901 Now: Muralist, SCORE collab to bring art to South City neighborhood - By Taylor Tucker - https://www.actionnews5.com/

05/13/24 01:27 PM

#4958

The Heart's Gratitude

As flowers carry dewdrops, trembling on the edges of the petals, and ready to fall at the first waft of the wind or brush of a bird, so the heart should carry its beaded words of thanksgiving. At the first breath of heavenly flavor, let down the shower, perfumed with the heart’s gratitude. --Henry Ward Beecher

During this most difficult time of bereavement, I want to extend my sincere gratitude for your kind expressions of sympathy. The love and support you have shown has provided great comfort during this difficult time. Please know that it is deeply appreciated and will forever be remembered.

05/13/24 03:29 PM

#4959

901 Now: Muralist, SCORE collab to bring art to South City neighborhood - By Taylor Tucker - https://www.actionnews5.com/

There's a new mural across from the BTW Auditorium. The mural is located on the corner of Mississippi Boulevard and Georgia Avenue. Joseph Boyd is the muralist behind the mural. “For years, maybe thirty years, there was this ugly, faded mural on this building and it bothered me,” Rebecca Matlock Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson is the visionary founder of SCORE. She had a vision to revitalize the area through art. So, she and the SCORE team connected with a Memphis artist. Through collaboration of his artistic skills and Hutchison’s vison, the once-unpleasant mural now tells a story about all the things that make up South City pride.
“You see some of the people that came out of Booker T Washington High School like Miss Maxine Smith, and then Lucy Campbell who taught here for many years, and then there are the golden shoes that represents an achievement or accomplishment for athletes at Booker T Washington,” Hutchinson said. “So, as you see it’s teaching and it’s also honoring. A lot of people might drive through here, and not know where you are,” Boyd added. “But then you drive by a public piece like this, and you have to stop and figure out what’s going on.”

As a parallel to Mr. Boyd, the 55TH Reunion Committee is asking every member of our class to stop and help us figure out how many are interested in attending a reunion. We wish to thank every Warrior who has completed the questionnaire. To date, forty-five responses have been received. This total is inclusive of one no answer and three undecideds. One classmate was so excited about attending, they completed the questionnaire twice. That's the kind of enthuasim the committee wishes everyone maintained.

Please reach out to any committee member for assistance with the questionnaire. We'd like to fill our fresh canvas with a beautiful souvenir photograph of everyone in attendance. Should you run into problems, or need additional information about the questionnaire, please contact me directly at btwco1970@gmail.com. Thanks Joycelyn, for your constant reminders. It hasn't fallen upon blind eyes.

05/14/24 05:20 AM

#4960

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

May 14, 2024: Check yourself to determine how you are treating those around you. Remember that what you do to others will be done to you. See that you show the same respect to the people around you as you expect from them. Romans 14:8-10 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

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 - CHECK YOURSELF

Ain't nothing coming easily in this life. Sometimes you gotta work, you gotta grow and it gotta hurt. Whatever happens in my life, whether I stand up or I fall down, whatever the case, I'm going to use it in my art. Why? Because I'm an artist and I have to. I've done a lot of fighting in my time, and I'm down to do some more. I don't want to, but you know, there's just certain things that you can't sit down and take. Sometimes I feel like a Buddhist, and I need to chant; sometimes a Baptist and I need to holler and shout; and sometimes I need to be a Catholic and need to purge my sins and confess. It just depends on where I am.

Just because you have a nightmare doesn't mean you stop dreaming. I think every individual has his or her own power, and it's a matter of working, taking time and defining what that power is. Anytime you share life stories with other people, you know, you are acknowledging their humanity and kind of accessing some things about yourself, and other people start to expect things about themselves. It's kind of like a fellowship. I was conceived after doctors told my mother she'd never have children. I'm a miracle - we all are. Back in my mid-20s I was told I'd never be able to have children as I wasn't having periods. Doctors tried to start up my monthly cycles, but when nothing worked, they actually offered me a hysterectomy. Without it, they said I might get ovarian cancer in the future. I chose not to have the operation and am so glad I didn't.

