Wayside Baptist Church

On September 30, 2018September 30, 2018 By dancingpalmtreesIn Christian, Christianity, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Smokey Norful- I Need You Now, Uncategorized, Wayside Baptist Church, Whitney Houston - I Look to You

Wayside Baptist Church

I’ve been attending Wayside Baptist Church off and on for about four years. I always enjoyed the service and felt at home with friendly people and great teaching.

Now that I’m Retired I was ready to make a more permanent connection so during Altar Call I went up to join Wayside. More than just joining. I am now part of the Wayside Baptist Church family. As a single person with only my brother Stephen whom I only see a few times a year I need to be part of support system.

By joining Wayside Baptist Church and attending Sunday services on a regular basis and Bible Study this will help me in my battle against depression, anxiety and panic attacks.

I made up my mind that I could either sit at home and wallow in sadness, depression and negative thoughts or I could get up off my butt Sunday morning, eat breakfast, take my shower and walk the few blocks to the church.

Better to be in the House of the Lord than to be home overthinking and projecting into the future. I was brought up and raised in the Baptist Church so pretty much wherever I have lived whether Queens or Brooklyn that’s where I felt most comfortable. When Pastor Hamatheite made the Altar Call I literally ran to the front. That’s how much I need healing and Restoration in my Life. I was Welcomed with open arms. Stephen has me but as a Caregiver, as a Single Woman I need someone, somewhere I can go.

Retiring was only part of the answer. I realized that I can’t do this on my own. I’m not strong. So I Rededicate my Life to Jesus.

God knew this was the Sunday for me. When one of the church secretaries had written down my name to introduce me Pastor Hamatheite knew me from my Twitter feed. Specifically my photo tweets of Wayside Baptist church.

Truly Lord I Need you Now. I Need you now Lord Right Away. Lord I need you to Restore Me. Lord Jesus I Need the Victory.

I Look to You Lord!

Next Sunday begins my New Members Classes and I’m really excited to begin!

Wayside Baptist Church Photos:

Chauncy Street is the subway stop that puts you right on the same block as Wayside Baptist Church

Wayside Baptist Church outdoor cross sign

Wayside Baptist Church information board

Wayside Baptist Church program inside

Wayside Baptist Church program

Wayside Baptist Church program inside

Wayside Baptist Church information board

Wayside Baptist Church outdoor cross sign

Chauncy Street is the subway stop that puts you right on the same block as Wayside Baptist Church

Hymn # 227 ~~ I Surrender All

Sunday, September 30, 2018

Biblical Text: Psalm 118 ~~ Sermon Title: I Shall Not die But Live

Previous Sunday September 23, 2018

Wayside Baptist Church program inside

Wayside Baptist Church Sunday, Sept. 23rd 2018 Hymn Blessed Assurance

Wayside Baptist Church 9/23/2018

Wayside Baptist Church Sept. 23, 2018

Wayside Baptist Church 9/23/2018

Wayside Baptist Church Sept. 23, 2018

Wayside Baptist Church program inside

Wayside Baptist Church Sunday, Sept. 23rd 2018 Hymn Blessed Assurance

Some pictures of previous visits

Wayside Baptist Church program 2017

Wayside Baptist Church Cornerstone

Wayside Baptist church Outdoor cross

Wayside Baptist Church

Wayside Baptist Church Program

Wayside Baptist Church altar

Wayside Baptist Church Altar

Watch “Visiting Hawaii’s Tragic & Remote Leprosy Colony” on YouTube

On April 20, 2018April 20, 2018 By dancingpalmtreesIn 2 Kings 5 New International Version (NIV) Naaman Healed of Leprosy, Christian, Christianity, Hansen's Disease aka Leprosy, Jesus, Leprosy, Matthew 8 New International Version (NIV), Uncategorized

Visiting Hawaii’s Tragic & Remote Leprosy Colony

The Evil Twisted Legacy of Euro-Centric Christianity

What European Christians meant for evil the afflicted Native Hawaiian peoples took, built community showing a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ and True Christianity. Europeans introduced Leprosy to Native Hawaiians, at that point criminalizing the disease, then shipped them off to a Leper colony with little food, clothes or resources. Separated from their families and Left to die they pooled and cultivated what little they had to support and uplift each other.

