August 2015 Issue - Mount Ararat Baptist Church

Transcription

HOW SHOULD THE
CHURCH RESPOND
CLASS AND RACE
SAME SEX MARRIAGE
AUGUST 2015
CONFEDERATE FLAG
CONTROVERSY
WHAT’S
INSIDE...
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Orlana Darkins Drewery
ADVISORY BOARD
Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis
COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY
Dania Arrey
Melanie Brown
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
Tips for Kids Eat Right Month
This August 5
The New Pittsburgh Courier 16
Ask a Deacon 20
Tips to Save Money on Pet Care 22
MANAGING EDITORS
Shaunda E. Miles
Laura V. Norman
Dr. Anthony Robins
Minerva White
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Rev. Sharon Dennard
State Representative Ed Gainey
Rachel Woodson Goode
Merecedes J. Howze
Deacon Kathy Hunt
Michelle D. Jackson
Deacon Claudia Mason
Shaunda E. Miles
Deacon Dwight Mosley
Ray Porter Jr.
LIFESTYLE
FEATURES
Class and Race: An American Struggle 2
God has the Last Word 6
Special Section: Same Sex Marriage 10
Letter from Pennsylvania State
Representative Edward Gainey 15
4 Ways to Make
Life on the Go Easier 24
What’s Eating You: Understanding
How Our Emotions Impact Our
Relationship With Food 26
Men: Tips to Get a Better Shave 30
Surprising Signs Your Are Suffering
From Allergies and Tips to Better
Manage Them 32
The 7 Most Dangerous
DIY Home Renovations 34
Tips to Get Faster, Stronger,
and More Flexible 36
Tips to Set-up a Great
Home Theatre Room 38
SAME
SEX
MARRIAGE
Special Section
PAGE 10
ADVERTISING
Orlana Darkins Drewery
Deb Cavrak, Graphic Design
MOUNT ARARAT BAPTIST CHURCH STAFF
Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis, Senior Pastor
PHOTO
RECAPS
Rev. John A. Knight,
Staff Assistant to the Senior Pastor
Estelle Christian, Assistant to the Senior Pastor
Orlana Darkins Drewery,
Director of Communications
Rev. Robert James, Youth Pastor
Rev. Sharon Dennard, Dean of M.A.T.A.
Rev. Linda Oliver, Minister of Special Projects
Min. Dwayne Fulton,
Director, Fine Arts Department
Rev. Trini L. Massie, Minister of Worship
Rev. Sherry Brooks-Faulkner,
Administrative Assistant
WHAT’S IN A NUMBER
PAGE 40
ENTERTAINMENT
What’s in a Number? 40
Me and Earl and the Dying Girls
Pay Last Tribute to Schenley High School 43
Sing Choir! 31
On Location with Mount TV 33
18th Pastoral Anniversary
& Revival 35
Free On-Site HIV/AIDS Testing 37
MARC Card 39
TH E MO U NT A UGUS T 20 15
Mount Ararat’s
Picnic & Tailgate 28
Veniecia Robinson, Chief Financial Officer
Robert Carter, Maintenance Supervisor
Sierra Hill-Akers, Accounting Assistant
1
Each school day begins
Class and Race:
An American
Struggle
BY R EV ER END SH A RON DENNA R D
with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, which concludes,
“One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” Baltimore native, Francis Scott Key
composed our national anthem. In the fourth stanza we read, “And the Star - Spangled Banner in triumph
shall wave o’er the land of the free and home of the brave.” Do these lofty ideals still represent our country?
Was it ever so?
We’ve been rightly designated as a nation of immigrants. America comprises many cultures. The English
language is mingled with Spanish, Creole, Korean, Cantonese, Hindi, German, Swahili, Italian and French.
The snobbery of British society and Latin American Iberian aristocracy taints our view of the working class.
Condemnation of the horrific institution of South African apartheid and the rigid Indian caste structure is
unanimous. Yet we cannot deny our own history. After being enslaved for more than 200 years, African
Americans were subjected to legalized segregation through this nation’s judicial, economic, political and
educational systems. The signing of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965 partially eased racial discrimination.
Looking back we can appreciate how far our country has come. Still we acknowledge the reality of injustice for
some and outright inequality for many. Dr. King’s celebrated dream of a land where character instead of color
would be the acceptable and qualifying standard for people is still far off.
It’s only right to honor the memory of those who paid with their life’s blood for the comparative freedom
we enjoy. The Civil Rights Memorial is located in Montgomery, Alabama. Inscribed on its surface are the
names of forty-one modern martyrs to the cause. They were the innocent victims of targeted and random
racial violence.
Renowned champions of social justice incite our activism and resolve:
“He recognized with
authentic realism that
anyone who permits another
to determine the quality
of his inner life gives into
the hand of the other
the keys to his destiny.”
DR. HOWA RD TH URMA N " WRITING OF JESUS"
THE MO UNT A UGUS T 2 015
“Laws will not eliminate
prejudice from the hearts of
human beings but that is no
reason to allow prejudice to
be enshrined in our laws to
perpetuate injustice through
inaction.”
2
SHIRL EY CHISHOL M, U NITE D STATES CONGRESSWOMA N
“I’m sick and tired of white
and black people of good
intent giving aspirin to a
society that is dying of a
cancerous disease.”
REV. R A L PH ABE RNATH Y
“You can kill a man but you
can’t kill an idea.”
ME DGA R EVE RS, CIVIL RIGH TS WORKE R
“If we have the courage and
tenacity of our forbearers
who stood firmly like a rock
against the lash of slavery we
shall find a way to do for our
time what they did for theirs.”
MA RY MCCLOUD, BETH U NE E DUCATOR
EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE, SELMA ALABAMA
continued on the following page
4
Engraved on the surrounding wall of
the aforementioned memorial is Dr. King’s
well-known paraphrase of Amos 5: 23-24, “We
will not be satisfied until justice rolls down
like waters and righteousness like a mighty
stream.” The prophet to ancient Israel voiced
Yahweh’s denunciation of splendid but hollow
worship. The essential contradiction identified
by Amos and King was the glaring void of
honorable living and just dealings on both the
national and personal level. Eckman adds, “The
church of Jesus Christ should therefore model
the supernatural impartiality that refuses to
discriminate.” We unite our voices and lives in
solidarity with those who confront contemporary
race-based inequalities. Today when considering
America’s racial problems, we can ask ourselves,
“What does the Lord require of you but to do
justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with
your God?” (Micah 6:8) As always the answer lies
with our God and His Word.
THE CIVIL RIGHTS MEMORIAL
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
Tips for
Kids Eat Right Month
this August
You want the best for your
kids. As role models, parents
and caregivers play a vital
role in children’s health
-- teaching kids about
healthful foods and making
sure they get enough daily
physical activity.
More than one third
of children and adolescents
are overweight or obese,
according to recent Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention statistics. But
childhood obesity, which
is associated with elevated
risks of high cholesterol,
high blood pressure, bone
and joint problems and
sleep apnea, amongst other
adverse health effects, can
usually be prevented.
“August, which is Kids
Eat Right Month, is the perfect opportunity for families
to focus on the importance
of healthful eating and active lifestyles,” says Marina
Chaparro, registered dietitian nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of
Nutrition and Dietetics.
To help, Chaparro is
offering parents and caregivers tips they can use to
promote healthy habits.
SHOP SMART
Get your children involved
in selecting the food that
will appear at the breakfast,
lunch or dinner table. Be adventurous by picking a new
food every week.
COOK HEALTHFULLY
Involve your children in the
preparation of all meals
with age-appropriate tasks.
Getting your kids involved
helps teach them about
food, and may entice them
to try new foods they
helped prepare.
EAT RIGHT
Breakfast is a critical meal.
Make sure no one in the
family skips it -- including
you. In the evening, sit
down together as a family
to enjoy dinner and the
opportunity to share the
day’s experiences with one
another. Research indicates that families who eat
together have a stronger
bond, and children have
higher self-confidence and
perform better in school.
PLAN WISELY
When planning meals, start
by filling half the plate with
fruits and vegetables, choosing low-sodium options.
Make sure at least half the
grains your family eats are
whole grains. For beverages,
choose water over sugary
drinks, and opt for fat-free
or low-fat milk. Also, be
mindful of appropriate portion sizes.
GET MOVING
After meals, get moving
together. Aside from being
a great way to spend time
together, regular physical
activity strengthens muscle
and bones, helps to achieve
a healthy body weight and
supports learning. It can
also help develop social skills
and build self-esteem. Kids
are encouraged to be active
for 60 minutes per day.
CONSULT AN EXPERT
A registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) can deliver
the highest level of nutrition counseling. Consider
consulting an RDN to ensure
your family is getting needed nutrients with a meal
plan tailored to your family’s
lifestyle and busy schedule.
To search for an RDN in your
area, to find more healthful eating tips, recipes and
videos, and to learn more
about Kids Eat Right Month,
visit KidsEatRight.org.
As a parent, you are highly influential, and habits
formed early on could
potentially last a lifetime.
Take steps to steer kids to
a path of good health.
[STATEPOINT ]
Ultimately, class and race do not impede God’s
mission to save mankind (John 3:16). Thankfully
he is not indifferent to the oppressed and
disenfranchised. “The Bible does not allow for
racial difference as a basis for discrimination or
ranking of humans. Jesus’ death on Calvary’s
cross was for all of humanity – red, black, brown,
yellow, and white,” asserts author James P.
Eckman. Christ, born a Jewish peasant in the
midst of a hostile Roman world commands, “Love
your neighbor as much as you love yourself”
(Matthew 22:39 TLB). Racism is sin. Its ugly
manifestations and inherent biases fly in the face
of all the redeeming compassion expressed by
our Savior. Jesus took time to engage and enrich
the so-called dregs of society. He was aware of
and attentive to the disinherited in the ancient
Middle Eastern culture. Widows, beggars,
foreigners and other second-class citizens
received blessings from his heart and hand. At its
inception the church was purposefully separated
from its narrow and familiar cultural base
(Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; Colossians 3:11; James 2:1-9).
Sinning believers of every breed are still welcome
in the body of Christ.
5
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”
made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of
God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 COR INTHI A NS 4: 6 (NI V )
BY MICHELLE D. JACKSON
I consider me a true Southerner. My love
for sweet, sweet tea, warm sunny days
and genial hospitality is proof. I believe
in southern values and often celebrate
my upbringing and express my love of
life through simple things like sitting on
the front-porch, cooking soul food and
spending Sunday afternoons around the
table with friends and family.
But growing up in Alabama in the
post-civil rights era made my life’s
experiences different than that of my
parents. At best, I lived vicariously
through their challenges. They felt, first
hand, the impact of Jim Crow laws and
hate groups that paraded through the
peaks and valleys of the state. As a child
of the 70’s, I grew up in the shadows of
the four little black girls who died in the
16th Street Baptist Church bombing in
Birmingham.
should be memorialized in honor of ALL
Southerners and that the flag had no place
in a world as diverse and accepting as our
Democracy claims to be?
I did not see the American or even the
Alabama state flag hanging from those
same windows - only the Confederate flag.
The failure to show pride in the collective
efforts of our country’s progress seemed like
an intentional attempt to keep us separated.
What happened in South Carolina
brought up an issue that many people have
long tried to put behind. Understanding
and appreciating love of the South and
Southern history, I saw the horrid killings
of nine Christians as a sign that God will
always have the last word.
These nine people welcomed a young
man into their prayer service and offered
him fellowship and kindness. They died
doing God’s work. Within days of their
deaths, their families offered the murderer forgiveness without knowing that his
actions would shed light on the indignity of
the Confederate flag. Nine beautiful people
died and the world finally took notice of the
hatred the flag represents to many of us.
What we failed to get done through
protests and legal proceedings, God allowed
the good of mankind to handle. Forgiveness
moved people to act. Love diminished fear
and God, once again, reminds us that he is
the only true path to acceptance and mercy.
God will always have the final word.
He is the ultimate change-maker. He is our
light in darkness. And although death is
never a welcomed friend, the families of the
victims should take pride in knowing that
their faith and forgiveness have transformed a nation.
Michelle D. Jackson is
author of The Heart
of a Man, a Christian
novel and Founder of The
Charity Supper Club, a
program designed to raise
money to benefit local
charities and families in
need.
God
has the
Last word
Instead of enduring the high-pressure
water hoses and angry sneers of police dogs
in the 60s that attacked people just one generation before me, I saw the world through
a different lens—ones less clouded by
blatant racism but nonetheless permanently
stained.
