All Aboard The Love Train: The Annual Fort Worth Grandmother’s Day Takes The Love Train To Grapevine
By Pastor Kyev Tatum
Join us for a heartwarming tradition as we honor the pillars of our families and communities—our grandmothers—on Fort Worth Grandmother’s Day in Grapevine.
Hosted by New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church, this annual Mother’s Day outing has become a cherished celebration of the women who were mothers first—our grandmothers. We will gather at T&P Station at 10:00 AM to catch the Trinity Metro train to Grapevine for a special day of fellowship, reflection, and appreciation.
Since 2022, New Mount Rose has treated a special group of mothers and grandmothers to a day dedicated to honoring their legacy. As the train rolls into Grapevine, traffic may pause—but so does time—as we recognize
the extraordinary impact of these women who have nurtured generations with their wisdom, strength, and unconditional love.
“It’s very important that we recognize the grandmothers,” says Tonya Tatum, grandmother of 15. “Because when there is no mom, then you have your grandmother… the kids kind of gravitate to the grandmother as well.”
Sarah Bee, great-great grandmother of five, echoes the sentiment: “If you want to know something, just ask a grandmother—most of them know.”
This year’s celebration is especially meaningful as we remember those we’ve lost during the pandemic, including a beloved grandmother whose spirit will be honored with a special table setting during our luncheon.
City Budget Process Kicks Off with Focus On Revenue, Cost Savings
After launching the annual budget process in February, City staff has a good start on preparing a recommended Fiscal Year 2026 budget. City Council strategic priorities: Economic development, community investment, community safety, infrastructure, and responsible growth.
By the numbers: The FY25 adopted General Fund budget was $1,057,175,646. City staff has set a target budget of $1,097,417,797 for FY26, a difference of $40.2 million, or 3.81%, to cover continuation of existing services.
Preparing for a lean budget year: General Fund departments have been asked to trim 1% from their target budgets for FY26. The reductions are needed to balance grow-
ing costs with slower revenue growth. Additionally, these departments have been asked to submit proposals to reduce another 3% of their budget. This would provide City management and City Council with options if extra reductions are needed. Smaller reductions will be considered from Police & Fire.
Priority-based budgeting: The city piloted priority-based budgeting last year with several City departments. The effort is growing this year to include all General Fund departments.
Priority-based budgeting augments traditional budgeting with new vantage points to make data-driven decisions, Chief Transformation Officer Christianne Simmons said. The method also means
Beyoncé, Tariffs, and the Battle for Black America
Black Press USA Staff Report
On the April 30 edition of the Black Press of America’s daily program Let It Be Known, hosts Stacy M. Brown and Niele Anderson discussed the economic threats posed by tariffs, the weaponization of federal in-
inventory dries up, there will be shortages, and prices will go up,” the video noted. “This isn’t BS—this is the calm before the storm.” Following the clip, Brown and Anderson broke down how the policies disproportionately impact vulnerable communities.
staff. “We haven’t felt the full impact yet,” Anderson said. “But the consequences for Black and brown communities will be devastating.” The broadcast grew more urgent as Brown and Anderson addressed the growing attacks on April D. Ryan, the long-
stitutions, and a troubling smear campaign against veteran White House correspondent April D. Ryan. The show opened with a pre-recorded video dissecting the realworld effects of Trump’s tariff policies, which have yet to fully hit consumer prices because companies previously stockpiled goods ahead of implementation. The segment explained that cargo imports have sharply declined—down as much as 50 percent—signaling an impending supply shock. “When the pre-tariff
“We’re going to start feeling it in our pockets,” Brown warned, referencing recent reports from the Port of Los Angeles showing an expected 35 percent decline in shipping value. “It’s simple: supply goes down, prices go up.”
The hosts turned to another major concern—reports that the Trump administration has quietly activated the U.S. Postal Service to assist in mass deportations, while also forcing out more than 70 percent of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division
time White House reporter for the Black Press, who broke the story about efforts to remove African American artifacts from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Brown condemned the backlash, particularly from fellow Black journalists.
“April Ryan is the longestserving Black correspondent at the White House,” he said.
“She’s earned her credibility. This campaign against her is unacceptable.” Anderson added that April’s
reporting has been verified by Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown, who appeared on the show after receiving a letter from the museum about the return of his family Bible and one of the oldest books authored by a Black person. “April never said the chair was removed— she said it was targeted,” Anderson said. Brown added:
“[For fellow Black journalists] to remove her reporting because the Smithsonian released a carefully worded denial? That’s a problem.” Anderson said the Smithsonian and the Trump administration bear responsibility for fueling confusion. “They’re playing a cat-and-mouse game with the truth,” she said. “Mean-
the City Council’s priorities and goals are aligned with recommended department budgets. What happens next: City departments turn in proposed budgets in May.
• During June and July, City staff will evaluate proposals and develop the recommended budget. Several council sessions will be held to go over budget status.
• The city manager will present his recommended budget to Council in August.
• Following two public hearings, Council will vote to adopt a balanced budget in September. Fort Worth’s fiscal year runs Oct. 1-Sept. 30.
while, some Black journalists are aiding the erasure of Black history by turning on one of our own.” The discussion included sharp commentary on cultural ownership, with Anderson praising Beyoncé’s new country album for reclaiming the American flag and Black identity. “That flag is ours, too,” Anderson said. “We’re not giving it up.
