10 What is a movie or TV show you never get tired of watching? by Steve Glaser
16 If you could have one prayer answered, what would it be? by Steve Glaser
Strawberries for Dessert –by Glenn Sudnick
Strawberry Quinoa Salad
Chocolate Covered Strawberries 14
26 Why Are Backups Important? by Rami Al-Khatib, ACT Computers
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THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS
JAKE GOZ (Gerry Goffin), SARAH ELLIS (Cynthia Weil), NICK MOULTON (Barry Mann) and SARAH BOCKEL (Carole King)
Miracle OF THE Month
Q&A
Al Black
ONE OF NINE ORIGINAL HIGHWAYMEN ARTISTS
Rhett Palmer
I’m down in Fort Pierce, Florida, and I’m talking with Al Black, a famous Highwaymen artist. Art galleries in the 1950s and 60s wouldn’t sell these artists’ work because of the color of their skin so they sold their paintings out of the back of their cars. Their trunks were open on the side of the highway, hence the name Highwaymen.
Al Black, good to see you again.
Al Black Good to see you.
You’ve got quite a colorful background. Now, you ended up in prison because you had a misunderstanding with somebody? Yes, I went to prison for fraud.
Was it art fraud? No, it wasn’t art fraud. Really, I didn’t do nothing. I went to prison for nothing, but I went on and took it.
So why did you take it? I just went on and took it. It was the best thing ever happened to me.
The best thing that ever happened to you is getting convicted and going to jail? You’ve got a big smile on your face. Why is it the best thing that ever happened to you? Well, I was on drugs at the time and it brought me out of the drug field. When I went to prison, I was getting $35 and $40 for these paintings. And when I went to prison I painted all these murals in the Florida state prisons.
I had it made in there. I stayed in there 12 years and it was the best 12 years I ever had.
I understand the warden took a shine to your paintings. You painted for him in exchange for living like a millionaire. Yes.
Tell us about that. When I went to prison, I went from camp to camp to paint murals on the walls and the visiting parks and stuff where people would come in to visit their family and stuff. I went to the Hillsboro Correction Institution. I went to Zephyr Hills, Central Florida Reception Center, Main Unit, East Unit and South Unit. And I did all the murals there on the walls. Yeah.
One of the many murals Al Black painted on prison walls during his 12-year sentence. It's said he painted over 100 murals in three of Florida's correctional institutions during that time.
Now, I understand you could have parties. How many times a year did they let you have a party? Three times a year.
And how many people were you allowed to have at those events? I’d get 100. I had the inmates and all the staff.
Did you invite any outsiders? No, no outsiders. Just the ones who was in prison.
Now, I want to hear your story. You were addicted to crack cocaine. You told me several years ago it was the most addictive and hardest to get off of as an addiction. Well, you can have foot trouble, back trouble, neck trouble, all kind of trouble. You ain’t had no trouble till you have some crack cocaine trouble. And I asked the Lord into my life and he moved that taste. I’ve been clean now for 30 some years.
I understand you were in the jail cell when Jesus visited you? Yes, I was in the jail cell when he visited me.
Tell me what it looked like and what the experience was. A big light shined in there that morning and I said, “Jesus, if that’s you, make this light a little bit brighter.” And as I was sitting there looking, it got brighter. It got so bright that I couldn’t hardly see. And I asked him, I said, “Coast Guard Master Jesus, come in and move this taste.” And I ain’t wanted a rock since.
So what do you mean by “Coast Guard Master Jesus”? I told him I was drowning out there, that I couldn’t do nothing without him. And I said, “Coast Guard Master Jesus, come into my life and move this addiction.” And he did, and I’ve been clean ever since.
Now, you were instantaneously absolutely without a doubt totally delivered from the demonic addiction of crack cocaine instantly? Yes.
Did he say anything to you? No, he didn’t say anything.
Did you see his face? No, I didn’t see the face, but he showed me a light. And I said, “Jesus, if that’s you, make this light a little bit brighter.” And he did. And I ain’t wanted no more cocaine from that day to this one. And right now I don’t have no desire to be around nobody would do crack cocaine.
And you’ve been clean for how many years now? 30-something years, 31 years.
Were you famous before you went to prison? I was famous before I went to prison. But when I went in and did all the murals and stuff in prison, I became more famous.
Now, I’m curious. So why haven’t you made a painting … I would expect you’d want to paint a chapel with a cross on it, or maybe a picture of that prison cell with that light filling it up. Well, I’ll paint that picture.