It was only after the senseless shootings
of the Emanuel Nine and the removal of the
Confederate flag from the state grounds in
South Carolina that it dawned on me how
my life has been impacted by two Souths:
one filled with the bravery of those who
fought against segregation and the other
the cowardice of those rallying behind the
indignity of discrimination.
My post-civil rights experience has
not shielded me from the harsh reality of
segregation. The Confederate flag remains
a symbol of our history, but throughout
my life it has also been a symbol of injustice and shame. I knew that when it flew it
represented a closed door to people of color.
While attending the University of Alabama
during the 1990s, I saw Confederate flags
hanging from the windows of dorm rooms
and fraternity houses. The display of the
flag on the campus was a reminder that I
would never truly be accepted. I never believed the flag represented Southern pride.
Because of the fear and disrespect it
carried, I struggled to find my rightful place
in certain environments on campus. I was
often confused about the pride expressed
by those who hung the flag out of their
windows. Did they know that the bars and
stars they proudly displayed was a subliminal reminder that at one point in history my
people were disenfranchised Negro slaves?
Did they know that the South’s history
7
Shaping Lives
DR. J. ANTHONY
GRAVES
RECOGNIZED FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH
EOE
www.becomeahouseparent.com
LEARN MORE / APPLY NOW
Milton Hershey School has
named J. Anthony Graves, Ph.D.,
M.D. ’87, the 2015 Alumnus
of the Year, recognizing his
commitment to pediatric cancer
research and the example of
excellence and philanthropy he
sets for MHS students.
“Dr. Graves is a tremendous
example of the spark that can
happen when children are
provided a top-notch education,
a nurturing environment, and
the opportunity to find and
hone their passions,” said Pete
Gurt ’85, president of MHS.
“He is applying the values he learned at Milton
Hershey School – principles like hard work and
service to others – and using his gifts to fight
pediatric cancer. We are so proud to see an
alumnus devoting himself to this noble cause.
He is an outstanding role model for our students
of what they can achieve with perseverance,
dedication to their studies and an enthusiasm
for serving humanity.”
Graves enrolled at MHS when he was 14.
During his time at the school, he was a standout
student leader who participated in National
Honor Society and Student Home Council. He
was also a distinguished athlete on the cross
country and track teams. He has fond memories
of the relationships he built on campus,
particularly the bond he developed with his
weekend houseparents, Brad and Terri Brooks.
“Milton Hershey School really rescued
me at a time when I needed it,” said Graves.
“It represents the closest thing I could get to a
family and a nurturing environment. It truly set
me on a course for the rest of my life.”
After graduating from
MHS, Graves attended Bucknell
University, majoring in biology
with a minor in black studies. At
Bucknell, he became involved
in laboratory research, which
influenced his goal of a career as
a physician-scientist.
Upon completion of his
B.A. in 1991, he went home
to Pittsburgh to complete his
Ph.D. in biological sciences at
Carnegie Mellon University.
From there, he entered Johns
Hopkins University School of
Medicine, earning his M.D. in
2002.
Graves currently has his own research
laboratory at the Children’s Hospital of
Pittsburgh, where he focuses on studying
mitochondrial physiology in pediatric cancers.
He also serves as an assistant professor of
pediatrics at the CHP.
Graves has been the recipient of numerous
awards, including the 2014 Young Investigator
Award from CureSearch for Children’s Cancer
and the Young Physician-Scientist Award from
the American Society of Clinical Investigators.
“It’s a tremendous honor. I was very
overwhelmed when I received the news,”
said Graves. “I can’t believe I deserve such a
prestigious award, but I am very proud and
humbled to be recognized.”
Milton Hershey School honored Graves
during a special recognition dinner and he had
the opportunity to address students and staff
during the 2015 commencement ceremony.
“There are conversations
around school and with my
friends about gay people—
usually, it is not a conversation, it is an accusation.
More about how they act,
but you cannot judge a
book by its cover.”
BY SH AUNDA E . MILES
“If I could have prayed this away,
I would have done so a long time ago.
It would be gone.”
“My heart and my head
go counteractive to each
other. I see myself in my
head with a wife, a family,
“We [as homosexuals]
children, and kids, but
should not be babied, but
in my heart…I also see
I am also not going to be
myself with a man.”
killed and put under the
ground from the pulpit
either.”
10
“If I could ask someone from the church
a question, who was non-judgmental and
really willing to engage…I would say “The
Bible aside…How does my relationship and
marriage to a woman impact YOUR walk
with God? How is it threatening? …Fear is
the boogie man here.”
“As a young person you
may not be homosexual, but being different
“Humans are typically uncomfortable automatically makes you
with things they do not understand.” “gay” and then the world
can capture you because
you are not supported
properly. Instagram is a
huge vehicle for drawing
boys 15-18 into the lifestyle.”
“Compassion is paramount and everything
else falls underneath
that. “
“No, there are not levels of sin. Sin
is sin. Now this [homosexuality and
same sex marriage] is cool. What
is next? Even now, death has become the new thing – “Kill yourself,”
is what people flippantly say. So
now, [death] is what is cool. What’s
next?”
“By the time I was in high school, I had read the Bible twice over on my own. The
funny thing is that I never equated what I learned in church as being related to
what I knew of God and his love toward me. My sister stayed mad at the church
in the 70’s because of women’s rights; but, I was never angry. I saw church and
my personal relationship with God as two different things.”
“I am not homosexual,
I identify as bisexual. I
never slept with a man
until after college, but
I was called gay from
middle school. If you are
called something long
enough, that is what you
will become.”
“I don’t fall in love with [bodily] appendages. I fall in love with people. I am not sure if
that is wrong, but I guess I will know when I
see Him [Jesus] face to face.”
“I feel that people are
free to decide what they
want to do and what
they want to be in life. I
am not going to judge
someone on how they
act or look.”
Let me begin with
what this article is not.
This is not an indictment of the Church. This is not an
indictment of same sex marriages. This is not an attempt to
bring voices from outside of the Church, into the Church.
Everyone I interviewed, every quote you read, is from a
person of faith who would identify themselves as a believer;
they are worshipping on a pew near you. They are your
friends, your family members, they proclaim Christ and Him
crucified…and resurrected.
This is also not a legal brief or formal and exhaustive
outline of same sex marriage in this country. There are
ample resources for you to review online and off that can
provide historical, legal and spiritual overviews on this topic).
I am not a relationship expert or counselor (ask my fiancée). I
am neither a scholar, nor a psychologist.
I AM A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST—a Christian—
living within a culture that is becoming increasingly adverse
to the values I have been taught. That scares me, and I have
never sat well with fear.
I believe the Bible is the infallible, inerrant word of God.
However, prior to this article, I felt ill equipped to discuss this
topic from the perspective of my own worldview.
I have been asking myself for some time now, “What
exactly is the debate surrounding same sex marriage and how
am I called to respond to the increasingly complex questions
of our day? How can I share the gospel in a world that holds
SAME
SEX
MARRIAGE
“The devil’s power is
infinite. Is it really that
crazy to think that he
can bring things up in
someone’s soul and
now when he has the
world at a crazy point,
wars all over the world
(more than there have
ever been) he says, now
in the United States…I
am going to make this
man—Bruce Jenner—
who everyone in the
country knows…come
out and say ‘I am transgender and I am ok. I
want everyone—kids
and boys—that are
afraid, to know it is ok.’
That is crazy and it is
not ok.”
Same Sex Marriage
“I cannot believe you are
asking me about this.
Do you want to hear
something crazy…I just
proposed [to my partner] a few minutes ago?
I’m scared…wait, would
you come to my wedding
if I invited you?”
SPECIAL SECTION:
“The issue is the urge. I was
an
overeater as a kid. I liked
“Anyone crazy enough to want to
M&Ms.
It isn’t healthy to eat
get married should have the right to.
bags
and
bags of them, it
They have just as much of a right to
is
gluttony.
I could sit here
be miserable as the rest of us.”
today and eat a whole pizza
and a cake and be fine. But I
don’t. I can overcome be“The church hasn’t stepped up.
ing an overeater and I can
They either don’t say anything or
overcome being an alcoholic,
what they say is so hurtful and
but I can’t overcome being a
condemning. I don’t believe that is
homosexual? We all have to
what Christ is about.”
fight and we all have to gain
control over our body and
our
spirit and if you cannot
“The conviction I felt
do
it, that’s a cop out.”
about sleeping with a man
was absolutely greater than that which I felt
sleeping with a woman and
“One passage I love in the Bible is the
bearing two children out of
one that mentions “they will know us
wedlock. In the church we
by our deeds.” What we do and how
are taught to classify
we live [not who we love] should be a
our sins.”
reflection of our spirituality.”
“The church hasn’t stepped up.
They either don’t say anything or
what they say is so hurtful and
condemning. I don’t believe that is
what Christ is about.”
11
THE SAME SEX
MARRIAGE LAW
12
On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court
(the highest judicial body of the United
States) decided in the case of Obergefell
v. Hodges, on the legality of same-sex
marriage in the United States. Prior to the
ruling, each state determined whether or
not they would permit marriage between
same-sex couples. State-level bans are now
unconstitutional.
The vote was won 5 – 4, with four of
the Supreme Court Justices filing dissenting
opinions on the ruling.
In Pennsylvania, same sex marriages
became legal on May 20, 2014 prior to the
Supreme Court judgment.
• “‘Decisions about marriage are among the
most intimate that an individual can make.’
Allowing LGBT people to marry is a matter
of personal choice and autonomy, just as it
was in the Court’s 1967 decision in Loving v.
Virginia, which outlawed bans on interracial
marriage.
• Second, marriage is a distinctive
institution: ‘It supports a two-person
union unlike any other in its importance
to the committed individuals.’ Here, he
points to the Court’s opinion in Griswold
v. Connecticut, which affirmed the right of
married couples to use birth control. ‘Samesex couples have the same right as oppositesex couples to enjoy intimate association.’
• ‘Protecting the right to marry ... safeguards
children and families and thus draws
meaning from related rights of childrearing,
procreation, and education,’ Kennedy
writes. Not all straight married couples have
children, and they’re certainly not required
to do so by law, he reasons; the same rule
should apply to gay married couples. But
more importantly, for those gay couples
that do want to have kids—including the
many couples who adopt or have children
using the genetic material of one parent—
that their unions are less than marriage
under the law creates a ‘more difficult and
uncertain family life. The marriage laws at
issue thus harm and humiliate the children.’
FOR & AGAINST
Access to basic rights for couples that have
spent a lifetime together (in some instances)
is one reason people were in favor of the
same-sex marriage ruling. It is reported
that there are more than 1,138 rights and
protections conferred to U.S. citizens upon
marriage by the federal government. The
ruling ensures that married same-sex
couples throughout the United States have
equal access to all the federal benefits
that married opposite-sex couples have,
including but not limited to:
—Social Security benefits
—Veterans benefits
—Health insurance
—Medicaid
—Hospital Visitation
—Estate Taxes
—Retirement savings
—Pensions
—Family Leave
—Immigration Law
Most individuals and organizations in
opposition to the same sex marriage ruling
believe that same sex marriage:
—Offends God
—Undermines the institution of marriage,
which is intended to be a covenant
between a man and a woman.
—Harms children and deprives them of
having either a father or a mother.
—Supports the notion that homosexuality is
a normal expression of human sexuality
that is not chosen.
—Promotes a homosexual lifestyle by
validating the relationships through civil
law.
—Does not serve the purpose of procreation
but promotes a union that is only selfsatisfying
—Demonstrates the acceptance of a sexual
revolution/movement aimed at changing
the world’s view of homosexuality.
A COMPELLING CASE
When I set out to explore the topic of same
sex marriage, I began with an open call
for interviews on Facebook. One of the
resources messaged to me was a livestream
recording of remarks delivered by Dr.
Raphael G. Warnock, Senior Pastor of the
historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta,
Georgia.
Within the church service, he made
some astute observations. I am going to
partially quote and then summarize his
statement. I believe they are important to
share, because they may help to calm the
fears we feel from within the church and
offer an alternative way of approaching the
conversation as Christians.
These comments can also be found on
livestream, from the June 28, 2015 service.
