SPIRITUAL - Mount Ararat Baptist Church

Transcription

SPIRITUAL
GIFTS
DECEMBER 2015
Living Strong
in the Season
Discovering and
Not Misusing
Your Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual Gifts
Assessment
USE
Physical and
Nutritional Health
2015
DECEMBER
Alcohol Use
Sponsored by UPMC
365 Is a community
initiative to encourage
our neighbors to
participate in available
health services and
programs throughout the
year so that they can live
their best life possible.
Healthy communities do
more than just exercise
and eat right, they focus
on all five areas of health.
The use of alcohol is a common social activity in
America. In our society, it is socially acceptable to
drink an alcoholic beverage—to celebrate, to feel
better, because it’s a holiday, because the Steelers are playing. Since alcohol use is so widespread
and common, it can be hard to recognize when
your alcohol use habits are harmful to your health.
For example, many people don’t realize that some
of their regular drinking habits may be considered
‘binge drinking’. Binge drinking is any episode
when men consume at least 5 drinks, and when
women consume 4 or more drinks, in about 2
hours. Regular alcohol use can have serious
effects on your health. It contributes to cancer,
liver problems, and violence.
Researchers know that Caucasians drink more often and more heavily than any other
racial/ethnic group but that they experience fewer problems related to alcohol use.
Researchers are now trying to find out why that is.
READ MORE! For more information about alcohol, including research opportunities, check out the “Take
Charge of Your Health Today” page in the New Pittsburgh Courier on Wednesday, December 2.
BODY
Physical and
Nutritional Health
MIND
LET’S TALK! Lunch & Learn held at the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh on Thursday, December 3
from noon to 1 p.m. This is a great chance to get questions about alcohol use answered. The Urban
League is located downtown at 610 Wood Street. Lunch is provided.
Take Charge Of Your Health Today.
Mental and
Emotional Health
3 Things to Know about Alcohol Use
SPIRIT
1) Know what a “standard drink” looks like. One drink is
considered 0.6 oz of pure ethanol. This means 12 oz of
beer; 8 oz of malt liquor; 5 oz of wine; or 1.5 oz (a "shot")
of 80-proof distilled liquor (e.g., gin, rum, vodka, or whiskey).
Spiritual
Health
HOME
2) Excessive alcohol use can lead to public health problems.
This includes intimate partner violence, community violence,
high-risk sexual behaviors and child abuse and neglect.
MONEY
3) Help is available. If you or anyone in your family is addicted to alcohol, help is available. Many therapies can help
individuals with their addiction such as group therapy,
individual therapy, medical interventions, and in-patient and outpatient rehab programs. Finding the right fit may take more than one try.
Environmental
Health
Financial
Health
@HealthyComm365
Healthy Communities 365
HealthyComm365
WHAT’S
BODY
For more information visit healthycommunities365.org
or call (412) 578-9189.
January
Health Focus:
Physical Activity
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Orlana Darkins Drewery
Mount Ararat Counseling Center 5
Pittsburgh Skyline 14
ADVISORY BOARD
Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis
MANAGING EDITORS
Shaunda E. Miles
Dr. Anthony Robins
Minerva White
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Camille Clarke
Rev. Sharon Dennard
Merecedes J. Howze
Tiffany Huff
Deacon Kathy Hunt
Claudia Mason
Deacon Dwight Mosley
Ray Porter Jr.
Dr. Taunya M. Tinsley
The New Pittsburgh Courier 16
Prevent Holiday Weight Gain
with These Simple Tips 24
FEATURES
Living Strong in the Season 2
Discovering and Not Misusing
Your Spiritual Gifts 4
You’re Being Used 7
The Church as a Multicultural Sports Team 9
Reaffirming the Significance of the
Ministry of the Word 12
Spiritual Gifts Assessment 20
COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY
Dania Arrey
Deneen Childress
Paula Cox
Susan Frazier Delaney
Darnell Drewery
Garfield Griffin
Charles Hammond
Merecedes J. Howze
Lora Hubbard
Tiffany Huff
Michelle D. Jackson
Shaunda Miles
Laura V. Norman
Ray Porter Jr.
Dr. Anthony Robins
Veniecia Robinson
Minerva White
ADVERTISING
Deb Cavrak, Graphic Design
MOUNT ARARAT BAPTIST CHURCH STAFF
Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis, Senior Pastor
Rev. John A. Knight,
Staff Assistant to the Senior Pastor
Healthy Communities 365
is proud to partner with
the Urban League of
Greater Pittsburgh and
University of Pittsburgh
Clinical and Translational
Science Institute (CTSI)
INSIDE:
LIFESTYLE
Estelle Christian, Assistant to the Senior Pastor
Veniecia Robinson, Chief Financial Officer
Director of Communications
REAFFIRMING THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE MINISTRY IN THE WORD
PAGE 12
Tips to Give Unique Meaningful Gifts
This Holiday Season 36
Toddler Boredom Busters
for the Holiday Season 38
PHOTO
RECAPS
Year In Review 26
PREVENT HOLIDAY
WEIGHT GAIN WITH
THESE SIMPLE TIPS
PAGE 24
Min. Dwayne Fulton
Director, Fine Arts Department
Audrey Portis, Accounting Assistant
Thoughtful Stocking Stuffers for the
Holiday Season 36
PAGE 24
Rev. Sharon Dennard, Dean of M.A.T.A.
Robert Carter, Maintenance Supervisor
Will Your Smartphone Withstand
Everyday Wear and Tear? 32
YEAR IN REVIEW:
Rev. Linda Oliver, Minister of Special Projects
Rev. Sherry Brooks-Faulkner
Administrative Assistant
Ask A Deacon 31
Five Simple Steps to Keep Pets
Healthy Over the Holidays 40
Rev. Robert James
Youth Pastor & Min. of Technology
Rev. Trini L. Massie, Minister of Worship
Students Weigh In on the Education
Partnership Between Pittsburgh
and WIlkinsburg 30
ENTERTAINMENT
Who Really Owns the Steelers 42
Movie Scene Queen 44
Community Activity Center 33
Milton Hershey Center 33
Youth & Young Adult Weekend 34
Snapshots 37
TH E MO U NT D EC E MBE R 2 01 5
Health Focus ALCOHOL
1
“I didn’t choose
to have heart
problems. I did
choose UPMC.
”
Reverend Beard had a heart attack.
And he ended up needing triple
bypass heart surgery.
Living Strong in the Season
D
THE MO UNT N OV E MBE R 2 015
uring this time
of year, we all
have a tendency
to re-evaluate
our lives. In the
winter, we get
more spiritual
because the
colder weather
forces introspection and time with ourselves.
In the fall, we are focused
on back-to-school if we have
kids, or getting the house
ready for the cold months. In
the spring and summer, we
worry about getting fit for the
warm weather and making
sure our work schedules are
in order to allow for vacation
or extra money as needed.
The seasons are cyclical in
many ways, and for us as
2
But it was during the surgery that
UPMC surgeons discovered that he
had a heart aneurysm as well, which
they were able to treat.
BY R EV. DR . W ILLI A M H. CURTIS
Christians, they represent different things at different times in
our spiritual year.
I’ve been talking and advocating a lot about my “living
strong” in faith and spirituality lately. I’ve been firm in my
directives to stay focused and to
remain stronger than the enemy,
and I’ve waxed a bit poetic in my
suggestions to look inside and
to get to know ourselves better.
Of course, I mean it all, and, as I
write this article, I feel a certain
urgency to remind everyone to
tap into our strengths as this
season of cold weather, holiday
activities and more relaxed and
festive schedules approaches. I
urge us all to dig deep and vow to
remain rooted in faith and discipline. During the holiday season,
we need to make sure that we
still live strong in all that we do.
In the shadow of celebrating
Christmas, we find ourselves
feeling nostalgic and thankful.
This is a good thing. These are
feelings that we need to tap into
for our continued strength in our
faith journeys and in our journeys to success in life. It is important to understand that this
type of rest and reflection is important and productive, whereas
simple inaction and permanent
movement from the path of the
disciplines we readily impose on
ourselves is not. Straying too far
from our goals and from our daily initiatives is dangerous; such
behavior can open the door to
idleness and laziness. If we allow
appropriate rest and reflection or
applied introspection and restful
analysis to our daily disciplines,
we can see enhanced results as
opposed to inaction.
Living strong, or keeping
that reserve of fortitude and resilience close at hand, is imperative to staying the path regarding
faith and discipline. God wants
us to rest; even He rested on the
7th day. He does not want us to
lose sight of our goals, however,
nor does he want us to lose our
drive to create lives that are
constantly improving. Knowing
ourselves and knowing what we
need to replenish in this time of
both reflection and preparation
is key to maintaining what we
need personally, emotionally,
professionally, and spiritually, to
succeed in our daily lives.
“I’m now back at the pulpit. And I’m
able to preach and sing. UPMC was
able to catch my heart aneurysm.
I trust them with my life.”
To learn more about UPMC services,
call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762),
or visit UPMC.com/Choose.
Facebook: WHCMinistries
Twitter: @PasCurtis
Website: WHCMinistries.org
4544_upmc_sr_choose_revb_8.25x10.875_mountmag_a.indd 1
11/4/15 8:06 AM
AND NOT MISUSING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS
BY OR L A NA DA R K INS DR EW ERY
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
It’s gift-giving season and mostly
everyone is consumed with purchasing
gifts or praying that they receive a
specific gift during the holiday season.
I think we would all agree that it’s an
exhilarating feeling to receive gifts that
are both heartfelt and beneficial to us.
The fact that someone cared enough to
purchase or create a gift that exemplifies
their love toward us is very meaningful.
Did you know that once you accept
Christ as your Lord and Savior, we are
all bestowed with a gift or gifts? These
gifts are not requested, but that God
decides to give them to us to use to bless
others. These gifts from God are called
spiritual gifts. A spiritual gift is a “Godgiven assignment, capacity and desire to
perform a function within the body of
Christ with supernatural joy, energy and
effectiveness.”
There are actually three biblical lists
of spiritual gifts or “gifts of the Spirit.”
The three main passages describing
the spiritual gifts are Romans 12:6-8; 1
Corinthians 12:4-11; and 1 Corinthians
12:28. The spiritual gifts identified in
Romans 12 are prophesying, serving,
teaching, encouraging, giving,
leadership, and mercy. The list in 1
Corinthians 12:4-11 includes the word of
wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith,
healing, miraculous powers, prophecy,
distinguishing between spirits, speaking
in tongues and interpretation of tongues.
The list in 1 Corinthians 12:28 includes
healings, helps, governments and
diversities of tongues.
However, it is important to note
that there are a few pre-requisites to
discovering and utilizing your gift(s):
— You have to be a Christian. Gifts
come from God and He gives them
only to those who have a personal
relationship with Him.
— You have to be willing to do the work
necessary to develop your spiritual
OVERVIEW
— Never use your spiritual gift(s) to
acquire personal power, take revenge
or exploit fellow believers
— Don’t exalt any gift over another
— Don’t hinder or prevent people from
exercising their own unique gift(s).
Remember that in God’s eyes, all of
His gifts are equally valuable and aid
in equipping the saints for ministry
or works of service. It’s always about
helping others and drawing people to
Christ.
In this issue of The Mount, you will
find a Spiritual Gifts Assessment that
will indicate what your spiritual gifts
may be and provide examples how you
can use them to build God’s Kingdom.
Also, we invite you to visit Mount
Ararat’s website (mt-ararat.org) for a list
of ministries that you can participate in
at the church to use and develop your
gift(s).
As we approach a new year, we
challenge you to discover the gift(s) God
designed just for you and “re-gift it!” Pass
your gifts along, and use them for the
benefit of the church and others.
THE CENTER
THAT CARES
MOUNT ARARAT
COUNSELING CENTER
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES:
MOUNT ARARAT COUNSELING CENTER
(MACC)
271 Paulson Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
412.441.1800 Ext. 270
THE GOOD GRIEF CENTER
2717 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
412.224.4700
RE:SOLVE CRISIS NETWORK
333 North Braddock Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15208
1.888.796.8226
THE MO UNT D E CE M BE R 2 0 15
PEER SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY NETWORK
(PSAN) WARMLINE
1-866-661-WARM (9276)
4
MERCY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS LINE
1-877-637-2924
WESTERN PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE AND
CLINIC
412-624-1000 or Toll free 1(877)-624-4100
NAMI (NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL
ILLNESS) SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
105 Braunlich Drive, Suite 200, McKnight Plaza,
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Phone: 412-366-3788 or Toll free: 1-888-264-7972
The Mount Ararat Counseling
Center (MACC) is designed
to fill the gaps identified in
both the Church and in the
greater Pittsburgh community
by providing affordable and
accessible services as well as
trained licensed mental health
professionals who incorporate
culturally sensitive and culturally appropriate counseling
services that include spiritual,
Christian and faith-based interventions.
