Tag Archives: brainflurry

I love this man. On Friday’s before work, Chris Walker and I would…

I love this man. On Friday's before work, Chris Walker and I would call each other, lay bare our…

Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, January 19, 2020.

I love this man. On Friday's before work, Chris Walker and I would call each other, lay bare our lives and wrestle to bring them into submission of Christ. What I love about Chris was his refusal to accept anything without thinking it through for himself. He would take Scripture and work through why its reasoning was superior to his own.

Admittedly, our marriages were the impetus for most of our conversations as we stumbled and struggled to be husbands that loved our wives in the manner that Christ loved the Church. I remember we were discussing John 15 and Chris said with tears, "I love Laranda. I would jump in front of a bullet for her. But that's not what it means to love her. Loving my wife isn't a heroic act, it's laying down my self-interest for her benefit -every day."

Chris passed in 2016. I am grateful for the time he was in my life. I'm sharper for it. #52WoG

I spent a lot of time with my Uncle Henry growing up. On this…

I spent a lot of time with my Uncle Henry growing up. On this particular day, I'm sitting in the…

Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, January 12, 2020.

I spent a lot of time with my Uncle Henry growing up. On this particular day, I'm sitting in the passenger seat of his pristine, blue Toyota Cressida. We're parked outside a convenience store. In one hand he has a five dollar bill and with the other he points to a compartment in the car filled with change. A man of few words, he says kindly, "Which one do you want?" I looked intently at the change that was more silver than copper and said, "The change." Uncle Henry smirked, turned off the car and said "Well, count it out. Let's see how you did." There were a lot of quarters and the change came out to a little more than seven dollars. "Smart," he said. "Come on." And, we went inside.

Maybe he knew it, maybe he didn't, but the many little moments I shared with him like that are etched in my heart and shaped my life. See, he made me want to make smart choices because I wanted to be like him. I am deeply grateful for that. #52WoG

This may be the most profound thing I’ve ever read on Facebook.

Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, October 27, 2019.

This may be the most profound thing I've ever read on Facebook.

"Learn to shift your anger to compassion… Emotions are how your thoughts feel."

A day or so ago, I prayed, "God, I'm hurting. Am I supposed to ignore that? Does my pain matter at all? What am I supposed to do with these feelings?"

This post was an answer to my prayer. There's a resonance with, "Defilement comes from within" (Mark 7:14-23) and "Be angry and do not sin" (Ephesians 4:26).

I interpret the post to mean "better thinking promotes better emotional well-being". I've explored changing the trajectory of a thought so that you arrive at healthier conclusions. But, I've never considered the possibility of changing one emotion to another. Could this be how Christ, while subjected to the violence of being nailed to a cross, reacts with compassion rather than anger and exclaims, "Father forgive them…"?! (Luke 23:34)

This is a big idea with the aim being to recognize that you're angry but in the moment choosing to focus on what you can do to bring healing to the hurt that may have precipitated the situation. That shift moves you from victim to victor. This is another way we manifest being "more than conquerors". (Romans 8:37)

This Word was a great treasure and arrived exactly when I needed it. Thank you, Sister
@[1074383489:2048:Ora] @[1074383489:2048:O'Connell].

I joined SOMBA – Starkville Oktibbeha Minority Business Alliance…

I joined SOMBA - Starkville Oktibbeha Minority Business Alliance because I believe when a segment…

Originally posted on Facebook on Wednesday, September 25, 2019.

I joined SOMBA – Starkville Oktibbeha Minority Business Alliance because I believe when a segment of our community does better, we all do better. And, there's a real opportunity to grow contributions of our minority businesses to the economy of Starkville and Oktibbeha County.

So, I am thankful to Eileen Carr-Tabb and Scott Maynard for bringing this group together to grow this sector of our economy. And, I am delighted that after a year under the leadership of Rosa Dalomba we are growing our membership and hosting our first Meet & Greet over Jazz with music provided by Simeon QSax Weatherby and the band "Muzik in Action".

I am inviting you to join us. The event is free and it is a great opportunity to network with minority business owners and professionals in our area and to learn how we can grow together.

Please tag people you think would be interested.

I have a bad habit of letting my email inbox dictate my day…

I have a bad habit of letting my email inbox dictate my day because frankly, it's easier than…

Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, September 16, 2019.

I have a bad habit of letting my email inbox dictate my day because frankly, it's easier than clearly defining my own goals, thinking through how to achieve them and maintaining the discipline to consistently refocus and execute on the next step toward success.

But, this is much like everything else in life. Either I decide or someone else will decide for me. And, when someone else decides, it is seldom in your best interest.

If there is something I desire to achieve, I have to decide how I am going to spend my life to attain it. Either way, your life will get spent. So, decide every day. #Thriveday

There are occasionally long periods where I have no indication of…

Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, September 15, 2019.

There are occasionally long periods where I have no indication of whether I'm headed in the right direction. There are no awards, no applause, no acknowledgment. If often feels like I am failing and not doing anything well.

But, Jesus is my compass in the dark -and also in the light because: "We walk by faith, not by sight." And my faith is this: when Christ is known, it changes hearts, brings heavenly government to earth and births good works by the hands of believers.

So then, bettering understanding of Christ (mine or another's) is always the right direction -even when I cannot see it. (See: 2 Cor 5:7-11)

We’ve lost some legends over the past few weeks. I was a college…

Originally posted on Facebook on Thursday, July 11, 2019.

We've lost some legends over the past few weeks. I was a college student when I met Dorothy Issac. She recruited me to attend a NAACP meeting in the basement of (the old) Griffin United Methodist Church and personally registered me to vote there.

She was an avid proponent of civil engagement and political involvement. She so often admonished people to get involved that her common statements such as, "It's just like I say…" became catch phrases that we lovingly use around our house to this day.

Whatever your politics, we can agree that Dorothy Issac was involved in the progress of Starkville, she got others involved and we're a better community for it.

http://bit.ly/2G64y3C

You’ve heard it said, “If you won’t help them, will you at least…

Originally posted on Facebook on Tuesday, July 2, 2019.

You've heard it said, "If you won't help them, will you at least not hurt them?"

But consider Paul's analogy of individuals in a community as parts of a body (1 Corinthians 12:12). Imagine if the eye said to the hand, "I will not help you, but I won't hurt you." However, without the help of the eye, the body has lost vital coordination. Or, what if the feet said the same to the head, "I will not help you, but I won't hurt you." Yet, without the help of the feet, the body is crippled.

The point is there is no such thing as not helping but not hurting. The entire reason a member of the body exists is to aid in the function of the body. Anything else is dysfunction, disease -cancer.

Not helping is hurting.

Though, I'm not from Starkville, I love it. It is a community I am honored to belong to. And, one thing that's abundantly clear to me is, as a community, we're all connected. When a member of our community hurts, we all hurt. Conversely, when more of us operate at a high level, we all benefit.

It is the joy of my life to help people do good. And, the J. L. King Center is doing good work. I invite you to join me in helping them to continue providing enrichment and education programs that help our neighbors build a better life.

http://bit.ly/2Lw3JVx

Think it’s a game.

Originally posted on Facebook on Tuesday, June 25, 2019.

Think it's a game.

"But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes."
Luke 12:45-47 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/luk.12.45-47.NKJV

Found this little guy right outside my back door. Wanting to limit…

Found this little guy right outside my back door. Wanting to limit any risk to my family, I called…

Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, June 10, 2019.

Found this little guy right outside my back door. Wanting to limit any risk to my family, I called my friend Richard Linley with NorthEast Exterminating LLC. I asked him what I could buy to prevent snakes. He replied, "The best way to prevent snakes is to keep your grass cut low. They don't like to be out in the open." I'm not sure if he intended it to be, but that's a sermon and some of the best advice I've ever received. #ThatWillPreach

Practically speaking, my wife has the password to everything, including my phone and is encouraged to go through it at any time for this very reason.