Ray Lewis Remix - What Time Is It? by dj steve porter

War Cry, Part 1, Pastor Maria Seamon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Zqv1LegJWM

Love, by Ray Lewis # 52

http://ws.audiolife.com/download.aspx?download=IkU8uRxIq99X%2fuedE%2bkxyw%3d%3d

Eternal Life, by Ray Lewis # 52

http://ws.audiolife.com/download.aspx?download=IkU8uRxIq9%2bWvmaZLSn4Rg%3d%3d

The Plan and the Plot, by Ray Lewis #52

http://ws.audiolife.com/download.aspx?download=IkU8uRxIq9%2byOW5y5vzqVg%3d%3d

I Speak it into Existence"

"No Limits, No Boundaries, I see Increase, all around me... Enlarge my Territory! I Speak it into Existence", Glory to God!, "Glory to His Name"

Teamwork

Coming together is a beginning.
Keeping together is progress.
Working together is success.~Henry Ford~

Teamwork

Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.

Winning & Teamwork

“People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.”~Vince Lombardi~

Prayer

Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway. ~Mary C. Crowley~

Life

All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Hockey

All hockey players are bilingual. They know English and profanity.
~Gordie Howe~

Development

Ever since I was a child I have had this instinctive urge for expansion and growth. To me, the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one's potential.
~Bruce Lee~

Success

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, learning from failure.~Colin Powell~

Sports

Rugby is a beastly game played by gentlemen. Soccer is a gentleman's game played by beasts. Football is a beastly game played by beasts.~Henry Blaha~

The Spirit to Win

The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur.~The late great, Vince Lombardi~

Sports

Baseball happens to be a game of cumulative tension but football, basketball and hockey are played with hand grenades and machine guns.~John Leonard~

Linebacker

“A linebacker's job is to knock out running backs, to knock out receivers, to chase the football,”~Ray Lewis 52~

"Winning"

"Winning Is Earned,Not Deserved"~Ray Lewis 52~

Change in Life

Tired of the same bull in your life, what you have set up and is not working. Do you believe in change, and want it, try it God's way. He has had a plan for you before you were conceived, and you were His chosen one. He gave us choices, but many times we take and make the wrong ones, because it sounds good or looks good for the moment. If you want change you must give the devil a good square uppercut that connects, if you miss he will be full speed ahead in wrecking your life more until you are consumed. The devil puts so many vices in our lives to distract us from God and we fall for it day in and day out. The key, get on your knees and pray, and ask God for guidance, and direction, and He shall order your steps. Read and study His word for basic instructions to live by. He has it, but you have to want it.

"Set Goals"

‎"Set Goals" you shape your life, or circumstances will shape it for you. You have to work hard, sacrifice, invest, and persist to get the results you want. Choose them well. You can’t start your planning until you know where you want to go. Believe in yourself and your abilities. Have the self-confidence to challenge your current situation. This is your life to live; it’s day by day and step by step.

"Stand"

Stand, hold fast, because Jesus is in control, He knows all, and let Him fight your battles, He has the right uppercut punch to knock the devil out.

Think about this

Believe, Live, Respect, & Trust God's Word.....He is all that most of us have, although many of us do not realize it.....

Running with the Wolves

"How you expect to run wit the wolves at night when you spend all day sparring wit the puppies." - Omar Little - The Wire

"Perception"

Once God has you keep wide angled perception, and a clear vision. Be persistant to achive success and core values. Seek wisdom and knowledge, and be ever ready to reach out and help others, and most of all, follow His plan for you.

"Life"

Life is one long curve, and full of many turning points, stop signs, and U turns, but God can point you in the right direction.

"Ability"

"Ability is what you are capable of doing, Motivation determines what you do, & Attitude determines how well you do it."

Time, and History

‎"As we look down through time and history, we find that God, at certain points picks chosen ones, male and female and he gives them a life to help others. God gives them a talent to grow and share in, and surrounds them with love to share, and give to people, and guides them into achievement, and success for a firm foundation through the struggles of life."

"Excellance"

‎"Excellence is the unlimited ability to improve the quality of what you have to offer."

"Succeeding"

"To succeed you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you."

"Preasure"

"Pressure is a mind game, and a missed used word in our vocabulary. When you start thinking of pressure, it's because you've started to think of failure."Trust God.

Habits

"We first make our habits, then our habits make us"

God's Way

‎"In life, when you get out in front, you stay out in front, and do it Gods way"

"Kindness"

KINDNESS; An angry child needs kindness and love. A discouraged spouse
needs kind words of understanding, not a speech.
Employees need kind instruction, and employers need kind feedback.
Friends need kind accountability, and extended family needs your kind
presence. The poor need kindness and care, and the afflicted, s...uffering,
and rejected need a boatload of kindness."Be kind today to someone."

Discipline by Ray Lewis

"Discipline requires you to do your very best,
Even when no one is watching : -Ray Lewis 52-"

Bridges

“The hardest thing in life is to know which bridge to cross and which to burn”

God;s Laughter

If you want to hear God laugh , tell Him your plans .

Failure, not an option

“Most people fail in life because they major in minor things.”

Attitude

‎"Ability is what you are capable of doing, Motivation determines what you do, & Attitude determines how well you do it."

"Anger"

Anger is only one letter away from Danger, think before you act, you could have an uninhibited chain reaction to self destruct, licking your self-inflicting wounds gazing into a wide open space that is completely empty.

Questioned by Life

Each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible.

Life quote...

Life is one long curve, and full of many turning points, stop signs, and U turns, but God can point you in the right direction.

"Theoditopectodouris"

Late in the evening on December 24, 1963 on Christmas Eve, LoQuan Lee laid out in the street by the railroad tracks with pain in his chest area. Prior to LoQuan having pains in the chest area, he was running through the cold and snow and suddenly stopped. As he laid there he had fallen into a deep sleep, and was found by an old man who lived 3 doors from where he laid in the snow. The old man had called for help, and they arrived about 6 minutes later. The paramedics had checked out LoQuan, and diagnosed him with "Theoditopectodouris", and told him he was going to the hospital. They had told him he properly has "Theoditopectodouris" which is a disease of not going in to warm up in the cold weather. It is not quite frostbite, but just cold. As the Paramedics continued to evaluate him, he began to get worried of his new found disease. The sad part was that the Medics had a straight face when they told him. He was coming around more and more, and started asking questions about the disease, like what is it, where did it come from, can I get rid of it. LoQuan had a rancid look on his face as the medic unit was moving to go to the hospital. He has failed to realize that he is a frequent flier with the medics, but he can't understand that he has passed out before, and had chest pains. According to the EKG machine, the chest pains are not serious, but they are taking him to the hospital anyway. After they arrive at the hospital he is being wheeled down the hall into the ER. They trade his information with the nurse on duty and they write their report and leave. LoQuan is laying on the gurney thinking about his new found disease. Finally he was waited on, and put into a very warm room, and stayed there until he fell asleep. The next morning he arose and felt very good. The nurse came in and took his temperature, and other vitals. He had noticed that he did not have any pains in the chest, or anywhere for that matter. The doctor came in to review issues with him, and told him his "Theoditopectodouris" was gone, and a big smile came over his face, and he was ready to go home. Really all LoQuan needed was some heat. As he laid there, he remembered that is was cold and snowy Outside, and just wanted to lay there. After a while he felt good, and a nurse came in and alerted him that his "Theoditopectodouris" was good as gone and he could go home. The nurse told him that the medics call people who are cold that they have "Theoditopectodouris", LoQuan laughed his head off, got dressed and left the hospital laughing, and smiling at everybody.

"Time Management"

What is good time management? Managing the use of daily schedules for the purpose of achieving maximum productivity; maximum time utilization; not wasting time. Good Time Management is also using time wisely to complete task, appointments, and be on an on-time schedule in the work place, at home , or in school. Just think if trains, and plains did not use good time management, what would happen every minute, now that is really something to think about. Learn to use your time, and activity's to the max, but be effective and respective to yourself and others in your daily lives.

Task

What is a task? Websters describes a task as a usually assigned piece of work often to be finished within a certain time, or something hard or unpleasant that has to be done.A task can also be a duty or function that has to be completed, or an assignment, chore, a specific job. In each of our daily lives we all have a task to be completed in some way, form or fashion. Some task are greater, and some are lesser in time and structure.

Life has tough decisions, and choices

In life there are many tough decisions and choices for you to make. Some are hard, but they must be made. Take your time to make the right choices to achieve your dreams, and goals. Trust God to lead and guide you along the way to make the right decisions. He is like a pilot that can guide you through the fog and can deliver you safely to your desired destination in life.

"If you are going to make it"

If you are going to make it, you must make sacrifices to achieve, and succeed in this journey called life. Just remember Philippians 4:13, and take the boldness and the strength that it enforces within you. Lean on God's word, believe God's word, trust God's word, and most of all get to know God's word. There are times in life where there are going to be things that you and I do not want to do, but you and I have to do it to succeed in life. You have to be awaken every morning to believe it and achieve it no matter what. You need to have a positive attitude, and sweet aggressive thoughts to be make it through to the next level in life. Be peaceful and tranquil in thought and deed, and do as time allows.

