is born out of meditation. All that is life-negative - hate, anger, jealousy, violence, war - is born out of the mind. Man has two possibilities: mind and meditation. Meditation is a death - death of all that you are now. Of course, there will be a resurrection, but that will be a totally new, fresh original being which you are not even aware is hidden in you. Discover yourself, otherwise you have to depend on other people's opinions who don't know themselves. You are not accidental. The world needs you. Without you, something will be missing in existence, and nobody can replace it. Life isn't a balance between throwing out and inviting in. Remember, frustration is out of expectation, and ego is always expecting. The ego is a beggar. Mind is memory, not intelligence.
    The mind is constantly involved in thinking, in judging, in evaluating. Its whole function seems to be to keep you involved in thoughts, which are nothing but soap bubbles - or perhaps soap bubbles have more substance to them than your thoughts. The greatest fear in the world is of the opinions of others. And the moment you are unafraid of the crowd you are no longer a sheep, you become a lion. A great roar arises in your heart, the roar of freedom. If you wish to see the truth, then hold no opinion for or against. Stay in the river, become the river; and the river is already going to the sea. Don't swim against the current. Relaxation is one of the most complex phenomena - very rich, multidimensional. All these things are part of it: let-go, trust, surrender, love, acceptance, going with the flow, union with existence, egolessness, ecstasy. All these are part of it, and all these start happening if you learn the ways of relaxation. Always go with the river of life. Never try to go against the current, and never try to go faster than the river. Just move in absolute relaxation, so that each moment you are at home, at ease, at peace with existence.

WELCOME TO 
SMOOTH
 CONTEMPORARY JAZZ 
FRIDAYS

Kenneth Davis

     "There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love." 

~Washington Irving~  

     With sadness of heart, we announce the transition of Mr. Alonzo Thomas, the husband of Marzie Gates Thomas and the brother of John Thomas. Final arrangements are as follows:

VISITATION
FRIDAY  JANUARY 19, 2024  3-6:00 PM
R. S. LEWIS & SONS FUNERAL HOME
374 VANCE AVE
MEMPHIS, TN 38126

FUNERAL SERVICES
SATURDAY  JANUARY 20, 2024  12 PM
EAST TRIGG MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
1315 SOUTH BELLEVUE BLVD
MEMPHIS, TN 38106 

     Addresses for the mailing of cards to acknowledge your sympathy and condolences are not available at this time. Please keep Marzie, John and the entire Thomas family, uplifted in prayer...

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  
TODAYS WORD - MERCY

       Never play with the feelings of others, because you may win the game, but the risk is that you will surely lose the person for lifetime. There's a time for all things. Laughing faces do not mean that there is absence of sorrow! There is nothing so confining as the prisons of our own perceptions. In struggling with misfortunes lies the true proof of virtue. In nature there's no blemish but the mind. None can be called deformed but the unkind. Ingratitude is monstrous.
     Words spoken cannot be recalled so think twice before you speak. Conversation should be pleasant without scurrility, witty without affectation, free without indecency, learned without conceitedness, novel without falsehood. In friendship, as in love, we are often happier through our ignorance than our knowledge. But it means that they have the ability to deal with it. Your face is a book, where men may read strange matters. Beauty lives with kindness. Vanity keeps persons in favor with themselves who are out of favor with all others. What's done can't be undone.
    People’s good deeds we write in water. The evil deeds are etched in brass. Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind. O Lord that lends me life, Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness! We do pray for mercy, and that same prayer doth teach us all to render the deeds of mercy. There is plenty of time to sleep in the grave. Give thanks for what you are today and go on fighting for what you gonna be tomorrow.

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

Kenneth Davis

  SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

      January 14, 2024: This will be a season when you can overcome and forgive yourself for mistakes of the past and move into a phase of creativity and productivity beyond what you could have imagined. Rejection must be a thing of the past and not something that defines your life. Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  
TODAYS WORD - REJECTION

