For “Scripture Sunday”:
CHASING THE DREAM
“On August 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a stirring speech with a vision for the future. The speech was delivered as the United States of America struggled with fighting a war on two fronts. One was a military battle overseas in a place called Vietnam, while the other was a civil/social battle, a war on its own soil grappling with segregation of black people from white people.
Martin Luther King’s speech “laid out four major grievances: discrimination by private businesses and local government; barriers that kept black Americans from voting; unfair treatment by police; and what might broadly be called social mobility and economic opportunity. ‘We cannot be satisfied’, King said, ‘as long as the Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one.’”
Five years later on the evening of April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated as he stood on the balcony of his Memphis hotel room. He was 39 years old. Since his death, the United States has continued to struggle as a nation to reconcile race-based inequities that Mr. King spoke so forcefully about in his most famous speech—“I have a dream.”
King spoke of an America that will not have rest or tranquility if changes were not made in the “desolate valley of segregation.” These words were shown to be true in the city streets of Ferguson Missouri. He noted, “the Negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality.”
Another well-known passage from Mr. King’s speech reads: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Mr. King addressed the character of those affect when he cautioned “…we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.”
With the riots and civil unrest of 2014 still fresh in the minds of many Americans, Martin Luther King’s dream is arguably as far from our grasp today is it was over 50 years ago. Certainly there have been some advances in our cultures, but none to change the content of the human character.
Martin Luther King quoted Isaiah 40:4–5 from the Holy Bible where “every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” A short four verses later we read of the proclamation of the good news of the Kingdom of God.
Yes, Mr. King’s vision will one day be reality, but not as long as the prince of the power of the air ( Ephesians 2:2), the ruler of this age (John 14:30) remains in place. The news of 2014 was only a foretaste of what lies immediately before us, all of which is a prelude to Christ’s return.
If we wish to both understand and be protected during the trying times just ahead and become part of the solution that Jesus Christ Himself will bring, we must change; change from selfish to selfless, self-centered to Jesus centered, self-righteous to the righteousness that comes from the power of God.” From: https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/commentary/chasing-the-dream
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Murder in Memphis
by Jim Franks on April 8, 2013
“Do you know where you were on April 4, 1968? Some of you may not have been born yet; but those of who were, does that date mean anything at all to you? And the rest of you, do you know what happened on that day?
I can tell you exactly where I was on that date, and I will always remember what happened. On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was gunned down while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.
I was a senior in high school that year and had been selected to be a member of a special high school student council developed by the governor of the state of Arkansas, Winthrop Rockefeller. The special council included student body presidents from all Arkansas high schools.
We held our final meeting that year at the city convention center in West Memphis, Arkansas, a small city just across the Mississippi River from Memphis and only about nine miles from the Lorraine Motel. On Thursday afternoon, April 4, we finished our work and prepared for a special dinner and dance that evening.
At 6:01 p.m. and only a few miles away, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was hit by a sniper’s bullet. Dr. King had been standing on the balcony in front of his room when, without warning, he was shot. The .30-caliber rifle bullet entered his right cheek, traveled through his neck, and finally stopped at his shoulder blade. Dr. King was immediately taken to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead at 7:05 p.m.
Back at the convention center in West Memphis, less than 10 minutes away, just before 7 p.m., the music abruptly stopped and the convention center was filled with Arkansas state troopers. They quickly rounded up four black teenagers and escorted them from the building for their safety. An assistant to the governor somberly announced that Dr. King had been shot and taken to a hospital. Memphis and West Memphis were put on high alert, and no one was allowed to leave the convention center until further notice. Within a few minutes the announcement came that Dr. King had died. The dance was over; we were to go to our lodging, and no one was to cross the bridge into Memphis. State troopers and local police were everywhere.
That was 45 years ago this past week. (Now nearly 50) It was clear from the outset that the killing was racially motivated. Even though Dr. King advocated nonviolence, the civil rights movement was plagued by considerable violence and upheaval in the streets of America. My family and I attended church services every Saturday in Memphis. It was rare in those days for churches to be integrated, but ours was. On more than one occasion leading up to that spring day, we had to walk around demonstrators and long rows of police with riot gear just to get into the Ellis Auditorium, where our services were held.
As a country, America has made considerable progress in race relations over the past 45 years; but hatred for others because of their beliefs or their race still exists. And violence still seems to be an easy option for people who are angry. In the past year, we have seen that violent part of society rear its head at Sandy Hook Elementary and a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. While there is no evidence that either of these was motivated by race, it is indicative of our society that violence is often the answer for hatred or anger. Mentally disturbed people especially fall prey to the ease with which they can kill others.
Ezekiel the prophet wrote of a time when violence would dominate the streets of our cities. He wrote, “Make a chain, for the land is filled with crimes of blood, and the city is full of violence.”
Human life is precious and not to be destroyed by senseless acts of violence. Human beings have the potential to enter the family of God and live for all eternity—not in heaven, but ruling with Jesus Christ here on this earth.
One day the words “Murder in Memphis” will be a historical footnote and a lesson from a far distant past. Gone will be the anger and hatred that have characterized our society for way too long!
The prophet Isaiah described this future when he wrote, “Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within your borders.”