"Saturday"

Saturday is the 1st.day of the week, and a great blessed day for many. Saturday is a good day to celebrate a birthday for Leon, and Cathy Clark, because they were born on the same day in 1944. This Saturday will be July 4th. and it is a wonderful day to throw a surprise party for them both. Neither Leon or Cathy never had a surprise party for their birthday's ever, so this would be a function for the whole family to participate. Leon as well as Cathy have many friends in Newport News, Va. there home town, so many people would attend the surprise party. They live in a Senior Apartment Building on Jefferson Blvd. & 64th. Street in the downtown area of Newport News. Leon's nephew Jason is the one who wants to plan the party for them both , and has suggested the idea to a few other family members. The idea is to keep them both busy so they do not know what is going on Saturday at 4 o"clock. So Jason has asked cousin Audrey to pick up Leon and Cathy and take them to Norfolk to the Waterfront to the Sea Food Festival at the City Dock. Both of them like Seafood a lot, should be willing to go. Audrey was laughing to herself as she got off the phone, because it was so easy for them wanting to go. They wanted to go so much that they were hungry through the phone, you could hear the joy from the tone of there voice. It was set Audrey had 3 days to set things up to pull the wool over there eyes, and deceive them to be surprised about the party. Audrey had told Jason about taking them to Norfolk, and he had laughed and said it was a good Idea. There was also a Nicolina Music Fest going on there too, which is a Blues Festival on the Waterfront. Leon loves his Blues, and would enjoy it very much to hear some good music, especially being treated by Audrey his niece. Cathy is not much on blues, but will suffer through it as she watches Leon enjoy it. It became Friday night and Audrey was getting stuff together for Saturday to take with her to Norfolk, and the short trip to the party back in Newport News. Jason called Audrey to see if everything was set for Saturday, and it was. Jason had rented out the assembly room at the Senior Center for the party, and many people were cooking and bringing a dish. Leon nor Cathy had any idea a surprise party was being planned for them, for all they knew was that they were being treated to the Sea Food Festival, and the Blues Festival to enjoy there birthdays. On Saturday morning Audrey had called them and told them she would pick them up at 11:30 to go to the Sea Food Festival, and they were overjoyed at the notion to go. Audrey had pulled up, and Leon was on the porch waiting yelling to Cathy, "come on", Audrey is here, and she hurries out the house. As they ride through town Leon & Cathy seem to enjoy the ride, but have no idea that a party is being planned for them. Jason has called Audrey to tell her everything is set, and he will see them at 6:30pm back at the Senior Center. Leon and Cathy have been enjoying the day, and hated to go, but they decided to go back to the Senior Center and relax after a wonderful day. They arrive at the Center, and see a lot of cars, and hard to park after going around the block, but finally find a parking space. They go in and Audrey say she has to go to the bathroom that is in the lobby in the assembly room, and Leon and his wife stand there and wait for her. Audrey has been gone for 10 minutes, so Leon & Cathy decide to go in and see if she is ok. The room is dark as they enter, but they hear things moving, but as they get to the near center of the floor....the lights come on and a very loud "SURPRISE", LEON & CATHY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. there faces were astonished with joy, and terror the same time, as the music starts to play, and people begin to dance. Many come over to shake hands and give hugs, and they both were happy to see so many people. In the corner is a table with many gifts on it, and Cathy has a flood of tears in her eyes. Leon"s eyes begin to water as he cry's out that he has never had a surprise birthday party, and he is 66 years old. Jason grabs the microphone and starts singing "Happy Birthday, as everyone joins in, and they both are in the middle of the floor crying, and saying "this is a very wonderful Saturday", and this is none like no other.

"Sometimes you have to hit life hard and fast"

Positive Aggression in life is always good, it will take you a long way.

"Anger a Real-Time Problem"

Really, what is anger? Well Webster’s defines it as a strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence. The sub part to that is to make or become angry, feeling or showing anger, and lastly becoming angry or dangerous. But it is a real problem in the black community, and an issue between our families. If you think back to when you were a child in the 40’s, and 50’s our parents did get mad or angry, but it was not displayed publicly. It was a form of disagreement that was done behind closed doors, and away from children. Now days it is done anywhere, and not caring who hears it or what is seen. The reality is that our children see it and remember it very vividly. As our children grow into the 2000’s anger has become a big problem in America. Take a look at the murder rate, which stems from small, and tiny bits of anger. Anger starts in the home and breeds out into the neighborhood, and openly walks into our schools. Now anger is at another level, and is very difficult to diffuse and is implanted in the person. Once it is implanted in the person, it is very hard to pull or get to the root of the problem, which created it. Sometimes it is the smallest thing that will trigger an episode of anger for some of us. For others it takes a build-up of things in life to reach it’s peak. Unfortunately, some of us never reach a place to vent, and we hold on to things for years and never understand how to deal with anger. Yes, we all have anger, but it is how you deal with it. Many of us do not know how to deal with anger, and we prolong it until it is too late. If you look at our children they have plenty of anger, but you must understand why. They enter this world and become embattled with so many problems and devices, and most of all they feel that they are not loved. Many of the problems are not there fault, but they are inherited thru the change of day-to-day life. God had placed our children here for us to be good stewards to them, but many times our parents have failed due to life’s pressures. A lot of life’s pressures have created anger in our parents, which then flows down to our children. Our children in part there anger to the streets with the use of drugs, guns, and just plainly calling their selves being mean. They start to loose the love of the family and close friends. They are angry a lot of times because life does not go there way, or by not getting the things that they want. Anger comes from some of the things that our children invest, and put interest in. They are angry from disappointment, and feeling alone with no help or love. We as a people have to learn how to deal with anger, and form individual ways to diffuse anger according to the person that has the issues. Anger is a very big disease for Black American’s and we have to put a cap on it.

"Do your Best"

God gives us a chance to enjoy life another day above ground, and employs a charge on us to do our best. It takes the best that you have to be your best everyday, and it is not a choice but rather a directive. You must learn to make sound & unmovable decisions that will improve you and your family to be the best. When the Lord awakens you in the morning be you’re best and give him praise. It is ordered by Him for you to praise Him all day, and night. God does not expect us to be perfect, but however to do our best in everything under the sun. He expects us to treat our neighbors well, and help them. He warrants us to uphold marriages in His name. It is mandatory for us to teach and rear our children, because they are His and our future. We must put Him first and man last, and that is expected of us. He wants us to do our best on our jobs, and neighbors. He expects us to do our best helping people, and teaching our children.

"As they looked out the window"

As they looked out the window, on this January day
there was snow falling at a steady rate. The television was on and the weatherman said there will be at least 14 inches before it stops. It was a cold and snowy Wednesday morning in Baltimore, and it fits the tone of the city. In the winter in Baltimore it is usually cold and snowy. As Jerry pierced his eyes out of the window the snow was getting blustery and blowing wildly. Jerry looks at his sister Lucinda who he lives with on West Cross Street in South Baltimore, and says, “Damm, it looks as it will be snowing all day and night”. Lucinda replies, “it sure does and I do not have to go to work in that mess”, “I ain’t mad at nuttin”. There has to be 6-8 inches now on the ground, moans Jerry. Well, I do have a case of Sam Adams in the fridge, and I will be ok sis. I know you will Bro, cause I’ve got my snacks, and Jack Daniels in the camp. Plus I can sit and watch the stories all day up in my room. I got a draft in my room coming from one of those windows, and I have got to find it. Yea sis I am going to watch the weather and Martin on 54, and flip back and forth between channels. Just then there is a big “Flop outside in the back of the house. Jerry goes to look and see, Damm’it, it is the snow off of the roof, and it has fell in the backyard. Well bro, looks like you have some work to do later. It is 4:53 pm in the afternoon, and the television addresses us that a man has been shot 12 times a close range on Mount & Ramsey Streets. More to come on this story at 5, here on TV eleven at 5. Jerry tells his sister that is why I do not go out to eat, I just come home , because the street is too dangerous. It is the first month in 2007 and people don’t appreciate it, they are just killing people left & right. We have had 27 homicides in 17 days, and it is a damm shame. And people around the country wonder if the Wire is real, damm right it’s real. And the city has a slogan they paid all of that money for, “Get in on it”, what…”Homicide”. They could have paid me for some bullshit like that. Yea, bro I know what you mean, when I am at the hospital I hear those ambulances coming and going. It seems like it is just non-stop day and night. Jerry still rambling, its those young dudes, and the old stupid one that thing that they run something and don’t run a damm thing. Plus the city has bloods and crips running around trying to gang bang. This is the 19th year straight that the murder rate has been consistently number 1 in the country. Even New York does not have this much crime and the city is much larger. It’s a damm shame sis, here we are again the murder capital of the country. If I could live somewhere else I would. Some times I feel like going to live with Aunt Sarah in North Carolina, I hear it is nice down there. The crime is a lot less and the cost of living on the dollar is a lot better. Jerry, “did you hear that”, Gu-Gun fire out back. Yeah I heard it, what else is new besides that regular popping sound. It is properly another shooting. Momentarily there are police sirens in the air, and getting closer as Jerry and Lucinda talk among themselves. Lucinda goes upstairs to her room and looks out the window, and sees police and ambulance crews working frantically to save the man lying on the ground. Lucinda screams, “Jerry, Jerry…..come up here, look at this some body is shot out back. I guess that is number 28 in 17 days, replies Jerry. Its some man lying in the alley. I can’t see who it is, or if we know him. Jerry
replies, “why worry, there is nothing you can do to stop the
shootings”. Another shooting in “Harm City”, and it happens to be
outside my back door. Of all the places, and now I have to go out and clean up the blood after they are gone. Lucinda replies, “it sure is a lot of blood”, “I wonder if he is going to live. One thing for sure the Ambulance drivers are doing a good job trying to keep him alive. Jerry tells Lucinda that he should send the city a letter on how good a job the Fireman & Ambulance drivers are doing to save this guys life. Jerry ask Lucinda what are the numbers on the Fire Truck and Ambulance. Lucinda holler’s to Jerry, “Engine 14 & Ambulance 21”. Those guys do a good job, and a thankless job, and it is time that they get their due for as hard as they work. I am going to write that letter tomorrow, remind me. These guys are in all of that snow that is half way up there legs, and it is very cold out. They need somebody to let the city know how hard they are working. “Hey Jerry, look the Firemen are running in the snow”. Jerry replies, “They must be going to help someone else”. As the sun sets, so goes another day in the life of a Baltimorean into a long hard cold night.