I am making an effort to truly live. I don't mean to imply by that that I haven't been alive before but, with my son being here and such a powerful force in my life, he's given me a freedom to be more. I think that sometimes we can get stuck, and just the fact that he's here says so much to me about my own existence. I didn't think I'd be able to have children, and this level of blessing is something I can't even put my finger on. There's something really magical about having a child - it's like permission to begin again, start over, reevaluate some things, check yourself. Recognize yourself. You have to be humble when you're dealing with God. That's what I enjoy most about my music, that it heals in its own time and makes us look at ourselves in its own time.

Jill Scott

05/14/24 12:28 PM

#4961

Influence by Joseph Norris

Drop a pebble in the water,

And its ripples reach out far;

And the sunbeams dancing on them

May reflect them to a star.

Give a smile to someone passing,

Thereby making his/her morning glad;

It may greet you in the evening

When your own heart may be sad.

Do a deed of simple kindness;

Though its end you may not see,

It may reach, like widening ripples,

Down a long eternity.

05/15/24 03:05 AM

#4962

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 - PRIORITIES

Sanford and Son' transcended politics and race. It was a show about a son and a father who have a love-hate relationship but yet need one another to get by in life. I don't want to sound bitter about 'Sanford and Son.' I'm not. It threw me into stardom. It made me wealthy. In Hollywood, you can't make friends. I had no friends in Hollywood, just associates from work. I was always a compassionate man. My heart was always good. I had bought the Great American Dream. I'd attained wealth and success, and the world was an empty, desolate place for me.

Often, your ego will take over because you have people who want to offer you large amounts of money to do certain things that really aren't as good as they should be. I don't need people around me to be happy, and I don't need parties and large crowds, so I go home and stay there. I can't be sure anymore when I meet new people whether they want to be my friend because they like me or because they like being around a star. You get kind of paranoid about that. I got to the point where nothing made me happy. My children didn't bring me any joy. My wife didn't bring me any joy. I didn't know how to love people; I tolerated them.
Unlike a lot of actors in Hollywood who sit around a long time between jobs, I was lucky because for 10 years I was working all the time. Unfortunately, what I was doing was trash. You think you can stray from the straight and narrow course the Lord has set for you and still get into heaven just by praying: 'Lord, you know in my heart I always believed in you.' Well, don't expect God to forgive you! Salvation is not free! God took me out of the world. He refined me and took my mind out of acting. If the Lord wants me to do a film, we're going to have to wrestle a while.
I didn't have the desire to be in it anymore. I was raised a Catholic, was an altar boy, and at 14 I seriously considered becoming a priest. When I stand up and minister, I can minister until I turn into a puddle of perspiration and the spirit of God will just renew me. I went from sinner to saved by grace. God makes you a new person. I'm a Holy Ghost-filled, fire-baptized man. God is a very persuasive creator. If God is the catalyst, there's nothing you can do about it. My priorities are God, my family, my business and my craft. Vietnam makes your morale very low.

Demond Wilson

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

The 3 Best High-Protein Carbs to Eat for Lower Blood Sugar, According to a Dietitian
Story by Isabel Vasquez, RD, LDN
Reviewed by Dietitian Maria Laura Haddad-Garcia
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/nutrition/