You will? Yeah, I will paint that picture. I’ve been kind of under weather. I had asked the Lord to move this illness from me. I got this COPD. He moved that crack cocaine so I know he got all power in his hand, he can move that.
Did you smoke? I smoked for many years. This COPD, now I have to have oxygen.
The Highwaymen are famous and you’re one of the originals. What would you like people to
know about the highwaymen? When we started painting these paintings, we never thought we would become famous. But now the highwaymen is a demanding art. Everybody’s buying the highwaymen paintings now.
And to think back in the beginning, they wouldn’t even let you display your art in an art gallery. Yeah, we had to sell our paintings out the trunk of our cars. And we would paint real fast. We had to paint fast in order to keep bread on the table because our paintings was $25 and $30 back then. But now the same paintings that I sold for $25, I seen them sell for $25,000 and $30,000.
It’s kind of crazy, isn’t it? Yeah.
How many of the original Highwaymen are there now? It’s four living: Robert Lewis, Curtis Annett, Willie Reagan, Al Black.
Now, was Willie the one that was shot? No, that was Alfred Hair, the one that got shot.
Who were the others? Livingston Roberts, Mary Ann Caroll, James Gibson, Roy McLendon, Curtis Annett. So it’s really just four of us living: myself, Curtis Annett, Willie Reagan, and Robert Lewis. And Sam Newton, but Sam said he’s not a Highwaymen.
Why? He’s one of the most famous. You’re talking about the father, right? Yeah.
Or do mean the junior? No, Sam Newton is Harold Newton’s brother. It was three brothers that are in the Artist Hall of Fame.
And he didn’t go in? He said he didn’t want to be called a Highwaymen.
CONTINUED, PAGE 9
I wonder why. I don’t know. There’s probably a reason.
Whether he likes it or not, he really was one, right? Yeah.
Did he used to sell his paintings on the side of the highway as well? Yes. I sold for the whole group. I was the salesman for the whole group.
Now, how did that happen? Because you just have a personality for being a salesman? Well, I was born and raised in a little small town called Barlow, Mississippi. I left there when I was like 14 years old. And I came here and I knowed how to deal with white people. And after I knowed how to deal with them and everything … see, if you ain’t no dealer, you can’t deal. So I knowed how to deal with them and I knowed what to say and when to say it. And so I become the salesman for the whole group.
What are the secrets of dealing with white folks? Well, white people think different. When I first went in the office to sell a painting, he say, “I just run two little black boys outta here.” I told him I wasn’t real black, I was sunburnt. And so he said, “You seem to know what you’re doing, come on in.” So I went in and said, “Good morning.” Good morning got me in the door.
I said, “Good morning. My name is Al Black and I’m representing Highwaymen artists. Wanted to know, would you be interested in some paintings if it wouldn’t take up too much of y’all’s time?”
See, I got up that morning and brushed my teeth and took my bath, I had my shirttail snickered in and everything.
You presented yourself well. I presented myself well, yes.
So, do you attend church? Yes, I go to church. I used to go to church pretty often after I got out of prison. But now my health is bad and I don’t, but I believe in the Lord and savior Jesus Christ. I know he saved me because I was in a coma for seven days and everybody thought I was dead. But he bought me back and he gave me another chance in life.
How long ago was that? Is that since I saw you last? Yes. I was in a coma for seven days and didn’t know I was in the world. And they prayed for me and I come back. I got a testimony that he brought me back and he gave me another chance in life. And he told me, said, “Seek ye first the kingdom and everything else will fall in place.”
Did you hear a voice? I heard the voice.
Really? Yes, I heard the voice say seek ye first the kingdom and everything else was going to fall in place. And after I seeked it, I have been living now ever since.
How old are you? I’m 78.
So how long ago was this that you came out of this coma miraculously? A year ago.
Really? I guess I haven’t interviewed you in probably five or six years now. Yeah, you interviewed me four or five years ago.
Why were you in a coma? Well, I couldn’t breathe. I got up and something told me, it said, “Don’t call on 911 this morning, call on Jesus.”
And I drove my car to the hospital. And when I drove my car to the hospital, I fell out in the hospital door as I walked in. And then seven days
later, I come out of my coma and everybody was standing around the bedside when I come to, my sisters and all that came from Mississippi, and he told me to seek ye first. And I seeked him and everything else been falling in place.
When did you hear that voice? While you were in a coma or after you came out of it? Time I was coming out the coma. I heard, “Seek ye first.” And ever since then, I’ve been trying to live God’s will.
I’m here at your house today and I don’t see any Al Black paintings because I understand you’re sold out. I sell out just about every event I go to. Because, really, I play a great part in this art movement because I was the salesman for the whole group. And I’m one of the original, original nine that was original. But it was 26 inducted into the Artist Hall of Fame.
