ADAAT MAGAZINE JUNE 2023

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Where Do We Go From Here? Upward!

TheADAAT+ Team would like to thank you and express how thrilled we are about the outcomes of our three-month pilot program. We wanted to take ninety days and three issues to introduce you to ADAAT+ MAGAZINE. We have enjoyed providing you with meaningful, heartfelt, and fun articles. This process has certainly been a learning experience for me. I never anticipated I would have a magazine in circulation. As I dream about more to come, I hope you will accompany me and our team and help us reach a wider audience all around the globe. Please take time and share the magazine with others. Let’s get this journey started!

We have learned so much within this short span receiving constructive feedback, helpful suggestions, recommended edits, and much praise and support. We took each comment seriously and worked tirelessly to make changes before releasing the next issue.

Many people want to understand the magazine format and where we are going from here.

What is ADAAT+ MAGAZINE?

ADAAT+ is an annual magazine spinoff from the A Day At A Time Podcast with Belinda Payne. We aim to write articles to inspire you to thrive at being your best you. Nobody can beat you at being you. With each article, we believe you will find encouragement and positive ways to tap into those true gifts, talents, and abilities that will motivate you to live your dreams. We wanted you to take a glimpse at what to expect, so our three-month pilot was set up as an introductory non-paid subscription. We asked you to subscribe to ADAAT+ to help us begin a loyalty program, enabling us to track the volume of those who bought in wholeheartedly with our vision.

What’s Next for ADAAT ?

April, May, and June 2023 will end our pilot. Our next step is to review the compilation of data and feedback and make strategic decisions to enhance and grow our magazine audience.

When will the next issue be released?

Our next issue will be released September, 2023.

What does a paid subscription include?

We have updated our subscription portal. You can now complete your paid subscription to ADAAT +. The cost is $20, and the magazine will be published 8 times yearly as an annual subscription. ADAAT+ is published monthly except for January/February, March/April, July/August, and September/October.

Q: I completed the subscription during the pilot. Will I need to complete a new subscription to activate a new annual paid subscription?

A: Yes, and thank you for your paid subscription. Your paid subscriptions will help us continue to publish and grow our digital magazine and online presence. Give a subscription as a gift.

What a wonderful idea to give a subscription as a gift to friends and family. Doing so helps get the word out to new readers.

Q: How can I place an Ad for my business in ADAAT+?

A: Our Ad and Marketing team reviews all requests for business Ad submissions for appropriate language and content for ADAAT+ publications.

Photograph: J. Raphael’s

DOWNLOAD PRESS KIT HERE: To learn more about ADAAT guidelines and specifications for advertising.

SPIRITUAL CHANGE CONTROL

Why Did He Do This?

How Did He Do It? What Did He Use?

By Belinda Payne

Summer

is approaching, and many of us are ready for change but unsure of how to recognize and embrace change. I worked in the IT department of my company for over ten years. One of our major implementation projects involved what was called change control. Change control was a systematic approach to managing all changes to our computer products and IT systems. Whether we liked being made accountable to others or not, this change control process was valuable, sustainable, and effective.

Our change control process included regularly scheduled meetings using tracking documents. All team members were responsible for coordinating and communicating their application system build because it impacted multiple environments. This change control process aimed to minimize or mitigate the risks of unknown, unnecessary, and at-risk system changes without considering the impact on other applications and platforms.

It is not uncommon to think these types of processes, such as change control, were created to be solely used by corporate entities. However, change control rules apply to us and will help us thrive in everyday dealings. When Jesus called forth and formed His team of twelve disciples, He introduced them to the change control process. So, you see, the corporate world did not invent change control.

Did Jesus have a reason for using change control, and if so, why did He do this? How did Christ do it? And what did He use to implement change?

Why? Christ knew the disciples, and we, too, would need to know that change is inevitable and would impact our ability to thrive. How? Jesus established clear guidelines and objectives based on the desired outcomes of His Heavenly Father. What? He used scheduled and emergency meetings, Divine strategies, and scribes to document the changes they encountered on parchments.

Jesus knew that all creation would one day rely upon the accuracy and authenticity of the disciple’s valuable, sustainable, and effective work to build their faith in Him as Christ’s Son and the Savior of humanity. But get this! The disciples received bonus teaching! They learned God, the Father, is the greatest proponent of change. God engineers and ushers in change to promote, restore, or lift us out from under and into the brand-new.

Let’s take this up a notch further!

Even if you do not consider yourself religious, you may believe in spirituality, meaning being concerned with the spirit of humanity or the soul of an individual. When we blend that, we get spiritual change control which teaches us how to govern and navigate our spiritual lives amidst our natural circumstances. Spiritual change means

There are positive outcomes when we embrace spiritual change; it brings renewal, a fresh anointing, a revival, and an awakening.”