No, you don't have to cut out carbs for the sake of blood sugar control. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 10 Americans has diabetes, with over 90% of cases being type 2 diabetes. When it comes to managing diabetes, dietary changes can play a significant role. You may think you need to eliminate or seriously reduce your carb intake to manage your blood sugars, but this isn't necessarily true. While closer consideration of carb intake is typically helpful for diabetes management, it doesn't mean you can't still enjoy carbs! Protein can help offset blood sugar spikes, and some carbohydrates are also good protein sources. Learn the best high-protein carbs for blood sugar management and what to look for in a blood-sugar-friendly snack.
The Best High-Protein Carbs for Better Blood Sugar
1. Beans
Next time you're looking for a protein source for a meatless Monday (or any day for that matter), look no further than beans (or their close cousins, other types of legumes). While their carb content may concern some folks with diabetes, their protein and fiber help offset their impact on blood sugars. "Beans have a great amount of protein in them, and bonus, they have fiber too, which also slows down digestion. For some, this can feel more satisfying, plus that blood sugar management bonus," says Ashley Munro, M.P.H., RDN, CDCES, an instructor at the School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness at the University of Arizona. Our Slow-Cooker Baked Beans (pictured recipe above) are a delicious way to manage your blood sugar.
2. Yogurt
Dairy products, specifically milk and yogurt, are another source of carbs and protein. The carb and protein content of yogurt varies based on the type, with traditional yogurt being lower in protein and higher in carbs than Greek yogurt. Either way, the protein and fat content help prevent rapid blood sugar spikes. Plus, Munro says, "Yogurt can be a fun vehicle to adding nutrients like fruit for fiber and nuts. Texture can impact how we enjoy foods, so that creamy-crunchy combo can be a nice experience."
Emerging research, including a 2020 study in the World Journal of Diabetes, has demonstrated a relationship between gut health and diabetes, so the probiotic boost from yogurt may amplify this food's benefits for those with diabetes.
3. Legume Pasta
With more and more food innovations lining grocery store shelves, there are new fun ways to help manage diabetes through your diet. Over the last few years, one of these newer food inventions is legume pasta, made with protein sources like chickpeas, lentils and yellow peas rather than durum wheat. These can have around four times as much protein and half as many carbs as traditional pasta, which can help offset blood sugar spikes. If you have diabetes, this prevents you from needing to add as much protein from other sources, like meat, when eating pasta. That being said, while you need to moderate your carb intake if you have diabetes, pasta made from grains, like wheat, rice or quinoa, can be part of a diabetes-appropriate diet.
What to Look for in a Blood-Sugar-Friendly Carb
First, it's best to lean into your preferences when picking carbs. If you ignore your cravings for the sake of health, the changes may not be sustainable, and you'll have to sacrifice satisfaction! Munro says, "Carbs should be what a person wants to eat, enjoys and makes sense from a cultural and accessibility perspective."
From there, she recommends integrating blood sugar-friendly food combos. She says, "This could look like someone who enjoys crackers, making them blood sugar friendly by adding some protein like lunch meat and fat such as nuts," which helps promote satisfaction without spiking blood sugars like carbs alone would.

Here are tips for choosing blood sugar-friendly carb sources:
High in fiber: Fiber is a non-digestible carbohydrate that provides many benefits, such as promoting digestive health, reducing cholesterol levels and stabilizing blood sugars. Since it does wonders for your health and blood sugars, consider choosing high-fiber carbs whenever you can. These include vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes.
High in Protein: As mentioned above, protein helps balance blood sugars. Munro says, "Protein just takes longer for your body to process, so it helps slow down the journey, which can make you feel satisfied or fuller longer." In addition to this list, other high-protein carb foods include cottage cheese, quinoa, teff, farro, lentils, chickpeas, edamame, green peas, potatoes and spinach.
The Bottom Line
Pairing protein with carbs helps offset blood sugar spikes and promotes satisfaction. Rather than avoiding carbs, it can help to think about what you can add to your meal or snack to promote your health and help you feel good. Since everybody is different, Munro says, "It does take some trial and error to see what works the best for someone, but it can really empower them when they start to feel better!" So, consider trying new food combinations and getting curious about how they impact your body. When managing diabetes, it's best to work with a healthcare provider who can provide individualized guidance and recommendations.

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.