I believe in the American notion of
equal protection and equal justice under the
law. That is the covenant we have with one
another as an American people living in a
pluralistic democracy…we believe in each
others rights…we have freedom of press and
freedom of speech. Now, there is some speech
I don’t want to hear…someone said something
to me this morning in church that got on my
nerves…but I believe in free speech and I will
fight for your right to say whatever it is that
you feel like you ought to say, because that
is the covenant we have with one another. I
believe in freedom of religion. We don’t need
the state to set our theology…we live IN our
faith. We live UNDER the law. There is
no such thing as equal rights for some. In
the history of our country, we have always
enlarged our understanding of liberty…
Dr. Warnock goes on to mention that
the folks that wrote our constitution owned
slaves and many did not believe in the
equal rights of women but we have since
broadened our understanding. He did not
seem to be comparing race and gender
to sexual orientation, but rather he was
pointing out the constant struggle with
regard to rights and how easily one group or
another can be alienated from these rights.
He also spent some time dispelling
myths. He explained that the ruling was
not about telling the church whom to marry.
He reiterated that there is still a separation
between church and state. He shared that he
did not believe that gay people’s marriages
are a threat to other people’s marriages.
He has married, counseled and navigated
divorces between heterosexual couples.
He “has yet to encounter anyone who got
divorced because someone else got married.”
He rejects the notion of defending the
institution of marriage and puts forth that
there are several other things threatening
the institution of marriage that do not
include LGBT (Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and
Transgender) people.
Finally, he warns against demonizing
each other. Many of us have read all
the relevant scriptures, but he urged his
parishioners to consider that the “Bible is
not as simple as you think…you have to get
beneath the scripture. The people who
wanted to defend slavery had more scripture
on their side of the debate than our ancestors
who looked at the scriptures and understood
that while Ephesians may have said one
thing, God didn’t mean for us to be slaves.
There are people who love Jesus on all sides
of the debate…be aware of people who feel
the enlargement of other people’s freedom
and liberty is a threat to theirs.”
The debate is ongoing and for a partial
listing of churches and their standing for or
against same sex marriage, visit:
pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/02/wherechristian-churches-stand-on-gay-marriage/
Ironically, there are accompanying
complaints that many African-American /
Black Church denominations were excluded
from this study.
Same Sex Marriage
• Finally, Kennedy affirms that marriage is
‘a keystone of the Nation’s social order.’ It
is the institution at the center of the United
States’ legal and educational structures,
and because of this, ‘it is demeaning to
lock same-sex couples out of a central
institution of the Nation’s society, for
they too may aspire to the transcendent
purposes of marriage. Rising from the
most basic human needs, marriage is
essential to our most profound hopes
and aspirations,’ Kennedy writes. This is,
perhaps, the most striking argument of
all, for it is an argument about the nature,
significance, and dignity of marriage itself.
‘The ancient origins of marriage confirm its
centrality, but it has not stood in isolation
from developments in law and society,’
Kennedy writes, but the “institution—even
as confined to opposite-sex relations—has
evolved over time.’”
SPECIAL SECTION:
It is also worth noting Barack Obama is
the first United States President to publicly
declare support for the legalization of samesex marriage while in office.
The Supreme Court decision states
that the “Fourteenth Amendment requires
a State to license a marriage between two
people of the same sex and to recognize a
marriage between two people of the same
sex when their marriage was lawfully
licensed and performed out-of-State.”
A recent article in The Atlantic outlined
the four primary points within the ruling
authored by Supreme Court Judge Kennedy.
It should be noted that Judge Kennedy
is Roman Catholic and his church still
prohibits same sex marriage. In September,
Pope Francis will be making his first visit to
the United States to attend a World Meeting
of Families event. The stage is set for an
interesting fall season in Philadelphia that is
sure to make global headlines. Communion,
baptism of children and firing of gay
teachers from Catholic schools are all fodder
for review and discussion.
In the Court’s opinion written by Judge
Kennedy and outlined by Emma Green in
the aforementioned article entitled Gay
Marriage is Now a Constitutional Right in
the United States of America (June 26, 2015),
there are four primary points Green makes
about the ruling:
PARTING THOUGHTS
There are four points that I would like to
share. These parting thoughts developed
during the interview process and represent
themes that stood out as I worked to compile
and coherently summarize all of the received
information. So, here goes…
THE LAW WAS NEVER ENOUGH
The biblical law was insufficient to save
us. Jesus came and fulfilled every “jot
and tittle” of the law and while doing so,
gave himself up for ransom knowing that
those for whom He died would not be able
to accomplish the same. The impetus for
that sacrifice was love. I am not a spiritual
featherweight. When I speak of love, I am
speaking in the biblical sense of the term.
I do not mean holding hands, and circling
up singing songs (although we could stand
some of that as well). I mean exhibiting
patience, kindness, long-suffering and all
of the other characteristics that Christ took
on as he endured, but refused to condone,
our sin. I learned during my research that
there are so-called, “clobber scriptures,”
used to clobber lesbians and gay men with
passages that prove that any relationship
other than that between a male and a female
are an abomination. These scriptures
include Genesis 1:27, Genesis 19, Leviticus
18:22, Deuteronomy 23:17-18, Romans 1:26-27,
1 Corinthians 6:9 and Timothy 1:10. I just
want to make the point that Satan can quote
scripture and wars and cults have been
birthed from the misuse of the Bible (2 Peter
3:16).
Same Sex Marriage
SPECIAL SECTION:
a far more complex lexicon and more
developed method of approaching topics of
sexuality than I have been privy to?”
When I was younger, we used to race
a lot on my block. All day long we would
compete, running in the heat. Sprinting
back and forth, it seemed we never grew
tired. When you lost, it was said that you got
dusted. This is how I was feeling. This is the
position I see the Church in. We are being
dusted in a conversation that requires input
from people who are filled with the Holy
Spirit and seeking to transform the world by
the same power that raised Christ from the
dead.
When the opportunity came to write
this article, I jumped at it. This was much
to the dismay of my loved ones, all of
whom feared me broaching the topic at all.
However, we are called to the ministry of
reconciliation. How we can reconcile what
we refuse to recognize? How can we figure
out what we are fearful to explore? How can
we love those we refuse to listen to?
The “discussion” of same sex marriage
is polarized. I have read some of the most
hateful things during my study. So the
purpose of this article is not to take a side,
but rather to disclose details (as I have come
to understand them) and to begin a dialogue
that I pray will continue beyond these pages.
This article is the product of research,
over a half dozen interviews (hours of
conversations) with people living in at least 5
different states, from various denominations
(Lutheran, Unitarian, Catholic, Baptist,
COGIC, and others). The people who
shared their opinions are white and black,
male and female, heterosexual, homosexual,
bi-sexual, ranging in age from 12-50+.
I invite you to join me as I delve into
what I have come to understand about the
law, present some themes that arose from
the conversations I engaged in and share
my hopes and prayers for the Church as we
navigate into a future that is already known
and held securely in the hands of God.
13
Everyone that I interviewed spoke about
his or her childhood. Many discussed the
harmful words that were hurled at them
by family members, or neighborhood
companions that labeled them long before
they had a clear sense of their own selfidentity. Whether it was due to being raised
by one parent and taking on traits that are
closely tied to a certain gender, or whether it
was the fact that a young girl wanted to play
sports instead of playing with dolls, they
were different. I beg of us, as Christians,
do not allow the enemy to use our tongue
to accuse and assassinate the development
of our youth. Do not flippantly utilize
terms like gay and faggot, dike or butch in
a negative way. I do not have enough time
to discuss the gender differences that exist
even within the LGBT community, nor do
I have time to discuss the issues of genderbias within the church. However, I will note
that it is biblical to watch our tongues and
speak in a manner that edifies others. What
we are saying is shaping the lives of others
when we speak. Some that I interviewed
shared that they ran to the people they
had been told they were most like. They
didn’t run toward the Church. Let’s build
hope with what we say and stop aiding and
abetting in the assassination of people’s
self-identity.
WHERE IS THE LOVE?
14
Everyone I spoke with had powerful stories
to share. Some spoke of great peace and joy,
while others shared their hopes and feelings
of relief and comfort. All shared stories of
loss, grief and suffering. All believed in the
power of God to change circumstances and
few shared stories of being treated with love
by people within the body of believers. We
are missing a great opportunity to live out
the love we say we have.
A CHARGE TO KEEP
Not everyone I interviewed believed that
they needed to be delivered, and others were
unsure. However, for those that believed
Are we even making it past #1? We have got
some work to do.
I pray that God will use this article
to move the conversation forward. We
need leadership and we need to listen to
one another. I am open to continuing the
conversation.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
What are your thoughts? Send your
comments to [email protected].
It may be printed in the next issue as we
continue this conversation.
Sources & Resources:
Baker, Joshua, American Courts on Marriage: Is
Marriage Discriminatory? 1998-2008,
Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, May 2008.
Green, Emma, Gay Marriage Is Now a Constitutional
Right in the United States of America, June 26, 2015
www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/06/
gay-marriage-legal-in-the-united-states-ofamerica/396947/
Tripp, Paul David. Instruments in the Redeemer’s
Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in
Need of Change. (2002) IBSN 978-0-87552-607-2
Same-sex marriage in the United States
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_
the_United_States
“Our nation was founded
on a bedrock principle
that we all Are created equal.”
PR ESIDENT BA R ACK OBA M A
F
rom its beginning America has been divided on
how she defines freedom and who should be given
rights to those freedoms. These differences in
thoughts and opinions have led to many heated
debates and were the sole premise for our Founding Fathers writing the Bill of Rights. While these rights were
to level the playing field and create equal opportunity for all
American citizens (at least in concept), they have not afforded
always human rights, dignity and respect to every person
regardless of their beliefs and lifestyle.
Many of our freedoms are not mentioned in the Bill
of Rights. For instance, few would argue that we do not have
the right to travel or to enter into contracts or even the right to
intoxicate ourselves, despite the fact that no such amendments
address this issue — except for one. For example, the Ninth
Amendment states, “The enumeration in the Constitution,
of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage
others retained by the people.” In other words, the fact that
the Constitution lists specific rights in the previous eight
amendments does not mean that those are the only rights we,
as individuals, have. It also means that the government should
not use the Bill of Rights as a complete list of rights in order to
deny us other freedoms.
Some would argue that the 10th Amendment give
states the right to decide who can marry. However, the 10th
Amendment does not mean that states can create laws that
violate other rights. The rights of states to decide laws end
where individual rights begin.
The interpretation of the Constitution is not made to
divide American citizens. On the contrary, the Constitution
speaks as safeguard to freedom, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness. Yet, its interpretation has caused lots of concern
and confusion among many. For example, if the Fourth
Amendment prohibits the state from coming into your home
without reasonable cause, does this not imply that the government should keep out of your sexual business as well? Or, if
the First Amendment prevents the government from respecting an establishment of religion, does this not imply that the
government refrain from using religion as a basis for defining marriage? And because marriage is actually a religious
institution, does this not imply that the government should abstain from preventing religious institutions from performing
marriage ceremonies for whomever they choose, regardless of
sexual orientation?
The recent Supreme Court’s ruling clearly establishes the right to equal marriage for the LGBTQIA community
within the framework of the Constitution that all men and
woman are created equal in the eyes of the constitution. The
enactment of the Bill of Rights outlaws discrimination and the
14th Amendment guarantees equal protection for all under
the Constitution. “No longer may this liberty be denied,”
Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for the majority in the
historic decision. “No union is more profound than marriage,
for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion,
sacrifice and family. In forming a marital union, two people
become something greater than once they were.” Marriage is
a “keystone of our social order,” Justice Kennedy said, adding
that the plaintiffs in the case were seeking “equal dignity in
the eyes of the law.”
In dissent, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said
the Constitution had nothing to say on the subject of samesex marriage.“If you are among the many Americans — of
whatever sexual orientation — who favor expanding samesex marriage, by all means celebrate today’s decision,” Chief
Justice Roberts wrote. “Celebrate the achievement of a desired
goal. Celebrate the opportunity for a new expression of
commitment to a partner. Celebrate the availability of new
benefits. But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing
to do with it.”
Though we can all question whether the Constitution
is a perfect document or a tool that has always lived up to its
purpose to offer equal protection for all, we can agree that it is
a living document that evolves with societal changes. Justice
Kennedy coins it best in his statement “The nature of injustice is that we may not always see it in our own times. The
generations that wrote and ratified the Bill of Rights and the
Fourteenth Amendment did not presume to know the extent
of freedom in all of its dimensions, and so they entrusted to
future generations a charter protecting the right of all persons
to enjoy liberty as we learn its meaning.” This has never been
more true than in the recent ruling on same-sex marriage by
the Supreme Court.