Is there anything else you’d like to say today? No, that’s about it. But I’m going to ask the Lord to guide me and lead me in the way he’d have me to go. And I want to thank him this morning for giving me this opportunity to be able to tell my testimony.
Well, I want to thank you, Mr. Black, for inviting me into your home. I know you’ve been up to my studio a number of times, but this is my first time you invited me to your home. Thank you. And I love you in the Lord and I wish you the best. And you are welcome. And I got a back door and a front, and you’re welcome through either one of them.
Well, thank you, Mr. Black.
what is a MOVIE or TV SHOW you never get tired of watching?
an amazing movie from 1972 that runs you through so many different emotions: anger, love, fear, hate, joy and sadness. David Hall HALL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
Carola Schlaeper THE PHARUS GROUP
Lydia Zaccaro, RN PRIMARY CARE SOLUTIONS a 2002 romantic/ comedy/ drama. Every time I watch it, I laugh so much!
a 1939 historical film featuring an awesome cast.
Notebook …
a romantic/ drama movie from 2004. It’s an awesome love story that grossed over 118 million dollars.
Kimberly Riggs RIGHT AT HOME
Lord of the Rings …
a legal drama television show that premiered in 2011 featuring a few bad-ass attorneys.
Andrew Morrison CARDINAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
a 1939 movie that is scary at times, but makes you feel good. It features memorable characters and great music.
Lisa Blanton
LIS BLANTON BOOKKEEPING
a trilogy of epic fantasy adventures with captivating characters. This film is a story about perseverance.
Jerry Horensten JERRY HORENSTEN PHOTOGRAPHY & GRAPHICS
a sports comedy film from 2008. It’s hilarious!
Haylee Borman BRIGHTWAY INSURANCE
a great film from 1987. Love the dancing and music. It was filmed close to my home and many of my friends are in it waiting on tables.
Jerry DodsonKoedyker
MARY KAY BEAUTY CONSULTANT
Grease …
a great film from 1978! I especially love Betty Rizzo, the sarcastic leader of the Pink Ladies.
Jacky Ruiz
FLORIDA BLUE
Joe Dirt …
a stupid adventure/ comedy dating back to 2001 that I always enjoyed watching.
Michael Baumgardner STEAMWORKS COFFEE BAR
Good Will Hunting …
a fabulous movie from 1997 featuring a great story line and a wonderful cast.
Lisa Tufo COMMUNITY OUTREACH, VIA PRODUCTIONS
Wizard of Oz …
Dirty Dancing …
How to Weather Market Volatility in Retirement
What Is Market Volatility—and Why It Matters More in Retirement
Market volatility refers to the fluctuations in investment prices over time. While it's a natural part of investing, it can feel especially unsettling during retirement when you're no longer earning a paycheck and may rely more heavily on your investment portfolio for income.
Unlike younger investors, retirees don’t always have the luxury of “waiting it out” for markets to rebound. This makes it critical to have a strategy in place that can help reduce the impact of market swings on your retirement income.
Emotional Reactions Are Normal—But Can Be Costly
It’s common to feel anxiety during downturns—especially when headlines are filled with market losses, inflation concerns, or political uncertainty. But acting on fear—like selling investments during a dip— can lock in losses and jeopardize long-term plans.
Behavioral finance shows us that the average investor underperforms the market not due to bad investments—but because of emotional decision-making. That’s why having a plan rooted in strategy instead of headlines is so important.
5 Strategies to Help Weather Market Volatility
1. Revisit Your Risk Tolerance
What felt appropriate during your working years may no longer suit your retirement needs. Work with a financial professional to assess your current risk tolerance and adjust your portfolio accordingly.
2. Diversify Beyond Just Stocks and Bonds
Diversification helps spread risk. This doesn’t just mean owning different stocks, but different types of investments like fixed income, alternatives, or annuity products that may provide more stability (depending on your situation and risk profile).
3. Establish a Retirement Income “Bucket Strategy”
A bucket strategy segments your assets into categories: short-term (0–2 years), medium-term (3–5 years), and long-term (5+ years). This can help ensure you’re not forced to sell investments during a downturn to meet income needs.
4. Maintain a Cash Buffer
by Danny Howes, EA, RFC
Having 6–12 months of living expenses in cash or near-cash assets can provide peace of mind and help lessen the pressure to withdraw from volatile accounts during market dips.
5. Schedule Regular Portfolio Reviews
Markets and life circumstances change. Periodic reviews with your financial professional can help your strategy stay aligned with your goals, and any needed course corrections are made thoughtfully, not reactively.