“

the change is Divinely inspired to alter, modify or replace something. God’s Divine power works to make something or someone different from its current state. Because God is a Spirit, His involvement in the Change defines it as Spiritual Change Control. Spiritual Change is planned, inevitable, systemic, and controlled.

Jeremiah 29:10-11 (AMPC) says, “For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years [of exile] have been completed for Babylon, I will visit (inspect) you and keep My good promise to you, to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”That means God controls the change from start to finish.

God decided to replant his people from their current home to a new land where they were unfamiliar with the customs for seventy years. He told the people to plant gardens, vineyards, build houses, pro-create, and worship even though they had no temple. The parents were to teach and train their children about God and live life to the fullest. And here’s the kicker! There was no blessing outside the plan! Even if they did not like the plan God designed. It was still part of the spiritual change!

Isaiah 43:19 (KJV) says, “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” That means spiritual change is inevitable

When we read in the scriptures that God says, “I will do, now it shall, I will even,” all that describes the certainty of God making something different, and it will require us to conform, adapt, and get in harmony with God’s change. Sometimes the change is swift, and what was not, now is, and what was, now is not! In our mind the change happen suddenly. But our Creator was already thinking and structuring a strategic plan in heaven yet, He had not manifested it on earth. Stay alert and present so you do not miss the change and shift occurring in and around you.

Mark 15:37-38 (AMP) says, “But Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed out His last [voluntarily, sovereignly dismissing and releasing His spirit from His body in submission to His Father’s plan]. And the veil [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” That means spiritual change is systemic. The crucifixion of Christ ushered in a universal change on the earth because it affected all creation and earthly systems. The veil served as a partition that separated the holy place from the holy of holies, which only the high priest could enter on the Day of Atonement; it was torn from top to bottom when Christ released His spirit from His body on the cross. Renting the veil signified a systemic spiritual change had occurred, and God the Father changed the entire way of being forgiven of sin. Now, a new and living way was opened unto all humanity to come into the presence of the Holy God to ask for and receive forgiveness for their sins. From that day forward, the atoning sacrificial blood of the

Lamb of God would be the change agent for the reparation for the whole world’s sins. Christ’s whole body was crucified; His entire body died. His complete body was resurrected. Psalm 33:9 (AMP) says, “For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” God controlled every aspect of creation from His throne in heaven! Not by chance, not luck, but methodically orchestrated! Yes, spiritual change is controlled. God speaks and changes the course of events and people. God continues to exercise full control of everything and everyone at all times. The inspiration of God to enact change begins in heaven, and then He releases it into the earth according to His will and timing. God controls the why, how, what, where, and when of all change occurring in heaven and earth. Our responsibility is to come under the control and influence of that change through the power of the Holy Spirit.

There are positive outcomes when we embrace spiritual change; it brings renewal, a fresh anointing, a revival, and an awakening. We birth new ideas, collaboration, and brainstorming come forth, companies grow, and inventions are made. It improves problem-solving and decision-making and enhances communications between parties that were once strained. You will notice a boost in productivity in the things you are doing.

Some of you who are reading this have convinced yourself to believe that the very thing you refuse to change is what makes you feel comfortable and secure. Therefore, you won’t stop doing it. In actuality, could it be that the behavior you refuse to change may be the agent that makes you feel uncomfortable and insecure, creating fear, anger, doubt, and confusion?

Consider taking some time this summer to analyze one area where you want to make a positive change for your well-being and commit to actively participating in your spiritual change control process. Then work to align yourself with those Divine changes the Creator is doing in your heart to help navigate the change so that you not only survive the change but also learn to thrive.

“But Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed out His last”

Ihave known since I was 15 that I wanted to be a police officer. To be fully transparent, the glamour of the original television show, Miami Vice, featuring Don Johnson as Sonny Crockett, and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo Tubbs, propelled my interest in becoming an undercover police officer.

with Intention For Such a Time as This

Sheryl D. Victorian, Ph.D. Chief of Police Waco Police Department

Early on in my law enforcement career, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to live my dream of working undercover for over eleven years and, afterward, expanding my policing resume, which has helped me to accomplish so much more. However, I will tell you, until just over two years ago, my initial career aspirations ended with being promoted to Assistant Chief of Police for the Houston Police Department. Little did I know my career path would take me where I had not considered being selected as the Chief of Police in a city where I had never lived or known anyone.

There are over 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States. There are more than 800,000 sworn law enforcement officers, and less than 13% are female.

An even more startling statistic is that females only represent 3% of police chiefs, with less than .5% of those being African American females. I am proud to represent the police profession and pride myself in leading with integrity, compassion, and influence while working to humanize the badge through Relational Policing.

My initial reasoning may have been somewhat vain, but I was enthralled with being able to arrest individuals for committing crimes while acting as if I was in “the game.”