Fort Worth ISD Celebrates Inaugural Visual and Performing Arts Signing Day
VPA) Fort Worth ISD is proud to announce its Visual & Performing Arts
Signing Day on May 9, 2025, at 10 a.m. at IM Terrell Academy for STEM & VPA, located at 1900 IM Terrell Way, Fort Worth, Texas. This exciting new celebration will honor 40 graduating seniors who will be pursuing degrees in the arts at colleges and universities across the country. In total, these students have earned over $6 million in scholarships to continue their education in the arts, showcasing their ex- traordinary talent, dedication, and academic success.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the re- markable achievements of these students,” said Jesse Cannon II, Executive Director of Visual & Performing Arts. “They have made meaningful contributions to the arts in Fort Worth ISD, and we are honored to recognize their commitment as they take the next step into college and university programs across the country. Their creativity and passion inspire us all.”
Signing day is, Friday, May 9, 2025, 10:00 am at IM Terrell Academy for STEM & VPA, 1900 IM Terrell Way, Fort Worth, TX 76102
The Signing Day event will feature student spotlights, scholarship recognitions, and announcements of the colleges and universities each student will attend this fall. It will be a powerful tribute to the impact of arts education and the bright futures of our students.
For more information, please contact: Jesse Cannon II, Executive Director, Visual & Performing Arts, 817-814-2621 | jesse.cannon@fwisd.org
Planting Roots: How DFW Residents Are Growing Gardens at Home
Across North Texas, a new wave of home improvement is flourishing, one that doesn’t require power tools or a contractor. Whether you’re in a high-rise condo in Uptown Dallas or a singlefamily home in Fort Worth’s suburbs, residents are finding creative ways to dig into gardening.
From patio herb boxes to backyard raised beds, more and more people across the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex are discovering the joy, health benefits, and cost savings that come with growing their own food.
The Urban Garden Movement In the heart of Dallas and
Talking R eal e s TaT e
with Stephanie Spann
Fort Worth, condo dwellers are making the most of their balconies and patios. With limited square footage, vertical gardening systems, railing planters, and compact containers are becoming go-to options.
“Living in a condo doesn’t mean you have to give up the idea of a garden,” says Sarah, a Deep Ellum resident who turned her 6x8 balcony into a thriving herb and tomato garden. “It brings life to my space and makes it feel more like home.”
Urban residents are also embracing community gardens and rooftop gardening initiatives. Many HOA and
In Cinque: Erasing Black History
By Renetta W. Howard
Each day offers its own nightmare since the inauguration of one Donald John Trump as the President of the United States of America. A better name now would be the United States of Confusion, Mistrust and Negativity. One does not have to be a rocket scientist to view and sort out all of the inhumane and unjust acts that are being carried out daily in this country that no one in his right mind would have even given a single thought to. Seems all of the action is the result of a Presidential Executive Order which undermines the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION! The latest blow is the removal of artifacts from the Smithsonian National Muse-
um of Black History. This is an attempt by Trump to erase Black History. As result of these orders being executed by the President, it is making me wonder just how much EDUCATION the representatives and senators really have about the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. Did they PASS Public Law 195 in high school? I have no idea what it is called in all of the U. S. States, but I do know that high school students are required to pass a test on the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION in order to graduate. It appears that too many of the people representing us are not knowledgeable enough to really know what they are supposed to be doing. It ap-
Grandmother Train
“They’ve been in a pandemic for two years, isolated,” says Pastor Kyev Tatum, “and we’re just trying to encourage them to get out, walk around, and get some sun… to let them know that they are loved and we have not forgotten about them.”
Come celebrate the matriarchs who hold our histories, shape our futures, and deserve to be reminded—today and every day—that they matter.
All aboard for Grandmother’s Day 2025—where love rides the rails! For more information,
pears that many of them feel that their job is do whatever the President wants them to do regardless to how much sense it makes. This means that we need to do more assessing of the people we vote for regarding their knowledge of the job they seek and how much they know about carrying it out. We need to select candidates who have enough education on their resumes to deal with the subjects in which they will come in contact with, and have enough moral maturity to know right from wrong and how to right wrongs.
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Right now, the Democratic party is seemingly trying to find a leader to counteract the Republican Party purging forces and some of the candidates whom they seek
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contact Pastor Kyev Tatum, Phone: 817-966-7625, Email: kptatum1@gmail.com
E. Jackson E. Jackson E. Jackson E. Jackson
apartment communities are beginning to support shared green spaces, giving residents access to land, sunlight, and a bit of earth to call their own.
Backyard Bounty in the Suburbs
In suburbs like Mansfield, Keller, and Frisco, homeowners are transforming spacious backyards into edible landscapes. These larger lots allow for raised beds, compost stations, fruit trees, and even chicken coops in some areas.
Families are involving their children in the gardening process, teaching them where food comes from and giving them the responsibility for tending the plants. It’s a lifestyle that promotes mindfulness, health, and sustainabil-
Tariff’s
Our ancestors paid the price.”
ity.
“We started with strawberries and zucchini,” says Marcus, a Fort Worth homeowner. “Now we’re growing cucumbers, lettuce, and herbs year-round. The kids love pulling up carrots and seeing what they grew. It’s like magic to them.”