GOALS &
OBJECTIVES
MACC’s approach to addressing client needs integrates
spiritual, Christian, ethical and
religious values. It is MACC’s
belief that the infusion of
these elements into the counseling process is essential for
the overall development of
those that will be served. Another goal of MACC includes
providing Christian-based
psychological and emotional support, as well as social
services to clients, who may
or may not be members of
Mount Ararat Baptist Church
(MABC), but who are in need
of professional guidance and
advocacy in dealing with issues
that may prevent effective and
responsible conduct of their
daily lives.
TARGET
POPULATIONS
The target clientele for MACC
are individuals, couples,
families, and groups across
the lifespan (i.e., children,
adolescents, adults and older
adults). MACC will be targeted to members of MABC, to
other church congregations,
to members of the East Liberty
area of Pittsburgh, and to
members of the greater Pittsburgh Community.
COMMON CONCERNS
ADDRESSED BY
MACC
Depression; Anxiety; Stress;
Abuse; Crisis Support; Relationship Issues; Grief, Death
& Loss; Self-Esteem; Alcohol
& Substance Abuse; Identity;
Development; Career Planning
& Development; Anger; Life
Skills; Deficits; Retirement.
MACC STAFF
Trained professional or clinicians (i.e. licensed or masters-level) with diverse qualifications and backgrounds,
including professional counseling, marriage, couple and
family therapy, psychology,
pastoral counseling and counseling psychology, conduct
the Mount Ararat Counseling
Center (MACC) counseling
sessions. Some counseling
services may be provided by
qualified students enrolled
in masters-level and doctoral
degree programs under the
supervision of MACC licensed
mental health professionals
and faculty members or doctoral interns who are licensed
mental health professionals.
INSURANCE & FEES
Highmark, UPMC, and Community Care Behavior Health
(CCBH) insurance companies
cover MACC’s services, and
we also offer fee-for-service
and sliding scale for those who
may not have insurance and/or
may have difficulty paying. In
extreme cases of financial
hardships and lack of insurance, pro-bono assistance
may be available. Please
contact MACC for further
information on the rates for
counseling services.
DISCOVERING
gift(s) and;
— You have to pray for God’s guidance.
It’s also important not to abuse the gift(s)
that God has given you:
5
Tiffany is passionate about
empowering women to become their
best selves by first envisioning what
being their best is and then taking the
steps to making their visions a reality.
She is the mother of two very busy boys
and enjoys cooking, reading, workingout and traveling in her spare time.
perhaps...
You’re Being
Used
I am a firm believer that we are
blessed to be a blessing. I believe
that being of service to others is
part of what we were created to
be. As I become more and more
comfortable with living my truth,
with my unique gifts, and the
need for me to share them, I have
been met with a bit of a harsh
reality. There is a difference
between allowing your gifts to be
used by God, and being used. Did
you get that?
We are all gifted. God has
given each of us gifts that He
wills us to use for His glory, but
we oftentimes don’t use them.
“Each of you should use whatever
gift you have received to serve
others, as faithful stewards of
God’s grace in its various forms.”
(1 Peter 4:10) However, there
are times when our gifts are
recognized by others and are
used inappropriately for their
selfish purposes.
When you are passionate
about sharing your gifts and
living your life purposefully, you
willingly make yourself available
for any opportunity where some
small act to change the world
or help others presents itself. It
is a great feeling to be inspired
by inspiring! That is what you
should feel when you are using
your gifts, and allowing your
gifts to be used to glorify God.
Be warned. There is a difference
between your using your gifts to
glorify God and your gifts being
used by others for some carnal
reason (for example, others using
your gifts for financial gain or
selfish pleasure).
Here are a few clues to let
you know when your gifts are
being used inappropriately and
you’re being taken advantage of
by others:
1. You only hear from
someone when your
gift(s) is necessary.
If you make the best birthday
cakes, and you only hear from
friends and/or family when it
is someone’s birthday - and not
because you are being invited to
the party - that is a red flag. You
have value as a person beyond the
cakes you bake. While baking is
your passion, a phone call just to
say hello, or an invitation to the
party would be nice as well. Take
notice of those who overlook your
value as a person and only see the
value of how they can use you.
2. Your gift is only good
enough when
it’s free.
You are fortunate if your gifts
and passion are also a source of
income for you whether it is a
side hustle, or full time endeavor.
However, if you are receiving
phone calls or texts from folks
who are only interested in your
products or services “outside the
office,” after “business hours” or
for “the low” - it is likely you are
being used.
The Word says:
“A man’s gift maketh room for
him, and bringeth him before
great men.” (Prov. 18:16).
There is a difference
between your being taken
advantage of by others and your
volunteering services or donating
your resources. Be mindful of
how you feel during these types
of interactions, and be intentional
about how you respond to the
requests. God does not expect
us to use our gifts to become
destitute.
3. Your gift is
not being shared.
When you have an enjoyable
experience, receive something
of great value, or learn of new
opportunities that those you
love and care about might enjoy
or benefit from, it is without a
second thought that you want to
share what you know with them.
If you are constantly giving of
yourself, your time, passion and
gifts and the receiver is a repeat
recipient, but has never told a
friend, or shared the benefit
of how you might be able to
help someone else, you might
be a victim of being used. Pay
attention.
If allowed, being used
often leads to negative thoughts
and feelings about your gifts,
and whether you are actually
walking in your purpose. Pray
for discernment, and ask God
how He wants you to use your
gift to build up His people and
His kingdom. Be encouraged.
Once you recognize that you
are being used, you can begin
to set boundaries. Exercise
the power of saying no, and
pursue opportunities to serve
and give of your gifts the way
God intended.
BY TIFFA N Y HUFF
7
M O U N T A R A R AT B A P T I S T C H U R C H & L O V E A N D B A S K E T B A L L M I N I S T R I E S P R E S E N T
APRIL 13-16, 2016
SAVE THE DATES!
Experience four unforgettable days of information and inspiration to revolutionize
and workshops that will focus on:
Biblical, Historical
and Theological
Development of
Sports
Leadership
Development
Multi-cultural
Organizational
Team
Development
Total Health
and Wellness
Development
Counseling/
Psychological
Services & Ministry
Development
Panels, Guest
Speakers and
much, much
more!
The
Church as a
Multicultural
Sports Team
TAUN YA M A R IE TINSLEY, PHD, NCC , LPC
Special Guests Include:
[AND MANY MORE!]
Dr. Taunya M. Tinsley
Director, Mount Ararat
Counseling Center,
Pittsburgh, PA
Senior Pastor, Mount
Ararat Baptist Church,
Pittsburgh, PA
Anthony Edwards
Team Chaplain,
Arizona Cardinals
Dr. Lance Watson
Senior Pastor, St.
Paul’s Baptist Church,
Richmond, VA
Dwight Hollier
VP, Wellness & Clinical
Services, NFL
Dr. Marcus Cosby
Senior Pastor, Wheeler
Avenue Baptist Church,
Houston, TX
Ray Jackson
Director of Player
Engagement
Denver Broncos
Larry Fitzgerald
Arizona Cardinals
Scott Galbraith
Team Chaplain
Sacramento Kings
Dr. Janice Hilliard
VP, Player
Development, NBA
Theresa Igono
Women’s Chaplain, West
Virginia University
Johnny Shelton
Team Chaplain,
Baltimore Ravens
Luther Elliss
Team Chaplain
Denver Broncos
Luther Elliss
Luther Elliss is a former 2time, NFL Pro Bowl defensive tackle. He played for the
Detroit Lions for 9 seasons and joined the Denver Broncos for one season in 2004
before retiring. He was given the title of “The Strongest Man in the NFL” by Muscle and
Fitness Magazine and was nicknamed "Pass Rushing Luther". During his career
Luther, served as the Detroit Lions Player Representative for the NFL Players
Association (NFLPA).
Be the first to be informed when tickets are available
OR TO REQUEST SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION!
In 1995, Luther became the first Utah Ute in history to be selected in the 1st Round of
the NFL Draft being selected by the Detroit Lions with the 20th pick overall. During his
career at Utah from 1991 to 1994, he was a firstteam AllWestern Athletic Conference
(WAC) selection in 1992, 1993 and 1994. As a senior in 1994, he was recognized as a
consensus firstteam All American, and was named the WAC Defensive Player of the
Year.
SEND AN EMAIL WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO [email protected] OR CALL 412-441-3501
It has been stated that sport
permeates all aspects of
society and that even a person
with very little interest in
sports will interact with it in
some way (Leslie-Toogood,
2008). Additionally, sports
are so ingrained in the social
and cultural life of society
that it has become a reflection
of American society and an
inherent component of the
national cultural identity (Saliles & Harrison, 2008). Thus,
to reach people that no one
else is reaching, ministries
both inside the four walls of
the church and ministries
outside the four walls of the
church in the community
must do things no one else is
doing, relate to and care for
the sports community. In
order to multiply the church
numbers, God’s Coaching
Staff (i.e., Christian and
religious leaders) will need to
put people’s needs first and do
something different to get different results that will address
the dilemma and put a check
in the “win” column.
To develop Multicultural
Sports Counseling Competent
church leaders for traditional
and untraditional ministry and to develop a model
of ministry for the holistic
development of the athlete
population that includes both
spiritual and pastoral care, effective training programs will
connect the biblical, historical
and theological interpretation
and espouse theoretical foundations in ministry practice,
counseling, psychology and
human development. Multicultural Sports Counseling
Competencies is defined
as the extent to which the
counselor [or religious leader]
has developed and integrated
awareness, knowledge and
skills while maintaining a
positive counseling [ministerial] relationship necessary to
work with the athlete population (Sodowsky, et al., 1994;
Tinsley, 2005).
Multicultural awareness
of the athlete population is
the proactive multicultural
sensitivity and responsiveness
towards athletes, extensive interactions and life experiences with sports and athletes,
broad-based cultural under-
standing, advocacy within
institutions, enjoyment of the
athlete population, and an
increase in student athlete’s
caseloads. Multicultural
counseling knowledge of
the athlete population is the
ability to conduct culturally
relevant case conceptualization and treatment strategies,
assess cultural information,
and conduct multicultural
sports counseling research
in areas including, but not
limited, to biblical, historical,
theological and theoretical
foundations.
Multicultural counseling
skills is the success with the
retention of athlete cases,
recognition of and recovery
from cultural mistakes, use of
nontraditional methods of assessment, counselor [church
leader or other helping professional] self-monitoring, and
tailoring structured versus
unstructured counseling
sessions [and other culturally
relevant ministry approaches] to the needs of athletes.
Multicultural counseling
relationship is the counselor’s
[church leader’s] interaction
process with athletes, such as
counselor’s [church leader’s]
trustworthiness, comfort
level, stereotypes of student
athletes, and worldview.
The
vision to
fulfill the
Great Commission includes
disciple making,
relationship
building, unity, ministry that
meets people where they
are, evangelism, leadership
development, teamwork and
innovation. “Since athletics
are a prominent and positive
part of American society, religious leaders have an opportunity to use athletic imagery
and the language of sports
in order to communicate the
gospel and teaching of Christ
more clearly” (Henderson,
1997). God’s Coaching Staff
in the twenty-first century
also have an opportunity to
communicate the gospel to
this generation through the
use of analogies, metaphors,
and stories from the world
of sports.
Training God’s
Coaching Staff who are
able to address the unique
needs of God’s team and
players, specifically the
athlete population, presents major challenges. By
extending the principles of
multicultural counseling
to include the athlete pop-
your ministry! Take advantage of hands-on, how-to sessions
9
ulation, God’s Coaching Staff
may be in a better position to
receive formalized training,
respond to the developmental
needs of athletes and enhance
the quality of culturally relevant ministry they provide
to a specific and diverse
culture, the athlete population. Culturally relevant
ministry “seeks to impact the
cultures of the world … with
the message of Jesus Christ.”
Jesus’ message of love and
reconciliation is offered to all
mankind equally, relevant for
all cultures and good for all
mankind within all cultures.
Culturally relevant ministries
are trying to make a positive
impact, a process by which
one must break through
their own cultural barriers,
enter into another’s cultureand then share God’s love
and minister in a way that is
culturally relevant to them
(Ligenfelter & Mayers, 2003).