The Importance of Perspective During Downturns
Market corrections are not new—they’re part of every economic cycle. While past performance is not a guarantee of future results, historical data shows that markets tend to recover over time. Having a long-term perspective, even in retirement, can help reduce anxiety and improve decision-making.
FAQs About Market Volatility and Your Retirement Plan
Q: Should I move everything to cash when markets drop?
A: Not necessarily. While cash can offer short-term peace of mind, moving out of the market can lock in losses and hinder long-term recovery. It’s best to consult with a financial professional before making major moves.
Q: Can I still retire if the market is down?
A: That depends on your overall financial picture, not just market performance. A well-structured retirement plan should account for downturns, so you’re not relying solely on portfolio performance to retire.
Q: How often should I adjust my portfolio?
A: Regular reviews—typically annually or semi-annually—are recommended. However, changes should be based on your goals and time horizon, not market noise.
DANNY HOWES, EA, RFC EAST COAST TAX AND FINANCIAL PLANNING
Accessorize!
Accessories can make or break an outfit, but this season’s fresh styles will surely bring you compliments all summer. Whether you're at the beach or on vacation, here are some classic summer finds to take your outfits to the next level.
Need help styling these pieces?
To provide financial education for as many people as I can reach.
Jen Miller,
LIFETIME FINANCIAL GROWTH
To share this Christmas with my five siblings back in Chicago.
Alicia Reyes, THIRD GRADE TEACHER
My prayer would be to have my dad back. Sadly, we lost him five years ago.
Daniel Velazquez III
DVIII FINANCIAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT
I would pray for everyone to be more gentle!
Christina Ibanez, MARKETING, EZE TECH
"Have our first baby." –AMBER WEISBERGER
MONUMENTAL: In Search of America’s National Treasure
NOT RATED AVAILABLE AT MONUMENTALMOVIE.COM
Memorial Day is a time to remember those who fought and died for the freedoms we enjoy in our great nation. But what about those before them, those who risked their lives and even the lives of their loved ones, in order to come here to establish civil and religious liberty; those who were convinced God had chosen them to be beacon—not only for their generation, but for you and for me, and for the world?
So, this Memorial Day, let’s take a trip down Memory Lane through the United States and Europe, with Kirk Cameron and other historians and experts as our tour guides. In this 2012 documentary, Cameron takes you on a sort of treasure hunt, a quest to find out what made America the country it is. We are sure to receive a little-talked-about history lesson. I grew up in Massachusetts and never heard about this monument. In twelve years of school, why were we never taken there on a field trip? The film’s subtitle says a lot—we shouldn’t have to “search” for America’s national treasure.
Let’s start with a little background: Dangers, setbacks and imprisonment faced these original pioneers even before they boarded the Mayflower in England. Delays forced the 132 crowded seasick passengers and crewmembers to cross the Atlantic in the height of storm season. Some did not survive the 66-day voyage across the cold, merciless sea. They were nearly shipwrecked approaching their destination as storms charted them an altered course.
Sitting prominently at the very top of this monument, we will see a statue representing the value of “Faith” facing northeast toward Plymouth, England. One hand holds a Bible. The other points up toward the God of the Bible—proof of our founding fathers’ faith. What did the pilgrims understand about the link between faith and true liberty?
After landing at Plymouth, Massachusetts in late 1620, over half of those remaining on the ship were lost to the winter’s freezing temperatures, sickness, and other hardships. A rock on the shore where they landed remains to this day to memorialize their extraordinary feat: arrival, and survival.
But our trip with Cameron will focus on another extraordinary and little-known-about “rock” in Plymouth. On an 11-acre hilltop sits a historical monument, formerly known as the Plymouth Monument, now called the National Monument to the Forefathers. The 81-foot tall tribute, completed in 1888, took 38 years to build and memorializes our forefathers’ ideals.
Its engraved dedication reads:
“National Monument to the Forefathers. Erected by a grateful people in remembrance of their labors, sacrifices and sufferings for the cause of civil and religious liberty.”
We’ll also see carved figures for the values of “Morality, Law, Education, and Liberty,” which sit on the four sides of the monument. These symbolize the pilgrims’ values that built America with more liberty than anywhere else in the world.
Other values we’ll see embodied around the monument are “Evangelism, Civil Law and Order, and Education.” And we’ll learn where their education came from and why “Education” wears a wreath of victory.
