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She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

Proverbs 31:25-26

Mom, I didn’t understand back then why you worked so hard to separate us from certain people and places. I remember many fights on several occasions over this very issue. It has taken forty plus years, but now I truly understand that your intentions had a purpose.
It was not that you thought we were better than everyone else or that certain areas were beneath our standard of living. Simply stated, you just wanted use to have a bigger vision of ourselves. One that reached far beyond our circumstances. One that stretched our borders and allowed us to dream the impossible.
It has taken some time, but I finally figured out that you stretched us to make us better. Not better than others, but better than we thought we could ever be. The journey is not over, but I thank you with all that is within me that you cared enough to sacrifice your heart and soul that we might live the life God intended for us. A life of purpose, fulfillment, and above all else, a life of Love for God, others, and self.
It has been said that you don’t love a woman because she is beautiful; she is beautiful because you love her. Mom, you were and always will be the true beauty of the breath of God. There was none before you and there will be none after. Millions didn’t make it, but you were one of the ones who did. I love you. See you in Heaven.

“All that I am, all that I ever will be, I owe to my mother”
-Abraham Lincoln-

“Blessed is he who has learned to admire but not envy, to follow but not imitate, to praise but not flatter, and to lead but not manipulate.”

― William Arthur Ward

14Now that I, your LORD and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you
John 13:14-15

In Corporate America there is a common misconception that in order to be an effective leader one must do one of two things. Serve others or serve self. In my line of business I’ve heard it explained that one can either manage process or people, but both leads to failure.

In my opinion, it should and can be both. In order to effectively lead others you must be willing to empathize with them, but you must also be knowledgeable enough to gain their trust.

If you manage process and not people, you neglect the very essence of what makes the organization run. If you manage people and not process, you will fail to inspire others to follow you.

Jesus left us a perfect example of true leadership. He was willing to humble himself even until death on the cross that we might understand that service to others is at the very core of leadership.

He was both a servant and a leader. Through His actions He showed us how to love and through His sacrifice He showed us how to lead.

You ask, “Servant or Leader”? I say, “Both”.

“You can’t teach what you don’t know, and you can’t lead where you won’t go”

-Jesse Jackson-

We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God given rights. The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jetlike speed toward gaining political independence, but we still creep at horse and buggy pace toward gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter. Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, “Wait.” But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate filled policemen curse, kick and even kill your black brothers and sisters; when you see the vast majority of your twenty million Negro brothers smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society; when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six year old daughter why she can’t go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky, and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people; when you have to concoct an answer for a five year old son who is asking: “Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?”; when you take a cross county drive and find it necessary to sleep night after night in the uncomfortable corners of your automobile because no motel will accept you; when you are humiliated day in and day out by nagging signs reading “white” and “colored”; when your first name becomes “nigger,” your middle name becomes “boy” (however old you are) and your last name becomes “John,” and your wife and mother are never given the respected title “Mrs.”; when you are harried by day and haunted by night by the fact that you are a Negro, living constantly at tiptoe stance, never quite knowing what to expect next, and are plagued with inner fears and outer resentments; when you are forever fighting a degenerating sense of “nobodiness”–then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait. There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair. I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience. You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws. This is certainly a legitimate concern. Since we so diligently urge people to obey the Supreme Court’s decision of 1954 outlawing segregation in the public schools, at first glance it may seem rather paradoxical for us consciously to break laws. One may well ask: “How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?” The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that “an unjust law is no law at all.”

Now, what is the difference between the two? How does one determine whether a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas: An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. All segregation statutes are unjust because segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality. It gives the segregator a false sense of superiority and the segregated a false sense of inferiority. Segregation, to use the terminology of the Jewish philosopher Martin Buber, substitutes an “I it” relationship for an “I thou” relationship and ends up relegating persons to the status of things. Hence segregation is not only politically, economically and sociologically unsound, it is morally wrong and sinful. Paul Tillich has said that sin is separation. Is not segregation an existential expression of man’s tragic separation, his awful estrangement, his terrible sinfulness? Thus it is that I can urge men to obey the 1954 decision of the Supreme Court, for it is morally right; and I can urge them to disobey segregation ordinances, for they are morally wrong.
Let us consider a more concrete example of just and unjust laws. An unjust law is a code that a numerical or power majority group compels a minority group to obey but does not make binding on itself. This is difference made legal. By the same token, a just law is a code that a majority compels a minority to follow and that it is willing to follow itself. This is sameness made legal. Let me give another explanation. A law is unjust if it is inflicted on a minority that, as a result of being denied the right to vote, had no part in enacting or devising the law. Who can say that the legislature of Alabama which set up that state’s segregation laws was democratically elected? Throughout Alabama all sorts of devious methods are used to prevent Negroes from becoming registered voters, and there are some counties in which, even though Negroes constitute a majority of the population, not a single Negro is registered. Can any law enacted under such circumstances be considered democratically structured?
Sometimes a law is just on its face and unjust in its application. For instance, I have been arrested on a charge of parading without a permit. Now, there is nothing wrong in having an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade. But such an ordinance becomes unjust when it is used to maintain segregation and to deny citizens the First-Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and protest………………..