Gardening as a Selling Point
As a real estate professional, I’ve noticed a growing appreciation among buyers for outdoor living features, especially those that support selfsufficiency and sustainability. A thoughtfully designed garden area can boost curb appeal and make a lasting impression during showings. In newer master-planned communities, we’re seeing increased interest in homes
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are not willing to participate. Trump wants a 3rd term regardless to the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution and Democrats are hoping if this comes to fruition that maybe Mr. Obama would give it another try and perhaps win. Others have longed to have Mrs. Obama give it a try, but she refuses, but it seems that Senator Bernie Sanders is pushing Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to run for the office of President in the next election. It may be a good idea. She is smart and quick to push her points. However, I am still praying for that DEVINE INTERVENTION and hope that all get ‘in cinque’ and pray with me! It has to happen!
Recording Black History Since 1957
The episode also aimed at NFL Hall of Famer Chris Carter for suggesting Shedeur Sanders needed to be “taught a lesson” after not being drafted. “That’s ‘stay in your place’ language,” Anderson said. “This is deeper than football. It’s about control and systemic racism.” From housing costs to erasing history, Brown and Anderson framed the current moment as one of real danger—but also one that requires solidarity. “Black journalists should not be attacking each other,” Brown said. “We need to be the voice that the community turns to, not the voice that helps tear it apart.” The show concluded with a call to action: a June 14 push to flood social media with images of former President Obama— Trump’s birthday—while lifting Black legacy, Black voices, and Black truth. Watch Let It Be Known at 8 a.m. on weekdays.
Health & Fitness Health & Fitness
Understanding the Hidden Dangers of LDL (Bad) Cholesterol
(Family Features) These days, wellness information is practically everywhere you turn. Do this; don’t do that. Eat more of this; eat less of that. This is good for you; that is bad.
It can be hard to cut through all the noise, but the reality is, when it comes to something as serious as your heart health and LDL cholesterol – the “bad” cholesterol – ignoring it can be downright dangerous for your health.
According to the American Heart Association, about every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack, and strokes occur at about the same frequency.
High LDL cholesterol, often called “bad” cholesterol, significantly increases your risk of heart disease.
A poll conducted by The Harris Poll for the American Heart Association revealed 75% of heart attack and stroke survivors reported having high cholesterol. Yet nearly half (47%) of heart attack and stroke survivors are unaware of their LDL cholesterol number. This lack of awareness shows more knowledge is needed to help survivors proactively manage their health.
In fact, knowledge is key to reducing your risk of heart disease. Understanding the impact of LDL cholesterol and knowing your LDL number can help you make
Real Estate:
informed decisions.
Cholesterol: The Good and The Bad Cholesterol is a waxy, fatlike substance your body needs to build cells and produce hormones. However, not all cholesterol is created equal:
• LDL (low-density lipoprotein) Cholesterol: This is the “bad” cholesterol. When too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain, forming plaque that can narrow and eventually block these arteries, leading to heart attack or stroke.
• HDL (high-density lipoprotein) Cholesterol:
Continued from page 2 with existing raised beds or irrigation systems that support gardens. These small additions can often tip the scale for buyers deciding between two similar homes.
Getting Started in Texas Soil
The DFW climate is ideal for many types of vegetables, herbs, and fruits. With a long growing season, residents can start early in the spring and harvest well into the fall. Native plants and drought-resistant varieties also thrive here, making gardening a lowmaintenance, high-reward hobby.
For newcomers, local resources like the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and DFW-area gardening clubs
offer plenty of guidance to get started; no green thumb required.
Final Thoughts: Grow Where You’re Planted
Regardless of your square footage, there’s a way to bring gardening into your lifestyle. In a fast-paced, high-tech world, the simplicity of nurturing a plant and watching it grow offers a welcome return to nature and a powerful sense of accomplishment.
Whether you’re working with a sunny windowsill in downtown Dallas or a spacious lawn in Arlington, don’t underestimate what a few seeds, some soil, and a little time can do not just for your home, but for your health and spirit too.
Known as the “good” cholesterol, HDL helps remove the “bad” cholesterol from the arteries, protecting against heart attack and stroke.
A Silent Threat
Many people think high cholesterol has obvious signs, but that’s not always the case. In fact, about half of U.S. adults and 42% of heart attack and stroke survivors mistakenly believe high cholesterol has clear symptoms. However, high LDL cholesterol typically doesn’t show any signs, which is why it’s known as a silent threat to your heart.
People who have had a heart attack or stroke are at higher risk of future cardiovascular problems, which is why it’s important to monitor your cholesterol regularly to help prevent future events.
It’s also important to know high LDL cholesterol can be genetic, meaning someone who eats a healthy diet and exercises regularly can still have high cholesterol. Additionally, the risk of high LDL cholesterol increases with age.
That’s why the American Heart Association’s “Lower Your LDL Cholesterol Now”
initiative, nationally sponsored by Amgen, emphasizes the importance of regular cholesterol checks regardless of your weight, diet and physical activity levels. Knowing your LDL cholesterol number – and understanding the target levels based on your health history –gives you the opportunity to manage your health proactively. This enables you to make informed decisions to prevent future heart issues.
Know Your Number
You can reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke by knowing and addressing your LDL cholesterol number.
Working closely with your doctor allows you to actively manage high LDL cholesterol – often a key risk factor you can help control – and together, you can develop a personalized treatment plan. Ask your doctor or health care provider for a cholesterol test to know your LDL number. Understanding your cholesterol number is the first step toward managing it effectively. If necessary, appropriate management of your LDL cholesterol can help reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Your doctor may also talk with you about your personal and family medical history;
previous heart-related medical events such as a heart attack or stroke; lifestyle habits such as tobacco use, obesity, unhealthy living or aging; racial and ethnic backgrounds; and reproductive health.