Can you imagine a time when there will be no murder? When everyone will live in peace and prosperity? If you would like to know more about that future, which isn’t the “going to heaven” idea that is commonly taught, then read our website and the literature we offer. You may be shocked to know the real truth from the Bible.
The murder in Memphis of Martin Luther King Jr. took place on April 4, 1968. I can tell you every detail about that evening, but I can’t tell you that the world is better today. In fact, I would say the evidence is that it is worse. Only the return of Jesus Christ will bring a better world, where there is no more murder.” From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/speaking-of/murder-in-memphis/
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For more than 30 years, the SR-71 flew with impunity. With a normal cruising speed of Mach 3 and altitude of 80,000 feet, no missile or plane, then or now, could catch it. As a result, despite hundreds of reconnaissance missions over hostile enemy territory, not a single aircraft was lost to enemy fire.
The Blackbird could fly from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. in one hour! It flew so fast that to refuel in-flight, the sleek jet had to fly as slow as possible and the refueling aircraft as fast as it could to prevent from being run over! The capabilities of the steel bird have not been surpassed: It could survey 100,000 square miles per hour. The SR-71 was retired in 1990, although it saw temporary reinstatement after Gulf War reconnaissance shortcomings. Even with all the amazing advances in modern aviation technology since, no aircraft can fly faster or higher than the Blackbird.
We would do well to learn from the Blackbird. The Bible encourages us to watch carefully and not be caught off guard regarding Christ’s second coming. “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth” (Luke 21:34, 35).
When we take time every day to study our Bibles and live with an awareness that these are the last days, not a single Christian will be “lost to enemy fire.” Like the Blackbird, we will never be caught off guard.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:36”
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Another week of a lot of inactivity, and nothing done to the mini-house, but a lot happened.
On Tuesday, the Siamese cat was vaccinated with her regular shots, and had an appointment to get her rabies shot and blood tests done the next day. But Tueday night she had a bad seizure. I held her gently until it was over and she had settled down, then I put her in a big cage for her own safety. But the next day when we arrived at the vet she had another Grand Mal seizure, so they quickly took her in the back and put Valium up her nose to stop it. Just before it started she was howling very loudly, like she knew it was coming. The vet did all sorts of blood tests on her and she doesn’t have Feline Leukemia or FIV, and her bloodwork looked normal. So the vet assumed that she must be an epileptic cat and prescribed meds “just in case”, to be given twice a day for life, including some Valium in case she seized again.
I was too tired to even think about giving the meds to her that night, and too busy the next morning, anyway I wanted to see if she would have another seizure before I committed to giving her medicine twice a day for the rest of her life, or mine! My SPCA boss was miffed because I hadn’t given the cat the meds, and didn’t want the other cat, “Flower” anywhere near her, so they came and got Flower. The Siamese hasn’t had another seizure and has completely settled down since Flower left, she is really quiet and seems much more at home. Maybe cat-hating Flower was threatening her under the door that was between them!
I know that vaccinations can cause trouble in most species, cats, dogs, and people, so this seems to be the case with this cat. They often have aluminum, mercury and terrible ingredients, inluding parts of aborted fetuses. https://thinklovehealthy.com/2017/07/06/what-you-should-know-about-human-aborted-fetal-cell-dna-in-vaccines/ I have never had flu, nor a flu shot, and don’t intend to ever get one. Never had pneumonia, or the shot, either.
I am getting tired of this, because my back still hurts after another trip to a chiropractor. I have been to the fitness center a couple of times, and then just walking around our great big Kroger store helps me do my 10,000 steps!
To try to get in shape, I have been eating differently. No more meat or dairy for now, just to see how it goes. Just eating restistant starches, and lots of veggies. Coconut milk creamer and a smidgeon of honey in my coffee. I feel better already, having lost 5lb which was partly responsible for making me breathless, so I hope I keep on losing until I no longer have a ‘spare tire’. Then we will see ‘how the rubber meets the road’.
For the church potluck, I made some more jimaca, but this time I made it into oven fries, I also made some rutabaga oven fries. At church, there were folks standing at the stove, eating them right out of the oven after they had been warmed up. Some foods, like rice and potaoes, are better for you if they have been cooled and reheated. Also, I made a crockpot with millet, sweet potato, apple and spices called Sweet Millet Congee, and I took some cantelope, too. There was corn beef, lasagne, chicken, chili-mac, and other meat dishes at the potluck, but I didn’t eat any of them.
Jay’s mother was moved from the hospital in Conroe, TX to a Hospice, and then his sisters had her moved to a hospital west of Houston, near them. Her doctor said that they are just trying to “prolong it”. Needless to say, Jay was sober and all religious for a while, and went to church with me on the Sabbath. They are always pleased to see him, and try to be supportive.
The Bible readings were Exo. 1:1-6:1, Isa. 27:6-28:13, 29:22-23, and Acts 7:17-35, and the Teaching was about “Obey My Voice”.
It was very cold, so turtleneck, sweaters and coats were the order of the day.
2 comments:
The SR-71 has always been my favorite plane and engineering marvel since I first found out about years ago. It was almost unbelievable how fast it could fly. It couldn't be shot down because no projectile or rocket could catch it.
Hi DD, Thank you for your comment.
The SR-71 is great, I wonder if it will ever be used again?
Happy Trails and Tails, Penny
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