05/16/24 08:20 AM

#4963

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 - LIABILITY

The people who help us grow toward true self offer unconditional love, neither judging us to be deficient nor trying to force us to change but accepting us exactly as we are. And yet this unconditional love does not lead us to rest on our laurels. Instead, it surrounds us with a charged force field that makes us want to grow from the inside out - a force field that is safe enough to take the risks and endure the failures that growth requires. Our deepest calling is to grow into our own authentic self-hood, whether or not it conforms to some image of who we ought to be. As we do so, we will not only find the joy that every human being seeks--we will also find our path of authentic service in the world.
The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must endure; the deeper our hope, the more prone we are to despair; the deeper our love, the more pain its loss will bring these are a few of the paradoxes we must hold as human beings. If we refuse to hold them in the hopes of living without doubt, despair, and pain, we also find ourselves living without faith, hope, and love. Wholeness does not mean perfection: it means embracing brokenness as an integral part of life. How easily we get trapped in that which is not essential - in looking good, winning at competition, gathering power and wealth - when simply being alive is the gift beyond measure.
Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you. Before you tell your life what truths and values you have decided to live up to, let your life tell you what truths you embody, what values you represent. I now know myself to be a person of weakness and strength, liability and giftedness, darkness and light. I now know that to be whole means to reject none of it but to embrace all of it. Spirituality is not primarily about values and ethics, not about exhortations to do right or live well. The spiritual traditions are primarily about reality...an effort to penetrate the illusions of the external world and to name its underlying truth.

Parker J. Palmer is an American author, educator, and activist who focuses on issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality and social change. He has published ten books and numerous essays and poems and is founder and Senior Partner Emeritus of the Center for Courage and Renewal.

TIME FOR ANOTHER

05/16/24 01:11 PM

#4964

CONTACT

CLOYD NIGHTINGALE @ (901) 922-9727,

OR

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

05/17/24 02:43 AM

#4965

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 - GOALS

Refuse to be disheartened, discouraged, distracted from your goals in life.
~Bernice King~

I want to show little girls that the possibilities are endless. That's my goal - to not only do it for myself, but to show them I can do whatever I put my mind to.
~Nicki Minaj~

Most definitely always been a passion, and always been one of my goals in life as a young person, to have my own business. My dad gave us his entrepreneurial mindset, so that was also ingrained, as well as the tennis. So in a lot of ways, it's a part of making my parents proud. I think we all want to make our parents proud; you know?
~Venus Williams~

The greatest mistake of the movement has been trying to organize a sleeping people around specific goal. You have to wake the people up first, then you'll get action.
~Malcolm X~

People often say I have so much energy, that I never stop; but that's what it takes to accomplish your goals.
~Curtis Jackson~

You have to be vigorous. That's the only way you are going to get it because everybody has dreams and everybody has goals, but the only people who achieve them are the ones that go after it and don't take no for an answer.
~Nick Cannon~

WELCOME TO
SMOOTH
CONTEMPORARY JAZZ
FRIDAYS

05/18/24 09:51 AM

#4966

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 - EDIFICATION

The popular mythology of creative genius depends on beloved stereotypes of the artist in youth and old age: the misunderstood upstart who forces us to see the world afresh; and the revered sage who shows us depths of insight attainable only through a lifetime of hard-won experience.
Masterpieces of art possess immense potential to advance a worldview that could help assuage the societal terrors posed by globalization, the most thoroughgoing socioeconomic upheaval since the Industrial Revolution, which has set off a pandemic of retrogressive nationalism, regional separatism, and religious extremism.
The most basic task of any museum must be the protection of works of cultural significance entrusted to its care for the edification and pleasure of future generations. This imperative rightfully takes precedence over acquisition, interpretation, outreach, or any number of other activities now believed to be crucial to the survival of our great art repositories. Sometimes a museum gains its holdings with much strategic forethought, and at other times serendipitously, as when a long-coveted neighbor’s plot suddenly becomes available. Yet the moral responsibility remains the same.

Martin Myles Filler (born September 17, 1948) is an American architecture critic. He is best known for his long essays on modern architecture that have appeared in The New York Review of Books since 1985, and which served as the basis for his 2007 book Makers of Modern Architecture, published by New York Review Books.

05/18/24 12:44 PM

#4967

05/19/24 03:51 AM

#4968

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

May 19, 2024: There are things that I want to reveal to you that you have not yet considered. However, you have to come to Me in the Spirit to see and understand. Position yourself to receive the revelations of this time in your life, says the Lord, and I will show you things to come. Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trust in You.