Lower is Better When it comes to your cholesterol, guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology recommend “lower is better” to reduce your risk. Studies show that an LDL number or below 100 mg/dL is ideal for healthy adults.
If you have a history of heart attack or stroke and are already on a cholesterol-lowering medication, your doctor may aim for your LDL to be 70 mg/ dL or lower.
Talk to your doctor about the right treatment plan for you. Positive lifestyle habits, such as exercising and eating a healthy diet, may also help. However, if you’ve had a heart attack or stroke before, lifestyle changes alone may not be enough to lower your risk of another event. Your doctor may recommend cholesterol-lowering medications to protect your heart health. Learn more about LDL (bad) cholesterol by visiting heart. org/LDL.
1 Chronicles 21:1–22:1
Key Text:
King David said to Ornan, nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.—1 Chronicles 21:24
Introduction: Plagues and Punishment
In the fourteenth century, the Black Death (bubonic plague) came to Europe and caused sudden, widespread fatalities. A common estimate is that one-third of the people of Europe died within five years. Since the science of the time could not explain the plague, many people believed the disease to be God’s punishment for the corrupt lifestyles of Christians and the church’s tolerance of sin. This belief often led to persecution of perceived heretics.
More recently, widespread outbreaks of viral disease— the 1918 Great Influenza pandemic, the 1980s AIDS epidemic, and the COVID-19 pandemic of the 2020s— have been perceived by some as punishments by God for societal sins. Those who saw these health crises that way proclaimed justification from Scripture.
Well-known are the 10 plagues inflicted on the people of Egypt (Exodus 7:14–11:10). But most, if not all, of these don’t fit our usual understanding of the word plague as referring to a disease resulting from a bacterial or viral infection. In today’s lesson, a plague sent as God’s punishment takes place during the reign of Israel’s greatest ruler, King David.
Despite being portrayed as “a man after [God’s] own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), King David committed grievous sins. Most remembered are the sins of adultery and murder in his seduction of Bathsheba and the death of her husband, Uriah (2 Samuel 11). The “God’s own heart” part of David seems to have gained traction after he was confronted by the prophet Nathan about the violation of the sixth and seventh commandments (Exodus 20:13–14). The result was the tender prayer of Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
More consequential for a greater number of people, however, was the sin of David concerning a census he took of Israel to know the potential size of his army (2 Samuel 24:2; 1 Chronicles 21:2). The results of the survey must have astonished David: there were over one million men who “drew the sword” (2 Samuel 24:9). This census angered the Lord, for David’s pride drove it as he rejected his reliance upon God for Israel’s security.
The prophet Gad delivered God’s judgment to David, and it came with a twist: David could choose from among three punishments, of varying impacts on Israel, for his sins. The choices were three years of famine, three months of attacks by the nation’s enemies, or three days of a pestilent plague (1 Chronicles 21:12). These three had been
Sunday School Lesson Sunday School Lesson
ways the Lord showed His wrath to Israel (see Jeremiah 14:12). David chose the third option, with horrific results for his people.
I. The Destroying Angel (1 Chronicles 21:14–17)
Terrible Judgment (v. 14)
So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.
The pestilence the Lord delivered upon Israel was labeled earlier as the “sword of the Lord” (1 Chronicles 21:12). Although not described, the implication is that of a fast-moving malady that kills quickly. The parallel passage, 2 Samuel 24:15, notes the plague’s reach “from Dan even to Beersheba”—a straight-line distance of about 150 miles, encompassing the whole of Israel. In the small geographic footprint of David’s realm, every village and every citizen would have felt loss because of these deaths. The sorrowful outcry from survivors would have been deafening and impossible for the king to ignore.
Divine Peril (vv. 15–16a)
And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand.
This half-verse reveals the time has come for Jerusalem to experience God’s anger as an angel of death appears on the scene. It’s unfitting to take the word destroy in the sense of “demolishing buildings” since the parallel in 2 Samuel 24:16 establishes that the focus is on the people themselves.
Before completing this devastation, however, the Lord repented him of the evil. This phrasing doesn’t mean that God had been doing something wrong or sinful—that would be impossible. Instead, to “repent” means God changed the course of what was anticipated to happen next. The word evil in this context doesn’t refer to a moral evil but to the due punishment.
And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
A threshing floor was a flat, hard piece of ground, ideally one of stone. Every harvest, the dried bundles of grain would be threshed here.
This process involved laying the grain out and having it beaten or trampled by oxen to separate the ripened seeds from the stalks. The process also involved winnowing (compare Ruth 3:2; note figurative use in Luke 3:17). When the process was complete, grains could be ground into flour for making bread.
A threshing floor was thus an essential piece of food production that could last from harvest to harvest. Threshing floors are mentioned dozens of times in the Bible, sometimes figuratively (examples: Deuteronomy 25:4; Isaiah 28:27; 1 Corinthians 9:9).
The fact that a Jebusite owned this threshingfloor is revealing. Jebusites are mentioned over 40 times in the Old Testament. They were
not Israelites (1 Kings 9:20; 2 Chronicles 8:7); rather, they were one of the tribes inhabiting the promised land that the Israelites were commanded to drive out. They had lived in Jerusalem and, apparently, David let some of them stay after he conquered the city (2 Samuel 5:6–8). Ornan’s presence after David’s takeover indicates he had favor with the Israelite conquerors in some way and was perhaps known to David. (Note: 2 Samuel 24:16 uses “Araunah” as a variation of Ornan’s name.)
And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem.