I wish you had commended the Negro sit inners and demonstrators of Birmingham for their sublime courage, their willingness to suffer and their amazing discipline in the midst of great provocation. One day the South will recognize its real heroes. They will be the James Merediths, with the noble sense of purpose that enables them to face jeering and hostile mobs, and with the agonizing loneliness that characterizes the life of the pioneer. They will be old, oppressed, battered Negro women, symbolized in a seventy two year old woman in Montgomery, Alabama, who rose up with a sense of dignity and with her people decided not to ride segregated buses, and who responded with ungrammatical profundity to one who inquired about her weariness: “My feets is tired, but my soul is at rest.” They will be the young high school and college students, the young ministers of the gospel and a host of their elders, courageously and nonviolently sitting in at lunch counters and willingly going to jail for conscience’ sake. One day the South will know that when these disinherited children of God sat down at lunch counters, they were in reality standing up for what is best in the American dream and for the most sacred values in our Judaeo Christian heritage, thereby bringing our nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the founding fathers in their formulation of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
Never before have I written so long a letter. I’m afraid it is much too long to take your precious time. I can assure you that it would have been much shorter if I had been writing from a comfortable desk, but what else can one do when he is alone in a narrow jail cell, other than write long letters, think long thoughts and pray long prayers?
If I have said anything in this letter that overstates the truth and indicates an unreasonable impatience, I beg you to forgive me. If I have said anything that understates the truth and indicates my having a patience that allows me to settle for anything less than brotherhood, I beg God to forgive me.
I hope this letter finds you strong in the faith. I also hope that circumstances will soon make it possible for me to meet each of you, not as an integrationist or a civil-rights leader but as a fellow clergyman and a Christian brother. Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.
Yours for the cause of Peace and Brotherhood, Martin Luther King, Jr.
Published in:
King, Martin Luther Jr.

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
– 1 Corinthians 15:57 –
–
In the game of life we are heavy favorites with a guaranteed victory. However, the opposition (enemy) will still try every trick and scheme to gain the advantage and rip imminent victory from within or grasps. He will do everything within his power to establish a foothold and strip us of the victory we were promised in Christ Jesus.
Although we are highly favored we and all but assured victory we rest on our laurels and forget that we still must play the game of life. In order to win we must have a game plan, a strategy if you will of how to achieve victory. This is what God has provided us through His Word. (The Playbook for Life)
He instructs us to suit up with His whole armor and grind it out day by day fighting the good fight of faith. As my pastor would say, “We’ve got to walk our Faith out, left foot, right foot under any and conditions in hostile territory as we are not of this world, but in it.
We must execute His game plan to achieve our desired goal which is to spend eternity in His presence. Although it is not by works alone that we are saved we are still required to do our part and walk in obedience to that which God desires of us. Just like a football team doesn’t succeed unless every person does their job, as followers of Christ we all have a part to play and faith without works is dead being alone.
The enemy has a playbook as well and he walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He studies us to determine our weaknesses and tendencies in an effort to defeat us. He lurks and waits for the opportune time to exploit us and expose our flaws to the world. In the end leaving us confused and befuddled on just how we let an inferior opponent get the best of us and strip us of a victory that was guaranteed.
And the answer to this all probing question is really quite simple. If you let a defeated foe stick around long enough it build the confidence and belief that you can be defeated. The Bible says to lay aside every weight that so easily besets to avoid falling into the snares of sin. However, we pick and choose those habits and actions we want to hand over to God. We flirt with sin and let it hang around the periphery knowing all too well that it doesn’t just want to hang around outside of the gate. It wants to come into center city (our hearts) and take control.
By not yielding total control to the Father we suffer many self-inflicted wounds that ultimately cause us to spiral downward and fumble that which He guaranteed us into the hands of a weaker yet opportunistic opponent. Failure to guard our hearts and execute God’s game plan as we’ve been instructed in His Word will leave us confused and full of regret in the end wondering how we let something that was so certain slip away.
“If the devil is in your ear he is too high. God has placed all things under your feet.”
-26 Beautiful One liners-

I know that I have the ability to achieve my definite purpose in life; therefore I demand of myself, persistent, continuous action towards its attainment and I here and now promise to render such action.
I fully realize that no wealth or position will long endure unless it is built upon truth and justice; therefore I will engage in no transaction which does not benefit all to whom it effects.
I am succeeding by attracting to myself the forces I wish to use and the cooperation of other people.
I induce others to serve me because of my willingness to serve others.
I eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness, cynicism, anger, and fear by developing a true love for all humanity, because I know that a negative attitude towards others will never bring me success.
I cause others to believe in me because I believe in them and believe in myself.
This is my creed, my quest.
To never stop striving for the top.
To always keep moving forward.
To always be the very best I can be.
I am the power. I cannot be stopped. I am a winner. I promise to always be true to myself. I am responsible for making a positive difference in the world and to the quality of life in it.
I live in constant and never-ending improvement.

