Tag Archives: reclaim_fb

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.

I read a passage about prayer that hit differently this morning.…

Originally posted on Facebook on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

I read a passage about prayer that hit differently this morning. In Luke 11:1-13, Jesus is teaching His followers how to pray and He compares prayer to a child making a request of his father. What struck me were the three examples of a request in verses 11-13; bread, fish and an egg -all food for life.

And, then I'm captured by the conclusion of verse 13, "If you […] know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?"

What I came away with was, 1. we should be asking for the Holy Spirit and 2. the Holy Spirit gives Life. I ask what is the Holy Spirit? What I received, I submit to you: the Holy Spirit is (but not limited to) the right idea (about everything) -it is the basis and guide to our thinking that leads to purely helpful and productive conclusions. This is life. Hallelujah!

As every believer should do, I invite you to test this spirit (idea) by the Spirit (knowledge of God) and share what good God gives you.

I am humbled by the number of extraordinary people I meet on a…

I am humbled by the number of extraordinary people I meet on a near daily basis in Starkville…

Originally posted on Facebook on Friday, May 31, 2019.

I am humbled by the number of extraordinary people I meet on a near daily basis in Starkville -people eager to roll up their sleeves to make the city we love and call home a better place. Tomorrow, a group of these extraordinary people will be spring cleaning the J.L. King Center to prepare it for its new life.

If you're seeking an opportunity to volunteer, or just interested in investing in the community, you are welcome to join. Clean-up of the offices in the J.L. King Community Center will begin at 7:30 AM, Saturday May 31, 2019, 700 N Long St, Starkville, MS 39759.

Please feel free to bring any extra brooms, mops, or gloves you can spare. It's dusty in places, so please prepare accordingly.

I thought nothing about crushing bugs on sight. Now, this woman…

I thought nothing about crushing bugs on sight. Now, this woman has our entire family gently…

Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, May 20, 2019.

I thought nothing about crushing bugs on sight. Now, this woman has our entire family gently ushering them out of our home and stopping to appreciate all manner of wildlife. She accomplished that, not by putting something down (e.g. you're bad and you should feel bad if you don't think the way I do), but by lifting something up and elevating it in our eyes (e.g. nature is beautiful and here is why).

Friday, students of the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District honored Dr. Jessica Witt Tegt, sharing one-by-one how their lives had been impacted by her as the founder of Starkville Science Club, Science Olympiad and the YES! Program. Dr. Tegt taught a lot of great lessons, but her commitment to elevating appreciation of something by elevating people is by far the greatest lesson she's imparted to us all.

Melissa Luckett and I thank you for all you've done for our community and our family through your science programs and your friendship.