Comparing 1 Chronicles 21:16–17, a segment of our lesson-text, with its parallel section in 2 Samuel 24:17 yields some interesting results. The most obvious difference is one of length: this part of the story is about twice as long in our lesson-text than the version in that parallel verse. That parallel of the half-verse before us now merely says, “David spake unto the Lord when he saw the angel that smote the people.”
Passionate Plea (vv. 16b–17)
Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.
This scene is absent altogether in the parallel verse of 2 Samuel 24:17. Sackcloth is the garment of mourning (examples: 2 Samuel 3:31; Amos 8:10). It is made from rough, loose-fitting cloth—modern burlap may be similar. Sackcloth was the exact opposite of the finery of kings’ robes or of the luxurious garments of a nation’s leaders (example: Jonah 3:6).
In the verse before us, the wearing of sackcloth is combined with falling prostrate—itself a sign of humility before God or other people (example: Ruth 2:10). The combined aspects of wearing sackcloth and falling facedown are rare in Scripture; this indicates the extreme nature of the situation at hand. The reaction of David and the elders of Israel to the angel is submission, not defiance. They surrendered to the judgment of the Lord.
And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.
The parallel in 2 Samuel 24:17 says much the same as the verse at hand but is more succinct. Both stress David’s confession that he and he alone was responsible for the unholy census he had taken. His advisor Joab had warned him against doing that and had even left one tribe uncounted. But David quickly rejected Joab’s counsel (2 Samuel 24:3–4; 1 Chronicles 21:3–6).
Even so, David seemed quite willing to admit his sin and repent. When God confronted Adam with his sin in
the garden, he attempted to shift the blame to his wife, Eve (Genesis 3:12). When Samuel rebuked Saul for disobedience, that king made excuses (1 Samuel 15:13–21). David did neither. As he did when confronted with his sin regarding Bathsheba, David took sole responsibility (2 Samuel 12:13).
II. The Fiery Altar (1 Chronicles 21:18–27)
Prophetic Directive (vv. 18–19)
Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
The severity of David’s sin demanded more than words of repentance and submissive body postures. So the Lord made His expectations clear to David through the prophet Gad. This man is elsewhere referred to as a “prophet” (1 Samuel 22:5), as a “seer” (1 Chronicles 21:9), and as both: “the prophet Gad, David’s seer” (2 Samuel 24:11). For David to go up means that a bit of an uphill hike was to be part of his overall task. See commentary on 1 Chronicles 21:15b, above, regarding the designation of the Jebusite.
And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORD.
David realized that Gad was not offering his own expert opinion but was speaking in the name of the Lord. The phrase went up at the saying indi cates complete obedience. The Lord had chosen a specific site. As noted in 2 Chronicles 3:1, that place was “mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David … in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.”
This threshing floor was to become the site of Solomon’s temple (1 Chronicles 22:1). Moriah was the place where Abraham nearly sacrificed his son Isaac (Genesis 22:2).
Humble Cooperation (vv. 20–25)
And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat. And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.
This seems to have been a workday for Ornan?… and his four sons. As they were threshing wheat, they perhaps did not notice at first the presence of the angel. We can scarcely imagine the shock of turning around and simultaneously seeing both an angel and the king! The parallel passage 2 Samuel 24:20 adds that David was accompanied by servants, adding to the shock.
Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people. David wasted no time in making known the reason for his visit. He could have “pulled rank” and confiscated Ornan’s property, but David offered the full price. He intended to carry out the Lord’s
instructions through Gad but with justice and integrity. And if there was any time in David’s life when he had to act with unquestionable integrity, this was it, considering the lives that were at stake.
And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all.
We now see the extent of Ornan’s threshing operation. We also gain insight into the person of Ornan himself. Although he is a non-Israelite (see commentary on 1 Chronicles 21:15b, above), he was familiar with Israel’s sacrificial system. He knew how oxen and wheat could be used in differing types of offerings (Leviticus 1 and 2; we note that the King James Version uses the word meat at times to stand for any food, even grain; see Leviticus 2:1, 4). Burnt offerings require wood for fire, and Ornan offered his threshing instruments for that purpose.
And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost. So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.
David resisted any urge to use his position to pay anything less than the full price to Ornan and his family. The sin at issue was David’s, and his repentance was to cost him. Ancient weights found in archaeological digs reveal that a shekel’s weight is about 11.34 grams, which converts to 0.365 troy ounces in today’s measurements. So the six hundred shekels of gold by weight paid by David would have been about 219 troy ounces of gold. Assuming gold today sells for about $2,000 per troy ounce, David’s offer would be the equivalent to more than $400,000 today!
However, when we look at the parallel account in 2 Samuel 24:24, we see a difference: a sale price of only “fifty shekels of silver.” At today’s price of $24 per troy ounce of silver, that equates to less than $500. But a close look at the text reveals there is no contradiction. In the verse before us now, the price in gold is for the place, while the parallel text says the price in silver was “for the threshingfloor and the oxen.” So our text here indicates a more significant purchase of the land where the threshing floor was located. Since this later became the site of Solomon’s temple (1 Chronicles 22:1), a conservative estimate is that at least 10 acres are purchased.
Sheathed Sword (vv. 26–27)
And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.
We are not given the details of the altar David built. Given the urgency of the situation, we may speculate that it was hastily constructed from
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nearby materials. It may have been “an altar of earth” like the one in Exodus 20:24; that was the first instance of combining burnt offerings and peace offerings, explained in Leviticus 1 and 3, respectively.
