James Stone

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 - CIRCUMSTATCES

     You cannot have a positive life and a negative mind. We live in an imperfect world, and imperfect people surround us every day. Some people have a difficult time facing truth and reality. They prefer to live in a make-believe world, pretending that certain things aren't happening. Many people feel so pressured by the expectations of others that it causes them to be frustrated, miserable and confused about what they should do. Watch out for the joy-stealers: gossip, criticism, complaining, faultfinding, and a negative, judgmental attitude.
     I have learned that I really do have discipline, self-control, and patience. But they were given to me as a seed, and it's up to me to choose to develop them. We can improve our relationships with others by leaps and bounds if we become encouragers instead of critics. Individuals need to be willing to face truth about their attitudes, behaviors, even what we want out of life. There's no happier person than a truly thankful, content person. Hope is a favorable and confident expectation; it's an expectant attitude that something good is going to happen and things will work out, no matter what situation we're facing.
     If we live a self-directed, self-motivated, self-centered life, always needing to get our own way, then we're going to be miserable. In fact, many times we believe it's our problems that are making us unhappy when, in reality, it's because we're focused on ourselves! Feeling sorry for ourselves is the most useless waste of energy on the planet. It does absolutely no good. We can't let our circumstances or what others do or don't do control us. We can decide to be happy regardless. I want to let you in on a little secret: I don't always feel like I'm a success. That's right. There are plenty of times when I feel like I've just totally messed up and failed to connect with the people I'm trying to communicate with.

Joyce Meyer

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY
 
4 Reasons Why Farting Is Good For You
Story by Isadora Baum
 https://www.delish.com/

     Farting might be embarrassing—especially when it’s noticeable (sound, smell). But it’s actually important for your health. There are benefits to letting it rip throughout the day (most of them go undetected, anyway.) “Farting can tell us a lot about our digestive health. It’s actually very normal to pass gas over a dozen times a day, and lack of gas may indicate less diversity in lower digestive tract bacteria,” says Kelly Jones MS, RD, CSSD, LDN, of Kelly Jones Nutrition. 
     Having a diverse microbiome is important to good health in many ways, including improved mood and fitness performance, better heart health, and a healthier immune system. If you aren’t farting enough, see a doctor to better understand why and how to get things moving better in your digestive system. But if you are farting frequently enough, here’s what it’s doing for you:
Farting is telling you you’re getting good, complex carbs.
     “A diet rich in legumes, vegetables, fruits, whole grains nuts and seeds has long been associated with health benefits, and a healthy amount of flatulence can be indicative of this,” says Jones. These foods provide fermentable fiber, resistant starches and oligosaccharides, which are all complex carbohydrates that good bacteria ferment and feed off of in the lower digestive tract. Gas is a byproduct of this fermentation, and that’s what you release when you fart. So, by farting, you know you’re getting a good variety of these types of fibrous foods to improve your gut health and the microbiome that helps keep it going.
It improves colon health.
     Yup, that’s right—farting can keep your colon happy now and lower the risk of colon complications in the future. In the short term, “holding in gas can limit motility of bowels, leading to digestive discomfort, pain and even constipation,” she says, so letting the gas pas can keep you regular and comfortable. “In the long run, regular constipation increases the risk for diverticulosis,” she says. So, don’t hold it in for too long if you’ve got to go.
Farting might help you eat better.
     While you should fart throughout the day, you don’t want to do it too little or too much. “If you’re passing heavy gas regularly and it’s often foul in smell, it may indicate your diet is too rich in protein, sugar, or saturated fats versus healthful carbohydrates and plant-based fats,” says Jones. “This may also be the case if your diet is rich in artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols,” she adds. It may be the result of healthy foods, too, like sulfur-rich eggs or broccoli. But if you didn’t just eat those and your gas smells pretty dramatically, then evaluate whether you should rebalance the amount of protein, sugar, and saturated fat you’re downing.
It can help you identify food intolerances.
     Farting doesn't mean you should automatically jump to conclusions that you have a food intolerance and start cutting out entire food groups. But it's worth investigating a bit before consulting a gastroenterologist or a dietician specializing in gastrointestinal issues. “Difficulty passing gas, painful bloating, or foul-smelling gas may indicate food intolerances,” says Jones. However, if a food you don’t consume regularly is causing gas, such as beans or cauliflower, it may be that your good gut bacteria are simply adjusting to the new food as they ferment the carbohydrates.
     Give your body a few chances to become more familiar with the food before you decide you won’t eat it. “Often,” Jones explains, “more regular intake of these foods for several weeks leads to a healthier bacterial balance and less gas production.” But if that’s not the case and uncomfortable bloating and foul-smelling gas persist when you eat certain foods, talk with a doctor about what might be going on.