     Age is just a number. Life and aging are the greatest gifts that we could possibly ever have. In my early years, there were a number of experiences that made me decide I could not afford the luxury of just being an actress. There were a number of issues I wanted to address. And I wanted to use my career as a platform. Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. You never know what motivates you.
     My mother was an introvert and quite religious. And we were brought up in the church. And when she learned that I wanted to act, she simply said: 'You cannot live here and do that, and so I moved out. I was determined to prove her wrong because she was so sure that I was going to go astray. And that's the juice that kept me going.
     I feel so guilty about the state of young people today. And I say that because our generation fought for everything. We fought to sit down at a counter, to sit on a bus. They were left with nothing to fight for. Now, I am perfectly willing to just enjoy my career by choosing roles simply because I consider them to be a challenge and doing the best possible job I can. I don't condemn anyone for making their choices. If someone chooses those roles, fine. But not for me. When someone stops me and says, You're the reason I became an actress, that lets me know I made the right decision.
     My gratification in working comes from the preparation and the building of the character. I am not a quitter. I will fight until I drop. It is just a matter of having some faith in the fact that as long as you are able to draw breath in the universe, you have a chance. If each person in this world will simply take a small piece of this huge thing, this amazing quilt, and work it regardless of the color of the yarn, we will have harmony on this planet.
     One of the things I have always said about the man-woman relationship is that I don't want anybody to walk ahead of me, and I don't want anybody to walk behind me. I want a man who will walk along beside me. And that's how I feel about equal rights. I have learned not to allow rejection to move me.

Kenneth Davis

From: Jimmie Powell

Email: leebofans@gmail.com

     Kenneth, I remember telling Kelly, that I will see him when he returned from that trip. Sadly, I heard the news the next day that the plane had crashed. He took a class with me. We would always talk. He was a pretty good guy. I would mention the scriptures with him. 

     Hello Robbin...It appears that Matthew Kelly is, was and remains remembered by others, within our class. I received the above message from Jimmie Powell, a few days ago. He mistakenly sent it to my email address, instead of posting to our website. Coincidentally, Matthew's headstone and a couple of the other Bar-Kay's headstones, were unexpectedly shown to Robert Phifer and I, after the burial of William Arnold's mother, at New Park Cemetary on Saturday. The visual brought back my own unforgotten memories of watching the Bar-Kay's practice in the band room, when we attended Porter Junior High School. I'm sure that others also remember their performances in different venues. Matthew was always behind the scenes. Thanks, Robbin, for the question, thankyou Jimmie for sharing and thankyou William, for showing us the location of the headstones. History lessons are always welcomed and memories are rekindled.

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Robbin Houston (Houston)

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  
TODAYS WORD - RESTORED

     All spiritual things are to be treated with sacred dignity. Humility and meekness are in accordance with the life of Christ, but they are to be shown in a dignified way.  The great moral powers of the soul are faith, hope, and love. God is love, and His law is love. Its two great principles are love to God and love to man. Love works not for profit nor reward; yet God has ordained that great gain shall be the certain result of every labor of love. True love is not a strong, fiery, impetuous passion. It is, on the contrary, an element calm and deep. It looks beyond mere externals and is attracted by qualities alone. It is wise and discriminating, and its devotion is real and abiding.

     God tests and proves us by the common occurrences of life. It is the little things which reveal the chapters of the heart. Talk unbelief, and you will have unbelief; but talk faith, and you will have faith. According to the seed sown will be the harvest. As we lay hold upon the truth of God, its influence must affect us. It must elevate us. It must remove from us every imperfection. God's promises are all on condition of humble obedience. The gospel is a message of peace. Christianity is a system which, received and obeyed, would spread peace, harmony, and happiness throughout the earth. I had often sought for the peace there is in Christ, but I could not seem to find the freedom I desired.

     A terrible sadness rested on my heart. I could not think of anything I had done to cause me to feel sad; but it seemed to me that I was not good enough to enter Heaven, that such a thing would be altogether too much for me to expect. If you lose Heaven, you lose everything; if you gain Heaven, you gain everything. The perfection of Christian character depends wholly upon the grace and strength found alone in God. Deal faithfully and truly with your own soul. It is the chief joy of all holy beings to witness the joy and happiness of those around them.

     A person whose mind is quiet and satisfied in God is in the pathway to health. Only the love that flows from the heart of Christ can heal. Only He in whom that love flows, even as the sap in the tree or the blood in the body, can restore the wounded soul. By the life we live through the grace of Christ, the character is formed. The original loveliness begins to be restored to the soul. The attributes of the character of Christ are imparted, and the image of the Divine begins to shine forth.

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  

TODAYS WORDS - RESULTS

     Human life is precious, sublime and meaningful. But by involvement in purely worldly pursuits, the greatness of human birth is forgotten. Without human values, life is meaningless. When there is purity in thought, word and deed, human values are practiced. The unity of the three H's is essential. 'Heart, Head and Hand. ' But today this unity is absent among people, with the result that men are becoming inhuman. Knowledge that is not put into practice is like food that is not digested. The gift of food to the hungry is the noblest of all gifts. The giver gives, but really, he is sowing the seed for later, the gift of a rich harvest.