The Lord’s fiery response must have been spectacular and awe-inspiring. Sometimes fire from heaven is judgmental (example: 2 Kings 1:10–14); at other times, it indicates divine approval in some sense (example: 2 Chronicles 7:1). In this instance, it seems to have reflected both. And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof. There could be no better outcome than this. III. The Sword of the Lord (1 Chronicles 21:28–30)
Ancient Tabernacle (vv. 28–29)
At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there. For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon. Although this story is about David’s sin, its consequences, and its resolution, it has other important information too. This story represents a transitional phase between tabernacle and temple as the proper house of the Lord, and between Jerusalem and Gibeon (five miles to the north) regarding location. The tabernacle made by Moses four hundred years earlier was still at the high place in Gibeon (2 Chronicles 1:13), not yet transferred to Jerusalem. Also in Gibeon was the altar of burnt offering, the concept of which also dated to Moses.
Fearful Caution (v. 30) But David could not go before it to inquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.
David doesn’t seem to believe he’s been for given fully! So the man who slew a bear, a lion, and Goliath (1 Samuel 17) shrinks back in fear of the sword of the angel of the Lord. Seeing the angel’s power has made David cautious (compare 1 Chronicles 13:12).
Conclusion: Community Suffering Large numbers of people suffer deeply from the mistakes of a single individual. Think about the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian student in 1914, which kicked off World War I and the deaths of millions. In the Bible, consider the gross sins of King Manasseh, which resulted in God’s sending Israel into the Babylonian exile (Jeremiah 15:4; see 2 Kings 21:16). At the birth of Jesus, the insecurity and ruthlessness of King Herod led to the massacre of innocent babies and children in Bethlehem and nearby areas (Matthew 2:16).
David understood that his prideful sin had resulted in the deaths of 70,000 men. The nearly 10 months it took before the census-takers re-
Planning for a Positive Economic Future - Financial literacy tips for teens
(Family Features) Financial literacy is a critical skill that helps set the foundation for a stable and prosperous future. By understanding the basics of money management, teens can make informed decisions and avoid common financial pitfalls.
“There is so much for teens to absorb when learning about finances and planning for their future, they often struggle to envision what lies ahead,” said Andre Robinson, president and CEO of MissionSquare Retirement.
According to the annual Teens and Personal Finance survey, a study of teens ages 13-18 conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of Junior Achievement and MissionSquare Retirement’s Foundation, 45% of high schoolers took a personal finance or financial literacy class at school. This is up from 31% in 2024, indicating the nation’s youth are interested in building a strong financial foundation. What’s more, of the students who took their school’s curriculum, 64% found it extremely or very helpful, yet despite this increase, data reveals knowledge gaps remain. In fact, 42% of teens surveyed are terrified they won’t have enough money to cover their future needs and goals.
“Offering engaging programs that can boost financial knowledge and decisionmaking skills can only help to inspire young individuals to build a strong foundation of lifelong financial resilience.”
Consider discussing these economic topics with your
teen to help make a positive impact on students’ financial readiness and get them ready for financial decisions they’ll face in adulthood.
Mastering Saving and Budgeting
A good starting point for teens is to create a simple budget that tracks income
and expenses. Because only 36% of teens surveyed save a part for their futures when they receive money, this can help them understand where money is going and identify areas they may be able to save for the future. This is particularly important considering 68% of teens agree that saving for retirement is something they can think about later in life.
Understanding Credit
Credit is a powerful tool but can also be a source of financial trouble if not managed properly. It’s essential to understand how financial behaviors, like paying bills on time and keeping credit card balances low, impact their credit scores. A higher FICO score, which 80% of teens surveyed had never heard of or did not fully understand, can lead to better interest rates and more favorable loan terms.
Managing Common Debt
Pitfalls
According to the survey, 43% of teens believe an in-
terest rate of 18% on debt is manageable and can be paid off over time. However, it’s important to understand the true cost of debt and how interest rates can accumulate over time and lead to significant financial strain. Establishing good debt management habits early, such as avoiding high-interest debt and paying off balances quickly, can lead to a healthier financial future.
Investing and Planning Ahead
According to the survey, teenagers’ most appealing investing strategies are savings accounts, side hustles and keeping cash at home, and only 13% invest a portion of their money. Encouraging teens to learn about different types of investments, such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds, can help them make informed decisions and begin to build long-term wealth. For more information to help teens improve their financial knowledge, visit ja.org.
When the Heat and Storms Come, Lies Will Not Save Us
By Ben Jealous
When the storms come harder and the heat comes earlier, it does not matter who you voted for. You still have to rebuild your home. You still have to find a way to breathe clean air. You still have to keep your family safe.
That is why what the Trump administration is doing right now to the National Climate Assessment should make every American furious.
This week, Trump dismissed the scientists writing the next National Climate Assessment and announced they will be "reevaluating" its scope. That is political talk for rewriting the truth. The National Climate Assessment is supposed to be our country’s report card, providing an “up-to-date and comprehensive assessment of climate change in the United States.” It is supposed to detail how Americans, in every part of the country, are being impacted by climate change in their communities and everyday lives, and how we can prepare and be ready for what’s to come – for our health, for our financial wellbeing, and more.
But the Trump administration wants to twist it. It was reported last month the administration might try to turn everything we know about climate science on its head and falsely spin the climate crisis into a good thing for humanity. That would be propaganda – not science.
As deadly heat, floods, fires, and storms come faster and harder every year, this could not be happening at a worse time.