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. Please seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns.

Kenneth Davis

     ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FORTHCOMING.

UNTIL THEN, CONTACT

CLOYD NIGHTINGALE  @ (901) 922-9727,

OR

WILLIE TAYLOR @ (901) 258-6958.....

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 - ENDURE

     Everybody is their own person. I made a lot of mistakes, a lot of things I'm not proud of. But it's only for other people to learn from. If I could take back all the mistakes that I made throughout my career, I would have had a perfect career. I would have missed no shots. I would have made no turnovers. I would have went right instead of going left when I was supposed to, every game. You can hide from the devil, but he'll always find you. People think that I'm some tough renegade, black-hearted being, evil, but that ain't me. Being in a fishbowl, everybody looking at every move you make, talking about everything you do - it's just a hard life to live.
     My mom always told me that I could be anything I wanted to be. And I truly, actually believed it. And I fought. I failed, got back up. I failed, got back up. I had a lot of growing up to do. A lot of times, I learned the hard way. Either you give in, or you fight. That's all I know, being where I'm from. You fight for what you want. You go after what you want. The only thing I could do was give up or keep fighting for what I wanted in life. You hit roadblocks in life, but I'm living proof that you can overcome those roadblocks and become what you want to become. Just understand that there's going to be some ups, there's going to be some downs.
     So many people supported me and believed in me. They made it so easy for me to believe in myself, because I didn't want to let them down. That's where I'll get the love in my heart: from, the fact that little young guys can look at the obstacles that I had to go through to become a Hall of Famer and know it's not so bad when it comes to them trying to accomplish the same goal. I think a lot of times, when people who get a chance to meet me and be around me, they understand that I'm not the person that the media make me out to be.
     I went through what I went through because God said go through it. God gave me all this; why waste the talent that he gave me? Why not go full throttle with it all and try to become in the class with the greatest players that ever played the game? That's just a great feeling. I just try to look into the mirror, and work on the things that I wasn't doing, and I made a promise to myself that after the season, I will look at the same mirror, and say that you did everything you could. My dream was bigger than anything else. My fight and me wanting to fulfill what I wanted to be in life. That was enough to keep me strong enough to endure anything. Only the strong survive.

Allen Iverson

 TIME FOR ANOTHER 

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS

 TO  

WILL BOYD

     Faith and prayer are the vitamins of the soul; man cannot live in health without them. The old Devil gets mad when you're trying to do good. Pray that God will move the stumbling blocks. God can make you anything you want to be, but you have to put everything in his hands. 

~Mahalia Jackson~

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 WORDS - WISDOM AND DIRECTION 

     Even a mirror will not show you yourself, if you do not wish to see. Life is full of doors that don't open when you knock, equally spaced amid those that open when you don't want them to. Between the black of yesterday and the white of tomorrow is the great gray of today. Did you ever look back at some moment in your past and have it suddenly grow so vivid that all the intervening years seemed brief, dreamlike, impersonal—the motions of a May afternoon surrendered to routine? That's life: trust and you're betrayed; don't trust and you betray yourself.
     I've always been impulsive. My thinking is usually pretty good, but I always seem to do it after I do my talking — by which time I've generally destroyed all basis for further conversation. Of all the things a man may do, sleep probably contributes most to keeping him sane. It puts brackets about each day. If you do something foolish or painful today, you get irritated if somebody mentions it, today. If it happened yesterday, though, you can nod or chuckle, as the case may be. You've crossed through nothingness or dream to another island in Time.
     So long as no one knows everything about you, you have resources you can call upon for which no one is really prepared. It's hard not to be a part of your time. The four points of the compass be logic, knowledge, wisdom and the unknown. Some do bow in that final direction. Others advance upon it. To bow before the one is to lose sight of the three. I may submit to the unknown, but never to the unknowable. The man who bows in that final direction is either a saint or a fool. Don't wake me for the end of the world unless it has very good special effects.

