Roy’s Ramblings 7/08

{ July 2nd, 2008 }

“I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American Dream. I have a dream. That one day, this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of creed. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.” (Martin Luther King, Jr., Independence Day 1965 in Atlanta.)

This last Father’s Day Cheryl gave me a gift that touched me deeply. On the National Mall in Washington, D.C. a memorial is being constructed honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. For a contribution of a set amount, one can become a “sponsor” of this memorial and at some time in the near future the names, Rev. Roy R. Riggs and Dr. Cheryl Riggs will appear.

I am so moved by this because Dr. King has been a hero of mine for over forty years. This is not to say that I have always been able to follow his example. Dr. King’s activism was rooted in a deep and abiding faith, and that faith taught him that:

” . . .unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final say in reality.”

I have been too hot-headed at times toward those who demean others, and while I would not physically harm anyone, I could certainly do it verbally. This was not Dr. King’s way. Nor of course did he simply let people walk over him, but his response was more pure and filled with the conviction that oppressor and oppressed alike were children of God.

I still strive to be more like my hero.

Who is your hero? Who inspires you to live a better life? Think about that and somehow place that model before you every day. Stretch and grow in your life and spirit to be more like your hero, and every day you will find yourself getting better. For God puts heroes in our lives to show us how to become better than we are.

I’ll see you in church.
~ Roy

Did you know?

{ July 1st, 2008 }

There is an under-publicized VA program available to veterans.

Vets who served at least 90 days, one of which was during one or more of the following eras, may be eligible for a VA pension. The Vet does not have to be service connected now, retired from the military, or actually have been in combat. There is an income and net worth criteria to meet. Eligibility periods: World War II; Korean War; Vietnam War; Gulf war. A surviving spouse may also be eligible.

This “Improved Pension Program” has 3 levels: Basic Pension; Housebound; or Aid & Attendance. The details of the program are available by contacting the American Veterans Institute (AVI) at www.AmericanVeteransInstitute.org or Phone: (937) 669-2040.

The AVI is an advocacy group that has all the answers and will put the Vet (or surviving spouse) in contact with a more local person who handles all the paper work for you.

Did you know?

Wiley College, home of “The Great Debaters” (the recently acclaimed movie staring Denzel Washington) is one of 11 historically black colleges and universities started by and supported by the United Methodist Church. The story of Wiley’s champion debate team is one of many success stories for the institutions supported by The Black College Fund. The United Methodist Church has worked to ensure its 11 historically black colleges and universities lead the way when it comes to educating African-American students in education, medicine, politics, religion, science and other fields.

~GB

What can I do?

{ July 1st, 2008 }

All of us want to help our church, but sometimes we just don’t know how. Not everyone come to the Church Work Days on the third Saturday of every month. Either we have scheduling conflicts, we can’t work outside, or we don’t know the “magic words” to make some machinery work.

Every Wednesday and Thursday, our secretary, Linda, is in the church office and she can let you into buildings to do other important things (which we can’t afford to hire done). Here’s just a partial list of things that maybe you could do:

Knock down cob webs in buildings
Vacuum floors (especially in the Meigs/Foley building)
Clean restrooms
Dust furniture
Empty trash
Organize storage
Replace lights
Restock restrooms

You can decide how much time you can give and just do that much. You can do something different every time or same thing each time. You can hum, whistle, or sing at the top of your lungs while you work, or just pray. But the best part is you are helping your church.

Consider it.
~RRR