We’ll find out what led our forefathers to erect the largest granite memorial in the world, and why the particular statues around it were so important to them that they be carved into this monument for future generations’ remembrance and example. What is their deeper meaning? What did the early pilgrims understand about how to achieve longterm blessing for our nation? We’ll find out as we join Cameron on his quest in Monumental
Got your bags packed? Ready to go? It’s a trip every American should take. I can’t think of a better Memorial Day getaway. We can take this enlightening monumental trip with Cameron at monumentalmovie.com.
And as with any trip, you can purchase souvenirs: the video, t-shirts, and a beautiful hard-cover book which will look great on your coffee table and be a great memorial to you and those who visit your home. You can also find replica monuments at patriotacademy.com.
Once back from our trip, may we never forget the sacrifice so many made to make America the freest, most prosperous and generous nation the world has ever known. And may we re-embrace what made our country so strong, so free, and so successful.
5 BIG PATRIOTIC STARS!
Penny Cooke is an award-winning author of Pursuing Prayer: Being Effective in a Busy World, The Wake-up Prayer children’s book, and her latest, Pursuing Prayer for America. She co-hosts the Seeds of Hope podcast with Del Bates on Wednesdays on Vero’s Voice Facebook page. Learn more at pennycookeauthor.com
Get Off My Streaming Lawn! A CRANKY MIDDLE-AGED RANT
by Doolin Dalton
You know what? I think it’s time to go back to cable television. Yes, you read that right. Cancel Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, Max, and the other endless new streaming services that are released at a faster rate than Disney Studio execs can drop live-action remakes (which you can watch soon on Disney Plus!). I want cable back, ‘cause I’ll tell ya, folks—we didn’t know how good we had it.
We paid one price and we had everything. Sitcoms, dramas, cartoons, cooking shows, and Joe Rogan with a full head of hair placing contestants in a box full of spiders. You missed the latest episode of Lost or Game of Thrones? Your TiVo had you covered. Yeah, there were commercials, but so what? You got up, got a snack, ran to the bathroom—only to come running back when someone from the living room yelled, “It’s back ooooon!”
Now? Oh, you wanna watch Star Trek? Make sure you’ve got a subscription to Paramount Plus. You want to see Daredevil? Disney Plus. Stranger Things, Season 14? (Seriously, those “kids” are almost old enough to collect Social Security.) Netflix. Your favorite sitcom from 2007? That one’s on ChuckleBucketTV+. Never heard of it? It’s new and it only costs $8.99 a month—and it only works on Zunes.
Oh, and don’t think I haven’t noticed Netflix’s library getting smaller.
And guess what? Commercials are making the biggest comeback since RDJ’s 2008 debut as Iron Man (now streaming on Disney Plus!). All the streaming services are moving back to ads—but only
if you’re poor. “Don’t want ads? Just pay us an extra ten dollars a month…or your firstborn.” So now we’re paying the same price we used to pay for cable, but for each channel individually, with ads, unless you want to cough up the dough.
Death by a thousand papercuts—or in this case, microtransactions.
You know what I did? I said “enough is enough” and nuked my subscriptions from orbit. Now, I watch Roku TV. Is it a little chaotic? Sure. Do I watch Back to the Future Part II halfway through and never catch the beginning? Yeah, I do. But it’s FREE. With ads. Just like the good old days.
Only now, when it’s time for the commercials, I just shrug and watch the ad—because at least I didn’t have to drop my email and credit card number into the GrimdarkRomComDeluxe+ subscription app just to watch one show I liked in 2004.
We all said “Peace out, cable!” when streaming launched, thinking we were setting sail into calmer seas—only to return from the storm. We were duped. Streaming has become all the things we didn’t like about cable, only…more expensive. We laughed at it, we left, and now it’s time to crawl back and ask: “Hey, uh…can we maybe get 900 channels for $50 again?”
Bring back the Guide Channel, the remote with the ‘Last’ button, and my will to live.
Strawberries for Dessert with a Mosel Valley Riesling
Everybody has heard of strawberries and champagne, no doubt a great combination, but strawberries with a Mosel Riesling may be the perfect combination for dessert.
Strawberries make for a great presentation at the table. At a recent food and wine pairing, I served this romantic heart-shaped red fruit (think Mother’s Day, guys) with the stems attached so my guests could pick the strawberries out of the bowl and enjoy them while holding a glass of wine in the other hand. My wine of choice was the Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese from the Mosel Valley.
The Mosel River twists and winds for miles through spectacular landscapes into Germany, eventually emptying into the Rhine on its way to the North Sea. Piesport is a small town and wine district on one of these sharp bends. Its steep bank produces some of the finest Rieslings in all of the Mosel. Piesport’s flagship vineyard is the Goldtröpfchen (Gold Droplet).