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 - POSITION YOURSELF

As believers, we are running the race together. We are connected by our faith in God and our love for the world that He sent Christ to save. So, if one gets weak, we carry them. We aren't called to stop moving forward. We aren't called to criticize each other. No, we are called to encourage each other, to reach down and carry each other, and to keep moving.
Position yourself in the center of God's love. Believe in His love and walk in the power of His might. God is missed through laziness, indifference and unwillingness. God will give you more knowledge about yourself than you could ever think to know. Don't deny the existence of a mountain in your life; deny its authority to stay and refuse to allow it to stop the plan of God in your life. Position yourself in the center of God's love. Believe in His love and walk in the power of His might.

Jesse Duplantis is an American preacher from the Christian Evangelical Charismatic movement. Duplantis is not an Evangelical. His theological beliefs are a combination of Charismatic, Prosperity, and Word of Faith doctrines, and he is considered to be a preacher.

05/20/24 05:05 AM

#4969

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 - YOUR DESTINY

The number one reason people fail in life is because they listen to their friends, family, and neighbors. Fear is a habit, so is self-pity, defeat, anxiety, despair, hopelessness and resignation. You can eliminate all of these negative habits with two simple resolves: I can, and I will. Failure cannot cope with persistence. Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success. Focus on the possibilities for success, not on the potential for failure.
You are the master of your destiny. You can influence, direct and control your own environment. You can make your life what you want it to be. You have absolute control over just one thing, your thoughts. This divine gift is the sole means by which you may control your destiny. If you fail to control your mind, you will control nothing else.

Oliver Napoleon Hill (October 26, 1883 – November 8, 1970) was an American self-help author. He is best known for his book Think and Grow Rich (1937), which is among the best-selling self-help books of all time. Hill's works insisted that fervid expectations are essential to improving one's life. Most of his books were promoted as expounding principles to achieve "success".

IT'S TIME FOR
JUST JOKING MONDAYS

Pursuing your dreams involves you accepting where you want to go. Don't allow anybody else to talk you out of things or discourage you from doing whatever you want to do. You can hold on to your dream and never pursue it or you can start pursuing it. If you can see it, or if you can envision it... it can happen.
Keep it real by being straight forward. Don't pull no punches on people. It's better to tell somebody than just lollygag around, letting them think they're living their life the right way. Because some people don't know what the hell they're doing, they don't know if they're living the right way or making the right decisions. Some people don't know that.

~J. B. Smoove~

05/20/24 09:03 AM

#4970

05/21/24 05:04 AM

#4971

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

May 21, 2024: Set aside time to rest and reevaluate what you have done, what you must do, what you want to do, and how you will go about it. There are places of neglect and regret that need to be rectified as you establish yourself in divine order. 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 WORD - RE-EVALUTE

Greatness can be captured in one word: lifestyle. Life is God's gift to you; style is what you make of it. Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations. Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It's your place in the world; it's your life. Go on and do all you can with it and make it the life you want to live. What we find is that if you have a goal that is very, very far out, and you approach it in little steps, you start to get there faster. Your mind opens up to the possibilities.

I've gotten this advice at different times, and it distills down to one word: purpose. Why are you here? When you start to get distracted by thoughts such as 'Do I fit in? Does this person like me?' - remember why you're there and what you want to accomplish. Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations. If you adopt their attitudes, then the possibility won't exist because you'll have already shut it out...You can hear other people's wisdom, but you've got to re-evaluate the world for yourself. When God made the color purple, God was just showing off.

~Mae Jemison~

05/21/24 08:40 AM

#4972

05/21/24 11:17 AM

#4973

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS
TO
BETTY BRIGHAM JAMES
&
JULIA HARRIS DAVIS

Grace is more than mercy and love. Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayers and won with thanks. The most thankful person is the most fully human.