     Roger Joseph Zelazny (May 13, 1937 – June 14, 1995) was an American poet and writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for The Chronicles of Amber. He won the Nebula Award three times (out of 14 nominations) and the Hugo Award six times (also out of 14 nominations), including two Hugos for novels: the serialized novel ...

WELCOME TO 
SMOOTH
 CONTEMPORARY JAZZ 
FRIDAYS

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 - PLACE OF SOLACE 

     We have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for the day. Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it. Our attitude is everything. We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. Every one of us can blame somebody for something that has happened in our lives. But don't waste your time. What we need most is a steady stream of love flowing among us. Love that quickly forgives, willingly overlooks, and refuses to take offense.
     Cultivate your own capabilities, your own style. Appreciate the members of your family for who they are, even though their outlook or style may be miles different from yours. Rabbits don't fly. Eagles don't swim. Ducks look funny trying to climb. Squirrels don't have feathers. Stop comparing. There's plenty of room in the forest. Refuse to let your situation determine your attitude. Times may be hard, and people may be demanding, but never forget that life is special. Every single day is a special day. Encourage one another. Many times, a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept people on their feet. The beautiful thing about encouragement is that anybody can do it.
     God is a specialist at making something useful and beautiful out of something broken and confused. One of the problems with worry is that it keeps you from enjoying what you have. Worry erases the promises of God from your mind. If the pace and the push, the noise and the crowds are getting to you, it's time to stop the nonsense and find a place of solace to refresh your spirit. Don't get older; get better: Live realistically. Give generously. Adapt willingly. Trust fearlessly. Rejoice daily. Do you need strength? Peace? Wisdom? Direction? Discipline? Ask for it! God will hear you.

Charles R. Swindoll

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

Kenneth Davis

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

     May 5, 2024: Deliberately come into peace as you release yourself from stress. Step on to the firm foundation of faith in My word, in My kingdom, and in relationship with Me, says the Lord. When your foundation is solid everything that you build will reflect that same fundamental power. Your position in Me will bring you to a position of life and strength. Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

   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 - FOUNDATION OF FAITH 
 

     The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it. Find joy in the journey. We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness, peace, and contentment, may we choose a positive attitude. When we treat people merely as they are, they will remain as they are. When we treat them as if they were what they should be, they will become what they should be. Happiness comes when we stop complaining about the troubles we have and offer thanks for all the troubles we don't have. Help others in their race of life. Remember that when you help another up a mountain, you are a little nearer the top yourself.
     So much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference. To do the best we can and then to choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and contentment. We can't direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness, peace, and contentment, may we choose a positive attitude. Don’t limit yourself and don’t let others convince you that you are limited in what you can do. Believe in yourself and then live so as to reach your possibilities. You can achieve what you believe you can. Trust and believe and have faith.
     If you want to give light to others, you have to glow yourself. As we arise each morning, let us determine to respond with love and kindness to whatever might come our way. Our Heavenly Father is aware of our needs and will help us as we call upon Him for assistance. I believe that no concern of ours is too small or insignificant. The Lord is in the details of our lives. If we do not have a deep foundation of faith and a solid testimony of truth, we may have difficulty withstanding the harsh storms and icy winds of adversity which inevitably come to each of us. The good you have done, the kind words you have spoken, the love you have shown to others, can never be fully measured.  One day each of us will run out of tomorrows. Let us not put off what is important.

     Thomas Spencer Monson (August 21, 1927 – January 2, 2018) was an American religious leader, author, and the 16th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). As president, he was considered by adherents of the religion to be a prophet, seer, and revelator. 

Kenneth Davis

EXTENDING CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY

OF

EARNESTINE WRIGHT-BENTON 

     There's nothing abnormal about Estella's love for the Blues nor her "All Blues Saturday" website posts. However, this "Lady" has reason to "Sing The Blues" these days. Sadly, we announce the transition of her sister. Earnestine was a graduating member of the BTW Class of 1969. Her untimely transition occurred on April 17, 2024. A Memorial Service has been scheduled for Saturday May 11, 2024 at 3:00pm. The service will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 3565 Kimball Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111. Please continue to uplift Estella and her family in prayer. Cards of sympathy and condolences should be sent to Estella at 2270 North Parkway, Memphis, TN 38112.

