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Thursday, August 31, 2017

Breaking news update... Abbott out after "We only kill black people" comment


Lt. Greg Abbott, a 28-year veteran, has been fired by Cobb County Police Chief Michael Register after the media released dash cam video of Abbott saying, "We only kill black people" at a traffic stop.

In a 3:30 press conference, termination was recommended by the Chief. The AJC has reported that Abbott resigned or retired at the same time the police chief said he recommended firing.

Another source informed Wingcom Watchdog that while processing Abbott's termination, he retired but may not receive his pension.

Abbott's firing comes after a lengthy report documenting dysfunction at Cobb County Police was completed by the International Association Chiefs of Police (IACP).

I think Register made the right move. Too bad it took the press to have an investigation opened and Abbott removed. We're hoping that proper training is focused on before the public is asked to pay higher taxes to hire more officers.


For more info., go to: http://www.myajc.com/news/local/cobb-officer-who-said-only-kill-black-people-says-retire/iwXaTAucCB4ZKIK7uvEbxO/
 

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Breaking news... flood waters receding in Houston

8/30/2017
8/28/2017
Photos by Marcia Brown. "Finally it has stopped raining. Rain going to Louisiana. No more clothes needed at shelters."

HARP scam artists could be minor and major lenders


Be careful of HARP scams that say program "offer" ends August 31, 2017, and there are no closing costs. You may need to file a complaint with Feds... According to HARP's gov. website, program has been extended to Dec. 31, 2018 but only for certain loans closed on certain dates. https://www.fhfa.gov/Media/PublicAffairs/Pages/FHFA-Announces-Modifications-to-High-LTV-Streamlined-Refi-Program-and-Extension-of-HARP-Thru-12-2018.aspx

Don't take my word for it... call and find out! You may not even be eligible for HARP, but unscrupulous lenders may make you think you are until it's too late!!! They know they will be losing money because of Hurricane Harvey, so the snakes are striking while the iron is hot, in my opinion...

To learn more, go to: https://harp.gov/ .

Monday, August 28, 2017

Freeways resemble rivers in Houston, Texas

Photo by Marcia Brown, Houston, Texas





This photo was forwarded by my sorority sister who lives in Houston. It shows trees in the 288 Freeway/Binz Medium in front of Chase Building on Almeda.

"Bottom line, the freeway is a river," Brown said. "It's still raining. Crazy."

I talked to my friend, Dr. Steve Lyons with the National Weather Service. "Tell your friend to stay put as long as she has food and water." Lyons said driving out from her location is not an option. If she sees water coming in her immediate neighborhood or lawn, she should call for help, go onto roof (not attic), and wave towel to be rescued, Lyons said. 

My cousin, Evelyn Price, lives with her daughter in a two story home in Missouri City, Texas. "We're waiting to be rescued. There's already a mandatory evacuation called for at Sienna Plantation near here," she said.

Alt-right has created alt-christianity

Confederate flag with sign and christian symbols in private yard across from school bus stop
"If we don't provide emerging generations with genuine identity, community and purpose through robust and vibrant spiritual communities, somebody else will do so. If good religion slumbers and stagnates, bad religion is the alternative." ---Brian D. McLaren

As I struggle with the dichotomy of how so-called Christians, following a Jewish Jesus, could hate Jews, my husband sent me an article written by McLaren on alt-christianity (http://time.com/4915161/charlottesville-alt-right-alt-christianity/) Now it makes sense, that young white supremacists have been given a "community, identity and purpose," but it doesn't explain why older racists have morphed Bible teachings into their own twisted religion.



 What do you think Jesus would say about these conflicting messages?

It's ironic that these symbols are on the corner of Turner Lane, knowing that The Turner Diaries is a white supremacy book read by mass murder, Timothy McVeigh.

I think any "Christian" who would put these three symbols side by side in his yard is sending a message that he is in bed with Satan. I hope this guy's pastor or church members will talk to him and convince him to remove these conflicting symbols, because kids riding the bus see them everyday and could be turned into alt-righters. We need to do more than just pray about this one.

"All these things are inspired by the devil," said Father Moses Berry recently at a racial reconciliation conference in Atlanta. 

You be the judge!

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Breaking News...

"Fake News" CNN reporter and crew are saving families waiting for the Coast Guard to rescue them from flood waters near Houston, Texas. President Trump has recently blasted the media, especially CNN, for bad reporting and for misleading the American public.

People are also being rescued by ordinary citizen volunteers with boats. CNN has shown pictures of military-style vehicles being readied to go into Houston area.