One form of culturally
relevant ministries is that of
sport ministry that refers to
traditional ministry that use
sport as a “hook”
for evangelism,
an “outside-in”
approach to
ministering
to the
world of
sports for Jesus Christ. This
approach sends believers
from “outside” the world of
sport, as missionaries “inside”
the world of sport to evangelize. Sport in ministry refers
to a sport-valued approach
to ministry that is integrated in the activity of sport
itself. The purpose of sport
in ministry is to ultimately
glorify God by helping people
of sport to grow toward and
in Christlikeness. Knowing
where sports people are in
their sport experience and
where they are spiritually
will help to develop the most
effective approach to culturally relevant ministries (i.e.,
sport ministries and sport in
ministry) (McCown & Gin,
2003). It is important to take
into account that what worked
in one context may not work
equally well in another context. Ministries both inside
the four walls of the church
and ministries outside the
four walls of the church in the
community must tailor ministry to best meet the needs
of the people of sport within
their own context.
It is my hope that this
article provided some brief
information on multicultural
sports counseling, culturally
relevant ministry, sport ministry, ministry in sport and
ideas for God’s Coaching Staff
to fulfill the Great Commission with people of sports.
If the article has piqued
your interest and you are
interested in learning more
about the biblical, historical
and theological development
of sports, leadership development, multicultural organizational team development
and counseling/psychological
services and sport ministry
development, please plan
to attend “The Church as a
Multicultural Sports Team
Leadership Conference and
Revival” on April 13-16, 2016
to be held at Mount Ararat
Baptist Church. For additional information or to request
sponsorship information,
please send an email with
your contact information to
conferenceandrevival@gmail.
com or call 412-441-3501.
References
Henderson, Walter. “The Athletic
Imagery of Paul.” The Theological
Educator, no. 56 (Fall 1997): 30-37.
Leslie-Toogood, Adrienne. “Introduction.” Advising Student-Athletes: A Collaborative Approach to
Success (Monograph
Series Number 18),
edited by Adrienne
Leslie-Toogood and
Emmett Gill, 7-12.
Manhattan, KS:
NACADA, 2008.
Lingenfelter, Sherwood. G., and
Marvin K. Mayers. Ministering
Cross-Culturally: An Incarnational
Model for Personal Relationships.
2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker
Academic, 2003.
McCown, Lowrie, and Valerie J.
Gin. Focus on Sport in Ministry.
Marietta, GA: 360º Sports, 2003.
ADVANCE YOUR CAREER
“There is an integrity in
Waynesburg’s Counseling
Program that is a cut above
the rest. My courses were
thought-provoking and
stimulating and prepared me
well for the real world. Every
faculty member worked in the
field, so the information was
always current and pertinent.
No question ever went
unanswered; no concern was
ever treated lightly. I felt both
challenged and supported.”
Nejedlo, R. J., Arrendondo, P., &
Benjamin, L. (1985). Imagine: A
visionary model for the counselors
of tomorrow. DeKalb, IL: George’s
Printing.
Sailes, Gary, and Louis Harrison.
“Social Issues of Sport.” Advising
Student-Athletes: A
Collaborative Approach to Success
(Monograph Series Number 18), edited by Adrienne Leslie-Toogood and
Emmett Gill, 13-22. Manhattan,
KS: National Academic Advising
Association, 2008.
Sodowsky, G. R., Taffe, R. C.,
Gutkin, T. B., & Wise, S. L. (1994).
Development of the multicultural
counseling inventory: A self-report
measure of multicultural compe
tencies. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 41, 137-148.
Tinsley, T. (2005). The self-reported
multicultural sports counseling
competencies among professional
school counselors and Play It Smart
academic coaches (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University, 2005).
Dissertation Abstracts International, 66(11), 3942. (UMI No. 3199518).
Tinsley, T. (2015). The Church as a
multicultural sports team: A model
for ministry leadership development
for God’s coaching staff. (Doctoral
dissertation proposal, United Theological Seminary, 2015).
– Connie Donaldson, Certified
Family Constellation Facilitator
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Reaffirming
the Significance
of the Ministry of
the Word
BY R EV. SH A RON DENNA R D
12
century German philosopher
Friedrich Nietzsche issued
the impertinent statement,
“God is dead.” Ever since then,
believers have begged to differ.
Living in an increasingly
pluralistic environment, we
dare not expect that biblical
ethics and convictions will be
taught and/or reinforced by
any academic or governmental
institution. Nor will there be
often heard a perspective based
upon the life and example of
Jesus Christ. Hardly will we be
exhorted to purge hypocrisy.
Rarely will we be counseled
to guard against selfishness
and demonstrate God’s tender
compassion.
Global crises abound
and human solutions are
inadequate. Yet God has made
provision. Paul writes, “He
Himself gave . . .pastors and
teachers. His intention was
the perfecting and the full
equipping of the saints (His
consecrated people). [That
they should do] the work of
ministering toward building
up Christ’s body (the church)”
(Ephesians 4:11-12 AMP). These
gifts specifically benefit the
body of Christ by warning
of sin’s consequences and
steering away from heresy.
Some scholars have identified
these as motivational gifts
because they shape the life
of the believer and affect his
thoughts, words and actions.
These called men and women
faithfully take on the burdens
of faltering believers. Accuracy
in doctrine and loving intimate
fellowship are primary
concerns. Tirelessly they strive
to soften hearts, strengthen
resolve and stabilize faith.
Since unexpected life
events are prone to crash into
faith, Anne Morrow Lindgergh
suggests, “It isn’t for the
moment you are stuck that you
need courage, but for the long
uphill climb back to sanity and
faith and security.”
Consequently, week in and
week out these servants take on
the crucial task of building up
their communities of faith:
`````````````````````````````
In and through which they
nurture discipleship after the
model of Jesus Christ.
`````````````````````````````
Helping people make
theological/biblical sense of
their encounters between
traditions of faith and the
explosion of new knowledge
that surrounds them, the
changing circumstances of
their lives, and the decisions
they must make to cope with
the pace of life.
`````````````````````````````
Cultivating hope vital enough
to invite people into the
spiritual enterprise of praising
God and serving neighbor for
the sake of redemption and
new life.
From his classic work Body
Life, Ray Stedman argues, “The
work of the ministry belongs
to the entire body of believers,
who should be equipped,
guided, and encouraged by
those who are gifted by God to
expound and apply His Word
with wisdom and power . . .
`````````````````````````````
then the entire body comes
alive with resurrection power.
Lives are changed. Ministries
explode. Communities are
touched and healed. The
church becomes healthy and
vital and exciting again.” This
is church as it was originally
meant to be; how it can be at its
best and critically how it must
be. As with the other gifts of
the Spirit, pastors and teachers
are God’s means to maintain
wellbeing and promote growth.
Educating and exhorting the
congregation is linked to the
participation of its members
in the shared events of the
Christian experience. By
proclamation and instruction
the listening congregation
is taught to praise God and
serve its neighbors for the
‘emancipatory’ transformation
of the world. Above all, these
extremely principled teaching
and preaching ministers
assume personal responsibility
for the conscientious
embodiment of Christlikeness.
They ‘tell’ so that all will
understand and none will ever
forget the revealed goodness
and holiness of the one true
and living God and our dutiful
response to him.
In contemporary culture
many who have lost interest
in religion have not closed
the door to authentic faith.
They still desire to discover
and validate truth. Fleeing
the hope- deadening, nihilist
philosophy that insists
nothing has any inherent
importance and life has no
meaning, these searching
souls are coming to church.
Southern Baptist Executive
Foy Valentine counsels, “To
dish out sentimental twaddle
to the world crying for a word
from the Lord is to give them a
snake when they ask for a fish.
To offer them religious mumbo
jumbo when they are crying
for action demonstrating his
lifting, saving love is to give
them a stone when they are
starving for bread.” When
their inner cravings are for
peace, place and purpose they
can ill afford to engage the
God of someone’s imagination.
Invariably confronting tough
questions; hearing hard truths;
addressing persistent problems
and finding solid solutions
burns quickly through human
resources. Hence, connection
to Christ’s passion and energy
is vital.
Finally those who operate
in this gift share the ideals
espoused by cleric John R.W.
Stott, “I have a dream of a
church which is a biblical
church – which is loyal in every
particular to the revelation
of God in Scripture. Whose
people love the Word of God,
and adorn it with an obedient
and Christ-like life, which is
preserved from all unbiblical
emphases. Whose whole
life manifests the health and
beauty of biblical balance.”
Knowing God always finishes
what he starts, especially his
perfecting of us, these gifted
ones are careful to point
out the spiritual markers of
redemption, revival, resolution,
restoration and repentance
and signal that God’s Word
is a light to our path and our
thinking.
`````````````````````````````
“It isn’t for the moment you are stuck that you need
courage, but for the long uphill climb back to sanity
and faith and security.”
19
TH
13
BY CLAU DIA MASON
PITTS B U RG H S KYLI N E
14
takes its descent behind the
hilly landscape. “Absolutely
breathtaking,” I think to
myself out loud.
Standing alone with
my camera dangling from
my neck and unaware of the
silly grin on my face, in my
imagination I can hear the
faint sound of a car horn
toot in the distance as its
ant sized occupants seem
to wave a friendly hello to a
passerby. Grandview area’s
awe inspiring view paints
a breathtaking picture of
the city’s massive corporate
buildings and bridges. As
I take a step back, I rest
my camera to my eye and
readjust the lens. I see the
city’s reflection ever so gently
rippling on top of one of the
Three Rivers as though God
were proudly displaying His
pick city of the week. I move
my camera away from my eye
and can see my breath linger
in the brisk air as I let out a
deep and refreshing SIGH.
Eager to snap
photographs of the proud
Steel City, I refocus my
camera and tilt my head to
one side the moment I noticed
that some of the buildings
appear to be standing
extra tall with their chests
poked out boasting to one
another of its importance.
Each seemed to be vying for
the center of Pittsburgh’s
skyline’s attention. What’s
that? Did the one of the
buildings just lean over and
whisper something to another
building? I’m not certain. I
look away from my camera.
Surprisingly both buildings
seem to be standing still, tall,
and strong. How intrigued I
am at the mystery. However,
I can’t help but to see that all
of the buildings teetering on
the river’s edge seem to take
on somewhat of a protective
stance of what lies behind
them.
In the skyline’s
background a dusting of
snow has graced some of
the houses sitting on top of
the hills. There appear to be
some hidden secrets behind
those hills. Who and what
could those buildings and
hills be protecting? I adjust
my camera lens and zoom in
to take a closer look past the
buildings. To my surprise I
see a very different picture
of what the skyline projects.
I can see and sense the real
heart of the people of this
city; people who have their
own story to tell:
In the Oakland area, I
see a happy couple giving
birth to their first child in
Magee Women’s Hospital.
And competing high school
football teams cheering at
one’s win at a rival game. I
see a delivery man is being
prevented from delivering
a package by an overly
protective barking Lab. A
little boy shows his mother
the empty space where his
tooth once resided after
being picked up from his
grandparent’s house. And I
see a young woman stand in
front of a floor length mirror
as she watches her reflection
in delight at the view of her
own image in a beautiful
wedding gown.
Adjusting my zoom lens
again, I look even closer and
see near the city’s Downtown
area a latchkey eight year old
helping himself to a handful
of cookies as he waits alone
for his mom to return home
from work. I see a Pittsburgh
Steeler running feverishly
towards the goal line; while
outside of Heinz Field
tailgaters seem to not notice
a homeless man holding a
sign that reads ‘Please help,
I’m hungry’. There’s corrupt
politics taking place at the
downtown Lawyers building;
and a news reporter is holding
a microphone in the face
of one of many protestors
who had been marching
in front of the City and
County buildings with their
hands raised holding signs
that read ‘I Can’t Breath’.
And predictably a violent
confrontation ensues between
a few of those same protestors
and the ‘Boys In Blue.’
I hear the screams of a
women being violated in her
home near the East Side of
the city; and a dad who has
come home drunk one too
many times to a dejected wife
at his Brentwood home.
There’s another drive
by shooting. This time it’s
in the Hill District which
has a mother doubled over
in anguish the middle of
the street. There’s a worried
father waiting in line at the
neighborhood food bank
desperate to feed his children.
I see a social worker trying to
convince a teenager over the
phone not to commit suicide.
Fire trucks race to a home
with their sirens blazing
after the parents had tried to
keep their family warm by
running a faulty space heater.
And I see an angry corporate
worker complaining to his
supervisor about his unfair
treatment on the job.
In an alley near a newly
developed housing plan,
a middle aged woman is
smoking from a crack pipe
for the hundredth time. Her
children are home alone
again fending for themselves.
In broad daylight a young
man has just been car-jacked
and is chasing after his car
pleading for the safety of his
child who is still strapped in
the back. And I see an elderly
person being denied health
insurance because of his age.
I see a family hold each
other as they all witnessed
their father take his final
breath at a nursing facility. I
see a congregation of a nearby
church sing, dance, and shout
through their pastor’s riveting
sermon. And a woman sitting
home alone holding close to
her breast a photo of a child
while she rocks back and
forth contemplating her own
reasons for living.