The wine is packed with ripe fresh fruit flavors. In the glass it appears pale yellow green, but the bouquet has high intensity of green apple, Bosc pear, apricot, mango, pineapple, white peach, with citrus notes. Close your eyes and imagine yourself among fruit tree blossoms and honeysuckle. It finishes with a hint of honey. The wine is medium sweet and slightly acidic. Can you see why this wine pairs so well with a ripe strawberry, covering every aspect of the palate?
Melt some dark chocolate in a shallow serving dish and have some fun by dipping the strawberries in the rich chocolate. Strawberries, chocolate, and a great Mosel Riesling … we may have found the simplest, most complete dessert, ever.
So the next time you think strawberries, I hope you remember the great Rieslings of the Mosel.
Wir sehen uns später!
Glenn
CELEBRATING STRAWBERRIES!
Did you know the strawberry is in the rose family? They’re among the most nutritious fruits, packed with antioxidants, so they’re a healthy snack on their own and add natural sweetness and a pop of color to many dishes.
STRAWBERRY QUINOA SALAD
A healthy summer salad. I make variations of this for lunch. You can use salad greens instead of arugula, goat cheese for the feta, sliced almonds instead of sunflower seeds, add in some blueberries.
Ingredients
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed orange juice
• 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 3 cups cooked quinoa, room temperature
• 1 pound fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1-2 tablespoons fresh basil, minced
• 2 ounces crumbled feta cheese
• 1 cup fresh arugula
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
Instructions
1. To make the dressing, whisk together the olive oil, orange juice, lemon juice, cider vinegar and honey until combined.
2. In a large serving bowl, combine the quinoa, strawberries, basil, feta cheese and arugula, and stir until mixed. Sprinkle sunflower seeds on top.
3. Pour the dressing on the salad and toss.
4. Serve at room temperature or chilled.
CELEBRATING STRAWBERRIES!
FRESH STRAWBERRY SALSA
A homemade salsa with seasonal fruit is good on just about everything … from fish to pork to tacos … to eating it straight from the bowl. This is a good base salsa recipe that uses strawberries, but you can swap out with mangoes, peaches, plums, just about any fruit you’ve got.
Ingredients
• 2 cups strawberries, hulled and diced
• 1/2 medium yellow, red, or green pepper, diced
• 3 medium scallions, sliced thin, or 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
• 1 small jalapeno pepper, stemmed, seeded, and minced
• 2-3 tablespoons fresh lime juice or rice wine vinegar
• 3-4 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, basil, parsley, or mint leaves
• Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
1. In a medium bowl, stir together all the ingredients, using the smaller amount of lime juice or vinegar and fresh herbs listed and a sprinkling of salt and pepper.
2. Let stand at room temperature for 10 to 30 minutes for the flavors to blend.
3. Before serving, taste and adjust the seasonings, adding more lime juice or vinegar, herbs and salt and pepper as needed.
CHOCOLATE DIPPED STRAWBERRIES
Who doesn’t love chocolate covered strawberries? Make some for Mother’s Day. The oil helps keep the chocolate soft so it doesn’t crack when you bite into it and it adds a slight shine. Serve the same day, if possible.
Ingredients
• 1 cup milk chocolate, semisweet chocolate, or bittersweet chocolate chips
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil (or other neutral oil)
• 1 pound strawberries, washed and dried thoroughly, room temperature
Instructions
1. Line a tray with parchment, foil, or waxed paper.
2. Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30 second bursts, stirring in between, until it’s melted and smooth. Stir in the oil.
3. Grasp a strawberry by its stem and swirl it in the chocolate to coat all sides. Place on the paper or foil.
4. Repeat with the remaining berries, spacing them so they don’t touch.
5. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set the chocolate. Remove them from the refrigerator, and let them harden completely at room temperature.
Adapted from recipetineats
Summer’s Coming!
Break out the blender for these refreshing non-alcoholic coolers!
STRAWBERRY MOJITO
MOCKTAIL
Makes 1 serving Ingredients
• 3 strawberries, sliced
• 10 mint leaves *
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon sugar or sweetener of choice
• 1 cup soda water or lime flavored soda water
• Extra mint and strawberries for garnish
Instructions
1. Muddle strawberries and sugar/ sweetener in a tall glass to release the juices. Try to get the strawberry pieces small enough to fit through a straw. (You can use a blender for this step.)
2. Add the lime juice and stir to combine.
3. Rub the mint together in your hands to release the scent. Your hands should smell minty.
4. Fill the glass with ice and add soda water. Stir to combine.
5. Garnish with extra mint and strawberry slices.
* The fresh mint makes this drink pop. Don’t shred or chop.