I believe my responsibility as an elected official is to
support the decision of the Court. However, my accountability as a man of God is to love and serve people independent
of race, religion, national origin, gender, or sex of marital
partner. I have witnessed many of our gay brothers and sisters
confess to loving God and claiming Jesus Christ as their Lord
and Savior. I have watched as they have sang in the chorus,
minister to the sick, feed the poor, and love each other with
all of their hearts and souls. I want to have fellowship with all
people who have love in their hearts for God that includes our
LGBTQIA believers. I endorse fully they deserve every right
and freedom granted to every citizen of the U.S.
I offer heart-felt thanks to Mount Ararat for asking
me to write on same-sex marriage from a governmental perspective. I live by the rule to “treat others as you would want
to be treated.” As Christians we have an obligation to be at the
forefront of demonstrating love and compassion independent
of one’s beliefs or lifestyle.
R ESPEC TFULLY SUBMIT TED,
EDWA R D C . GA INEY
Member, 24th Legislative District
Allegheny County
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Same Sex Marriage
among people that are least like us. Perhaps
true love is found in spaces we are the
most uncomfortable occupying. In those
places and among those people, we have to
reach beyond ourselves and fully rely on
the power of God to complete the work of
reconciliation.
An outline of what redemptive
relationships look like is found in,
Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands:
—Enter the person’s world
—Incarnate the love of Christ
—Identify with suffering
—Accept with agenda (…not a condemning,
self-righteous spirit)
SPECIAL SECTION:
WATCH WHAT YOU SAY
that they are actively participating in sin,
and can see themselves marrying a same
sex partner, where can they turn to share
their feelings of uncertainty? It seems to me
that for those who should be ministering,
the “harvest is ripe,” but how will you ever
know?
Unfortunately, we still live in a society
where it is cool to have had power in the
street. We marvel at men and women
who were drug dealers, pimps, and former
abusers of any kind. However we still shun
those who are gay (no matter how aware
we are now claiming to be of their presence
in the church). Instead we share posts and
laugh about gay men who scream about
‘being delivered,’ and we treat people much
like we did when the AIDS epidemic first
broke out in our community. We are silent,
we pray it doesn’t reach us, we keep secrets
and eventually we are riddled by it and our
community further implodes. We miss the
opportunity to save lives. I am in no way
comparing the AIDS epidemic to being
homosexual, bi-sexual or transgendered,
but I am making note of our behavior
and hoping we can learn a lesson from
our past about what does not work when
dealing with topics that we fear or do not
understand.
We are fishing without rods and bait.
Love is the rod that reaches and the bait is
the Good News of the gospel. If we begin
there, I wonder how many people we might
be able to engage in a meaningful dialogue
that is truly Christ-centered.
Jesus spent so much time around
people he was so very different from. In
fact, he was different from EVERYONE in
the entire world. HE was half man, half
deity. He was before, during and after.
He foreknew, he knew and he was able to
predict. Perhaps he was showing us that
true ministry is often done in places and
Same Sex Marriage
SPECIAL SECTION:
In his novel, Instruments in the
Redeemer’s Hands, Paul David Tripp notes
that “the sad fact is that many of us are
simply not biblical in the way we use the
Bible!” Being biblical does not mean merely
quoting words from within its pages. Being
truly biblical means that my counsel reflects
what the entire Bible is about. The Bible
is a narrative, a story of redemption, and
its chief character is Jesus Christ. He is
the main theme of the narrative, and he is
revealed in every passage in the book.” (Pg.
27)
The word is a weapon, but for what and
for whom are you fighting?
15
ALL ABOUT LOVE: SCOTUS RULES 5-4
THAT ALL 50 STATES MUST ALLOW SAME
SEX MARRIAGE
BY CHR ISTINA COLEM A N
16
UPDATE: Friday, June 26, 12:30 PM EST:
Following the Supreme Court decision
to allow same-sex marriage in all 50
states, President Obama called the historic win a “victory for America” in an
emotional address to the nation.
“Our nation was founded on a bedrock principle that we are all created
equal,” Obama said. “The project of
each generation is to bridge the meaning of those founding words with the
realities of changing times. Progress
on this journey often comes in small
increments, sometimes two steps forward, one step back, propelled by the
persistent effort of dedicated citizens,”
he said. “And then sometimes, there
are days like this when that slow, steady
effort is rewarded with justice that arrives like a thunderbolt.”
Obama, who just moments after his
celebratory speech boarded a plane to
deliver the eulogy of the South Carolina
state senator assassinated in an act of
hate last week, continued:
“When all Americans are treated as
equal, we are all more free,” he added.

PHOTO BY BILL CLARK/CQ ROLL CALL) / GETTY
OBAMA HAILS
SUPREME COURT’S
GAY MARRIAGE RULING
In what President Barack Obama is
calling a “big step toward equality,” the
Supreme Court ruled on Friday in favor
of same-sex marriage nationwide.
The 5 to 4 decision comes as polls indicate that most Americans are also in favor of gay marriage, the New York Times
writes. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy,
who was joined by four of the court’s
left-leaning wing, wrote the majority
opinion. But the transformative decision
didn’t come easy.
FROM THE N Y T:
As late as October, the justices ducked
the issue, refusing to hear appeals from
rulings allowing same-sex marriage
in five states. That decision delivered a
tacit victory for gay rights, immediately
LOCAL ELLIS SCHOOL STUDENT TAYLOR
ROBINSON DREAMS BIG, WINS BIG
BY SH A NNA SM A IL , COUR IER INTER N
Fifteen-year-old Taylor Robinson
from Regent Square has become quite
an inspiration for youth. She finds
time to volunteer, intern, compete in
competitions and plan for her future, all
with unstoppable effort and energy.
This past school year, the Ellis
School for Girls student won the
Pittsburgh Regional Science and
Engineering Fair, held in March at
Heinz Field, and also came in first place
in her division for the Third Annual
Martin Luther King Jr. and Women’s
History Month essay contest. Winners
were recognized last month.
For the essay contest, students
were asked to write about an important
female role model or activist that
exhibits the “tireless exertions and
passionate concern of dedicated
individuals” that the late King
possessed. Robinson chose
to write her
essay about local
artist Vanessa
German who is
the founder of
Love Front Porch,
a community
outreach based in
Homewood that
serves to keep
local youth off of
the streets and on
German’s front
porch creating
art and learning.
Robinson,
who will be
a senior in
the fall, made
her decision
after hearing
German’s story
during the artist’s
visit to her school
and reading the
essay prompt.
She saw a perfect
opportunity
to express her
love for writing,
spread her point
of view and also gain more recognition
in the Pittsburgh community. Robinson
thought German was the perfect person
to compare to King and really wanted
to shed light on Pittsburgh women who
are doing inspirational things right at
home.
“She works in places where people
are too frightened to go, which makes
her a brave individual,” Robinson said.
As for the science fair, Robinson has
been participating since the sixth grade.
This can be evidenced by her Honorary
Scientist Award, which recognizes five
years of participation in the PRSEF.
This year, Robinson’s experiment for
the PRSEF, titled CYBER Psychology,
was based upon and expanded
from Itch Matrix, her eighth grade
experiment that studied the theory of
MOUNT MAGAZINE NEWS PARTNER
newpittsburghcourieronline.com
expanding the number of states with
same-sex marriage to 24, along with the
District of Columbia, up from 19.
Largely as a consequence of the
Supreme Court’s decision not to act, the
number of states allowing same-sex marriage has since grown to 36, and more
than 70 percent of Americans live in
places where gay couples can marry. The
court did not agree to resolve the issue
for the rest of the nation until January, in
cases filed by gay and lesbian couples in
Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. The court heard extended arguments in April, and the justices seemed
sharply divided over what the Constitution has to say about same-sex marriage.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs said their
clients had a fundamental right to marry
and to equal protection, adding that the
bans they challenged demeaned their
dignity, imposed countless practical
difficulties and inflicted particular harm
on their children.
Obama, who has long been vocal
about granting rights to gay couples
and marriage equality, took to Twitter
to express his approval of court’s final
decision.
17
18
social contagion by having participants
watch a video of people itching and
then studying if they’d itch. CYBER
Psychology also studied the theory of
social contagion, but instead of video,
via Twitter. In 2014, Robinson had done
extensive research during an internship
at Pitt Nursing School, looking into
different platforms to study behavior.
CYBER Psychology serves to provide
evidence of the social contagion theory
over the Internet. Robinson used her
self-created acronym CYBER, which
Robinson said stands for Content,
User Characteristics, Body Image and
Emotional Reaction, to examine this.
She examined 1388 tweets, 215 Twitter
users, and 36 hashtags. Robinson’s
results concluded that social contagion is
present and plays a role in a user’s profile
content, characteristics, body image and
emotional reactions on Twitter.
Also, Robinson has received a
number of other awards this year, they
include First Place at the PJAS science
fair, as well as winning the Third Place
award in the PRSEF category of social
behavioral science, the 2015 Award
for Health Sciences from Duquesne
University, a Certificate of Merit for
excellence in presentation, and a $12,500
scholarship to Allegheny College.
On her success, Robinson said, “I
feel truly blessed to have received so
many awards this year and to have such
a strong relationship with my mother.
There have been so many times that I
felt like choosing a different and easier
project and picking sleep over working,
but she pushed me forward and made
sure that I stayed motivated. At
the same time, I also feel inspired
knowing that I set my mind to my
goals and that it has paid off.
“I think my accomplishments break
the stereotype because although I am
set with lower opportunities, I am
still achieving higher standards and
breaking the boundaries that are set
in my way.”
Robinson is involved in
many activities, academic and
extracurricular. Outside of school, she is
a scholar in the University of Pittsburgh
Cancer Institute program; competes
in the Brain Bee, which is a quiz game
about neuroscience; and has volunteered
with the Market Day program, the
National Library Service for the Blind
and Physically Handicapped, where she
read and recorded books, and with the
Kelly Strayhorn Theater.
At her former school, Sister Thea
Bowman Catholic Academy of St. James
Catholic Church, she started her own
newspaper source. After graduating,
Robinson was accepted into the FAME
program and started high school at The
Ellis School For Girls. At Ellis, she is
vice president of the Student Diversity
League and the scheduler for Ellis’
“Culture Jam”—a student led diversity
conference where a large number of
schools discuss topics related to race
and diversity. She is editorial editor for
the Ellis online newspaper, The Ellisian
Times, and is also a peer tutor.
Robinson highlighted getting
accepted in Ellis and FAME as one of
her lifetime achievements. She said it
has given her several opportunities that
include interacting with a variety of
cultures and growth on different levels.
As for her future, Robinson said she
wants to pursue journalism and premed in college. Her favorite course is
Literature and she truly believes that a
journalism track would be a great way
for her to develop writing skills and
also integrate her opinions into large
scale events. Robinson said she doesn’t
see many African American doctors
or scientist, so the medical field really
stands out to her as well.
Along with volunteering, as well
as in her free time, Robinson said, “I
usually write, dance, and volunteer.
I am also a major source of opinions!
Whenever I have the chance I give my
opinion and I try to force people to see
both sides of every argument. From
my beliefs, there’s always two sides to
everything.”
CLAUDIA JORDAN
FIRED FROM 2ND JOB?
REPORTEDLY TOSSED
FROM ‘RICKEY SMILEY
MORNING SHOW’
BY TERRY SHROPSHIRE,
NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT
It has been a tortuous couple of weeks
for reality TV star and radio personality
Claudia Jordan.
First, the Atlanta import had her
Georgia Peach snatched from her and
then tossed onto the reality show garbage heap — just when she was reportedly negotiating a new contract with the
“Real Housewives of Atlanta.”
Now, sources close to the radio
show said she has been fired from her
second gig here in Atlanta, the prized
co-hosting spot on the “Rickey Smiley
Morning Show,” an insider told this
writer at the Atlanta Daily World.
Jordan had just moved to Atlanta
last year from her stomps in Los Angeles specifically for these two jobs, and
now her magic carpet ride has crashed
and burned on famed Peachtree Street.
To be fair, Jordan continues to say she
may still return to RHOA, that she has
not necessarily been completely banished from the reality show.
As far as the RSMS is concerned,
Jordan took to her social media page to
corroborate to her fans that her tenure on the RSMS has abruptly ended,
though the open letter is configured in
a way to insinuate she is leaving on her
own accord.