After having had enough
of this view and after the
lingering stench of a decaying
city begins to dissipate, I
remove my camera from my
face and step away from the
railing and I wonder how
many other cities are like
this one… cleverly being
cloaked as a beautiful and
healthy city. I shake my head
as I realize that admirers are
being hoodwinked by the
tantalizing glow emanating
from this disguise. So I
wonder how quick we are
to fall in love with outer
beauty before ever becoming
acquainted with the heart and
soul of the matter.
Once again I gaze on the
city’s view with my naked
eye and breathe in its
grandeur sky line and I
think of this paradox once
noted as ‘The Most Livable
City’. The irony. The
façade. And once again I
let out a breathy SIGH.
To the naked eye and at first
glance, the view of the city of
Pittsburgh is breath taking. I
can see just how magnificent
the city appears from the top
of Mount Washington in the
Grandview area. As I lean
against the railing which
is structured to protect its
occupants, I breathe in the
familiar sounds emanating
from the city below.
Exquisite lighting trims
an array of trees which line
the city’s streets. Buildings are
robust and tall, both the gritty
old ones as well as the newly
developed. In this City of
Bridges each bridge is sturdy
and its muscles gently
caress all who dare to
travel them. This stunning
view brings delight to
my heart as I take in its
glorious energy. The late
autumn evening sky is
the catalyst that captures
the brilliance of the sun’s
evening glow as it kisses
the necks of Pittsburgh’s
mountains right before it
15
MOUNT MAGAZINE NEWS PARTNER
newpittsburghcourieronline.com
BY COUR IER NEWSROOM
PITTSBURGH, PA–Mayor
William Peduto and City
Council President Bruce
Kraus recently introduced Allison Harnden, the city’s new
Nighttime Economy Coordinator, and previewed plans
for operations and policing
changes in the East Carson
Street business district.
“Building upon years of
work by Council President
Kraus, Allison Harnden will
help us enhance, protect and
broaden revenue opportunities for businesses, while
decreasing the detrimental
impact of nightlife on nearby
residents,” Mayor Peduto said.
“We will be able to take the
lessons we learn from their
work in the South Side and
duplicate them in other parts
of the city as they deal with
the pressures and opportunities that come with growth.”
“To transform into a ‘Sociable City’ Pittsburgh needs to
implement efforts to attract
all people to our entertainment districts, with initiatives
that create better behavior
and with it better economic success,” Councilman
Kraus said. “A city thrives
on diversity and inclusion,
and nightlife is no different. It thrives on everyone.”
The Peduto Administration is partnering with Mr.
Kraus on planned changes
to the South Side in line
16
with Sociable City strategies.
One of the first plans is for a
Parking Investment Zone to
adjust parking meter hours
around the South Side. Increases in collections would
be dedicated to safety, cleanup and transportation initiatives in the business corridor,
to address the unique needs
of the nighttime economy.
Other changes could include a parking lot with sponsored transportation service
for employees and customers
to decrease East Carson
Street traffic and reduce parking impacts on South Side
residential neighborhoods;
and creat a “public safety
lane” free of cars during peak
periods on East Carson Street
to allow better access for police, fire and medic vehicles.
Harnden, who has
20 years of experience in
dining and entertainment
district planning, will help
coordinate efforts among city
government, businesses and
residents.
Since 1996, she has
collaborated with hospitality
zone stakeholders in more
than 50 U.S. and Canadian
cities in 23 states and provinces, facilitating strategies
to develop vibrancy, prevent
impacts, correct issues, and
repair perceptions that affect
both daytime and nighttime
patronage.
While Hospitality Re-
source Panel Coordinator in
San Diego, she managed an
eight year contract with the
City of San Diego’s economic
development department,
which involved developing
and implementing innovative
pilot programs to increase
economic vitality and regulatory compliance in eight Business Improvement Districts
with active nightlife.
As the Vice President for
Responsible Hospitality Institute, a non-profit organization
dedicated to creating safe and
vibrant places to socialize,
she spent 18 years researching
and developing best practices on numerous subjects,
including entertainment
ALLISON HARNDEN (LINKEDIN PHOTO)
UNIFY: A NEW VIDEO STREAMING SERVICE
FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN PROGRAMMING
BY EUR PUBLISHER NOV 16, 2015
*HULU and Netflix are
among longtime heavyweight
companies streaming videos
online – but now there’s a new
streaming video service with
a mission.
Dr. Donahue Truitt, the
CEO and founder of UNIFY,
says his service is the only one
providing TV and film entertainment geared towards the
African-American audience.
Viewers can choose
from hundreds of TV shows
and movies to watch such
as In Living Color, New
York Undercover, The Flip
Wilson Show and The Best
Man in addition to original
programming. Also, UNIFY
has launched a 24 episode
docu-series, The Legacy:
Celebrating 75 Years of Blacks
on Television.
“A lot of it is not only
African-American audiences
– that’s our core – but people
who love African-American
programming,” Tuitt said.
Tuitt speaks passionately
about how entertainment
impacts culture and society
saying “one of the things that
UNIFY is doing is not just in
streaming this content – but
our social partnerships that
we have within the community is going to help make our
consumers truly invested and
engaged in using this platform to make a difference in
society.”
The native New Yorker
believes in supporting Black
businesses explaining why
when talking about doing
business with a Black bank.
“I couldn’t do a platform
that’s catering to the Black
community and not be ser-
viced by an African-American
bank,” Tuitt said. “We have
these social partnerships that
we’ve begun to build and have
had extensive conversations
with different players within
the community to say okay
how can we use UNIFY to be
a cornerstone to transform
Black America.”
Truitt is a self-described “latch key kid from
Brooklyn” who acquired a
doctorate degree in education from the University of
Southern California, where
he taught for three years as
an adjunct professor in the
school of education.
He admits that he “has
a passion for education” but
he believes that God “had a
purpose for him” to expand
his reach beyond the upwards
to a hundred students he was
reaching in an academic year.
UNIFY will officially
launch February 1, 2016.
Find out more about UNIFY
at www.UNIFYme.tv.
PEDUTO AND KRAUS INTRODUCE NIGHTTIME
ECONOMY COORDINATOR AND PLANS FOR
SOUTH SIDE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT
districts, special events, social
venues and public space
issues including panhandling,
buskers, street vending and
food trucks.
Most recently, she has
designed trainings to orient
and prepare ambassadors to
work in an active nightlife
environment, and a concierge
training for parking staff to
capitalize on their unique
position as first and last touch
with downtown customers.
Harnden has co-authored
Planning, Managing and
Policing Hospitality Zones:
A Practical Guide and cowrote a chapter on Designing
Nightlife for Women in David
Feehan’s forthcoming book,
“Design Downtowns for
Women; Men will Follow.”
In Pennsylvania Harnden
has worked on hospitality
efforts in Philadelphia and
State College, and nationally
in San Diego, Los Angeles.,
Seattle, Chicago, Baltimore,
Cleveland, Las Vegas, Milwaukee, Washington, D.C.,
17
WHY DID OTHER COMPANIES PASS?
SPIKE: They never give you a reason; they just say, “It’s not for us.”
My co-writer Kevin Willmott and I wrote the script and went to
Sundance and everybody was saying no, no, no, no, no. Amazon said
yes. I tell my students, “All it takes is one yes.”
‘CHI-RAQ’ IS PLANNED FOR AN AWARDS RUN. WHAT’S
YOUR GOAL WITH THIS FILM?
BY N Y M AGEE
*The Electronic Urban Report/EUR recently attended a
screening of Spike Lee‘s latest film, “Chi-Raq.” It’s a modern
day adaptation of the ancient Greek play Lysistrata by
Aristophanes, set against the backdrop of gang violence in
Chicago.
Teyonah Parris stars as the sexy girlfriend of a gang leader
(played by Nick Cannon), who convinces women to abstain
from sex in order to persuade their significant others to end
gang violence in Chicago.
Lee has faced much criticism since the film was
announced, and now the controversial director is revealing
that he had a hard time selling the project to major studios –
which inevitably led his decision to release the film exclusively
to Amazon subscribers.
Spike discussed his Amazon deal with The Hollywood
Reporter/THR, in which he says that real change to ending
gang violence in Chicago begins with legislation. He also
explained how he’s aiming to save lives with “Chi-Raq.” Below
are highlights from the interview.
YOUR NEXT FILM, ‘CHI-RAQ,’ ABOUT CHICAGO GUN
VIOLENCE, IS GOING TO BE AMAZON’S FIRST
FEATURE RELEASE DEC. 4.
18
HOW CAN REAL CHANGE HAPPEN?
SPIKE: Legislation. How is it that somebody can go in our states, like
Oregon, and buy — why is a store selling an assault weapon? You
don’t even hunt with an assault weapon. Why are they being sold?
CCAC offers:
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in125programs
•Flatratetuitionof
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*12–18creditsplusfees,
AlleghenyCountyresidents
SPIKE: They’re a great company. And also everyone else said no.
ccac.edu
412.237.3100
OUR GOAL IS YOUR
SUCCESS.
SERENA WILLIAMS: TENNIS, FASHION, AND PRE-MED CLASSES
BY JOCELY N NOV ECK , A P NATIONA L W R ITER
NEW YORK (AP) _ Serena Williams is
the top tennis player in the world and an
emerging fashion designer. But she still
needs something to do in that down time
between matches. That’s where the premed classes come in.
At a recent panel discussion, Williams explained that she’s not necessarily interested in becoming a doctor, but
wants to study nutrition, holistic medicine, and healing naturally.
“I love the holistic side of medicine,”
she said. Besides, she explained, during
tournaments she actually has more free
time than when she’s not playing. “I like
to keep going,” she said. “I don’t like to be
still.”
At the panel, part of the Fast Company Innovation Festival, Williams was
interviewed along with Nike CEO Mike
Parker, with whom she works closely.
Asked what she’d be doing in 10 years,
she quipped: “That’s why Mark and I
are so close. Because I’m going to be the
CEO.” The audience erupted in applause.
But Williams also made it clear
that despite all her other activities, she’s
not any less motivated by tennis _ even
though she never thought she’d be still
playing at age 30, let alone now at 34.
“I think it’s really important to know
what you’re good at _ and I know what
I’m good at,” she said. “For me right now
… I love being on the court, I love winning titles. So as much as these opportunities come up, and so many things come
up, but is it going to interfere with my
being the best in the world? If the answer
is even close to yes, then I have to say no.
I have the rest of my life to figure these
things out.”
Williams was also asked about the
much-discussed incident where she
chased down a thief who’d grabbed her
cellphone in a restaurant. Asked what
she was thinking when she chased the
guy down, she said: “I wasn’t, really.”
“I just jumped up and I ran,” she said,
“and when I got there I thought, `Oh,
what am I doing, this could be it!”’ But
the thief, professing confusion, handed
the phone back from under his sleeve.
The next day, she said, her father called
and said, `Serena, if you need a phone,
I’ll buy you three or four phones! Just
please don’t do that again.”’
Naturally, Williams was also asked
about her recent U.S. Open semifinal
loss to Italy’s Roberta Vinci, which derailed her quest for a Grand Slam. What
happened, she was asked?
“I didn’t win!” she said to laughter.
“She played well. I don’t think I played
the best I could have …but she played an
outstanding match, and that happens
sometimes. And unfortunately I didn’t
win but I did the best I could. It was what
it was, and it was hard to put behind me,
but I eventually did.”
And, she added with a smile: “I can’t
wait to play her again!”
SPIKE LEE GOT WITH
AMAZON BECAUSE
STUDIOS PASSED ON
‘CHI-RAQ’
SPIKE: It’s really not about awards. I’m going to save lives. There’s
people being shot on the streets of Chicago daily. It’s not just Chicago,
it’s happening in cities all over America. It’s happening in L.A., New
York — what’s Baltimore called? Bodymore, Murderland. What’s
Philadelphia called? Killadelphia. There’s a major part of this film
that’s about guns in our country. What is it going to take for we
as people, and supposedly the most civilized country on Earth, to
stop this madness? The NRA is not bigger than the United States of
America.
19
_____ B. People tell me that I’m a “good
listener” who gives helpful advice
when they’re hurting.
_____ C. If you need something built or
fixed, bring it to me.
_____ D. I know how to express an idea
through art, craft or music.
_____ E. I can really spot someone phony
and cut through stuff to uncover
the truth.
_____ F. I have a knack for helping others
get back on track when their faith
is shaken.
Spiritual
Gifts
Assessment
Directions:
Read each statement. Using these definitions, please mark
one of the following letters in each of the spaces provided.
Y = Definitely true of me
N = Not true of me
S = Sometimes true of me
? = I have not experienced enough to answer
_____ G. God helps me to explain the
gospel in clear terms and often
brings me into contact with those
who want to hear the good news.
_____ H. People have told me that they are
amazed by my unfailing trust in
God.
