These are questions that we must ask ourselves as a country, city, state and community. We all have become victims of one or the other’s perspective. As a people, the current social climate, has stripped away our core values and sensitivities to properly acknowledge life’s differences. Life itself would have no spice, if it was all constructed with the same images, narratives, hopes, challenges, geography or gender. God’s presence would lose it purpose, behind our definition of social-cultural equalities. Everything can not be the same, but the differences can be a significant part of the whole.

Maybe our real issues are living inside of ourselves, as we look outside of ourselves to find our social and emotional purpose. Culturally, we often credit those voices that have large constituencies or media profiles, instead of those that have a fearless passion for the truth. Let’s not look to judge these efforts, but to hold ourselves accountable to our own truth that is aligned with God’s truth. Within this effort , I think we will emotionally land in a place, that we can start to heal.

Once we can embrace our cultural truths without jealousy, embarrassment, insecurities , bias and most important without fear. We can start to transform our social-emotional challenges. The solutions to our current plights , can be simple actions of kindness, love , empathy, forgiveness without judgement and acknowledging the love for humanity. These are God like social practices.

Let’s remember our greatest competition is our attempt to reach our own potential. It’s not looking to the left and the right, or seeing black and white, but looking comfortably within. This allows for a great collective outcome, because its our unique gifts, that contributes to life’s whole. We all are contributors to the greater being.. God doesn’t create the issues, man’s fears and bruises do. So, as we practice God’s characteristics, we will see a social emotional transformation occur. A culture of spiritual inclusion.

The real intention to deploy emotional equality is beyond the “Color Code” , gender biases, social -economic redlining or the constitutional governance of humanity. It’s simplifying the re-engineering of the processes that blocks the social transparencies of truth.to be realized.

Now which side do we sit on is the question to ask ourselves, are we culturally deprived or are we entitled? The acknowledgement of truth starts with you.

Faithful Utterances

By Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew | Texas Metro News

I’m so looking forward to my weekends. During the State Fair of Texas, my colleagues and I work seven days a week for almost a month. I don’t think you realize how precious something is until you have less of it, or it’s gone. Long work hours can leave you tired, irritable, and yearning for sleep. Although it’s temporary and something I was prepared for, it doesn’t remove what you experience physically, mentally, and emotionally. I think that’s the case for our lives. I think we realize that life will be hard and filled with challenges. We know that with our heads but when it happens, our hearts, emotions and even our bodies don’t often align.

We know the pain we endure is temporary but at the moment, the pain supersedes everything. It is so easy to complain and whine about our circumstances because of how we feel versus what we know to be true. We know God is able and yet, we will doubt God’s ability to make things happen for us. We know that God is the Creator of heaven and earth and yet, we act as if God is not in control. We know that God cares for us but when something happens to us that is not what we expected, we believe that God forgot about us or is punishing us. It’s easy to begin to place more confidence in ourselves than in God. When I focus solely on what is in front of me, I can miss all the things that are going on around me.

I can find myself sad about a situation without seeing God’s goodness and the multiple blessings around me. Trusting my limited vision has set me up for disappointment. The Bible tells us that there are consequences in solely depending on ourselves and our limited vision. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8) When we trust God’s plan, put God first, we can rest in knowing that God will make things work out not because of our wisdom but knowing that God’s plan is greater than our own.

When we trust in ourselves, it’s easy to make bad decisions and even do things that go against God and what’s best for ourselves. The challenge of being tired and weary is that we don’t always make the best choices. What would happen when we know that we are tired and worn out, if we went to God instead of doubting, complaining, or taking things into our own hands to solve? The part of this scripture that isn’t emphasized is that there is a healing and rest that takes places when we trust God. I don’t think we equate trusting God to rest and healing. Doubt is often the result of disappointments that happen repeatedly causing anxiety.

Can I really trust God with taking care of this for me? Just as there is a physical exhaustion, we can become mentally and emotionally exhausted affecting our relationship with others and with God. God knows the importance of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual rest. It is a matter of trusting God to be our source of replenishment when our tanks are low, and we can’t go further.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) Trust and rest go together. We must believe that God is able to give to do this for us, but it is contingent upon our willingness to surrender. “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2) Trusting God is necessary for our rest. This has been such a difficult season for so many of us. We can not allow the pain of the past to rob us of the possibilities of our purpose.

If God repeatedly shares the importance of rest, there are lessons for us to know that it is a part of our journey if we truly want to experience God’s best for our lives. “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4:9-10). Want God’s best? Trust God and Rest.

Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the Founder and CEO of Soulstice Consultancy, Specializing as a Partnership Broker and Leadership Expert for companies and organizations to thrive with measurable and meaningful impact. She also is the VP of Community Affairs and Strategic Alliances for the State Fair of Texas.

Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church is celebrating its 100th anniversary this month.

Taylor Memorial Episcopal Church was the first African American church of its denomination in Northern California. The Charter granted on Oct. 29, 1921, was the direct result of years of prayer, sacrifice, and determination by the 22 founders.

These devout men and women from throughout the United States had come to Oakland seeking a better life for themselves and those who were to follow.

The impact that Taylor church had upon the community is a testament to the Founders’ hard work and religious status in Oakland, the state, and the nation.

In 1968, the church became a United Methodist Church by denominational merger. Taylor Church has continued to grow in its membership and service to the Greater Bay Area Community.

Throughout its many years of service, Taylor has been blessed to have spiritually uplifting pastors, dedicated Christian members, and outstanding religious services and programs.

Taylor Church is still located on its original site at 1188 12^th St. in West Oakland. The church is named for Bishop Williams Taylor, one of the first missionaries to Africa. The Founders, 11 men and 11 women, had originally named the church the “Bishop Jones Literary Society.”

The first minister of Taylor Church was the Rev. Albert L. Scott. To date, Taylor Church has had 11 ordained, highly qualified, and deeply religious ministers.

They have provided excellent leadership and many effective programs.

Taylor’s dedicated membership of approximately 400 persons is a cross-section of persons from all walks of life. Most of the present members have supported the church with their tithes, prayers, and talents. Taylor Church is currently led by the inspirational and dedicated Pastor Rev. Anthony Jenkins, Sr.