Entities of the Firehouse

How do you, "Add Water"

God needs your attention...

Once God has you keep a wide angled perception, a sound mind, and a clear vision. Be persistent to achieve success and core values. Seek wisdom and knowledge, and be ever ready to reach out and help others, and most of all, follow His plan for you. Each of us has a different plan that He has creatively designed for us individually. Be attentive and motivated to put His plan in action to receive positive results. In reaching goals, you need to reach down and pull others up to a level where they are stable on level ground to stand as you move on. God watches who you help in life as you endure your journey in life. Let God have your full attention, and let Him guide you where you need to go. Use your skill of active listening, use your muscles to pull others along, be a leader and not a follower, and keep your sight on the prize.

"Waking Up"

It is a daily task that God has granted you, and blessed you to do. Take full advantage of it, because you get to do it each day. Think on the people who cannot, and will not, they will be glad to change places with you. Rise up and let the word filter through your mind to start the day. Remember, you did not get up yourself, God woke you up, and choose you to go out and help somebody, because He knew you would. Look, you are part of His plan, and that is why He chose you to be awaken on this day. The alarm clock is made by man, and is just a secondary device that records time, and alerts you to what time it is, but God wakes you up. So wake up, love family, and one another, go out, and do you best each and everyday, because that is what God desires of you.

Ray Lewis, Pre Game Chant

Ray to (the team): What time is it??!! (GAME TIME!!) What time is it??!! (GAME TIME!!), Are the dogs in the house??!! (WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF) Are the dogs in the house??!! (WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF)

* and then they huddle up, he gives some words of encouragement, and then when they break he says.

Ray to (the defence): Now lets do what we do on 3! 1...2...3... (WHOOOOOOOO!!!)

"Walking Daily"

Do you know what it is like to walk through the belly of the beast or the pits of hell? I really don't know myself, but I have a good idea. Well, sometimes life's challenges will do that to you without you see it coming. Many times in life we have been blindsided, and it seem situations get worse. If you are a believer, God will work it out, He knows all, and everything is His. So no matter what seems like it is not going right, or a bad situation, remember this; "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise up against thee, thou shalt condemn", and you can find this in the Book of Isaiah 54:17. Believe God on His word, no matter how bad or sad a trail is. Stand firm on His word, no matter what it looks like. We belong to Him, and He is in control of everything with nothing lacking.

"Nyckle Duece"

"Check yourself in life, and do the right thing"

Apt. 367, 1058 Arygle Avenue, "The Big House"

It was a very hot summer night in the high rise, and the police sirens whale in the background bringing on the action. The air of the night was tough mentally, and physically, but the streets swelled with people. The air was so thick that the crowds struggled to get along in the grueling heat. Masses of people filled the courtyard appealing to different groups along the walk. As the mothers of many watched from above hanging out the windows reeling the humid air into there apartments. The Towers were not the place to be at tonight with the rancid air raveling through the apartments, and halls. From the Towers many could see the drug dealers running along the roofs in the low rises, and row houses moving there drugs up and down the streets to evade the Police. Many of the kids were sitting on some of the stoops singing songs, or playing tag, and chasing one another. Although in a few years they will be recruited to run drugs in one of the gangs. In the stairs of the tower at 1058, the drug dealers were yelling, "I got pink tops on the 4th., yellow tops on the 3rd., blue tops on the 5th., and the all night market place was open. This was the daily job for many who lived in the towers, or breaking into the cars of people who worked at Social Security, or visiting Lexington Market. Such retrieved items such as wallets, MP3 players, CD's, money, GPS systems, and car radios, packages, or anything that can be sold. Most of the items are sold right in the towers, even a GPS that never leaves the apartment. What does not get sold gets thrown away, and the cycle repeats itself again. Some excitement stirs down the street, as somebody got some bad drugs and a tussle begins between the buyer, and seller. 1058 is not a place to live for the week or mild attitude person, because there is to much going on 24 hours a day. One of the most interesting faucets of the day is when the young boys ride a dirt bike up the stairs through people, and keep it in there apartment with the stench of gasoline floating through the air. The Basketball court ignites with yells, and screams of a fight, and you see a person run to a car. A few minutes later, you hear the sounds that plague the high rises daily, "Pow, pow, pop, pop, pop", and you see a silhouette of a body on the ground. The crowd starts to gather in a circle to see who it is, and the yells and screams get louder within the crowd. You see a few people running toward the tower, which is a popular sign that it is someone who lives here. The verdict is in and cries for a mother can be heard, that has been seen many times. I recognize Sarah who lives in apartment 367, and she is running and crying loudly as she learns that her son Leroy has been shot. Police sirens filter the air, as well as the Medic 4, and a Fire Truck, Truck 4 from nearby McCullough Street. The Tiller-man, Rob Wilkins, and Driver, Oliver Silver from Truck 4 run over through the crowd to the man laying on the ground, and start CPR as the Medic gather equipment to transport the man to the hospital. The Police are getting information from people in the crowd as to what happened. After all of the excitement the basketball court empties, and the towers return to normal, and the drug dealers prosper to business as usual. This is life in the towers, the same stuff, over, and over. he news of Leroy's shooting spread like jelly around all of the towers so quickly. But within 2 hours after the shooting, Leroy was dead, and the news flowed like the air that you breathe. Everybody knows who killed him, but no one is going to say anything, that is the code in the towers. The cries could be heard through the towers from apartment 367, Sarah Lewis apartment, and screams of why, why. The air of the atmosphere out side is like Leroy just left for a minute and will be back, and nobody is really looking for him, and even forgot who he was or where he lived in just a matter of minutes.

Directions.....

Need Directions?, "Read the Bible"....Basic, Instructions, Before, Leaving, Earth

"Cleo", I can do all things through Christ who strenghten's me

It was Friday night in Brooklyn, and on 6th. Avenue & 178th Street things were live into the wee hours of the morning. The air of the street was filled with many folks leaving the nightclubs, and filtering to there homes, or the lifting laughter in there cars. The moon was high, and the routing sound of traffic in the distance even at this hour was a normal setting for this Brooklyn neighborhood at this horrid hour. As the laughter and music softly filled the night air there there came a sudden "Bang, Bang"..."Bang", as heads turned a block away many saw a body lying in the street, and were highly astonished, because they were not accustomed to seeing anything like that in that neighborhood. As the silhouette of a body laid there in the distance, groups of people moved toward it to see who it was, and help the person. Johnny B yelled, "Hey, it's Cleo, from the Hoaggie Shop around the corner", "somebody call 911". Johnny B held her head as she mumbled "Car-Car...los, Carlos, he shot me. The NYPD pushed everybody back to make way for the Medic. Cleo was conscious, and mumbling a little in spurts. Cleo spurts out that her and Carlos were fighting over his car, and a girl who was riding in it. Cleo had never seen the girl, and wanted to know who it was, and Carlos told her, "none of your fricken business". That is when the argument and Carlos pulled out the gun and shot Cleo. The officers put out an APB for a navy blue "69 Cadillac Eldorado", with NY tags VGD-601. Later the sun was rising, and 6th. Avenue was returning to normal as many were starting to retreat to home after a busy partying night. Hours later Cleo was released from the hospital, and went home reeling the Doctors orders for care of her injury. Two days later Carlos was apprehended in Newark, New Jersey in a bar on Orange Street. She had to go to the 22nd. Precinct in Brooklyn on Flatbush Avenue to file charges on Carlos. The day went on and Cleo went back home to recover her non-life threatening wound. As the days went on, she returned to "Soul to Soul Hoaggie Shop" and received many well wishes on her back to work journey. Later about 2 months later Carlos was sentenced to 48 month in prison for his 3rd. strike, and will remain at "Riker's Island" the NYC Corrections Facility. It was hard for Cleo, because she and Carlos had been together for a long time, but Cleo has learned to move on with life. The next week Cleo started going to Church to thank God for sparing her life. She started attending "New Direction Gospel" in Brooklyn, and even took her girlfriend Lisa. They both attended for a while and both joined the Church. Life had changed for Cleo, and Lisa that they opened there own Soul Food Restaurant, "The Simmering Pot". The business became so prosperous that they became tithing members of the Church, and had enough to buy new cars, and houses. They both had reaped the benefits of there hard work, and believing and trusting in God. The message to there friends was to "leave it to God, and he will work it out, have faith, trust, and believe.