“Hey friends and fam. I just
wanted to make an announcement here for all that
have been supporting me in
all of my jobs, ventures and
adventures. After working on
The Rickey Smiley Show for a
year I am moving on to more
opportunities. There are a
whole lot of things I want
to do that will better showcase my talents, personality,
intelligence and wittiness and
I’m ready to pursue them!
I’m grateful to Reach Media
and to Mr. Smiley for giving
me the opportunity which in
turn helped me have a reason
to be in Atlanta to be on the
Real Housewives of Atlanta
which was another amazing
opportunity that has brought
me nothing but more exposure, more checks and more
opportunities in film and
many other things. To those
that rode with me through the
storm when I was trying to
adjust on the show with con-
flicting advice coming at me
from all angles-I thank you.
To my critics-I thank you also
because you pushed me and
motivated me to do better. I
know I’m the second female
co-host to depart in a year
but I have total confidence
that they will fill that spot
with someone that will do the
damn thing and be able to
stay forever! I’ll miss the crew
and made some real friends
on the RSMS and I wish
them the best. I also want to
publicly say THANK YOU to
Ebony Steele who was a total
class act to me when I first
started and has continued to
check up on me and has truly
shown me sisterhood despite
everything. I can not wait to
see her next move also. She’s
talented and a radio star! But
lots of things are cooking as
we speak and I’ll post where
you can catch me next REAL
soon!” -XOXO CJ
Originally seen on atlantadailyworld.com
BY LY NET TE HOLLOWAY
Community
College of
Allegheny
County offers:
•Morethan
150programs
•23transferprograms
•Articulation
agreementsin
125programs
•Online&on-campus
courses
Classes
enrolling
now
ccac.edu
[email protected]
412.237.3100
EX-ATTORNEY GENERAL
ERIC HOLDER IS TAKING
HIS OLD JOB BACK
OUR GOAL IS YOUR
SUCCESS.
Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is scheduled to
return as a partner at the big
corporate law firm he exited
more than five years ago to
join the Obama administration.
Holder, who ran the U.S.
Department of Justice from
2009 to 2015, will return
to Covington & Burling in
Washington, D.C., where he
worked as a partner from 2001
to 2009, according to a statement from the firm.
He will “focus on complex investigations and
litigation matters, including
matters that are international
in scope and raise significant
regulatory enforcement issues
and substantial reputational concerns,” the statement
reads.
Holder is the third longest-serving attorney general
in U.S. history and the first
African-American to hold
the office. He was replaced
by Loretta Lynch, the former
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern
District of New York, who
became the first Black woman
to hold the job.
During his tenure, Holder
oversaw the Obama administration’s defense of voting
rights, marriage equality, and
among other things, reform
of the federal criminal justice
system.
“Returning to Covington is like coming home,”
Holder said in the statement.
Critics took to Twitter
to condemn the move,
claiming that Holder
was soft on banks during
the financial crisis because
of his ties to Covington,
which has clients in the
banking industry.
Take a look:
“...I also feel inspired knowing that I set my mind to my goals and that it
has paid off...I think my accomplishments break the stereotype because
although I am set with lower opportunities, I am still achieving higher
standards and breaking the boundaries that are set in my way.”
19
This section is designed to answer questions that you
may have about the Bible or 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]
Q:
I feel like I’m in Hell now. I pray
every day for things to change and
nothing changes. To escape from
my Hell I drink and sometimes
smoke weed. Can you explain what I
may be doing wrong or what I need to do
because I don’t think God is hearing
my prayers?
SUBMIT TED BY: AUDR A , 20
A:
THE MO UNT J ULY 2 015
This is a very good question and it is a privilege to
share our perspective on your concern. Although
we don’t know the nature of your personal hell
or quandary however, we do have a sense of what
hell can be like in one’s life. Having said that, as a Christian
believer no matter what the status of your consciousness, know
that God loves you and that He is right there with you in your
pain and suffering. This was evident in the life of David. “God
was always active in his life and He knew his every thought.
There was nowhere David could go which was beyond God’s
saving presence. Audra, God formed you in your mother’s
womb and like David, God sees your every action and knows
your every thought. No matter how vast the distance, or the
depth of darkness there are no barriers to God “If I go up to
20
the heavens, you are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold,
You are there” (Psalms 139:8). In other words according to Gods
promise… “He will never leave nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy
31:6) no matter how abysmal your situation may appear. We
may leave God, but he will never leave you.
You can be assured that God does not want any of his children to go to hell or to experience personal hell in their lives’.
However, that does not mean we are exempt from experiencing
pain and suffering because we all will at some point experience
difficulties in our lives.
Trials, tribulations, or offences are a natural part of life
due to the fact that we live in a fallen world, “It is impossible
that no offences should come” (Luke 17:1). It’s imperative that
we as Christians understand that Satan is the enemy of our
souls. It is also his job to deceive us with lies and with subtle
devious traps such getting us to entertain and act negatively
upon our feelings of anger, jealously, bitterness, and hatred
just to name a few. God is of Love, and we must stay aware
of Satan’s deceptions by staying in close relationship to the
One who has “overcome the world.” These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world
you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the
world” (John 16:33).
The Bible teaches that having a small amount of faith
the size of a mustard seed you can accomplish great things,
if that faith is placed in God’s hands. No matter what you’re
going through if you have faith and trust God’s word he will
work things out for you. God knows us far better than we
know ourselves. “That’s why we can be so sure that every
detail in our lives of Love for God is worked into something
good” (Romans 8:27).
How one views one’s own personal hell, so to speak is a
matter of perspective and how you choose to deal with your
hell effects how God interacts with you. By personal trust
Jesus invites you to come to him when you are burdened. He
says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and
I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28) and he unselfishly opens
the door for you to freely enter. Audra, if you keep the door
of misery in your life locked from the inside rather than
from the outside you lock God out, thus thwarting His ability to release you into peace. God does not either want you to
remain in your present state or for sin to permeate your life.
God gives us free will to make choices and decisions
however, when sin enters the equation the choices we make
causes us to question God. Do not allow the joy of life that
God gives to you be diminished by sin, outside influences
or just the vicissitudes of life. When you allow those things
to occur blessings that God has intended for you becomes
changed and manipulated in such a way that it distorts your
ability to see and realize the Love of God. For that reason
scripture teaches that you should “Anoint your eyes in salve
that you might see” (Revelation3:18). When experiencing
your personal hell you need to be able to see your true
hearts condition while taking time to reflect on life circumstances and realizing God’s goodness even in the midst of
mess. God is still in the miracle working business.
Audra, in spite of the fact that you think God neither listens to nor hears your prayers, have you considered that His
silence might be an answer? You may want an immediate
answer to your prayers, but God might be waiting on you?
Remember, God may not answer you when you want Him
or how you want Him to but He is always right on time. “For
my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways
my ways, declares the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8). So, “trust the Lord
with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your
path straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Audra, may we humbly suggest to you, that instead of
escaping the pain and suffering by drinking and smoking
weed, that you allow yourself to experience the pain as
to allow yourself to heal, while learning new strategies to
manage and cope with the pain of the past to refresh and
restore intimacy with God and self, with the desire to be a
new healed, transformed child of God by faith trusting Him
for counsel, deliverance and guidance.
Audra, could it be that you feel like you’re in a hell now
because you’ve distanced yourself from God? Could it be
that God hears your prayers but you are not accepting His
answer? Just something you might contemplate. Audra,
faith without works is dead. What are you willing to do?
What works are you willing to do? Hell in one’s life or an
existential or personal crisis can mean danger or can be an
opportunity to grow. As a Christian Disciple, are you willing
to work to grow in God’s grace? Are you willing to develop a
personal, lifelong, obedient relationship with Him? Second
Peter 3:18 tells us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
You asked us to explain what you are you doing wrong
or what you need to do, because you don’t believe God hears
your prayer. To be honest with you, we can’t explain what
you are doing wrong or if you are doing anything wrong,
but what we do know is “all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Jesus died for the remission of
our sins so that we might receive eternal life. When you accepted the word of faith and you confessed with your mouth,
“Jesus is Lord,” and believed in your heart that God raised
him from the dead, you were saved (Romans: 10, 9) receiving
the promise of eternal life. As Christian believers, that is our
ultimate desire to achieve eternal salvation.
Audra, hopefully to uplift your heart we earnestly implore you to: Keep on praying to God. As a Christian, prayer
is absolutely essential, “Prayer is not only our response to
God’s grace as brought to us in the life and work of Jesus
Christ and the teaching of Scripture; it is also our requests
for our needs and the needs of others. Audra for good
reason, God’s holy and wise purpose does not permit Him
to grant every petition just as it is asked” (Luke 11:1; 1Thessalonians 5:23; Ephesians 6:8; James 5:16). It is our hope that
you find this response helpful. However, should you need
further information or support as you navigate through your
turbulent times, Mount Ararat offers a plethora of resources
to provide spiritual care for our congregation. Additionally, under the umbrella of The Mount Ararat Theological
Academy there are various educational offerings designed to
enrich and nurture your spiritual growth and development.
The Mount Ararat Counseling Center (MACC) is available
with the goal of providing Christian-based psychological
and emotional support to members or non-members of
Mount Ararat Baptist Church who may be in need of professional guidance in dealing with issues that may affect their
lives daily. Detailed information on these services may be
obtained by contacting the various church ministry leaders. Contact information can be obtained by contacting the
church office at 412-441-1800 ext.0.
References: Next Level: Outward Spiritual Disciples On
The Grow, (2015) Mt. Ararat Baptist Church and Lori Spears.
Contributor, Tinsley, Tauyna, Dr. (2015, July) Clinical Director,
Mount Ararat Baptist Counseling Center, Personal communication.
SUBMIT TED BY DEACONS: CL AUDI A M ASON,
K ATH Y HUNT, DW IGHT MOSLEY
Tips to Save Money
on Pet Care
Being a great pet parent can
be an expensive proposition
if you aren’t careful.
Spoiling your furry
friends doesn’t have to cost
a pretty penny. The discount
experts at Dollar General
are offering pet care tips for
those on a budget.
DIY GROOMING
Although it may be tempting to drop your pet off at
a professional groomer to
be bathed and brushed,
you can save a fortune by
doing it yourself. Set aside
a time each week or month
to bathe, brush and pamper
your pet. You can even get
the kids involved! Your pet
will love the extra attention, and you will love the
savings.
over-feeding pets. With a
proper and balanced diet,
you can help keep your pet
healthier and happier, and
spend less in the process.
QUALITY TIME
The most important bond
between pets and owners
is quality time and love.
Spending at least a small
part of your day exercising
and playing with your pets
means the world to them
and is a great stress reliever
for you. Plus, it doesn’t cost
a cent to shower your pet
with affection!
SMART SHOPPING
Sometimes the cost of owning and caring for a pet can
be stressful when trying to
budget for the rest of your
family. Instead of shopping
for items like treats, flea and
tick medication, pet shampoo, leashes and collars at
a pet-specific store or your
veterinarian’s office, consider shopping at
Dollar General
or online at
dollargeneral.
com, which
has a variety
of merchandise for your
pets’ needs at
affordable prices. With more
than 11,800
stores nationwide, you’re
likely to find a store nearby.
You can also visit pinterest.
com/mydollargeneral for
more helpful tips.
O
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PR
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Expert Graphic Designers
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With some time, attention
and smart budgeting, you
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VISIT OUR SITE TODAY!
WATCH WHAT THEY EAT
It’s important to find a food
that works for your pet’s
dietary needs and falls within your budget. For great
deals, consider shopping
at a discount retailer. For
example, Dollar General
offers exclusive pet food
and treats brands, Forever
Pals and EverPet. Both offer
a variety of choices at an
affordable price that
will make both you and
your pet happy. They
also carry a 100 percent
satisfaction guarantee, so
it’s a risk-free trial if you
aren’t fully satisfied with
the products.
You can also save money on pet food by following label instructions on
food packaging and not
22
S CARD
IT’S HERE! MOUNT ARARAT REWARD
(MARC)
The Mount Ararat Rewards Card
really use!
l
is your passport to savings you wil counts
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INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MA
RC PROGRAM PARTNER?
ions Department today
Call Mount Ararat’s Communicat
[email protected]
at 412.441.1800 x222 or email:
Be sure to get a copy of The Mount Magazine, stay connected with us
on social media and Mount TV, for an updated listing of our advertising partners!
4 Ways to Make
Life On-the-Go Easier
If you are constantly on the go, it’s important to remember
to take care of yourself and your family. Whether you’re
carting around kids or making your daily commute, there
are a few ways to make your busy life a little easier.