Hansen’s Disease aka Leprosy

Matthew 8 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy

8 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. ²A man with leprosy^[a] came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

³Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. ⁴Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

2 Kings 5 New International Version (NIV)

Naaman Healed of Leprosy

Praise Report & Testimony

On March 25, 2018 By dancingpalmtreesIn Blessed Be the Rock of My Salvation, Christian, Christianity, Eyesight, Gladys Knight, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Lenox Hill Hospital, Oh Magnify the Lord, Uncategorized, Urgent Care, Vision11 Comments

Truth Excellence Not Perfection. My whole world was challenged last week when I wound up getting hit in my left eye, the same eye I had retina surgery on back in Jan. 2010 while on the job. It was an accident and I don’t blame my co-workers. Accidents do happen. I wound up in Lenox Hill Hospital. I briefly tried returning to work on Tuesday but that did not work out well.

The eye throbbed in pain. I had headaches. Thursday in Urgent Care. Of course during this entire fiasco I was angry. I was upset. Probably alienated people but I had to go through those stages. There had to be a Time of Mourning as it says in the book of Ecclesiastes A time to mourn, a time to cry. A time of grief. A time of sorrow. They have to be experienced before any healing can begin. Good Friday is coming up soon. Even Jesus experienced frustration, sadness, grief and sorrow. Jesus cried out, “My God! My God! Why have you Forsaken Me? If Jesus has feelings and emotions so can I.

I kept asking God Why Me? Cried a lot from both physical and emotional pain. However since it happened at work I’m eligible for Workman’s comp and FMLA. It is possible I might have to get more surgery on that eye. I must admit that I was really depressed. Anxiety. Panic attacks. The whole nine yards. I did wallow in that depression for several days but vision loss is a loss a type of death farewell from what was known or expected to the unknown and unexpected. Currently I can only see colors, shapes, light and dark out of my left eye. Even with the glasses. I’ve been going through a type of grief. Yesterday Saturday, I chose to throw myself into my art. Creating my mixed media photo/picture collages. The human mind can only concentrate on one thing at a time. It helped.

Last night I got absolutely No Sleep. I mean None! I just tossed, turned and wandered the house all night. However finally God lead me to YouTube videos by young women who had either gone blind in one eye or for reasons of disease had to have one eye removed. I was moved by their testimonies. Given my ocular occlusion in Nov. 2008 the vision in my Left eye had been compromised anyway. Actually even though I received regular Laser Treatments all of 2009 basically all I saw in my Left eye was black. Not even light and dark. Surgery did allow the light and colors in. There will probably be more eye surgery in my future. Not something I look forward to but it is what it is.

The blood vessels that attach the retina were damaged however I gained back some sight through surgery and special prescription lenses. That ended Sunday, March 18th when I got bashed in the left eye. Now everything is a blur. Muddy. Like looking through gauze. However better wonky vision than no vision at all!

Realizing that it was Palm Sunday I made up my mind to attend Palm Sunday services at a nearby church one I had attended and enjoyed in the past. The Sisters were so kind and welcoming. When the Pastor preached on Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey and the choir singing Hosanna Blessed is the Rock of My Salvation.

It’s Holy Week or Passion Week. Most important than my earthly situation is Jesus sacrifice on the Cross. This week is the most important for many Christians. My Choice is to focus on Jesus and the Bible.

One lyric is O’ Magnify the Lord. For He is Worthy to be Praised. Then It dawned on me. I could either Magnify the Lord or I could magnify the circumstances. For God is God no matter if I see again out of that Left eye or the Lord chooses to heal me. As Gladys Knight sang, “You Gotta Make the Best of a Bad Situation.

I felt uplifted. I feel I can move forward no matter what lies ahead.

I am Not an Object of Pity!

I do apologize for the length of this testimony.

My Art ~~ I can still be a Visual Artist with only one working eye

https://roamingurbangypsy.com/2018/03/24/artists-labyrinthine-mind-maze/

Sylvester having a great time with my Palm Fronds. Can’t lose that sense of humor

https://dancingpalmtrees.com/2018/03/25/sylvester-vs-the-palm-fronds/

https://roamingurbangypsy.com/2018/03/25/cees-odd-ball-photo-challenge-march-25-2018-cees-photography/

The Orange one is a work in progress not yet finished.

—

Pinky: “Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?”
The Brain: “The same thing we do every night, Pinky—try to take over the world!”

Sylvester vs. The Palm Fronds

On March 25, 2018March 25, 2018 By dancingpalmtreesIn Debbie Roth, Forgiving Fridays, Holy Week, Hosanna Blessed Be The Rock of My Salvation, Matthew 21:1-11 New International Version (NIV), My Furry Feline Friend aka Sylvester, Sylvester, Sylvester Enjoys Palm Sunday, Uncategorized1 Comment

https://forgivingconnects.com/2018/03/23/todays-forgiving-fridays-taking-a-chance-on-peace/

Sylvester vs. The Palm Fronds

Happy and Blessed Palm Sunday

I don’t think that the Palm fronds are winning! For 13 Years on every Palm Sunday this is what Sylvester does to my Palm Fronds! I have no idea why he gets so excited about Palm Sunday or rather the Palm Fronds!