     Patience and Diligence, like faith, remove mountains. For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity. She that lives to live forever, never fears dying.
~William Penn~

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 - PROGRESSION

     One thing is fact. The events of your life are created by you, and those events come to you through your feelings. You are an individual, and you came here on your own as a child, and you will die on your own. The fact that you may live in a community or with your family does not change the solitude of your spiritual journey. By cluttering your life with many things, you soon lose sight of who you are and what you came for. Balance and good fortune can only come to a person who is balanced and feels fortunate.
     The real you, the inner you, is pure, very pure. It's loving and it's magnanimous. It understands. It has patience. It is tolerant-it will wait forever while your ego trots all over everywhere trying to figure life out. Lean toward love at all times, cut people slack, forgive and forget, and be kind, very kind; the more you do that, the less fear you will have. People will raise up to support you. You are here to experience life, not to escape from it. Remember, most of the things you think you need are ego trips designed to bolster your image and your perception of security.... 
     You'll waste a lot of energy satisfying your ego only to find that, as soon as it's got what it wants, it ignores all your efforts and promptly nails another list of demands to your forehead. The ego will always try to force you to slave for its vision. Life was never meant to be a struggle, just a gentle progression from one point to another, much like walking through a valley on a sunny day. You don't have to become something in the eyes of others, you only have to become something in your own reality. From this humble attitude flows a sweet serenity which comes naturally from personal healing and spiritual reconciliation.

     Stuart Wilde (24 September 1946 – 1 May 2013) was a British writer. Best known for his works on New Age, self-empowerment, and spirituality, he was also a lecturer, teacher, humorist, essayist, scriptwriter, lyricist, and music producer. 

IT'S TIME FOR 
JUST JOKING MONDAYS
Funny mom puns

 Funny celebrity mom quotes
 
Dark Humor Jokes

1. A man walks into an enchanted forest and tries to cut down a talking tree. "You can't cut me down," the tree exclaims, "I'm a talking tree!" The man responds, "You may be a talking tree, but you will dialogue."
2. My grief counselor died. He was so good, I don’t even care.
3. My mom died when we couldn’t remember her blood type. As she died, she kept telling us to “be positive,” but it’s hard without her. 
4. A man wakes from a coma. His wife changes out of her black clothes and, irritated, remarks, “I really cannot depend on you in anything, can I!”
5. Even people who are good for nothing have the capacity to bring a smile to your face, like when you push them down the stairs.

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

     MAY 7, 2024: Hang on to My promises when you have a setback. Overall, you are making progress, but not all things are coming up roses and clover. Challenges are part of life that either break you down or strengthen your resolve. It will be up to you as to how you respond. You would do well to be strong in the face of adversity, and put your trust in Me, says the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

   T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   
TODAY'S WORDS - FACE OF ADVERSITY

     I'm a highly flawed individual, as we all are, and because I was raised by Jesuits, I'm constantly, 'What is it about me and what I can do to be better?' I want us all to face our fears and stop behaving like our goal in life is to merely survive. I was taught from a very early age that it was probably the most American thing you can do is to question what's going on and to try to fix things that you see that aren't right. I believed that as a young person, and I believe that today. Hope for the best is what we do, right from the moment we're born. I've read stories of slave owners who were very generous. They didn't keep them in shackles, they didn't whip the slaves, they built schools and churches for them, free housing, free food, free everything. It's wrong. No matter how nice you make it look, it's wrong. 

     The media love to cover black people on the front page. After all, when you live in a society that will lock up about 30 percent of all black men at some time in their lives and send more of them to prison than to college, chances are a fair number of those black faces will end up in the newspaper. White people scare the crap out of me. I have never been attacked by a black person, never been evicted by a black person, never had my security deposit ripped off by a black landlord, never had a black landlord, never been pulled over by a black cop, never been sold a lemon by a black car salesman, never seen a black car salesman, never had a black person deny me a bank loan, never had a black person bury my movie, and I've never heard a black person say, 'We're going to eliminate ten thousand jobs here - have a nice day!' 