MAKE-ME-TIME
Make sure to reserve time
for you. It’s easy to get
caught up in the daily grind
of appointments, meetings, social obligations and
chores. Set aside time every
day to do something that
puts you first. Whether it’s
listening to relaxing music, going to a yoga class,
having coffee with a friend
or watching a favorite TV
show, do something that
helps balance your day.
24
AUTOMATIC
RENEWAL PROGRAMS
Consider signing up for automatic renewal programs
to ensure items you use and
replenish most often are
delivered directly to your
home on a schedule you
determine. You can order
items like coffee, diapers,
pet food, cleaning supplies
on a weekly, monthly or
bi-monthly basis. While
these programs can help
you save time, they often
come with special discounts
to help you save money too.
SHOP SMART
With the high cost of gas
and limited time for shopping, every stop counts.
Maximize your time and
dollar by shopping at a
discount retailer where you
can pick up an assortment
of staples in one stop. For
example Dollar General
carries bread, milk, eggs,
snacks and other foods, as
well as cleaning and paper
supplies, health and beauty
items, apparel and home décor items. Their convenient
locations make it easy to get
in, get what you need and
get on with your busy day.
EASY MEALS
Preparing daily meals can
be just as time consuming
to plan as they are to cook.
For easy, affordable and
delicious recipes, visit DG
Easy Meals at www.dg.com/
easymeals, which includes
appetizers, main dishes, side
dishes and desserts. Even on
your busiest days, cooking
simple and tasty meals can
help you unwind and give
you additional time to prepare for the next day.
When you’re constantly on
the go, making smart and
savvy choices can help you
save time and money.
[STATEPOINT ]
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
RA
0
.18
41
RA
T.O
RG
Do you think you suffer from
emotional eating? Do you feel like you
often eat too much? Don’t know how
to tell when you are hungry? A formal
program and research study – Appetite
Awareness Training – will be starting
at Mount Ararat Baptist Church in
fall 2015. Please look at the ad on this
page for more information. Reaching
out is the first step. MACC is here to
help!
2.4
41
0
Please CALL (412-383-8028) or EMAIL ([email protected]) TO PARTICIPATE.
YOUTH OF THE MOUNT
(YOTM):
Elev8: All-ages at 9:30 a.m.
Eleven47: Teens-only at 11:47 a.m.
MAKE A LIST OF
NON-EATING BEHAVIORS
THAT WILL ADDRESS
YOUR EMOTIONAL NEEDS
It may be challenging at
first, but it is incredibly
helpful to generate a list of
things to do that are an al-
SERVICES
SUNDAY MORNING
WORSHIP SERVICES:
7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m.*
h
rc
Participants will be compensated for their time.
There are some hurts we experience
where we need the support of a
trained mental health professional.
Many counseling resources in the
city of Pittsburgh, like Mount Ararat
Counseling Center (MACC), exist to
help support you receiving the help
needed to heal old wounds, or to learn
to manage recurrent depression and/
or anxiety.
OUR
hu
tC
tis
This medication-free research study is being held by the University of
Pittsburgh. This study is designed to help you to:
 Decrease emotional eating
 Improve your ability to manage your weight
 Learn your biological signals of hunger and fullness
APPETIT
(412) 383
E-mail: rlw
APPETIT
(412) 383
E-mail: rlw
APPETIT
(412) 383
E-mail: rlw
APPETIT
(412) 383
E-mail: rlw
APPETIT
(412) 383
E-mail: rlw
APPETIT
(412) 383
E-mail: rlw
APPETIT
(412) 383
E-mail: rlw
APPETIT
(412) 383
E-mail: rlw
APPETIT
(412) 383
E-mail: rlw
APPETIT
(412) 383
E-mail: rlw
26
You may be part of the APPETITE Trial if you:
 Are an overweight African-American woman
 Are not pregnant
 Report feeling out of control when eating (at least once per week)
 Able to attend 8-weekly group meetings (held at Mt. Ararat Baptist Church)
SEEK THE SUPPORT OF A
MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER
YO U A R E W E LC O M E
T O T H E M I N I S T RY T H AT C A R E S
r, ap
to B
as rat
r P Ara
nio t
Se oun
M
Be a part of the APPETITE Study.
When you think you feel a
hunger pain – pause before
eating. Ask yourself what
you really need.
While hunger may feel
like it needs to be immediately addressed, pausing can
be a very helpful strategy. Even just introducing
enough time for you to ask
yourself, “What do I need?”
can be very helpful toward
curbing emotional eating.
When you hear the answer
– don’t ignore it. Paying
attention to your real needs
may be a first step toward
true healing.
Many of us hold onto years of deep
pain without seeking God to help us
heal. Instead, we use food for our
comfort. God is waiting to provide
you with true and lasting healing. Our
work is to connect to him, and seek
him for support. Sources of spiritual
support include praying with a friend,
reading the Bible, attending church,
and/or singing songs of praise.
TA
Do you feel out of control around food?
IF YOU THINK THAT YOU
ARE EATING FOR EMOTIONAL AND/OR SPIRITUAL REASONS, HERE ARE
SOME THINGS THAT MAY
HELP:
INVITE GOD INTO THE PROCESS
M
tional needs are not met.
Experiencing hunger
can be very tricky, and without knowing it, we can think
we are experiencing a biological hunger pain, when in
reality, we are craving relief
for our spiritual/emotional
self. Many of us have not
been taught how to truly
nourish ourselves. We have
been taught, however, that
eating may make things better. As a result, we eat to
“fix” problems that need far
deeper solutions to solve.
Unfortunately, this behavior
can lead to health problems
and recurrent weight gain.
am Re
H ver
. C en
ur d
tis
understand our hunger.
Psychologist Linda
Craighead describes the
experience of eating as one
where your body operates
as if you have two tanks– a
biological tank (Tank B) and
a psychological tank (Tank
P). These tanks may feel
similar, but in actuality, they
serve two different purposes. Tank B is the hunger
pain your body sends out to
let you know you need to
nourish your physical body.
In contrast, when you have
“hunger pains” from Tank P,
you are receiving the signal
that your spiritual and emo-
illi
For many of us, the experience of eating brings a smile
to our face. It is not uncommon to celebrate the joys of
life over a meal, or through
cooking some of your favorite dishes. Alternatively, eating may also serve to help
us “hide.” Many of us carry
trauma and pain that we
have used food to address.
The only problem is this: eating will not be a permanent
solution to a mental health,
emotional, or spiritual need.
Eating will not heal the pain
nor solve the problem. We
must learn how to use food
appropriately, and how to
r.
W
BY: R ACHEL WOODSON GOODE , LCSW
D
What’s Eating You: Understanding how our
Emotions Impact our Relationship with Food
Untreated mental
health needs (e.g., depression, grief, anxiety) can all
be hidden through eating.
While food many temporarily silence our emotional and
spiritual concerns, it will not
solve the problem. Many
of us do not know how to
nourish our Tank P, and we
may be eating food when
we really may need the support of a friend, to manage
our stress, or to invest more
time developing our relationship with God.
ternative to emotional eating. Calling
a friend, taking a walk, and/or reading
a devotional are all helpful strategies.
Since we are all different, making a
personalized list is essential. Invite a
friend to help you in the process.
MOUNT ARARAT’S
PICNIC & TAILGATE
Monroeville Mall Convention Center
Sunday, July 26, 2015
28
[PHOTO CREDIT: JAMES MOORE & ORLANA DARKINS DREWERY]
29
Men: Tips to
Get a Better
Shave
Some say shaving is an art,
and achieving the perfect
shave requires a combination of time-honed skills
and quality tools. While
your shaving technique has
likely improved since your
first shave, it doesn’t hurt
to learn a few tricks of the
trade to ensure you are always getting the best shave
possible.
Facial hair styles are always changing and grooming tools are constantly
being updated; but there
are a few fundamental tips
every guy should know to
get a better shave.
ELECTRIC SHAVE
Electric shavers have
evolved and are now capable of helping men achieve
maximum closeness and
comfort when shaving.
With certain brands introducing innovative features
such as sensors that monitor beard density to adjust
cutting power, and the
ability to use both dry or in
the shower, more men are
going electric. Panasonic
offers a five-blade shaver
that features a powerful 14
000 CPM Linear Motor, LCD
display and a built-in pop-up
trimmer.
If you do use a foil
shaver, keep in mind that
long term performance
is contingent on proper
maintenance. Make sure to
clean electric razors after
every use to ensure your
PHOTO
RECAP
SING CHOIR!
next shave is free of bacteria
and mold. Also, don’t forget
to replace the outer foil and
the inner blades about once
a year, depending on daily
usage, to maintain a superior cutting performance
from your shaver. Once you
find yourself pressing harder
to get a decent shave, it is
past time to replace the foil
so you don’t irritate your
skin.
To look and feel your
best for years to come, consider the Panasonic shaver
and Replacement Blades
and Foils which are
compatible with select
Panasonic Men’s Shavers
and available online at
shop.panasonic.com.
A steady and confident
hand and great shaving
techniques are just part
of the equation. When it
comes to a great shave,
maintaining your tools and
replacing them when necessary are non-negotiable.
[STATEPOINT ]
Mount Ararat’s Choir “Majestic
Praise” ministers in song every
third Sunday of the month
during our Saturday 7pm
evening worship service and
our Sunday morning worship
services: 7:30am, 9:30am
and 11:4am. This choir sings
traditional and contemporary
Gospel music and is comprised
of individuals who love to sing
songs of worship and praise!
For more information about
Majestic Praise, send an email
to: [email protected]
or call 412-441-1800 Ext. 0
Reach your
target audience
with one click
As the largest church in
Southwestern Pennsylvania,
we have an extensive database that
reaches THOUSANDS every week.
Our database will expose your
message to families and working
individuals to your business,
resources, products and events that
are available in and around
the City of Pittsburgh.
30
FOR MORE INFO:
412-441-1800 Ext. 222
[email protected]
by using Mount Media
E-Marketing!
31
Surprising Signs You Are
Suffering from Allergies
and Tips to Manage Them
YOU CAN’T
CONCENTRATE
You wake up with a runny
nose and can’t stop sneezing but still head into work
and struggle through the
day. This situation often
leads to a present but
unproductive employee
-- something known as “presenteeism” -- and unfortunately it’s very common for
allergy sufferers.
YOUR NOSE IS
EXTRA SENSITIVE
Allergy sufferers may experience a heightened response
to non-allergic conditions,
such as wind, air pollution
and dry weather. This occurs
when the nasal passages
and throat are inflamed
from existing allergies,
making them more sensitive.
32
YOU FEEL TIRED
Allergy symptoms can
disrupt sleep, especially
for people whose symptoms make it difficult
to breathe through the
nose. But even a full night’s
rest may not ease that
feeling of tiredness for some
allergy sufferers.
YOU’RE GRUMPY
The discomfort of allergy
symptoms can interfere with
people’s daily lives and lead
to irritability.
Do any of the above
sound familiar? For those
that are suffering from allergies, Dr. Zitt recommends
the following allergy survival
tips to better manage symptoms.
KNOW YOUR
TRIGGERS
If you’re bringing flowers
or plants into your home,
choose them carefully. For
example, sunflowers and
chrysanthemums might
offer a sweet floral aroma,
but they’re known to bother
people with ragweed allergies.
DON’T CARPOOL
WITH POLLEN
Keep car windows rolled up.
Instead of opening windows
turn on the air conditioning,
or set your ventilation to
“re-circulate” to avoid outdoor allergens and irritants.
Additionally, over-thecounter antihistamines can
offer relief from symptoms
like itchy and watery eyes
and a runny nose. One
option is Allegra Allergy
24-Hour -- now available
in gelcap form. It can offer
adults fast, non-drowsy relief starting in one hour and
staying strong for 24. More
information can be found at
Allegra.com.
Think beyond the runny
nose. Allergies can take a
toll on your entire quality of
life. Take care of yourself by
avoiding your triggers when
possible and seeking relief
when necessary.
[STATEPOINT ]
PHOTO
RECAP
ON LOCATION
WITH MOUNT TV
Mount TV, hosted by Michelyn
Hood Tinor, is a creatively
produced weekly show that
airs a new episode at Mount
Ararat’s four services (Saturday
at 7PM and Sunday Mornings
7:30am, 9:30am and 11:45am)
and on the website (mt-ararat.
org). Combined, the program
is viewed by approximately
10,000 individuals. Each episode
highlights upcoming events
and ministry opportunities
happening at the Mount!