_____ I. _____ J. Need someone to help out a good
cause? Ask me for a donation. God
compels me to give.
People can count on me to help
them with projects and tasks.
_____ K. I am good at making others feel
welcome and comfortable.
_____ L. I feel compelled to pray for issues
because I have seen God answer
my prayers in powerful ways.
_____ M. People seem amazed at how I
bring insight from the Bible in
ways they hadn’t considered.
_____ N. I am expert at inspiring and
motivating people to pursue big
goals for God.
_____ O. I am usually very comforting and
caring to others, in a practical,
helpful way.
20
_____ P. I see truth others sometimes don’t
see and make people confront the
truth for themselves.
_____ Q. The love that God helps me to
show others really helps people to
grow in their faith.
_____ R. I know the Bible and can explain
spiritual truths so that others
understand.
_____ S. People trust me to know the right,
Biblically appropriate course of
action in troubling situations.
Determining Your
Spiritual Gifts
To see which Spiritual Gifts relate to the
statements above match those questions
that you answered with a “Y” or “S” to the
corresponding letter of the Spiritual Gift
below.
As you read the definition of each gift and
compare it with your responses to the
statements on the Spiritual Gifts SelfAssessment, rank the gifts in order of the
strength of your positive responses at the end
of the assessment.
Bible verse references that help identify and
describe the gifts are in parentheses after the
definitions. As you try to discern what gifts
God has given you, study those verses for
additional insights.
_____ E. Discernment: The Spirit-given
ability to distinguish between
truth and error, and to discern the
spirits, differentiating between
good and evil, right and wrong. (1
Corinthians 12:10; Acts 5:1-11; Acts
16:16-18; 1 John 4:16-18; Matthew
16:21-23)
_____ F. Encouragement: The Spirit-given
ability to comfort, challenge,
and affirm those who are having
difficulty with their lives and faith.
(Romans 12:8; Hebrews 10:25; Acts
14:21-22)
_____ G. Evangelism: The Spirit-given ability
to share the good news in an
accepting, clear, and convincing
way that may help others learn
about Christ. (2 Timothy 4:5;
Ephesians 4:11-14; Acts 8:5-6, 26-40;
Acts 12:24; Acts 26:1-29)
_____ H.
Faith: The Spirit-given ability to
trust God’s faithfulness to provide
a way in all circumstances. (1
Corinthians 12:9; Acts 11:22-24;
Acts 27:21-25; Hebrews 11; Romans
4:18- 21)
_____ I. Giving: The Spirit-given ability
to contribute significant personal
and material resources to the
Lord’s work freely, cheerfully, and
sacrificially. (2 Corinthians 8:1-7, 15;
Romans 12:8; 2 Corinthians 9:2-8;
Mark 12:41-44; Luke 8:2-3; John
12:1-8)
_____ J. Helps/Service: The Spirit-given
ability to invest one’s time and
energy in the accomplishment of
tasks within the church, and to see
spiritual value in doing work that
will free others to use their gifts. (1
Peter 4:11; Romans 16:1-2; Acts 9:36;
Mark 15:40-41; 1 Corinthians 12:28)
Descriptions
of Various
Spiritual Gifts
_____ A. Administration: The Spirit-given
ability to translate a vision into
reality by developing a plan of
action and directing, motivating,
and coordinating others to achieve
that goal. (1 Corinthians 12:28;
Luke 14:28-30; Titus 1:5; Acts 6:1-7)
_____ B. Counseling: The Spirit-given
ability to effectively listen to
people and assist them in their
quest for psychological and
relational wholeness. (Matthew
5; Proverbs 8:14; Proverbs 20:5;
Proverbs 27:9)
_____ C. Craftsmanship: The Spirit-given
ability to use your hands, energy,
and imagination to create or repair
needed items for Christ’s church.
(Exodus 31:1-6, Exodus 35:30-36:5)
_____ D. Creative Communication:
The Spirit-given ability to use
hands, mind, and imagination to
communicate God’s truth through,
visual, written or performing arts.
(Exodus 35:31-35; 1 Samuel 16:14-23;
2 Samuel 23:1-2)
_____ K. Hospitality: The Spirit-given
ability to offer a warm welcome
and an inviting presence to
strangers and guests to the church
or a home setting. (1 Peter 4:910; Romans 16:23; Acts 16:14-15;
Hebrews 13:1-2)
_____ L. Intercession: The Spirit-given
ability to pray faithfully
and effectively for others
consistently and to see answers
to prayer at a frequency
beyond that of most other
Christians. (Mark 11:22-25;
James 5:14-16; 1 Timothy 2:1-2;
Colossians 1:9-12; Colossians
4:12-13; Luke 22:41-44)
_____ A. I manage details and people well
and can really get things done.
21
_____ S. Wisdom: The Spirit-given ability to apply spiritual
truth effectively to meet a need in a specific situation. (1
Corinthians 12:8; 1 Corinthians 2:1-13; Acts 6:3, 10; James
1:5-6; 2 Peter 3:15, 16)
_____ M. Knowledge: The divine enablement to bring truth to
the body through a revelation or Biblical insight. (1
Corinthians 12:8; Mark 2:6-8; John 1:45-50)
_____ N. Leadership: The Spirit-given ability to lead others by
seeing and casting a vision, setting and communicating
goals, and inspiring and directing people to work together
toward those goals. (Romans 12:8; 1 Timothy 5:17; Acts 7:10;
Acts 15:7-11; Hebrews 13:17; Luke 9:51)
My Spiritual Gifts
List those Spiritual Gifts that you have
uncovered through this assessment.
_____ O. Mercy: The Spirit-given ability to feel genuine empathy
and compassion for hurting people and to translate that
feeling into cheerful acts of service. (Luke 10:30-37; Mark
9:41; Acts 16:33-34; Matthew 20:29-34; Acts 11:28-30)
1.______________________________________________________________________
2.______________________________________________________________________
3.______________________________________________________________________
_____ P. Prophecy: The Spirit-given ability to reveal truth
and proclaim it in a timely and relevant manner for
understanding, correction, repentance, or edification,
with immediate or future implications. (Romans 12:6; 1
Corinthians 12:10, 28; 1 Corinthians 13:2; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
4.______________________________________________________________________
5.______________________________________________________________________
6.______________________________________________________________________
_____ Q. Shepherding: The Spirit-given ability to keep watch over,
care for, support, and feed members of the Body of Christ
as they seek to grow spiritually. (Titus 1:9; 1 Timothy 3:1-7;
John 10:1-8; 1 Peter 5:1-3)
7.______________________________________________________________________
8.______________________________________________________________________
_____ R. Teaching: The Spirit-given ability to clearly and effectively
communicate Scripture, truths and information to help
adults and children grow in faith. (James 3:1; 1 Corinthians
12:28; Ephesians 4:11-15; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Timothy 4:13-14;
Acts 18:24-28; Acts 20:20-21)
9.______________________________________________________________________
10._____________________________________________________________________
11._____________________________________________________________________
12._____________________________________________________________________
13._____________________________________________________________________
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Prevent holiday weight gain
with these simple tips
BY CA MILLE CL A R K E
You have worked hard over
the years to get your results…
that ideal body. Don’t lose it
over the holidays. Rather than
giving into gaining fat, strive to
maintain your current fitness.
Better yet, set goals and take
this time to make gains—gains
in strength, muscle, and a
leaner physique that is. These
nine simple tips will help you
beat holiday weight gain and
lower stress levels, meaning
you’ll enjoy your holidays that
much more.
1) SET A GOAL
Holiday months are excellent
times to set new goals and
ramp up your program. Why
wait until the New Year? Set
goals now and start today! You
may already have short- and
long-term goals in place, but if
not, this is the perfect time to
set some. If your goal is to lose
fat, you’ll need a fat burning
workout protocol and the ability to “just say no” to Holiday
food that doesn’t fit your diet.
So you’ve been training really
hard and have toyed with the
idea of taking a break…don’t
dismiss that thought. Rest and
recovery are also critical to
that great look. Taking a well
planned and deserved hiatus
could be just what your body
needs…a good goal for you.
Over the past couple of years,
I have deliberately scheduled
a competition right before
Thanksgiving or Christmas. By
the time I sit down for those
scrumptious holiday meals
filled with decadent foods,
I can enjoy them without
guilt (within reason, of
course). I attribute this to
a strategy that I use year
round. I work hard during
the week with an intentional and planned cheat
day. If I have a vacation
or a planned nine course
meal, I would lose weight
24
prior to the event and make
that day my cheat day. It’s like
a reward for all the hard work
I put in. But I don’t gorge on
everything, I just allow myself a
pecan or pumpkin pie in moderation…eh maybe both.
2) CHOOSE THE
LEAST WORST OPTION
The good news about holiday
meals is that they don’t lack
protein. Turkey and other
meats will provide an excellent
source of muscle building protein. The bad news: there is an
over abundance of high-carb
foods that will cause major
problems for insulin health.
High-carb foods cause a quick
spike in insulin, which signals
the body to move glucose out
of the blood stream. This leads
to a drop in blood sugar and
more carbohydrate cravings
to re-elevate the blood sugar.
High-carb foods provide empty
calories, but they also set you
on the road to a cycle of carb
cravings. To deal with this,
choose the least worst option.
3) EAT BREAKFAST:
MEAT AND NUTS
Eat breakfast on the day your
going to have your big feast.
I know a lot of people skip
breakfast and lunch, However, “saving” calories for the
meal or a big holiday party is
not your best bet. If you skip
breakfast, you’ll likely be famished by the big meal, resulting
in overeating. Better caloric
and macronutrient management are achieved by eating a
small amount of protein with
a low-glycemic food such as
strawberries or almonds to fill
you up, give you nourishment,
and set up your neurotransmitters for optimal production
throughout the day.
Research actually supports
this strategy. Evidence shows
8) AVOID PROCESSED
FOODS AT ALL COSTS:
OPT FOR WHOLE ORGANIC FOODS
that eating protein for breakfast reduces the brain signals
that controls food motivation
and reward-driven eating
behavior. A protein-rich breakfast will minimize cravings for
high-carb foods during the
holiday event, and you won’t
feel starved and need to eat
everything in sight.
4) DRINK GREEN TEA TO
MINIMIZE THE NEGATIVE
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL
Green tea is filled with antioxidants. It is well known that
it combats oxidative stress all
over the body. Research shows
that the antioxidants in green
tea will protect the liver from
damage by alcohol. One study
found that green tea eliminated liver damage from alcohol
intake. Because it promotes
better liver function, it may
help you minimize feelings of a
hangover. Drink green tea before
having a holiday meal or going
to a party and you will not only
protect yourself from oxidative
stress from alcohol, but you’ll
also improve insulin sensitivity.
Green tea elevates glucose
uptake and support fat burning—although only minimally—
making it a must have before
any holiday party.
5) EAT A LOW-GLYCEMIC
FOOD
With Your Carbs For A Better
Insulin Response
Pair low-glycemic foods with
your carbs to get a better
insulin response and minimize
radical blood sugar fluctuations. Low-glycemic foods have
been shown to slow digestion
and mitigate the effect of
high-glycemic carb foods that
normally spike insulin. For
example, adding fenugreek
to wheat bread or blueberries
to oatmeal (the bread and
oatmeal are both high-carb,
high-glycemic foods), has been
shown to result in a lower
insulin response than would be
expected.
6) GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Get enough sleep and clean up
your sleep hygiene. There’s an
abundance of research showing that sleep-deprived individuals are fatter than well-rested
people. We also know that
being tired leads people to eat
more, particularly foods with
more saturated fat. Sleep deprivation leads
to a number of hormonal
problems including elevated
cortisol, and lower growth
hormone, serotonin, and melatonin. Even short-term sleep
deprivation appears to result in
individuals eating significantly
more calories overall than they
would if they were rested, and
it leads to a major increase in
saturated fat and overall fat intake. Also, in one study, participants who were sleep-deprived
burned 300 fewer calories a
day because they were less
active than if they got their
regular amount of sleep.
7) GET YOUR OMEGA-3S
WITH MEALS
Take omega-3 fish oils with
all meals for a better insulin
response and lower inflammation. You’ll also burn more fat! There’s a ton of research
Avoid processed and conventional foods at all costs.
Choose organic whole foods to
get more diet-induced calorie
burning from food. Research
shows that processed foods
will have a significantly lower
diet-induced thermic effect
than eating whole foods. The thermic effect of
food is the amount of calories required to break down
food, synthesize enzymes, and
perform metabolic processes.
It is typically about 10 percent
of daily energy expenditure.