~Thomas Goodwin~

05/22/24 04:11 AM

#4974

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 - BLAMELESS

Remember that all is One... and what you do to your neighbor, your friend or your foe, is a reflection of what you think of your Creator. Anyone can find fault. It is the wise person who finds that which encourages another in the turmoil and strife's of the day. This is the first lesson ye should learn: There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, it doesn't behoove any of us to speak evil of the rest of us. This is a universal law, and until one begins to make application of same, one may not go very far in spiritual or soul development. Man's origin was as spirit, not a physical body. These souls projected themselves into matter, probably for their own diversion. Through the use of his creative powers for selfish purposes, man became entangled in matter and materiality to such an extent that he nearly forgot his divine origin and nature.
Yesterday is but a memory, Tomorrow an uncharted course, so live today so it will be a memory without remorse. Know that all healing forces are within, not without! The applications from without are merely to create within a coordinating mental and spiritual force. Make the world a better place because you have lived in it. Who is blameless? Only those that blame no one for aught that is, has been or may be. Only in creating hope, life, understanding, harmony, does one become blameless. For, as you understand, they that would be loved must show themselves lovely; they that would have friends must be a friend to others. For in the manner you treat others, you treat your Lord. Let that light which has aroused you be alive, awakened. Condemn no one. And as you come seeking, know, understand, as you create same in the lives of others so is it reflected in your own. Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness, love, gentleness, fellowship and endurance.

Edgar Cayce (/ˈkeɪsiː/; March 18, 1877 – January 3, 1945) was an American attributed clairvoyant who claimed to speak from his higher self while in a trance-like state. His words were recorded by his friend, Al Layne; his wife, Gertrude Evans, and later by his secretary, Gladys Davis Turner. During the sessions, Cayce would answer questions on a variety of subjects such as healing, reincarnation, dreams, the afterlife, past lives, nutrition, Atlantis, and future events. Cayce, a devout Christian and Sunday-school teacher, said that his readings came from his subconscious mind exploring the dream realm, where he said all minds were timelessly connected.

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

One Major Effect of Belly Fat on Early Death Risk,

New Study Finds
Jaime StathisLatoya Julce RN, BSN
By Jaime Stathis
Medically reviewed by Latoya Julce RN, BSN
https://www.thehealthy.com/

Excess belly fat is commonly associated with diabetes and heart problems, but a recent study shows it may be time to add another serious risk factor to that list. There’s little debate that strong, flat abs are an aesthetically pleasing sign of people who take care of themselves through consistent exercise and healthy eating. Turns out, a trim tummy can also say a lot about what’s going on under the skin. It’s important to understand the two types of belly fat, subcutaneous and visceral…and, according to a recent Norwegian study published in the British Medical Journal‘s BMJ Open, both these belly fat types can increase one major risk factor in older adults.
How might belly fat and early death be linked?
Subcutaneous fat sits just under our skin and might be thought of as the kind of tissue that allows you to “pinch an inch,” as the 1980s Special K commercial used to call it. On the other hand, visceral fat—often considered the more dangerous fat—is fat that lives in our abdominal cavity where it wraps around organs, gets into our arteries, and leads to a host of health problems, according to a report from Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Explains Mary Claire Haver, MD, a board-certified OB-GYN who specializes in hormone wellness and is certified in culinary medicine: “Visceral adipose tissue, a hormonally active component of total body fat, has distinct biochemical properties that affect a number of healthy and unhealthy bodily functions.” Dr. Haver continues: “Medical conditions like metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and numerous cancers like prostate, breast, and colorectal cancer are linked to elevated levels of this belly fat.”
The belly fat & frailty study
One 2015 study in the journal American Family Physician explained that frailty, a geriatric condition that may affect up to nearly 20% of older adults, can lead to “adverse health outcomes.” Symptoms of frailty are listed as “generalized weakness, exhaustion, slow gait, poor balance, decreased physical activity, cognitive impairment, and weight loss.”
So, to come back to the Norwegian belly fat study, for 21 years, the researchers in Norway tracked metrics from 4,500 men and women over the age of 45 years to measure key indicators of frailty: exhaustion, grip strength, walking speed, unintentional weight loss and low physical activity. “Study participants who were obese at the beginning of the study were more likely to suffer from frailty at the study conclusion,” Dr. Haver explains of the researchers’ results. “And those who developed elevated levels of visceral fat during the study also were more likely to suffer from frailty at the end of the study.” So, while there’s classically been an assumption that people who are thin and lacking muscle are “frail,” this study suggests that being older and overweight may also cause frailty.
To further the link between belly fat, frailty, and early death, the study notes that frailty “is associated with an increased risk of adverse events such as falls, disability, hospitalization, reduced quality of life and mortality.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that falls are the leading cause of injury, and death from injury, in Americans over 65. CDC data from 2020 suggested 36 million falls among older Americans are reported each year, with more than 32,000 of those resulting in death.