     If you believe in equality, if you believe in standing up for the rights of all, especially for people most affected by bigotry and discrimination, then you have no choice but to be present and accounted for when it comes to standing up for gays and lesbians in our society. I say stupid white men are always the problem. That's never going to change. They've been around for thousands of years - they'll continue to be around; they'll continue to do horrible things. We're never gonna get rid of crazy people. It's not surprising to me that in a country born of racial genocide, the issue of race is still an open wound on the American soul. We haven't dealt with it. The wealthy have never liked to pay for the labor that enriches them. Ever since slavery was eliminated, they have been trying to keep it as close to slavery as they can without violating the slave laws. When you come from the working class and you do well enough whereby you can provide a little bit better for your family, get a decent roof over their head and send them to a good school, that's considered a good thing.
       The highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity. Choosing right over wrong, ethic over convenience, and truth over popularity ... these are choices that measure your life. Travel the path of integrity without looking back, for there is never a wrong time to do the right thing. You survive by having your fear compass calibrated correctly. Our compass is off now because we're being told to be afraid of everything. The things that we're frightened of, or told to be frightened of, are not necessarily the things that we need to fear.

Michael Moore

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 - RESTORED

     How come it can’t fly no better than a chicken?’ Milkman asked. Too much tail. All that jewelry weighs it down. Like vanity. Can’t nobody fly with all that [stuff]. Wanna fly, you got to give up the [stuff] that weighs you down.’ The peacock jumped onto the hood of the Buick and once more spread its tail, sending the flashy Buick into oblivion.  I don't know whether the bird you are holding is dead or alive, but what I do know is that it is in your hands. I know the world is bruised and bleeding, and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge - even wisdom. Like art. Your life is already artful waiting, just waiting, for you to make it art. 
     From my point of view, your life is already a miracle of chance waiting for you to shape its destiny. I want to discourage you from choosing anything or making any decision simply because it is safe. Things of value seldom are. Please don't settle for happiness. It's not good enough. Of course you deserve it, but if that's all you have in mind - happiness - I want to suggest to you that personal success devoid of meaningfulness, free of a steady commitment to social justice - that's more than a barren life. It's a trivial one. How exquisitely human was the wish for permanent happiness, and how thin human imagination became trying to achieve it. When there is pain, there are no words. All pain is the same.
     All paradises, all utopias are designed by who is not there, by the people who are not allowed in. What's the world for you if you can't make it up the way you want it? My theory is that the world is a difficult place to live in and distraction is the name of the game. We mistook violence for passion, indolence for leisure, and thought recklessness was freedom. So, this is what insanity is. Not goofy behavior but watching a sudden change in the world you used to know. If you're going to hold someone down, you're going to have to hold on by the other end of the chain. You are confined by your own repression. To get to a place where you could love anything you chose--not to need permission for desire--well now _that_ was freedom. Love is divine only and difficult always.
     This word "LOVE" - discredited, "clicheed" - can be restored and love, the instinct, the impulse to care for somebody in the hope that somebody will care for you - plus our language, the language, a language - is about all we have. With everything else going on, this is what makes us, what keeps us human. Don’t beg anybody for anything, especially love. Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined. Love is never any better than the lover. 

Toni Morrison

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

A New Study Suggests That a Combination of These 4 Traits May Increase Early Heart Attack Risk
Story by Danielle DeAngelis 
Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD
https://www.eatingwell.com/