My “Why” for becoming a police officer developed as I matured throughout my law enforcement career. When I first became a police officer, my focus was protecting the city I served against those who broke the law. Essentially, if you broke the law, you went to jail.

Emotional capital, and Accountable to build TRUST (TREEAT) in the communities we serve.

In my journey to becoming Chief of Police, I now understand how important it is to rely on God’s Will for my life. Without a shadow of a doubt, I know that God has orchestrated each step of my life, leading me to where I am now. I learned that we must remove the limits we place on ourselves and unleash our thoughts, taking off those self-imposed limitations we place upon ourselves. In my walk of faith, I have recognized the importance of believing God will bless us, exceeding, abundantly above all we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

As God continues to open doors for me, I have expanded my reach by starting my own LLC., LEADING on Purpose, where I focus on creating intentional leaders to impact their organizations positively.

Instead, I began to understand that our role as law enforcement professionals is to reduce harm, build meaningful cooperative relationships between the police, the community, and community stakeholders, and learn from the past so that we are not destined to repeat the past in the future.

It is my belief that as law enforcement professionals, we practice being our best through Relational Policing by being Transparent, Respectful, Engaging, building

if their dream is to become police professionals but to begin early by seeing themselves leading with boldness, thoughtfulness, and courage, and one who can also one day become a Chief of Police.

A quote I admire says, “Choose a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” I’m blessed to have a profession that I love dearly and one which embraces and supports my leadership for such a time as this.

Choose a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

But my mindset matured with my knowledge of policing, and I realized that as police officers arresting people did not always solve the problem.

As I earned positions of influence, it became even more important to me to positively impact the community’s perception of police officers. The philosophies of Relational Policing and Relational Leadership became my avenue for doing this.

I am an ambassador for recruiting, retaining, and preparing women for promotional opportunities in policing. Finally, I have committed to writing a children’s book to inspire young girls not to place restrictions and boundaries upon themselves,

GO BIG AND BE GLAD YOU DID

By Bonita R. Jenkins

There are so many vacation spots to love and enjoy, but what destination to choose? Where to begin? Where do I want to travel? Do I want to go to a destination within the country? International? Land or sea? Both?

Well, let me help you out!

Have you considered Greece? A popular vacation destination, Greece is a country in southeastern Europe with islands throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas. You have seen photos of ancient Athens, including the 5th-century B.C. Acropolis citadel with the Parthenon Temple. Imagine a chance to see it in person on an escorted Greek vacation. You’ve watched the Olympics on TV. How would you like to walk among the ruins in Olympia, where the Olympics began in 776 B.C.? I’m certain you’ve eaten at Greek restaurants! How about releasing your tastebuds to the joy of an authentic Greek cooking demonstration, where you will learn how to make traditional Greek tzatziki and other exquisite dishes?

Greece has many ancient sites besides the Acropolis and Olympia, where you’ll want to visit the ruins in Mycenae, dating from 1350 to 1200 B.C. Also, you won’t want to miss seeing the amazingly well-preserved, 2300-yearold open-air theater in Epidaurua. Tour historical excavations and visit the Archaeological Museum. Enjoy a Sirtaki dance lesson and try a glass of Ouzo. Enjoy this and much more with an optionally accompanied expert, Tour Director.

Combining the country’s ancient history with delicious eats featuring Greek specialties such as Souvlaki on a skewer, served in a warm pita or over a salad (if you prefer) smothered in tzatziki sauce. Are you looking for a heartier Greek meal? Then you’re sure to enjoy Moussaka. This traditional dish is made with eggplant, potatoes, and beef or lamb. It’s usually topped with a creamy bechamel sauce, but vegetarian versions are available.

You can get away on a Greek Escape plus a 4-night cruise of the Greek islands to experience the Aegean

You may not know that Greece is a budget-friendly destination and attainable if you’re traveling alone, with family, or with a group of friends. As a licensed travel guide, let me share with you some of the amazing things Greece has to offer:

You can get away on a Greek Escape plus a 4-night cruise of the Greek islands to experience the Aegean Sea portion of the Mediterranean. You’ll see Mykonos and the shores of Turkey to visit Kusadasi and the ancient excavations of Ephesus. Enjoy Rhodes, where you will see the clifftop of the Acropolis in Lindos and Athena’s Temple. Stop at the volcanic island of Santorini (known for The Black Pearl of the Aegean).

Mykonos is blessed with beautiful beaches and picturesque villages, but it’s best known as a party island. If you want to dance the night away, Mykonos will not disappoint with its dynamic nightlife and uber-cool beach parties. Go nightclub-hopping to experience high-profile DJs, drink mouthwatering cocktails, and enjoy a wild night on the town with an eclectic crowd worldwide.