05/23/24 01:55 AM

#4975

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 - CHOOSE CAREFULLY

It is not the trials in your life that develop or destroy you, but rather your response to those hardships. Nobody else can make us discouraged; it is a choice that we alone make when facing disappointments. Basically, there are two paths you can walk: faith or fear. It's impossible to simultaneously trust God and not trust God. Fear stifles our thinking and actions. It creates indecisiveness that results in stagnation. I have known talented people who procrastinate indefinitely rather than risk failure. Lost opportunities cause erosion of confidence, and the downward spiral begins.
Our heavenly Father understands our disappointment, suffering, pain, fear, and doubt. He is always there to encourage our hearts and help us understand that He's sufficient for all of our needs. God will never direct us to be prideful, arrogant and unforgiving, immoral or slothful or full of fear. God will never reject you. Whether you accept Him is your decision.
People don't like the idea of consequences. They want to be able to live their life freely and do what they want to do without any consequences. And we know that's just not the way life is. We are the product of our thinking, so it is important that we choose carefully where to focus our mental energy. We can be tired, weary and emotionally distraught, but after spending time alone with God, we find that He injects into our body's energy, power and strength.

Charles Frazier Stanley Jr. (September 25, 1932 – April 18, 2023) was an American Southern Baptist pastor and writer. He was senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta for 49 years and took on emeritus status in 2020.

TIME FOR ANOTHER

05/24/24 03:23 AM

#4976

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 - UNRELENTING

What other people think of us usually has very little to do with who we are. It is far more important to know myself and take care of myself than it is to look good to others. It has a lot more to do with the other individuals' issues-their prejudices, their fears, and projections. So, it is a waste of time to constantly try to impress or please others. Emotional abuse is like brainwashing in that it systematically wears away at the victim's self-confidence, sense of self, trust in perceptions and self-concept. Usually, critical words are accompanied by threats, name-calling, and yelling. This verbal abuse can be especially damaging.
You have the right to your own ideas and opinions, to make your own decisions, and to have things go your way at times. Stand up for those rights. Survivors have a difficult time expressing their feelings. They are more accustomed to minimizing their pain and hiding how they really feel, both from themselves and others. They often become frightened whenever they feel anything intensely, be it anger, pain, fear, or even love and joy. They fear their emotions will consume them or make them crazy.
When someone is unrelentingly critical of you, always finds fault, can never be pleased, and blames you for everything that goes wrong, it is the insidious nature and cumulative effects of the abuse that do the damage. Over time, this type of abuse eats away at your self-confidence and sense of self-worth, undermining any good feelings you have about yourself and about your accomplishments. Apology reminds us that each person (including ourselves) deserves to be respected and treated fairly. Accepting that your imperfections and so-called negative attributes are part of what makes you unique will help you to stop continually trying to be someone or something that you are not.

Beverly Engel is an internationally recognized psychotherapist and expert on the subject of trauma. She has written 25 books on the related subjects of abuse, shame and empowerment, including The Emotionally Abusive Relationship and Healing Your Emotional Self.

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05/24/24 12:06 PM

#4977

Happy Gardening

When you buy plants from a garden center that are right now in pots, but you're planning on putting them into the ground. It could be a four-inch pot, it could be a two-gallon pot, doesn't make any difference. One tip is that before you plant them, when you get them home, be sure that you water them while they're in the pot and water them thoroughly so that water is running out through the drain hole.And, the reason you'll want to do that is because all of their roots are confined into that pot, and if the roots dry out, the plant dies. So, if you, if you just taken them straight out of the pot, put 'em in the ground, and then you water the dirt around them, you think maybe you've watered all the roots, but it could well be that only the dirt around the root ball is wet, but the root ball itself is dry. And, you'll find out very quickly. So, always water the plant well before you put it in the ground. Then, after you plant, water it again from the top so you wet the dirt around it. And that way, you'll make sure that your plants get off to a good start.Here is a tip for putting plants in the ground that you purchase from a garden center. When you get them home, be sure that you water them while they are in the pot. Water them thoroughly so that water is running out through the drain hole. The reason to do this is because the roots are confined into that pot, and if the roots dry out, plants dies.