Last year was the hottest year ever recorded. Not just here, but across the globe. And this year, western American cities like Phoenix and Palm Springs shattered their early spring heat records. The oceans are warming at an unprecedented and alarming rate; the Great Lakes are warming even faster. And from California to New Jersey, wildfires rage.
When it gets hotter, the air gets dirtier. Hospitals see more cases of asthma, heart problems, and heat stroke. Families see higher health care bills. Workers – especially those in construction, farming, and delivery jobs – face
real danger just doing their jobs.
Meanwhile, the cost of living keeps rising. By pushing dirty fuels and trying to stop the shift to clean energy, the Trump administration is setting families up for higher electricity bills too. Solar and wind are already cheaper than coal and gas in most places. But without honest climate science guiding policy, big utilities and fossil fuel companies will keep squeezing working people while raking
in profits.
None of this is an accident. It is part of a pattern.
Back in January, many of us warned that Donald Trump’s inner circle had a plan to gut climate science across the government. To replace facts with polluters’ wishful thinking. To erase the hard truths we must face together.
Now we are seeing it play out. And the cost will be measured in real lives, real homes, and real threats to our future. Higher temperatures
strain power grids, buckle roads, and endanger seniors who cannot afford air conditioning.
Donald Trump's team can spin fairy tales all they want.
But you cannot lie your way out of a flood. You cannot spin your way out of a superstorm. You cannot wish away the next record-breaking heat wave.
As a country, we must meet hard truths with hard work.
But that starts with honesty. It starts with a commitment
to science over spin. It starts with loving our children and grandchildren enough to fight for the future they deserve. Because the truth is simple: Climate change is hurting us now. And if we let propaganda replace science, it will only get worse. There is too much at stake to let that happen. Ben Jealous is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania.
Ben Jealous
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
Browns Make Splash, Land QB Shedeur Sanders in Fifth Round
Cedric Bailey Sports
CLEVELAND — With the 144th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns made one of the weekend’s most talkedabout moves, selecting Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders — a player once projected to go in the early rounds. As Day 3 of the draft progressed, Browns Executive Vice President and General Manager Andrew Berry kept a sharp eye on Sanders, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, who had surprisingly slipped down the board.
“We live by our board, and we felt like he was a good
solid prospect at the most important position,” Berry said.
“We felt like it got to a point where he was probably mispriced relative to the draft.
The acquisition cost was pretty light, and we think he’s a guy who can outproduce his draft slot.”Determined to secure their target, the Browns
traded their only remaining two Day 3 picks to the Seattle Seahawks to move up and grab Sanders at No. 144. Sanders’ college résumé
speaks for itself. Across stints at Jackson State and Colorado, he posted a 70.1% career completion rate with 134 touchdowns against just 27 interceptions. In 2024, he led all FBS quarterbacks with a 74.1% completion percentage.His ability to excel at new levels has been a hallmark of his career. As a freshman at Trinity Christian High School in Texas, he led his team to a 12-1 record and a Division II Championship, with his father Deion calling the plays. Sanders then became the highest-ranked recruit in Jackson State history, immediately leading the Tigers to back-to-back SWAC titles. Later, transferring to Colorado, he was named the Pac12 Newcomer of the Year, throwing for over 3,200 yards with 27 touchdowns and only three interceptions.
In Cleveland, Sanders
joins a crowded and competitive quarterback room. He’ll compete with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel from Oregon, as well as veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, both signed in free agency. A spirited offseason battle for the starting job is expected. Sanders’ draft moment was just as electric as his college highlights. After receiving the life-changing call from Berry, Sanders celebrated in style, diving into a pool — a moment that quickly went viral on social media. For a Browns team seeking long-term stability at quarterback, the selection of Sanders offers both promise and excitement. Whether he claims the Week 1 starting job or grows into it over time, the Browns believe they landed a prospect with star potential well beyond his fifth-round slot.
Rev. William Barber Stages “Moral Monday” Protest in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda
By Lauren Burke
As congressional Republicans prepare to make $1.5 trillion dollars in budget cuts, cuts that will include government assistance to low income Americans, Rev. William Barber traveled to the U.S. Capitol to push back against them. The trip to speak out against what he views as economic injustice and unfairness was not his first to Washington. It is unlikely to be his last. When Donald Trump began his second term as President 99 days ago he spoke out about austerity and making the government smaller. So far, Trump’s approval ratings are at a record low — lower than any other President of the United States in the modern era. In a statement before his arrival, Rev. Barber stated that “his urgent action comes as Congress considers devastating cuts to
Rev. William Barger
Medicaid, food assistance, and housing—threatening millions of children, seniors, and people with disabilities.” Republicans in Congress are planning to cut one and a half trillion dollars from the budget. One of the obvious targets that would certainly be on the table is Medicaid. Republicans in the U.S. House in support of Trump’s efforts are positioned to cut the program by a never-before-seen amount.
“It's a time for us to first move in any nonviolent type of protest -- first of all, you have to get your facts so that you're not focusing on personality, but policy and the real problems. And second of all, you have to make sure, as we did on Ash Wednesday, that your adversary actually knows what's bothering you. You don't just start doing
things,” Rev. Barber said as he spoke after his protest in the U.S. Capitol. Members of the U.S. Capitol Police closed off the Capitol Rotunda and hurriedly told associates with him to exit as Barber and others read scripture and prayed in the Rotunda near a bust of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Their effort to stop over one trillion in cuts in the budget is likely to be unsuccessful. “You actually have to have the kind of redemptive hope that you believe if you show the folk the fact they would change, and you can't be frivolous about that they may not but you
have to believe in that possibility, because if you give up on humanity, then you're doing the same thing they're doing, part of what It means to be in a nonviolent movement is that if I didn't believe in the possibility of my worst enemy becoming my best friend, I'd stop preaching. I wouldn't put on robes and crosses and stuff. Wouldn't be any need. And you say you're naive,” Rev. Barber added. This week members of Congress are in markups and budget talks as the details on the final proposals of what will be defunded slowly emerge.