There are also reports of government high water vehicles and helicopters making rescues.

It is estimated that it may take 10-20 years for the area to fully recover from Hurricane Harvey.

Sharing heritage can lead to racial reconciliation

Fr. Berry talks to attendees at racial reconciliation conference.

While white supremacists are ranting about heritage not being hate in one breath and blood and soil (genocide) in the next exhalation, Father Moses Berry’s work is bridging the racial divide by preaching forgiveness and grace.

Berry was the guest speaker at St. John the Wonderworker Church on Cherokee Avenue in downtown Atlanta on August 26. Pastor of Unexpected Joy Church in Ash Grove, Missouri, Berry is President and Co-founder of the Brotherhood of St. Moses the Black. He is also curator of The Ozarks African American Heritage Museum.

Berry is the only black orthodox priest in the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) whose mission is, “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Berry explains the history of the drinking gourd and freedom.
When Berry shares his message on racial reconciliation, he delves into a space that, like the Underground Railroad’s drinking gourd, is pointed towards freedom - spiritual freedom.

“God is with us,” were Berry’s opening remarks before educating attendees on the spirituality of African Americans and the ancient orthodox Christian faith. Mahalia Jackson’s voice set the mood from a DVD slide show, singing “Move on Up a Little Higher.”

“I been climbing over hills and mountains
I'm gonna drink from the Christian fountain
You know all God, God's sons and daughters that mornin'
Will drink that ol' healing water.”

Berry said he was born between the dark and the daylight and wears sunglasses inside not to be cool, but because his eyes are light sensitive. He talked about his ancestors, family members who lived past 100 years old, and blacks he remembers from his childhood. From a three-generational lineage of ministers in the A.M.E. Zion Church, Berry said, “I went on this unending journey to find God until I really learned how to serve the Lord.”
Participant asks about positive messages depicted in black dolls.
He himself knows sharing between the races can happen. He is the recipient of a 85% match kidney from a Serbian, white female donor. “I think God delivered me through that person,” Berry said.

Slave "necklace" or collar
A poignant moment in Berry’s speech occurred when he donned an iron slave collar and held a ball and chain belonging to one of his ancestors. Then there was the display of a telling, 1863 Drunkard’s Quilt used at safe houses on the route to freedom in Canada.

Berry described his own direct knowledge of black heroes (saints) in his town. One was Olivia Murray. Murray, the granddaughter of a slave, Fannie Murray, “embarrassed me in 1950-60’s by walking around town looking like Aunt Jemima.

“I told my mother, ‘Mom, can you do something with her?’” His mother informed him that Murray carried a basket filled with eggs from her chickens, canned goods from vegetables in her garden, and she saved many families from starvation, including theirs.

“We dismiss people on flimsy evidence,” Berry said about our view of others. “We’re ashamed of ourselves…we think white men’s ice water is colder than ours…we have the same contributions to make.” 

"Just look how much time we have wasted on this subject, on racism, when we could have been solving other problems. Hatred of 'others' is a universal problem and is tied to power, not skin color."--- Tomi Johnson

Drunkard's Quilt once displayed outside safe house.
After the presentation, participants were treated to lunch featuring items from Ethiopia (curry Chicken, red spicy lentils, sponge bread), West Africa (meat pie and plantains), and soul food dishes from the United States (chicken livers, collards, watermelon, sweet potato pie).

In a question and answer session, one white male stunt actor asked how blacks can forgive whites after all the atrocities committed during slavery and the present day.

“Don’t judge lawless young people who are confused and lack proper guidance or deliberately refuse guidance. Acknowledge what has happened, and then move forward. Use Christ to set the example. Ask, ‘What would Jesus do?’ Go outside your comfort zone.”
Shared heritage might show hate, but forgiveness follows for those led by Jesus.
Berry said, “It would be shallow to think this is a new or racial problem. Christians should come back to true discipleship. This is a hard thing, to follow Christ - self-denial to the point that it hurts.”

"Don't fret over racism which could drive one crazy. We can never get to the bottom of it."---Fr. Moses Berry

Berry invites others to lean on God's grace and learn how to be an active, real "Christian" in thoughts and deeds.  “The problem is that when we think of our sins, it’s egotistical to try to repay the debt. Repent and try not to sin again,” he concluded.

For more information, contact Berry at abbamoses@yahoo.com. To view conference videos, go to: http://www.saintjohnwonderworker.org/parish-photos-events-1/st-moses-the-black-conference


Photos by Kurk Johnson, Tomi Johnson, and church photographer.