Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 June 2000 — Page 11

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FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2000 ■ PAGE B1

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RELIGION —r^r-—— INSIDERS* SECTION*EDUCATION*S PO RTS

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Salt and Ught

By Bishop T. Garrott

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Daddy loves his boys “The need for a father is as 'crucial as the need for a son. and the search of each for the other — through all the days of one's life — exempts no one. Happy is the man who finds both.” — Max Lerner

My dear sons. As I write you, my heart is happy because I have been blessed with three wonderful sons. My heart is heavy because I know I didn’t do enough, say enough, be enough to prepare you for the future. I hope one day I will stand tall enough in your memory to merit the words of Edgar Guest, who said, “I know he was as fine a dad as any boy ever had. What I didn't know until too late wasthedepthofhis wisdom and the magnitude of his sacrifice.” First and foremost, Daddy loves his boy^jp*! if you/stnember^ne thin^irwt# this letter.- renfertiblr I love you more than you know and probably more than I show. You were bom to make the world a better place to live. Your true identity is a child of God, and yet each of you is special. Jesus said, “Without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Howard Thurman, one of my mentors, said to me, “When you and God become one, all of life’s resources begin to flow toward you.” Discover your purpose and you discover your power. I have found that if you do what you love to do, then you will do it well and everything else will follow. What you really want to do is help people (serve) and be happy. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) The most important choice you will ever make is to choose Jesus Christ. God chose you, but you must choose God as your eternal father and your king. You must submit to your king, Jesus, in everything. As I have told you, your quality of life depends on the choices you make. ■. Your great-grandmother used to say, “If you make your bed of rocks, you will have to lie on them.” I said in my book, Boys to Men, which I dedicated to you. “There are no bad boys, just bad choices." I also said, “Successcomesincans: I can. I can,

I can.”

^ The second choice is your lifelong mate. Your wife will be the mother of your children and your divinely designated helper in your family and every other area. My advice is similar to retired General Colin Powell’s advice to the West Point cadets: “Marry high!" I agree, except I would be more specific: Marry a woman who loves God more than she loves you. That’s exactly what I did when I married your mother. The third choice is your friends. Choose them carefully because the people you draw to you and around you are the soil in which you grow. Make sure your friends love and serve God, and if they don’t, introduce them to Jesus. Be courageous enough to make new friends if the old ones don't cause you to grow and glow. Someone has said: “Don’t spend major time on minor people." See SALT, Page B3

Second Baptist Church celebrates 154 years

By RONNETTA S. SLAUGH- side a prosperous congregation. TER SMBC members moved intotheir Staff Writer current location in 1993. Following

the theme, “A New Millennium —

"And a voice came out of the A New Beginning, Praise Our God," throne, saying praise ourGod, all ye church members recall their proservants, and ye that fear him, both found heritage. small a/w/gmir.” (Revelations 19:5) Nellye Matthews fondly remem-

bers her65 years at SMBC, witness-

One of the oldest Black churches ing more than six pastors and sevin Indiana celebrates 154 years of eral church locations. “I’ve seen the service through worslpippiog Qod church grow. Whoi I \yas h9nj,\we ^andhelpingothers.SecpodKfaipn-i 1)34, t.700 mfmbe^ 1 1 'sqid ary Baptist Church (SMBC), located Matthews, acknowledging that the at 2302 W. Washington St., was church was once underground. “We founded in 1846, linking the estab- have been able to instill in (SMBC lishment to slavery’s underground members) that they can go forward, railroad. I would rather be here (at SMBC) Rev. Charles Satchell organized than any other church,” she added. SMBC, with initial services held at a In 1995,Rev.DavidGreeneacmember's home as well as a school- cepted pastoral leadership and house located at West Street and helped continue SMBC’s rich Ohio Street. Sixteen pastors have legacy, guiding more than400memgraced the pulpit at SMBC along- bers. He has implemented several

programs such as computer training, academic tutoring and a prison ministry which all strive towards building confidence and self-esteem. “My purpose is to take (SMBC) to a higher level in making a difference in the community. Our existence speaks to the stability and importance of following God’s program. We’re moving forward and making tremendous progress, “ said $pv*-,Greene, reigtfjriiiMMriys. csreff gation • s conffincpt W- 1 vice.7 • In honor of SMBC’s anniversary, members and supporters worshipped together during a prayer breakfast, basketball tournament and a silent auction. In addition, celebration events featured talents such as Pike High School Gospel

See CHURCH, Page B3

, . . 1 t • Below: The Matrons’ Mission Circle is a group of church members that facilitate outreach programs at Second Missionary Baptist. Church. Seated from left to right are Mary Winston, Lillian Hall, and Mable Winston; and standing is Erie Morris in this church file photo. •

Spiritual humor

By LEONARD LOKER JR. While golfing, a friend and I were waiting on the 15th tee for the group ahead of us to finish putting. I got bored and took out my pocket translator and pressed a few keys and Jim asked “What is that thing telling you?” I looked, and the translator read “two,” thinking it was telling me to use a two iron for my next stroke in the game. However, I didn’t carry a two iron and I was holding a four. So I hit my four iron on the green and made the putt for a two. Moral of the story? You have to know how to read your tea leaves or perhaps you’re not quite the prophet you think you are, mere mortal.