     It's important to take care of your heart, from your diet to physical activity, and that's especially the case if you have conditions that directly affect your ticker. Here’s what the study found. There's a new study published by the European Society of Cardiology that shows a combination of 4 common unhealthy traits may cause an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including events like heart attacks and stroke. Here's what the study found and what you can do to help improve your heart health if you have these conditions.
What the Study Found
     Presented at ESC Congress 2023 on August 25 and funded by the Regional Board for the County of Västmanland and Centre for Clinical Research, the study followed 34,269 adults in their 40s and 50s who were screened for their cardiovascular health in the 1990s in Sweden. There, 15% of the group (5,084 individuals) were classified to have metabolic syndrome because they had three or more of the following common traits:
"Waist circumference of 102 centimeters or above for men and 88 centimeters or above for women." This equates to about 40.1 inches and 34.6 inches, respectively.
High cholesterol levels measured at 6.1 mmol/l or above, which is roughly 236 mg/dL.
High blood pressure, specifically "130 mmHg or higher systolic blood pressure and/or 85 mm Hg or higher diastolic blood pressure."
High blood sugar levels with "fasting plasma glucose 5.6 mmol/l or higher," equating to about 101 mg/dL.
     Both those with metabolic syndrome and a control group of 10,168 people without metabolic syndrome were identified, and 47% of total participants were women. In an average follow-up of 27 years, non-fatal cardiovascular events—including heart attack and stroke—occurred in 32% of the participants with metabolic syndrome compared to 22% in the control group. This showcases a greater heart attack and stroke risk for those with metabolic syndrome in this study.
      Plus, for those that experienced a heart attack or stroke in this study, the median time for the first non-fatal event was 16.8 years after the initial screening for those with metabolic syndrome, compared to 19.1 years for the control group. This 2.3-year difference means that the metabolic syndrome group was prone to have a heart attack or stroke earlier in life than the control group. "As metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors, the level of each individual component does not have to be severely raised," study author Dr. Lena Lönnberg said in the release. "In fact, most people live with slightly raised levels for many years before having symptoms that lead them to seek health care."
     The combination of these conditions is what causes the increased risk, but Lönnberg notes the importance of keeping blood pressure in check. "Blood pressure was the riskiest component, particularly for women in their 40s, highlighting the value of keeping it under control," she emphasized. One thing that can help lower high blood pressure levels is by following a healthy eating pattern that targets metabolic syndrome. The DASH diet—the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension—is a great place to start as it meets our guidelines for healthy blood pressure and heart-healthy nutrition parameters.
The Bottom Line
     While this study showed that metabolic syndrome increases risk for heart attacks and stroke, there are healthy lifestyle choices you can make to reduce this risk. "The results underline the importance of early detection of risk factors through health screening programmes so that preventive actions can be taken to prevent heart attack, stroke and premature death," Lönnberg said. "As a general rule of thumb, even if you feel well, check your blood pressure every year, avoid smoking, keep an eye on your waist circumference and last, but definitely not least, be physically active every day."

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. Please seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns.

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 - INSURMOUNTABLE

     Fun is like life insurance; the older you get, the more it costs. The safe way to double your money is to fold it over once and put it in your pocket. A bee is never as busy as it seems; it's just that it can't buzz any slower.  One of the simple but genuine pleasures in life is getting up in the morning and hurrying to a mousetrap you set the night before. It is pretty hard to tell what does bring happiness; poverty and wealth have both failed. The world gets better every day - then worse again in the evening.
     One of the commonest ailments of the present day is the premature formation of opinion. The only way to entertain some folks is to listen to them. Flattery won't hurt you if you don't swallow it. No one can feel as helpless as the owner of a sick goldfish. The fellow that agrees with everything you say is either a fool or he is getting ready to skin you. Live so that you can at least get the benefit of the doubt. Nothing is as irritating as the fellow who chats pleasantly while he's overcharging you. Some people pay a compliment as if they expected a receipt. 
     Some folks pay a compliment like they went down in their pocket for it. A good listener is usually thinking about something else. Look out for the people who allow you to do all the talking. The only way to entertain some folks is to listen to them. A grouch escapes so many little annoyances that it almost pays to be one. All the world loves a good loser. Live so that you can at least get the benefit of the doubt. It ain't a bad plan to keep still occasionally even when you know what you're talking about. It's going to be fun to watch and see how long the meek can keep the earth once they inherit it. There is no failure except in no longer trying. There is no defeat except from within, no really insurmountable barrier save our own inherent weakness of purpose. Who remembers when we used to rest on Sunday instead of Monday?

     Frank McKinney Hubbard (September 1, 1868 – December 26, 1930), better known as Kin Hubbard, was an American cartoonist, humorist, and journalist.

 TIME FOR ANOTHER 

     Bessie Louise Cathey was one of the 25 contestants who took part in the first Memphis In May International Barbecue Cooking Contest, which was held in a parking lot by the Orpheum Theater at Main and Beale on 6 May 1978. Mrs. Cathey won the $500 first prize and Lee Waterbury won the $250 second prize. Third place and $150 went to Mrs. Johnnie Whitaker. While they were cooking, an estimated 5,000 people wandered through the area. The Commercial Appeal files. Robb Mitchell, The Commercial Appeal

     The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest takes place in an expanded Tom Lee Park in May 1993. (Dave Darnell / The Commercial Appeal files)

     Barbecue smoke fills the air above team tents as during the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal

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 - UNRESOLVED ISSUES 

     One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say. Good manners are appreciated as much as bad manners are abhorred. No one is more insufferable than he who lacks basic courtesy. A mistake made by many people with great convictions is that they will let nothing stand in the way of their views, not even kindness. Don't make the mistake of thinking that you have to agree with people and their beliefs to defend them from injustice. It is better to have a fair intellect that is well used than a powerful one that is idle. The world is not fair, and often fools, cowards, liars and the selfish hide in high places.
     Change will never happen when people lack the ability and courage to see themselves for who they are. The realities of the world seldom measure up to the sublime designs of human imagination. The best way to win against the intolerable is to tolerate them, for this they have seldom dealt with. Your indulgence may soften their malice and open their eyes to more honorable ways. When trying to teach someone a boundary, they learn less from the enforcement of the boundary and more from the way the boundary was established. Sometimes power is all a person has, so they will protect it even unto their own destruction, for without power they have nothing. 
     Our understanding of the world around us is constantly being redefined and expanded, and so therefore, it is wiser to be passionate about seeking for truth than knowing it. Callousness and insolence bring to bare unanimous social condemnation, while the simple efforts of politeness are admired; even in those who are otherwise despised. There are amazingly wonderful people in all walks of life; some familiar to us and others not. Stretch yourself and really get to know people. People are in many ways one of our greatest treasures.
     The feeling of being 'offended' is a warning indicator that is showing you where to look within yourself for unresolved issues. If you do not like a certain behavior in others, look within yourself to find the roots of what discomforts you. The deceptive, glossy media images of faces, bodies and social lifestyles, make us hate ourselves so we will buy a solution to love ourselves once again. 

     Bryant McGill is a human potential thought leader, international bestselling author, activist, and social entrepreneur. He is one of the world's top social media influencers reaching a billion people a year. His prolific writings have been published in thousands of books and publications, including a New York Times bestselling series, and his Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller, read by over 60 million people. 

WELCOME TO 
SMOOTH
 CONTEMPORARY JAZZ 
FRIDAYS

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 - ISSUES OF LIFE 

     Under the Sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor wealth to the intelligent, nor success to the skillful, but time and chance govern all. For man does not know his time. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Without vision a people perish. Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. Better is the man of humble standing that works for himself than one who plays the great man but lacks bread. To gain riches is wise; to pay for riches with happiness is foolish. A good name is rather to be chosen than riches. All problems are people problems. And most people problems are people refusing to act like people. The lesser of two evils is still evil. If you are honest, you will live life safely. But if you are dishonest, you will get hurt. A righteous man hates lying, but a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.
     He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be broken beyond repair. The man who walks with wise men becomes wise himself. A wise person will listen and take in more instruction. As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Better the anger of a friend than the kiss of an enemy. A soft answer breaks the rage, a tough answer encourages the fury. Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things that can be compared unto her. Knowledge is of more value than gold. 
     In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider. If you see oppression of the poor, and justice and righteousness trampled in a country, do not be astounded. I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. Give me the gift of a listening heart. For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

     Solomon also called Jedidiah, was a monarch of ancient Israel and the son and successor of King David, according to the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. He is described as having been the penultimate ruler of an amalgamated Israel and Judah. Solomon is portrayed as wealthy, wise and powerful, and as one of the 48 Jewish prophets.

Kenneth Davis

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

     May 12, 2024: Make yourself available to Me, says the Lord, and I will use you in miraculous ways to demonstrate My kingdom. Remember that I am no respecter of persons. Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.

   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 - MIRACULOUS WAYS 

     You are not your mother, your father, your history, or your cultural influences. You are uniquely and originally you. Be bold and daring and fearless and unconventional. Be willing to use your voice in service to your soul. Go on. Rock that damn boat. The wave you create might just change the world. Just because some people are fueled by drama doesn't mean you have to attend the performance. If you want to live an authentic, meaningful life, you need to master the art of disappointing and upsetting others, hurting feelings, and living with the reality that some people just won't like you. It may not be easy, but it's essential if you want your life to reflect your deepest desires, values, and needs. I surround myself with authentic and loving people who share my journey of personal growth and awakening.
     You have deep within you the power to fulfill your highest vision of your life. To engage this power, you must develop a solid personal relationship with yourself. By doing so, you'll tap into a wealth of inner strength that will allow you to take the necessary actions that build confidence and self-esteem. When you learn to stop hiding your power and use fear to your advantage, you'll become less attached to what others want for you and more attached to what you want for yourself. As this shift occurs, you'll naturally begin to lead a more authentic and passionate life. Lean back into the arms of grace. The more I take care of myself, the more prosperous I am. Today I share my abundance with someone who needs a gift of kindness. 
     Step into the light. Unseen forces are cheering you on. When you're brave enough to let go of anything you don't absolutely love or need, what you have left is the space for stillness and possibility. Count your blessings. A grateful heart attracts more joy, love and prosperity. Breathe... Everything is happening exactly as it should be. Abundance flows into my life in surprising and miraculous ways every day. When you look in the mirror and say, 'I love you,' don't worry if you don't believe it yet. Love is far more powerful than your limiting beliefs. When we think good thoughts, we feel good. When we feel good, we make good choices. When we feel good and make good choices, we draw more good experiences into our lives. It really is that simple … and elegant … and true.