If you take plants straight out of the pots, put them in the ground, and water the dirt around them, you may think you have watered all the roots. It is possible that only the dirt around the plants' root ball is wet, not the root ball. So, always water plants well before you put them in the ground. Then, after you plant them, water again from the top so the dirt around the plants is wet. When you do this your plants get off to a good start.

05/25/24 07:20 AM

#4978

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 - EQUILIBRIUM

Humanity is exalted not because we are so far above other living creatures, but because knowing them well elevates the very concept of life. Humanity today is like a waking dreamer, caught between the fantasies of sleep and the chaos of the real world. The mind seeks but cannot find the precise place and hour. We have created a Star Wars civilization, with Stone Age emotions, medieval institutions, and godlike technology. We thrash about. We are terribly confused by the mere fact of our existence, and a danger to ourselves and to the rest of life. Destroying a tropical rainforest for profit is like burning all the paintings of the Louvre to cook dinner.
The worst thing that will probably happen-in fact is already well underway-is not energy depletion, economic collapse, conventional war, or the expansion of totalitarian governments. As terrible as these catastrophes would be for us, they can be repaired in a few generations. The one process now going on that will take millions of years to correct is loss of genetic and species diversity by the destruction of natural habitats. This is the folly our descendants are least likely to forgive us.
Look closely at nature. Every species is a masterpiece, exquisitely adapted to the particular environment in which it has survived. Who are we to destroy or even diminish biodiversity? Nature holds the key to our aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive and even spiritual satisfaction. If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos. One difference between ants and humans is that while ants send their old women off to war, humans send their young men. If we were to wipe out insects alone on this planet, the rest of life and humanity with it would mostly disappear from the land. Within a few months. We should preserve every scrap of biodiversity as priceless while we learn to use it and come to understand what it means to humanity.

Edward Osborne Wilson (June 10, 1929 – December 26, 2021) was an American biologist, naturalist, ecologist, and entomologist known for developing the field of sociobiology.

05/26/24 11:13 AM

#4979

05/26/24 01:05 PM

#4980

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

May 26, 2024: Be alert and pay attention to the small things. Knowing the details will make all the difference at this time and can be extremely important to the outcome of situations you encounter. Exercise your discernment so that you can avoid costly mistakes. Know that I am with you to take you in the right direction, says the Lord. Philippians 4:7 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 - DISCERNMENT

Revenge and retaliation always perpetuate the cycle of anger, fear and violence. Struggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won; you earn it and win it in every generation. We can prevent many people from becoming terrorists by truly listening to people who feel they've been treated unjustly and responding to their concerns with a sense of justice and compassion. I can't help but believe that at some time in the not-too-distant future, there is going to be another movement to change these systemic conditions of poverty, injustice, and violence in people's lives. That is where we've got to go, and it is going to be a struggle.
The woman power of this nation can be the power which makes us whole and heals the rotten community, now so shattered by war and poverty and racism. I have great faith in the power of women who will dedicate themselves whole-heartedly to the task of remaking our society. The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. The failure to invest in youth reflects a lack of compassion and a colossal failure of common sense. There is a spirit and a need and a man at the beginning of every great human advance. Every one of these must be right for that particular moment of history, or nothing happens.
Before I was married to Martin and became a King, I was a proud Scott, shaped by my mother's discernment and my father's strength. Sometimes, I am also identified as a civil rights leader or a human rights activist. I would also like to be thought of as a complex, three-dimensional, flesh-and-blood human being with a rich storehouse of experiences, much like everyone else, yet unique in my own way, much like everyone else. My story is a freedom song of struggle. It is about finding one's purpose, how to overcome fear and to stand up for causes bigger than one's self.

05/27/24 06:38 AM

#4981