"Help for Successful Goals"

"Set Goals", you shape your life, circumstances will shape it for you. You have to work, sacrifice, invest, and persist to get the results you want. Choose them well. You can’t start your planning until you know where you want to go. Believe in yourself and your abilities. Have the self-confidence to challenge your current situation. Stop worrying what others think about what you can or can’t do. Believe in yourself and your abilities. Have the self-confidence to challenge your current situation. Create for yourself an valid note that outlines your purpose in life. Who are you? What are your values? What do you intend to do with your time to make your one life meaningful? A mission statement will help you to establish a foundation upon which you can build your dreams and goals and from which will flow your objectives. Don’t complicate your life. Think before you act. Constantly seek ways to do things better in all areas of your life. Separate your wants from your needs. You want to work for all you need, not necessarily for all you want. Everybody has the same amount of time each day. How are you going to spend your next 24 hours? Make a plan, a list, and follow it. The point is that you try and keep trying until you succeed. Most people quit too soon. Be persistent. Be patient. Concentrate on your major goal until you have achieved it. Life is a test and the points on that test are earned by how much attention you give to improving yourself and helping others. When your test is graded, to what will you attribute your success: study, hard work, personality, talent, skill, opportunity, connections, and networking. Success is not given, but earned through dedication. So I ask you to pay attention to the pointers above to acknowledge some skills to reach success. Be an achiever, and total believer, and you reward will be success.

Does The Second Hand Matter?

Lord Does The Second Hand Matter? He is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

I have a second hand on my watch so I can count time in the smallest of fragments. I am not sure God uses a second hand on his timepiece. I want answers and actions now. God allows me to wait. I am impatient. God is not. Many of us are impatient to many things and devices of this world, but God is not. Patience is something we all must learn, and that God does things in His own time and own way....a way not known to man. He made us, and knew us before we were born of this world, and knew what we would be in this journey of life. Remember, He gives us choices, wait on Him, and be patient, and be still.

Remember my 7 simple rules to be happy:

1. Love God, trust God, and obey God.


2. Free your heart from hatred.


3. Free your mind from worries.


4. Live simply...


5. Give more...


6. Expect less...


7. Love one another

Help in Reaching your Goals in Life

I have watched athletes such as Ray Lewis, Tom Brady, The Gate Brothers, Kobie Bryant, David Ortiz, Michael Jorden, Bret Farve, Serena, and Venus Williams, and so on, but I've learned a few truths that can help me, and hopefully you, cross the finish line of competition in our own seasons of life: The willingness, the winning spirit, the toughness of challenges, and moreover being an over-comer. I strongly believe that many athletes put God first, and they give back from where they came. There are avenues to success, and a process that we all must go through to reach all of your goals.

It takes effort and discipline to accomplish your goals.

Don't settle for anything less than the best - God's best!

Don't look back - it only slows you down and lets your opponent take back hard-fought ground from you!

It's the little things that make the difference; those little things that mean the difference between winning and losing.

Even if you have gifts, abilities, and talent, you still have to keep working and pushing yourself - raw talent alone won't bring victory!

You have to BELIEVE.

Wise counsel and guidance is essential, BUT you have to be willing to heed that wisdom or else you'll keep making the same mistakes and not reach your goal.

Don't compare yourself to everyone else, it only distracts you - focus on what you can do!

You must have mental focus because "as a man a thinks in his hearts, so he is" (Proverbs 23:7).

What? God is a planner? Yes He is...

What? God a planner? Yes! He is the Master Planner. Scripture tells us that:

* His plans stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart last through all generations(Psalm33:11),
* He knows the plans He has for us (Jer 29:11),

* what He plans, He will do (Isa 46:11),

* He has called us according to His purposes (Rom 8:28),

* His purposes prevail (Prov 19:21),

* He has prepared good works in advance for us to do (Eph 2:10)


There can be no doubt that God is a planner. He made plans before the creation of the world and He has a plan that will take care of the end of it as well. And God is not just any planner; He is a detailed planner! Read through Genesis 6:11-22 and Exodus 25-31 and you will see that God gave very specific and detailed plans for His children to follow.

God is our example, our inspiration, and our help. When we follow His lead and take the time to plan out our days, then we are reflecting the character of God to the world.

Proverbs 15:28

"The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil." (Proverbs 15:28)

Patience

"The real secret of patience is to find something to do in the meantime".   

A knock at the door

Shortly before eight, the doorbell rang, as I looked through the peephole, I saw a woman standing there profusely sweating and looking behind her. I hesitated a second to open the door, but I stood firm and decided to open the door. As I opened the door her voice whisked past me, "can you help me", please. I stood silent for a second, and replied....how can I help you. She hurried and answer back to me, "my child is locked in the car, and I do not have a cell phone". I readied and said"sure, where is your car". She moved off the porch, and pointed across the street. The temperature was about 93 degrees, and with out waiting for police, I took a brick and busted a small back window, and reached into the car and unlocked the door. The child was silent as to wonder what was going on, and looked at me strange, as to say who is that mommy. The mother was crying, and looked at me to say thanks, and she was scared, but happy. I felt good, but not as a hero but rather to had helped someone today that really needed help. Sometimes you never knows who is on the other side of a door when someone knocks.

Baltimore City

"Powerful, but real picture"

So-called friends in life.

What do you think of someone who calls you, and never ask how you are doing but rather ask you for something? Well, I get off the phone as soon as possible, or if it is a message, I do not call them back. I strongly feel that is very disrespectful, and shatters a friendship, relationship, and explains your total thought process about wants and needs. With no disrespect, I would rather you not call me, and I am sure not to even attempt to call you or call you back at all. Your call was worthless and weightless, and a total waste of time. Some people are not responsible for there own thoughts and actions, but rather there selfish thought process. Respectfully when I see your number I do not answer the phone, or add a special ringer for you.

Counting Success

To be successful you must run when you can, walk when you have to, crawl if you must, just never give up. That is the worst thing you can do, and if you stop to catch your breath, you have blew it for a while and you are left with a little, but a wasted effort. Then you must regroup to continue, and do it all over again to catch up to where you should be.

Goals

"Set your goals high enough to inspire you and low enough to encourage you".

Thinking

"Change your life with changing the way you think".

Stand Up

"If someone is strong enough to bring you down,
show them you're strong enough to get back up"....."Give them some bark and bite".

Picking up Passengers

"Never give the devil a ride, he will want to take over the whole trip."

Life

Life is incredible when you DECIDE you ONLY want the very BEST for yourself.

Police Work

It was a Friday Afternoon in Baltimore, and the sun was breaking through the clouds after

a small thunderstorm rolled through the city. Calvin Slay, and Earl Carter were sitting in

the 52nd. Street Coffee House, looking and talking through the big plate glass window.

The moment of conversation was about the sudden changes around the police

department. Calvin & Earl both work in the Southern District, which is in South

Baltimore. Both officers are 19-year veterans of the department, and had a very un-

eventful career. They both equally like working for the city, but dislike the changes that

Mayor Martin O’Malley has made to the police department. They feel that other changes

can be made for the department to be more effective, than the ones that have been

implemented. As the men continue to talk, and murmur about what the Mayor & City

Council have done to the moral of the department. Calvin says to Earl, “man I can’t

believe all of the changes the chief wants to make”. Earl replies, “huh, look at the Federal

Government, and George Bush, they will do what they want to do when they want to”.

“The whole damm place is messed up, and it is not only the city”. “It starts with the

Government, the State, and trickles down to the City, with that dumb ass Martin

O’Malley”. “I read the papers everyday and there is something new everywhere, and too

much bullshit going on”. At that moment Earl says, “did you see that”, while all Earl

hears is a chair move and the back of Calvin’s shirt as he runs and turns the corner. Earl

follows in pursuit to advert the action that is going on in the parking lot. There is a

robbery in progress in the parking lot, and three people are getting robbed at gunpoint. In

the broad daylight it is hard to believe that you would ever see a armed strong arm

robbery. As the men gunmen make there way through the parking lot to the rear of the

building to make there getaway, some thing strange happens. Calvin runs and plows

himself into the both of them from the blind side. Instantly they both are knocked down

to the pavement and did not know what had happened. Through there grogginess and

knocking the cobwebs out they both figured out what had happened. Briefly, the other

robber turns and looks at Officer Slay and begins to attempt to get up, and Officer Carter

tackles his leg before he starts to run. All three are taken down and wondered how they

got caught. Officer Slay hit the both of them like Ray Lewis, while knocking them into

the other one, and neither one knew what had hit them. Calvin & earl are partners at the

Shopping Center, and everyone knows them well. If you are from Cherry Hill, you know

Officers Slay & Carter. Those two are the talk of Rusty’s Barber Shop in the Shopping

Center. The best thing about them is that they show you respect, and want it in return.