David’s Sacrifice
turned (2 Samuel 24:8) can be seen as God’s waiting period before He acted. He is patient—but His patience has limits (2 Peter 3:9). Thought to Remember:
Continued from page 4 Our sin affects others. Standard Publishing. KJV Standard Lesson Commentary® 2024-2025 (p. 833). David C Cook. Kindle Edition.
Colorado Buffaloes QB Shedeur Sanders is now heading to the NFL to play for the Cleveland Browns - Photo Courtesy of the NFL
Here’s What’s Happening Here’s What’s Happening
Ongoing Events
Are you a resident of the Rolling Hills area? Join the Glencrest Civic League Neighborhood Association and become part of our mission to create a safe, secure, clean, and well-maintained community. We actively seek residents’ support for our mission by spearheading neighborhood committee initiatives, coordinating, supporting, and planning various community events, actively engaging local leaders and nurturing a strong sense of community unity.
Join us for our Monthly Community Meetings:
• When: 10:00 AM on the 3rd Saturday of Each Month
• Where: C.R. Bradley Center, 2600 Timberline Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76119. For more information and to become a member, check out our Facebook Page (Glencrest Civic League Neighborhood Association) or visit our website at https:// www.glencrest.org. You may also email us at glencrest. na@gmail.com.
Fort Worth Wiley College
Alumni Club Membership Meeting: Second Saturday of each month, 1 p.m., Carter Metropolitan CME Church,
4601 Wichita St. Fort Worth 76119. For additional information, contact one of the following members: Helen Crowder (817) 688-8937, Larry Pugh (817) 293-6543, Daisy Kahn (817) 292-1077. I.M. Terrell Alumni Association Membership Meeting, 1st Tuesday of each month, 5 p.m., I. M. Terrell Stem/VPA Academy, 1411 I M Terrell Way, Fort Worth 76102.
M.L.Kirkpatrick Alumni Association Membership Meeting: First Saturday of each month at 2 p.m. at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 2823 North Houston Street, Fort Worth 76106.
P.L. Dunbar Alumni Association Memberships Meeting: 3rd Saturday of each month at 3p.m. at The CenterFor STOP SIX HERITAGE, 5100 Willie St. next to Young Men’s Leadership Academy, Fort Worth. pldalumniassoc@gmail.com
Como Alumni. Every third Tureday, 7 p.m., Como Community Center, 4900 Horne Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Join the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats! We meet every fourth Saturday of the
month from 5-6 p.m. at the Charles F. Griffin Sub-courthouse, 3500 Miller Ave. Fort Worth 76119. New Monthly Speakers.
United Methodist Church, 522 Missouri Ave. Fort Worth 76104. The Food pantry is open on the third Saturday of each month from 8 -10 a.m. For questions or concerns, please contact the Church Office at (817) 336-2117.
Forest Hill Ushers Union, “Welcomes All Church Ushers/Doorkeepers in Tarrant County”
Juniors & Young People (7-18)
Young Adults (19-35)
Seniors (36+)
Affiliations:
Texas Church Ushers
Southern Region Ushers
National United Church Ushers
Association of America, Inc. (NUCUAAA) For more information contact: Wanda King (817) 821-3017, Helen Moore (817) 584-7370, Thomas E. Troupe (817) 2292509
AARP Southeast Chapter #4508. Meets the 4th Wednesday of each month at 10:30 a.m., Southside Community Center, 959 E. Rosedale, Fort Worth, TX 76104.
For additional information contact Debra Rivers by email:riv3ers@sbcglobal.net.
Thur. June, 19, 2025
Opal’s Walk For Freedom,Farrington Field, Fort Worth, TX . Walk starts a 9: a.m. register at www. juneteenthstrong.com
Mon. May . 19, 2025
The Dock Bookshop, Author talk & Book Signing, 3-5 p.m. Dr. Ibram X. Kendi -”Malcolm Lives”
Public Transportation Help
Are you in need of transportation services? Here’s a list of resources that are available
to you across Tarrant County.
Trinity Metro TEXRail operates daily between downtown Fort Worth and DFW International Airport’s Terminal B. Serving Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Grapevine. RIDETRINITYMETRO.org/texrail or 817-2158600
Trinity Railway Express operates between downtown Fort Worth and downtown Dallas. Serving Fort Worth, Hurst, Irving, Dallas. trinityrailwayexpress.org or 817215-8600
ZIPZONE on-demand service areas: Alliance, Crowley, Mercantile. Trinity Metro has expanded the Southside ZIPZONE to reach the TCU campus, the Fort Worth Zoo and the entertainment district along
the West 7th corridor, including Crockett Row and Montgomery Plaza. Formerly known as the Near Southside ZIPZONE, the service area will continue to include access to the hospitals and facilities within the Medical District and the many popular destinations along Magnolia Avenue, plus grocery stores and other services throughout the Southside. Southside ZIPZONE riders may also connect to TEXRail and Trinity Railway Express at Fort Worth T&P Station or to bus routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5a, 5b, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 24 and The Dash.
of operation