Protein burns the most calories,
followed by carbohydrates and
then fats. In a recent study, researchers compared the effect
of eating a whole food meal
with a processed food meal,
both with equal calorie and
macronutrient content. The
thermic effect for the participants who ate the whole food
meal was almost 50 percent
higher than the thermic effect
for the individuals who ate
the processed food meal. Plus,
the participants who ate the
processed food meal had their
metabolism drop below their
average basal metabolic rate
(BMR)—the average energy
needed to keep the body functioning at rest.
The reason for the dramatic difference in calorie burn for
the two meal types is due to
variation in the quality of the
ingredients and fiber content
between the two meals. The
processed food meal contained
refined grains without bran
or germ and about one-third
of the fiber of the whole food
meal. The refined quality of
the processed food ingredients
means it is more easily broken
down by the body, requires less
enzyme production, ultimately
burning fewer calories in the
process.
Apply this to your Holiday meal management and
focus on eating more organic
high-protein foods. Stay away
from processed foods such
as white bread, stuffing, and
anything that is store bought.
Choose homemade foods. Opt
for vegetables even if they may
be cooked in fat. And, if you
must eat carbs, opt for gluten-free or whole grain-based
ones. Pie is a bad option as are
all baked sweets. Berries, or
ice cream and berries are much
better options.
I generally suggest the
following carb intake based
on training volume for a given
workout: 12-72 reps per workout: 0.6 g/
kg/lean body mass (lbm)
73-200 reps per workout: 0.8
g/kg/lbm
g/kg/lbm
g/kg/lbm
This is not a lot of carbs, but if
you go into your Holiday dinner
with a carb goal and an idea
of carb quantity in the foods
you’ll be choosing from, you’ll
be more likely to minimize
weight gain.
9) TRAIN HIGH VOLUME
RIGHT BEFORE EATING—DON’T DO
AEROBIC TRAINING!
Train hard with a high volume
of repetitions right before
eating the holiday meal. This
will burn a lot of energy, set
your muscle up for serious
protein synthesis, elevate fat
burning and metabolic rate,
and improve insulin sensitivity.
You’ll be able to indulge a bit
because the best time to load
up on carbs is right after your
workout. Avoid continuous aerobic
training at all costs because
this raises cortisol, oxidative
stress, and has no effect on fat
burning. Instead, perform a
sprint workout in addition to a
high-volume of lifts with high
repetitions.
Camille Clarke is an IFBB Figure
Pro, Fitness Model, Nutritionist
and owner of Camille’s Fitness Inc.
Camille holds an MS in Exercise
Physiology and is currently certified
through ISSA, ACSM and
NASM. Camille’s experience as
an obese adolescent weighing in
at 283lbs gives her a firsthand
understanding of those who
struggle with weight loss.
Camille’s quest to change her
health and appearance has
pushed her to motivate, inspire
and educate others to do the
same!
Website: camillesfitness.com
showing that fish oil is essential
for health, but it is particularly important when trying to
minimize the effects of holiday
eating and drinking. Omega-3s
will increase your levels of serotonin (the hormone that makes
you feel good), and decrease
depression and anxiety. Plus,
they turn on the lipolytic genes
(which burn fat), turn off the
lipogenic genes (which store
fat), and reduce carb cravings. Research shows that
because omega-3s trigger
fat burning, they also help
minimize the amount of insulin
secreted from the pancreas.
Less insulin is always a good
thing. There’s also evidence
that omega-3s improve glucose
metabolism and help the cells
be more sensitive to insulin. 25
BIKER SUNDAY
YEAR IN
REVIEW
PART I
BACKPACK DRIVE
GIRL SCOUTS SUNDAY
PASTOR CURTIS’ BOOK SIGNING
26
GRADUATION SUNDAY
COMMUNITY RECOGNITION CELEBRATION
Mount Ararat Members can you believe 2015 has come and gone!
This year, we have been focused on being “Disciples on the
Grow,” and God has equipped us to continue to provide quality
programs, services and outreach events that included, but were
not limited to: Biker Sunday, our Book Bag & School Supplies
Drive, Youth & Young Adult Weekend, Health & Wellness
events, our Food & Clothing Bank and our Church Tailgate!
Not to mention, the many programs and services our
Community Center provides to youth, teens and seniors everyday! We can’t forget our weekly worship services held each
Saturday at 7:00p.m.and Sunday Mornings at 7:30am, 9:30am
and 11:45am that features live music, singing, prayer, dance,
fellowship and the Word of God. We invite you to visit us and/or
join a ministry -- We’ll be waiting for you!
27
YEAR IN REVIEW
FAMILY FUN NIGHT
CONTINUED
SUMMER INTENSIVE PROGRAM
28
SENIOR QUARTERLY LUNCHEON
29
Students Weigh In on the
Educational Partnership between
Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg
BY MER ECEDES J. HOW ZE
30
districts’ school boards, the
Wilkinsburg School District
will pay the Pittsburgh School
District the tuition rate of $8,000
per student for the first year.
The tuition rate will increase to
$9,600 in the second year. In the
event that transition funding is
not secured from the Pennsylvania Department of Education,
the Wilkinsburg School District
will pay Pittsburgh the tuition
rate of $12,954 for the first year.
The tuition rate will increase to
$13,056 in the second year.
Another big topic amongst
the student is the transition. “It
is not going to be peachy. There
will be trials and tribulations;
but we will get there,” said Alford.
“I think there will be a
division for the first half of the
year where Wilkinsburg students
will be sticking with Wilkinsburg students and vice versa.
Everyone will be feeling out the
new people,” said Wilkinsburg’s
Stubbs.
All five students hope to be
a part of a transitional committee with district leaders to make
suggestions and provide input.
Both sides had a lot of questions
about the change. Their most
immediate concern is student
body interaction. Starting soon,
they want Pittsburgh Westinghouse students and Wilkinsburg
students to meet regularly by
grade level for team building to
ensure unison and familiarity on
the first day of school.
The Wilkinsburg students
want to keep their teachers,
while the Pittsburgh Westinghouse students don’t want their
school year to be interrupted.
Even though there are demands
on both sides, they both agree
they want a smooth transition.
Another thing they agreed upon
is for both districts to identify a
time for the students to meet before the start of the school year.
Q:
What happens to a
Your soul is not limited to the physical
existence of your body. And your body does not
hinder you from spending eternity with our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. It’s a matter of the heart.
Therefore, cremation is just a matter of personal
choice.
On that Great Last Day, the same infinite
God that created man from the dust will be able
to resurrect your body, regardless of whether you
were cremated or buried. Ecclesiastes 12:7 “Then
the dust will return to the earth as it was…and the
spirit will return to God who gave it…”
“The dead in Christ shall rise…” The Bible
doesn’t say that the buried in Christ shall rise nor
does it say the ashes burned in Christ shall rise.
So rest assured that no matter what, God is not
hindered by the body being cremated or by the
body being buried.
don't want their school year to be interrupted. Even
though
are demands on both sides, they
Christian’s
soul ifthere
they
cremated?
both agree they want a smooth transition. Anotherare
thing
they agreed upon is for both districts to
JACQUELINE ,
COR AL SPR INGS, FLOR IDA
identify a time for the students to meet before
the start of the school year.
A:
In this day and age, when making
end of life decisions for loved ones,
more and more people seem to opt
for cremation rather than preparing
for lavish funerals. Perhaps one of the reasons
is because cremation is less expensive than the
burial process. Another reason could lend to religious and/or cultural beliefs whose customs honor
cremation as the normal act of transition. Yet
another reason some people choose cremation for
their loved ones is to avoid the physical, weighted,
emotional toll taken on family and friends who
have had to prepare for a two day viewing/funeral,
home going celebratory ceremony which includes
but is not limited to the choosing of a casket, a
vault, floral arrangements, burial plots, programs,
etc. Most of us tend to use this method as our one
final act of love and respect for our dearly departed. Whatever the reasons, the most important
thing to consider is the answer to your question.
‘How does God feel about cremation and what
happens to the soul as a result?’
Many questions arise considering cremation
as an option. Questions such as: ‘Are there any
spiritual consequences relating to cremation?’
And ‘Is God pleased or displeased with cremation?’
Although the Bible doesn’t specifically
condone or condemn cremation, the Bible does
mention a few instances of the burning of the
remains of those who have died. One mention in
particular is in the Old Testament book of Joshua
7:24-25: Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took
Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold
bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys
and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. Joshua said, “Why have you brought
this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on
you today.” Then all Israel stoned him, and after
they had stoned the rest, they burned them. Over
Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which
remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from
his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been
called the Valley of Achor ever since.
The Bible also refers to I Samuel 31:11-13, In
this passage there were ‘valiant men’ who had
rescued the bodies of Saul and his three sons after
they had been killed and the valiant men burned
their bodies. As an act of honor the valiant men of
Jabesh Gilead cremated Saul and his sons:
A little over 200 Wilkinsburg students are anticipated to attend the Homewood school.
Pittsburgh Westinghouse and Wilkinsburg students meet at Pittsburgh Westinghouse in November. From
right to left: Annette Payne, Sehshay Turner, Shawn Stubbs, Mya Alford, and Robert Montgomery (Photo
by Alexis Tippett)
A little over 200 Wilkinsburg
tation, and student-based learning. Our
eliminate God and religion from public
schools. School leaders condemn those
who bring Christ in to schools, but then
turn right around and excuse attendance
to celebrate Christmas. The mix messaging might confused some. But, it’s a
clear cry for help-- public schools, now
more than ever; need God to permeate
throughout the system.
It is important to keep Him close in the
decision making, curriculum implemen-
to remove God from the core of public
education, but we, as believers, have the
right to re-engage. His omnipresence is
superior over all others. Let’s keep both
the Wilkinsburg and Pittsburgh Westinghouse communities in our prayers.
SUBMIT TED BY: DEACONS CL AUDIA
MASON, K ATHY HUNT,
DWIGHT MOSLEY
up in aWilkinsburg
time where
students are anticipated
to attend children are growing
Pittsburgh
Westinghouse
and
students meet at Pittsburgh Westinghouse in November.
people are preying not praying.
the Homewood school.
It will take an army of disciples
From
right
to
left:
Annette
from the communityPayne,
and churches to Sehshay Turner, Shawn Stubbs, Mya Alford, and Robert
Writer’s Commentary:
band together in purpose and prayer
RELIGION IN SCHOOLS
This section is designed to answer questions
educational partnership.
Montgomery
(Photoaround
bythis Alexis
Tippett)
The norm has been to completely
that you may have about the Bible or
Non-believers might have made attempts
Christianity. In the church, Deacons
function as servants, ministering to the
church body in practical ways, including,
but not limited to: discipleship, assisting
with baptism, prayer and visitation to the
sick. If you have a question that you would
like one of our Deacons to answer, please
submit your question to:
[email protected]
Pittsburgh Public Schools and
have agreed upon an educational partnership to start next
school year, where Wilkinsburg
students in grades 7-12 will
attend Pittsburgh Westinghouse.
Students at both Pittsburgh
Westinghouse and Wilkinsburg
High Schools have come together
to share their excitement and
concerns.
Seated at a table in a conference room inside Pittsburgh
Westinghouse, student leaders
met on Friday to swap their
stories about their hopes and
expectations for the 2016-2017
school year.
Pittsburgh Westinghouse
was represented by Junior Class
President Mya Alford, 16, and
Sophomore Robert Montgomery,
15. On the other side of the table
were Wilkinsburg Freshman Annette Payne, 15, Juniors Sehshay
Turner, 16, and Shawn Stubbs, 16.
Straight out of the gate,
Turner, in a calm voice said, “I
just want to learn.”
Due to low enrollment, the
announced it could not provide
the academic, extra-curricular
and technology opportunities
required to provide its students,
in grades seven through twelve,
the quality education they need.
All three Wilkinsburg students plan to attend Pittsburgh
Westinghouse next school year
and expressed hesitation about
leaving their teachers. Westinghouse’s Montgomery understood
as he likes his own teachers at
the school.
Also, Montgomery wishes
that accepting Wilkinsburg
students means more funding. “In my eyes, coming to
Westinghouse is a privilege
and hopefully, the change
means more students, more
opportunities, and more
money.”
According the Letter of
Intent approved by both
ASK A
DEACON
The Wilkinsburg students want to keep their teachers, while the Pittsburgh Westinghouse students
When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard
what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all their
valiant men marched through the night to Beth
Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and
his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to
Jabesh, where they burned them. Then they took
their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree
at Jabesh, and they fasted seven day.”
So, is God displeased with cremation? I
would imagine based on these two scriptures
alone that if God was displeased with cremation,
He would have judged these men’s actions at some
point. Thus, it is more likely that there were consequences due to sin committed and less likely due
to cremation.
We have to remember that even if the body
is buried, in time the physical body will decay and
decompose and end up as dust—nothing is left.
“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust
of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
Genesis 2:7. And therefore, back to the earth we
will return.