They are well liked, and equally very well feared in the South Baltimore community.

They both have many commendations, and unit bars on their uniforms. Calvin lives in

Largo, Maryland, and comes into the city to work. He also has one kid and his name is

Kole. As he drives to work each day he thinks about how many Police Departments he

passes just getting to Baltimore. But he finds it more fulfilling that he comes to Baltimore

because no day is the same. After nineteen year, not too much can change now. Earl lives

in Glen Burnie and does not have far to go to get home or to work. They both truly

believe that as a Baltimore Policeman, you are on duty 24/7. The Baltimore Police are so

much different then anywhere else. They go through more bullshit than any other

department in Maryland. They wear navy blue BDU’s, and combat boots, military style

BDU caps. Beyond the glamour and glory of the job in Baltimore, another striking

comparison is among them. This time they were in the Glen Burnie area in Northern

Anne Arundel County, where they took down the robbers. Calvin and Earl are both

African American, and it is highly unusual to see many African Americans in Northern

Anne Arundel County. A crowd starts to gather as the two hold the suspects at gunpoint

on the ground. Moments later, an Anne Arundel County Police arrive on the scene. The

County Officer sits in his car, and calls for back up, while not being sure who the two

black men are guns pointing at the men on the ground. Both Calvin & Earl look at each

other and figured out what was going on. They both have that gleam in their eye, “the

niggar’s got a gun theory”. Finally four other cars roll up on the silent note, and their car

doors slam and the snaps from there holsters pierce the air. A loud and clear deep voice

commands, “ Drop the weapons boys, and tell me what’s going on here”. In the crowd,

someone yell,….”they stopped the robbers”, damn’it”. There is a quivering silence for a

moment in the air, and you hear the breathing of the officers intermittently through their

nostrils. Calvin and Earl have not moved a flinch, but Earl takes the initiative and yells to

the Anne Arundel Officers. “We are Baltimore City Officers and apprehended these three

suspects after we witnessed a robbery of a group of people still in the restaurant”. “These

suspect are still armed, and we are not moving until you take charge of the incident”.

With caution the County Officers move in slowly, because they are still not sure who the

two black men are. Calvin yells to them that he is reaching for his badge with his left

hand, and soon retrieves it. The tense moment is over for both Calvin & Earl, and the

County Officers. As they all stand there in a cold sweat, and blowing, the County

Officers reassure themselves the two are O.K. The County Officers gather the report from

the witnesses, and Baltimore Officers. The victim comes running across the parking lot to

thank Calvin & Earl for putting there lives on the line. They all talk about what went on

in the parking lot. After all of the excitement was over they walked back to the restaurant

to pay for there meal. As they walked in there, the waitress said, “hey mother fuckers, I

had to take money from my check, because you both ran out of the place”. “My boss

made me pay for this chyt, fuck both of you. The waitress was one hot woman, and you

could tell by the looks in her eyes. Calvin looked at Earl as they turned with a glare the

same time. Calvin tells the waitress that they will take care of it, and talk to her boss, as

he was busy behind the counter. Calvin goes over and pays the bill and the owner said he

was going to give the waitress back her money. Calvin comes back over and hands the

waitress a $50.00 bill in her hand, and promises her that her boss would also give her the

money that he took from her. She smiled and said, “this chyt isn’t right”, with tears in her

eyes and went back to cleaning off her tables. Earl looks at Calvin and says, “I wouldn’t

give her chyt the way her ass talked to us. They had left the restaurant laughing and

joking about the waitress who still did not realize that they had left her a $50.00 tip.

"A" Good Woman

A good woman knows God. She knows that with God the world is her playground, but without God she will just be played. A good woman does not live in fear of the future because of her past. Instead, she understands that her life experiences are merely lessons, meant to bring her closer to self knowledge and unconditional self love.  A good woman is proud of herself. She respects herself and others. She knows her strengths and she trusts God to help her overcome her weaknesses. She neither seeks definition from the person she is with, nor does she expect them to read her mind. She is quite capable of articulating her needs.  She expects good things to happen in her life and she makes great things happen in the lives of those she loves. A good woman is hopeful. She is prayerful. She is strong enough to make all her dreams come true. She knows love, therefore she gives love. She recognizes that her love has great value and must be reciprocated. If her love is taken for granted, it soon disappears. A good woman has a dash of inspiration, a dabble of endurance. She knows that she will, at times, have to inspire others to reach the potential God gave them. A good woman knows her past, understands her present and looks positively toward the Future, you....

What it is like to be a Baltimore Fireman responding, and putting out a fire

Life in the day or night of a Fireman. You have just finished doing your housework in the station, and you take 10 to relax. A short while later, the box goes off, "Wee-Do, Wee-do, Ee-do, Wee-do, Wee-Do",and the dispatcher rattles off the response. Engine 13,52,8,14,...Trucks 10, 13...Battalion Chief 4, & Ambulance 4 respond to a report of a dwelling fire, 13 North Street @ Division Street. You drop everything and race across the floor to the engine, with your adrenaline pumping. Your mind is hydroplaning, "do we have something". As the engine leaves the station you are still getting dressed into your turnout gear. Fireman are sitting in the seats, and pulling the hoods over there heads, and whipping the straps of the air mask over there shoulders. This is done in a matter of seconds so they will be ready to exit the engine when they get to the scene of the incident. The first engine is squawking on the radio, "Engine 13 is on the scene, and we have a 2 story brick dwelling with heavy fire showing on side A-Alpha" 1st., 2nd., and 3rd. floors. As the siren blisters the ears, and drivers moving out of the way for so the monstrous truck can move through traffic. Finally, you arrive at 13 North Street. You crawl up on the porch, and fall to your knees, and put your face-piece on so you can go in the building. As you are crawling you cannot see anything. In firefighting, your hands and ears are your eyes. You take one hand to sweep in front of you as you move along, and touching the walls to know where you are. As you are moving about, and listening is very important, he who has ears, let him hear, you can hear the thump of a axe, and the sounds of leaking water in the distance, or the water from other hose lines as you are advancing your hose line. Also there is the crackling of fire, and hot spots as you crawl along. If you have the nozzle, you hear the gush of air coming through the nozzle as you open it up. You can hear a busted water pipe still flowing and the yelling of  other members, and it is totally dark & quiet. This is basic firefighting at many building fires all over the country. Most people do not know that when you see a Engine with the hose, and a Truck with ladders and tool that they do different jobs on the fire-ground. The engine extinguishs the fire and the truck [hook & ladder]has tools to ventilate, open locked buildings, and rescue people, or trapped fireman. After the fire they pack up there hose and other tool, and prepare to return to quarters [station]. Back at the station, they clean air mask, and other tools, and then begin to relax and recover before the next response. Now you have a taste of the day of a Fireman. Although we do a lot more then fight fires. We do Medical stuff, Home Visits, Public Events, Check Hydrants, Install Smoke Detectors, and most of all...keep our station clean.

"Night Shift at Baltimore's Busiest Firehouse"

It was a cold February night when the night shift had begun at the

firehouse of Engine Company 25, at 2140 McCullough Street. The clock had struck

1700hours, and the watch desk went off a few seconds later screaming, “1700 hours,

Baltimore City Fire Department, 1701”. Firefighter Bobby Salmon walks over to the

watch desk to make sure everyone is in. Firefighter salmon then decides as he does

everyday, “well I guess I will get me a cup of coffee”, as he passes Firefighter’s George

Green, and Michael Johnson. Mike and George look up from there newspapers and

magazines briefly as Bobby walks by. “Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-

Doo, Wee-Doo, Box Alarm 25-10, Engines 25-8-13-52, Trucks 10-4, & Battalion Chief 4,

respond to a report of a dwelling fire, 1500 block of Woodyear Street”. George hollers, “

well there goes your coffee, and we are first in”. George says to Bobby, “every time you

head for the damm coffee machine we get a box. As they mount the wagon and head out

the door with the crew of Engine 25 they turn to go across Gold Street, Captain Reginald

Sessions tells the guys that “we got heavy smoke showing, ain’t that a bitch, we just got

here”. Firefighter Salmon is the Engineer this shift and is rolling across Gold Street, and

getting closer to the fire and thinking of which hydrant he will pick up. Arriving on the

scene Captain Sessions give a size up on the dwelling. “Engine 25 on the scene, we have

a 2 story brick dwelling, and we have fire showing 1st., and 2nd. floors, and we have a

hydrant at Carey & Gold”. George is at the hydrant, and Mike is ready to attack the fire,

and Bobby is connecting hose lines and getting ready to pump water. Captain Sessions

and Mike enter the first floor and open the line up and start heading to the 2nd. floor.