STRAWBERRY WATERMELON
MOCKTAIL
Makes 2 servings Ingredients
• 2 cups seedless watermelon
• 8 strawberries
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
Instructions
1. Blend all ingredients together.
2. Serve over ice and garnish.
STRAWBERRY CUCUMBER COOLER
Makes 1 serving Ingredients
• 3 strawberries, diced
• 1 inch cucumber, grated
• 1 teaspoon sweetener, optional
• Juice of half a lime
• Ice
• 1 cup sparkling water
• Slice of cucumber and lime, for garnish Instructions
• Muddle strawberries, cucumber, sweetener and lime in a tall glass.
• Add ice, then sparkling water and stir.
• Garnish with lime and/or cucumber slice.
KIWI STRAWBERRY
SPRITZ
Makes 1 serving Ingredients
• 1 kiwi fruit, thinly sliced
• 2 strawberries, thinly sliced
• 1 cup sparkling drink of your choice
• Ice
• Mint, for garnish
Instructions
1. Press slices of kiwi and strawberry onto the inside of a glass.
2. Add enough ice to hold the fruit pieces in place.
3. Top with your favorite sparkling drink.
4. Garnish and serve.
Adapted from mindfulmocktail.com
Why Backups are Important
What is a backup?
It’s essentially just a copy of all your important data such as photos, documents, and music that you have saved somewhere else in case something happens to the original device that your data is stored on. The backup can be stored in a number of different locations, such as a USB flash drive, an external drive, or even in the cloud. So if your computer, tablet, or phone is broken, lost, or just stops working, you can quickly regain access to your data using a backup.
Why do you need backups?
Data loss can happen when you least expect it, and for many different reasons. Here are some common causes we see at ACT Computers:
• Water damage – Spilled drinks or flooding from storms can destroy electrical equipment.
• Hardware failure – Hard drives and other types of storage media can go bad, and if they do, they can take your important files with them.
• Malware – A serious malware infection can corrupt, encrypt, or even delete your important data, making them inaccessible.
• Theft or loss – If your device is stolen or lost, everything on it may be gone forever.
• Accidental deletion – Everyone has, at some point, accidentally deleted something they didn’t mean to. Whether it was by accident or not, it may be lost forever if it wasn’t backed up.
Importance of a backup. Imagine your laptop suddenly won’t turn on after a recent power outage, and it had years of photos, documents, music, passwords, and emails stored on it. Without a backup, all of that important data might be gone for good. But if you had everything backed up, you could simply restore the backup onto a new device and regain access to all of that critical information. Having a backup gives you peace of mind, knowing that your data is safe no matter what happens in the future. Types of backups. There are many ways to back up your data, and depending on your needs, some may be better than others:
• External Drives – A simple way to back up important files is to simply copy and paste them onto a USB or external hard drive.
• Cloud Storage – Cloud storage services such as Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and iCloud can be used to keep your files safe online.
• Full System Image – This is a complete backup of your computer including all files, settings, and installed applications. This is the best method if you want your new computer to be exactly the way your old one was.
• Automatic Backup Software –Applications such as Windows Backup and Restore can automatically back up your files on a schedule, after they have been properly set up.
eed help with a backup solution? Reach out to ACT Computers for help setting up a reliable backup system to protect your data and enjoy peace of mind knowing your data is protected.
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Our team is highly trained and experienced in a wide range of dental services. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and find out how dental care at Planes Dental Arts can meet and exceed your expectations.
Communal Addiction?
BY BETH WALSH STEWART
No one wants to be considered an addict. We’ve got them pegged. They’re holding a sign trying to get enough for their next fix. They are personal and moral failures. They make choices that ruin their lives. They make us feel afraid or angry. Worse, they make it possible for us to judge and dismiss another human being from our thoughts. We deem them unworthy of our consideration.
When trying to understand addiction, the word is defined as a compulsion for a substance or activity that causes harm. Addicts hurt themselves and others, but they cannot stop because of the nature of this disease. With that definition in mind, are we a nation of addicts?
The last time you were in a restaurant, did you notice how many people were looking at their phones when there was a live person sitting across from them? When out to enjoy the company of a friend, business associate, or loved one, does it get uncomfortable when your companion is distracted like this? Does it make you feel insignificant? Is that enough to denote a “cause of harm”?
Technology addiction is a significant issue in our country. Industries that utilize technology to peddle their products are increasing. Hidden in plain sight on a cell phone or computer screen, businesses that sell pornography, gaming, and gambling are growing rapidly as they weaken the American family.