What happens to our Soul/Spirit once cremated? Although the Bible doesn’t speak specifically about cremation, it does speak of us having
a Soul and a Spirit. Our Spirit nature is connected
to our intimate relationship with God. Our Soul
nature (also closely identified to our spirit man) is
connected to our emotional realm. So the question
remains, if the body goes back to dust whether
cremated or buried, what happens to our soul and
spirit after our physical body has transitioned in
death.
The moment you take your last breath you…
your Spirit Man… will rest in eternity. (Which
eternity is determined by the type of relationship
you had with Jesus Christ before you took your
last breath.) “But if Christ is in you, then even
though your body is subject to death because of
sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.”
Romans 8:10.
So then what happens to our ashes or bodies
after death? Well we can rest assured by what
is revealed in 1Thessalonians 4: 13-17 “Brothers
and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed
about those who sleep in death, so that you do not
grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.
For we believe that Jesus died and rose again and
so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those
who have fallen asleep in him. According to the
Lord’s Word, we tell you that we who are still
alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,
will certainly not precede those who have fallen
asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from
heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of
the archangel and with the trumpet call of God,
and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that,
we who are still alive and are left will be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord
in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Therefore encourage one another with these
words.” We will receive new bodies…glorified
bodies on that last and glorious day. No need for
these bodies we have now. God will make us new.
31
PHOTO
RECAP
COMPUTER
LITERACY
CLASSES
Mount Ararat’s Community
Activity Center provides free
computer literacy classes for
seniors. For more information,
call 412-441-1800.
Unless you’re the number one
ranked UFC middleweight
fighter, you’re likely not going
to be able to bend the new
iPhone 6s Plus. But you stand a
very good chance of dropping
your pricey smartphone on a
hard surface, dropping it in the
toilet or leaving it unattended
in the hands of your kids. While
it will help to get a case, it’s
also a good idea to invest in a
product designed to endure a
little abuse.
But which new
smartphone is durable
enough for you? No matter if
you choose an iPhone, a
Samsung Galaxy or another
phone, it’s important to
research before you buy.
SquareTrade, a
protection plan provider
for smartphones, tablets
and other electronics,
recently asked mixed
martial artist and UFC
fighter Luke Rockhold
to find out if Apple had
increased the durability of
its new phones. Rockhold
32
performed two tests on
the phones: a Rockhold
Roundhouse and a Submission
Bend Test. The findings?
Despite new ion-strengthened
Retina HD displays, all phone
screens break equally when
they hit a hard surface, but
the new iPhone 6s Plus, which
has been reinforced with 7000
series aluminum, was truly
tougher than the previous
models.
In addition to Rockhold’s
scrutiny, the company put
the new iPhones through
their battery of robot tests,
to determine each device’s
Breakability Score, including
a new extreme temperature
test in the company’s newly
designed Thermo Rig.
HERE ARE SOME
HIGHLIGHTS OF THEIR
FINDINGS:
Apple fixed its bend issues. In
the BendBot test, the iPhone
6s Plus and 6s withstood
180 and 170 pounds of
pressure, respectively -- a 50
to 60 percent improvement
in bendability. The Samsung
Galaxy Note5 also withstood
170 pounds. “Both
manufacturers have responded
to Bendgate with significant
improvements on the three
phones we tested. This is great
news for consumers,” says
Jessica Hoffman vice president
of global communications for
SquareTrade.
Face-down drops are
still the most common phone
hazard. Though manufacturers
tout new and improved glass,
all three phones shattered
when dropped face down on
pavement. “Phones are still at
the mercy of this most common
of all problems,” says Hoffman.
The Note5 fares better
in extreme cold. Though the
Note5 was the easiest to drop
and break, it scored the highest
in temperature durability.
Extreme temperatures impact
a phone’s ability to hold a
full charge and shorten the
lifespan of the phone’s battery.
The Note5 lasted nearly two
hours in extreme cold while
making a video call, the iPhone
6s Plus lasted a little more an
hour and the iPhone 6s lasted
only 30 minutes.
Better protect whatever
phone you opt for with a hard
case and a good protection
plan, which can cost just a few
dollars monthly and be a great
antidote to “oops anxieties.”
For information on protection
plans visit www.squaretrade.
com.
Have butterfingers when
handling that pricey piece
of glass you carry around all
day? Frequently leave your
phone alone with martial
artists? Learn more about your
potential new device’s strength
and be sure to safeguard your
expenditure.
[STATEPOINT ]
PHOTO
RECAP
MILTON
HERSHEY
SCHOOL
Milton Hershey School visited
Mount Ararat to share
information about their costfree, private, co-educational
school that is looking for
Couples to employ as House
Parents. The school provides
a positive, structured home
life year-round to help children
gain the skills to be successful
in all aspects of life? For
more information, visit www.
mhskids.org/careers
Will Your Smartphone
Withstand Everyday Wear and Tear?
FIGHTING CHAMPION LUKE ROCKHOLD TESTS THE NEW IPHONES
FOR BREAKABILITY.
33
PHOTO
RECAP
YOUTH &
YOUNG ADULT
WEEKEND
34
This year, our Annual Praise
Party went into “OVERTIME”
and took over the entire
weekend on Saturday, October
31st - the Youth of the Mount
hosted a High School College &
Career Fair that included college
preparation workshops, free
food, free hair cuts provided by
“Society Barbershop,” and we
even made time for a little line
dancing! THEN on the same day
at 6:00 pm, we featured games,
dancers, a live band, special
guests and Much More! The
next day was “Rep Your School”
Sunday, and during all three
services, everyone wore shirts
representing their college or
university. This year’s Praise Party
had something for everyone!
Thank you to the Youth of
the Mount, Staff, Ministers &
Volunteers that made this event
a memorable one!
35
Thoughtful Stocking Stuffers
for the Holiday Season
TECH ACCESSORIES
Gifting new tech devices? Be sure
you also equip recipients with
all the accessories they will need
to enjoy their gifts on-the-go.
From hard shell cases that offer
protection from slips and drops,
(as these incidents are bound to
occur) to app store gift cards for
quick downloading of the software needed to make the most
of these items.
BATTERIES INCLUDED!
Nothing kills the thrill of receiving a new device quite like the
phrase “batteries not included.”
From remote-controlled cars to
digital cameras, gift recipients
won’t want to just look at their
new toys, they’ll want to use
them right away! Avoid disap-
pointment by providing juice
for all those battery-operated
goodies.
Consider pairing cutting
edge gifts with cutting edge
Energizer EcoAdvanced AA and
AAA batteries. They are the
brand’s longest-lasting alkaline
battery and the world’s first AA
battery made with four percent
recycled batteries. To learn more,
visit energizer.com/ecoadvanced.
TRAVEL
For those loved ones who have
traveled to spend the holidays
with you, consider a thoughtful
gift that can be used during the
journey home. From travel-sized
board games to snack packs
or tiny notebooks, these items
will come in handy whether gift
recipients are traveling by plane,
train or automobile.
This year, don’t forget the
stocking stuffers -- they are a
great opportunity to show your
loved ones just how thoughtful
you are.
[STATEPOINT ]
PHOTO
RECAP
Tips to Give Unique,
Meaningful Gifts this
Holiday Season
Making your list and
checking it twice? Coming
up with unique items for all
your family and friends in a
short period of time is not
always a simple feat.
Luckily, there are many
easy ways to make everyone on your list feel special.
CUSTOMIZED BOOKS
While literature always
makes a great gift, a
personalized book will
make reading time extra
appealing, and a cherished
present that will never be
forgotten.
Personalized book
companies let you make
your gift recipient the hero
of a unique story, complete
with the person’s name and
photo.
PERSONALIZED
CANDLES
36
SNAPSHOTS
Turn the gift of a treasured
candle into something
even more personalized by
incorporating photos and
messages on the candle
label. Make a statement by
picking a fragrance with
your recipient in mind, tied
to special memories you
share.
To create made-to-order combinations for your
friends and family, consider Yankee Candle, which
offers several customization
options that allow you to
personalize everything from
the label design to embellishments in the wrapping.
Their lineup of fragrances
includes Buttercream, Lilac
Blossoms, and Sparkling
Cinnamon, conjuring fond
memories of everything
from a walk through
flowery fields to a favorite
holiday dessert.
Personalized candles,
which are easy to design,
also make thoughtful hostess gifts for all your holiday
festivities this season.
DIY GIFT BASKET
A standard-issue gift basket
will be appreciated, but
to show you truly care,
consider customizing each
gift for every recipient. You
can make unique creations
by taking favorites into
consideration. Is your gift
recipient a dog lover? Does
she have a sweet tooth?
After stocking baskets
with goodies customized
to their tastes, adorn each
one with unique garlands,
ribbons and bows.
This holiday season is
the perfect opportunity to
take advantage of all the
easy, customizable options
available to make each gift
thoughtful and unforgettable.
(STATEPOINT )
DR. TAUNYA TINSLEY RECEIVES
ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARD,
PASSION MEETS THE ROAD
AWARD CEREMONY
While the big ticket items are
always a thrill to bestow and
receive during the holidays,
sometimes smaller stocking
stuffers are the most needed and
appreciated.
Here are some ideas to get
you started:
ON JULY 11 2015 RICHARD FAULKNER JR
AND MOUNT ARARAT STAFF SHERRY
BROOKS WERE UNITED IN MARRIAGE.
37
effects.
Gadgets don’t have to
mean passivity: these toys
use interactive technology to
occupy kids with the kind of
imaginative play and creativity
that furthers development
and learning, long after the
holidays are over.
ARTS & CRAFTS
Toddler Boredom Busters
for the Holiday Season
For many families, the holiday
season means giving, celebrating, and spending time
together -- but it also means
chilly weather and long hours
cooped up inside the house.
This year, consider using the
downtime to help children tap
into their natural creativity.
Here are some festive ways to
motivate kids to engage in fun
and active learning.
FAMILY ROOM FORT
If the weather outside is
frightful, transform the family
room or den into an opportunity for adventure. Kids can
use the couch, blankets and
all those boxes that seem to
amass during the holidays to
create a fort, which makes the
perfect temporary stand-in
for a treehouse or outdoor
clubhouse. Let kids get
creative by decorating the
outside of the boxes with
snowflakes, snowmen and
other seasonal shapes.
38
IMAGINATIVE TOYS
Parents can ensure creativity continues long after
kids unwrap their presents.
Playtime is also learning
time: according to Dr. Deborah
Libby, Early Childhood Reading and Language Expert and
VTech Expert Panel Member,
“Play ideally begins early and
continues throughout a child’s
life, helping them learn, think,
socialize, problem solve and
ultimately have fun.”
One great choice for
sparking imaginations and
building motor skills is the Go!
Go! Smart Wheels Ultimate RC
Speedway from VTech. With
4.5 feet of track, which incorporates features like a stunt
ramp, elevator, track switches,
and more, this new set inspires
interactive play all year round.
Kids take charge by using a
remote control to zoom the RC
SmartPoint Racer around the
brightly-colored course, which
also activates playful music and
sounds to further engage little
ones.
Another option is VTech’s
Go! Go! Smart Friends Busy
Sounds Discovery Home, cleverly designed to demonstrate
cause and effect relationships
to toddlers. Each friend comes
alive when placed on one of
the house’s MagicPoint locations, through the use of talk,
song, light and motion. The
characters also interact with
one another, teaching children
how to introduce themselves
and build friendships.
And the Go! Go! Smart
Animals Grow & Learn Farm
features an electronic barn
that teaches kids about colors,
numbers, and plants. When
toddlers roll Reggie the Rooster
over each of the farm’s SmartPoint locations, they’ll hear
new phrases, music and sound
Making holiday decorations at
home is a great way to get children involved in stimulating,
hands-on activities. With just
a few simple art supplies, they
can craft their own greeting
cards, create snowflake shapes
that double as ornaments,
or help design gingerbread
houses. Such activities not only
enhance fine motor skills, but
also inspire kids to use their
innate inventiveness.
This holiday season and
beyond, keep boredom at
bay by encouraging kids to be
creative and mentally active.
(STATEPOINT )
OU R S E RVIC E S
YOU ARE WELCOME TO THE MINISTRY THAT CARES
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICES:
7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m.*
YOUTH OF THE MOUNT (YOTM):
Elev8: All-ages at 9:30 a.m.
Eleven47: Teens-only at 11:47 a.m.
SUNDAY SCHOOL:
4 years old to Adult at 9:30 a.m.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE:
Saturdays at 7 p.m.
BAPTISM & COMMUNION:
First Tuesday of the month
NEXT LEVEL SMALL CELL GROUPS:
Every Tuesday* *Except the first Tuesday of the month
MT-ARARAT.ORG • 412.441.1800
5 SIMPLE STEPS TO KEEP PETS HEALTHY OVER THE HOLIDAYS
RESIST THOSE PLEADING
EYES
According to veterinary
nutritionist Dr. Dottie
LaFlamme, high-calorie tidbits
contribute to caloric overload
and bad habits, while lacking
necessary nutrient balance.