Lieutenant Novak & Firefighter Kenny Lee take the 2nd hose line and attack what’s left of

the 1st floor. Bobby is at the pump panel checking the pressures with a cigarette dangling

from his mouth. The Captain of Engine 25 comes across the radio, “Engine 25 to

command, we have the fire knocked and we are checking for extensions”. After a few

minutes of overhauling, and packing of hose, all of the companies head back to there

stations. Back in station, Captain Sessions tells his men, “good job guys”, we got most of

the fire. Bob walks over to the coffee pot as George jumps up, and says “its that coffee,

that’s why we caught that fire”. Bobby smiles and asks George, “did you pay your skin”,

and puts on a big grin the one he is known for. George looks at him speechless, and picks

up his newspaper and starts reading it again. Mike and the Captain look on and smile as

the Captain heads for the stairs to fill out some paperwork. Mike starts to fix a little

dinner, and the box goes off again. It’s a medic assist down on Druid Hill avenue with

Medic 4. As Engine 25 heads back to quarters, another box gets struck out. “ Box Alarm

8-8, Engines 8-25-36-13, Trucks 10-4, & Battalion Chief 4, respond to a report of a

dwelling fire, 1014 North Mount Street”. It turned out to be a pot of food that Engine 8

would handle. Bob turns the wagon around and heads back to station. They get a few

blocks and they get another medic assist. Bobby hits the lights & sirens, and they head for

North avenue & Pennsylvania Avenues for a shooting. As they approach the scene,

Captain Sessions yells, “we got one down”, and Mike and George scramble for some

latex gloves in the back of the wagon. Medic 4, with Paramedics Willie Williams, and

King Teasdale arrive on the scene, and ask “how many”. George screams,“ he has 3

visible bullet wounds”. The medics take charge of the incident, and rush the young man

to Shock Trauma. Back at quarters, Bobby wants to know who left dishes in the sink.

That happens to be one of Bobby’s pet peeves around the station. After doing home

improvement work all day, Bobby finally settles down and falls off to sleep. Mike has

chilled out on the phone talking to his wife, and George has to read every word in the

News American everyday. The night seems to moving slow, so all of the guys take

advantage of it. “Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Box

Alarm 52-10, Engines 52-25-8-20, Trucks 10-18, & Battalion Chief 7 respond to a report

of a dwelling fire, 2116 North Pulaski Street”. Captain Sessions slides the pole, and yells,

“lets go we are second in”. Bobby already has the wagon started, and up and ready to roll

across North Avenue. “Across the radio blares “engine 52 on the scene, we have a 2

story brick with fire showing on the second floor, and we are taking the front of the

building”. Bobby pulls up to cover Engine 52’s hydrant as the rest of the company of

Engine 25 head for the fire building with the second line off of Engine 52. The Captain,

Mike, & George advance the line to back up Engine 52, and to hit a few hot spots here

and there. After the fire is out, Bobby says, “hey Captain we have been rolling, this is our

5th. run tonight”. It is now 2245 hrs., and they get on the wagon and head back to quarters

again. Bobby backs the wagon into quarters, and before he can shut it down they catch

another run. “Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Second

Alarm of Fire on Box Alarm 40-17, Engines 25-36-13-8, Trucks 4-10, Rescue 1, Battalion

Chief 4, Safety Officer 5, Medic 15, and F.I.B. 2 respond on the second alarm, 4216

Duvall Avenue, Operations on Charlie 5”. Bobby heads the wagon back down West

North Avenue towards Walbrook Junction and he has the siren blaring in the wind.

Captain Sessions has the map book open looking for a hydrant to hook up to as they head

North on Garrison Blvd. Bobby scrambles some words with another cigarette dangling

from his mouth, “They must have one of those big barn off down in the hole”. Mike and

George riding in the jump seats listening patiently to the fire channel to figure out what

type of dwelling they have. The Captain hollers back to them, “they have got a heck of a

fire and it sounds like we are going to be here a while”. They pull up on the scene and

have a perfect view of a huge three story frame dwelling with fire thru most of the roof

and a lot of the second and third floors still well involved. They lead off from Clifton

Avenue & Queen Anne Road and take there line toward the second floor to make an

interior attack. Almost to the second floor landing the Captain screams across the radio,

“Engine 25 mobile, charge my line”. Bobby hears the Captain and flows thru his line 130

psi, and calls the Captain and tells him, “it’s on the way Cap”. Captain Woodlawn and

the crew of Truck 10 are on the 2nd. floor with Engine 25 advancing two lines on the fire

hitting as many pockets of fire as they can. About 40 minutes later the 7th. Battalion Chief

finally declares to communications, “Duvall command reporting, fire under control”. It is

now 0322 hrs. as the crew of Engine 25 head back toward quarters as they get a medic

assist at Bloom & Division Streets for a Stabbing. Bobby hit the lights and siren as

Captain Sessions acknowledges the run. As they turn off of Pennsylvania Avenue on to

Bloom Street, they notice a crowd of people and a number of Police at the corner. Medic

4 takes the patient who has multiple stab wounds in his chest, and side to Maryland

Shock Trauma Center. Before they get back on the wagon, they hear another box get

struck out. “Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Tactical Box

25-5, Callow Avenue, and Whitelock Street, for a report of a dwelling fire, Engines 1-13,

and Truck 11”. The Captain calls Communications, “Engine 25 in service, medic assist

handled by Medic number 4, and do you want us to take that Tactical Box?”.




Communications responds, “That’s affirmative Engine 25, take the response, Callow

Avenue & Whitelock Street for a report of a dwelling fire”. “Engine 13, Engine 13, place

your unit in service, Engine 25 has it”. Engine 1 is on the scene investigating a trash fire

in the basement of 2302 Callow Avenue. The Lieutenant Scott of Truck 11, tells

communications that Engine 1, and Truck 11 will handle a trash fire at 2302 Callow

Avenue. Bobby makes a U turn at Lennox Street, and Linden Avenue and heads back to

quarters. All the men head to bed except Bobby who sits on the watch desk reading a

Readers Digest laughing at a few jokes in the book. It is now 0543 hrs. and another box

comes in. “Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Wee-Doo, Box Alarm 7-

7, report of a dwelling fire, 514 Half Mile Court, Engines 7-13-38-25, Trucks 4-11,

Battalion Chief 4”. Bobby drops his book, and runs for the wagon while the rest of the

men slide the poles, and yells, “we are last due”. George mumbles, my relief will be in at

any minute Mike remembers that he was sleeping good until he heard the sound of the

gong and the lights coming on. Bobby leaves quarters and wheels the pumper off of

Gold Street onto Druid Hill Avenue, and lets the siren wail off of the walls of the row

houses. Lieutenant Urban of Engine 7 calls across the radio, “we’ve go smoke show’ in

from the 2nd. floor of a two story brick dwelling”. Bobby pulls up the wagon and covers

Engine 23’s hydrant and the other men walk down to the fire in the rear of the dwelling.

As they stand in the rear of the house they hear, “Engine 7 to Half Mile command, the

fire is out, and we are checking for extensions”. Captain Sessions and his men walk back

to the wagon as the sun starts to rise, and they head back to quarters. The humble rumble



of Engine 25 echoing up McCullough Street among the row houses early in the morning

means that the night shift is almost over. They back into quarters and as usual, Mort

Katzenberg is there with a box of fancy pastry with the members of the day shift. It is

now 0652 hrs and all members of the night shift are properly relieved.


By Robert L. Wilkins

Watch what you say...

I've got a lot going on in my life these days and have a tendancy to let *others* bring out the worst in me.  It's something I'm working on, though fail on the regular.  Today a girlfriend sent me this...
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Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
Prov. 21:23

Most of the time, when people feel bad about themselves, they talk about others to make themselves feel better. People that are always talking about people are dangerous. They speak curses and poisonous venom that can kill. Usually, their life is not where it should be, so they have to pull everyone down to their level with their words.  It's easier to pull people down to your level when you are a do nothing, than to follow your vision, become something, and pull people up! Don't you know that your situation could be the result of a curse that you spoke on someone else? Don't you know that you put yourself down when you put others down? You must realize that your life is what you said it would be. AND YOUR SITUATION COULD BE A RESULT OF CURSING SOMEONE ELSE WITH YOUR WORDS! Be careful my friends. This is something that we all need to watch. God is speaking this very loudly in this day and time.

When people hurt you, curse you, or will not forgive you, don't talk
about it or them, but pray that they are forgiven and sow love into them. God will make them see the light through your attitude and desire to love them in spite of what was done.  So, when we pray, we must forgive those that have done us wrong and also, we must pray that God forgives us for anything that we may have said out of anger or hurt.  We must constantly go before God about the things we say and make sure that we do not put obstacles in our own path because of the things we shouldn't have spoken about others.