(by Napoleon Hill)

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10(NIV)

Have you ever done something foolish as a kid or maybe even as an adult? At the time it seemed like a great idea, but in hindsight you are grateful that you live to tell about it? Great, it’s good to know that I’m not alone. The story that I ‘m about to share with you actually took place. As you can see I actually lived to tell about it, but I would implore that you never try a stunt like this at home.
Growing up in the small southern Ohio town of Portsmouth you can probably imagine that it was hard for kids to find something to do. There wasn’t much around to entertain us (movies, arcades, malls, etc.) Thus, it was customary for us to meet at my house, 2731 Blue Rock Dr., and determine what adventure we planned to embark upon for the day.
I had a lot of friends when I was young, Lance, Josh, and Stephen to name a few, but two in particular were my closet friends. Eric Johnson and Jason Taylor were my partners in crime. Together we formed the Three Musketeers and more often than not found ourselves getting into more mischief than adventure.
When I turned 12 years old I wanted a motorcycle, but my mother thought they were too dangerous so instead she bought me a go-cart. Her logic behind this was that four wheels were safer than two. Little did she know that my uncles, Tommy and David were go cart mechanics and knew how to make my go-cart go faster than the manufacturer intended.
Blue Rock Drive was a very steep hill with a road at the bottom passing between it and Grant St, which was another steep hill. One particular day we came up with a dare devil plan out of sheer boredom. At the time, we thought it was pure genius, but looking back on it, I can definitely say that we are very fortunate to be alive.
Our plan was to build a wooden ramp and put it at the bottom of Blue Rock Dr. Once we hit the ramp our velocity would carry us to Grant St. thus allowing us to become Portsmouth own version of the Duke’s of Hazard.
My Go-cart was a two-seater with room on the back for another to squat down on bars beside the engine. Needless to say we all three went along on this ride. As we picked up speed it became apparent that this may not be a good idea. Once we hit the ramp it shattered into a thousand pieces but not before giving us the required lift we needed to make it to Grant St.
While we were mid flight Eric who was on the back flew off and landed on a nearby parked car. Jason fell out of the passenger seat while getting bit by Sergeant, the evil German shepherd from down the street, and I remained on the go cart as it did a 360 degree turn and landed facing in the opposite direction.
As I reflected on this one of many childhood misadventures it occurred to me that maybe we should have thought our plan through a bit more, but it also made me remember that fearless kid who wasn’t afraid to try anything once.
They say you should never let the kid in you die and I agree with that whole heartedly. As kids we believed that we could do or become anything we wanted to be. It’s not until we become older that we begin to doubt and limit ourselves.
So I ask you, What is your Blue Rock Drive? I want to publish books and motivational writings that encourage and inspire people speaker to pursue their dreams. I want to live a life of impact that makes this world a better place because I was here.
It is my deepest hope that this story helps you to find that fearless kid that still lies deep down inside of you and go after that thing you want. Don’t let fear, doubt or the naysayers deter you from going after your dreams. TAKE A CHANCE, GO FOR IT!!!!!

“True courage is not the absence of fear – but the willingness to proceed in spite of it.”
-Unknown-