“Just one teaspoon of beef
fat can contain almost twice
the calories a small dog should
consume in daily treats,”
LaFlamme notes, adding that
feeding from the table also
promotes begging behavior. “If
you must give pets a treat, feed
it in their bowl after the meal
to help with portion control.”
AVOID HOLIDAY HAZARDS
The holidays can be toxic to
pets. Chocolate poisoning
is one of the most common
accidents during the holidays,
according to veterinary critical
care specialist and toxicologist
40
Dr. Justine Lee. Other food foes
include grapes, raisins, bones,
unbaked yeast bread dough,
alcohol and xylitol, a common
sugar substitute.
Likewise, “Potpourri liquid
contains detergents that can
cause severe ulcers and burns
in a cat’s mouth, while tinsel
can act as a severe linear
foreign body when stuck in a
cat’s stomach and intestines,”
she explains.
If you’re hosting, ensure
houseguests pet-proof pill
bottles.
TAKE PREVENTIVE
MEASURES
Owners often experience a
false sense of security about
parasite prevention when
the weather turns cooler.
However, the holidays are
no time to take a break from
heartworm prevention, even
though heartworms are spread
by infected mosquitoes, says
veterinary parasitologist Dr.
Patricia Payne. Why? Because
preventives work retroactively
on heartworm larvae acquired
earlier in the season.
“There’s no way to
accurately predict past or
future transmission, so the
American Heartworm Society
recommends year-round
heartworm prevention for
dogs and cats,” she explains.
“Make sure to put a reminder
on your holiday calendar
to give routine monthly
preventives to pets.”
GIVE THE GIFT OF
ACTIVITY
“When we removed hunting
from pets’ daily lives, we
reduced their physical and
mental activity,” explains
veterinary behaviorist Dr.
Jacqueline Neilson. “When
pets lack mental stimulation,
they can become bored and
depressed, and often create
their own stimulating activities,
such as chewing items or
barking at passersby.”
Beat this concern with
food puzzles and toys that
require pets to work, play or
“hunt.”
“Consider your pet’s
personality when choosing
holiday gifts,” says Neilson. “If
your dog likes to chew things,
a food toy that needs to be
squeezed between the jaws
may be ideal. Herding breeds
may prefer a toy they can
nudge.”
TRAVEL PREP
An estimated 30 million people
travel with their pets annually,
and holidays are primetime for
hitting the road. Flying? Check
your airline’s pet requirements.
For car travel, invest in a carrier.
“Your pet will appreciate
a safe haven while traveling,”
says Dr. Robert Stannard, who
recommends adding a favorite
blanket to provide a sense of
familiarity.
Travel bowls, favorite
toys and medications are
necessities, not luxuries. Just be
careful not to overfeed.
“Like us, pets can get
motion sickness,” says
Stannard. “Don’t feed your
pet right before leaving, and
limit food during travel to help
prevent digestive upset.”
With a few precautionary
measures, your four-legged
family members can have a
happy, healthy holiday season.
PHOTO
RECAP
VOLUNTEER
APPRECIATION
DINNER
In appreciation for all of the hard
work our dedicated volunteers
put in their designated
ministries that assist Mount
Ararat’s congregation and the
community-at-large, the Church
Staff cooked, served and hosted
an appreciation dinner for over
100 volunteers. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SERVICE!
(STATEPOINT)
When making holiday plans,
consider your pets’ health
needs. Here, five veterinary
experts weigh in on steps to
keep pets happy and healthy
amid the hubbub.
41
BY R AY PORTER JR .
The Pittsburgh Steelers is a
legendary and longstanding
franchise that’s not only one
of the best in the National
Football League (NFL),
but also in professional
sports. Their six Super
Bowl Championships are
the most in the NFL and are
also in the Guinness Book
of World Records. Why?
Because it’s a record and
a milestone that no other
team has reached. They’re
also tied for the number of
42
Super Bowl appearances
(eight, also with the
Dallas Cowboys and
New England Patriots).
They also have 22 of their
players inducted into the
Pro Football Hall of Fame,
most recently, Running
Back Jerome Bettis.
Since the NFL merger
in 1970, the Pittsburgh
Steelers have compiled a
regular season record of
363–235–2 (.607) and an
overall record of 394–253–2
(.609) including the playoffs,
reached the playoffs 25
times, won their division
20 times, played in 15 AFC
championship games. They
are also the only NFL team
not to have a season with
12 or more losses since the
league expanded to a 16-game
schedule in 1978.
They also have an
ownership group that is
revered in all sports, and
what makes them special is
that they’re also a family. The
Rooney family has played a
crucial role in the Steelers
franchise since founder Art
Rooney, Sr. birthed them in
1933.
Rooney paid a $2,500
franchise fee to found a
Super Bowls in six
years and an incredible nine
Hall of Famers.
He was also very
instrumental in the NFL,
serving as a mediator and
being very well respected
by fellow owners and
commissioners of the sport.
Like a good father,
Rooney taught his sons the
family business and in 1974,
he turned the team president
duties over to his son Dan,
although he remained
the owner and remained
Chairman and President
Emeritus, as well as the public
face of the franchise until his
death in 1988.
Like his father,
Dan Rooney was very
instrumental in the NFL
in addition to his team
responsibilities and was
elected to the Pro Football
Hall of Fame in 2000 for his
contributions to the game. He
is credited with spearheading
a requirement that NFL teams
with head coach and general
manager vacancies interview
at least one minority
candidate, which has become
known as the “Rooney Rule.”
Dan then turned the
president responsibilities over
to his son Art II in 2003. Prior
to that, Art had served as vice
president and general counsel
of the Steelers, and has served
on the board of directors of
the Steelers since 1989.
He currently serves
as chairman of the NFL’s
Stadium Committee, and
serves on numerous NFL
boards, including the
Legislative Committee,
the Management Council
Executive Committee, the
International Committee and
the Digital Media Committee.
There are several other
Rooneys who also play a
part of the organization: Art
Rooney Jr., John Rooney, and
the McGinley family, who are
cousins to the Rooneys.
But if you think that the Steelers
ownership consists of only the
Rooneys, then you are mistaken. In
2008, there was actually a sale of
the Steelers (But not in the way that
you think) they obviously remained
in Pittsburgh, but there are now
majority and minority owners of the
football team.
Dan Rooney and Art Rooney II
retain control of the team with the
league-minimum 30%, the following
make up the other investors:
The other Rooneys and
McGinley family, Legendary
Pictures president and CEO Thomas
Tull. (Who’s production company
produced ‘The Dark Knight Rises’
and had scenes filmed in Pittsburgh
starring many of the Steelers).
The Robert A. Paul family
of Pittsburgh and Los Angeles,
which is primarily involved with
Pittsburgh-based Ampco Pittsburgh
Corporation as well as Morton’s
Restaurant Group, Urban Active
Fitness, Meyer Products and Harley
Marine Services. Additionally,
family members serve on
numerous boards, including Cornell
University, UPMC, University of
Pittsburgh, the American Red
Cross, Harvard Medical School and
the Loomis Chaffee School.
Golder, Thoma, Cressey,
Rauner, Inc. (GTCR), a Chicagobased capital and private equity
firm, chairman Bruce V. Rauner
of Brockway, Pennsylvania, which
owns several nursing homes and
a commercial real estate business.
Paul Evanson, chairman,
president, and CEO of Allegheny
Energy. Russ and Scott Swank
of Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania.
And most notably, former
Steelers Wide Receiver and Hall of
Famer John Stallworth.
The true key to success is having
a good team who is willing to do
their parts. On the field the Steelers
have done just that in their history,
mostly because of what the team has
done off the field, and the Rooney’s
made sure that they continued to
maintain those standards with a
stable and consistent ownership
team.
Ray Porter Jr. is a freelance sportswriter
at Urban Media Today (www.
urbanmediatoday.com). Follow him
@urbanmediaRay on Twitter
ACADEMICS IN MOTION RECEIVE
GIFT FROM PPG INDUSTRIES
FOUNDATION AND THE
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
On Sunday, November 8, 2015, PPG
Industries Foundation, in partnership
with the Pittsburgh Steelers, donated
$7500 to bring the Academics in Motion
(AIM) program to two greater Pittsburgh
area high schools and one high school in
West Virginia. Sue Sloan (right) Executive
Director of the PPG Industries Foundation
presents a $7500 check to Dr. Taunya
Tinsley, Regional Coordinator for AIM, prior
to kickoff of the Pittsburgh Steelers game
against the Oakland Raiders.
The funding provides student-athletes
an opportunity to work with a youth
development coach who will help
address academic, career, social and
emotional needs throughout the school
year. Each development coach provides
one-on-one counseling, tutoring, life
skills instruction, SAT/ACT prep to help
improve student’s grade point averages,
graduation rates and athletic eligibility.
TH E MO U NT NO V EM BER 2 015
WHO REALLY
OWNS THE
STEELERS?
club based in the city of
Pittsburgh. He named his
new team the “Pirates” after
the city’s baseball club. In
1940, they were renamed the
“Steelers” after the city’s steel
industry. In fact, their logo on
the side of their helmet was
originally the US Steel logo
adopted by the Steelers in
1962.
Rooney would be the
Steelers only chairman and
team president through
40 years of losing and
frustration, and he was
even inducted into the Hall
of Fame in 1964. He hit the
jackpot in 1969, when he
hired former Baltimore Colts
assistant coach Chuck Noll to
run his team. Noll took five
years to build a powerhouse
that eventually won four
43
MOVIE SCENE QUEEN
MER ECEDES J. HOWZE
Merecedes J. Howze started Movie Scene Queen to share her thoughts about the latest movie happenings
with fellow movie lovers. She’s studied journalism at Clark Atlanta University and Duquesne University,
while practicing the discipline for nearly a decade. The New Pittsburgh Courier named her one of their Fab
40, Under 40 recipients in 2013 for her vast volunteering endeavors, while being the single mother of two
young children and maintaining her post as a project coordinator with the Pittsburgh Public Schools.
‘LOVE THE COOPERS’
CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF PITTSBURGH’S
WINTER WONDERLAND
44
Any real Pittsburgher can attest
to the beauty and the beast of
winters in Pittsburgh. One film
captures the things we love the
most about the wintery warmth
of the Steel City. “Love the
Coopers”, which was filmed in
Pittsburgh last year, is about
a family’s chaotic journey to
enjoy Christmas Eve together.
It wasn’t the typical Pittsburgh
elements like icy bridges,
construction, and unnecessary
traffic approaching the
Squirrel Hill Tunnels that
kept this family divided
during the holidays. It
was pain, hurt, jealousy,
pride, and loneliness that
made Christmas Eve dinner
intolerable.
I sat down with Director
Jessie Nelson. She’s most
notably known for “Corrina,
Corrina” (1994) -- one of my
favorite childhood movies-and “I Am Sam (2001).
Nelson expressed that
when she first got to Pittsburgh
she “fell in love with it.”
“Pittsburgh embraces the
holidays.”
From Light Up Night to
Pamela’s Diner, even to the
dense, despair of Century III
Mall, “Love the Coopers” has
all the things you notice and
love about Pittsburgh. Not
to mention, there’s a special
homage to the frustrations of
the Pittsburgh International
Airport.
This film is intimately
familiar to a native like me.
While some might contest
this, the winter season is
Pittsburgh’s most attractive
feature.
The star-studded cast
includes Diane Keaton, John
Goodman, Amanda Seyfried,
Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin, Ed
Helms, Marisa Tomei and
Anthony Mackie. Keaton stars
as Charlotte, an unbearable
housewife facing divorce after
40 years of marriage.
The Coopers are
primarily made up of
Sam, the lonely husband
(Goodman), Emma, the
catty baby sister (Tomei),
Bucky, the grumpy yet
rational elder (Arkin), Hank,
the employed (Helms), and
his sister, Eleanor, the single
one (Wilde).
Nelson called the cast “an
enormously talented group”,
who were “incredibly
collaborative.” She was
glad that she was able to
get Diane Keaton and John
Goodman on the big screen
together for the first time.
“Diane always wanted to
work with John.”
Even through the most
serious scenes, “Love the
Coopers” is super witty. Ed
Helms and Marisa Tomei
cause an expected amount
of laughter. But, is it Alan
Arkin, the 89-year-old
vet, who has the sharpest
sarcasm of them all. He’s
very serious yet so funny.
One thing Nelson hopes
you take away from “Love
the Coopers” is joy. “It’s a
hard time in the world right
now,” said Nelson. “I hope
to bring joy into the world.”
2.5 STARS:
E E E

SPIRITUAL - Mount Ararat Baptist Church

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