The Power of the Stick

The stick, what is it, a pole, wood, lumber, and a striking tool. It is a

very useful tool to be associated with. The stick has many uses to

mankind. It can be a walking tool, or a sports tool, or a plaything. I

like it as a sports tool, such as a Lacrosse stick or a Hockey stick. The

Lacrosse stick has a net and a useful purpose with it. Its purpose is to

catch the ball, and throw the ball to an adjoining teammate. With the

Hockey stick you can slap the puck to another teammate, or go

slashing, or slapstick a player. The Lacrosse stick is straight and has a

flaring web at the end, and the Hockey stick is straight and has a

curve at the bottom. Both tool have a distinct use, and a need for a

skilled user to adapt to his need. There is another stick in the sports

arena, and it is known as a Baseball Bat. It was used by Babe Ruth,

Frank Robinson, Mickey Mantle, and Cal Ripkin. Some people in our

society use the Baseball Bat to attack people. This is a non-used

practice that is not desirable to many. Now you have the taste of three

different sticks. There is a sport in Ireland called Hurling. It is a game

that uses a shorter stick where the body parts get hit too. Hurling is a

very dangerous sport that is on the other side of the world. This is to

let you know that sticks have power, and lots of power. There is an old

game in the city of New York called stickball. This game was played in

the street, and many of you old timers do remember it. The sticks,

they are made from Hickory, and Oak, and a few other woods. The

power of wood keeps sticks working, and useful in all types of sports.

The power of sticks in Hiking is a good one. Most Hikers use sticks to

move along difficult terrain and through trees. They can also be used

to fight off animal’s n the woods while Hiking. They can guide you

between trees, and make you to remain stable while moving through

the woods. The Hiking stick can also bring stability on unstable

ground to promote balance. There is a Pogo stick, and what is that;

well it is a stick on a pole with a spring with singular movement, thru

a bounce. It is the up and down movement of the spring moving the

stick in the direction of travel. Have you ever got high on a stick, well

I have not either. There are a few people who do get high on a stick,

and what they do is known as Pole Vaulting. Pole Vaulting is an

Olympic sport, and a regular Track & Field event. Many Colleges, and

High schools offer this event for those who like to get high. The sport

has a long pole, which the vaulter carries, and runs with to a point in

the ground, and shifts his weight to rise above a bar and land on the

other side. The limbo has a stick that the participant has to go under

while music play, and people are having fun. One of my favorites,

Jumping the Broom, wow; now that is a stick, and a big stick.

Jumping the Broom is a form of Marriage that was done in the old

days and is still practiced today. It is a stick that can last many years,

or in some cases just a few. Another stick is a nightstick, and that is a

piece of equipment that a Policeman or Policewoman carries for

protection, and physical use of control. It is carried at the waist and is

easily assessable when needed. The drumstick is a tool to create

rhythm, and a beat. This is where practice makes perfect, and you

really have to practice to be proficient in the use of these pair of

sticks. As you have read above, sticks have power, and lots of power.

One of the last sticks and tool is a pry bar. What exactly is a pry bar?

Well a pry bar is a tool used for lifting, and wedging of items, boxes,

and crates. It can also move heavy items from one place to another.

There you have it, “The Power of Sticks”

Akita on Boroughs Avenue

There was a girl named Akita who lived in Washington D.C.. Akita was 13 years old and lived with her parents on Nannie Helen Boroughs Ave. N.E. Akita liked to walk to the neighborhood corner store. That was one of the things that made her day. She liked to go there and buy peppermint sticks. To Akita there was nothing like a big fat peppermint stick with the bold red stripes. On this Friday Akita went there and brought 6 peppermint sticks to make sure she had enough for all weekend. On the way home Akita saw her friend Katalia sitting on the steps. Akita busted out, hay Katalia I have some peppermint sticks, would you like to have some. Sure, how many did you get Akita. I went and got 6 sticks to make sure that I have enough for the weekend. I will take 1 Akita, I am going to the store later to get some to. When I get some I will give you one of mine. Katalia what comes on T.V. tonight. You asked the right person, my favorite show Soulfood, it comes on channel 19 at 9:00 pm. Girl I have got to see my boyfriend Amaud play on his girls. He is my favorite person on the show, I have not missed a episode since the show came on. I like to watch Bird & Lem, they have gotten back together and doing real good. “POP-POP,BANG-BANG-BANG”, The girls hit the pavement, It is another shooting up the street. It looks like the 17 year old boy who lives near Akita. Katalia says, “ girl we have to move out of here it is getting worse. That is why I sit on my steeps, it is to much happening. I agree with you, my Father said we are going to move too. You like me, I go to the store, school, church and my steps. Akita thinks, life at the Boroughs Ave. homes is rough. This is supposed to be the Nations Capital. It is more like Dodge City everyday. My last seven years, I ducked drug dealers, bullets, and everyday that you wake up…you just don’t know. I have got to find a way that my family can move. Maybe I can get a job, or something like help my Dad & Mom get a second job. I will look in the newspaper everyday and see if I find anything. I will start tomorrow looking in Saturdays paper, and Sundays paper. Sundays Washington Post has a huge job section, I will be sure to find something there. Akita sits on her steps and notices the Police cars up the street. The boy who got shot was the 17 year old who lives a few doors away. Akita doe’s not know him but has seen him walking to and fro. Akita notices his Mother crying down where the crowd is. Akita thinks, it must be a terrible thing to have a loved one shot at a young age. She sits and thinks of how many in her neighborhood in the last three years that have been shot, or killed. The vast thought, of too many, and to young in such a short time in life. Akita thinks if she had the resources she would write a book, “Life on Boroughs Avenue”. She has seen many things happen on Boroughs Ave., so numerous she doe’s not know where to begin. There was the time that the old man was hung by drug dealers for calling the police on them. They took him on the third floor of that vacant building one night about 1:00 in the morning. He was found the next day, because one of the cold-hearted drug dealers called the police to report it. They did this to send a message to the neighborhood to mind their own business. The worst part of it is that they laughed at him and all of us. It was liked they did not care about us or people in the neighborhood, the drug dealers ruled the neighborhood. They wanted us scared to death of them, day and night.

My Leader

All Praises to the leader of my life, "Jesus Christ", it is all about Him, not you, not us, not them, and most of all, not me. Learn to believe and trust in Him, the world will let you down, but He will not. Man will fail you, but He will not. People will break you heart, but Jesus is full of love. He gives us choices, and many times He will stand back and watch what we do...His way or our way.

The most wonderful woman

There is so much joy when you can talk to the most wonderful woman in the world. I have such a good quality friend who I can share all with, and believe that she will have laughter, joy, cry, smile, share, console, and most of all have my back. This is a person who can help get things together, keep things together, pray together, smile together. She makes me smile from ear to ear, and feel true comfort knowing she is near. Many things happen in life, but I know I have her back because of her actions and attitudes have made it that way. She is very skillful, and witty and brings a smile to my face when I think of her or see her. I forgot that she is a saved woman, and a woman of God...that is important to me at this point of life.

Success

Wow, this is so powerful, I had to copy and paste this from T. Devassel, ponder at this one, T. DaVessel "In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure." Now think on it, awesome, and in order, and I had to rewind it.

Friends

In 56 years I have made good friends, quality friends, bad friends, best friends, and most of al true friends. I cherish my true, and best friends, because they have a special meaning to me. Anybody can be a friend, but what kind, are they associates, or bonded, or bruising, time consuming. it may be time to inventory a lot of your friends.....time to keep and time to let go of some friends. Please put this on your to do list before the year is out.

In Life

To succeed in life, you need seven things: God will, have faith, endure patience, gather knowledge, employ wisdom, have a strong backbone, and a humorous funnybone.

Life goes on...

People change, things go wrong. But just remember, life goes on. What have you lost....."Nothing"

Time

"Time is worthless unless you move the second hand"

Open your eyes

We only hear what we want to hear. We only see what we want to see. But REALITY BITES......look behind you and where you have been in life.....

Words

Words are like bullets: when well aimed, they have a pretty hard effect.

Salvation

"Salvation is the root - the resurrection is the blossoming fruit"

Correction

"What you do not like in others, make sure you have corrected it in yourself"

Joy

Joy is what you make it, and what you do not let in to destroy it. Joy is a promise, so protect it, and share it with someone....

Success

"We all talk about what we want to do, but we show no action to fulfill what we talked about to succeed"

"FOCUS"

"Focus" is my feeling for today. So many of us fall off course, and never succeed in life. We start out on one path, and find ourselves on another, and totally miss success.
F - FOLLOW
O - ON
C - COURSE
U - UNTIL
S - SUCCESS

Moving

'Moving with caution, but aggressively moving to a state of fundamental progression"

The Four D"s in my life

"Dedicated, Desire, Determination, Destination", Dedicated to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Desire to be the best everyday, help, ans treat people right, Determined to live life to the fullest every minute, Destination is where God want's me to go in this journey of life....."Bring it" ....."Isaiah 54:17".....No Weapon...

Deposit

Stop by the bank or ATM. I just deposited love, hope, joy, health, &
blessings in your account for 2010. Your pin # is J.E.S.U.S. Please
share with someone else and deposit the same into their account. Enjoy!

Where di Cain get his wife?

Adam was the first man (1 Cor. 15:45) and Eve is the mother of all living (Gen. 3:20). Genesis 5:4 tells us that Adam and Eve had both sons and daughters besides Cain, Abel and Seth. So Cain married one of his sisters.