Religion, race and genetics (Part 2)

By IMAM W. DEEN MOHAMMED Guest Columnist This country at one time had two laws. One law favored white supremacy andtheotherwasimposeduponBlacks to make sure that we would never become equals with whites. I do believe that world has passed on. We gave an earto a man who said to us: “You are not inferior. You are superior! The one who labeled you inferior, is inferior. You are not the sons of the black demon. The one who labeled you is the demon.” Fard reversed the racist psychology making die white man its victim. And in our ears, it was sweet. In our hearts, it was medicine to heal our paining and crushed ego. It was wrong, certainly it was wrong. Please understand that Fard was not

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talking to people who had education like CarterG. Woodson. He was talking loan audience in which the average level of education was fourth or fifth grade elementary. Fard’s student. Elijah Muhammad did not attract junior college students from the Black community until he changed his emphasis from religious science to business sense and business development When he changed his emphasis he began to attract persons of

a higher literacy. I recal 1 the first college graduates or degreed persons. One person was Dr. Lonnie Shabazz who had a degree in mathematics. Another was Dr. Abdul Salaam, a practicing dentist More converts of a higher literacy joined during the late ‘60s and ‘70s. Malcolm X himself never got any credits from college. He did most of his studying during the years he spent in prison. He had plenty of time on his haixls and he told me:‘Wallace, I tried togo through the whole dictionary and learn the entire dictionary "He told me that he studied many things, and educated himself while he was in prison. The Hon. Elijah Muhammad was bom in Sandersville, Ga.. and acquired only three years of elementary education. He taught himself to write with nice handwriting. He taughthimselfto read by watching and listening tooth-

ers. I recall that when I was a young man, my father’s handwriting was still poor, but it was better than when I was a teen-ager. I thank God, before his; passing, his handwriting looked like) he had college training. That came from striving, snuggling and paining to make it right. We’re talking about a following that was very naive. There is a quote from a publication, “Muslims in America are sending out mixed messages” referring tooff-brand Islamic groups. I’m not saying that to criticize. I’m just saying that because that is the fact I couldn’t pm it any other way and be truthful. We are responsible for how we are viewed by others. America has been leaving her ugly past Americans were seeing Islam as See AL-ISLAM, Pag* B3

Receiving Jesus is not an educated choice, but faith choice

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not Godmade foolish the wisdom of this world. “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbl ing block, and unto the Greeks foolishness. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:18-23

one must simply accept God and not I was blessed to hear Dr. Leonard try to define why they should accept N. Williams Sr., the presiding elder God. God is the one who tells us that over Historic Wayman Chapel once he refuses to be totally defined.‘Tell define sin as “knowing more than them that I am that I am” God spoke God.” Surely since God was intellito Moses and to us also. Since this is gent and powerful enough to create a reality, then no degree of study you and me he is also intelligent and could ever totally cause us to com- powerful enough to be God all by pletely know God. himself and sustain us. When someone says that God Now be very clear, it would be must be totally defined to them, they hypocritical for me to say, “we do «• • • • are also saying that they have some not need any education." HypocritiYes we “study to show ourselves question concerning the very exist- cal to be sure, we should strive to approved of God”—workers in the ence of God. I would present to study, leam, discuss and explore the gospel company of God and Son anyone with this belief one exhibit many facets ofGod. But for my faith Inc. Yes our studying, discussing, (while so many could be offered), to stand firmly on my education is theorizing, and the like helps toen- who woke you up this morning? The building a house on sand. I believe rich and edify each one of us. wisest person ever, Solomon had that St. Thomas Aquinas after writBut there i^one truth that cannot this to say about the need to know ing the very detailed and wonderful be avoided, this truth being that it’s everything about God. “And further, “Summa Theologica” was recorded not through our intellect that we by these, my son, be admonished: of to have stated “It's all straw.” embrace God through Jesus Christ, making many books there is no end; This is why I believe that Jesus if s through our faith. and much study is a weariness of the The time comes in one’s life that flesh.’’ (Ecclesiastes 12:12) s«* CLAIMING, Pag* B3

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