But even without the monetary gain of commerce, sexting and social media have become weapons against
our highest good as well. As our culture accepts the use of media to interrupt live intimate relationships, our families struggle. Our marriages suffer. Our work environments become toxic. Moreover, our ability to communicate and relate with the people that really interest us deteriorates. We hide behind a screen, using a fictitious name so that we can’t be truly known, and any wrongs committed are concealed.
Intimacy is the art of being truly known. As we lose that incredible ability, the quality of our lives will change dramatically. Many will be unconscious of their decision to step away from intimate relationships. Instead, they will simply increase their screen time until the live interactions diminish in time. Since human beings are instinctively designed to be a tribal species, the loss of personal interaction will eventually change our entire society and way of life. Does that risk alone demand our consideration?
In the end, each one of us has to determine his own personal comfort level with technology vs. human interface. Each of us has a duty to be intentional about these decisions. How much technology is too much to maintain quality connections and communication?
No one wants to be considered an addict. So, the question becomes, “Does technology harm your interpersonal relationships?”
If you honestly answer yes, and you haven’t limited or stepped away from it, consider this: you may be an addict.
Beth Walsh Stewart, MTh, is the Creator of BethWe, the nonprofit that was the impetus for this work. Dedicated to rescuing the stragglers lost in the shadows of the road of life, Beth is best-known for her Good Seed Podcasts, 12-Step seminars, weekly blogs, g.o.d. speaks books, and uplifting workshops. Beth lives by this motto: I have been called to help my brother find his authentic self and his God, and I best accomplish this end by sharing my pursuit of the same.
“Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me.”
Church God’s Way makes it clear that the Church is NOT THE PHYSICAL BUILDING BUT THE PEOPLE. It exposes the lies and deceptions of the devil through the Biblical Truths of the Word of God.
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Kathleen Hollop is a healing evangelist who has experienced the miracles of God today. She has made 23 trips to Africa, Venezuela, and Columbia and also several trips to Maine. Available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
THE HIDDEN HERO:
Jochebed, A Mother of Faith and Legacy
When we think of Israel's great deliverance, names like Moses, Aaron, and Miriam come to mind. These siblings each played a monumental role in shaping the history of God's people: Moses, the deliverer and prophet; Aaron, the first high priest; and Miriam, the prophetess and worship leader.
But behind these heroes stood a woman of incredible strength, courage, and faith, Jochebed. Her name is mentioned only twice in Scripture, but her impact is undeniable.
Born into oppression in Egypt, Jochebed lived during a time when Pharaoh commanded that all Hebrew baby boys be killed. Despite the terrifying decree, she gave birth to Moses and saw in him as something more, something beautiful, a sign of God’s promise. By faith, she hid him for three months (Exodus 2:2; Hebrews 11:23), and when she could no longer hide him, she released him into the very river meant to destroy him—trusting that God would preserve his destiny.
And God did. The same Nile that swallowed other sons carried Moses into Pharaoh’s palace, where he would eventually be raised to deliver God’s people.
Jochebed wasn’t just a mother— she was a leader, intercessor, and visionary. She raised three children who would become pillars of Israel’s spiritual and national identity. Her faith and devotion shaped them long before the world knew their names. She carried Abraham's promises in her heart and passed them on to her children through courage, obedience, and relentless
BY PASTOR ALEX
prayer.
Her life reminds us that spiritual leadership begins at home. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Jochebed did just that. Her quiet obedience and unwavering faith laid the foundation for a nation’s deliverance.
To every mother praying for her child, remember: God sees your faith. Even when your child is in the enemy’s hands or walking through a desert, God's purpose remains.
As Hebrews 10:35-36 reminds us, “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.”
Jochebed’s story is not just about a mother—it’s about the power of faith passed from generation to generation.
Rev’s Verses
BY PASTOR RICH IENUSO
The Noble Wife
Proverbs 31:10-31 speaks of the Virtuous and Noble Wife.
She is spoken of as: worthy, confident, valuable, good, hard-working, provider, vigorous, strong, profitable, merciful, benevolent, dignified, blessed and God-fearing.
With the Lord’s help and her husband’s support she definitely can achieve these attributes.
I am blessed to have such a wife, Kathie. She is also a great mother to our daughter, Grace.
May all moms have a blessed and hopeful Mother’s Day!
Blessings, Pastor Rich Ienuso
Pastor Alex Pappas is Senior Pastor at Oceans Unite Christian Center located in the Indian River Mall. Live broadcasts and podcasts are available at oceansunite.com.