There are breathtaking beaches around every corner of Greece. Spend a day relaxing on a heavenly patch of sand and playing in the electric blue waters of the Aegean. Popular beaches have many water sports, bars, and restaurants to cater to visitors. When is the best time to travel to Greece? For the most pleasant weather, planning a trip in late spring, early summer or perhaps the beginning of fall is suggested. Yes, of course, you can visit in midsummer but just be prepared for warmer temperatures; it can get hot!

This destination is exhilarating, with notable exhibits and an experience you will cherish for years. Are you ready to go?

Travel Guide at Peaceful Travel & Tours

THE OLD DUDE’S RULES AS FATHER

By Fred Pringle

EveryJune, we take time out to celebrate Father’s Day. Fathers don’t normally get the bouquets, the extravagant presents, or the grand dinners that mothers do. The men have to make do with ties and power tools if lucky. Now that I am a dad, I have a greater sense of appreciation for Father’s Day gifts! So, let’s shine the spotlight on Father’s Day. Being a father of any culture in America is hard. But I must say being an African American father in America is difficult, challenging, and sometimes dangerous. Contrary to what mainstream media would have you believe, the presence of positive African American fathers as role models in their children’s lives is not extinct. My experience has shown me that many strong men have stepped up to the plate in the role of a Father. These men hold many titles. They can be fathers, brothers, uncles, neighbors, cousins, friends, mentors, coaches, teachers, or just a dude from the block. My father was among one of these strong fathers, in particular, a strong African American father.

My father was Abraham (no middle name) Pringle of Greys Hill, SC. I say he was because my dad went to be with his ancestors in September 2022. Since then, there has hardly been a day where I don’t have my father and son talk with him or think about his impact on my life. My dad shared and taught my sibling and me many valuable lessons.

My father was born in the Great Depression “Old School,” where a father’s primary responsibilities were to protect and provide for his family. While these duties were necessary, my father also realized that a father’s other duties were dictated by what his family needed. He passed these rich lessons on to my brother, sister, and me as he grew and evolved. I call these lessons “the Old Dude’s Rules.” These have been the guidelines that I have used to govern my life, and they have helped me thrive and grow into adulthood and become what I believe to be a good father. What were some of those fatherly lessons my dad taught us?

1. Love Yourself and Chase Your Passions – My father loved bowling and traveling, and he found a way to combine these as he traveled throughout the U.S. by participating in bowling tournaments. When he discovered what we loved, he poured himself into our passions. My brother loved playing baseball, so he took my brother to his traveling league baseball games and camps. I loved to read, so he bought me books and found school programs that challenged me.

2. Help Others When You Can – My father was great at helping others, sometimes to his own detriment (lol). It was nothing for him to move relatives into our home and provide them with a much-needed “loan” when necessary. He never hesitated to invite our friends on family outings or over to eat. He cared so much for the well-being of others.

3. I am Third – In the hierarchy of life, the Creator is first, your family is next, and you are third. While not a big churchgoer, my father believed in God. He tried to live by the Good Book and insisted we do the same.

4. You Can Be Anything You Want To Be – If you are willing to work hard to get there - you can achieve your dream. As children, my father told us that we could be whatever we wanted, and he stood by this when my sister decided that she wanted to become a minister. My father came from a family of Southern Baptist preachers, and they weren’t thrilled with my sister’s decision. However, my father stood up for her, and she eventually won them over, especially after they saw how effective and spirit-filled she was.

5. Children Learn By Example, So Do Your Best To Be One – My father went to work every day. He didn’t smoke or drink, and he rarely cursed. He protected his family when necessary and provided for us daily. As he got older, he not only continued to show us that he loved us but finally managed to be able to tell us. I treasure his words in my heart and ears.

I would not want you to think that my father was perfecthe wasn’t. But he was present! Like many other African American men, before and since, he did the best he could for his family and provided an excellent example for me and many others. Happy Father’s Day!

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Five Vacation Safety Tips

When planning your vacation, it is important to consider your safety. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Research your destination: Before you go, research the area you will be visiting. Look up any safety concerns, such as crime rates or natural disasters, and plan accordingly.

2. Protect your valuables: Keep your valuables, such as your passport and wallet, in a safe place. Use a hotel safe or a secure bag that you can carry with you.

3. Stay aware of your surroundings: Pay attention to your surroundings and be aware of any potential dangers. Avoid walking alone at night and be cautious when using public transportation.

4. Use reputable tour companies: If you are planning to participate in any tours or activities, make sure to use a reputable company. Check reviews and ask for recommendations from locals or your hotel staff.

5. Keep emergency contacts handy: Make sure to have a list of emergency contacts with you at all times. This can include the phone numbers for your hotel, local emergency services, and your embassy or consulate.

By following these tips, you can enjoy a safe and worry-free vacation.

“There are breathtaking beaches around every corner of Greece.”

-Belinda Payne