     Food conditions the nature of the mind. Mind guides the thinking. Thinking results in action. Actions lead to commensurate or matching results and effects. When individuals change, society will change. And when society changes, the whole world will change. The welfare of the individual is bound up with the welfare of society as a whole. Look at the world with the vision of peace, love, and compassion. Then the whole world will appear loving and peaceful. The secret of perfect health lies in keeping the mind always cheerful - never worried, never hurried, never borne down by any fear, thought or anxiety. You have it in your power to make your days on Earth a path of flowers, instead of a path of thorns. Start the day with love, spend the day with love, fill the day with love and end the day with love. You are not one person, but three: The one you think you are; The one others think you are; The one you really are. That is the way to God. 

     First comes self-confi­dence, that is the foundation. Then comes self-satis­faction, it is like the wall. Next comes self-sacrifice, it is like the roof. Finally, the house is complete, and the indweller is installed inside; that is self-realiza­tion. It starts with self-confidence, and it ends with realizing the self. Breaking the cycle takes time. Be patient and gentle with yourself. Set long term goals. And be persistent! Remember to Stretch, Laugh and be Unshakable! Let us live and move in harmony. Let us grow together. Let us cherish the wisdom that we have acquired together. Let us live in complete harmony without any misunderstanding. When you retire for the night offer grateful homage to God for being with you all day long.

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

Eating Prunes Every Day May Be Good for Your Heart

By Stephanie Brown 

https://www.verywellhealth.com/health-news

     Prunes, or dried plums, are a fiber-rich fruit that helps with bowel movement. But some emerging research suggests prunes might offer more than constipation relief. Eating prunes every day can improve cholesterol levels while reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, according to two new studies presented at the American Society for Nutrition’s flagship conference in July.

     The heart health benefits of long-term prune consumption were seen in men. In older women, eating prunes regularly had no negative effect on metabolic measures, such as total cholesterol, blood sugar, and insulin levels. “The conclusion here really is that prunes can support cardiovascular health. But we’re just at the tip of the iceberg learning about this, so we have to dig a little deeper into these results and potentially replicate them,” Andrea N. Giancoli, MPH, RD, a registered dietitian and nutrition advisor to the California Prune Board, told Verywell.

     Another study published in 2021 found that eating 50–100 grams of prunes (about five to 10 pieces) every day was associated with reduced heart disease risks. The reductions in cholesterol and a marker of inflammation were likely because of improvements in antioxidant levels, according to Shirin Hooshmand, PhD, RD, a professor of exercise and nutritional sciences at San Diego State University and a co-author of the study.

Are Prunes Better Than Fresh Plums?

     Although studies have suggested that prunes—or dried plums—can support heart health, that doesn’t necessarily mean fresh plums or prune juice offer the same benefits. There haven’t been that many studies on the benefits of fresh plums or prune juice, Hooshmand explained. “It’s possible that at some levels they would have similar benefits. Research is needed to better understand that” she said. Drying fresh plums in hot air improves the nutritional properties and shelf life of the fruit, so that might be a reason to pick the dried version over the fresh fruit.

     “You might have to eat more plums to receive the same benefit, but the fundamental composition is going to be similar,” Maya Vadiveloo, PhD, RD, FAHA, an associate professor of nutrition at the University of Rhode Island, told Verywell. Eating 5–10 dried prunes might be easier than trying to fit in the same amount, or more, of fresh plums. But either option is better than prune juice, according to Vadiveloo. “Whole fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber, contribute to satiety, and are generally lower in calories,” she said.

Can Prunes Benefit Young People Too?

     While most of the available research on prunes has been conducted on postmenopausal women and men over 55, Vadiveloo said that younger adults would also benefit from eating prunes. “We’re recommending—across any diet pattern—diets that are rich in fruits and vegetables. So, prunes fit into that category,” she said. If you don’t like the taste of prunes, fruits like apples and berries are also good for your heart. However, fruits only make up one part of your diet. It’s important to focus on a varied diet pattern with vegetables, legumes, and heart-healthy oils as well, Vadiveloo added. “You can’t add prunes to a diet that’s rich in high-fat red meats or very processed foods and expect it to be a miracle cure,” she said.

Key Takeaways

⦁ Prunes, or dried plums, are rich in fiber and more nutrient-dense than fresh plums.

⦁ Eating about five to 10 prunes a day may support heart health.

⦁ Research on prunes is limited and the sample size is often small.

What This Means For You

     Prunes contain a lot of fiber so you might want to start adding these into your daily routine slowly. If you don’t eat a high-fiber diet already, adding too much fiber at once can lead to cramping, bloating, or constipation.

This is for information purpose only and should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. These are opinions from an external panel of individual doctors, and not to be considered as opinion of Microsoft. Please seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns.