138th Issue, v6
“How beautifully leaves grow old,” wrote 19th-century essayist John Burroughs. “How full of light and color are their last days.”
Society doesn’t think highly of old age. Beauty products tout the supposed virtues of maintaining a youthful appearance. Older adults’ wisdom, born of much life experience, is often disparaged, ignored or not sought. But God says this about the righteous, whose lives are rooted in him: “In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap, showing that the LORD is upright” (Psalm 92:14-15, NRSV). The aging leaves of autumn can prompt us to look for beauty in the seniors among us, to notice the light and color that still abound. From all the fruit they still produce — service, prayer, love — may we learn about living faithfully until our own last days.
Second’s Gazette—Issue 138
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NEED PRAYER, call the church office and obtain the telephone number of the Deacon according to the first letter of your last name (See below). If your name starts with ...
A Call Robert & Jessie Anderson B Dennis & JoAnne Craig, or Betty Brown or Rodney Bough
C A.G. Harrison, or Shirley Robinson, or Larry & Deborah Hayes D James Harvey or Venda Hawkins E Ron & La Vonne Husband or Adrienne Hurst G Minnie Mannings or Valeria Burwell or Ellen Clark H George & Tamara Lewis or Thelma Jones I/J Ellis & Thelma Johnson or Eva McLaurin or Walter McDonald K/L/N/O/T Terrence Williams or Lonnie & Josephine Stokes M Chuck Williams or Melva Hill P/Q Carrie Walker or Nadine Harris R/S Larry Willis or Oscar Woodard U/V/W/X/Y/Z Robert Hamilton or Ron Demps or Michael Dickson
Why We Must Remember The Life Of Latasha Harlins And #SayHerName
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n March of 1991, 15-year-old Latasha Harlins was killed by one of the owners of the Empire Liquor convenience store in Los Angeles, Calif. Latasha had entered the store to buy a container of orange juice for $1.79 when she was fatally shot by Soon Ja Du, who assumed that she was going to steal the drink.
Latasha Harlins (January 1, 1976 – March 16, 1991) was a 15-year-old African-American girl who was fatally shot by Soon Ja Du a 51-year-old Koreanborn female convenience store owner. Du was tried and convicted of voluntary manslaughter in Harlins' death. Although the jury recommended a sentence of 16 years, Judge Joyce Karlin sentenced Du to time served, five years of probation, 400 hours of community service, a $500 restitution, and funeral expenses. The death of Latasha Harlins, which was recorded on security footage, and the later sentencing and failed appeal, are considered to have contributed to the 1992 Los Angeles riots, especially the targeting of Koreatown, Los Angeles. Harlins' death came 13 days after the videotaped beating of Rodney King.
FOOTPRINTS IN THE DESERT
The Son will come out tomorrow!
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s I am writing this, the sun is shining after weeks of gloomy skies filled with smoke. The one thing I never stopped doing was looking for the skies to clear up and the sun to shine again. Although I knew the sun was there because of daylight, I couldn’t see the sun for all the smoke and haze that blocked my vision. Such is life during these days. There are times we can’t see the other side, or what’s on the horizon because our vision is blocked by some obstacle in front of us. We can choose from a variety of obstacles blocking our view right now, even down to a simple thing like wearing a mask that has some people in a tizzy. Forgetting the fact that we are actively doing our part to protect others, some people are only thinking of themselves and their rights; we have to pray for them. Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction (NKJV). When we cannot listen to and follow simple directions, how will the world get better? Could it be that it’s not supposed to get better? The book of Proverbs has so much knowledge and wisdom for the children of God to adhere to if we would just read it and get those words in our spirit. It would be so helpful, especially now, when we hear one contradiction after the other from our government. We need wisdom! The Lord is reaching out to all of us, whether we know Him or not; it’s never too late. He wants us to see. He wants us to discern what is happening in the world today and what His word says. He wants us to know that He is with us in the calamity, this dysfunction, this crisis that is happening right now! And… He is holding our hand through it all, like a parent holds the hand of their child while crossing the street, or like a hen that covers her chicks in a storm. He’s holding our hand. The Son will shine again! Happy 1st Anniversary to Pastor Chris and Lady Heather! God bless you!
In Chris, Peggy LaBon
Little Girl:
“Mommy, why do you have that gray streak in your hair?” Mommy: Little girl:
“every time you are naughty I get a new gray hair” “Is that why grandma’s hair is all gray?” 2019 Ronald Husband
All Rights Reserved
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his provocative thriller series, starring Michelle Monaghan and Dermot Mulroney, tells the story of the meteoric rise of a modern-day messiah figure and the efforts of a CIA agent investigating his mysterious origins. Messiah is executive produced by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, who made the acclaimed History channel miniseries The Bible. Reference: https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/g30382724/christian-movies2020/
SBC TEEN INVITED TO MEET WITH THE MAYOR OF FONTANA, CA
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n September 23, 2020, SBCs very own, Jaylyn Harris (far left side) was invited to meet with Mayor Acquanetta Warren, City of Fontana’s first female & African American Mayor to discuss the state of Fontana and how best to respond? Jaylyn is a sophomore who has been an active member of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) program for 3 years, volunteering at community events, planning youth summits, while championing for nutrition and health initiatives for the residents of the City of Fontana. So, this teen was ready when she received the call to discuss her thoughts. Let’s ALL keep her planning efforts in prayer.
09/06/2020 Service
09/20/2020 Service
09/13/2020 Service
09/27/2020 Service
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Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall, strengthen your heart; Wait I say, on the Lord! Psalm 27:14
ave you ever been in a dark place in your life and you let fear set in? I believe we all can say yes to that question. Fear has a way of creeping in and can ruin the entire situation just like that. As Christians we can be attacked from all corners, but there’s nothing better than knowing that we are covered and protected by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Learn to be your own self “ENCOURAGEMENT” and stand firm in knowing that Gods got you in all situations. Just remember where you started from and look at where you are now.
By: Buttafly Burke
NLT Life Application Large-Print Study Bible, Third Edition--soft leather-look, brown, tan, red letter (indexed)
Author: Bishop Dr. Wm. LaRue Dillard
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Comments/Questions, Email: SBCBookstore925@gmail.com
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BIG JOURNAL SALE IN OCTOBER
NLT Everyday Matters Bible for Women, softcover Everyday Matters Bible for Women is designed to help women develop spiritual practices that will make their lives richer, not harder. It offers practical encouragement and tools to renew, reinvigorate and restore meaning to everyday life.
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Perfect for Kids on the GO---small enough to fit into almost any backpack or bag, the Backpack Bible is ideal for home, school, or church use .
Among the many verses in
the Quran that mention Christians, it is mentioned twice that they are equals to Muslims and will not grieve on Judgment Day.
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isten to the new single by Kirk Franklin x Wyclef Jean “Love Theory (Remix),” also available now at all major digital music providers. The new digital single with 16-time GRAMMYwinner Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul / RCA) and 3-time GRAMMY-winner Wyclef Jean marks the first time Franklin has paired up with Jean, and is released in conjunction with the latest episode of Wyclef Jean’s show “Run That Back!” with Franklin. Premiering on YouTube at 7 pm EST, the two multi-platinum musical powerhouses recently sat down to tape an in-depth conversation for this episode of Wyclef Jean’s show “Run That Back!” which has previously featured Jean speaking with Lena Waithe, will.i.am, and Clive Davis. Wyclef Jean and Kirk Franklin spoke on their musical backgrounds of both becoming choir directors when they were young – Franklin, at age 11, and Jean, at age 13, with their performance of “Love Theory” arising during their conversation. On “Love Theory (Remix),” Jean lends his Caribbean and Hip-Hop musical influences on the new track with Franklin. Franklin originally released his #1 hit single “Love Theory” off of his charttopping thirteenth studio album LONG LIVE LOVE, with both the song and album garnering GRAMMY Awards earlier this year. REFERENCE: https://gospelminds.com/audio-music/kirk-franklin-ft-wyclef-jean-love-theory-remix/
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well in the wonder of these two gifts of God: that God made us in his very image (Genesis 1:26), and then — “much more”! — that Christ came to earth as a human being (Philippians 2:7). Ponder and savor how poet John Donne (1572-1631) describes these mysteries: “’Twas much, that man was made like God before, But, that God should be made like man, much more.”
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oted preacher Will Willimon received a frantic phone call from parents who feared their college-age daughter was throwing away her life. Asked to intervene, Willimon inquired why she was ending her studies to work with the children of migrant farmers. What had motivated her radical decision? “It was your sermon yesterday that started me to thinking,” she replied. Willimon had talked about how God wants us to do something important with our lives, leading the young woman to choose a new path that would make more impact and hold more meaning. After a long silence, he stammered, “But I was just preaching!” Willimon was just preaching, and the worshiper was just attending church while home on break. Yet she perceived a change in calling that led to a change in identity, security, priorities — and fulfillment. —adapted from The Wired Word
hen Jesus speaks of perfection, writes Kathleen Norris in Amazing Grace, he’s referring to being “mature enough to give ourselves to others.” For Norris, that brings to mind theology professor Catherine LaCugna, who, despite a terminal diagnosis, worked until the end of her life. Instead of checking out or indulging in self-pity, LaCugna kept the news from her students and continued teaching. Norris writes: “Now, whenever I recite the prayer that ends the church’s liturgical day, ‘May the Lord grant us a peaceful night, and a perfect death,’ it is her death that I think of. A perfect death, fully acknowledged and fully realized, offered for others.”