Sponsorship opportunities are
available. For more information,
send an email to
[email protected]
Document your symptoms
to get a better sense of your
individual allergies. Visit
your health care provider,
preferably an allergist, to
get a proper diagnosis and
treatment plan.
AVOID ALLERGENS
Avoid outdoor activities in
the morning or plan ahead
by wearing a hat and sunglasses to keep pollen away
from your face.
KICK POLLEN
TO THE CURB
Pollen can stick to clothing
and shoes. Invest in a good
doormat and wipe down
your shoes each time you
enter. It’s also helpful to
shower and change into
fresh clothes to completely rid yourself of outdoor
pollen.
When you think of seasonal allergies, sneezing
may come to mind first.
But there’s a lot more to
allergies than “achoo,” say
experts.
According to allergist
Dr. Myron Zitt, there are
many ways allergies can
manifest. Here are a few less
obvious signs that you may
be suffering from allergies:
BEWARE OF BOUQUETS:
33
The 7 Most Dangerous
DIY Home Renovations
One in five DIY-ers tackling
home renovations ends up
in the hospital each year
due to accidents, according
to the Home Safety Council.
Don’t become a statistic.
Here are the seven most
dangerous DIY home renovations you should leave to
the experts.
TREE TRIMMING
& REMOVAL
Trees don’t always fall in a
predictable manner, creating a hazard for yourself
and your property. It’s best
to consult a certified arborist, no matter how handy
you are with power tools.
“If a tree falls during a
storm, a DIY mishap, or a
careless neighbor’s landscaping project, take photos
and contact your claims adjuster as soon as possible,”
says Erie Insurance Vice President and Product Manager,
Joe Vahey. “Your adjuster
can help evaluate the damage and explain how your
homeowners insurance can
help.”
ROOF REPAIR
When faced with severe
storm damage, homeowners often look for a quick
fix for roof damage. Rather
than running the risk of
falling or injuring yourself,
have your homeowners
insurance claims adjuster
verify damage and schedule
repair work with an experienced company. In the long
run, this will save you time,
money and help you avoid
injuries.
ELECTRICAL REPAIRS
While it may be easy to
change a light switch or
install a ceiling fan (make
sure your power is turned
off before you start), replacing circuits and other larger
projects should be done by
professionals. This will prevent shocks, injuries and potential fires, while ensuring
your home is up to building
codes if you eventually plan
to sell.
GAS APPLIANCE REPAIRS
Properly cutting off or
hooking up gas lines can be
tricky, so leave gas appliance
repairs to the professionals
to protect against potential
gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning.
KNOCKING DOWN WALLS
If you’re looking for an open
floor plan, think before
tearing down walls yourself.
Do you know which walls
are load-bearing and where
plumbing or electrical lines
are located? Professionals
will know how to best navigate the project from start
to finish so you stay safe,
and your home stays intact.
PEST CONTROL
The average consumer
should handle not all
pest-control products. Keep
your family safe by hiring
a pest control company to
handle toxic substances
properly.
More renovations safety
tips and information on
homeowners insurance can
be found at www.ErieInsurance.com.
Before taking on your
next big project, think
about where you can bring
in the pros to save time and
money in the long run, and
keep your family safe and
sound. If accidents do occur
during the DIY renovation
process, be sure to loop in
your insurance claims agent
to help assess any damage.
STATEPOINT
PHOTO
RECAP
18TH PASTORAL
ANNIVERSARY
& REVIVAL
Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis’
Pre-Anniversary Revival was
July 6th & 7th and featured:
Reverend Jimmy Baldwin from
Shiloh Christian Community
Church in Baltimore, Maryland;
Reverend Dr. Jerry Carter
from Calvary Baptist Church
in Morristown, New Jersey
and Bishop John Guns from
St. Paul Missionary Baptist
Church in Jacksonville, Florida.
The celebration continued the
weekend of July 11 & 12 with
Dr. Denny Davis from St. John
Baptist Church in Grand Prairie,
Texas and Gospel Recording
Artist Crystal Rucker!
Thank you to everyone
who attended these special
worship services!
Many homes built before
1980 contain asbestos.
Before renovating, it’s
a smart idea to have
your home inspected for
asbestos-containing materials by accredited professionals. Leave clean-up
to experts, and limit your
exposure to the area.
Inhaling airborne fibers
may cause harmful respiratory problems.
34
ASBESTOS REMOVAL
35
If you work out a couple
times a week, you are on
the right path to good
health. But experts say this
can and should be just the
beginning of your fitness
journey.
“Our bodies are designed to be fast, powerful and agile,” says Paul
“Coach” Wade, fitness
expert and author of the
new book “Explosive Calisthenics.” “However, modern
Americans have become the
slowest, least agile members
of our species in all history.”
Wade says a vanishing
percent of people even
attempt to unlock their
body’s full athletic potential.
To help, he is offering tips to
take your overall fitness to
the next level.
36
DITCH THE EXCUSES
Getting in great shape
requires consistency, and it’s
all too easy to make excuses for missing a workout.
Whether you’re always on
the road or can’t afford to
renew your gym membership, Wade says such excuses
don’t hold water.
“While modern training
methods involve equipment
like barbells, balls, boxes
and gymnastics gear, the
superior way of building
maximum speed, power
and ability is the old-school
method of using just your
body’s own weight, nothing
else,” he says.
Whether you’re
crunched for time or
crunched for space, don’t let
DITCH THE FEAR
Traditional calisthenic
moves used by gymnasts,
martial artists, athletes and
tumblers -- such as flips
and kip-ups -- may seem
intimidating. But Wade says
that most people have the
inherent ability to master
such moves by working on
each one in progressions. “Movements like these
have been handed down
from generation to generation,” he says. “They should
not be the exclusive domain
of gymnasts.
STAY FOCUSED
Don’t try to take shortcuts.
Successful athletes don’t
leap ahead and tackle
moves they aren’t ready for
-- they find ways to make
the stuff they can already do
work even better for them.
When it comes to physical
fitness, don’t settle for
halfway decent. No matter
what your level of fitness is
today, take a cue from the
fitness experts to use more
of your full potential. For
more tips and information,
visit www.dragondoor.com.
[STATEPOINT ]
PHOTO
RECAP
FREE ON-SITE
HIV/AIDS
TESTING
Mount Ararat’s Health &
Wellness Ministry hosted an
HIV/AIDS Awareness & Testing
Day on Sunday, June 28 at the
church. The event provided
individuals an opportunity
to know their status, get
tested on-site and learn
about the resources within
their community through the
Pittsburgh AIDS Taskforce!
Thank you to everyone who
took advantage of this health
service.
Tips to Get Faster,
Stronger and More Flexible
these circumstances prevent
you from getting a great
workout. Pushups, squats,
leg raises, bridges and jumps
are just a few fundamental exercises that can be
performed in a small space
without any gear.
37
These days, home theaters
are particularly popular
rooms in many houses, and
are even viewed as selling
points. In fact, this trend
has become so popular that
eight in ten builders now offer home theater pre-wire,
according to a study from
the Consumer Electronics
Association.
By following some tricks
of the trade, you can add excitement to your living room
or create a superior home
theater space.
IMMERSIVE VISUALS
POWERFUL SOUND
You want powerful sound
that can move you, but
not so loud it moves your
home’s foundation.
Most experts agree
surround sound is best. You
will need at least four speak-
EASY COMFORT
Seating is just as important
as incredible visuals and
powerful sound to create
the perfect home theater
atmosphere.
Think of seats as primary and secondary. Primary
seating is for family or
friends who use the space
regularly. Secondary seat-
PHOTO
RECAP
MARC CARD
They have their Mount Ararat
Rewards Card (MARC Card)....
Above all, when the remodeling is done, remember
to take time to enjoy your
set-up!
Do You? Be sure to get your
[STATEPOINT ]
church and from our MARC
MARC Card today, at the Front
Office, to take advantage of
special offers and deals at the
Card Partners! If you’re a
business owner and would
like to be a Partner, call 412441-1293 or send an email to
MountMagazine@mt-ararat.
org TODAY!
To capture the stunning visuals you see in the theater,
consider a projector that
can create a more immersive
experience for gaming, movies, concerts, and sports.
Be sure to select one with a
fully connectable interface,
including three types of video and audio inputs, as well
as HDMI, RGB and RS-232C
terminals.
A projector lets you
replace an ordinary TV with
a larger screen, and if you
choose a light one, it can
even be moved around
from room to room. For
example, weighing in at just
five pounds, Casio’s SLIM
projectors are thin and
compact, require little
setup time and provide
maximum brightness in
as few as five seconds to
put you into the action in
no time. The SLIM series
of LampFree projectors
offers an estimated
20,000-hour lifespan
with minimal brightness
degradation and continuous operation, outshining
conventional projectors
requiring mercury lamp
replacements. More information is available at www.
CasioProjector.com.
And experts also stress
that projectors can be
economical, as the cost per
image area is less than with
traditional televisions.
ing is used when you have
that huge party for the big
game, a new movie or an
awards show.
Some prefer dramatic
theater-style seating with
classic flip-up chairs and
built-in cup holders. Others
like recliners or sofas on
which they can lean. Just
make sure every seat has an
unobstructed view and no
seat is too close to speakers.
Tips to Set Up a Great
Home Theater Room
ers and a subwoofer. And
don’t just place speakers on
either side of your screen.
Create an equilateral triangle, with the right and left
front speakers as two points
and your primary seat as the
third point. Meaning, if you
are seated seven feet away
from the screen, your speakers should be seven feet
apart from each other and
angled toward you. Place
them at the same height as
ear level.
38
B E C O M E
A
M A R C
C A R D
P A R T N E R
T O D AY !
39
JACKIE ROBINSON, 1954
PHOTO BY BOB SANDBERG LOOK
PHOTOGRAPHER - LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
What’s in
a Number?
40
BY R AY PORTER JR .
Have you ever heard of the
expression, “You’re nothing but
a number”? Of course you have.
It’s an unflattering term, usually
used to describe the insignificance
of employees, or students or even
prisoners.
But if there’s one sphere that takes
that phrase literally, it’s the world of
sports. All you need to do is look at the
jerseys and even the helmets and you
will see numbers on them. Of course you
know the obvious reason, to identify the
players, officials, other players, official
scorers, and spectators; in some sports, it
is also indicative of the player’s position.
When did this begin and why?
It’s easy to think that American
sports started using the number system,
but according to The International
Federation of Football History and
Statistics, an organization of association
football historians, traces the origin
of numbers to a 1911 Australian rules
football match in Sydney; although
photographic evidence exists of
numbers being used in Australia as
early as May, 1903. The Brisbane
Courier reports player numbers
were used in a Queensland vs. New
Zealand rugby match played on July 17,
1897, in Brisbane, Australia.
Nevertheless, it was the United
States who added style and significance
to wearing numbers on uniforms, first
in football and hockey and then later
baseball. Let’s take a look at history of
how each sport started using numbers:
Major League Baseball-The uniform
number is a number worn on the
uniform of each player and coach.
Numbers are used for the purpose of
easily identifying each person on the
field as no two people from the same
team can wear the same number.
Although designed for identification
purposes only, numbers have become
the source of superstition, emotional
attachment, and honor (in the form of
a number retirement). The number is
always on the back of the jersey, often on
the front, and occasionally seen on the
left leg of the pants.
It is said that the first time a Major
League team wore numbers was on
June 26, 1916. Inspired by football’s and
hockey’s use of numbers, the Cleveland
Indians trotted on their home
field wearing large numbers on their
left sleeves. In 1929, the New York
Yankees planned to start the season with
uniform numbers on the back of the
jersey. By the mid-1930s, all MLB teams
wore numbers. In 1937, the Philadelphia
Athletics finally began wearing numbers
on both home and away jerseys; making
numbers a universal trait in the MLB. The first MLB game to feature both
teams wearing numbers on their jerseys
was the game between the Indians
and the Yankees on May 13, 1929. With
the exception of retired numbers, any
player can wear any number from 0-99.
And baseball is the only sport in which
managers and coaches wear uniforms
with numbers.
MLB decided to retire Jackie
Robinson’s #42 leaguewide so no player in
the sport can ever wear
that number again.
National
Hockey League- The
National Hockey
Association first
adopted this practice
in 1911 with a rule
stating, “Players had
to wear identifying
numbers on armbands
placed on their
left arm.” When
these were deemed
unsatisfactory, large
numbers were placed
on the front of the
sweater, and a board
with the player’s name
and number was
placed at one end of
the rink. Eventually
numbers would be
moved to the back
of the jersey, and the
board replaced by
individual programs.