Tom just moved into a new neighborhood recently. He liked his house and his environment, but there was one thing he didn’t get. His neighbor, Mr. Tan, had a dog that kept howling non-stop. Literally: Day in, day out. “Auuuuuhhhh………. Aaaauhhhh……….” Initially Tom thought the dog was just going through a phase, so he ignored the howls, as he thinks it would eventually stop. But it didn’t. The dog continued howling. “Auuuu…………auuuu………..Auuuhhhhh…….” One day passed. Nothing changed. Second day passed: Still howling. Third day passed, fourth, fifth day. 1 week. 2 weeks. 1 month passed, still howling, with no signs of stopping. “Auuuhhh………….Oouuuuuhhhhh…….Au au auuhhhhh…” Finally, Tom couldn’t stand it anymore. One fine day, he walked over to Mr. Tan’s house to see what was going on. Sure enough, there was the dog, sitting at the front porch, howling pitifully to whoever was walking by. “Auuuhhh…Ouuuhhh….Auuuuuuuuuuuuuu…”
On the other hand, Mr. Tan was relaxing on his bench at the lawn, leisurely reading his newspapers and sipping a cup of coffee. Wondering what was going on, Tom walked up to Mr. Tan.
Tom: “Hi Mr. Tan, is that your dog?”
Mr. Tan: “Which dog?” He glanced around. “Oh that. Yep he’s mine.”
Tom: “Why does he keep howling?”
Mr. Tan: “Oh, that’s because he’s sitting on a nail.”
Tom: “Sitting on a nail?!?”
Tom gave the dog a bewildered look.
“..Okay… so why doesn’t he just get away from the nail then??”
“Well, Tom………” Mr. Tan took a slow sip of his coffee before replying.
“…That’s because he doesn’t find it painful enough yet.”
Author: Unknown.

On Sunday night September 13th, 2015 I made a mistake. I allowed myself to be baited into a road rage incident that resulted in a heated verbal exchange between me and another motorist.

By the grace of God, cooler heads prevailed and I returned to my vehicle avoiding a physical confrontation. As I drove away I was relieved, that I avoided any physical harm to myself or others, but little did I know the internal damage had already been done.

Ironically, I was on my way to my church Small Group meeting when this incident occurred and my first inclination was to go home as I knew I had missed it on this test. I felt ashamed and unworthy to be in the company of my Christian brothers after what I had done.

As I continued to drive the Holy Spirit quickened in me and reminded me that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus and that isolation is the final step before the enemy moves in for destruction. Therefore, I decided to go to Small Group in spite of what had just happened.

At the time I was a newer member of the group, but from day one I was made to feel at home. I’d always been reluctant to join a Small Group because I didn’t want others in my business and it was very hard for me to trust the genuine goodness in others.

However, since joining this group of Christian men I have found the transparency and unconditional love to be invaluable assets to my life. I knew that I could go to Small Group and talk to other men of God openly about my anger issues without being judged and receive prayer upon request. I knew the guys would minister to me as needed in love, not condemnation.

As I arrived at Small Group I noticed that I had a very intense headache and was starting to experience chest pains as well as shortness of breath. I made it to the house where our leader, Phil, greeted me. He could sense I wasn’t feeling well so he offered me a seat and a glass of water.

As other members of the group arrived they could sense the same. Before Group started I excused myself a few times to go to the restroom as the headache intensified and nausea set in. When I returned from the restroom a second time I informed the Group that I was going home to get some rest.

The Group insisted that I let Mark who is an EMT/Firefighter, take my vitals. Based on his readings he advised the others that I shouldn’t drive. Immediately Kimani, who initially invited me to the group, offered to drive me to the closest ER or Urgent Care.

He helped me to the car and ensured that I was as comfortable as possible. As we drove he could tell my condition was getting worse, so he pulled over and called 911. He kept me calm and conscious until they arrived and then texted the Phil with an update. Within minutes Phil and Mark came to where we were and Mark informed the responding EMT’s of his findings and recommendations.

When I arrived at the Hospital I was alone and frightened that I may be experiencing a heart attack, stroke, or onset of an aneurysm. Soon Kimani and Robert showed up in my room. They talked to me and comforted me until my wife arrived.

Mark and Phil took my car home and informed my wife of the situation. Shortly thereafter Mark arrived at the hospital along with my wife as he had followed her to ensure she made it without incident. Upon their arrival Kimani and Robert gave them updates on my condition.

Before they left, the three brothers prayed for me and my family. They also informed me that Phil had taken our daughter back to his house and that he and his wife, Julie, would watch her as long as needed.

I’ve told these men Thank you, but I could never thank them enough for what they did for me last on that scary Sunday night. Their quick response and decisive actions saved my life. They’ll never admit it, but their actions were nothing short of heroic.

I know they didn’t do it for the recognition; they did it because it was the right thing to do. I’m sure they don’t want to take any credit because they were just displaying the love of GOD from their true character. However, I just wanted the world to know Small Group participation is not in vain. It is bearing fruit and I’m living proof that authentic manhood works.

Thank You Gentlemen,
God Bless!

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:26

Faith moves forward. Don’t always try to figure out exactly what God is doing or wants to do in your life before taking action. The bible says, for the just shall live by faith, not by sight. Trust in God, knowing that He has a plan and purpose for your life. Don’t try to figure Him out with your finite mind for He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ask or think. Don’t lean to your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. Don’t get stuck in the in the paralysis of analysis by over thinking a situation. Be willing to step out on faith. Give God something to work with and watch Him turn your natural into something super.

“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”

Henry David Thoreau