     Cheryl Richardson is the New York Times bestselling author of several books including, Take Time for Your Life, Life Makeovers, Stand Up for Your Life, The Unmistakable Touch of Grace, The Art of Extreme Self Care, You Can Create an Exceptional Life with Louise Hay, and Waking Up in Winter: In Search of What Really Matters at Midlife.

Kenneth Davis

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

TO THE CLASS OF 1970

MOTHER'S, GRANDMOTHERS

AND ADOPTED MOTHERS

     No one worries about you like your mother, and when she is gone, the world seems unsafe, things that happen unwieldy. You cannot turn to her anymore, and it changes your life forever. There is no one on earth who knew you from the day you were born; who knew why you cried, or when you'd had enough food; who knew exactly what to say when you were hurting; and who encouraged you to grow a good heart. When that layer goes, whatever is left of your childhood goes with her.
~Adriana Trigiani~

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS
 TO 

FELIPPA FIELDS SCALES
& 
EDWARD JOHNSON

     Youth is the time when hearts are large. Life’s a voyage that’s homeward bound. We cannot live only for ourselves. To know how to grow old is the master work of wisdom, and one of the most difficult chapters in the great art of living. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men. 
~Herman Melville~

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Edward Johnson

Thank you Jocelyn and to all the other Warriors of this wonderful Class of 1970.

Edward Johnson

Kenneth, you are always outstanding. THANK YOU.....

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 - AVERAGE PEOPLE

     My comedy has no color, it's for everybody, black, white, Latino, Asian. It's not a pro-black show, not a def jam show; it's just straight, wholesome type of humor. Being a bigger person, whether you're male or female, in entertainment, it can hurt your chances. Because people look to you to be a so-called superstar. Perfect body, perfect figure, good looking, and smart. And larger people, we have to fit in anywhere we can and the best way we can, so to speak. The way the world looks at you at being perfect, and nobody's perfect. I wouldn't take nothin' but a Ford: F-O-R-D, period. Ain't nothin' like a Ford. I wouldn't drive a Chevrolet 'cause I can't spell it.

     I'd like to help other comedians and when I get a little older, I'd like to open up a nice comedy club that is straight classy, with a straight restaurant and a chef. The whole thing, red carpet, and treating people nice, for people to come back and have a good time. That's the kind of comedy club I want to open up. Now, I want to explain something to you guys. I don't have an ending joke, because I don't tell jokes. I tell real-life stories and make them funny. So, I'm not like the average comedian. They have an ending joke; they always holler Peace! I'm out of here and walk off stage. So, basically, when I get through performing on stage, I just walk off. 

     I don't do too many jokes about current affairs, because almost every comedian always does that. I don't believe in "average people" doing anything [about the climate]. People ought to support mitigation and adaptation within their own line of work, no matter how un-average that is. I mean: if you're a butcher, baker, ballerina, banker, or a plumber, envision yourself as the post-fossil-fuel version of yourself, and get right after it.

Bruce Bruce

IT'S TIME FOR 

JUST JOKING MONDAYS

                    Eyes mostly on the road              Take it all in

                    The road to change                 A one-way street

Slow down, speed racer!

Dark Humor Jokes

⦁      It’s important to establish a good vocabulary. If I had known the difference between the words “antidote” and “anecdote,” one of my best friends would still be alive.

⦁      I visited my new friend in his apartment. He told me to make myself at home. So, I threw him out. I hate having visitors.

⦁      When my Uncle Frank died, he wanted his cremations to be buried in his favorite beer mug. His last wish was to be Frank in Stein.

⦁      Do you know the phrase “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”? Wonderful saying, horrible way to find out that you were adopted.

⦁      My husband left a note on the fridge that said, "This isn't working." I'm not sure what he's talking about. I opened the fridge door and it's working fine!