When I was a child, my parents loved me not because I was good but because I was … their child. I loved them, and I wanted to please them, but their love of me did not have to be earned. Neither does the love of God. We are loved because we are his children, because we are. If we feel that we ought to be loved because it is our due, or because we deserve it, the less we will truly feel the need of God’s love; the less implicit will be our trust; the less we will cry out, Abba! —Madeleine L’Engle, Walking on Water
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH 925 SO. SHAMROCK MONROVIA, CA. 91016
HEALTH The Respiratory System
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f someone said the words “healthy living” to you, what would you think of? Most of us would probably immediately think about our diets and how they effect our weight, our heart’s health or risk of develop-ing diabetes. We might also think about how exercising keeps our waistlines thin and hearts strong and healthy. But how soon would you think about the health of the respiratory system? No one can deny how vital the respiratory system is, composed of nose, throat, trachea and lungs, and muscles and blood vessels. These parts work together to move oxygen throughout the body and clean out waste gases like carbon dioxide. In the lungs, the oxygen from each breath is transferred to the bloodstream and sent to all the body’s cells as lifesustaining fuel. The respiratory system has many functions. Besides helping you inhale (breath in) and exhale (breath out), it allows you to talk and to smell, brings air to body temperature and moisturizes it to the humidity level your body needs, and protects your airways from harmful substances and irritants. The lungs are different from most of the other organs in your body because their delicate tissues are directly connected to the outside environment.
There are measures we can take to improve and promote maintenance of a healthy respiratory system. Here are ways to improve your respiratory health. Stop smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke. Avoid exposure to people who have the flu, colds or bacterial respiratory infections. A healthy balanced diet is as good for your lungs as it is for any other part of your body. In fact, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, low levels of certain nutrients have been linked to a number of lung diseases. Eating foods rich in vitamins A, C and E and minerals zinc, potassium, selenium and magnesium will all help in maintaining a healthy system. Along with a healthy balance diet, maintain a healthy weight. Getting enough water is as important for the lungs as it is for the rest of the body. Staying hydrated plays a role in your lung’s health as well. Drinking water helps to thin the mucus secretions that accumulate in your lungs each day and keep the mucosal linings in the lungs thin, which then allows you to breath more easily. Yep, exercise is good for your lungs, too. Exercise improves circulation and strengthens our muscles – two important things that healthy lungs need to do their job. Like the rest of your body, lungs thrive on movement and activity. When you increase your daily activity you get three things done at once: healthy lungs, a healthier heart and a better mood. Aim for at least 20 minutes of consistent, moderately intense movement daily, like a brisk walk or bike ride.
Laughing is a great exercise to work the abdominal muscles and increase lung capacity. It also clears out your lungs by forcing enough stale air out that it allows fresh air to enter into more areas of the lungs. Watch your posture. Since the lungs are soft structures, they only take up the room that you make for them. A simple technique for giving your lungs even more room is leaning back slightly in a stable chair, lifting the chest and opening the front of your body as you breathe deeply Eliminating indoor allergens and irritants have become much more important in recent decades because we’re spending more time indoors. Cleaning is essential to protecting our health in our homes, schools and workplaces. However, household and cleaning products including soaps, polishes and grooming supplies – often include harmful chemicals. Even products advertised as “green” or “natural” may contain ingredients that can cause health problems. Some products release dangerous chemicals, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Read all labels on cleaning supplies and household products before you buy them. Products that are labeled “green” do not necessarily mean they are safer. Do a little research on the product from a reliable source. For example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a list of products that meet its Safer Choice requirements for cleaning and other needs. As a safer cleaning alternative, warm water and soap often will do the trick especially at home. Baking soda is good for scrubbing. A mix of vinegar and water can clean glass. Look for fragrance-free or naturally-scented laundry products and switch to mild cleaners that don’t include artificial fragrances. Stop using aerosol sprays – deodorants, hair sprays, carpet cleaners furniture polish and air fresheners. It sounds simple, but washing your hands (actually washing, not just rinsing) and practicing good hygiene, in general, is very good for your lungs, especially during flu season. Doing this will help keep germs, viruses and bacteria that can severely hurt your lungs – including the ones that cause colds, the flu and pneumonia – from getting into your body. And to efficiently keeps those harmful microbes from making their way into your respiratory system, be sure to sanitize your cell phones and headsets as well. Flu vaccinations help prevent influenza and other serious infections caused by the flu. Getting vaccinated protects the lungs by preventing the infections that can cause damage to lungs and lung tissue. Educating yourself and your loved ones about respiratory health is key to maintaining healthy lungs. Breathing is required for life, but often taken for granted. Knowing the many ways that a person can take care of the lungs is key to prevention of disease and easy breathing for years to come as well as ensuring quality of life for future years. Betty Thomas, RN
How does AmazonSmile work? When first visiting AmazonSmile, customers are prompted to select a charitable organization from over one million eligible organizations. In order to browse or shop at AmazonSmile, customers must first select a charitable organization. For eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the customer’s selected charitable organization. https://smile.amazon.com/ch/95-6121777
Second Baptist Church of Monrovia is an eligible organization.
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH CHILDREN’S MINISTRY