"Now wait a minute," someone might say, "doesn't the Bible forbid brothers and sisters to marry?" Yes it does, but that law came many, many years later (in Lev. 18-20). During the time of Cain it was okay to marry siblings. Here's why:

Our genes have mistakes in them. When people who aren't related have children, their offspring inherit different bad genes. But when relatives have children, there is a much greater chance that the children will inherit the same bad genes, resulting in an increased likelihood that they will have birth defects.

But before the fall of man, Adam and Eve had no bad genes (Gen. 1:31). After the fall, Cain and his brothers and sisters had bad genes, but not many. As time went on, the amount of bad genes humans were carrying had increased to the point at which God had to forbid relatives from marrying and having children.

FARKLE

FARKLE

The player with the highest score above 10,000 points on the
final round of play wins!
How to Play
Each player takes turns rolling the dice. When it's your turn, you roll all six dice
at the same time. Points are earned every time you roll a 1 or 5, three of a kind,
three pairs, a six-dice straight (1,2,3,4,5,6), or two triplets.
If none of your dice earned points, that's a Farkle! Since you earned no points,
you pass the dice to the next player.
If you rolled at least one scoring die, you can bank your points and pass the dice
to the next player, or risk the points you just earned during this round by putting
some or all of the winning die (dice) aside and rolling the remaining dice. The
remaining dice may earn you additional points, but if you Farkle, you lose
everything you earned during the round.
Scoring is based only on the dice in each roll. You cannot earn points by combining
dice from different rolls. You can continue rolling the dice until you either Pass or
Farkle. Then the next player rolls the six dice until they Pass or Farkle. Play
continues until it is your turn again.
The final round starts as soon as any player reaches 10,000 or more points.
Scoring

The scoring dice are (in a single roll):
Single 1 spot : 100
Single 5 spot : 50
Three of a kind of 1 spots : 1000
Three of a kind of 2 spots : 200
Three of a kind of 3 spots : 300
Three of a kind of 4 spots : 400
Three of a kind of 5 spots : 500
Three of a kind of 6 spots : 600
Six 1 spots : 10,000 automatic "WIN"
Three pair: 1500
Straight (1-2-3-4-5-6) : 1500
Two triplets: 2500
Three Farkle's in a row : Lose 1000
*Roll 6 One's and you automatically win the game.

Graduation Day

Today was my oldest daughters Graduation at her school, and it was a long service. It was festive, and funny at times. Praise God she is finished after many grueling years. I love her very much, and I wish her the best.

Pretty Day

June 2nd. , 2010, is such a pretty day, and my oldest graduates tomorrow. Many, many things to do today, and the list goes on, and on...need some help, please come bother me. It is worth all the time in the world for you to come and bother me, and help too.

Girls vs Grown Women

Girls leave their schedule wide open and wait for a guy to call and make plans.
Grown Women make their own plans and nicely tell the guy to get in where he fits in.

Girls want to control the man in their life.
Grown Women know that if he’s truly hers, he doesn’t need controlling.

Girls check you for not calling them.
Grown Women are too busy to realize that you hadn’t.

Girls hold grudges, stay mad for 40 years, and don’t get mad but get even.
Grown Women confront the situation and don’t get mad but get ahead.

Girls envy those who move ahead and hate the players.
Grown Women shares her knowledge and help others move ahead by not hating the players but teaching the rules of the game.

Girls try to put a man “on lock down”, by using sex.
Grown Women know that it’s the sex of the mental kind that makes a man want to “lock you down”.

Girls fake, moan, and lie there and take the stabbing.
Grown Women say, “Just Stop”, and get up, get dressed, and walk out politely.

Girls are afraid to be alone.
Grown Women revel in it by using the time for personal growth.

Girls ignore the good guys, and fall in love with the bad guys.
Grown Women plainly ignore the bad guys & thugs, and wait till Mr. Right comes along.

Girls make you come.
Grown Women make you come home.
Girls worry about not being pretty and not being good enough for their man.
Grown Women know that they are pretty and good enough for any man.

Girls try to monopolize all their man’s time, keeping him from friends and family.
Grown Women realize that a little bit of time and space makes the “together time” even more special, and goes to kick it with her own friends.

Girls think that a guy crying is weak.
Grown Women offer their shoulder and a tissue.

Girls want to be spoiled and tell their man so.
Grown Women show him and make him comfortable enough to reciprocate with out fear of losing his manhood.

Girls get hurt by one man and make all men pay for it.
Grown Women know that that’s been just one man and move on to something better.

Girls fall in love, chase aimlessly after the object of their affection, and ignoring all of the signs.
Grown Women know that sometimes the one you love doesn’t always love you back and moves on without bitterness.

Girls will read this and get an attitude.
Grown Women will read this and pass it on to other “Grown Women”.

Choices

Choices, what are they. They are the daily task, and decisions that we

make. Webster’s defines choices as the act or right of choosing. What

kind of choices do we make, well let me start with the right choices.

The choice to praise God when He wakes you up, or get up when you

feel that you deserve it by the alarm clock. The choices to be awaken

in the morning, and do a days work, or the choice to stay in bed and

do nothing all day. These two examples are choices that we live by,

and by our designed lifestyles. There are many choices in our lives,

and we have to learn the differences between them. Weather they are

right or wrong in God’s eyesight or our eyesight. We as people have

the right to choose our direction or paths in our lives. Many times we

take the wrong path, and as you look within yourselves, you see what

I mean. However, many times we have taken the right path, and

desired choice. There is a balance in there for most people that you

make good choices, and that you make bad choices, such is life. Many

of us have to discern between good and bad choices. Choices are

something that we make with patience and sometimes haste. It is a

parody that when you make good choices we all are happy. When we

make bad choices there is sadness and grief, and we all feel bad. Life

is funny sometimes, and brings the happy times and brings the

unhappy times. Choices, also brings how you deal with each

individual situation in life. Everybody wakes up with a different

problem everyday. It also depends on how you deal with each

problem. That is part of the choices that you make. God also sits back

and watches the choices that you make. At all times you should seek

the Lord and He will tell you the choices that you should make. Even

though, as man we want to make our own choices, which most of the

time they are the wrong choices. To re-energize our thoughts, God

gives us choices, and those choices are to do it His way, or to do it our

way. In most cases our way is the hard way, but in His way, He say’s

“my yoke is easy”. We make choices as man and start a career or a

marriage. The career that we choose may be the wrong career, or it

may be the wrong marriage. But, they are choices. They are choices

that you have to live with. However, many times the preceding noted

choices that we make are the right choices. Yes, you could have the

right career, or the right marriage. Highly true, you could have the

right wife or husband. God has somebody for everybody, but

sometimes man does pick the right one, or close to it. Again they are

choices, and they can be good or bad. In our lifetime we all make

choices, and we have to uphold them weather they are good or bad,

feasible or not feasible. That is the test that we have to make between

ourselves, and our choices. That is the true test of our personal

margin of error. There are also positives and negatives in our margins

of error. Tipping the scale one-way or the other can predict the

outcome of our choices. If you use a sliding scale for choices, and slide

the scale to one far end it can be a good choice, but if you slide to the

other far end it will be a bad choice. This is where you have to know

the effects of your choices. Each choice has an effect that each of us

has to live with. There are so many choices in this world, I ask you to

take the time to make the right one, “The Right Choice’. Please choose

wisely, because it makes all the difference in the world. - By Robert L.

Wilkins

The Power of Love

Love has a strange but has the perfect power to simmer through you,

and ask you to take a wonderful fragrant sniff. The power is the

strength that works the perfect form of romance with patience. When

you are simmered you are at a low heat and warmth all through the

body. There is patient warmth through every organ in the unique

body that God has created. There is a fragrance like no other that has

pure power that makes love wonderful. There is strength in a pungent

fragrance that has never been tasted, or driven away in the soul. The

fragrance is made to be true and has no room for acidic advantage for

deployment through the body, soul, and mind. What is this fragrance,

and what does it smell like, and what level of power does it have. The

fragrance is called truthfulness in one, and it does not have a smell or

taste to have the ultimate dream to think about. In reality it does have

many levels of power such as commitment, sharing, truth,

faithfulness, togetherness, understanding, and many more that are

too many to number. To utter commitment is to bind or obligate as by

a pledge, or to trust or make a charge, and you have that potent

power. To share is a portion allotted to a person, something jointly,

and the power is yours to explore with the power of love. Truth is the

power of corresponding with reality, and it’s a verifiable indisputable

fact, and it can make the power of love undividable. Faithfulness is an

allegiance and confidence or trust in a person, and has a lot of loyalty,

and fidelity, which can draw a stronger power of love. Togetherness

can draw a warm and fragrant fellowship in a willing & working

relationship that is leading to the power of love. Understanding is a

different animal in the power of love. Understanding is a challenge in

comprehension, intellectual ability, and pure intelligence to

understand the power of love. It is the tolerance, and mutual

agreement in a flavorful corresponding God filled & accepted

relationship with power. There are many more undisputable actions

that complete the power of love, and make it so much more desirable

to understand why we as people in relationships need the “Power Of

Love”.