Ice
hockey does
not have any formalized uniform
numbering rules. Historically,
in the National Hockey League,
starting goaltenders wore Number 1, the
backup goalie wore Number 30, and the
other players (the “skaters”) wore low
numbers (generally Number 2 to Number
29). It is still traditional for goaltenders
to wear either Number 1 or numbers
near Number 30 (in a range from
approximately Number 29 to Number
41). After the NHL lockout in 2004-05,
it became more common for goalies to
wear even numbers in the 30s.
The only number that players
cannot wear is 99, which was retired
league-wide to honor Hall of Famer
Wayne Gretzky.
National Basketball LeagueThe National Basketball Association has
always allowed any number between 0
and 99, but use of the digits 6 through 9
is less common than 0 through 5 since
most players tend to keep the numbers
that they wore in college. Exceptions
have happened, with the increase in the
number of international players, and
other players who have been on national
1–9: quarterbacks, kickers,
and punters.
10–19: quarterbacks, kickers,
punters, and wide receivers
20–39: running backs and defensive backs
42
40–49: running backs, defensive
backs, linebackers, and tight ends.
50–59: linebackers
and centers, defensive
linemen (from 2015)
60–79: offensive
linemen and defensive linemen.
80–89: wide receivers
and tight ends.
90–99: linebackers
and defensive linemen.
The NFL numbering system is
based on a player’s primary position.
Any player wearing any number may
play at any position at any time (though
players wearing numbers 50–79 or 9099 must let the referee know that they
are playing out of position by reporting
as an ‘ineligible number in an eligible
position’). In pre-season games, when
teams have expanded rosters, players
may wear numbers that are outside of
the above rules. When the final 53-player
roster is established, they are reissued
numbers within the above guidelines.
There have also been cases where
numbers are so significant to players that
they were willing to offer money-or other
things to get it. A good example of this is
Dallas Cowboys CB Deion Sanders who
wanted the #21 so badly that he bought
a teammate a BMW to get it. Also, in
2013 Tampa Bay Buccaneers CB Darielle
Revis gave a player $50,000 for #24. It
is the highest amount ever offered for a
number.
Here’s one more crazy story. In
2004, after signing with the Washington
Redskins, RB Clinton Portis wanted the
No. 26, so he offered fellow RB Ifeanyi
Ohalete $40,000 for the number. Ohalete
accepted the deal and Portis promptly
paid Ohalete $20,000 up front. The
two players agreed the rest of the money
would be paid by Christmas. Ohalete
eventually got cut & Portis felt that he
didn’t have to pay the rest of the money.
The two sides were about to go to court,
but the day before the case was set to
start, Portis decided to settle and paid
Ohalete $18,000. So Ohalete got the
$18,000 from the settlement and the
$20,000 that Portis originally paid; all
because of a number.
Finally, nothing defines the highest
honor of a player’s uniform number
than when a team chooses to retire
it; usually after the player has left the
team, retires from the game, or has died.
Once a number is retired, no future
player from the team may use that
number, unless the player so-honored
permits it. (Ex: Denver Broncos QB
Peyton wearing #18 because Frank
Tripucka for whom the number was
retired, gave him permission to wear it)
Such an honor may also be bestowed
on players who had their careers ended
due to serious injury. In some cases
a number can be retired to honor
someone other than a player, such as a
manager, owner or a fan. For example,
the Boston Celtics retired the squad
number 1 in honor of the team’s original
owner Walter A. Brown. To date, the
New York Yankees have the most retired
numbers (15) in sports history.
Teams also take numbers out of
circulation without formally retiring
them. For example, the Pittsburgh
Steelers have not reissued the jersey
numbers of several of their greatest
players—most notably Terry Bradshaw’s
#12 and Franco Harris’ #32. The team
has formally retired two numbers in its
history—Ernie Stautner’s # 70 and Joe
Greene’s #75. Nonetheless, it is generally
understood that no Steeler will ever wear
12 (Terry Bradshaw), 32 (Franco Harris),
36 (Jerome Bettis), 43 (Troy Polamalu),
52 (Mike Webster), 58 (Jack Lambert), 59
(Jack Ham) and 63 (Dermontti Dawson)
again.
So that’s what’s in a number. Not just
a number to wear on a jersey, but it’s part
of the player’s history.
Ray Porter Jr. is a freelance sports writer for
Urban Media Today (www.urbanmediatoday.
com). You can follow him @urbanmediaRay on
twitter.
MOVIE
SCENE
QUEEN
MER ECEDES J. HOW ZE
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.
ME AND EARL AND
THE DYING GIRLS
PAYS LAST TRIBUTE TO
SCHENLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Review: Me and Earl and the Dying Girls Pays Last Tribute to Schenley High School
By Merecedes J. Howze, Movie Scene Queen
The
Sundance
FilmFilm
Festival
favorite,
“Me and
Earl
andEarl
the and
Dyingthe
Girl”,
is a hip
book-turned
movie
The
Sundance
Festival
favorite,
“Me
and
Dying
Girl”,
is a hip bookabout
a
socially
awkward
high
school
senior
who
befriends
a
dying
girl.
Starring
Thomas
Mann,
turned movie about a socially awkward high school senior who befriends a dying girl.Olivia
reroute
Cooke,
and Thomas
RJ Cyler, the
gang,Olivia
through
quirkyand
homemade
multi-dimensional
Starring
Mann,
Cooke,
RJ Cyler,films
theand
gang,
through quirkywit,
hometheir
high
school
experience
when
a
classmate
declares
her
terminal
illness.
made films and multi-dimensional wit, reroute their high school experience when a
classmate
declares
herGomez-Rejon,
terminal illness.
The
cast, Director
Alfonso
and Writer Jesse Andrews sat down with Movie Scene Queen
Thethe
cast,
Director
Alfonso
and
Writer
Jesse Andrews sat down
to discuss
movie,
specifically
theGomez-Rejon,
joys of getting to
know
Pittsburgh.
with Movie Scene Queen to discuss the movie, specifically the joys of getting to know
“IPittsburgh.
could die here,” said Cooke, 21, about the Steel City. Her other two cast members quickly agreed.
“I could die here,” said Cooke, 21, about the Steel City. Her other two cast members quickly agreed.
RJ Cyler is just as comically attractive as his character, Earl. The cast and crew recently wrapped up a
press tour in Pittsburgh. The energy between the cast
was surprisingly
ignited
by Cyler.
MERECEDES
HOWZE, MOVIE
SCENE
QUEEN, CHATS WITH THE CAST OF “ME
The chemistry between the three amigos
It is Earl who sticks out like a sore thumb,
isofnaturally
obvious on and off screen. The cast
Between a funny photo-shoot and random outbursts,
Cyler
characteristics
a kid
AND
EARLhas
ANDthe
THElikeable
DYING GIRL”
AT THE
FAIRMONT PITTSBURGH. (PHOTO BY
thoroughly enjoys each other’s company.
brother.
Merecedes Howze, Movie Scene Queen,though.
chats with
thecast
castisofphenomenal,
“Me and Earlbut
anditthe
Dying
Girl” at
The
is RJ
Cyler,
the Fairmont Pittsburgh. (Photo by Alexis
Tippett)
who peeks my interest. Like most post-pubescent
boys,
his carefree
spirit
plays
theThe
calm
The chemistry between the three amigos
is naturally
obvious
on and
off both
screen.
castand
thoroughly
the
chaos
in
the
film.
enjoys each other’s company.
RJ Cyler is just as comically attractive as
It is Earl who sticks out like a sore thumb,
The cast
phenomenal,
it isrecently
RJ Cyler, who
histhough.
character,
Earl.isThe
cast and but
crew
boys,
his
carefree
spirit
plays
both
the
calmenand the
peeks my interest. Like most post-pubescent
wrapped up a press tour in Pittsburgh. The
chaos in the film.
ergy between the cast was surprisingly ignited
by Cyler.
Between a funny photo-shoot and
random outbursts, Cyler has the likeable characteristics of a kid brother.
.
Jesse Andrews, a 2000 graduate
of Pittsburgh Schenley, returned home last
Silly moments with RJ Cyler and Movie Scene Queen
(Photo
by Alexis
Tippett)
SILLY
MOMENTS
WITH RJ
CYLER AND
summer to transform his fiction novel in to a
MOVIE SCENE QUEEN (PHOTO BY ALEXIS
movie. James
Hill, a Schenley historian and
returned home last summer to transform
his
Jesse Andrews, a 2000 graduate of Pittsburgh Schenley,
TIPPETT)
2011success
graduate says Andrews success “has truly
fiction novel in to a movie. James Hill, a Schenley historian and 2011 graduate says Andrews
(FIBA) teams. Also, players who change
NBA teams and cannot keep their
previous number due to its already being
in use or its retirement; have adopted
other numbers (Patrick Ewing with
No. 6 in Orlando). When Michael
Jordan retired in 1993, the Chicago
Bulls retired the number 23; when he
came out of retirement he chose to wear
45 until the 1995 NBA post-season, when
he went back to his familiar 23.
National Football League- A system
for the assigning of jersey numbers
was initiated in the NFL in 1952. It was
updated and made more rigid in 1973
and has been modified slightly since
then. Numbers are always worn on
the front and back of a player’s jersey,
and so-called, TV numbers, are worn
on the sleeve or shoulder. In 1980,
the Cincinnati Bengals were the last
NFL team to wear jerseys without TV
numbers on a regular basis. Since then,
several NFL teams have worn throwback
jerseys without them, as their jersey
designs predated the introduction of TV
numbers. Players have often asked the
NFL for an exception to the numbering
rule. In 2006, for example, New
Orleans Saints running back Reggie
Bush requested to keep the number
5 he wore in college. His request was
declined, and he was assigned number 25
by the team.
The NFL established the numbering
system listed below. It has been largely
unchanged since 1973.
“has truly lived up to the school’s motto—he entered to learn and he has gone forth to serve.”
43
fiction novel in to a movie. James Hill, a Schenley historian and 2011 graduate says Andrews success
“has truly lived up to the school’s motto—he entered to learn and he has gone forth to serve.”
E E E E
10 Years Later…Here’s a snapshot
“
I didn’t choose
to have a stroke.
I did choose UPMC.
-
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, DIRECTOR ALFONSO GOMEZ-REJON, WRITER JESSE ANDREWS, AND MERECEDES HOWZE, MOVIE SCENE QUEEN PICTURED WITH ME AND
EARL AND THE DYING GIRL FILM POSTER. (PHOTO BY ALEXIS TIPPETT)
lived up to the school’s motto—he entered to learn and he has
gone forth to serve.”
The majority of “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” was
taped at Schenley High School. The movie pays one last “dying” tribute to the school, which was closed it actual doors in
2008.
The first high school in the country with a $1 million
construction budget. The Pittsburgh History and Landmarks
Foundation certified the Oakland high school as a historic
landmark in 1992. Schenley High School still holds the state for
the most state basketball championships (5).
“Schenley High School in its heyday was one of Pittsburgh
Public Schools brightest time of expansion,” said Hill. “This
movie truly acts as Schenley’s final bow, closing the door on the
school’s 99 years. It’s now forever immortalized in film.”
As I embark on my 10-year class reunion, the triangular structure served as more than my secondary learning. It
shaped me into the woman I am today. Even a decade later,
this film conveniently reminds me of the overcrowded parties in the trophy room, the musty cafeteria where we could
lock out staff from both ends, or the Tripper, which consisted of a PAT bus waiting to carry us home upon dismissal.
From creating life-long friendships to later on chaperoning school events, Schenley High School will always have a
special place in my heart and shall live forever in the lives of
those who graced its hallways.
I commend Jesse Andrews for doing what so many of us
want to do. Whether it be fictitious or reality, we, as Schenley alum, just want to let the world know how great of a
school Schenley High School is, not was!
44
”
Beverly was hours away from Pittsburgh
when she had her stroke. Fortunately,
her local hospital participates in UPMC’s
Stroke Telemedicine program, so she was
seen remotely by UPMC stroke expert,
Lawrence Wechsler, MD, and received
treatment quickly.
Within 20 minutes she started to get
feeling back on her left side. Today she
is completely recovered.
“The doctor at UPMC gave me my life
back,” she says. “How do you thank
someone for that?”
To learn more about UPMC services,
call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762) or visit
UPMC.com/Choose.

August 2015 Issue - Mount Ararat Baptist Church

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