I Wonder if Jesus had kitties attacking the Palm Fronds as he entered Jerusalem? Hopefully those Biblical cats were more respectful of Jesus than Sylvester! On the other hand I’m sure that Jesus gets loads of laughs as he watches Sylvester pounce on the Palm Fronds! Crazy Cat!

Matthew 21:1-11 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, ²saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. ³If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

⁴This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

⁵“Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”^[a]

⁶The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. ⁷They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. ⁸A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.⁹The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna^[b] to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”^[c]

“Hosanna^[d] in the highest heaven!”

¹⁰When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

¹¹The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Three Yes 3 Days of Free Time & Fun

On September 24, 2017September 24, 2017 By dancingpalmtreesIn Christian, Christianity, Dallas BBQ, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Three Yes 3 Days of Free Time & Fun, Uncategorized6 Comments

Three Yes 3 Days of Free Time & Fun

It has been a Great Three days of Bliss and enjoyment. Mind you I do like my job and I have no complaints regarding my workplace. The atmosphere is good and my bosses are nice people. Yet I really needed those 3 days off. Friday was laundry and relaxation, Saturday my girlfriend turned 61 so myself and another girlfriend went took her out for her 61st Birthday to Dallas BBQ in Manhattan.

We had a great time. They are both private people and out of respect to them I will not share our Celebration photos on my blog. However the baby of our bunch who is 51 introduced us to What’s App I keep calling it What’s Up. Too much Buggs Bunny as a child. That way we can chat and share photos with each other without announcing our private and personal lives to the entire world. Basically unless you have your friends permission and they are comfortable with their photos being shared it’s best not too unless you just don’t value your friends.

Wayside Baptist Church

I also got to attend church today. I rarely go to church. Sometimes even when I do have Sunday’s off I’m so exhausted from work that I don’t have the strength or energy to get out of bed for the service. When I do get to service I go to Wayside Baptist church. It is walking distance from my home and I was raised in the Baptist church so there is a certain level of familiarity and comfort. Retirees. One day maybe I will be able to take some Bible classes.

The Biblical Text was Acts 8:26 to 39. We also discussed the Song of Solomon.

Today was a second graduation ceremony for the Wayside Baptist Bible Institute Graduates. Most of them are Seniors and Retirees. There were 53 students in this graduating class.

Wayside Baptist Church teaches an Afro-centric Gospel which acknowledges the presence of Blacks in the Bible. They openly discuss and teach the African contribution to the Bible. When you research most of the countries mention in the Gospels nearly all of them are African countries. Cush, Ethiopia, Egypt, etc….. Africa.

Those of you African-American Baby Boomers remember growing up back in the day and the white/American/European church teaching that Black people were cursed, deserved to be slaves and be under Jim Crow. Actually that is probably what most of the Southern Bible Belt believes today. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard white preachers refer to Blacks as heathens and savages. Therefore Yes we do need a True Interpretation of the Bible and where most of the Biblical stories take place. Trust me that none of the people in the Bible had blond hair, blue eyes or straight noses. That’s a Euro-centric viewpoint designed to keep Blacks down and in mental slavery. Definitely a strategy that encourages self hate. Those of us of African descent know that America’s standard of beauty does not celebrate those of us with woolly hair, dark skin, wide noses or full lips. But the Bible says different.

Song of Solomon 1: 5-6

I am Black and Comely. Oh you Daughters of Jerusalem. The text uses the word “but” however it should read And. The King James version translated it incorrectly.

The Black church also serves a social function and today I learned that there will be a Senior Housing Rally on October 9th. There was a guest speaker liaison to the Mayor’s office informing us that an 82 year old Senior woman at a Sister church who was paying her $1,300 rent with a Section 8 Voucher on time every month is being evicted because the Landlord wants her out so he can charge $3,000 per month for rent. And Yes these are normal rent prices in New York City. So you can see the effect of gentrification and you can also see why I need to work extra overtime in order to afford a place to live. Now an 82 year old woman is way past her working days. Another thing to consider is that we cannot blame the Republicans as both the New York Mayor and Gov. are both Democrats.

Anyway as of tomorrow it’s back to the real world. I have some 16 hour days ahead of me and I must prepare myself mentally and physically. I will be blasting through October, November and December as these are the busiest months for the museum.